The Write Way…(because there is no Right way)

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Almost conference time! Amazing that it’s already rolled around again, but now that it has, the annual panic is setting in!

For those of us attending National, we’ve started the downhill slide into pre-conference madness.

There are the pages you didn’t get done, the dry-cleaning you still have to pick up, the packing you’re sure to start a week before you leave so you don’t forget anything and the plans you’re making to meet up with friends we see only once a year.

And in the middle of the hub-bub, there’s you know…..WORK. Conference, as much fun as it is, is also your annual chance to learn from the veterans. All of us can stand to learn a few things, not just the newbies among us. Agents, editors, multi published writers are all giving workshops and this is an opportunity not to be missed.

But do yourself a favor. Don’t try to make all of them. Go over the workshop schedule. Find a few every day that REALLY interest you and go to them. If you spend your whole conference racing from one spot to another, you won’t have time to appreciate any of it. You can by the CD’s of all the workshops and listen to them when you get home.

At National, make the most of meeting other writers, talking about your books, your plans, listening to someone else. If you’re meeting with an editor or an agent, don’t sweat the pitch, just describe your book BRIEFLY and listen carefully to what they tell you. Conference is our annual shot at reconnecting with the only people in the world who actually understand how we feel about writing. Relish it.

And make notes. I’m going to want to hear all about it at the August meeting………..

Maureen Child is the author of more than 100 romance novels and novellas and is at the moment, doing her mental packing….

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8 Comments

Anonymous
on July 17, 2008
Kate, of COURSE I’m talking about you!! That’s what friends are for. Besides, I did the dry cleaning last week!!

Still working on the getting the shoes comfy thing…..

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Anonymous
on July 17, 2008
Maureen, are you talking about me again? Because I still have to take the dry cleaning in and I haven’t finished any pages and I still need to buy a new pair of pants and some shoes. I mean, I’m going a little crazy here. No wait. I’m not going a “little” crazy. I’m going seriously crazy!

I love the idea of setting a few goals for the conference, Jen. I’ll sit down and figure out my goals any minute now.

I love the CD’s! They keep me going all year long ’til the next conference!

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Anonymous
on July 17, 2008
Michele, honey, you’ve gotta have time to break those new shoes in!!!

OR..get those little Steppies to put inside ’em. They’re fabulous!!

And willingness to share?? Oh baby, try to shut some of us UP!! Impossible……..

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Anonymous
on July 17, 2008
Marianne, the mental UN packing is a deep, dark secret known only to a few….unfortunately I am not one of them. sigh.

But oh yeah, the CD’s are absolutely worth it!

Can’t wait to see you and hear more about the new place!

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Anonymous
on July 17, 2008
Jen, exactly! My first conference I ran around like a maniac trying to see everything and learn everything and ended up so wiped out it was nuts… Way better to do a few things a day!

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Anonymous
on July 17, 2008
The shoes I still need to buy to go WITH the outfits I’ve already bought for conference…ARRGH…I’m running out of time! Hey, I’ll just go barefoot and save myself the trouble–more comfortable anyway. 😉

Yep, I “third” the few goals or workshops a day. And you’re so right…I really do come away from conference having learned so much from the veterans in the business. I certainly appreciate their willingness to share their experiences!

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Anonymous
on July 17, 2008
Hum! Mental packing? Is there mental UNpacking as well? If so I could really use that skill.

And I second the few goals or workshops a day. The conference CD is well worth the money.

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Anonymous
on July 17, 2008
Great advice Maureen! Especially makeing notes and sharing what we learned with each other.

For me, I try to set a couple goals and the rest I just go with the flow. I usually come home feeling successful that way.

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