New England SCBWI Conference
I attended my first New England writing conference this weekend. The conference was busting at the seams with an attendance of 550. People had to be turned away at the door due to fire regulations. Wow! The workshops were fantastic although it was strange to be at a conference without my Florida critique crew in tow.
If you've never heard Laurie Halse Anderson (author of Speak) present, I would highly recommend that you do so. Her keynote address gave me the kick in the pants I've been needing to get my writing back on track. She's hysterically funny in person as well as extremely energetic (she ran across the room and back during her speech--and it was a BIG room). She discussed the struggles she's faced as a writer and how she overcame them. She also offered tons of good advice for aspiring and published authors. The most memorable piece of advice for me was when she said, "Turn off the TV!" Yep, I'm pretty sure she was speaking directly to me in that crowded room of a kagillion people. I've asked my hubby to hide the remote before Mama Laurie comes to take it away from me :)
If you've never heard Laurie Halse Anderson (author of Speak) present, I would highly recommend that you do so. Her keynote address gave me the kick in the pants I've been needing to get my writing back on track. She's hysterically funny in person as well as extremely energetic (she ran across the room and back during her speech--and it was a BIG room). She discussed the struggles she's faced as a writer and how she overcame them. She also offered tons of good advice for aspiring and published authors. The most memorable piece of advice for me was when she said, "Turn off the TV!" Yep, I'm pretty sure she was speaking directly to me in that crowded room of a kagillion people. I've asked my hubby to hide the remote before Mama Laurie comes to take it away from me :)