I went to my first Panhandle Professional Writers meeting last Saturday and brought my best friend, Madison Ferril, along. It's odd, really, that it was hardly more than their bi-monthly meeting. But it seemed more to-do to me, what with guest speakers and a luncheon. Definitely more than a regular meeting of a writers club. I admit to being a little confused and thinking that it was a conference, since it was the closest thing to one I've ever been. But Jennifer Archer set me straight yesterday when I met with her. It was still interesting and fun.
We learned about "Foot-in-Mouth Syndrome: What NOT to Say & Do When There is a Crisis" from the first speaker, Sharon T. Hinton. She taught us how to apply the Dos and Don'ts of comforting someone in a crisis to daily life as well as the characters in our stories. I've begun to use what I learned in everyday life and it's been quite beneficial. Also, I wrote a flash fiction story based on this during a fifteen minute writing exercise. So I definitely came away with something.
While there, I got to meet writers Terry Burns and Phyliss Miranda, two people that I knew through networking, email, and interviews, but that I'd never met in person. I'm pretty sure Terry didn't remember me, but Phyliss recognized me before I recognized her. I also ran into Harry Haines, Jodi Thomas Deborah Elliott-Upton (of course), Juilianna Anderson, Ginger Porter, Mary Yokum, Marianne Logan, and two women whose last names I never caught, Vicki and Linda.
These people I have heard about many times from my mentors. It was great to get to put faces to names. Some of them didn't look the way I had expected all. I'm looking forward to more meetings like that with interesting writers.
I laughed as I read this, Summer, you're right I'm busted! I didn't remember. But in my defense doing this agent gig I meet hundreds of writers a month at the conferences I attend. Even when I meet with them I tell them to remind me what we talked about when they send a submission because it's all going to be running together by the end of the conference. Not an excuse, just a reason. But it was good to see you, and I'm pleased you got so much from it. What little success I have had, it has all stemmed from being in that group and I wish I could attend more.
ReplyDeleteI was so pleased you and Madison (aka Morganna) were there. I agree -- a lot of people don't look like we think they might. This is why you need to be very visual in creating your characters and settings so your readers will "see" them as you need them to see them.
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