It happened, folks. I (virtually) attended my first writing conference.
Don’t panic. I have read, researched, and studied voraciously over the last couple years to hone my craft. I’ve read blogs, how-to books, read, read, read, and read some more, discussed with other authors I know, etc. I felt pretty good about how much I learned through those methods.
It almost feels like I have been “sipping” the writing craft thus far, taking in a little at a time as I could manage. From The Storymakers Conference, I feel like I chugged a full mug, and the rest of the 2-liter still sits before me (in the form of video recordings of the courses I haven’t watched yet).
I came away from what I’ve learned so far with a HUGE increase in motivation to write, plot, chart, organize, design, and more. There were certainly also some moments of panic and “I seriously don’t know what I’m doing compared to so-and-so,” BUT the majority of my impressions were overwhelmingly positive.
From my interactions on social media (mainly twitter @dawn_ludlow), I already knew the writing community was INCREDIBLY kind and supportive. But all my interactions were digital and distant (other than the few writers I know personally, the ones I used to go to camp with or play sports with), and it is a whole ‘nother ball game to see them face-to-face.
Some of them used to be JUST-LIKE-ME! It was crazy how many of them now have 10, 20, 100 books published who say they started with just one or two books 2-20 years ago.
When all was said and done, it essentially left me feeling like this:
My arc is not the same as anyone else’s. I am writing stories that SOMEONE (hopefully, a lot of someones) want to read. I just have to help them find me, and I have to make sure I have the BEST possible book waiting for them when they come. (For the record, the one I already have out is pretty great… Just saying.)
I am excited to keep getting better and better while I wait for the rest of the world to find me.
Dawn Ludlow 