Writing Conference Part I: Taking Chances

Writing conferences are one of the greatest things ever created for writers. They provide sessions in a variety of areas that allow writers to pick and choose what they want to learn about based on their writing goals, skill set, and where they’re at with their current writing project. These conferences were created for professional and novice writers alike.

But what’s more, these conferences draw people with the same interest as you. Instantly, you have a connection with the other attendees. They share the same types of hopes and dreams for their writing, and they have the same self-doubt and struggles. Slipping into a conversation with a stranger doesn’t get any easier than under these conditions.

Plus, every writing conference I’ve attended, the sessions are phenomenal and lead to inspiration and breakthroughs. Add writing conferences to the list of ways to work through writer’s block.

This past weekend, I attended the Wyoming Writers, Inc. 45th annual Writers’ Conference, and I learned so many great things and had conversations with so many writers that I’m still buzzing with excitement. But possibly the best takeaway for me was how encouraged and inspired I felt.

I wish I felt this confident and nearly fearless about writing all the time. I feel like taking chances with my writing, and I find myself wondering how to hold onto this feeling of wanting to submit to contests, trying for fellowships and grants, and not worrying about the outcome.

I think I need to change the narrative in my head. The language used when your piece isn’t accepted is rejection, so every time a piece isn’t selected for publication or doesn’t win a contest, it leaves the residue of failure — some way you came up short as a writer. But, logically, I know this isn’t true. It really means nothing more than “Not this time.”

Entering the conference, I took hold of the opportunities presented by participating in the open mic, poetry critique group, and even a pitch session with one of the publishers at the conference.

Since I’ve been back, I’ve been pushing myself to take chances on things I might normally talk myself out of and not getting hung up on the end result. I’ve encouraged myself to never think of these opportunities as something I might fail at again.

And while I intended to highlight some of the things I enjoyed learning at the conference, I’ve learned through writing these posts that there’s always a message that comes through, it’s just not always the message I planned.

There were some great things I learned that I want to pass along, but they’ll have to wait. They’ll make it into a post, just not this time.