For those of you who have attended a major writers' conference you know how overwhelming it all can be. I returned from the SCBWI Summer Conference in Los Angeles to my Pacific Northwest home earlier this week with thoughts and emotions whirling around my mind like the wind racing down the Columbia River Gorge! Although I have attended many writers' events, a regional SCBWI retreat, and the Wordstock Conference in Portland, Oregon, the annual SCBWI Summer Conference is in a category all of its own. Thankfully, the fast-paced 3-4 day event clicked on in me the ability to keep to a tight schedule from my dental hygiene days. I am proud to say that I didn't skip one scheduled session (of my choice) that I could attend...but, boy did I pay the price. I was so glad that I had a hotel room of my own, where I collapsed in bed late each night. Processing through all of the inspiring information will take me weeks, if not months. Here are the musings that still linger in my mind:
* The amazing authors who gave keynote addresses - setting the bar of excellence so high that I am extremely proud to be an aspiring children's book author.
* The wonderful workshops where I received great information and education.( More to incorporate into my writing.)
* The accomplished agents and editors that I met who were all nice, but no-nonsense.
How else would you expect them to be? ^_^
* The SCBWI members I met from around the world: Australia, Canada, Great Britain, South Africa, and numerous states in our own country. The memories of hanging out with 1,234 booklovers will last a lifetime.
* The humor and fun provided by the executive director of SCBWI -
Lin Oliver - it was contagious. I found myself constantly smiling, or outright laughing. What a blast!
* The encouragement and inspiration I received to stay the course of my storyteller's journey. I heard so many tales from published authors of the ups and downs of our business, that I realized anew just what I've signed up for.
I'll leave you with a quote that I heard from Gary D. Schmidt:
"Speed is never the friend of the writer."
I hope this gives you a bit of insight into the workings of a major writers' conference, if you've not already attended one.
Next Friday my blog post title will be: Meeting Literary Masters.
I'd love to hear about your experience(s) of attending a conference!
