My Take on the LDStorymakers Conference

I can't believe that I have waited this long to go to a writers conference. It was fab-u-lous to meet all these wonderful people that are like me--in a writing world.

I now have a strategic list of things to do to improve my writing and more importantly; a great group of friends that have the same goal I have of getting published.

I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to drink my diet coke openly in a conference such as this. You've probably seen those--take a sip from the brown bag type of people. That would be me. But for lunch almost ALL they had was caffeinated drinks [sodas]. What was I so worried about? After all, everyone there were writers, probably up at all hours of the night writing and thus addicted to the sip-n-write-n-stay-alert drink of choice--at least for Mormons.

One of my favorite quotes from the conference was from Dan Wells: "How do people without insomnia get anything done?" My thoughts exactly!

I was also overly anxious about the manuscript review I had with Krista Marino an editor with Delacorte Press. She gave me ideas about where my book stands in the marketplace as well as lines to re-work and character ideas. It was a great learning experience and I would definitely recommend that anyone going to a writing conference with the chance to sign up for a review or a pitch session to DO IT! Agents and editors are not scary people. They want us to succeed as writers.

My work is cut out for me. This week, between cleaning out those blasted planters out back (I swear I purchased magically spawning flower pots they appeared so perfect in the store--they're not--they are a spider-toting-weed-infested-spawn-of-the-devil-by-springtime-pot) and I need to get my pool ready to open, should I even mention what that is like?

Maybe just one thing: I find when I open the cover that those 8 legged creatures from the pots tend to enjoy a good swim thus gravitating to the water where they dive in and swell up to probably thirty times their natural size during the winter. Do you know what that does to an arachnophobe? My hands are shaking just typing up the description. My stomach is doing a butterfly thing. I stopped breathing while writing this. Enough about that.

This week, after I get those things I said done, or hired out to my son who owes me because he went to Boondocks, then I will begin another draft of my manuscripts using all the new info I learned at the conference, starting with the invaluable reviews done on my first chapters.

Cheers to all you writers out there and my new friends. Loved the conference, loved meeting inspiring people and loved the input and suggestions I received. Now, I'm gonna get to work, processing and using all that advice I learned.

It was a dark and stormy night...Oh wait: SHOW DON"T TELL

The absent sound of computer keys grew less noticeable as her breath drew inward with shock...

Ready or Not...

I am heading for my first writers conference this week. Wow! But, I do feel like I felt when going to my first Prom--where I wore a borrowed dress (it looked like one a polygamist women would wear, this was the early 80's) and of course I couldn't dance. If any of you have seen the "Elaine Dance" on Jerry Seinfeld than you know what I'm talking about; and there's nothing like seeing a polygamist doing the Elaine Dance! All this preparation and getting ready, and I'm not sure what to expect.

I have had almost 5 months to prepare and this is where I stand: One manuscript that I decided to redraft (again) last month; One Screenplay (still written in spiral notebooks because I can't decide which screen writing software to purchase; and an unfinished manuscript, which happens to be the one I decided to review with an editor from Delacorte-an imprint of Random House. What was I thinking!

Well, I will go, learn the ins and outs, meet writers and enjoy.

My biggest fear is that, since it's an LDS writers conference, they'll be patting us down to make sure we don't bring in any contraband--like Diet Coke!!!