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.
I think conferences are best when you have a new piece to pitch. You get a lot out of networking, but a lot of them are serious money and travel expenses. To make it worth it, chose wisely. Sounds like this one was worth it!
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