F. P. Dorchak

Speculative Fiction (New Weird) Author

PPWC

PPWC 25th Anniversary

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This past weekend I attended the 25th anniversary of the Pikes Peak Writers Conference (PPWC). I had not attended the PPWC since 2012, its 20th anniversary. So, except for six conferences (I think it’s been) I’ve been attending since Jimmie Butler started this whole thing 25 years ago.

And I’m glad I did!

I learned a lot from this conference, focusing on social media and promotion, but it was also fun getting back together with many I hadn’t seen for a few years. Some I’d seen in other venues, like Denver Comic Con or MILEHICON, but some I haven’t seen since I 2012. It was like I hadn’t been gone, when we all got back together and caught up. It was fun!

I again volunteered. I just can’t come to a PPWC and not help. It’s fun for me and I like to do what I can. I so rarely can do much during the rest of the year. I moderated two sessions that both happened to be helmed by fellow writer-friend, Kevin Ikenberry. I also assisted in a couple of other areas at the PPWC.

And it was great seeing Jimmie Butler again, the founder of PPW/C. Sure, he had help, but he was the one who spearheaded it all and got this massive ball rolling. Jimmie put a lot of his heart and soul into PPW/C and tried to make it the best learning experience for writers of all levels, and to see where it is today…well, I can’t even imagine what he feels. He created this organization and it has taken on a life of its own. I just can’t imagine how he must feel about something like that.

There was much good about this conference, so many friends I reconnected with, so many great sessions, I can’t begin to attack it all, or it would take me days to do so. But I do know I have a lot of work ahead of me in reworking my social media presence. That feels quite overwhelming, but I’ll just have to attack it one forkful at a time (how one not only eats an elephant but writes a book). I’m actually in the process of revamping things anyway, as I’m doing with this website…and in moving all my WordPress blogs over to it. But. There’s. More.

And then there’s the writing.

Plenty to do. So…guess I better get back to it…and close this post…

PPWC 2013 Redux

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In truth, I had started this post yesterday, the last day of PPWC 2013. Yeah, I was a little tired, but not too bad, really, better off than I usually am at this point. Truth be told, my neck needed a good crack (it’s better today). This year (as last year) I didn’t pitch any work to anyone—short of showing around the cover I had created for my upcoming supernatural murder mystery e-book (I’ll post the cover art soon—if my schedule of events continue favorably).

But, first, a HEARTY, standing ovational thanks to all who worked their butts off getting this conference up and running! It’s hard work, and it went off exceedingly well! You all done good!

So…what did I do to justify my $395 event fee?

Plenty!

I took in as many sessions as I could over the past three days, focusing on e-book methods and madness (aside: I received many compliments on my cover, created by Karen Duvall—and it really did come out great as a hardcopy!). I filled up the rest of the time with other things, like:

  • How horror bleeds into other genres. Get it? “Bleeds”?
  • How to talk up your book to potential readers (“Hey, do you like to read?”)
  • How to create e-book covers (Mr. Schwartz really liked my soon-to-be-ebook’s cover)
  • How to make the Indie and NY thing work together, and not be an “either/or” proposition
  • A little about how to write psycho characters (cause, like, I really need to understand myself, there—in my personal affairs…)
  • Adapting novels to screenplays, and what that process is (I adapted this mystery of mine into a script years ago—Amber Benson taught this!)
  • How to deal with the sophomoric slump, or “that next book.”
  • How to deal with writer’s block—which was quite enlightening (on several levels) about how different the reasons between guys and girls, when it comes to this—or, maybe, not so much?!
  • What to do once you’re published. Yeah, you’re just getting started….
  • How to write funny, cause Lord knows, I need that, too, in my personal life….

As I’d previously mentioned, I’d also moderated a couple sessions, one read-and-critique session with Kate Testerman and how to write a short story (and send it) in 4 hours, with Zombie-lover DeAnna Knippling (yes, pronounce the “n” in her name). I felt just a little like a fish out of water, moderating, since it’s been about 2 years since I’d done any of that. But it was fun getting back into things.

I also met and talked with all kinds of writers. This time out I was trying to get a little more outside my comfort zone, by sitting at tables for food consumption (during our lunches and dinners) with authors and others not associated with my brand of paranormal fiction bent. I also met and talked with the more “famous-y folk,” listing them in no particular order other than…well…the order I’ve presented below:

