Five Things I Learned at My First Writer's Conference

1.) I need to get over myself. I had hoped by the time I reached my 50's I would have developed a little more personality--capable of engaging strangers and honestly sharing my struggles and dreams. Didn't happen.

2.) I needed my friend with me. She is engaging and willing to be vulnerable. She likes to sit in the front row, while I feel a small knot of anxiety when there aren't any seats left in the back row. (We compromised and sat in the middle.)  At dinner, one of the featured writers (gulp!) sat at our table. Unintimidated, my friend got everyone at the table to share their writing dream. Even I shyly admitted I wanted to finish writing my hokey romance novel. As soon as we finished eating, my friend excused herself to connect with another writer. She left me on my own! There are two subjects I try to avoid: church and my job. Church, because I don't go to church. My job, because the same two questions are invariably asked: "what is your normal route?" and "what is your favorite layover city?" Las Vegas comes to mind as my favorite city, because I love the hotel and they pick us up and drop us off at the airplane. No going through security or waiting at the curb. If Bismarck offered the same service, Bismarck would be my favorite city. In Christian circles, not going to church and citing Las Vegas as your favorite layover are not endearing admissions.

3.) There are literally thousands of talented writers, filled to the brim with personality, wit and connections. Everyone has a story, and most can not only write it well, but they can tell it well too. At times, I felt woefully inadequate and was tempted to "throw in the towel."

4.) Not new, but repeated by every single speaker, "Show, don't tell."  Example of telling: "She was nervous." Showing: "She sweated profusely and sat there like a mute stooge." (Obviously, I didn't have to dig very deep for that one.)

5.) To expect failure. The most successful people have also failed the most. Nothing worth attaining comes easy; writing is hard work. "The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will." --Vincent T. Lombardi