This weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Roanoke Regional Writer's Conference. I went to some great classes on everything from "Advice from Literary Agents", and "Selling the Sense of Wonder: Writing, Marketing and Surviving Science Fiction/Fantasy and Horror", to "Playing with Words: What Poetry Can Teach the Prose Writer about Metaphors and Word Play" and "Writing and Getting Your Novel Published". I was able to catch up with some old friends and hopefully make some new (I'm still iffy on whether someone accepting you on Facebook after such an event really indicates a friendship/working relationship). I received a great deal of good information, but excitedly for me, I was also in a position to give out some good information as well. I didn't feel completely lost at this conference. I knew the language that was being spoken, and I was able to converse in what felt like a well educated and somewhat experienced manner. Not feeling lost, but rather like I belonged is a new sense of wonder for me. The two invaluable things I garnered from this conference are affirmation and confidence.
I am doing the right things. I may not be doing them as often as I should, or with as much passion and energy as I should, but I'm doing them. I'm on the right track and am chugging right along. If I continue down this path, I will get to where I want to be. Every conference or workshop is just another step along the way.
I also realized, that I really need to not just focus my writing down to the summer. While that is the most obvious and easiest time for me to pursue this dream, there are things I can and should be doing during the school year. Every conference or workshop gets me back on the "write" track. I wrote more fiction than I took notes on Saturday. I hadn't had a new idea for a story in at least three months, but I churned out the first line to three different stories and three and a half pages of another one during my sessions this weekend. I really need to find more of these weekender type conferences to keep me moving during the school year.
So I'm off to finish my novel. My current goal is 4 - 6 weeks to first final draft. I'm also going to get these story ideas down quickly before they dissipate so I'll have something short and fun to come back to when the novel work gets too heavy.
YEAH! But to quote my sister (rough translation) "Should should be banned from this conversation." Feel free to substitute "might" or "could" but "should" carries too much sense of guilt, lack of initiative, or wrongness of current action (my own dictionary!), none of which apply here, as far as I can tell. You are already one BUSY and talented lady, caring deeply about everything you do! You have MANY irons in the fire, including a wonderful family - great husband and adorable and inspiring children - your paying job, taking care of yourself, etc. Any time you spend on any of these things at the 'expense' of your writing is (of course) not wrong, just a different choice for that moment. Yes, look for more moments/time to focus on your writing, but don't 'should' yourself with even a little bit of guilt if you don't find those moments as often as you MIGHT. Just keep on finding and following your passion every moment, every day - including writing as much possible! :-) Love you!!
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