DC OR Bust

So this week I’m taking off to Washington, DC for the RWA National Writers Conference.   Picture it.  2,000 people – mostly women – gather for 4 days of workshops, speakers listened to over whatever form of chicken they can come up with to serve, networking, seeing old friends, free books.  It’s invigorating being around that many published authors and wannabe published authors.  We all share one bond.  As I explained in my Bible study some months ago, most of us have nothing in common. They’re old, young, married, divorced, single, widowed, raising kids, grown kids, no kids, professional women, homemakers, every faith you can imagine, no faith.  They’re from the South, the Northeast, West, Midwest, Europe, and Australia…nothing in common except the crazy urge to create stories.  And every single one have them has experienced the same highs and lows, even the published authors.  That’s the invigorating part.  Being 10-ft. away from Nora Roberts and Susan Elizabeth Phillips is invigorating.  It’s also exhausting and mind-numbing after awhile, trying to absorb all the new information.  I met some incredible ladies at my very first conference and they’ve become great friends.  We trade manuscripts for critiquing as well as general news about our lives.  Every year is a new discovery. Can’t wait to see what’s in store this year.