Writer's Conference

If you have the opportunity to attend a Writer's Conference - go. Each morning, a hundred or more fellow writers started the day with worship and praise. We had compelling speakers share with us about their own journey in writing. I came away knowing I was on the right track but I needed to remember to keep God in everything I did.

I met so many other writers-people like me who were hungry to connect and share where we were in the process of learning, writing and growing. I was challenged to look at my future and determine what steps I should or shouldn't take next. My hope is that God will open the doors I need and affirm to me my choices.

Now to sit down in a quiet corner and sort out the week.

Alone

I leave tomorrow for PA to attend the Conference. I had a call from my mother that she is to have open heart surgery on one of the days I am in state. I am thankful that I would already be near there. I'll be cutting out of the conference a day early and driving to my hometown to be there at the hospital with her. I'll have one day and then have to head back to the area I'm flying out of.

It will be a week packed with emotions-seeing people I rarely see-meeting so many new people. I'm excited about the person I will be in a week and how God will work out all the details.This is one of the few times that my anxiety level about traveling has been low and I know it is all in God's hands.

No longer strangers

We were late getting to Cracker Barrel but she told me to look for a woman in a white shirt and loud black pants. The gift shop was crowded and so I wandered to the back. There she was. I asked if she was Kim, praying she was, yes, she was and we were off and running. Three hours later we were still sharing our lives, writing experiences and family ups and downs. My husband was unbelievably patient sitting there listening the entire time. There is such a connection between two Christians and then also being two writers...well...it was a tiny glimpse into heaven.

Thank you Faithwriters for presenting such an opportunity!

Anticipation

I'm meeting a fellow Faithwriter here in my city on Saturday. We've emailed a few times and have the same love for Christian writing. Of course, we are meeting in a safe place with others but aside from that, I am praying for a great time of fellowship. A few years ago, I met several email friends after many years of emails and phone calls and then an eventual meeting when one friend died. That weekend of support for each other was the door that opened for me into writing. Lori's tremendous story of strength in the face of cancer was printed in Hearts at Home magazine last winter. I felt honored to have been able to share how her life affected so many across the country. A simple email site for stay-at-home moms changed lives for eternity.

I read a funny story today about a woman who decided to be a freelance journalist and then discovered that TV had all these talk shows on all day; that she didn't have to get dressed if she didn't wanted to; and that she could break for lunch, go to the gym or lay out in the sun. Consequently, she accomplished nothing until her son asked her what she did now that she quit her other job. She then made a list of 5 items to complete each day, beginning with prayer, and ending with writing and sending 5 articles out a week.
I could never send out that many out let alone write that many but this story did remind me that gluing myself to my seat and following through on my commitment to write is a daily task. Then the phone rang and it was my best friend. Ugh!. Tomorrow is another day.

Well, I made all the arrangements and I am going to the Writer's Conference myself. Going alone is something I haven't done in a long time. One gets dependent on others around you and I am feeling the need to break out of the box a little. I get excited when I think about meeting so many other writers with like thoughts and also the possibility of speaking in person with a publishing house. I already am wondering which articles to take and which articles will meet their needs. Along with what to wear, what to read on the plane, oh the fun of traveling.

I'm really excited today. I saw a post in the newspaper I get from up north telling about a Writer's Conference. I have yet to go to one and am curious about the opportunity. I think I will call tomorrow and check into it further and if it all comes together -- then I'll go. This particular one is about 20 miles from where I lived; I have friends to stay with and of course it is always nice to go 'home'. Some experienced writers will be teaching classes along with representatives from some pretty decent publishing houses for a low registration fee. Now to pray that I can get a cheap plane ticket too!

I haven't quite figured out how one finds the time to blog and write. I have committed myself to writing 2000 words a day on this book that I wrote back in 1999. I submitted it foolishly, not having any idea how to or what I was doing; but received a very nice critique back from an editor. At the time, life got busier, we moved a year or so later and I stuffed the manuscript in a drawer. It has nagged me ever since.
I need to edit and edit it and clean it up - send it out - and know that at least I finally did with it what I should have years ago. Sadly, it isn't my type of book anymore but I know it still has value. So I hope to get at least 45,000 words done and then move on.