Before attending RWA 2018 in Denver this year, I made a list of goals. Conferences can easily be overwhelming – especially for introverts. Two parties in two days? That’s more than I’ve attended in the last year. Add to all of that angst a broken foot and sprained ankle in a walking cast, and goals became more important than ever.
How’d I do? I did ALL the things on my list.
- I got to listen to Beverly Jenkins and Cathy Maxwell about graciousness and kindness in writing whether you’re dealing with plot struggles, publishing turmoil, difficult people, or general everyday craziness.
- Shelly Laurenston was at this conference people! Her speech about pushing through anxiety and depression almost had me in tears at the luncheon. And my amazing roommate stood in line for an autographed copy of her Hot & Bothered because I’m a superfan who convinced her to the buy Laurenston’s entire backlist. Y’all don’t even know how excited I was.
- Twitter friends are amazing. You can take breaks. You can talk without putting on makeup. You become CP’s and support systems. Meeting in real life is intense but in the very best of ways.
- I made it through speed pitch. Luckily, my DA brain took over and ran the show for my writer brain who’d curled up in tremors by the door.
- I went to Kiss of Death’s Death by Chocolate Party where my second manuscript had made finalist. I also went to the costume party for our paranormal chapter (FF&P) and won 1st place for best costume. I kind of cheated. Let’s face it – “Things that Go Bump in the Night” is totally my bag. Plus I dressed in a formal to hide the above-mentioned walking cast. And my first manuscript is a finalist in their On The Far Side.
I got to meet so many people and hear a wide variety of speakers. All the better to make my writing stronger.