The opening session on Friday that I attended was the Small Publisher Panel. I was amazed at the passion for good writing that all five people exhibited. It really does seem that the small presses might be more willing to take a chance on a newer writer as long as the quality of writing is good. They seem to work directly with the writers and do not often have contacts with agents. This is a definite plus for those writers looking to break in somewhere. Later on in the conference, I kept crossing paths with Steve Semken of Ice Cube Press and Philip Martin of Crickhollow Books. They were completely accessible, friendly, and very entertaining.

Alex Miner’s discussion on The Supportive Critique Group reminded me of my time in Boston twenty years ago when Joe Gallo, Cathy Coley, and I had an informal critique group, only we didn’t call it that. Nevertheless, by whatever designation it is given, a small supportive group can pave the way toward making your craft better.

After lunch, I attended Lela Davidson’s discussion on The State of Social Media 2013. I had seen her last year and she is still as spunky and funny as before. On the serious side, I validated all of my current efforts by her suggestions.

The last session on Friday was The Hybrid Author: Self-Publishing with an Agent, presented by August McLaughlin. Conceptually, it was fascinating because it bridged two heretofore separate notions. It made me realize that there are enormous and dramatic changes in writing and publishing and that, to be successful, everything must be considered.

Marilyn Collins was a breath of fresh air on Saturday morning. Titled “Spin Your Writing into Magazine Articles for Special Interest Publications”, her presentation was similar to one I attended last year. It made me realize that I needed to stop procrastinating and find some freelance magazine writing work; it’s the surest way to garner bylines and increase your profile.

The session with Romney Nesbit, a creativity coach, was a change for me. I never considered a need for a creativity coach for myself, but when she answered the question of When to Say No, I took great heed to her comments.

The last session on Saturday was a disappointment. Out of respect for the gentleman, I will not provide his name. He was a book publicist who did not provide feedback on general ideas for publicity. Rather he “suggested” we opt for his fee of approximately $4000 (with other services a sum total of $20,000) for him to pass your name out to the numerous celebrities he knows from his many years. It was disingenuous for the man to make such a suggestion to writers looking for advice and feedback and are not full-time or professional as of yet. Many people left his session; I stayed for entertainment value.

Overall, with the one disappointment, it was highly informative all the way across the board and very worthwhile.

I had done slam poetry back in Boston for roughly four years from 1990 to 1994. I was unusual, doing rhymed and metered verse and competing against urban angst and social consciousness. But I figured back then that it was largely about performance so I had a shot. And I had a small degree of success. But it had been 19 years and I really don’t write poetry much nowadays, so I was living on faded glory. Here was my opportunity. Despite all the trepidation, I felt certain I would win.

Originally we were told that seven or eight people had signed up. Fine by me. It was being moderated by Mendy Knott, a poet and one of the speakers at the conference. She was going to select judges, instruct them in the finer points of what a poetry slam was and how to judge them, do a warm-up poem to give them the idea, and then let them do their thing. Of the original contestants, there was a young girl named Molly, who had just graduated from the University of New Mexico with a degree in creative writing and who had taken seminars with Danny Solis, a slam poet who I had the good fortune to know and watch and listen to back in Boston. Molly was well prepared in both good poetry and performance. The other person I became worried about was Amy Shojai. With her theater background, she was reading lyrics from a forthcoming musical and presenting beautifully.

I started with my signature piece, “A Special Kind of Love”, a Shakespearean-styled S&M poem. There are no bad words in it, only the implication of a different kind of fun and games. It’s the piece that earned me the nickname “The Bard of Boston.” But my scores were low: 25 out of 30. An elderly woman who read from the paper behind the podium and did not gesticulate got higher scores than me. So, I’m thinking it’s the subject matter. Because, after all, Oklahoma is not Boston.

Photo courtesy of Mike Watson

Fortunately, the judges did not pay attention to the moderator to use decimal points in their judging. It was because of that a couple of us were tied with 25 points and I snuck into the next round. The next piece was also whimsical but far less troublesome. It was entitled “A Repentant Sinner Arrives in Heaven” but in the end it, too, was of questionable subject matter. The speaker decides that Heaven is not for him and “besides, they serve hors d’oeuvres and cocktails in Hell.” Well, that didn’t go over quite well either. I was beginning to notice that two of the three judges were elderly ladies and one was a lot hipper. If it weren’t for her, I would have been booted out of the entire conference.

So, I’m there in the final round. I’ve only got one piece left and fortunately it’s not comical. It’s a sober dissertation on megalomania entitled “The Last Diary Entry of G.A. Custer, dated June 24, 1876.” For this piece, there was an added bonus: I let my hair down. I was bold and brave and modulated my voice correctly for the greatest impact. I went third out of five. All three judges scored me in the 9+ range. After all, there was no sex and no religious defamation.

