That night, after being lost for almost an hour, we finally found an Applebee's and stopped for dinner. Ironically, they had kid's menu's with Eric Carle's artwork (Children's book illustrator)! Cute and a good way to pass the time as we waited for the food!
When we got back to the hotel, I was so excited for the next day I couldn't sleep! I reviewed my itinerary so many times, and just laid in bed imagining what the next day would bring!
Saturday morning, I woke bright and early...to a toothache! I was so nervous because it was SO painful, but there was NO way I was missing anything, so I took a few aspirin and put the rest in my purse. Then I rushed to get ready, and was on my way!
After registration and picking up a few handouts, I entered into a room full of writers! The first speech, after an intro by Sue Ford, was given by Lynne Palvino, an Clarion Editor. It was very interesting. She spoke about what a slush pile was (where all the sent in manuscripts are placed, and one of a writer's biggest fears), about what would catch an editor's eye, and what would make them turn their eye. She presented it in a very fun way, and had the room rolling in laughter at different points!
Next Alexandra Penfold, a Simon and Schuster editor (who I really thought looked like Mia from the Princess Diaries Movies), spoke. She gave some great insight as well, hitting on some similar points that Palvino had, but adding her own little spark!
Both of these women really opened up my eyes! I have always had a fear of Editor's, pegged them as the big, scary, wolf kind of people! But they aren't! It really took away many of my fears, and even got me excited all over again about sending out my manuscripts!
Next, Lin Oliver gave her speech. She amazes me, and is truly an awesome lady! She spoke about the importance of never giving up, the importance of believing, and the importance of hard work. It was great!
After a break, we headed out to the various breakout sessions! I went to Pollination and Making Honey - From Idea to Finished Book Manuscript, first. I walked in and found myself looki
ng at a lady who was as jumpy as a cricket, but the creativity radiated off of her! Vicki Grove was her name, and the next hour and ten minutes of my life were packed full of...well....creativeness! I have never met anyone quite like her. She was so shy, yet she wasn't! She was extremely honest, and went through each of her books telling us the story behind it. But my favorite of all her stories, was the personal one she told. When she was a young girl, she was bullied by a girl named Judy. But one day, she made a decision! She went home, painted her room blue, light a little ceremony candle, and declared herself a mermaid! Why? Because then, she was amazing and what did everyone else know! I loved it! And when she told the story, she absolutely radiated and it was like looking at a completely different person!
Next I went to Fledglings - The New Writer's Session, given by Susan Clymer. This was an interesting session. She wanted a volunteer to act out a scene, and everyone had to create a
story from what happened! You will never guess who acted?! Me! I couldn't believe it either! I have NEVER done anything like that! I thought I was going to throw up I was so nervous! I acted out someone who was really REALLY angry (which was actually pretty easy for me to do), and I did it in front of two authors and a room full of people! Then we learned how to translate what we see into stories. The biggest tip she gave was that sometimes in order to get the picture in your head, you need to act it out. Have fun with your stories, jump into them! We also had to write down the answers to a variety of things. This included three things that made us happy, three things we were scared of, and three 'first times' that we remembered. We then had to make a few of them into a story that we read to the class. It was a great exercise!
Next, I went to Bird's Gotta Sing: Writing Effective Dialogue, with Lin Oliver. This session really helped me with how to write what my characters had to say properly! We did a variety of exercises, and were given lists of do's and don'ts that I will post in later blogs!
Then, last but not least, we had the final speech given by Stephen Fraser, an agent, about how an agent can help, how (or whether) to get one, and a few other important facts. This speech was called Leaving the Nest: Are You Ready to Fly. It was called this because he gave us the final facts and suggestions for really taking off as writers.
After the day was over, I got to go to a book signing, and spent a large amount of time just hanging out with the authors/illustrators downstairs. It was a booking signing, but people quickly filtered out and only a few remained. It was great to get to talk one on one with the
m about various subjects! I got to talk to Lin Oliver about my novel and she said it sounded great and that she would really like if I sent her a copy! And Vicki Grove spoke to me about my writing and said that she really thought I could be great, but to never give up! And Brad Sneed was just amazed (as was I) that our paths had crossed before when I was in Elementary school! He had come to Skelly Elementary for a school assembly presentation and signed a book for my little brother and I. He was one of the many reasons I wanted to be a writer when I grew up, and now, 12 years later, it was just awesome to see each other again!
We finally had to leave the building because they needed to lock it down, but I walked out with Lin Oliver. I really liked her because she was so funny, and confident, and just... a person! It felt good to talk to people who had had the same interests and dreams as I did. Being able to attend that conference was fulfilling a dream in itself! Being able to see, and talk to the author's was inspiring, and re-light the fire within.
That night, after dinner at the Macaroni Grill, I headed home, tired, but still twinkly eyed! I read the notes that the author's had written in my books and still was in awe that the last two days had happened! I learned so much, and met so many people. But the biggest thing I think I realized, was that this can, and is really happening! I am finally doing what I have always wanted to do! I'm a children's book writer!
Creatively yours as always,
Kat
motivating!
When we got back to the hotel, I was so excited for the next day I couldn't sleep! I reviewed my itinerary so many times, and just laid in bed imagining what the next day would bring!
ng at a lady who was as jumpy as a cricket, but the creativity radiated off of her! Vicki Grove was her name, and the next hour and ten minutes of my life were packed full of...well....creativeness! I have never met anyone quite like her. She was so shy, yet she wasn't! She was extremely honest, and went through each of her books telling us the story behind it. But my favorite of all her stories, was the personal one she told. When she was a young girl, she was bullied by a girl named Judy. But one day, she made a decision! She went home, painted her room blue, light a little ceremony candle, and declared herself a mermaid! Why? Because then, she was amazing and what did everyone else know! I loved it! And when she told the story, she absolutely radiated and it was like looking at a completely different person!
story from what happened! You will never guess who acted?! Me! I couldn't believe it either! I have NEVER done anything like that! I thought I was going to throw up I was so nervous! I acted out someone who was really REALLY angry (which was actually pretty easy for me to do), and I did it in front of two authors and a room full of people! Then we learned how to translate what we see into stories. The biggest tip she gave was that sometimes in order to get the picture in your head, you need to act it out. Have fun with your stories, jump into them! We also had to write down the answers to a variety of things. This included three things that made us happy, three things we were scared of, and three 'first times' that we remembered. We then had to make a few of them into a story that we read to the class. It was a great exercise!
m about various subjects! I got to talk to Lin Oliver about my novel and she said it sounded great and that she would really like if I sent her a copy! And Vicki Grove spoke to me about my writing and said that she really thought I could be great, but to never give up! And Brad Sneed was just amazed (as was I) that our paths had crossed before when I was in Elementary school! He had come to Skelly Elementary for a school assembly presentation and signed a book for my little brother and I. He was one of the many reasons I wanted to be a writer when I grew up, and now, 12 years later, it was just awesome to see each other again!
