An Inspiring Resolution
Save the date to be inspired
by Gina Roberts-Grey

Web Editor's Note: The ASJA Writers Conference is an annual event bringing together experienced professional writers, interested newcomers to the profession, editors and other publishing-related professionals. The theme for this years' conference, our 39th, is INSPIRATION: Finding the Spark, Unlocking the Doors 2010.

Dates: Public: April 24 - April 25, 2010. Members: April 23 - April 25, 2010
Location: Roosevelt Hotel 45 East 45th Street, corner of Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017.
Registration or more information: http://www.asja.org/wc/2010

As 2010 gets under way, we're all busy making lists of things we want to improve, accomplish and alter this year. In other words, we're making resolutions.

If you're like me, that means donning your thinking caps and pondering ways to resolve to work more efficiently, add to your client roster, or (finally) figure out why in the world you should Tweet.

Thankfully, the 39th Annual ASJA Writers Conference offers writers at all stages of their careers the inspiration needed to achieve their career goals and stick to their professional resolutions. Whether you're trying to figure out how to unlock the door of a new market or searching for the door that leads to inspiration, the 39th Annual ASJA Writers Conference might be just the ticket.

And to make sure you've got plenty of time to register for the conference, early-bird registration is in full swing.

If you register by March 22, members can attend Friday and Saturday at a discounted rate of $295, and Sunday for an additional $50. Don't forget that if you volunteer to help at the conference (I hope you do since the conference is fortified by each and every member who pitches in and helps build it), you'll receive a $25 discount for each day you work. That discount is applicable to the early-bird pricing, so you can save some hard-earned cash just by volunteering for an hour or two. Plus, you'll make friends for life. Trust me, I know!

To help you stick to your resolutions, Friday, April 23, Members' Day, will kick-off with a continental breakfast, icebreaking events, and the chance to settle in for the most content-packed Members' Day ever, with 14 session workshops covering everything from writing for alumni publications and book packagers to promoting your book and editing anthologies.

Personal Pitch, a perennial Members' Day favorite, is back, but will look a little different this year. We pored over the feedback from editors and agents and, to better accommodate their schedules, moved Personal Pitch to the morning of Members' Day. Which means no more rehearsing (and bundles of nerves) over lunch. Good thing, since the Members' Day luncheon will feature keynote speaker Jane Chesnutt, former editor in chief of Woman's Day and now consultant for same.

In addition to moving Personal Pitch to the morning, where participants will still enjoy "speed-dating," we've expanded the "passing period" to two minutes in order to avoid the traditional "running of the bulls" stampede in or out of the doors at the end of each pitch session. This will allow everyone time to catch their breath and get in place before the bell rings.

Speaking of Personal Pitch, if there's an editor or agent you're aching to "date," track down his or her contact info and tell the Personal Pitch committee, chaired by Beverly Blair Harzog. Beverly's team has been hard at work since October collecting contact information for scores of editors and agents and would love any support they can muster.

This year's line-up is the biggest ever. Saturday and Sunday will have 28 workshops that are packed with editors from some of the biggest names in the publishing industry.

Just to tempt you, here's the scoop on a few new workshops in the line-up. To check out the complete three-day schedule, visit the conference home on ASJA's website at www.asja.org/wc/2010

Querying 101
Make the most of your first impression. Senior editors at three major magazines give inside tips on the best way to introduce yourself, what to include in a really great pitch, when it's too soon to follow-up, what subject lines grab their attention, and more. You'll also get some examples of their favorite pitches and letters of introduction.

Switching Roles. From Interviewer to Interviewee
Whether you're promoting a book or have penned an article that's attracting media attention, you'll hear the tips you need to be interviewed, become media savvy, and deliver great pull-quotes, on TV, radio, podcast, Skype, or any other medium.

Whither Narrative Journalism?
The great tradition of narrative journalism is being affected by changes in the media. Writers and editors will define the genre and discuss the craft involved in creating it, especially in light of all the new media. Get motivated to bring narrative skills to bear no matter the medium or the size of the "news hole."

Posting for Dollars
Why not get paid to blog and Tweet? Learn how to brand your blog, develop your platform, and get paid for those posts and witty Tweets. Hear from editors who hire freelancers to blog and Tweet as well as writers who are earning money with each click.

Got Gadgets? Cool New Tools
Every journalist has a favorite electronic productivity-boosting gadget. Come hear our tech-savvy panel talk about the hardware they simply can't live without. You'll get their instructions, recommendations, and tips about the latest cameras, digital recorders, phones, and more.

A Novel Approach: Moving into Fiction
You've been focused on nonfiction, but are there characters who keep whispering to you? Isn't it time to tell—and maybe sell—your story. A distinguished panel of authors, an editor, and an agent will answer your questions about voice, stakes, storyline, dialogue, point of view, and writing techniques. Some will then break into small groups, others will begin or outline their masterpiece, and others will go for extra critiques.

Stay Healthy on the Job
Just because you don't work on the top floor of a construction site doesn't mean you aren't at risk for an injury. Hear how to avoid common injuries (carpal tunnel syndrome, back pain, and others), how to relieve stress while still meeting deadlines, and recharge your mental and physical batteries.

Transitioning from Print to Digital
Digital media are booming. Learn about web-use trends vs. print-use from editors and writers who have moved entirely from print to web publishing.

Don't forget to follow the conference on Twitter: @ASJA2010. You'll get all the scoops and conference updates.