Monday, October 03, 2005

Back from the Pen to Paper Symposium in Dayton, OH. It was nice. It reminded me of the writer's conferences that I went to in my first year. They were small and cozy, and you had short sessions on various topics that were just enough to get you started and pointed in the right direction. Small conferences like these also allow people to speak freely and go in-depth about experiences. Attendees are able to pose any question that is on their minds. And you make contacts. If you're an aspiring writer, I highly recommend looking into this symposium for next year. They have a lot of good information to offer you.

So, yes, I had a great time at this event. I was invited to participate when another author couldn't make it. So, I had only a short period of time to prepare my discussion, but I managed it. I used this event to work on my speaking and presentation skills. I might have said before that I hadn't been good with public speaking in the past. I get extremely nervous to where my voice is shaking, I break out in cold sweats, my mind goes blank, and I ramble and talk at breakneck speed. LOL Well, I had planned to use this event to work on these things, and I think I did a good job for starters. Just the fact that I didn't feel nervous and my voice didn't shake was an accomplishment. Of course, I had a small crowd. But in the past, it didn't matter. I could be before 2 or 3 people and would be on the verge of passing out. LOL So, I'd say I made a step in the right direction. Pretty soon, I'll be an old pro at speaking in public. ;-)

Well, lots to do. I've already started working on the edits for First Fridays. We agreed on 2 weeks, and I'm going to see how much I can get done by then. My editor does love the story, but offered some recommendations that I think are going to make the story even better. I think we work well together. She's awesome. It's so amazing how she can figure out what I mean when I totally botch up a sentence. I noticed that sometimes, my brain and hands do not work cohesively together when writing. I can throw in an extra letter, transpose words, or add or leave out words in a sentence. I mean, huge chunks of words. Like I say the whole sentence in my mind, but only write down half of it on paper. My editor gets it every time. Sometimes I'm looking at the sentence and trying to figure out how in the world did she get it because it looks like mumbo jumbo when I read it. LOL Anyway, she's great.

So, I'm trying to do the line edits first. Then I'm still working on my mail campaign and trying to mail at least 20 - 25 mailings a day. I'm preparing for Saturday's first local book signing. Need to get my October newsletter complete. AND, I was invited to participate and write for another anthology! I already got the story in mind. So now, I need to finish up First Fridays so I can work on the short story for the anthology, which means I'll have to delay book #3 for maybe a month.

Hopefully, I'll get to unpack the suitcase before I go to Memphis at the end of this month. :-)

5 comments:

The Foxybrown Show Mon Oct 03, 09:07:00 AM EDT  

Take it light but enjoy the ride!!!

TJ Brown Mon Oct 03, 11:20:00 AM EDT  

I am not much into public speaking myself. I have been thinking about toastmasters. LOL
Teri

Erik Mon Oct 03, 04:54:00 PM EDT  

you are one busy lady, glad the symposium went well.

LadyLee Mon Oct 03, 10:54:00 PM EDT  

Oh Mighty Isis, you go on and on like the Energizer Bunny...

And next time, let's put a hidden camera on you so you can send me a video feed of the class...Shoot, a hidden mike will do... Or at least come down to GA and teach us a little somethin' down here in the dirty, dirty south...

I don't have public speaking problems. (We were FORCED into that... the fear has been beaten out of me!) I've done too much of it. I've always been the best in my classes, etc. I have much to say, and people are going to hear me say it, doggonit!!!, (i.e., go in there and do the darn thing like the Jedi Master Supreme Raindrop ruler you are!!!)

Keep at it. Do more of it. It truly gets a little better each time.

Cherlyn Michaels Tue Oct 04, 09:04:00 AM EDT  

Foxy & Awwsoulreal,
Thanks! I'm having fun through it all. :-)

Hey TJ,
I thought about that too. That's going to be my next option if I can't get through this myself. :-)

Erik,
Yeah, it's a busy period. Like life, it's feast or famine. :-) It'll all die down soon.

Marcus,
The Rams need more than me. But hey, how 'bout them Cardinals???!!! Uh, that would be baseball, not football! LOL

LadyLee,
I can't wait to read your book. Just to check out your character names! LOL I'm preparing myself for that teaching job. :-) I'm practicing.