What I learned at the zoo

It wasn't actually a zoo, although any gathering of writers can resemble a zoo. At the Seventh Annual Roanoke Regional Writers Conference held last weekend (Jan 23-24, 2014) at Hollins University, Everyone was talking or listening or both at the same time. Writers we've heard of nationally - Sherry Reynolds , Roland Lazenby - or locally - Dan Smith and Dan Casey - and many we haven't but are likely to shortly.

As usual the topics were varied. I dipped my toe in some topics I've heard, read or performed in the past and jumped wholeheartedly into some things I hadn't. Social media promotions and the increase of digital publishing were the hot topics. Here's a little of what I heard:

• Sometime you laugh at the funeral home. Sherry Reynolds told a bittersweet story of the loss of a grandmother (sadly, only a month ago). She talked about how the relationship between her and her sister confirmed that characters should - and do - reveal themselves through the stories.
• Alice de Sturler, who was recently recognized by the American Bar Association for her blog focused on solving cold cases, offered so many great tips on blogging I could barely take notes fast enough. She included tips on guest blogs, blog tours, organizing blogs and secrets leveraging your comments sections. 
• "You can't tell be what to think, but you can them what to think about, according to well-published author Roland Lazenby, whose book "Michael Jordon: A Life" will hit the stores in May. Lazenby talked about pitching non-fiction stories by looking at the news their publication will generate. Gone are the days of intense publicity supplied by publishers; books have to make news now to sell.
• Engaging like-minded people helped Brooke McGlothlin establish an information community targeting "Mothers of Boys." (As the mother of two grown boys I chuckled at the website name: The MOB Society.) She gave great advice for developing an online business by using all channels of communication, from digital newsletters, printing, email blasts and freelance writers to build the community

A spirited panel debate on traditional, self- and digital publishing closed out the day for the more than  speakers and 75 participants.

As any of the participants would attest, writing is not easy. Sometimes it feels like a calling, sometimes it feels like a curse. That's exactly why those of us who do it can't not write.