SFWC FAQ: What’s the point of a free 8-minute editorial consult?
By Lissa Provst
Independent Editors, Author Coaches, and Public Relations Consultants offer their services at the San Francisco Writers Conference in free 8-minute consultations. But what’s the use? What can you accomplish in 8 minutes? 
To begin with, these consultants can offer their services at the conference for free because they expect to meet a few authors who want to hire them. If you’re planning to self-publish, you will definitely need to consider hiring professional partners to bolster your weak areas. Even traditionally published authors often employ this kind of support to help them get over the finish line getting their work ready to submit.
An in-person 8-minute consultation is usually enough time to know whether this person is a good fit for you and the type of writing you do. You’ll likely conduct your future working relationship over the phone and the internet. Meeting in person at the outset can get you off to a more comfortable and confident start in these critical professional relationships. You can think of your consult as a job interview for them.
Even if you don’t plan to hire their support, these experts are happy to help you. Everyone wants to encourage the next Stephen King, R.L. Stine, or J.K. Rowling. Our attendees are on their way up, and it’s exciting to be part of your journey. They don’t mind at all if you have no intention of hiring help. They’ll give you honest answers to your personal questions about your writing or process to publication.
Make the most of your 8 minutes. In every breakout session, we leave time to ask questions. Still, it’s not always appropriate to ask super-specific questions that only apply to your work. Your free consultation is one place to ask those questions. You can share a short bit of your writing, get feedback on your outline, pitch, summary, query letter, or plans for moving forward. Write down the things you want to ask ahead of time so you don’t forget them in the bustle of the consultation room.
We allow every registered attendee to sign up for one appointment of each type in advance and then, at the conference, open it up for additional appointments based on availability. All signups are online this year to avoid the high-touch process of paper signup forms. The links are in the attendee information email sent to all registered attendees. Be sure to read the consultant bios before making your appointment to consult with an appropriate expert in your genre.
TL;DR – Signup early online for a free consult with an editor in your genre to ask questions specific to your work or interview them to potentially hire for support in your weak areas.
E.A. (Lissa) Provost is the author and illustrator of Diary of E.A.Provost/Diary of that Weird Girl and Love, Joy, & Pees, illustrated poetry books that celebrate family life for its beauty and messiness. To clear up some of that messiness she designed Maggie’s Planner. She is the founder of the cooperative publisher, New Alexandria Creative Group. In her spare time, she is also the San Francisco Writers Conference Director of Operations Poetry Summit Coordinator.
Lissa, I love this post and don’t know why I missed it before we actually had our 2032 Conference. I particularly like how you say that the eight minute freelance editors don’t feel badly if you don’t hire them but are all willing to help you in those few minutes freely and with enthusiasm. This is really true! We want the authors to find their best fit whether it’s for us or someone else.I think that’s why the mood in the room all day long is so positive.Thanks for writing this and I hope some new readers will see it before February when we come together again!
Oops! 2022 not 32! 🙂