One of the surprising things about running a blog – even an anonymous one – is that I have gotten to know a lot more people than I expected. As time goes on, I have gained many new friends and followers, and I notice that this group tends to have a high number of writers in it.
Some of the writers are wannabe writers, many are trying to be writers, some are real-live published writers, and some work in the publishing industry. Whenever I make a new friend or follower that is a writer, I get a little nervous. At first, I figured they were just reading to witness the trainwreck that is my blog – as an example of “how not to do it.” I waited for the letters to come correcting my grammar and punctuation – but they never came. (OK, I did get two comments last week asking me to proofread my posts. I looked up this term “proofread” and learned that one can actually re-read the things written and correct errors before you hit the publish button. Who knew? I am going to try this someday.)
Anyway, my fears were unfounded, and it turns out that these writer-type people are really, really nice. They are generous and supportive – and not as self-absorbed as you might imagine a bunch of writers to be. And the other difference between these writers and the ones you see in the movies, is that these writers consume much, much less alcohol – which is always a plus. Especially for Mormon writers.
One of the Superwomen of Young Adult Fiction is Janette Rallison. She has sold over a million books. That’s a lot of books. If you took a million books and stacked them up, you would have a really tall stack, and probably get a letter from your HOA. Janette writes about things we all lived through: Teenage angst, puppy love, time-travel and killer dragons.
Somehow, whether by fate, luck, or my exceeding faithfulness in the pre-existence, I am friends with her. She is nice to me and actually did a giveaway on her blog of my book “Failed Family Mottos,” which you can purchase now and get it in plenty of time to give to your EC for Valentine’s Day. That way I too, can feel like a writer.
Anyway, Janette asked if I I would be willing to do her a favor. Usually I turn down such requests, but, because I’m a little star-struck, I said yes. Apparently she thinks my blog audience is mildly literate and would be interested in learning about this:
My first thought was to wonder why people would be writing about the Alaskan Wildlife Refuge, then I remembered that it was ANWA, not ANWR. It makes more sense that Janette would belong to the American Nordic Walking Association – oops – the American Nepal Women’s Association. Wait… I got this:
Now I can vouch for these people. Judging by blog comments, these people do write at night, because they leave clever comments when most humans are supposed to be sleeping. And they have an annual conference, which it turns out, is a pretty big deal.
This year, the conference is being held in Mesa, Arizona on February 21-23. That should be enough right there. You know what they don’t have in Arizona? Snow. You don’t have to scrape snow off your windshield. It seems that would justify the trip by itself. I imagine everyone attends the conference in either flip-flops or cowboy boots, eating oranges, complaining about their sunburn. and sipping drinks with little umbrellas in them. (Well, that’s how I imagine it – I’ve never tried to sign up – I hate rejection.)
There is a website that has all the details about the Conference. There’s a lot of good stuff to learn, people to meet, and connections to be made. It is a two-day conference with workshops and talks. You can even stay at the hotel where it’s held and call room service and tell them “Please knock softly, I’m writing.“
I’m not telling ANWA how to run their conference, but I think at $180 they are underpriced. It is open to the public, and ANWA members pay a little less. Note: It costs the same even if you sleep at night and write in the daytime.
Here is the link to learn all about it. http://anwa-lds.com/conference I’m sure a lot of you are already going, and I imagine that several of you will now sign up, merely because I recommended it.
If you are attending, leave a comment -to humor me because I am curious.
Thanks! And have fun in Arizona where you can touch your tongue to metal with impunity.
Loved your post, MMM. This will be my third time attending and, yes, it’s a steal! As a former Angelino who moved to Washington, I threw away my flip-flops, and the only set of cowboy boots I ever had was when I was 3 years old…so, I’m afraid I’ll be wearing my hiking boots…er, shoes.
As to Janette’s pile of a million books, it’s nice to imagine but it would never happen because readers would not be willing to give up their copies. Still, a shrine at the conference would make us smile…but not as much as it would make Janette smile.
One thing’s for sure: if I get stuck sitting next to her again at the book signing, I’m going to start piling all her books up to create a wall between us so that I don’t have to look at the long line of fans waiting for her signature. 😀
You can get rejected?
Correction: In Arizona, you can touch your tongue to metal with impunity during the winter. I dare you to try it during the summer, especially in a place like Mesa.
