100% agree writers conferences are wonderful. And exhausting. And wonderful. I always go with grand ambitions to attend as many talks as possible and usually wear myself out halfway through and crash in my room 😅
I feel the same about writers conferences. Not one to strike up conversations. In my next life, I'd like to come back as an extrovert. Also I feel the drinking thing. I quit two years, not because I had a major problem but because it was waking me up at night. Best decision I ever made. I had no idea what a drag it was on my productivity.
I think the drinking thing is so common, at least with middle aged women. (The middle aged men I know seem to be drinking just fine...) I used to be able to have a few drinks in the evening, no problem. But ever since I hit 40 (or maybe it started in my mid-30's), if I have wine with dinner, or if I have an after-dinner cocktail, I have a terrible time sleeping. It's very annoying because I LIKE having wine with dinner; I LIKE having an after dinner drink. But my middle aged body does not like it. Courtney Maum talks about how wine was contributing to her insomnia, too.
TY for sharing this. As an introvert learning to expand my horizons and extrovert, it was a pleasant to read I'm not alone. Writer's conferences are fun and I will be doing more next year! Presentations as well as attendance. As I say, this Hobbit is leaving the shire again for an adventure =---->
What conferences are you going to? Here are my tips as a fellow introvert: 1) sign up to volunteer as a way to meet people. 2) try to connect with people online ahead of time. At Bouchercon, I was able to meet in-person some people who I had connected with on Substack. Good luck leaving the Shire!!
Yes to volunteering - always a great way to meet people. I'm attending History Through Fiction's Revolution in Writing. I will part of a panel as well as meeting people and learning. I will see what else comes up next year =---->
Eva dear... You are long past highschool and (introvert or not) you have no "good" reason to be anxious about these things. Relax, enjoy. You don't drink any longer, good for you! But go to those bars if you want to converse with those specific people and don't be embarrassed about having a Shirley Temple, or a coke that's just a coke! Have fun dear. Be yourself and be confident that yourself is just fine! 🌹🤗❤️🙏👏
That resonated with me SO MUCH because it was a years-long process for me, having to finally admit to myself that something that was such a big part of my social life and my freaking IDENTITY... my body just won't allow me to do it anymore.
100% agree writers conferences are wonderful. And exhausting. And wonderful. I always go with grand ambitions to attend as many talks as possible and usually wear myself out halfway through and crash in my room 😅
THE TITLE ALONE. Eva, we will chat one day about the first half-dozen times I went to AWP and cried every night in my hotel.
Such amazing resources! Sharing with my local writing group.
Thank you!!
I feel the same about writers conferences. Not one to strike up conversations. In my next life, I'd like to come back as an extrovert. Also I feel the drinking thing. I quit two years, not because I had a major problem but because it was waking me up at night. Best decision I ever made. I had no idea what a drag it was on my productivity.
I think the drinking thing is so common, at least with middle aged women. (The middle aged men I know seem to be drinking just fine...) I used to be able to have a few drinks in the evening, no problem. But ever since I hit 40 (or maybe it started in my mid-30's), if I have wine with dinner, or if I have an after-dinner cocktail, I have a terrible time sleeping. It's very annoying because I LIKE having wine with dinner; I LIKE having an after dinner drink. But my middle aged body does not like it. Courtney Maum talks about how wine was contributing to her insomnia, too.
Yes, I read the link and definitely identified. They say it's not good for us after a certain age so maybe for the best :)
TY for sharing this. As an introvert learning to expand my horizons and extrovert, it was a pleasant to read I'm not alone. Writer's conferences are fun and I will be doing more next year! Presentations as well as attendance. As I say, this Hobbit is leaving the shire again for an adventure =---->
What conferences are you going to? Here are my tips as a fellow introvert: 1) sign up to volunteer as a way to meet people. 2) try to connect with people online ahead of time. At Bouchercon, I was able to meet in-person some people who I had connected with on Substack. Good luck leaving the Shire!!
Yes to volunteering - always a great way to meet people. I'm attending History Through Fiction's Revolution in Writing. I will part of a panel as well as meeting people and learning. I will see what else comes up next year =---->
Eva dear... You are long past highschool and (introvert or not) you have no "good" reason to be anxious about these things. Relax, enjoy. You don't drink any longer, good for you! But go to those bars if you want to converse with those specific people and don't be embarrassed about having a Shirley Temple, or a coke that's just a coke! Have fun dear. Be yourself and be confident that yourself is just fine! 🌹🤗❤️🙏👏
Thanks for including us in your roundup! We also just announced some new workshops for those interested.
Thank you for sharing my post about me having to uncouple with red wine.
That resonated with me SO MUCH because it was a years-long process for me, having to finally admit to myself that something that was such a big part of my social life and my freaking IDENTITY... my body just won't allow me to do it anymore.