Am I in Massachusetts or Georgia? Since the 9th of February, I've spent most of my time in Boston with Mom and her now healing kneecap. (By the way..... she will come back home tomorrow and will finish PT- pain and torture...er, I mean physical therapy- at home.)
Anyway, I took a break this past weekend, came back to GA and went to stay in a hotel where the SpringMingle SCBWI writers' conference was being held. The conference was awesome and as inspiring as last year- my first conference- but what a difference a year makes!
Last year.....went alone, knew no one, found it kind of difficult to connect to people.
This year..... had an unknown roommate who turned out to be fun and sweet and a talented writer, knew at least a dozen people (from blogs, events attended this year), and found it fairly easy to talk with others.
Last year's career progress....... slim and none, except for 50 business cards in hand.
This year's career progress....... web site, blog, NEW business cards, connection to core players in Southern Breeze because I offered to help and volunteered to assist at conference, as well as 4 stories written and beginnings of 2-3 more.
The speakers at SpringMingle are always motivating. I want to dive back into my writing and just write, write, write! Of course, it doesn't help to be flying between states so much. Of course, if I had a laptop, it would all go with me.
I'd love to buy a laptop. I want to buy a laptop. But I also want to go to the national SCBWI conference in Los Angeles at the end of July and that will cost at least $1,000- $1,500 between flights, hotel, and conference costs. Retiremnet on a teacher's pension means making some choices and I want to go to that conference more than I want the laptop. I guess the writing will have to be done in a notebook and transferred to the desktop for now. Not exactly 21st century technology but it will have to do.
Here's hoping tomorrow will bring scheduled flights that don't get cancelled so I can wing my way back to Massachusetts. I think I'm really in the state of Confusion!
Welcome!
I'm not new to talking, sharing ideas, or stating my opinion, especially stating my opinion! After all, I taught elementary school for 30 years! However, my audience has typically been smaller,just family, the classroom, or just talking to myself!
My blog has two goals: be an outlet for sharing thoughts on writing children's books and the path to publication (got my fingers crossed that I'll get there) and a place to chronicle my journey of losing my sight. Sometimes I imagine these two paths will overlap .
My blog has two goals: be an outlet for sharing thoughts on writing children's books and the path to publication (got my fingers crossed that I'll get there) and a place to chronicle my journey of losing my sight. Sometimes I imagine these two paths will overlap .
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
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Glad we had a chance to chat but I feel as if the whole weekend was a whirlwind of snatched conversations! It's that whole Time in a Bottle thing: There's never enough time to do the things you want to do once you find them!
ReplyDeleteOh, and laptops are getting cheaper and cheaper. One story sale and whee! (Good luck!)
LOVE the new picture Gail! And it's tough to make choices when it comes to writing, isn't it? I got a new laptop this year, so we will not be going to the conference in LA. Bummer. But don't forget you can write all writing related expenses off on your taxes! You're a writer now!
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