Carol Callicotte » Conferences

Conferencing

ccallicotte — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:15:39 +0000

I’ve been to two conferences in the last couple months: The San Diego State University Writer’s Conference, and then my fourth (!) year at the Southern California Writer’s Conference here in San Diego. I guess this makes me a conference junkie.

Going to conferences is great, regardless of where you are as a writer. Contemplating exercising that right brain in this particular creative endeavor? There’s plenty of inspiration for newbies. A draft or partial draft in and unsure what on earth you’ve gotten yourself into? Seminars on every aspect of story creation or editing can be found at most any conference. Curious about the business side? Plenty of information to be found. Have a clean, edited final manuscript? Here’s a great place to connect with agents and editors.

The thing I’ve loved most, however, about going to conferences is the people I meet and the inspiration I take away. I always leave with a few new friends (and potential critique partners) and with a renewed sense of purpose. This year was no different.

I haven’t ventured out of San Diego yet for a conference; any suggestions out there on good ones you’ve been to?

CURRENTLY READING: THE LITTLE BOOK by Selden Edwards

Confession: I hate time travel stories. I get stuck every time on the whole grandfather clause thing; plus the butterfly effect. But two things have snuck in under my radar. The TV show Lost. I loved it from the get go, and then they started the whole time travel storyline, but I was already hooked. And then, this not so little book. I knew it was time travel and hesitated to buy it, but I heard the author speak at the SCWC and he was so charming that I had to give his book a try. SO GLAD I did – I’m loving it so far. A caveat: both of these time travel stories contend that whatever happened, happened, so the outcomes can’t be changed. That’s time travel I can live with.

Southern California Writers’ Conference Part Deux

ccallicotte — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:28:09 +0000

I always come away from SCWC inspired and ready to launch myself into my writing, and this year was no different. Thank you Michael and Wes! Stand outs for me were classes given by Phyllis Gebauer and Midge Raymond, both authors and writing instructors. And Val McDermid, author of 25 novels and owner of an instantly loveable Scottish accent, gave a witty and inspiring speech Saturday night. To my dear online writing group: Craig Berger, Lauren Hartney, Jeremy James, and Grace Yang – it was so good to see you all for our annual meet up! TJ Turner – we miss you! When are you coming back? And to Mike Crowe – good to actually get to see you, instead of just hear you (you know what I’m talking about). And finally, Rich Howard – good to finally get to know you and hear a bit about your book. I look forward to future successes for all of us! Now get to writing!

Southern California Writers’ Conference

ccallicotte — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:14:01 +0000

It’s this weekend! I’m very excited – it looks like there will be some good seminars offered. And, I get to see my online writing buddies again! This will be my third time at the conference, and I’m hoping for the same sort of inspiring, light-a-fire-under-my-arse sort of motivation that I’ve gotten from the first two. What better way to spend a weekend than studying the craft I love, and being with people who share my passion?

Currently Reading: SON OF A WITCH by Gregory Maguire. I really love this author. He creates richly textured worlds, and his characters are all flawed, complicated, and intriguing.