The rumblings of a new beginning.

DSC03690About to jump into a new writing project, I find myself developing brand new characters, and I realize I haven’t really done this in a while.  I’ve been working on one large writing project for a long time and have grown very comfortable and familiar with my main characters.  Yes, there are new characters that enter the scene from time to time and have their roles to play, but the main characters remain constant.  They grow and change along the way, but I see them so clearly.  While there is a lot to creating any character, there’s something about creating a new main character and the world around them, seeing them begin to take shape and take on a life of their own.  Beginning hazy, you start to see their faces, their bodies, their mannerisms.  Their passions, views, and the way they look at and interact with the world take shape.  You see their relationships and the way they connect with people, and how these interactions make them feel.  I find it a fun and exciting process.

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10 Reasons to Attend a Writers’ Conference

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Master Class with Wayson Choy ~ OWC 2014 (Photo by Lori Twining)

A Writers’ Conference is a place where writers gather together to celebrate the craft of writing. Writers are inspired, educated and are able to connect with other writers of all levels (beginners to advanced). A conference provides writers with the opportunity to network with other professionals: writers, authors, editors, agents and publishers. It also encourages writers to write, to publish, to promote and sell their own work.

New writers fear attending a writers’ conference.

“I’m not a real writer. Conferences are for real writers, they’re not for me.”

Published writers avoid writers’ conferences.

“I’ve been published already. I could teach every one of those workshops listed on the schedule. I don’t need to go to a conference.”

I disagree. Writers’ Conferences are for ALL writers. There is something beneficial about attending a conference at least once a year. I was lucky enough to attend two writers’ conferences this past year, and one was a newbie conference, so it had it’s issues, but overall, there was something awesome for me at both of them. Read more