First of all…I noticed I have some new subscribers. Thank you and welcome! I’m not sure how you found my blog, but I’m glad you did. Also, thank you to my friends who faithfully read my blog, but never comment. It blesses me to know you're there.
What a whirlwind few days. I attended the Philadelphia Christian Writer’s Conference and thoroughly enjoyed the classes and camaraderie. I had a great time seeing some friends from last year and making new ones. It fed my soul being in the presence of fellow writers who love Jesus and want to share His story.
I branched out during the conference and took a workshop on how to write a novel—taught by Susan May Warren. I never even considered writing fiction before, but after taking Susan’s class I might try! She demystified the process of storytelling and gave practical tools that will make my current writing much better (if I apply what I learned!). Plus, it was worth taking the class just to meet Susan—I just love her! She’s incredibly talented, enthusiastic and just adorable. Even though she’s written 26 books, she’s so down-to-earth and accessible.
Everything I learned in her workshop is detailed in her just-released, hands-on book From the Inside Out: Discover, Create and Publish the Novel in You. Check it out!
Stay tuned, I may take a stab at fiction in the near future.
I got to spend time with my writing group friends Denise, Connie and Cathy. I joined the group as a result of befriending the group's leader, Fran, at last year’s Phila. conference and have loved gathering together for face-to-face critique. Our meetings are always so focused that it was nice to spend more leisurely time over meals at the conference.
Another conference highlight was meeting e-friends in the flesh and seeing that they actually exist! What fun I had hanging out with my new blogging friends Kelly (Chatty Kelly), Sonya (Truth 4 the journey) and Laurie (Supernatural Living). On Friday evening I met Susan (Eternity Café) and Shelley. The six of us got to talking after dinner about writing and blogging and balancing life as a writer/mom/wife. We talked so long the cafeteria staff kicked us out so they could lock up!
Laurie, Kelly, Sonya and me (I feel like a giant!)
And so last week I took one more step in this crazy, frustrating, scary, emotional, thrilling, challenging, exhilarating journey I call writing. If nothing else, the conference confirmed that as a writer I need to keep on keeping on.
12 comments:
You have an overabundance of thoughts in your head, I'm sure. Hope you are jotting some things down, as I'm sure the ideas come and go quickly.
What a great opportunity to know your gift and to build upon it! As I said in an earlier comment somewhere, I'm afraid I'm showing the wrong kind of green as I look at your photo!
Good times....
You do look extra tall in this photo. :-)
The last line of this post was the best to me, "If nothing else, the conference confirmed that as a writer I need to keep on keeping on."
I think your attitude is great! I tend to leave this conferences thinking the opposite. Overwhelmed and unworthy I think, "why am I writing? Who cares?" But the fact is I do have a passion for it, that I believe is God given. So if only 1 person reads and is inspired, then I have glorified him. And that has to be my purpose.
So great to meet you!!!! Blue Ridge Mountain Writers Conference, 2010? Meet you there!
I thought about you and how you are doing since I went to She Speaks last weekend. Have you been riding any? :) I didn't ride my motorcycle to She Speaks this year because I was going with a few others.
I think it's awesome that you went to a writer's conference!! Keep it up for sure! I keep doubting my call to write -- so I'll probably just keep blogging along and riding my Harley ;)
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Talk to you soon hopefully :)
It all sounds so wonderful! I love that you met so many of the online friends and see that they are real:)) And how cool about taking the fiction course! I still feel like I am stumbling along and giving it a try. I hope you do too!
Oh Kelli,
I can SO relate to the "crazy, thrilling, challenging" journey of writing! But nothing makes me want to write more than getting together with a bunch of other writers. WISH I could've been there with so many of my bloggy friends!
Sounds like you had a good time. I pray God blesses your continued writing efforts, Kelli!
Oh, and my son is still on antibiotics, improving, (thank you Lord!) and might not even have to have surgery...we will find out by next week. Thank you so much for praying and for asking.
(((Hugs)))
Kelli,
So good to meet you this weekend. I am interested in the writers group you mentioned. I passed through Washington on the way home, and it's not as far as I thought
It was great closing down the cafeteria! We girls can sure talk, can't they!
Susan
Yes m'am! You keep writing!! You may be the next Francine Rivers!! I just want your autograph :)
Love the picture!! Glad you had a wonderful time!
Love ya!
Susan
Glad for your re-confirmation. Then again, we all knew it!
peace~elaine
whirlwind---good word- aptly describes how the past week has felt
Yes, I had a great and yet stretching time. Blessings sis, Laurie
Sounds like you all had a wonderful time! And what a blessing to meet some of your blogger friends! I have to agree with Kelly...you look very tall in that photo. Anyway, glad to see you're all revved up and ready to go! =D
Keep on Keeping on - I love it! That's what we all need to do as writers.
I'm so glad we got to hang out at the conference. It was refreshing and encouraging.
Hope to see you at another conference next year.
Sonya Lee
So glad that you got to attend the conference, Kelli. Exciting how you got to meet some blogging buddies! That's one of the great benefits of conferences.
I've not tried my hand at fiction yet either. I've heard again and again how helpful it is to apply fiction techniques to our non-fiction writing. I need to try to get more of that training when I get a chance.
All the best as you write on!
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