I went to an astounding writers’ conference this past weekend. I want to share it with you. I know, you may be asking, why would I tell you about a conference that was last week? I want to share for several reasons. The conference was put together by the folks at WANA International, which is a community of artists that I highly recommend for throwing a lifeline of support and community to independent artists. Kristen Lamb, writer of the social media guide, We are Not Alone (familiarly, WANA), with a few instructors and other minions, has created the WANA International community. If you are an artist, check them out.
I am also telling you about the conference because it was virtual. Yes, I sat in my little garret in upstate New York with my fuzzy slippers on, and attended a conference that went past my bedtime.
Finally, I am telling you about the conference not out of some “look what I did last weekend, and you didn’t,” but because last weekend was not the only WANA conference, nor is it going to be the only one this year. Kristen puts it well in her announcement: “The Digital Age has completely altered the publishing world, and writers need to be equipped. Changes are coming faster than anyone can keep up, so we no longer have the luxury of waiting a few months or a year for a standard writing conference. With new opportunities come new challenges, and new predators.”
Interested? Check out the particulars: the speakers, the keynotes, and the parties, detailed in the rest of Kristen’s post.
I plan to talk about my experiences, once my brain has plotted paths to all the new information, which should take a few more days.
My brief ROW80 check-in is here.
Elizabeth Anne Mitchell 