​“That”
‘That’ can be a pronoun, as in ‘that is a good idea.’
‘That’ can be a determiner, as in ‘he lived in Chicago at that time.’
‘That’ can be an adverb, as in ‘I would not go that far.’
‘That’ can be a conjunction, as in ‘she said that she was satisfied.’
 
That’s a lot of uses for a little four letter word.  In working on the writing style for the manuscript for my third novel I noticed a lot of “that’s”.  It was disturbing.  In almost every case “that” added nothing to the sentence and because there were so many of them, it was distracting.
I decided to weed out every unnecessary “that”, which meant about 98% of them.  In the first 20 pages of my manuscript I found more than 30 “that’s” Can you believe it?
This has been a self-revelation, a disturbing one.  I am committed to search and destroy every “that” in my manuscript no matter how long it takes.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any explanation for my infatuation with “that”.  It happens, I guess, it sneaks up on a writer without you taking notice.
My advice, do a search of common words in your writing.  You too may discover you have that problem.
 

​The early Writer’s conferences I attended worked very hard to provide attendees with resources and materials provided by presenters.  In those days we were each given a three inch-three ring binders that you would haul around for the entire conference.  I am sure that some of those binders were left somewhere, forgotten and alone.
Attendees provided feedback after the conference, including me, that the binder was nice but too much to lug around for three days.  The response the next year was to provide the materials without a binder but held together by a brass clip.  That proved to be worse because the brass binder came off easily leaving sheaves of paper to fly everywhere.  The next solution was to provide a pocket type folder with basic materials for the conference, like the detailed daily schedule, and allow attendees to pick up other materials they wanted and slip them into the pocket of the folder.  The organizers forgot that conference attendees are hoarders – they pick up everything – just in case they might need something.  The result was the pocket folders were not large enough to hold everything and papers went flying.
With technology the options changed.  Several years ago we were given the option to receive presenter materials by e-mail after the conference.  The problem was that most folks want to refer to the materials or read them during the conference; it was a step in the right direction but actually a bit of a misstep.
The conference this year saw a major technological breakthrough.  A day before the conference started we were sent an e-mail with the offer of a free app for your Smartphone that contained all the conference materials.  Of course, I tried it out and was delighted.  The app contained the detailed schedule and many of the presenters materials- not all – but many.  A neat feature was that you could browse the detail schedule and create a schedule for yourself based on what events you elected to attend.  This was a very handy feature which I used throughout the weekend. 
There was no need to carry materials around and possibly loose them.  Everything you needed was in your Smartphone.  A personal goal is to be paperless and this app has made that possible.  I even wrote the conference organizers an e-mail after the conference that they can use to quote me on the benefits of the conference app.  I fully expect that next year nearly all the presenters’ materials should be available on the app.
This is a conference that over its long history has adapted to the trends in publishing, writing, and the business of being a writer.  It is a weekend that writers can spend with others in our tribe and that alone has tremendous benefits.
While you may not choose the Wisconsin Writer’s Institute, I encourage all writers to research and select at least one conference every year that meets your needs.  If it doesn’t work out there’s always a variety of conferences to choose from in Wisconsin and the Midwest.  I would point you in the direction of two other conferences this year in Wisconsin.  May 12-13 is the Lakefly Writer’s Conference in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, go to: www.lakeflywriters.org.  October 6-7 Wisconsin Writers Association Conference in Neenah, Wisconsin, go to: www.wiwrite.org.
                

​The Writer’s Conference follows the trends in the publishing industry to be sure current information is provided to attendees.  In the most past the conference focused on self-publishing and how to make your mark in social media.  It all changed this year.
There was a single class on alternatives to traditional publishing-“Alternative/Independent Publishing and the other way to to self-publish” scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 3:45 pm.  (Is there a message in the scheduling?).
I characterize the theme for this year’s conference as:  “I’m gonna die if I don’t traditional publish and sell 10,000 books”.  As support for my viewpoint I’ll list several of the conference presentations:  “The Business of Writing”; “How to Craft a Book that Sells”; “On the Road:Taking Your Book on Tour”; “How to go from fingers on the keyboard to dollars in your bank account”; “The secret weapon of getting published, staying published and writing the breakout book:; “How to Blog your way to a book deal”; “Connecting your craft to your brand”; “Public relations:  it’s more than marketing”; “How to find an agent”; ”Create your own successful author career plan.”  It’s like the technical college of writing.
I hope that these course offerings were useful to those attending the conference.  The other half of the conference was devoted to practice pitches to agents and actual agent pitches.  Last week I mentioned one attendee I met who was giving five pitches – the shotgun approach.  No one ever really knows if anyone attending the conference signed an agent contract from a pitch made at this conference.
The key is that every author must design for themselves what “success” is and how to measure it.  One fact gleaned from this conference is that most authors sell about 250 books.    

​The Writers Conference Series-The Dirty Little Secret
 
I have been attending the annual Wisconsin Writer’s Institute Conferences for 15 years and it that time the conference has changed as the publishing industry has changed.  Every year that I’ve attended I have taken away big ideas, met new friends, learned about craft, been inspired and tried to find a literary agent.
I am writing this blog for male writers who attend writing conferences.  That doesn’t mean I’m excluding females – who in their right mind would do that.  My experience is that men have a different experience from women who attend writing conferences.  I’m not making a judgment about that – but stating a truth – at least from my perspective.
The dirty little secret is that about 90% of those attending the Wisconsin Writer’s Institute are women.  I consider myself a gregarious, open person and I thoroughly enjoy meeting and talking with everyone.  However, being in a room with 270 women and about 30 men is overwhelming.  The first morning of the conference is held in a large room where the Director Laurie Scheer makes introductory remarks and the conference keynote is presented.  I looked over the sea of white cloth covered round tables searching for a few other men.  I spotted a table with two men which meant if I joined them there would be at least three men at a six person table.  I plopped down my cup of coffee and asked if I could join them although my body language shouted, “I’m here to sit with you.”  Maybe it’s tribal?  Maybe it’s just comfort with your own kind – I don’t know.
Between sessions there is time to grab a beverage and or a snack and mingle.  The women do most of the mingling – with other women.  In between one session I noticed one man awkwardly looking at all the name tags of folks walking close to him.  He spotted me:  “Hi Rex, I’m Phil.”  A straightforward bold self-introduction.  I learned that Phil lived in the northern woods of Wisconsin and had traveled south to catch an agent.  He wrote futuristic/fantasy/sci-fi and was pitching 5 agents.  His goal was to get a contract with an agent that weekend.  The agent would help him get a contract with a major traditional publisher who would agree to a first printing of 5000.  Phil oozed with naiveté but I didn’t want to discourage him.
Throughout the conference mini groups of women huddled in the hallway or the corner of a lecture room or in the hotel lobby.  They appeared to be engaged in animated conversation and laughing.  I guess I could have joined any of the groups but I felt like I would be imposing.
I met a woman at one writer’s conference several years ago who has become both a professional colleague and friend.  We both attended the same lecture class that was interactive.  We sat next to other several seats apart and were given instructions for an interactive assignment.  We looked at each other, smiled and said – OK.  Over the years our relationship has grown and it all started at a writer’s conference.
I just want the men who attend writer’s conferences to be prepared.  It will be fine, even though your initial reaction may be one of intimidation or unease.  Trust me, it will pass.