Superhero Workshop

I attended my first writers workshop yesterday, with all those League of Utah Writers. A friend has told me that they sound like a Superhero Club. If that was so, then at best I might be considered a side-kick! So me, the side-kick, paid some annual dues and joined.

It was suggested to me to make up some business cards. Thanks DeNae! (For great entertainment and a good laugh you should check out her blog)I took her advice and made up some business cards the night before I went--Seeing as I'm only a side-kick I printed them up myself. But, I felt so ready, with my spiral notebook stuck inside my purse along with my last-minute-but-way-cool-business-cards as I walked in and took a seat amongst the Superheros of the writing world. I'm sure the Superheros sitting there with their laptops, netbooks and flash drives didn't even notice me yanking my blue spiral notebook out of my purse.

Two people introduced themselves to me and I felt really awesome handing them MY CARD, until one of them told me how he had prepared! He had, in fact, come REALLY prepared. He had brought extra chapters and a full manuscript with him and was able to give his first page to an editor there--WHO--read it and then asked for the rest of his manuscript...I think at that point he ran to a phone booth and opened his shirt, pulled out his manuscript, ran back and calmly handed it to her, and stepped back with his hands on his waist and his cape waving in the wind.

Bottom line...I wish I would have come this prepared! I may never pass the test to become a real Superhero, but, I am determined to learn from them and grateful for all that I was taught yesterday!

----Side-Kick Wendy

I met a real writer...

I have a special friend who lately has been encouraging me to get out of my shell and go forward by signing up for writing conferences and meet authors and actually comment on blogs. I have taken her advice and have found that, although I consider myself lacking in people skills, I actually have it in me to do these things. Even though I still feel awkward and nerdy.

Today I met author Josi S. Kilpack. She has 11 books published and today she did a presentation at my son's Jr. High for career day. She did a fabulous job on her presentation to these scary Jr. high kids--which I would be very intimidated by--she had them, as well as myself, hanging on every word!

I met her in Mrs. Gray's English classroom. She was so nice and answered my questions very patiently. When it came time for the kids to file in and for her to do her presentation, Mrs. Gray asked me if I would like to introduce Josi in front of the students. I chuckled. Somehow she had gotten the impression that Josi and I were best buds! I'm sure she received this impression because of the friendliness of Josi, herself. And...of course I would have been honored to introduce her as my best friend and author of 11 books, the one and only Josi Kilpack! With a round of applause from the audience. Maybe someday...

But, in the meantime, I recommend any of you to pick up one of her books and read it. I am going to buy her book Lemon Tart. Check out her blog, listed above. If any of you have read it or have any comments please write them below. And...thanks to many wonderful friends and family who are encouraging me in my profession. I appreciate you all!

Character Names

I have not posted for a couple weeks; I have been preparing for a writers conference I signed up for in April-the LDS Storymakers Conference. I am very excited about this conference. Last week I sent in a few of my first chapters for the First Chapter Contest they are having.

I am showing a new brave side of myself. I even went to a League of Utah Writers chapter meeting this week. While there I discovered so many ways that I can improve. One of which is grammar. I know that my dear mother, and my brother-Sassafras-(who edited my chapters for me)will both be very glad to know that at this meeting they covered grammar. I learned a lot and hopefully some of it will STICK in my brain.

Another area where I can improve--one of many other areas I'm sure--is coming up with character names. My children think I'm very lame when it comes to names--my middle daughter especially--she hates her given name. My husband, who is a police officer, saw her name on a missing persons milk carton and we fell in love with the name. It is a boys name, but I happen to know an actress with the same name, but somehow that doesn't make it OK for my daughter.

This became especially apparent when I made HER an OBGYN appointment and the Doctor's office called me back. They had to make sure we called the correct Doctor and that HE needed this type of appointment. I felt really bad. Last week when SHE went to a drive through and handed them HER debit card, they would not give HER the hamburger SHE wanted until SHE proved that SHE was the person named on the debit card. SHE showed them HER drivers license and proved it! They should have given the poor GIRL a FREE MEAL!

I am sure that anyone who doesn't know my daughter's real name is wondering what it could possibly be? How bad could it really be? If I ever decide to not be paranoid-remember my husband is a cop-then I'll tell ya. But, her nickname is Neuman--which I'm sure doesn't help AT ALL!

Well...back to my books...I'm going for 10 pages today...How about the name...Bob? I'm much better at nicknames!