I’m at the 9th San Francisco Writing for Change Conference<\/a>: Writing to Make a Difference For Fiction, Nonfiction and Children\u2019s Book Writers at the Unitarian Universalist Center, 1187 Franklin at Geary. <\/p>\n

I stayed at my son and his wife’s place in the Mission so I could make the 6:00-7:30 SUNRISE PITCHATHON no-host breakfast a block away. Co-director Mike Larsen moderated the event. <\/p>\n

My alarm didn’t go off so I woke late. But with rideshare services – rather than walking the half hour, I thought no problem. But Lyft’s app couldn’t process my payment, repeatedly. Uber balked too. A driver accepted then cancelled. Finally 15 minutes later, after repeatedly closing and reopening both apps. Finally I got one. So late, but got there.<\/p>\n

I was out of position and hadn’t prepared pitches for my major projects. But, listening to others pitches and feedback they got, was useful and inspirational for me to work on and improve mine. <\/p>\n

We walked the hill and talked as we waited for the facility to open.<\/p>\n

We’ve heard Mike Larsen’s welcome, and the consultants introduced themselves. <\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nNina Amir presented 10 Steps to Becoming a Change Agent. At the last one of these, Nina’s talk and a followup consult, provided me with a glimpse of what kind of web presence could be used by someone like me with a number of projects rather than just one. I’ve been slow to implement it, but now it is a work in progress. This post is an example.<\/p>\n

The agenda is online, so I won’t recap it.<\/p>\n

Panelists discussed: Writing for Better Tomorrows<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Kirk Boyd was heading to Geneva to work on a draft global bill of rights encouraged us to look at: http:\/\/www.uniteforrights.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n

I checked the time, and made my 8-minute consult  I’d scheduled with Nina Amir. We touched base and I reminded her of our prior consult. We kept it short, she listened then again urged me to look at the diverse topics and come up with the themes, that roll up to the brand – so you have a tag-line so people know who you are and what you are about. <\/p>\n

At the rest of the break, I spoke with Dan  Linehan <\/a>and Mary Rakow<\/a>. I’d heard Dan read at an open mic night in Livermore. Mary spoke of Dan’s fiction regarding climate change.<\/p>\n

After the break, Mike Larsen introduced Taryn Edwards from their new partner, The Mechanics’ Institute<\/a>.  They are a leading cultural center that includes a vibrant library, a world-renowned chess program and a full calendar of engaging cultural events.<\/p>\n

Panelists discussed publshing : traditional, hybrid, or DIY<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

 Based on the discussion tips, I took a look and opened an account at Ingram Spar<\/a>k, particularly for print. Smashwords<\/a> for e-books still offers broad electronic distribution.<\/p>\n

During lunch break, I bought books on book proposals by Mike Larsen and Andy Ross. Kathy called because she saw the Square payment with name she didn’t recognize. We discussed timing for this evening, we’re going to the Bankhead Theatre, for their 11th Season Opening Gala, featuring The Indigo Girls and much more.<\/a><\/p>\n

We agreed I better leave about 1:30, after the keynote speaker Stephen Dinan.
\n<\/a>
\nStephen Dinan, of The Shift Network,<\/a> and author of Sacred America, m World: Fulfilling Our Mission in Service to All<\/a>. I got a copy for Kindle.<\/p>\n

Stephen wrapped up with Q&A.<\/p>\n

So my time here today has wound down. For me it’s been a jump start and encouragement to get going on my two major writing projects: the Belize “true novel” and Draft Resistance memoir. Meanwhile, I’ve gotten my travel piece on Scotland and Ireland to our CWC TVW<\/a> critique group  and done my critiques of pieces by others.<\/p>\n

On the way home via Lyft, then BART.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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