The World of Writing Conferences

A writer once said during an interview that he always went to a writing conference at least once a year.  When the reporter asked him why, he answered because a writer should never stop learning his craft. He then stated that just because his dream had come to pass (a published novel), it didn't mean he was supposed to stay in "that" place and be content.  He had to keep learning and keep growing. It made his writing stronger and richer.

That interview stayed with me for quite awhile, forcing me to ask myself: "As a writer, are you in the same place you were last year?  How many conferences (and schmoozing) have you done?"  The answer was nada, zip.  Imagine my surprise when an old writing buddy E-mailed me about a one-day writing conference she (and some other writing buddies) were going to attend.  She asked if I wanted to join them and, you know of course, I said yes.  After all, hadn't spirit been eavesdropping on my question and sent me a learning opportunity immediately?  Damn right!

The conference was spectacular, to say the least.  A true meeting of writing minds.  But the thing I remember most was author Randall Coleman's statement that "no writing is wasted writing.  You may never use the words in a story, but they aren't wasted."

When I returned home, I sat down and looked at the last draft of my new novel again.  How many rewrites had I done on it?  A gazillion. Were any of them wasted?  Nope, nada, nary a one.  Every single word had been important at the time and, though I had cut scenes and whole chapters, I was a better writer than I was the day before.  And that's all you can ask of any writer, isn't it?  To be a better writer today than you were yesterday? I think so, and thanks to a writer (whose name escapes me now), I'm not in the same place I was yesterday.  I have grown into an extremely grateful writer, who is no longer intimidated by a blank page.  In fact, I now relish the gazillion choices that spirit sends to my mind each day.  Seat of the pants, to the seat of the chair.  It's an old writing adage that  comforts me daily as I attempt to find the right words that will make me a better writer tomorrow than I am today.

The Kindred

It's been six months since my novel "The Kindred" moved into paperback form and out into the world.  Looking back on its journey, I realize that the title I chose for the novel, came from the spiritual world, rather than my amazing imagination (wink, wink).  Its journey has humbled me, especially when a reader on the other side of the planet, takes the time to E-Mail me how much they enjoyed the book.  In fact, I've been overwhelmed by the compliments directed my way since the book came out. 

What do the compliments entail?  Surprise, mostly.  Many readers wrote to say they never read paranormal books, but since they knew me (or knew me through a friend), they had taken the chance and read the book.  It pleases me to no end how surprised they are by the novel.  It means I did my job.  I entertained them AND introduced them to a part of the spiritual world they may never have thought (or known) about. 

As you know, I built this blog as a homage to the connection between two worlds--the spiritual and the human.  It's nice to know that spirit blessed me with a title that connects strangers and makes them friends.  It proves that we are all kindreds in one way or another and that the words we  put down on paper can and do develop a life of their own.  They travel great distances too, even if those distances are mostly in the mind.

As the learned scientists are always telling us, the mind is so vast, that we humans only use 10% of it.  What is the other 85% doing?  I wish I  knew.  Perhaps, that's why I keep writing and pushing my mind to create new worlds that offer up more questions than answers for the reader.  Perhaps, that's what being a true Kindred really means.  Writing, Sharing, Connecting.  Ah, the beauty of spirit!