I was adding things up in my head as the last two went on and knew that my prediction had come true: I had won. I was the first ever OWFI Conference Poetry Slam Champion.

Photo courtesy of Mike Watson

I’m not 100% sure they’ll ever have one again. I hope they do because this was an opportunity for poets to show their stuff.

After the slam, after some heartfelt congratulations and admiration for the other contestants, I headed down to the bar for a congratulatory martini. I walked alongside the two elderly ladies who described themselves as former poetry and English teachers and, in an almost apologetic manner, indicated that the first two pieces just weren’t to their taste. I respectfully accepted their comments. In spite of their personal preferences, I had won. It’s a testament to the obstacles that all writers face.

This year’s OWFI Conference provided me with a new approach to possibly getting additional bylines by writing magazine articles; an opportunity to meet Chuck Sasser and Bob Avey, two experienced and successful writers who have Dan Case of AWOC.com as their publisher, just like me; and to hang around with dear friends from KWA and get to know them better as people as well as writers.

You can not help but come away with a rejuvenated feeling after such an event. As writers, we primarily work alone, sometimes in the dark with simply the glow of a computer screen to enlighten us. At some point, the work has to be presented to someone or several someones. Until that time, it is not real except on your hard drive and in your mind. Whereas it may not be “ready”, it needs to see the light of day in someone else’s eyes.

Writers together have an understanding and a bond. They also have a propensity for acting strange and getting into trouble. (Or that may just be me!) You make a comment about how some piece of dialogue didn’t sound real or how one scene is slowing you down but is nevertheless necessary. And the other writer knows what you’re talking about.

You can talk all you want about genre and how the gal that writes the western romance has nothing in common with the guy who deals in historical mystery. That’s not necessarily true. The notion of Craft comes up in the forefront of every conversation just as two chefs understand the same concepts, though one bake pastries and the other roasts meat. This is where the value of conferences is to be found. The slight details, the specialized knowledge, and the pat on the back are all exchanged in hopes of all becoming better writers.

The first explosion occurred barely a block from the music store we both worked at. The concept of a ‘music store’ is an anachronism that can not be overlooked, largely because this kind of life, this world we live in now, makes the mid-90′s seem like a giant anachronism. I and several co-workers probably ambled out to the sidewalk, trying to catch a glimpse of the elite runners making it to the finish line. I was standing there, so many years before the madness.

I accept the fact that I am older now, not nearly as bohemian, responsible, with a consideration toward “selling out” more so now than back then. I understand the importance of the impact of 9/11 and how this time in history has specific protocols and procedures. On the opposite side of 50, I hold life more dear than ever before and recognize its frailty.

And yet I still feel violated.

I can not continue to absorb any of the media, whether it is news, talk, sports, online, Twitter feeds, Facebook posts. I do not care to allow political heads thump chests in front of me nor do I desire to consider the financial repercussions. Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Dudeist — none of them have anything new or different to say that has not already been said after Columbine or Waco or Oklahoma City or NYC.

I’m waiting for the painters and poets and singers and writers to make sense of things. I’m waiting for the only group that can reach down into the ultimate depths of humanity, into the pits of depravity, behind the clouds of depression, and raise us to the heights of a blessed light. I’m holding my breath for the first song or stanza or canvas to portray strength and hope and love, words that do not need capital letters because they already stand apart from the other words. A tune or lyric or sculpture will carry me forward and renew my faith.

That’s what an artist can do.

I’ve been a leader, an advocate, an administrator, a chair, a madman lunatic doing everything possible to put something together for others. Right or wrong, plus or minus, for better or for worse, this is what I’ve done. But I’m a writer and it is necessary to get back to the good old ritual of making stories and drawing characters and inventing places.

I’m currently re-working my procedural “The .9 mm Solution”, inspired by the ideas expounded by my brother-in-law with regard to the judicial and penal systems. (He would refer to them as ramblings but I’m able to find inspiration in anything.) It’s a perfect time to be finalizing this piece because there is another writer’s conference, OWFI, coming up in early May. Instead of being the guy running the show, I’ll get to be the guy running around in the show.

It is always special to be in the vast company of writers, regardless of genre or experience or level of competency. After all, the nature of what we do is similar. I didn’t get to do too much of that at the KWA Scene Conference because I had to be there for everyone. Except me, of course. Now I get a chance to take in the view, listen to something interesting, meet new writers.

But first, it’s time to get back to writing.

I truly feel blessed to have had such wonderful and diverse speakers. Stan Finger’s presentation on his book, “Into the Deep”, was completely moving and inspirational. Esper’s discourse on YouTube as a viable platform opened many people’s eyes, almost as much as his work. Roy Wenzl gave sound advise for writers regarding focusing on story and NOT the author. We will look forward to his new book on Father Emil Kapaun. John Jenkinson showed that the author’s voice can be tinged with humor while making a statement.

