tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375684657483536810.post2245699560791061435..comments2024-03-24T11:00:49.738-05:00Comments on Live Your Poem...: ON THE VALUE OF WRITING CONFERENCESIrene Lathamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04905936104127707762noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375684657483536810.post-30669407881766875212010-09-30T15:11:47.639-05:002010-09-30T15:11:47.639-05:00This makes absolute sense. I'm still at the st...This makes absolute sense. I'm still at the stage where conferences are useful in terms of making connections, but I far prefer the read and critique of writer's retreats vs. craft talks. Not that I can't still learn, but practice, practice, practice and revision is where I'm at now.Lori W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15513938828806159874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375684657483536810.post-55778271615797055572010-09-30T10:41:47.425-05:002010-09-30T10:41:47.425-05:00Oops, tried to post a link to the Writers Colony a...Oops, tried to post a link to the Writers Colony and it didn't take. It's writerscolony dot org.Tracy Barretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17668453323039794253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375684657483536810.post-59626000268949639602010-09-30T10:40:57.942-05:002010-09-30T10:40:57.942-05:00We all know that different things work for differe...We all know that different things work for different people. One of the speakers last weekend (I think it was Ruta) said that she didn't see how you could get published without belonging to a critique group, yet I've heard other industry professionals say that critique groups are more often a negative influence than a positive one. (I belong to one and love it.) We all need to find what works for us, and if Irene doesn't find conferences useful anymore, then of course she needs to spend her time in a way that's more productive for her and that will help her to keep on turning out beautiful books like LEAVING GEE'S BEND. And I LOVE writing retreats! I highly recommend the Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow ().Tracy Barretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17668453323039794253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375684657483536810.post-39612791210599608622010-09-29T09:14:01.498-05:002010-09-29T09:14:01.498-05:00Like Irene, I thought I had heard all this stuff b...Like Irene, I thought I had heard all this stuff before and like Tracy, I too had an "aha" moment. I went to the book packagers session not really knowing what to expect. I really got a lot out of it. This might be the opening I have been searching for but never considered. Lionel Bender was so down to earth and helpful and encouraging.<br /><br />And like both Tracy and Irene, I hope to one day be published and can be a mentor for other prepublished writers. It always makes me feel glad to see other published writers at the conferences, because it makes me see them as a "real person" and not someone who just magically had an idea and the next moment they were published. Hearing their individual stories reminds me it hard work AND perserverance that gets you published.Sheila Renfrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07863505792366698713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375684657483536810.post-14498973811558800022010-09-28T16:16:23.739-05:002010-09-28T16:16:23.739-05:00Whatever, Tracy. And the point "I" was ...Whatever, Tracy. And the point "I" was making is I agreed with Irene. I wouldn't really know what Ellen Hopkins thought, I only talked to her for 7 minutes and you know she writes poetry and I write fiction. And get a grip!! It's not like I'm scream or mad at you... I was posting my opinion that can be different than yours.Patricia J. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06044354515656710902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375684657483536810.post-68718011322683204032010-09-28T13:11:00.064-05:002010-09-28T13:11:00.064-05:00Sure, but the point that *I* was making is that a ...Sure, but the point that *I* was making is that a conference doesn't have to be a detour. It isn't for me, and it isn't for Ellen Hopkins (who still attends sessions!). If it is for someone, whether published or not, of course they shouldn't spend their time and money at one!Tracy Barretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17668453323039794253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375684657483536810.post-89047601320176577642010-09-28T11:29:20.675-05:002010-09-28T11:29:20.675-05:00Tracy, don't you think that what Irene meant w...Tracy, don't you think that what Irene meant was that there comes a time in every writer’s journey that they have to stop and think about direction. An agent at this weekend’s conference commented that at some point a writer has to write. Yes, you hear new tidbits every time or same tidbits said a different way and yes you meet new people. Like Irene, I feel my next “break open the piggy bank” venture will be a boot camp or workshop. I'm not published and might not every be but I will always chase that dream and taking steps up that steep mountain doesn't mean sidestepping or taking detours.Patricia J. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06044354515656710902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375684657483536810.post-41088412144150924772010-09-28T10:26:02.553-05:002010-09-28T10:26:02.553-05:00I've been saying lately that while I certainly...I've been saying lately that while I certainly don't know everything about writing, I think I know everything that can be imparted to a group in a one-hour session, so I didn't see what I would get out of conferences.<br />And then over the Midsouth conference weekend I had two major aha! moments that have caused me to re-vision two WsIP.<br />There's also the networking at conferences--no matter what stage you're at, you can benefit from that.<br />Last but by no means least, I strongly feel that published authors who have benefited from conferences and workshops should give back to the community that nurtured them at the early stages of their careers. Attending conferences and volunteering with SCBWI are two ways we can do that--there are plenty of other ways, though, for those who don't choose to do either.Tracy Barretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17668453323039794253noreply@blogger.com