Read more: "Comadres & Compadres Writers Conference Brought Writers Face-to-Face with Agents, Authors Publishers and Editors."

At the Third Annual Comadres & Compadres Writing Conference, novelist and memoirist Esmeralda Santiago stood and spoke to eager writers, regaling listeners with stories about her life and her induction into writing. Santiago explained that she decided to write about her own childhood for the sake of her own children, who would never know what her life was like in Puerto Rico. She began by writing essays that were included in a local, low-distribution paper and detailed her experience as a Puerto Rican woman living in an area where there weren't very many women like her.

Beyond telling stories from her life, Santiago also shared indispensible wisdom. She stated, "passion, commitment, courage and disciple" were crucial, as well as valuing ones own "process." Not only are writers tasked to discipline themselves and unfailing write every day (for as little as ten minutes), they must also discipline their families to support them.

With humor, but without joking, Santiago advised, "Marry people who understand your process. And, if they don't understand, divorce them." She also stated, "I became a writer when someone told me I was a writer," "You have to become the best editor of your own work" and you "become the writer that you need to be by outlining, doing your research, knowing who you are." She also emphasized the importance of learning how to read a contract.

The final pair of opposing panels were "Writing for Children and Young Adults" and "Self-Publishing." The "Self-Publishing" panel was hosted by panelist and author of "Satin Doll" Karen E. Quinones Miller. And the "Young Adults" panel included panelists Meg Medina ("Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass") and Lila Quintero Weaver ("Darkroom: A Memoir in Black and White") and moderator Shelly Diaz, Senior Editor of the "School Library Journal."

In the "Children and Young Adult" session, the women began a conversation about the exciting and disappointing aspects of being published, as well of the agenda of writing. They reminded listeners that writers write to "make connections," because "books help to make growing up easier" and to add diverse representation where it is absent, doing so by writing diverse characters as "honestly as you can."

The "Pitch Slam" followed the "Children and Young Adult" panel, where writers were given exactly thirty seconds to offer a quick synopsis of their books, and then they were given immediate feedback from industry professionals: Toni Kirkpatrick, who is an editor at Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin Press and Stacy Whiteman, who a publisher at Tu Books. Attendees were also given pointers on how to create an ideal pitch, by including genre, targeted audience, setting, conflict and setting in the short description.

Johana Castillo, VP & Senior Editor at Atria; Nancy Mercado, Editorial Director at Scholastic and Jeff Ourvan, a literary agent at Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency headed the final panel, which was moderated by Adriana Dominguez, who is a literary agent at Full Circle Literary.

They advised that writers share what's in their heart, writing from a place of experience and honesty, but said authors should be "smart about it." They also confessed that industry professional are attracted to authors who are active on social media (e.g. 15,000 Twitter followers), and those who understand the opportunities and challenges associated with publishing.

According to the panels, publishers seldom look to publish collections of short stories, unless it has an experimental structure or the stories fit together. Also, they assured listeners that editors are looking for "Young Adult" Latino authors, stories about large Latino families, and novels that focus on the lives of undocumented children held at the border. Because Latinos authors often focus on memoirs and lack confidence in writing other genres, consequently there aren't very many Latino authors writing Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, and/or Literary Fiction.

However, that will change with the development of events like the Comadres & Compadres writing conferences, which looks to boost Latino voices across the board. Las Comadres even offered proof that the event is beneficial to those who attend. Lesley Tellez took to the stage with literary agent Jeff Ourvan, and she discussed how attending the writing conference two years ago resulted in a book deal, and the upcoming publication of cookbook about Mexican street food, called "Eat Mexico."

To learn more about Las Comadres Para Las Americas and the Comadres & Compadres Writers Conference, visit the Las Comadres website, check out their book, "Count on Me: Tales of Sisterhoods and Fierce Friendships" or find them on Twitter.

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