I had a good time, reconnected with some good pals, and made a few more good pals for connecting with next time. And while I’m not the best at capturing the conference in photographs, I am pretty good at capturing the conference in wordy nuggets.
So for your amusement and possible education- tips from the FaithWriters’ 2011 Conference:
In General
1. Always call the airline before heading to the airport. Apparently there is something called a delay which may in fact mess up even the most organized plans.
2. Make sure you have a charged, back-up battery for your phone, computer, and alarm clock. Even the best generator system is no match for a reckless squirrel.
3. Bring chocolate. I think we all know now that we’ve become too dependent on others supplying our chocolate. This year without Pup’s presence, or his fudge’s presence, our ability to maintain our energy levels throughout the day waned considerably.
4. Dress in layers. When the air conditioner works, the conference rooms can feel like Siberia. However when they stop, it’s more like a rain forest along the equator.
Writerly
5. Mary Poppins was right. A spoonful of sugar does help the medicine go down. But easy does it. In our society, many are at risk of diabetic comas fully-induced by overly sweet writing.
6. If I generalize things too broadly, and assume everyone agrees with me, I will still find an audience, but it’ll be an audience of three. Me, Myself, and I. Don’t make presumptions about your readers.
7. Quotes and song lyrics should be avoided like the plague. It’s like going swimming, wearing Lady GaGa’s hamburger dress, in shark-infested waters, and humming the theme to Jaws. You might not get caught, you might not get hurt, but it isn’t the wisest choice you can make and publishers aren’t standing on the shore ready to toss a life-buoy your way.
8. I am worth $205, 400, if you add my value as a stay-at-home-mom with my value as a writer. Though I think if I’m claiming writer I have to count it against my SAHM earnings and then I lose $50,000. I think that’s how it works. You’ll have to ask Lynda Schab, it’s her math. All I know is my “office” better upgrade my phone soon. For someone worth six figures, I ought to have an iPhone.
9. Spreadsheets are our friends. Just ask Patty.
Life-lessons
10. Friends are worth a drive or flight.
11. We all have to take our turns. Sometimes you’re newbie, and you have to be brave and ask relative strangers questions about everything. Sometimes you’re the oldie, and you have the chance to help the newbies feel welcome.
12. Never depend on others for chocolate. Be prepared.
Doesn’t seem to fit in the other categories:
13. There is such a thing as Christian humor, and it’s darn funny. Just ask Timmy. And if you don’t believe me, ask him to your church and find out for yourself.
What tips did you pick up? Are you really sad you didn't come? You are coming next year, right?
14 comments:
Oh, Lynn - number seven TOTALLY had me laughing out loud! (which is much more likely for me than Timmy - I'm sure you realize that)
What a fun fun time! I left the conference with lots to think about, and some wonderful personal connections I'm absolutely THRILLED about.
Great post, Lynn! I enjoyed your thoughts and list. I am *so* glad I went to the conference and hope to, again, next year!
;) Joanne, I believe you if you say you LOL-ed :)
I hope you come next year, too, Shelley!
Your summary is spot on, Lynn. Thanks for the ride from the airport! I enjoyed the visit and getting to know you better. And you did a great job of dodging the traffic jam of the century.
:) You were a patient rider, Nancy. Thanks for going with the flow that day.
Friends are worth driving for/flying for--soooo true--that encapsulates my week. Thanks for a peek into some of the things I missed.
Loved #4...so true. Usually I freeze but even I got warm on Saturday. Wish I'd had time to chat with you a bit more--let's do so next year!
What a fun recap! It was great--and yes, it is like a holiday celebration, isn't it? Here, here! I'm cheering you on for the Iphone. :P Fun stuffs!
One more hint - save a little bit of free time for a cup of coffee or a piece of cheesecake with a new friend.
Great tip, Michael :)
And Sara, keep cheering, maybe it'll work :)
Kim, you're on. We definitely need to chat more next year.
And Lisa, you took the friends are worth flying for and ran all the way to California with it :)
This feels like a virtual group hug, thanks for stopping by friends.
Hello from a "newbie"...totally enjoyed my time, even though I still held up some walls a bit too much! Me and several others, it appears! I will strive to be better at the "Hello my name is..." next time.
Hmmm...perhaps if I hand out chocolate? LOL!
Blessings!
Ha...mmmmmm...that's unique! It's just me, Cathryn Hasek! Ha...maybe it's a reference to the chocolate in my comment! Don't have a blogger account!
Blessings!
I wondered who the mysterious humming commenter was :)
Welcome to my blog/website Cathryn, I'm glad you stopped by.
And handing out chocolate isn't going to hurt any.
:) It gets easier. My first year I was back in my room between breaks I was so shy.
Great stuff, Lynn. And you shall always be the queen of spreadsheets in my eyes - Peej can be the princess :)
Love Michael's tip, too. More time to chat, more coffee - how could one go wrong? And cheesecake too? That guy's gonna have a lineup of chats next year.
And I felt the love, really.
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