Changing Life Moments - Good Subject for Personal Essays

I spent most of my time today driving alone and thinking. I thought of numerous subjects I wanted to blog about. Perhaps I will -- tomorrow.
Today, I am happy that Writers Digest editor, Robert Brewer, posted one of my personal essays on the subject of a moment that changed my life. Visit his blog, My Name is not Bob, www.robertleebrewer.blogspot.com

 I could write on other moments that changed my life, but the subject of this essay was one of the most important to me personally. I hope you will visit Robert's site and read it. Leave a comment, please.

I have said before, Robert Brewer and Hope Clark are two bloggers who give so much to writers. Take advantage of their tips. I met both of them last year at the Blue Ridge Writers' Conference. This conference, although a local event for us, is one of the best writers' events you can attend. This year it will be held on March 30 and 31. Friday night and Saturday. Friday night is a reception for the speakers, but Saturday is the day to take part in the workshops. Carol Crawford has directed this conference from the beginning and she has brought some excellent speakers to Blue Ridge, Georgia.
When you go, talk to the speakers, introduce yourself and if you enjoyed their sessions, write them a note when you get home and tell them what you enjoyed about their class. Take notes in class and when you get home go over your notes, you might want to type them up and file them where you can get to them easily and often.

Hope to see you there this year.

 

Writers' Conference

I spent the day in Blue Ridge Georgia at the Arts Center where Carol Crawford pulled off yet another flawless writers’ conference. This event was number fourteen sponsored by the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association and this time it was held at the magnificent old building now used as an Arts Center. My eyes feasted on the paintings and photography on the walls as well as carvings and sculpture displayed. I arrived late and missed Sally McMillan’s opening remarks, but I did not miss Hope Clark’s session. I subscribe to Hope’s free newsletter at http://www.fundsforwriters.com/ Her handout was jam-packed with Internet sites to contact for funding for writers. She had not planned to make her living this way. Her talk about her own life and how she came to be in the business of helping writers find grants, proves you just never know how your plans can change and often for the best. Hope is from South Carolina. Her warm smile and easy manner with an audience comes through on her blog. She enjoys helping her readers. She is the kind of person you know you will like the minute you see her. It was so good to see my good friend, Scott Owens, editor of Wild Goose Poetry Review, and hear the compliments heaped upon him. He was a big hit, and I am happy to say he will be back here in the fall at Writers Circle to teach a workshop. Check this site for the date: http://www.glendacouncilbeall.blogspot.com/ All the presenters talked about online publishing and social media’s importance to a writer. Attendees came away realizing their need to catch up with technology. I recognized that deficiency some time ago. That is why we asked Ronda Birtha to teach us how to best use social media to promote our writing and she will do that at Writers Circle on May . It is not too soon to sign up now. Space is limited. Echoes across the Blue Ridge, the Netwest anthology published last year, sold well as did all the books on the table manned by Melinda of Cowan’s Book Nook in Blue Ridge. http://www.hellonorthgeorgia.com/Shopping/CowansBookNook.html I picked up a couple of books I’ll write about later. Except for the air pollution caused by all the people who wore perfume, it was a perfect day. Tonight I’m nursing a sore throat and headache, and praying I won’t end up with bronchitis or asthma from networking with all the delightful writers there. It would not be difficult to print on the Blue Ridge Writers’ Conference application a little line that says, “Please do not wear perfume or fragrance of any kind. Some of our guests are extremely sensitive to the chemicals.” If you did not go to the conference, I urge you to put it on your calendar for next year.

Hope Clark blogs on the importance of your blog

I am a big fan of Hope Clark and I find her advice on writing to be the best. Her site is listed on my sidebar and I hope you click there and meet Hope. She will help your writing.
Hope will be a presenter at the Blue Ridge Writers' Conference in Blue Ridge, Georgia, just down the road from us here in south western NC.
This post, http://hopeclark.blogspot.com/2010/10/your-blog-is-your-resume.html is one all of us bloggers should read and adher to her words.

I hope my readers will take the time to look at the sidebar and click on my favorite blogs.