From a Conference to a Submission Package

Learning With Other Writers

Have I written about conferences before? I can’t remember. Let’s take a look at my archive…

Way back in October 2023, I wrote about attending Workshops and Seminars, which included conferences and literary festivals. My feelings about them are the same. I have enjoyed and still enjoy going. The most recent one I attended was the York Writers Conference, which took place on April 26^th, 2025, in Newmarket, ON. Many members of the WCYR, the organization that planned the conference, attended. There were also many non-members. It was a big room full of writers. Terry Fallis spoke and was engaging as always.

There were many amazing speakers, but Molly Fader stood out to me. She was engaging and informative. She used her life experiences in the querying trenches to inform a room full of hopeful authors. Even though I’ve been to MANY workshops and talks on query letters, Molly gave me new energy.

I’m almost (ALMOST) ready to start querying my gothic novel. I’m nervous. I LOVE this novel. I LOVE these characters. It’s a little scary how much love and faith I have in this novel. It’s been a long time, working on it in spare moments, in between taking care of my family, the day job, volunteer work and other bits of life I can’t skip out on. It’s not easy writing a novel while living a full life. Then revising it. Then editing it. Then doing it again.

I digress.

I started out talking about conferences and look where I ended up.

The theme of the YWC was “Demystifying the Publishing Process”. What I like about the theme was that it gave you options. Do you want to go the traditional route? Do you want to self-publish? Something in between? The variety of speakers represented all these options. It was really interesting hearing from an editor from ECW Press. They all gave the attendees something to think about. Since I’m near this part of the process, I guess that’s what has me thinking about the query letter and submission package.

One of the most important points that the speakers reiterated was do your research. Whether you’re submitting to an agent or a small press, read their submission package guidelines. Do not send a 5 page synopsis if they ask for 2 pages. Do they want the first 10 pages with your query letter? Don’t send 15. DO NOT mess with the font to squeeze 11 pages into 10. They can tell. Don’t give an agent or editor a reason to reject your submission before they read it. Because they will. They get SO MANY. Don’t make yours the one that stands out in a bad way, because they will say goodbye and move on to the next. Molly Fader did an amazing job explaining this to a room of hopeful writers.

I knew this already, but the reminder was good.

“Demystifying the Publishing Process” was the reason I went. I wanted it to be demystified. What goes on after the book is written (and edited)? After the query is sent out? I have a better idea now. I don’t know if it makes me feel better or worse, but it gives me knowledge, and maybe more realistic expectations.

Links:

• WCYR

• York Writers Conference

• On Workshops and Seminars

What I’ve Been Reading:

• The Next Best Fling, by Gabriella Gamez

• The Ice Guy and Cool Girl, Volumes 1-3, by Tonogaya, Miyuki

• The Spare Room, by Lauren Starkey

What I’ve Been Watching:

• My Happy Marriage on Netflix

• Devil May Cry on Netflix

• Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount+

• Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End on Netflix

• Doctor Who on Disney+

What I’ve Been Listening To:

• Lorde has a new single!

Learn about the land on which we reside:

• Whose Land

• Native Land Digital