I'm ready!!

I am pretty excited as this week ends. I finished making arrangements yesterday to attend a Christian writer’s conference in Grand Haven the middle of October. It is called the “Breathe” conference. It is a gathering of writers both established and getting their feet wet. I attended last year and it was a good time. You get to meet authors who have many books under their belt. They have been through the process of getting their works published.
Last year I was impressed with the willingness of the workshop teachers to share both the ups and downs of what they had been through. Also what it takes to stick with it to get a publisher to take on your book or other form of writing and promoting once it is in print. As with anything you have to be willing to work hard and long to persevere for your writing to be noticed. They did not sugarcoat the facts and told stories of miscues which brought embarrassing moments, now seen as humorous. You have to be willing to put yourself out in public. One of my most favorite times was when one of the authors graciously allowed us on his sailing boat for one of the workshops. It was so relaxing to feel the gentle motion of the boat even as it was docked and drink in the sights and sounds.
There were workshops on many things including how to set up your writing area, using your five senses for bringing life into a story, writing ads or other promotional material, or writing for different genres such as magazines. Don’t be afraid to ask questions was a very important point made at each session. There was advice for working with your editors once you have been noticed. The steps to getting from words on your processor to printed page are many with numerous people involved.
The setting for the conference last year was a church very close to the channel in Grand Haven which leads into Lake Michigan. Grand Haven is a beautiful city right on the lake and the church building seemed to have an interesting history. It looked like it had been a factory before becoming a church. In looking at pictures displayed I wondered if it had been a place where pianos had been built. I understand some good quality pianos were built in our area in years past.
This conference looks to have a good line up for both speakers and workshops. It is a full two days of hands on learning. It is also a great lesson learned about how the authors are extremely gracious to all who are in attendance. Have a listening ear and a kind heart.
All in all an up end to a week which has had so many ups and downs it looks like an EKG heart test readout. It has been a very busy week with picking up some of the chores around the house while Ter puts in overtime to finish a project. It has been interesting to note how some of the parts of the jobs I used to not mind now are much more difficult for me. I got them done and Ter doesn’t have to worry about them which is the important part. I am getting tired and hope the overtime doesn’t last much longer….the extra time worked isn’t reflected in a bigger paycheck. Thank God for the paycheck, though, as so many here in Michigan are hurting so badly. I keep praying for a turn around. We are loosing a lot of people who are moving out of state to find work. As the Bible directs, I pray for our leaders at all levels for their wisdom and leadership in this extremely difficult time. It is so comforting to have the realization that God is in control even during these times.