Pay It Forward Day

March 5, 2022…

The schedule (subject to change):

11:45 a.m. to 12:00 noon Eastern time: Martin L. Shoemaker. Topic: Welcome remarks.

12:00 noon to 12:50 p.m. Eastern time: C. Stuart Hardwick. Topic: Career Lessons for New Writers.

1:00 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. Eastern time: Kevin McLaughlin. Topic: The Coffee Break Novelist.

2:00 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. Eastern time: Melissa F. Kaelin. Topic: Revise to Impress Your Readers: Getting Constructive Feedback & Finding Writers Groups.

3:00 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. Eastern time: Mike Jack Stoumbos. Topic: The Quick and Dirty Novel Plan.

4:00 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. Eastern Time: Andrea Stewart and Marina Lostetter discuss world building. Moderated by Tina Gower.

5:00 p.m. to 5:50 p.m. Eastern Time: Crystal Renee Bechler on Kindle Vella.

5:50 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time: Martin L. Shoemaker. Topic: Closing remarks.

What is it?

Well, first, it’s the birthday of the late Mike Resnick. Mike was one of many mentors in my writing career. Like the others, he had a strong Pay It Forward ethos.

These mentors Pay It Forward to new writers, with the hope that we in turn will continue the chain. Mike in particular made it a point to “adopt” new writers whom he believed had potential. These became Mike’s Writer Kids, and he was their Writer Dad. I’ve received nominations and awards. I’ve had the #2 book on Amazon for a day. But one of the proudest moments of my career was when Mike declared me to be his Writer Son. And I want to live up to that legacy.

So on Mike’s birthday, I want to Pay It Forward. I want to talk to new writers–heck, any writers!–and share lessons learned from my mentors and my career so far.

And I’m not alone! I’m talking to other writers and creators. I can’t say who yet (since I don’t know yet, not for sure, but probably more of Mike’s Writer Kids), but we should be able to have a number of speakers.

And it will be free. This isn’t about making money, this is about Pay It Forward.

If you’re interested in attending, contact me at my web site.

Yes, this is insane.

I know this is insane: trying to put together a one-day writing event on five days notice.

But I’ve never let a challenge stop me. If it doesn’t go well, I’ll have wasted a week on an interesting experiment.

And if it works, we’ll Pay It Forward. That’s important. We owe it to Mike and the others who’ve taught us. And so we owe it to you.

Just one more thing…

The Pay It Forward ethos is based in part on the idea that you can’t really pay it back. But you can. The writing community recently lost another beloved mentor, Dave Wolverton. Pay It Forward Day is 100% free; but if you’d like, you can help Dave’s family with the expenses that he leaves behind.