  • Terry Banker (always “up,” always friendly, always quick with a handshake and a “How’ve you been, Frank?” He always remembers me!)
  • Becky Clark (now, um, Becky. Yeah. I’m still trying to define, categorize, and define her. Might have to make up a word. I’ll have to get back to you on this one…)
  • Todd Fahnestock (I was so interesting to him, that his eyes glazed over and he had to prop himself up against a wall; that I had him held captive and pinned there, only helped in that endeavor…)
  • Becky Clark (nope…still got nuthin…)
  • Lynda Hilburn (we’ve interacted before by email, but you know you’re in trouble when her first words to you are, “So, what are your hopes and dreams“? Did I mention she’s a practicing and licensed psychotherapist?)
  • Lisa Renee Jones (maaan, I wanna be rich like her!)
  • Becky Clark (okay, okay, got one: she tells cool jokes, like “All work and no play make Lincoln a full-term president” Get it? Think about it…)
  • Aaron Ritchey (this man…he needs his own show; my face and sides still hurt from his EMCEE antics—his 200K “NanoPeakoPikeo” (pardon the spelling, Mr. Ritchey) effort over this weekend; he made me buy his book by being So. Damned. Funny.)
  • Becky Clark (Becky, Becky, Becky…she…she…deifies…Becknification…)
  • Amber Benson (Buffy the Vampire star; yeah, PPWC had her; that’s the kinda clout PPWC wields, my friends; she is so danged sweet!)
  • Barry Eisler (he worked his “Agency Mind Tricks” on me to buy one of his books. Damn him…I-I mean…yes, yes, Mr. Eisler, I…will…buy…all your books….)
  • Becky Clark (okay, she uses lots of K-words, and exaggerates—a lot—but…let me take a picture with her:)

    Becky and Me PPWC 2013
    Becky and Me PPWC 2013

Besides all the famous-y ones, I’ve also met up with those who I many times see only once a year. If that makes any sense. I (hopefully) made some new ones, and met several I’ve only dealt with electronically, so it was really cool to put pixels and faces and names together. Without having to virus check. One person, Lynda Hilburn was particularly funny in our first face-to-face, in that we’d been talking for a while at food time, Friday (you know about my hopes and dreams, which quickly morphed into my issues with cigars and lint—to this day I still don’t know how she did this or where it came from—but in the middle of the ball room banquet hall she had me up on a couch recording our session…interlacing images and analyses from Dante’s Inferno into my hot, steaming tears and mother issues), when she glanced down to my name tag and blurted: “Oh, you’re that Frank Dorchak!” I wasn’t quite sure how to take that, so we explored that for a while…

Lynda Hilburn PPWC 2013
Lynda Hilburn PPWC 2013

To be honest…I almost did not attend this year.

I’m not gonna get into reasons why (Lynda’s writing a paper on that for Psychology Today), but the point is, I did go. I learned so much about the e-books, the latest agent and editor Weltanschauung  (I love that word: Weltanschauung, say it aloud with me…), and I met so many wonderful, friendly, and, yes, even sweet people (and I don’t use “sweet” much, besides “Please pass the sweet…ner“). I give Becky grief, cause, well, she gives it right back. Like a two-by-four to the back of  the head. Lynda—she tells people she’s not good at small talk and gets right to the heart of any conversation in an instant. She’s a wonderful, wonderful woman and an excellent conversationalist. You will never be bored talking with her. Ever. She has so much to say, each of her words so dense with meaning and intent, you’re utterly fascinated by her and where her mind goes—and none of it is small talk. Everyone I met and talked with, they all have their stories, their own lives, and I would never have enjoyed any of it…had I not attended this conference.

So, what’s my fricking point, already?

If you’re a writer, a writer groupie, or simply “just” Becky Clark, and you’re hesitant about attending a writer conference—maybe it’d be your first—afraid of putting yourself out there, meeting others, sitting at lunch and dinner tables with people you do not know—that’s okay to be apprehensive—that which does not kill us, makes us stronger (usually)—but do attend. Do not put it off. Do not skip it. Go and enjoy like-minded people you will not find anywhere else. You won’t regret it. But you won’t know you won’t regret it until you come. To at least one. So, make those plans for 2014. Come out and see us. We don’t bite.

Well, at least the non-vampire/zombie attendees don’t bite….

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The Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2013

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Pikes Peak sign
Pikes Peak sign (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This weekend, I am—once again—attending the Pikes Peak Writers Conference, also known as the PPWC. It started in 1993, founded by Jimmie H. Butler, and I’ve only missed two, I think. Maybe three?  Have to check that. My wife and I talked about this a week or so ago, but I owe a lot to the PPWC. Much of what I know about writing and those whom I know in the writing world I have met through this conference. My agent is from this conference. Granted, I’ve read a fair amount of craft and writing Zen, have met others from another conference, an out-of-town writer group, but I’ve attended this conference for some 20 years. I’ve learned a lot about not only the writing of fiction, but the marketing and promotion of writing. Studied screenplays and even adapted my supernatural murder mystery into a screenplay. I’ve met a lot of great people, including many well-known authors (have sat by and talked-up Bob Crais [many times, and one of THE COOLEST guys I’ve ever met in the industry, très unassuming], Jeffery Deaver [once], David Morrell, and Joe R. Lansdale [talked with him and drove him to the airport], just off the top of my head). Talking with authors, editors and agents also gives you a feel for who and what these people are. Could you work with them? Do you clash? Sometimes, you’d be surprised at your reactions, your discoveries.

I’ve also presented and helped out at the conferences.

Moderated sessions (am moderating two this year).

