CONFERENCE AFTERGLOW
The Romance Writer's Revenge is proud to welcome Santa O'Byrne (or Sandra if she's going to insist) back to the ship. Here's her take on the whole conference experience...
W
hat is conference afterglow, you ask?
Conference afterglow is the surge of bliss, an unequivocal euphoria and bone deep contentment you feel after you’ve come away from a particularly gratifying experience at a conference.
That’s what I’m feeling right now.
And I’m hoping it lasts for a very long time because I’d like to savor the experience for a bit longer and draw all the inspiration I can from it before it all fades into the ether. Inevitably, that’s what happens whenever you return from a conference or some sort of retreat. You feel charged and ready to conquer the world – except the world has other plans for you.
Not me. Not this time. This time I’m going to record the five tenants I gleaned from this conference and they are:
Faith.
Hope.
Will.
Determination.
Perseverance.
Time and again I heard those tenants at this conference. Not all at one time. Not in any one workshop. But as I talked with agents and authors, both published and unpublished, I found these to be truths. Sure, some of them came out of the gate with hot winners on their hands but their journey to that end was filled with many of the trials and struggles aspiring writers such as ourselves have gone through. Those marvelously polished books were once manuscripts that were met with edits and revision requests even after they were bought. And this after many years of writing and the legendary horde of manuscripts under the bed.
But all these writers had FAITH that they would one day publish. It was this faith that fostered the HOPE that their manuscripts would be accepted by an agent. This hope drove their WILL to succeed in the often overwhelming world of publishing. Their will only served to fuel their DETERMINATION to complete that manuscript, bringing them one step closer to publication. And it was their determination to succeed that fostered the PERSERVERANCE to overcome any obstacles blocking their way to being published.
So, I’m applying them to my own writer’s journey. As seen from a writer’s perspective they make complete sense to me. I’m even thinking of having them framed around my work space – in big, bold letters – underlined and maybe even in italics.
So , what do you do to keep the conference fire burning? How long have you managed to keep that conference afterglow?
Books by the Crew
49 comments:
I haven't been to a conference yet. I am going to my first one in October. So, I'm sorta out of my element here.
It seems like everyone has come back with a new jolt of enthusiasm and that is something. This is a long process so anything we do that keeps us going, that has us holding on and working hard, is worth it I say.
Marnee - NJ was my first conference last year and that chapter really knows how to do it right. Plus, we have to announce your big news. Can we? Huh, huh? Can we tell?! LOL!
LOL! Sure! I don't know how to announce these things and undoubtedly you'll do it better. :) Have at it, lovely wench!
Oh, I get to do it?! Whoohoo!
Our own GUNNER MARNEE JO - AUTHOR EXTRAORDINAIRE - has finaled in the New Jersey Romance Writers "Put Your Heart In A Book" contest in the Historical category. Yes, this is her first contest and she finaled!!!! Is that awesome or what?!
And further congrats go out to Manda Collins - author extraordinaire (and coolest roommate ever) who finaled in the same category.
A round of rum for everyone!!!!
See, that was much better than I would have done. LOL!!
Thank you thank you! I'm definitely ecstatic, especially as it's my first one. :)
*tipping the rum bottle and gulping enthusiastically*
I don't know, should that have been authoress? LOL! Or maybe Piratess...
An inspiring start to my day! Thanks, San. I definitely need that perseverance reminder. July was a rough month. But I am now basking in the reflected conference glow from you, Terri, and my fellow Vagabonds. :)
Congratulations, Marnee! Do pirates squee? LOL!
This pirate squee-ed, Janga! Enough to scare the daylights out of my little kiddo. I think he thought I'd stubbed my toe.
gah, I don't know these things.... Piratess is more dashing, don't you think, than authoress?
Much squeeing! Heck, I've squeed more in the last week than in the last year. LOL!
Janga - that's definitely the biggest thing I got from the conference - never give up. After the RITA ceremony, I found Helen Brenna (winner for Best Contemporary Series Romance) in the hall and shyly asked if I could touch her RITA. She was so amazing. She first finaled in the GH 14 years ago and just when she'd given up and decided to go back to her former career, she sold. And now she has a RITA.
Again - NEVER GIVE UP!
*squeeing again* Piratess! And I'm just so excited for you! First contest AND YOU FINALED! More rum! More hotties! *does a jig*
QOTD: The afterglow never lasts as long as you'd like. *LOL* But I get little afterglows when I meet with my critique group--it's important to be with people who get what you're doing, who are doing it too...and who you can bounce ideas back and forth with.
Ooh! Marnee! Big congrats! Cannons exploding and rum being swilled in your honor.
I think even if you don't go to the RWA conference, the enthusiasm is catching. I know I'm working harder and writing faster. of course, if might have something to do with the fact I only have 2 more weeks of summer vaca left. :)
Thanks Maggie! I'm really excited! :)
Marnee - wow that's awesome - Congratulations! I'm so excited for you!
