My plan for 2021? No more conferences. No more pitching sessions. Just write. Get the writing right. Get a mentor. Focus, don’t flit.
And then, wouldn’t you know it, the team behind KidLitVic had a great idea. They ran the conference online and so cheap it was almost criminal not to nab a ticket if I could. I’m no rulebreaker, so I bought one. And then there were pitching sessions up for grabs. A lot of people find the night these things are released quite stressful. Not me! I’m pretty good at purchasing tickets and often get my first or second preference. Did I want to pitch? No. Was my manuscript ready? Not really. Did I nab 2 pitching sessions, because I could. I’m afraid to say I did.
BUT… here’s the good news.
KidLitVic 2021 was bloody magnificent. The Monday night laptop glow sessions were really interesting topics. From the ethics of voice in publishing for kids to learning what a marketing guru does at a publishing house to hanging on every word from librarians and booksellers, there was so much to learn. I’ve been to a few conferences, and it all starts to sound a bit same-same. Not this lot. So many amazing insights.
The pitching sessions… anytime you spend preparing to tell anyone about your manuscript is time well spent. You learn so much about what you were trying to write. Whether you wrote what you think you did and then, when you pitch… whether it lands. Do other people appreciate it? You learn what to improve. So, so worthwhile.
Anyhoo, I’ve popped my notes below.
And I can’t wait for KidLitVic 2022, hopefully IRL. Although I’m sure I won’t go. Or will I?