Hahaha–now that’s funny. As an Arizona native that mental image is terrific.
Ya, licking metal in the summer is the real dare! My son got a first degree burn on his little legs from the metal on the carseat buckle accidently touching his leg as I buckled him in.
We lived in Arizona along the Colorado River (the desert part) for about a year and a half. I wore my Birkies ev.er.y.day during that time. (Didn’t own flip flops at the time). I’ll never forget a native complaining about the cold – he put a sweatshirt on – while still wearing his shorts and flip flops! HA!
Interesting . . . I will actually look in to attending . . . Thanks!
If there’s a “How Not to Do It” blog, mine is at the top of the list. Five years now and I still don’t have many readers. It’s a non-understandable thing. I’m not a writer, but I do like to write. Is that a real thing?
I went and directly subscribed to your blog. I(f I resurrect mine, you can reciprocate.)
Love this conference. Mesa in February is usually a most wonderful time, but like Ginger said, once in a while we have a fluke storm. But I digress. I haven’t attended this conference as many times as Donna, but I’m close. It’s a great place to meet amazing people, hear hilarious side bar comments (from one onlooker to another: “It’s a writers conference. You know, smart people.”), pack your notebook full of fantastic writerly information, meet agents, eat yummy chocolate (which is required for a good conference, right?), and have a wonderful few days of filling your writer cup. I’ve looked at the class line-up and think, like conferences in the past, this will be one you won’t want to miss. Click that link, sign up, and I’ll see you there!
The Knight Rider theme is going through my head….
What a fun post! You made me laugh out loud a few times, and for that, I thank you.
I’ve attended the ANWA conference almost every year for the last 6 years. It’s very professional and filled with some of the nicest bunch of people you’d ever want to meet–and they’re super talented, too. Every serious writer, or even not-sure-but-might-be-serious-in-the-future writer, owes it to him/herself to attend this conference.
Janette is a fabulous ambassador of ANWA and everything it represents. She’s totally my idol and I am blessed that she calls me friend.
I would love to go, but classes just started in Rexburg. Someone ought to lick some metal for me.
How kind of you to post about the conference. And, yes, Janette totally rocks it. She’s an inspiration on so many levels. It’s important for LDS (and other people) to have good reading choices.
I’ve also found the writing community to be very supportive and friendly. Every single time a writer puts his/her work out there, s/he’s putting it up to be tromped on by others, It’s a scary thing. Tends to keep you humble.
You can stick your tongue to metal things up north, too, just with punity, I suppose… (Maybe I need to go to that conference.)
I once told my brother to stick his tongue on a piece of metal… I still feel guilty.
I think you should stack up all my books as a sort of Janette Rallison shrine. Certainly the HOA would approve . . .
Yea, but I already have an indoor shrine. Complete with candid photos.
I love this conference and have been attending for years. Thanks for the plug. And yes, the weather is fine and the price is right!
I’m no writer but I bet those are really cool people to hang out with. If it’s were far away in Mesa, I would totes hang out in the hotel, lurking behind plants and hiding my face under the umbrella’s in my drinks just to say I went to a writing conference.
Flip flops and cowboy boots at the same time? Post pictures.
I live in Mesa and am wearing flip-flops and cowboy boots this very moment.
Conflicted much?
I attended this conference last year and it was very inspiring!
Thanks so much for this! Finally a conference that is close enough for me to attend without having to sell a child in order to pay to get there. 🙂
As a 5th generation Arizonan, I do have to correct you though… there IS snow in Arizona. LOTS of snow. I live in the mountains, but if you are only referring to the Mesa part of Arizona, you are correct. No snow in Mesa… except maybe once a decade on a fluke. 🙂 (Let’s just hope that fluke storm of this decade doesn’t take place during Feb. 21-23, 2013.)
OK. Sorry I was focused on the desert. But was I right about the flip-flops and drinks with umbrellas?
I am from mesa and I wore flip flops just yesterday to run errands. I almost never have a drink with an umberella though becsuse circle k doesn’t offer unberellas with a thurst buster.
Circle K? I thought all Arizonans got their drinks at QT?
I would say yes to the flip flops! 🙂 And I have to agree with Tiffani Ray – Circle K doesn’t have umbrellas, darn it! But if they did, I’d be getting one for my thirst buster too. ha ha