Two Conference in Two Weeks!

L to R:  Debby Giusti, Missy Tippens, Michael Hauge
and Janet Dean at ACFW.

by Debby Giusti

On September 16, I flew to Indianapolis, Indiana, for the American Fiction Writers Conference. The Friday to Monday event was filled with great workshops and lots of opportunities to visit with friends. I had some story revisions to do so I had to mix work with pleasure, but that didn’t stop me from making the most of the weekend.

Hollywood screenwriting guru Michael Hauge presented a two-part workshop on Plot Structure. Mr. Hauge will also be the featured speaker at the Georgia Romance Writers Moonlight and Magnolia’s Conference I’ll be attending this weekend. Hopefully after spending so much time with the plot wizard, I’ll be able to absorb his expert advice and apply it to my own writing.

I also attended Terri Blackstock’s Suspense workshop at ACFW. Terri said readers like the adrenalin rush they get from reading suspense. They want to read as if they were a detective, trying to put the puzzle pieces together to solve the crime. She also talked about the importance of adding “red herrings” to suspense stories. The term, she explained, originated in the 1800s with the publication of a detective novel that had a police chase using dogs. The bad guy covered his tracks, literally, with the scent of raw fish. No doubt, red herring!

Just as at ACFW, seeing old friends and making new ones will be the highlight of the M&M Conference this weekend. What are your favorite conferences and what do you look forward to the most when you attend writing events?

Wishing you abundant blessings!

Debby Giusti
http://www.debbygiusti.com/
http://www.crossmyheartprayerteam.blogspot.com/
Visit Seekerville (http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/) for our October Birthday Bash. Great blog interviews, lots of fun and giveaways, including a Kindle loaded with Seeker books! Be sure to stop by on October 5th when Steeple Hill Assistant Editor Emily Rodmell provides tips on getting published. Hourly giveaways, including the four Love Inspired Suspense September releases!