By Keith N Fisher
I attended the Book Academy writer’s conference this week. It was good to see old friends and meet new ones. The classes were great, but I gravitated to the ones designed for those who are already published and those about to be.
It was great to make notes from Josi Kilpack’s presentation about launch parties. I believe she was the first author to initiate that venue in the LDS market, and I enjoyed listening to her experiences.
Because of a nerve in my leg, I couldn’t sit very long on those chairs. So, I spent the last breakout session in an armchair downstairs, writing a chapter for my work in progress. It felt good to get that one finished.
When the time came for the prize giveaway and final send off, I sat down at a table and continued writing. Being interrupted wasn’t surprising. I enjoy the networking that happens at those events. I was, however, surprised by a few writers who asked me what I was finding on the Internet.
“I don’t use this computer to get on the Internet.” I said. When I explained I was writing, many of them seemed shocked. On man was particularly fascinated that I would use the time at a writer’s conference to write.
Isn’t writing what its all about? My friend even brought a laptop. He said he did his writing on his other computer. One man said it was a good idea and he would have to bring his computer next time.
I couldn’t believe there were writers who didn’t carry scraps of paper with them to write down a paragraph that pops into their head. Moreover, I felt sorry for writers who are chained to a desk. Writing must be drudgery for them.
I’m blessed to have my laptop, even though it’s a pain sometimes, but I can also write anywhere with pen and paper. I’ve written segments on napkins and the backs of instruction sheets. I wrote between the lines on a meeting agenda once. I’ve found I must write whenever inspiration strikes or I lose the thought.
Last year, I posted a blog here, about writing places. Go check it out. In the meantime, good luck with your writing—see you next week.
I attended the Book Academy writer’s conference this week. It was good to see old friends and meet new ones. The classes were great, but I gravitated to the ones designed for those who are already published and those about to be.
It was great to make notes from Josi Kilpack’s presentation about launch parties. I believe she was the first author to initiate that venue in the LDS market, and I enjoyed listening to her experiences.
Because of a nerve in my leg, I couldn’t sit very long on those chairs. So, I spent the last breakout session in an armchair downstairs, writing a chapter for my work in progress. It felt good to get that one finished.
When the time came for the prize giveaway and final send off, I sat down at a table and continued writing. Being interrupted wasn’t surprising. I enjoy the networking that happens at those events. I was, however, surprised by a few writers who asked me what I was finding on the Internet.
“I don’t use this computer to get on the Internet.” I said. When I explained I was writing, many of them seemed shocked. On man was particularly fascinated that I would use the time at a writer’s conference to write.
Isn’t writing what its all about? My friend even brought a laptop. He said he did his writing on his other computer. One man said it was a good idea and he would have to bring his computer next time.
I couldn’t believe there were writers who didn’t carry scraps of paper with them to write down a paragraph that pops into their head. Moreover, I felt sorry for writers who are chained to a desk. Writing must be drudgery for them.
I’m blessed to have my laptop, even though it’s a pain sometimes, but I can also write anywhere with pen and paper. I’ve written segments on napkins and the backs of instruction sheets. I wrote between the lines on a meeting agenda once. I’ve found I must write whenever inspiration strikes or I lose the thought.
Last year, I posted a blog here, about writing places. Go check it out. In the meantime, good luck with your writing—see you next week.
4 comments:
I've been following, reading, lurking, for awhile but never felt qualified to interject. After all, the only things I'd been writing were a blog and a few greeting cards. Writing, really writing, is a dream.
It was this sentence in your post that struck me: "I couldn’t believe there were writers who didn’t carry scraps of paper with them to write down a paragraph that pops into their head."
I was a writer who wrote on every scrap of paper I could find, borrowing pens - pencils - even crayons on occasion. I would hear phrases, word-strings, that sounded like music or tasted so sweet that I had to capture them, even on the palm of my hand if need be. I felt like a writer until the dream died.
I had a stroke a few years ago and greatly impaired the ability to write with my hand. I have to use a computer keyboard - full size - to "write" now. But I am learning to write again. The dream is beginning to come true.
You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone. Good advice for writers. Save the internet surfing and social networking for when you've lost the ability to write.
Thank you for sharing your feelings. I am so happy your dream is alive again.
Good post. Yes, writers do write everywhere and on everything! I'm impressed you spent time writing at the conference. You're totally right about that!
You're right, Keith. We have all this great technology, yet too many of us still procrastinate writing until all conditions are perfect and we're in our "special place". You set a great example at the conference by actually doing what everyone is having meetings about! We need to be prepared to write or brainstorm anytime, anywhere.
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