Every time
I attend the SCBWI Rocky Mountain Chapter’s fall conference, I receive
encouragement to continue on my writing journey. At my first conference, a critique
session with an enthusiastic editor confirmed that, YES, I was in the right
place. The next year a woman who introduced herself by saying, “You look so
young, I thought you were here with your mother,” became a good friend and
treasured member of my critique group. Another year, author Julie Anne Peters’
inspiring dinner speech lead me to apply to work with her in the annual mentor
program, and her insight helped make my novel submission-ready. In fact, this encouragement
has come so regularly that I no longer wonder if I’ll be inspired but how.
This year, I registered for the conference in search of encouragement to get my
butt in the chair and get back in the writing game after a six-month leave.
With my previous conference experiences, plus the news that my agent, Karen
Grencik, would be on the faculty, I was confident I would not be disappointed.
Saturday
started with several uplifting experiences, like chatting with a brand new
writer at lunch and receiving advice on a dusty manuscript in my critique. As I
kept my eyes pealed for Karen, I confess I wasn’t sure how to act. Should I
hang around her like we were already friends or give her space to mingle and work?
Karen answered that question the second I introduced myself by wrapping me in a
huge bear hug. But as I observed her throughout the weekend, it was clear her kindness
was not only for me. As a speaker, she was warm and genuine. As a critiquer,
she was able to validate the person while still providing an honest evaluation
of the work. Just being in her presence made me feel valued, and listening to
her share the inspiring story of selling Double
Luck, Memories of a Chinese Orphan made me proud to have such a tenacious
agent.
The encouragement
continued as I assisted Karen during her post-conference workshop, Writing From the Heart and Finding Your
Authentic Voice, on Sunday. The purpose of the session was to help us
better understand ourselves so that we could connect to that heartfelt space
from which our voice originates. Karen’s sincere introduction set the stage for
the twenty attendees to get deep, get personal, and let their unique voices be
heard. Volunteers shared pre-prepared answers to a thought-provoking
questionnaire. This provided each of us with the opportunity to receive
validation from the group and to better connect with one another. Listening to
others share what they had overcome to pursue writing reaffirmed my quest for
publication. And hearing others give similar answers to questions like, “What
beliefs have kept you from achieving your dreams?” helped me to consider the
fallacy of my own doubts and realize that I wasn’t battling them alone.
Next Karen asked
us to write a poem to complete the phrase, “I come from…” to test her theory
that a stronger connection to self and others will help your writing flow. I
started by brainstorming individual words and then suddenly the phrase, “Born
in the mountains,” appeared in my mind and the rest of the poem just poured
onto my paper. It was an otherworldly experience I can only describe as
inspired. And it was evident from the work produced in that short time that the
other attendees had been equally moved. The poems shared reaffirmed that when
we consider who we are, we can better
access our own voice.
After a
weekend with Karen, I can see her authentic voice in the way she interacts with
people and in her approach to agenting. Her example inspires me to seek out my
own true voice as I draft my new novel and to write about the themes that
resonate most with me. With my butt now firmly in my chair, I may or may not
write the next Harry Potter or Hunger Games, but I am confident that what
I do write will be authentically me. I am grateful to the RMC-SCBWI for giving
me the opportunity to meet Karen and for hosting a wonderful conference. I look
forward to another large helping of encouragement next fall.
