wine on the keyboard

A break from Reno news

by Kay~Kacey on 8/4/2005

taking a break from Reno ramblings…

I always come back so charged up from conferences (once I get past the exhaustion) :mrgreen: I went out yesterday and bought the second month of Next books, Sam’s Letters to Jennifer –which was mentioned in conjunction with EPIC and a lavendar colored notebook. I’m going to write my daily affirmations down in the notebook. My thoughts on my writing. Where I want to go. Scenes of me at the publisher parties :love: It’s going to be my positive thinking place. And it’s pretty. AND I got some new pretty colored pens. 🙄 Yes, I know…but sometimes I like to do silly little things just for myself.

I ordered the conference CD and I’m looking forward to listening to a lot of the workshops mentioned. I finally got last year’s downloaded to my MP3 player and have been listening to them for the last month or so. Can’t wait to add this years to it. And awhile ago I bought one of those FM transmitter thingies so I can listen to them on my car stereo.

I don’t understand people that say they never get anything out of workshops anymore. Most professional careers have continuing education of some kind. Why would writers be any different? Even if you just take away a tidbit, or something sparks your imagination. Or you just go to/listen to a Chat With to support that author and hear about an author’s career. Go to a workshop on a new line and find out about it. Though my whole life I’ve been a constant learner. I immerse myself in topic I’m interested in and learn all I can. Years later I’m stilling learning about marketing (my major), accounting (my next major ), knitting, and geeky computer stuff. So, yes, I still enjoy workshops. I remember sitting by a multi pubbed authors with too many books to count at like my third conference. Another published author said that she didn’t go to workshops because she didn’t get anything out of them anymore. The first multi published author quietly said that she still goes to them and tries to gleen at least one tidbit from someone else’s perspective… One of those you take out of it what you make out of it comments.

Now it’s time to sit down and write another proposal. While waiting to hear on all the stuff I have out there. Write more. And then write some more. Because no amount of going to conferences, listening to tapes, and pretty affirmation journals will do a thing if I’m not busy writing.

Okay, so this did mention Reno a bit. Sorry. 😉

Melissa August 4, 2005 at 9:18 am

I like your perspective on the whole workshop thing. There is ALWAYS something to learn, no matter how big or small. I know my brain starts to atrophy when I am not learning something!

Suzanne August 4, 2005 at 9:41 am

I still like to go to workshops, but I’m usually too busy to hit many of them at the conference. I would order the CDs but I’m too techno-challenged to transfer them to the MP3 player I don’t have. But I’m going to do something about that before the next conference so that I can!

Kelly =) August 4, 2005 at 10:37 am

Many authors have said, “You never stop learning as a writer.” And I feel the same!

Amy K August 4, 2005 at 12:36 pm

I completely agree about the workshops. I was sad to only make it to 4 this year (and 2 of those were HQ/SIL, which I felt like I should go to.) Even in a class on something I’m relatively confident about, there’s ALWAYS something to pick up. I can’t wait to get my CDs either! I’m ready to go! 🙂

Michelle August 4, 2005 at 1:20 pm

I love the CD’s. I can listen to them in the car and feel like I’m always learning. I tend to go to the agent spotlights and publisher spotlights at the conference so I can get a feel for names, faces, and personalities, but at home, I love listening to craft workshops.

Even when you’re published, you can always be a stronger writer.

Megan August 4, 2005 at 7:28 pm

Kacey:
Excellent point about the workshops. For me, I learned, but I have to ask if I learned enough to justify the expense. I think I did, if finances get just a bit better next year. Like you, I’m always learning, gleaning, and absorbing. Anything can help the craft, especially if it’s told by someone who really knows her area.

Sharon August 4, 2005 at 11:03 pm

You’re making me tired! You have waaaaay too much evergy, woman. :coffee2:

Mary August 5, 2005 at 7:38 am

I learn from everyone. I’ve been teaching college for years and I learn from my students, workshops, life, husband. I hope it will never stop.

Margery Scott August 5, 2005 at 8:50 am

Even though I’ve been to too many workshops to count, I still love to go and listen to other authors explain their processes, talk about the business and their careers. I always come away with a new perspective, and sometimes I even have an aha! moment. I’d hate to ever stop learning. Since I didn’t go to Reno, I’m looking forward to listening to the CDs, even without an MP3 player.

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