Tomorrow. Tomorrow is almost here. Tomorrow I go to my first Writer’s Conference. I’m all of the emotions, and I have something for my readers!
In talking with my writer friends, and reading various conference related blogs, I’ve been given some very amazing advice. Chief amoung them is that its OK to be overwhelmed, and bring something to pitch because you just never know. Well I’ve been feeling that first one for a couple weeks, and the second one is my purpose for going! My goal is to learn and brainstorm and bounce ideas of the titans in the industry. If someone loves my idea, I had best get to writing!
I don’t have much if anything written out in actual novel form, but the stories are there, and general outlines exist. The hard part for me has been organizing them into bite sized elevator pitches. Attempting to cram my brain into a single sheet of paper, or four sentences has definitely attributed to advice number one: I’ve been a little overwhelmed.
So here’s what I did: I took the 2014 NFL MVP Aaron Rodger’s advice: R-E-L-A-X.
*deep breath*
At the end of July, I drove north to Wisconsin on a family vacation. This trip was crazy like family visits always are and consisted of the following:
- A drive to see a friend in Rochester, MN
- A Surprise visit from my sister who lives in Mexico
- Pizza, burgers, ribs, local Maple rootbeer, and early morning donuts
- A trip to Lambeau Field
- Water fun at my other sister’s VBS night
- Hours of conversation with family
- Paddle boats, rowboats and kayaks
- over 2000 miles of driving
It was stressful at the worst, and absolute enjoyment at the best. With the right attitude a family visit can do wonders for the soul. But in the back of my mind for most of the trip was this little thought: You’re not ready for Realm Makers.
I pushed that stupid voice aside and put on my thinking cap! At this point, I’ve studied who will be there, I have hard copies printed out, and I’ve had an amazing friend make me some professional business cards for me as an writer. The exciting thing I’m introducing today is that I’ve started something new: A newsletter!
Currently I don’t think I have enough going on to fill out a monthly email, so the plan is to send one out quarterly. When you sign up, you’ll be signing up for updates about what I’m working on. I will be including new short stories that will only be in the newsletter. I know my blog sends out an update when I make a new post, and I try to get that info for Facebook, so the newsletter will be all original content. I also want to use it to address some FAQs I get and do some by request stories and maybe even a poll to write the ending of a story!
Once I decided to relax and not be so high strung about not being prepared, my creative juices started flooding. I’ve organized four of my stories into general outlines and brief summaries and I have them color coded in folders so that when I’m flustered that *insert famous author* is asking about my writing, I can pull out the right story. I have my outfits mostly planned and have budgeted what monies I’m permitting myself to spend. And I’ve plotted which nerf guns to hide where. Realm Makers, I’m ready!
If you’re interested in receiving my semi-annual/quarterly newsletter, follow this link: Newsletter Singup
I don’t know if you’ll receive an email right away. I’m new to the newsletter thing, so please be patient while I work through these bugs.
Keep plugging away Josh! Have fun at the conference.
Thanks Carol! I’ll keep everyone posted!