Tomorrow, Friday April 8th, is the beginning of the Missouri Writer's Guild "Just Write!" Conference. I've been anxiously awaiting this conference, in all actuality, since the last one I attended in 2007.
That conference was my first one and it bowled me over. I couldn't get over how many people were published authors, whether it was their own books, or magazine articles, or anthologies. I felt like an intruder, like a girl from the farm, attending a big city! But I was embraced by many helpful and reassuring writers. I also received my first critique, which was an encouraging one.
Quite a bit has happened to me since then. I've joined writers' groups, written and submitted to contests, anthologies, newspapers, etc....and managed to be published in a few. I've met so many wonderful writers, both in person, through e-mails, and in the past couple of years, through my blog.
Speaking of writers....I'm thrilled to be an official "shepherd" this weekend. That means I'm an ambassador for MWG and I'll help my assigned speaker navigate the conference. Which speaker was chosen for me? Linda C. Apple; writer and speaker. Linda has stories published in over a dozen Chicken Soup for the Soul books, plus many others. She also has published two books of her own, about inspriation, speaking and writing. Please check out her website to learn more. I can't wait to meet Linda. I'm sure we'll hit it off!
I can't say enough about how much I've learned through meetings and networking. I'm so grateful to be a Writer Gal! I'm especially pleased to be a member of the Missouri Writers Guild, St. Louis Writers Guild, Ozarks Writers League, and Saturday Writers.
Wherever you are, I hope you have a writers group near you. And if you don't, why not start one? They all have to begin somewhere, somehow!
Hello & Welcome to my newest follower: Souther Girl. Thanks so much and I hope you always enjoy your visits!
I end today's post with two of my favorite quotes:
"If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." ~Toni Morrison
"The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say." ~Anaïs Nin