But there was no doubt that Jenna Blum, the keynote speaker, was our star. With great wit, she challenged those to work hard, as hard as she did through over 100 agent rejections, to bring your stories to life and see them through to being published.

There are so many things that a writing conference can be. There are only a few things that it should be. That is: entertaining, informative, and inspiring. I believe we accomplished that.

I didn’t know anyone of enough stature who could speak at a conference. But one recommendation led to more. Surprisingly, they all were from the Wichita, KS area. Just shows you that there’s talent everywhere.

Sometimes, my “Old School” mind hides the possibilities of the digital age. I created a commercial for YouTube. Who creates a commercial for a writer’s conference? I did.

Our Newsletter editor became a de facto Promotions Director and called around to local businesses. I’m almost sure she’s never done anything like that before. But now we have sponsors and prize giveaways. We added Events to various websites.

And when the flyers and online info wasn’t enough, well, I made the sacrifice to go on t.v. (Hey, somebody had to do it.) KSCW agreed to interview me for their morning news show. Kara Newell, the host, was a real professional.

I’m scheduled to go on KSN, the NBC affiliate on Tuesday, Mar. 12. The two appearances combined don’t even come close to fifteen minutes of fame. But they may encourage or inspire a writer out there to figure it is time to expand upon their knowledge and networking.

Sometimes I think I don’t know what I’m doing. I just figure it’s better to do everything.

Nobody told me you weren’t supposed to do videos for these things. We’ll see how much influence they have.

At the very least, enjoy the music by Kevin Macleod.

There are many companies and websites that will make a book trailer for you. But, a digital camera, Windows Movie Maker, and some perceptive thought can accomplish the task. Nevertheless, it is still the music that captures the attention.

For my novel “Swan Song”, a neo-noir hardbolied mystery, it was simply a matter of writing a script and considering images that would capture the viewer’s attention. I could write the script. I could take the photos. Where would I find the music?

The one place I landed was on Kevin MacLeod’s web site, Incompetech.com. Kevin is a fascinating composer who offers his work royalty free. There is a place for Paypal donations and it is extremely worthwhile. I spent a long time reviewing all of his offerings and was disappointed that I was not making more movies. His work covers the gamut of movie genres and emotional intensity.

I can’t tell you how long it took to put this together. I knew I wanted to do it. I wrote the script, found the music, and figured out the photos. Then the holidays arrived and Life interfered, etc.

BUT, it finally got done. Without any further ado, the book trailer to “Swan Song.”

You never know what it will lead to. This is my story.

SPOILER ALERT: I did NOT win.

It was at the KWA Scene Conference in 2012 that I participated. On this blog, I debated which of two pieces to pitch: a traditional neo-noir hardboiled mystery or an experimental piece of Transgressive fiction. I chose the latter. It was unique enough to stand out even though it might not be the most commercial piece to pitch.

I had looked up Pitchapalooza on YouTube and saw several examples. I wrote and re-wrote my pitch. I practiced. At the Friday night session, the twenty entrants were randomly drawn. I was confident going in. But as the participants came and went, I waited. And waited. And waited. Nerves were starting to settle in.

And then I was called. And, to be honest, I nailed it. I hit it out of the park. Pick your own analogy. But I did what I was supposed to do. I was ready for that cash bar.

At the end of the session, the five panelists excused themselves for a review/vote/consultation. They came back a short time later to announce that they had a winner AND an honorable mention. I knew from my research that was unheard of. They did not usually have Honorable Mentions. I was announced as that rare honoree. Initially I was disappointed but having been mentioned at all, to have been considered, WAS a victory.

One of the panelists was Dan Case of AWOC.COM Publishing who was quite taken with my pitch, my story, and me. I had a one-on-one session with him on Saturday as well as one with Arielle Eckstut, one of the Book Doctors.

Flash forward two months to the OWFI Conference. One of the sessions was on the Elevator Pitch. Again, my Transgressive work, having recently been perfected, was blurted out in a one sentence pitch. More applause and appreciation.

I run into Dan Case. He remembers me. He still wants to see what I’ve got up my sleeve. I send him both pieces that I pitched back at the KWA Scene Conference. We can flash forward some more. Because Dan Case decides to publish the neo-noir hardboiled mystery, “Swan Song”, currently available on Amazon Kindle and Paperback, Barnes and Noble Nook and Paperback, and Kobo e-books.

It’s really mind-boggling, amazing, fascinating, and fun, all at the same time. I keep thinking that Raymond Chandler published his first novel, “The Big Sleep”, when he was 51. I beat him by six months.

It’s only a start. I know that. I don’t know where it actually goes from here. But it all really started because of a crazy event called Pitchapalooza.