Run Gopher…drove people to and from airports…given them tours of the local area…set up and torn down sessions and rooms. Addressed the conference with Jimmie Butler on the passing of a good friend of ours (Moe Morris). Moe and I used to meet at a Village Inn and talk writing. Comment on each other’s work. He was a great guy who actually has an Antarctic glacier named after him (Morris Glacier, which is just below the Queen Alexandria Range, in south central Antarctica, flowing down into the Ross Sea; see photo, below). Moe always joked about having a glacier named after him, because, well, he “wasn’t important enough” for a mountain. He used to be a Navy pilot and flew to Antarctica a lot. He was married to his wife, Virginia, of 57 years, who preceded him in death by only 18 days.

Morris Glacier, Antarctica
Morris Glacier, Antarctica

So, this year, I am again going. I am moderating some sessions, but, not driving people around. I plan on just taking it all in. Getting lost in the writing world, again, for a weekend, meet all my writing friends face-to-face, and once again…dream like crazy. It’s a fun world. Hope to post about it afterwards.

Hope to see you there.

Pikes Peak Writers Conference (PPWC) 2012

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Agents, and editors, and publisher, oh my!

How was your weekend?

Great, well, lemme tell you a little about mine.

This past weekend I attended the PPWC 2012 conference, which was celebrating its 20th year. I’ve been to 17 of them. hadn’t been to the last two, but it was fun attending this year, and seeing friends I haven’t seen in two years. Putting faces to those I’ve only harrasses and taunted in blog posts, comments, and e-mails (like Betsy [wishing you all the best on your knee surgery today!], Mario, Bree, and Gusto Dave!).

But I nearly missed it.

You see, I thought it was the next week, and by “next week,” I mean April 27th – 29th.  Literally, I had my jacket on and was leaving the house, when something (I won’t go into what, but plenty of you out there know what that “what” is…) prompted me to check the PPWC website.

April 20 – 22.

What did I have on my calendar (I even took a picture and showed others this, just in case no one believed me)? What did I take off from my day job?

April 27th, etc.

Yeah.

Can you say “unprepared?”

Head not in the game?

Embarrassed (I had volunteer duties that, uh, got modified, because of this…)?

Needless to say, I said “sorry” a lot this past weekend.

I’ve never (fully, and of my own actions) blown anything out of the water so beautifully and completely as I had this weekend.

Man.

Anywho, I wasn’t alone! Apparently, others had too. At least three of us. Some friends (who periodically checked my sanity throughout the weekend–thank you!–and made sure I was on the right day and time for things, like pitches; many thanks to Laura and Janet and Margaret and Karen for keeping me sane–and for the PPWC staff for your concern and understanding in the matter, especially Chris Myers, who was my volunteer boss) brought a couple of us together to hang our collective heads in amused embarrassment and laugh at ourselves. As one of the people mentioned, just think if we had made flight and hotel reservations….

But, all things considered, it was great getting “back in the game,” as it were. Sometimes life gets so bizzy (case in point), we get so immersed in just living. But as writers, where we are always in our little caves, we do sometimes really need to get out into the “sunlight.”  Get out amongst our peeps. Our peers. Conferences are great places for that.

And you get to meet and pitch to editors, agents, and publishers. Get to know them on a personal basis. Yeah, they really are just like you and me. Get headaches, laugh, converse. Walk (not float inches above) the earth.

Surprise–they even put on their pants one leg at a time.

For the full list of the faculty, click HERE, but we had the likes of Robert Crais and Jeffrey Deaver, Susan Wiggs, and Donald Maass as Keynote Speakers. I am a fan of Bob’s writing (the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike mystery series)–in fact I grew up watching some of the show he’d screenplayed. Bob is truly such a cool guy, extremely personable and accessible. There is an energy about him that has him stand out head-and-shoulders above the rest. I remember meeting and talking with him in the very beginning, way back in 1993 (pardon me if I’m off a year, but I’ve been somewhat time warped this month, as many can attest to…), and every time since, I make it a point to talk with him. Like he said in his Keynote delivery, it’s like he’d grown up with the PPWC. Other samplings include Steve Saffel, of Titan books (another I always make a point of talking with), Lou Anders, of Pyr (that’s “Pie-er”) Books, Mario Acevedo, Kevin J. Anderson, Carol Berg, Mark Coker (Founder and CEO of Smashwords), and  Joe R. Lansdale–another really cool, down-to-earth guy.

And Jimmie Butler, the founder of all things Pikes Peak Writer. He founded the conference 20 years ago and was the driving force for many of its years, before stepping down (the job can be quite taxing, not to mention impact one’s writing life). I’d even attended his critique group for a period of time. It was great seeing and spending time catching up with Jimmie. He’s a great guy, and I hope many attendees had a chance to at least introduce themselves and thank him for all he’d wrought with this conference!

Of course there were others, but I eventually have to post this and return to the real world, so checking my watch, I do see it’s time to go.

And I think it’s Tuesday, no?

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