Well, I'm off to WIFYR today. This year it is not sponsored by BYU, but is independent. I think it will still be fantastic, though I miss not being on campus. This year I am staff, which means a lot of work, but fun, too.
One thing that I don't like that happens to me at WIFYR time is that I start feeling insecure and, as a result, trying to prove to people that I am Someone. I hang out with published people and publishing people and I have this egotistical urge to prove that I'm not just "one of the masses." Well, face it. I AM one of the masses. and the "masses," are actually really nice people, most of them with at least some talent. So I'm disgusted with myself for trying to prove to whomever I meet that I've actually been published before, that my stories are pretty good, blah, blah, blah. Yuck.
So this time, to get my mind of myself, I have some specific goals:
1. Concentrate on improving my craft, not getting published/making connections.
2. Be the World's Best Assistant to the author I'll be helping (Kristyn Crow).
3. Build, build, build the people around me. Emulate Rick Walton and his selfless constant helping of others to get better and get published.
4. Make some new friends that might lead to a picture book critique group.
I won't be blogging the conference this year, as has been my tradition, because they have asked us not to ("us" meaning all participants). I have to admit they have a point: they say that we shouldn't give out for free on the net what others are paying to hear from these authors and professionals. So, I'm feeling a little guilty about previous years.
Here goes!
5 comments:
I wish I could have gone! I would have signed up for the very class you will be assistant for.
I'm very interested in being part of a picture book critique group. If you think I might be a good fit with the people you find, would you consider letting me join?
Have so much fun! I will miss reading your updates.
Have a great time! And remember, in my mind you're already on par with those author folks. In fact, you could teach THEM a thing or two!
Kathryn
Happy Birthday, Darlenie!
Love,
Kathryn
Wah, if BYU's not offering it then there goes my chance at a free ticket. They also canceled the sewing conference several years ago--right after Dean started working for BYU, in fact. I'll try not to take this personally. I've never availed myself of any of the free stuff through BYU so far, actually, since I'm still in such an intense stage of my parenting adventures (and have had such unreliable health) that it's really hard to get away. I hope that when my time comes there will be things to do that interest me. (I'm sure I can find *something.*)
Have fun! You have no cause to feel insecure. :)
Oh, didn't notice that this post was from Monday--so the conference is almost over? How has it been? And I hope you had a good birthday. (June is an excellent month for birthdays, as Dean and I will both attest.)
P.S. How does one spell "Wah"? Not like that, I think. Maybe "Waaaaaaaaa."
Post a Comment