Last Sunday I attended the final day of the 2017 NESCBWI conference. It was my first year attending, and after a single day I can confidently say I will never miss another again. I met dozens of writers and illustrators from all over New England. Writing can be an isolating activity. Just you, your story, your words. Not a the conference; at the conference I connected. Here were over 700 other people who choose to spend their time crafting, creating, revising. I felt like I belonged.
I learned from experts in the field. I left with ideas, I left with inspiration. Mostly though, I left with homework.
- Create an author’s website. Check!
- Map out my most current polished work. Check!
- Follow new connections on twitter. Check!
- Find teaching with text sets and Betsy’s blog. In Progress.
- Submit work to Editors and Agents from the conference. In Progress.
- Record yourself reading your work and play it back to hear how it sounds.
- Show up. Just write. An every day goal.
I am so thankful to NESCBWI for all of the connections I made and all of the learning I will do because of the conference. Keep connecting writers! It’s worth it.
Mom and biggest fan: Lexi’s first book was written while being homeschooled then in 4th grade she attended private schooling but insisted on a public education by 6th grade, she has been a voracious reader from her earliest preschool years, has written several animal books as a child on dogs, cats, guinea pigs and was always on the lookout to rescue any animal she could to of course keep. I am so proud of you and look forward to your creative writings and signed books in the future, I always knew Lexi was a writer along with her many talents. Again your biggest fan💕, love mom
Good to hear you got a lot out of the conference. Your website looks wonderful, Lexi—great job!