Any Interest In “Industry” Panels??

I’m considering building a 4 hour “industry block” of panels into the Coastal Magic Convention schedule. These would be focused on tips and ideas for aspiring authors. I’m not sure there was a lot of attendance in previous years for these panels, so I’m looking for some feedback now from those of you who plan to attend the event.

Tentative panel ideas right now are:

Checking It Twice – How to maximize your manuscript. Building strong characters, storylines, and tips for self-editing.
Editors & Agents – Partners for the long haul. Tips for finding a good fit, and building strong relationships.
Pros & Cons – Traditional / Small Print / Self: Brief (non-bashing) rundown of the good, the bad, and the “what do I do now?” in publishing.
Marketing and Promotion 101 – How to target your audience and use social media to your best advantage.

I don’t plan to have any of these panels spread throughout the remainder of the convention. If this is something that would interest you, please let me know. If there doesn’t seem to be enough interest, I’ll just skip these types of panels entirely.

Thanks!!

13 responses to “Any Interest In “Industry” Panels??”

Tmonique Stephens

May 23, 2014

I think any panels on Marketing and Promotions would draw a crowd. All authors could use pointers and tips.

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1. Jennifer
  
  May 24, 2014
  
  I agree… but I’m hoping to keep them together as a block. I’d rather not just have one or two floating between other panels. That hasn’t seemed very effective before.
  
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Shawnie Nicole

May 23, 2014

I would most definitely attend.

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1. Jennifer
  
  May 24, 2014
  
  awesome, thanks
  
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dawillis66

May 23, 2014

Most writer cons I go to, the Agent/editor panels and the Marketing panels do very well. The writing tips would be better if were geared more along the lines of “Yes, you need an editor” and then have the panelists explain why this important.

The traditional vs. indie panel is usually a popular one, but if you are going to do it, please avoid the error that many cons make. They put people on there promoting self-publishing who were successful through traditional publishing before they self-pubbed. They went into self-pubbing with an existing fan base. Aspiring writers and those already self-pubbed, didn’t have that and quickly find it much harder to find success. That is actually a panel I would be interested in sitting on if I were asked to be on a panel.

Daniel A. Willis Author, Chronicles of the Mages series The Archduke’s Secret Family Romanovs in the 21st Century http://www.danielawillis.com/ Facebook: http://facebook.com/DanielAWillistheauthor

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1. Jennifer
  
  May 24, 2014
  
  Thanks for your feedback. My only clarification would be that I don’t plan to have a “traditional vs. indie” panel. Rather a “here are your options, and the pros and cons of each”. Not leaning either way, just offering information that isn’t readily available, from people who’ve done both.
  
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Robin Ludwig

May 26, 2014

The cover design panel went very well last year. I would love to do one again if it works for you 🙂

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1. Danielle Irby
  
  May 31, 2014
  
  A cover design panel and a marketing panel for authors sounds awesome! 🙂
  
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Danielle Irby

May 26, 2014

I would love to attend some of these panels. 🙂

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authorsara

June 7, 2014

I’d be happy to participate on a panel like that!

Best,

Sara

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Mur

July 5, 2014

Bit of a late reply, but I love industry panels, I’d definitely attend all of those you listed.

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chaco_kid

July 11, 2014

All of those panels look good. And the cover one sounded neat too.

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Janet Juengling-Snell

July 14, 2014

As a On line Media Marketing specialist and a assistant to several authors, I would be very interested is this panel.

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