I have pretty much shelved my fiction writing for now. I don’t have the time to learn to do it right, really. And I don’t have the time to apply what I already know.
I still have countless stories I want to tell; images and climaxes reel crazily through my head most of the day. But I really just have to support my family right now.
I received my notice about BYU’s Conference for Writers and Illustrators today. The conference is in June and I had no (again.. NO) intention of going. Tracy and Laura Hickman will be there, doing the SciFi/Fantasy workshop.
Good heavens what do I do now? If I go I will have to pay the huge fee, but then I get to worship at Tracy Hickman’s feet. And three editors will be there. And I do have a book I want to publish, and I think it’s good and I just need to make it better.
Argh.
What do I do? No, seriously. I really need help with this.
What do I do?
I have to decide fast if I’m going to be able to sign up for the workshop I want.
HELP!
I don’t know if this helps make your decision, but Tracy’s class is already full. I am signed up to work with him. If you’d like, I’d be happy to send along the notes.
You do realize he was the keynote speaker at the LTUE last weekend? I’m just saying, he was right there. Maybe you would have been luckier than me. He didn’t remember me at all. Sigh. Just my luck. I had something great and I didn’t even know what it was.
Hey thanks Kristi. Yeah, I know that about the LTUE… I had to put that conference out of my mind because I really wanted to go.
I would love your notes.
The other thing is that I’ve been wondering if I ought to go with Ann Cannon or somebody like her.. you know… because The Cabin is not a SciFi/Fantasy book.
But then that assumes I’m going to go to it. It’s $400+!
Anyway, thanks, Kristi.
I would give you $20. Just find 22 more people to sponsor you at that rate, and you are all set.
So… Who’s with me?
First of all, if you’re having plot ideas–write them down. Really. Otherwise you’ll forget them and kick yourself later.
I’m not sure what you should do about the conference, but if I were you I would let the cabin simmer for a while and work on something new. Sometimes the timing just isn’t right in the market for a story, but things and editors change every so often so it might be different in a year or two.
In the mean time get that second story done and out. It doesn’t have to take a lot of your time. Just set a goal to write a page a day and you’ll be done in less than a year.
Thanks John, good idea. I need sponsors!
Janette, thanks so much for your support. You’re right on about writing down the ideas, and I do usually, but that’s a good reminder to get my latest idea down.
This earning enough money to support the family is just so involving is the main issue, really. How can I do something else if I’m not even fulfilling that main duty?