5 Things that I learned at the Liberty States Writers Conference
Social Media. It’s a curse and necessity. There are news studies that say people get hooked and waste time on social media. It can lead to depression or anger. However, a lot of books were sold after readers showed their favorite’s on TikTok. It’s the cheapest word of mouth advertising. There are reels of bookstores and libraries on sites. I can understand how person can spend too much time on these sites. It is easy to forget to write or do other things.
The publishing world changes constantly. What I was told a decade ago about the publishing world doesn’t exist. There are fewer big publishers. Mass market paperbacks are or will be extinct soon. Self publishing isn’t the curse word it once was. Where do new writers go? The agents are still looking for new books. I went to several workshops to get answers. The big stores and publishers aren’t what they once were, but if you want to create your opening, there are possibilities.
AI is going to be a problem. There is AI slop in memes on line, but there is also AI slop in the publishing world. There are people that will use AI to write a product, not write the journey of the story. AI can churn out books in little time. The feelings of character and options involved in a conflict are important to a reader. Will readers know or care if a book is all computer generated? If there is a flood of AI titles, how will the author get through? How much using AI in research is cheating versus using AI to write for you? Europe has taken steps to protect copyrights and true work. Will the campaign funding whores and dinosaurs in our government do anything to protect us? There are still more questions than answers right now.
Publishing is super competitive. Writing is not. I met authors who traveled from other states. I met writers that I never heard of or would never had heard of. They traveled to meet writers they never heard of. We exchanged author info. I added a lot of books to my “to-read” list after meeting these authors for the first time.
You’re never too young or never too old. I met retirees who have stories to tell. I met first time authors looking for direction. The big seller author sat next to first time authors in workshops. The older person looking to find out how to publish sat next to the new author looking for opportunities.
6 Good Things About this year’s Liberty States Writer Conference for me
Free books in the welcome bag. Free is always good, but a bag full of books just for showing up. Throw in pens and a notebook for the workshops. How great is that?
Writers are supposed to be introverts. They are super chatty when they get together.
Lunch was good. Changing trends, AI, imposter syndrome are easier to handle after a roast beef sub.
I woke up that morning with half-done stories. No new ideas were working out. Maybe it’s time to find a new hobby or outlet. After the day at the conference, I have a story to-do list, ideas on how to fix the works in progress and blogs to write. I have some new contacts. Coaches would call that “inspiration.”
Free coffee is a bad thing. I got a good amount of refills. I may have drank the whole coffee urn.
In a conference full of published authors and writing teachers, it’s easy to feel imposter syndrome. I’m not selling a hundred copies of anything. I met authors that called a hundred sales a “slow day.” What am I doing here? I met some people were starting out. There were a lot of pluses so I’ll come back next year.
February 2, 2026
Back during the worst of Covid, Taylor Swift wrote two albums. Springsteen remixed 7 albums worth of material. I started several stories that I still haven’t finished to this day.
2026 will be the year I finish projects or start the ones that I want to.
I started writing a book about singer-songwriter and producer Teddy Randazzo. There wasn’t much out there so I figured that I would write the book and release it when the worst of Covid ended. Here I am years later and still editing. I kept finding new information and songs of his I want to explore. This year I will say, “here is the story the world should know.
I’ve been writing a sci-fi story and is still practically in its first stages. I changed the ending three times. I changed the characters names and I need to give companies and enemies better names.
My blogs will focus on “what ever became of” music artists. With a non-fiction book about a songwriter, I wonder what happened to other artists that I used to know.
Writing conferences coming up. I’ll let you know how they go.
There are book fairs coming up, I’ll let you know how they go.
There are podcasts on writing, music, publishing and marketing. I’ll share who helps me.
More blogs.
I’ll revisit this at the end of the year to see how I did. Join me.
2025 in review:
I have a website jjlairauthor.net where I post news and copies of blogs from https://mixtapeshistory.blogspot.com. I usually post every week unless I’m taking a pause to change topics or themes.
