(Abrasive fangirl screeching)
As I'm sure you've gathered from the title, something very good happened to me this weekend.
That's the real Angie Thomas, not a cardboard cutout. When I met her first, I told her I was starstruck. She replied with, "Oh no, I'm normal!" I couldn't/can't get over how cool she is!
So, aside from meeting my current author obsession, I had the privilege to work as an intern for the Midwest Writers Workshop. I worked for literary agent Monica Odom, who taught me a ton in just two days. Obviously, I'm going to tell you what I learned below. But first I'd like to reach out and say thank you, Monica. It's a little goofy to say, but this conference really did change my life. And I'm glad you were a part of it.
So, in no particular order, here's some useful information from the conference!
1. Don't be creepy and don't be rude.
You know those things you shouldn't have to say but say anyway? Well, here are two of those things together, arguably the most important ones. Agent Roseanne Wells (which sounds like a really good spy movie) said this at the beginning of the conference. You wouldn't believe how many people were still both creepy and rude throughout the day. So, a little part two, or 1a, or whatever: if, for even a moment, you have to question if you're being creepy or rude, you're being creepy or rude. Check yourself before you wreck a conference for some unsuspecting agent.
2. Diversity is NOT a trend.
Okay, I obviously already knew this, but I wanted to talk about this fantastic panel. Getting the chance to see Monica and Angie speak together alongside several other notable literary citizens really opened my eyes to the world of publishing. Like most, it's an imperfect, opportunistic world, but it's also full of bright people who want to give the spotlight to marginalized people--and are concerned about doing it the right way. Seriously, I never really had much desire to write YA fiction, but after hearing them talk about how these diverse voices need to be heard and how they can be written as well, I felt inspired both to give my own story (admittedly, one from a very privileged perspective) and to shut up and give space to diverse authors.
3. All that stuff I've been doing for this class? Do it forever.
I can't drive this home enough. Reach out to people. You will not be sorry. I have lit mags following me that I never would have heard of if I hadn't put myself out there. Once my next paycheck comes in, I'm about to have an entire library of new books, chapbooks, and magazines both digital and printed, to read. It's absolutely about getting your own work out there--the next step for me, actually. But it's also about letting people know that their voices are valid, too, and just being a reader in a world full of other readers. The more you give, the more you're going to get. Literary citizenship is, after all, about both.
Above all else, be a friend. Be someone you'd like to spend time with: dependable, charming, honest, and sociable. It doesn't hurt to be talented, either. But we all know that you are, so don't be afraid to get out there and show us what you've got (and please check out what we've got, too).
Thank you to my new friends. I'll miss being an intern with all of you.
Here's to one more year of undergrad!
Matt
So, aside from meeting my current author obsession, I had the privilege to work as an intern for the Midwest Writers Workshop. I worked for literary agent Monica Odom, who taught me a ton in just two days. Obviously, I'm going to tell you what I learned below. But first I'd like to reach out and say thank you, Monica. It's a little goofy to say, but this conference really did change my life. And I'm glad you were a part of it.
So, in no particular order, here's some useful information from the conference!
1. Don't be creepy and don't be rude.
You know those things you shouldn't have to say but say anyway? Well, here are two of those things together, arguably the most important ones. Agent Roseanne Wells (which sounds like a really good spy movie) said this at the beginning of the conference. You wouldn't believe how many people were still both creepy and rude throughout the day. So, a little part two, or 1a, or whatever: if, for even a moment, you have to question if you're being creepy or rude, you're being creepy or rude. Check yourself before you wreck a conference for some unsuspecting agent.
2. Diversity is NOT a trend.
Okay, I obviously already knew this, but I wanted to talk about this fantastic panel. Getting the chance to see Monica and Angie speak together alongside several other notable literary citizens really opened my eyes to the world of publishing. Like most, it's an imperfect, opportunistic world, but it's also full of bright people who want to give the spotlight to marginalized people--and are concerned about doing it the right way. Seriously, I never really had much desire to write YA fiction, but after hearing them talk about how these diverse voices need to be heard and how they can be written as well, I felt inspired both to give my own story (admittedly, one from a very privileged perspective) and to shut up and give space to diverse authors.
3. All that stuff I've been doing for this class? Do it forever.
I can't drive this home enough. Reach out to people. You will not be sorry. I have lit mags following me that I never would have heard of if I hadn't put myself out there. Once my next paycheck comes in, I'm about to have an entire library of new books, chapbooks, and magazines both digital and printed, to read. It's absolutely about getting your own work out there--the next step for me, actually. But it's also about letting people know that their voices are valid, too, and just being a reader in a world full of other readers. The more you give, the more you're going to get. Literary citizenship is, after all, about both.
Above all else, be a friend. Be someone you'd like to spend time with: dependable, charming, honest, and sociable. It doesn't hurt to be talented, either. But we all know that you are, so don't be afraid to get out there and show us what you've got (and please check out what we've got, too).
Thank you to my new friends. I'll miss being an intern with all of you.
Here's to one more year of undergrad!
Matt