LDStorymakers Conference 2010 - Highlights

How I survived Boot Camp  

How many people pay money to wake up painfully early, hand their precious WIPs over to total strangers and allow them to pick it apart? Crazy boot-campers, that's who!
Okay, joking aside, it was one of the best parts of the conference. Who can put a price on honest feedback?  Sharing with strangers was daunting at first, but then I realized, hey - these people are not my relatives and I don't visit teach them - so maybe I can trust what they're telling me. (Note: I have honest relatives- but you know what I mean - right?)

I loved the group I got to be a part of. I enjoyed getting to read the writing samples of the the others in my group and loved!! being able to meet & learn from Tristi Pinkston. She rocks! Totally professional, spot on critiques, and quite funny. Thank-you Tristi, for a great Boot Camp experience.

The Making of a Drama Queen

For the record, I did not ask to change rooms!  The hotel had to cope with the storymaker's conference, BYU graduation and a roll-away bed shortage. So they shuffled us from one room to another on Friday. *Big Sigh* Someday when I grow up I want to be like my friend Peggy who had her luggage packed and ready, waiting by the door. No drama there. Me? I was fighting with my morning-routine-belongings (read: hairspray, make-up) to fit into the suitcase. Behind me was the stack of foam pillows (I'm allergic to down). The Marriott lady, Irene - very, very nice, offered to carry those for me, especially when she saw me opening the closet. Yes, my two days worth of clothes were on their hangers. This is point in my little story you may have seen me, trapesing through the lobby holding my clothes on hangers. If my children had been there I'm sure they would have fled the scene. Oh well. Everyone needs a little comic relief in their day, right? Right?

Contest Winners

I've been waiting for a list of all the contest winners so I could put a link to it here. But I haven't seen one yet. But I am aware of who won third place in the general fiction category. Yes. I won 3rd place!!! And yes, it is very much like the Olympics - winning the bronze - I was very happy just to be on the podium - only there wasn't a podium really, and no medals. But a very cool envelope with $25 in it and a sticker for my name tag that read 'third place.'

Putting the shock aside, I was really thankful to place at all in a competition with other really great writers. As for what I entered? It is the first chapter of the book I've been writing for a year. The working title is "The Keeper" and it is a Christmas Story about miracle trees. I have now nicknamed it 'The Little Christmas Story that Could'.

The judges feedback forms have been really helpful, but did anyone else open their envelope and have the worst one put right on top? Do you think that was on purpose? Sorry, I'll get over it. Someday. I hope.

Up next: Workshop Highlights and more on my Work In Progress