Last week I returned home after attending the Superstars Writing Workshop. I got to listen to some great authors talk about writing and the business of writing. These weren’t just wanna be writers, these were people like Kevin J. Anderson, Dave Farland, Jody Lynn Nye, Todd McCaffrey, James Owen, and Jim Butcher. And they were all sharing their stories and information. In addition there were some great editors there and an agent for those who were hoping to get traditionally published.
I made some good contacts, learned some things, and met some really welcoming people.
I kept seeing the cost that was going to go up at the end of the week and kept thinking I wanted to go back. Finally, on the last day, I signed up for next year, again. Because this is an experience you don’t want to do just once. This is an experience where you meet people who are also starting their careers and can boost your mood on down days. These are people who know the frustrations and the balance between family and professional life. And then there are those who “have made it”, which I put in quotes considering it likely means something different to everyone. And those pros are there to boost your mood when you’re down, to help out, to offer advice when they can. Because that’s what they do.
It means next year I’ll be in Colorado Springs at the beginning of February and then going out to the Oregon Coast for Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s workshop on writing fantasy in April so it will be a busy spring. I need to get writing, both to pay for this and because I know I’ll be behind on the writing I need to do during that time frame.