read, write, design, create
Change often happens at a gradual pace. News and accomplishments quickly becomes part of your normal day-to-day as the novelty wears off and we move on to the next thing. Huge changes or life-altering events are oh-so easy to recall, but what about the small daily efforts that got you there? What about the other things that happened concurrently? I think those are worth something, too.
There are times in life when every square on the calendar is filled, every scrap of paper in sight is scribbled with To Do lists, and the only thing keeping you going is the series of alarms on your phone that tell you to eat at regular intervals. These are the times when a little Spring Cleaning: Personal Schedule Edition is in order. Refine, rethink, remove. Even a few small changes can make the whole world feel new.
WriteOnCon is an online writing conference that I’ve been attending and volunteering with for four years now. Time flies!
I’ve shared my experiences and takeaways as an attendee before, but it struck me this year that I’ve never shared what it’s like to be part of the team! Being part of the behind-the-scenes crew is a unique and amazing experience that I think a lot of people would be totally excited about if they only knew the opportunity existed.
Today, I’m going to share my Top 10 tips, tricks, and favorite things about being a conference volunteer in the hopes of shining some light on the fantastic people behind the scenes and also, maybe, inspiring you to give it a go!
Continue reading “WriteOnCon 2021 Afterglow – Volunteering My Top 10”
December is my month of preparation. Everything lingering on the To Do list gets reassessed, rescheduled, or tossed into the reject pile, leaving me with a clean slate and a shiny new set of goals for the new year. I also take some time to reflect on accomplishments, using that as fuel to take on fresh challenges. And I celebrate, because what’s the point if you can’t kick back, have some sweets, and splurge on gifts for the people you love once in a while?
I always need a little time to process after a writing conference. After three days of enjoying WriteOnCon workshops, podcasts, Q&A panels, and blog posts, my brain has finally come up with some takeaways!
Today, I’m sharing one of the little eureka! moments that I had as the information sank in this week. Perhaps it’s something you’ve needed to hear, too.
I’m going to WriteOnCon! If you’ve never been before, WriteOnCon is an online writer’s conference designed specifically for KidLit writers. This year, it’s being held Friday, February 21 through Sunday the 23rd.
This is one of my favorite resources for inspiration, information, and encouragement in recent years. I always come away full of new ideas and fresh vigor for my writing projects.
Are you planning to be there? If so, what are you most looking forward to?
What are you doing this weekend? At risk of sounding like a cheesy advertisement, if you’re free, I recommend checking out WriteOnCon. It’s an amazing online KidLit writing conference and I can’t recommend it enough if you write Picture Books, Middle Grade, or YA.
SO, that’s my weekend. Will you be there, too?
We know there’s a difference between writing and being good at it, but how do we get from one to the other? That’s a mystery all writers tangle with. A question we want an answer to. But rather than asking some no-name blogger who hasn’t finished their manuscript, you really should consult a pro.
Writing conferences were created for that very purpose. There are a variety of draws. Workshops for honing your craft, keynote speakers you’ve dreamt of meeting, Q&A panels where you get answers from someone who actually knows what they’re talking about. And recently I’ve discovered the wonder and accessibility of online conferences. All the same perks, plus you don’t have to change out of your pajamas. It’s a win-win, so long as you know how to prepare.
Continue reading “Hot Tips for Attending Online Writing Conferences”
A couple weeks ago, I got to attend WriteOnCon, an online conference specifically for writers of children’s books, middle grade, and young adult. Was it Amazing? Yes. Why? I’m glad you asked. Here is a Top 5 Countdown of my favorite takeaways from the event. I hope you’ll learn from my experience, and maybe even mark your calendar to join me next year.
Events for writers are a lot of fun. I’ve been to a few conferences, participate in NaNoWriMo with regularity, go hang out with a small group of writing friends once a month, stalk writerly accounts on social media, and live with a writer/author who lets me steal books from her organized-by-rainbow-order bookshelf whenever I want (yes, I consider this an event). But I’m probably the most excited about a new conference I’ll be attending this year called WriteOnCon. Why?
Have I convinced you? Well, you’re just in time! The conference runs from this Friday, February 9 through Sunday, February 11. There’s a fantastic article on the WriteOnCon website about how you can get the most out of this online conference (right here), and registration starts at just $5.
Busy that weekend? Extended admission is available if you need a little extra time to peruse, re-watch, read up, and soak in all that information.
Planning to go? Let me know! I’d love to meet fellow readers and writers of middle grade.
Elza Kinde 