Marnee,
How exciting for you. Way to go.
Santa, Sounds like you got a lot of nationals. Isn't it great to be inspired?
Wow! Congrats, Marnee!
Hal, Amanda, and Ely - thanks guys! I appreciate it! I'm excited. :)
OMG MARNEE This is SOOOOOOO AWESOME! You must be ecstatic!
Manda... if you visit this blog... WOOHOOO! Congrats contests mistress... you are winning them left right and centre. :)
Keep up the good work ladies...
I'm going to NJ
I'll see you there, marn.
Here... here! (Raises rum) Congrats to Marnee!! Congrats to Manda!! Way to go, wenches!!! Ye've scaled the walls of the contest and forded into the stream of delight. Best wishes in the final round. Here... here!! (Taking another swig)
I just found out two of my chapter mates finaled in the Maggie. Mojo abounds!!
I always come away from National Conference carrying with me an eager drive to succeed. I always have BIG plans that sometimes shrink when life intervenes. But the key here is... I've got BIG plans. When you plan BIG you can't fail. The stars will align to show you the way, be it north, south, east or west, or even the opposite direction you wanted your compass to lead you. Wherever that path goes, it always leads you where you were meant to go. And the journey matters most.
Lots of reasons to partay today. Here... here!! :-D
Tiff - cheer extra loud for us wenches, please. LOL!
Kathy - Great point. And enjoying the journey is SO important. I always repeat that old saying, "Life is a journey, not a destination."
Congrats to your chaptermates on the Maggies. I'll actually be at that one this year. Here's to contests abounding!
Hey SantaSandra , Are you sure that its “Conference Afterglow” that you are feeling? I mean heck… you did share a room with J Perry & Terrio. So I’m thinkin’ that “glow” you’re feeling is probably … a bad case of HeartO’byrne!
Ooooooohhhhh Congratulations, Marnee!
Okay, I suggest we switch Julie from rum to coffee right now. LOL!
And for the record, any shellshock Santa may be experiencing was inflicted by J Perry and NOT me or Manda. I promise you, it's all J's fault. And I have the pictures to prove it!
Dahlink, I don’t drink.
Cuz Think about it. If I am THIS Bad without being under the influence….
And
OMG! Please NO pictures! I'll have nightmares for years! Which reminds me... Did I ever tell you about this Christmas party, Terri?
Coffee? Nah!!!
HeartO'byrne? Too funny!!!
Keep the rum flowing. This partay's just getting started. Right, Santa? :-)
Ooh, Christmas party? I haven't heard about that one. And you DON'T want to see these pictures. We're all scarred, I assure you.
I believe Santa is pulling Deli Diva Duty today, but hopefully she'll stop by soon!
Tiff - thanks! And I'm totally excited to see you in NJ! We must meet!!
Kathy - thank you! Though it felt less a pillaging and more dumb luck. LOL!!
Julie - thank you as well!!
Great post, Santa! Anytime you get together with like minded individuals (especially women!) for a little support and inspiration you can't help coming away feeling rejuvinated and ready to tackle the world. Keep the good vibes going.
Marnee & Manda - WHOO HOO!!!! How awesome is that!?!?!? Congratulations, Congratulations, Congratulations!
The point of my Christmas story was…. Some People get to run around nekked while some of us can’t even wear a cocktail dress with out being judged as whatever...
All I’m saying is Life Ain’t Fair!
Thanks Irish! It is awesome! I'm still totally stoked!
Julie - In four days I saw J's ass more than I've ever seen my own. I completely understand.
I swear, I'm bringin' a tazzer if I ever have to share a room with her... And I'm gonna use it on anyone who dares to flash a cheek in my direction. That'll teach J to be so "cheeky"!
And Speaking of cheeky
I'm logging off before I'm tempted to post that story.
Hehehe..Julie, you're too funny. And I guess since J is on vacation and can't defend herself, we have to be nice. ;)
YAY, Marnee! I'm so happy for you. You totally deserve it!
Awh, thanks dear! I appreciate that. :)
Congratulations, Marnee!!
I am so excited for you. I had considered this conference, but instead am going to one closer to home. (Plus, MJP is the special guest.)
I cannot imagine a better way to attend your first conference than as a finalist. WOO-HOO!! :)
Di
Thanks Di! That's really sweet of you!! I was hoping to go to the conference before the finaling thing happened but it's pricey for my family right now and I was waffling. Last night after I got the call my DH put his foot down and told me I was going. LOL!! So, it is exciting to be able to go as a finalist. :)
I would love to see MJP, I understand your decision. LOL!!
Speaking of MJP, on the morning I flew home, I walked into an elevator as MJP walked out of it. When I looked down after the doors closed, I saw a dollar on the floor. I have no idea if it was hers, but I like to think I have one of MJP's dollars. LOL!
That means I had McAvoy bathwater and Putney money. I think that makes the trip a success.
Marnee, Congrats!! This is fantastic!
