January 2015 - Be Fearless: Seek Workshops or Conferences

-
Take a workshop. 
Learn to give and take criticism.
                                                         Jodi Picoult


League of Utah Writers Conference 2013
The biggest challenge we writers face is keeping our writing crisp, contemporary, and relevant.  We write in isolation. Some of us may step out in trepidation and join a critique group. We believe we are generous by allowing others to read our "creative scribing." This is a good exercise in improving our writing, but you need to find the masters. "Nothing succeeds like success." (Alexandre Dumas)

Where do you seek success? Well, you might find one or two successful writers in your local writing organizations or you may even live next door to one. Seeking information from successful writers gives one the opportunity to learn. Conferences also help a writer take advantage of some of the new technology, publishing options, agents, editors, etc.

Bing Image
Where do you find these individuals? At writing conferences or workshops, okay, I know they are expensive. Finding an excellent workshop requires research, planning, and an investment of personal time and funds. Every writer needs to budget for a workshop or two each year.

 While you are formulating your writing goals for 2015, make sure you add put a workshop or writers' conference on the list.  Take some time to surf the net for the workshops or conferences you think will rejuvenate you and your writing career. After all, you are what you write.  If character development holds up your writing, a webinar could be all you need. If you want to meet agents, plan on attending a large writer conference. Check out conferences in Sun Valley, New York, Chicago,  Las Vegas, or San Francisco.

If you live on the West Coast venture to an East Coast Conference. If you are a Midwesterner, look at a conference in Canada or a Southern state. Look beyond the area you reside to extend your "writing  network." Sometimes it is not only the speakers of the workshop or convention, but the location that propels you to reach your writing goals.

Genre driven writers' organizations offer local and national events.  Research these opportunities. You may find something interesting. This is an investment in you, the writer. It is an opportunity to get you out to discover yourself.

So, if you truly are a "fearless writer," find a workshop, conference, or webinar, or two to sharpen your skills in 2015.


References: writing.shawguides.com

pw.org (click on "Tools for Writers, click on "Conferences")









Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Women's History Month: Inspiring Women

-
Image
When we talk about Women's History Month we think of Pocahontas and Sacajawea who helped the explorers of this country.  We think of Abigail Adams and Dolly Madison who were on the forefront of the beginning of this country.  We don't want to forget the great suffragists who worked for and won the right to vote for U.S. women.   We are reminded of  "Rosie the Riveter" and all the brave women of America who took over the "men's positions" in the factories.  The production numbers of these women are still noteworthy to this day. We honor the women who took those brave first steps to serve and continue to serve in the military. The first scientists, teachers, humanitarians, politicians, the list continues as we look for role models to inspire and encourage us.   Is there a scientist, teacher, or humanitarian who inspired you ?  Share these women with my followers, audience, and me. Sh
Read more

December 2016 Book Review: Maeve's Times

-
Image
Warning to all writers who scribe thoughts on bits and scraps of paper and throw them in a box to rewrite later.  Those bits and scraps may be published posthumously.  Maeve Binchy's husband, Gordon Snell, found her "to do later" box. He built a biography of her life with her thoughts, articles, and ramblings. Maeve's Times  is dated and referenced making it easy to follow. Thank you Mr. Snell for sharing insights into her professional and personal life. Her spirit lives on with her words.  This author captured my attention with Copper Beeches.  Maeve Binchy wrote about what she saw, lived, and felt. Her stories reflected both Irish country and city life. Each book made me feel better about people. She wrote about hard times and working through them. She wrote about love and love lost. Her book Minding Frankie demonstrates a community pulling together to help a neighbor. Any of her titles are a "goodread."
Read more

Be Strategic: Write A Holiday Memory

-
Image
The momentum of the holidays propels us into a frenzy of cooking, shopping, wrapping, decorating, entertaining, cleaning, and overindulging. Writing becomes an after thought in the midst of multiple "to do" lists. BREATH . Schedule a break, whittle some time for your writing. Utilize these small chunks of time to "Write A Memory."  Exercise your creativity with the keyboard or a paper and a writing instrument to describe a "who, what, where, or how" about the Holiday Season. Find a quiet place and expound on the following events of the season or better still, scribe about something you experienced that day or during the season "to be jolly." Cookie Exchange: Do you participate in this activity? Why or Why not? If you did, what was your choice of cookie? Who participates your exchange?  Decorating the Outside of Your House: Who does it? How do you prepare for it? Describe the feelings and emotions of the participants of this outdoor acti
Read more