I got 1052 visits on my website. The most were at the end of the year. It was a 177% jump from the prior year. My website doesn’t tell me the most popular posts but the website got traffic.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by.
The most popular blogs were about Classics Bookstore from February 22, 2025. The posts about the state of the comics pages and my look into the comic strip Blondie from March 22, 2025 to August 9, 2025 got a lot of you interested. The most popular post was about the Arts and Craft Show that I was involved in December 2025.
Thank you to everyone that stopped by to read the posts and comment.
I will keep the posts coming to interest you in 2026.
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June 13, 2025
Last summer and into autumn, I read books about superspy James Bond for the summer. There were too many books and it took too much time. I re-read some old Fleming titles and then I got into the John Gardner penned books.
I read the Fleming books years ago and enjoyed the re-read last year. This year, I have an Anthony Horowitz and Sebastian Faulk book and some more Gardner books to read.
I discovered another author picked up after Gardner and I look forward to reading those. Steve Cole picked up young Bond after Charlie Higson.
There are no more movies on the horizon. I don’t know if I would care who takes the role next. Amazon owns the property now and who knows what will happen.
I’ll share my reviews and podcasts and YouTube videos about Bond I discover this summer.
May 9
The manuscript has been professionally edited. It was beta read. Several writing critique groups have helped work out paragraphs. Family members read it. I sent it for publishing and got an author proof. After all that, I found a typo. I fixed the typos and sent it for publishing. I got the author proof. I reviewed it for formatting and spacing. I found a sentence that I just didn’t like. After that, there was a paragraph that would work better in Chapter 5.
I made fixes, sent for publication and got a proof back. That last scene could be stronger.
Wash Rinse Repeat
I waited to review the proof. A little time away will clear my head and I will see this better. That scene in chapter 10 could be clearer. What if I describe the room better and build more tension? While I’m at it, what else is there?
Wash Rinse Repeat.
Ok is this formatted correctly? It has to be done after all these edits. Except except except that person left the room and is still talking.
Wash Rinse Repeat
I have another proof copy. I hope it’s good. After all these edits, it has to be publish ready. I really don’t want to read it. Please don’t let me find a sentence I don’t like.
That proof is sitting on the table. Will I ever think it’s perfect? Do authors do this all the time?
That proof copy is on the table taunting me.
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Why do I write so much about getting Diamond Dallas Page in the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
The New Jersey Hall of Fame has scientists, politicians, entertainers and sports players. There are no professional wrestlers among the sports or entertainment figures. The first pro wrestler to enter should be Dallas Page.
Page graduated Pt. Pleasant High School and still has connections to the shore. When his self-published autobiography came out, the first signing was at the Brick Barnes and Noble.
Why him in the Hall of Fame?
Page was a champion in the World Championship Wrestling Federation. He won multiple titles in his career as he worked his way up. He headlined several pay-per-view events. He is already a Hall of Famer in the WWE Hall of Fame.
He could’ve retired and counted his money. Instead he realized that he could retire comfortably because of several people in his life. He took their advice on workouts and healthy living. He created DDP Yoga. This program is a mix of coaching, workouts and diets to help people. These programs have been for people with health issues, medical issues and the need for motivation. He didn’t create a program for those already into working out. It was for the average person.
The Asbury Park Press has done several articles about the success stories through the program. There have been documentaries about the program.
Page had a successful career and used that fame to help others. That is what a Hall of Fame person should be.
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Recently I was interviewed on a video podcast by Cal Schwartz. His series “Conversations with Cal” has thousands of viewers. We talked about self-publishing through the years, the current state of self-publishing, favorite authors, movies and New Jersey life.
Here is the video:
onversations with Calvin; WE the SpecIES https://www.youtube.com/@conversationswithcalvinwethesp
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The main bookstore in Trenton. There is a section of book from local authors. I have been to group author signings all year round. I participated in several over the years. There are books behind books on shelves. Hidden treasures everywhere.
Copies of Dream Dancing and Murder in the Mirror are also available at Classics Bookstore in Trenton NJ. You can visit their website here: www.classicsusedbooks.com
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