This is a lesson I'm still striving to learn, but it's sinking in. Slowly.
I've been absent for a few days; my apologies, y'all. I'm just trying to get my head on straight before the conference next week. I've never been to a writing conference and of course I've never had a pitch before, so I'm understandably anxious. I took a break for a bit so I could collect my thoughts and breathe.
Now I'm a week away from the con, for better or for worse. In one week, I'll be heading to Atlanta to make my flight. A week from tomorrow, I'll be in Vegas, checking in to the hotel. A week from Friday... pitch time. But it's all right. After some time away and a long talk with an old friend (who's also an artist), I feel better. Stronger. And ready. As much as I can be, anyway.
I sound grim, don't I? Heh heh heh... Well, I am a horror writer. But don't worry; the excitement will be back. I'm just glad to be past the worst part of these pre-con jitters - what I believe to be the worst part, anyway. I missed you guys while I was away. Hope the world's been good to you while I was gone.
I'll be around more in the next few days, and I'm sure the exuberance will return. For now, I'm just basking in the relief of letting go all of that worry I've been trying to process. Tomorrow, we get back to the warm-wet-puppy excitement of it all.
Until then...
7 comments:
Why worry about that is something out of your control I was once told. It is hard to think like that and it don't come over night but it do eventually and life is sure alot happier if one think on those lines.
Hope all goes well for you.
Yvonne.
Good luck with the Con! Just have to say 'puppy excitement' I read as 'puppy excrement'. hehehe
Are you a writer? Then you MUST enter this CONTEST!
glad you are feeling better and had some time to get your thoughts sorted. I swear practicing out loud in front of the mirror any chance you get will help you get the pitch DOWN.
I hope the conference is a BLAST!
You'll have to keep us updated while you're at the conference. And just think, what's the worst that can happen?
Your opening quote spoke volumes on the value of worrying...there is none. It's either action when possible or inaction when not.
Thanks for putting it out there. I feel less stressed already :-)
You are going to have a blast. Afterall - you will be immersed in your own element. And luckily the pitch is on Friday so you get it out of the way to enjoy the rest of the conference.
No matter what happens, this is a tremendous opportunity to learn this particular step in person, where you may get feedback, can read facial expressions, pick up on body language. Many writers are just sending out pitches like arrows in the dark to faceless people, who they only know by name and what little they can glean on the internet.
You are adding to your toolbox of writer's skills by having a session that at one time was only accomplished by sitting in some office in New York, alone, without 100's of your peers, just as nervous as you going through the same thing. You can compare notes later and learn more ins and outs of the business in one weekend than many of the rest of us go through years of sending out queries and receiving rejection letters to learn. Look at it as a marvelous experience - because that's what it will be. I can't wait to hear all the stories when you get home.
Great advice. :)
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