Afterglow: Since I was unemployed before, during & after RT, the afterglow lasted a lot longer than if I had had to return to the real world.
Anyone going to Heather Graham's New Orleans conference?
How's the job going now, D? I haven't heard about the Grahm one but talk about the perfect city in which to have an event like this. I've never been there but I'd love to go. Off to google...
Ooh, they are having something Saturday night at the Pirates Dinner Theater. Wouldn't that be fun?!
http://www.theoriginalheathergraham.com/site/1545797/page/1460135
Greetings all! Sorry I couldn't get to posting until now. Terri's right - I was on Deli Diva Duty and I had to toss my cleaver a few times.
Marnee - I am soooo happy for you! NJ RWA conference is one of the best out there. It's really like a mini-National.
I attended my first conference in 2006 in New Jersey. I had conference fan-girl overload that year. Lisa Kleypas, Eloisa James, Mary Jo Putney and Madeline Hunter, Kathryn Smith, Jenna Petersen - just to name a few were in attendance.
As Hellion said, it's great to be around people who 'get you' and these authors - major listmakers all - chatted with me about plot troubles, writing challenges and really offered help and advice on my work. I was floored. That was my first experience with conference afterglow.
Kathy's right - I think we need to make BIG plans following conferences and, while life throws us curves, these big plans can become ones we can work with and realize.
Janga - J was the first one to put the idea of perseverance in my head. It's quite a challenge when some days are tougher than others.
Terri - Thanks for putting this blog up for me and keeping the dialog going. Folks, I couldn't have asked for better roommates than J, Terri and Manda. We kept each other focused on getting the most out of this conference. Sometimes it was the workshops. Sometimes it was the Squeeeeing we did. Sometimes it was just hanging out at the bar and chatting with writers, both aspiring and published.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by today whether it was to comment or send a deserving WOOT! WOOT! to Marnee, Manda and fellow chaptermates.
Thanks for having me today, my fair piratesses! You've got the best ship running!
Thanks Santa! I am really looking forward to the conference. It looks so big and overwhelming. It should be a good a time.
And thank you for being on the ship today. :)
Hey, Santa! Those darn Deli Thugs should not hold you hostage for so long. LOL! Thanks again for doing the blog. And thanks for not hogging the bed. :)
CONFERENCE AFTERGLOW???!
Unless you are talking about the red glowing in my eyes, then I'm not sure I brought home what you did. LOL
I am still trying to catch up on my sleep. The parties were awesome, meeitng so many online friends- awesome- staying up all hours of the night only to repeat said actions again-exhausting.
I think I know one thing that didn't help - tequila. I should have stuck to rum. :)
Hey, Kimberly! You're one of the authors on my "dang it I missed her!" list. Selling raffle tickets at that signing totally messed me up. Next year, I'm going to have to make a list of everyone I need to find.
I'm glad you had a good time and now I'm glad I avoided the tequila! If I'm this messed up on NO alcohol, I'd hate to see what my recovery would have been like after imbibing like that. LOL!
Life isn't fair! While Terri was having a gay old time hanging around some crazy half nekked women I had to run around Saturday morning looking for a dress (for a wedding that afternoon ). A dress that would look "conservative" on me. What the Hell does THAT mean? Really. If the man wanted me to wear a minimizing bra, than he should just say it. The Blanker. And WTH, my DH's family is nice... but Conservative? Ppppfffffff.... Any way I was so pissed when my husband said that, that I actually considered wearing a big garbage bag. My DD said that that would def cover any offending body parts. She also said that the dress that I was gonna wear looked like Under Armor (the spandex body suits that runners wear under their uniforms). Oh. Ok. So maybe it was a little clingy... but that wasn't the reason I decided not to wear the thing. I didn't wear that dress cuz I remembered what happened that the last time I wore it. To a Christmas party of all places. One of my husband's co-workers spouses (got that) started to hit on me. It took me awhile to figure out what they were up to... But when they started talking about their lovely beach house... their lovely beach house on a nude beach... that I was more than welcome to stay at... with them... It sort -of--kind-of-started dawning on me that perhaps... it wasn't beaches that this person was selling... but themselves. I declined their offer. What can I say? She simply wasn't my type. Gawd.
Life isn’t fair. I wish that I was like that woman who was dressed in thongs and gladiator slippers. Confident. Comfortable with myself. And I wish that the well meaning people who cared about me … were more comfortable with “Me” too. One woman in particular has always given me a hard time about my figure. As if I could help the way I looked. I put up with it for years…. For 45 years… Until finally I had enough. “You know what?” I said, “There’s nothing wrong with this outfit. There’s nothing wrong with the way this outfit looks on me. The truth You are uncomfortable with the way I look in this outfit…” Life isn’t fair. But that doesn’t mean that you have to accept that unfairness. Sometimes you have to put your foot down and say “I ain’t putting up with that person’s unfair behavior anymore”. Even if that person is… your own mother!
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