The Storymakers conference is now over, and already I’m going through withdrawals. I love meeting up with writerly friends. I hung out with these gals a lot, and also Ken Curtis and Darci Cole.
Lindsay Sanchez, Tiana Smith, Catherine Christensen, Brookie Cowles
On Thursday there was a karaoke/dance party to kick things off before thing officially began and I can pretty much guarantee I embarrassed myself. Us writers are a strange breed though, so I was in good company.
I learned so much. The workshops that really helped me this year focused a lot on plotting (Brandon Sanderson‘s intensive class on his own plotting method, plus the 9 point plot method). Because I just finished up edits and have started something new (yay!) I’ve been struggling with which direction the novel should go. I can’t wait to sit down with my notecards and figure out places to add more tension and how to make the characters resonate with genuine emotion.
Of course, one of the best things about the conference is meeting up with friends and authors who you’ve critiqued for.
This year I also attended the Whitney Awards for the first time, so we got all gussied up, which is always fun. As a mom of a preschooler, I don’t often get a lot of excuses to dress up 🙂 A lot of great books won awards, and I added a slew of titles to my already long list. Must. Read. Faster!
I really enjoyed one class by Erin Summerill that focused on how to write the right story for you, and an intensive class taught by Jennifer Nielsen on the 1% solution – basically, if you feel like you’ve made it 99% of the way and can’t figure out how to get past those last few things that are keeping you from publication. I also really loved a class all about the objective correlative taught by Rosalyn Eves, about how you can avoid things like “clenched fists” and other cliches by evoking emotion through objects.
This was my second year attending Storymakers, and I really hope to be able to go next year!
This conference has encouraged me and inspired me to create. Now I just need to focus on making my next book the best it possibly can be. Onward and upward!
leandrajwallace says
May 9, 2016 at 9:14 amOoh, I loved your Whitney dress! It reminds me of something from the 20’s, super glam. =) Glad you came away w/new tools in your writer’s arsenal. And thanks for the recap, it’s always fun to live vicariously through other writers, lol!
Tiana Smith says
May 9, 2016 at 9:33 amThanks Leandra 🙂 It’s actually my friend’s that she let me borrow. I loved how it reminded me of the 20s too!
Julie Dao says
May 9, 2016 at 11:36 amLooks like you had SO much fun! And those classes/workshops sounded like they were very helpful 🙂
Beth says
May 9, 2016 at 5:00 pmthis sounds and looks like SO much fun!!
Jamie says
May 10, 2016 at 12:28 pmGorgeous dress! Glad you had a wonderful time! 🙂
dksalerni says
May 11, 2016 at 7:06 amI have heard such wonderful things about this conference. If only it weren’t so far away! (I’d love to have Brandon Sanderson teach me how to plot!)
Tiana Smith says
May 12, 2016 at 9:28 amBrandon Sanderson’s intensive was definitely one of my favorites 🙂 If you ever do make it out, make sure you let me know so I can meet you in person!
Crystal Collier says
May 11, 2016 at 7:32 amThis is THE conference that every year I say, “I want to be there SO bad.” One day I’m just going to hop on a plane and make it happen. Maybe next year. LOL. It looks like it was an epic time.
Tiana Smith says
May 12, 2016 at 9:29 amIt’s one of the few that I feel are worth the money – I feel like a lot of conferences are geared toward the very beginner, but this one helps more with those of us who have gone farther on the journey.
Lindsay says
May 11, 2016 at 7:34 amThanks for letting me tag along! I had so much fun! Definitely on an after conference low right now, but I’m already looking forward to next year.
Tiana Smith says
May 12, 2016 at 9:30 amI’m SO glad you could make it! And hopefully I’ll see you soon in Texas 😉
Kristin Smith says
May 11, 2016 at 8:59 amSo great to meet you in person! Now I’m sad that I skipped Brandon Sanderson’s class. I decided to go to the one on sexual tension instead. Lol. Sounds like his class was a great one!
Tiana Smith says
May 12, 2016 at 9:30 amI’m so glad I finally got to meet you!!!
Gwen Tolios says
May 11, 2016 at 10:31 pmIt sounds like you had a great time! I just branching out into writer events this spring – BookCon this weekend – but I need to go to more professional ones. Storymakers is now on my list for next year!
Tiana Smith says
May 12, 2016 at 9:31 amIf you make it, make sure you let me know so I can meet you in person!
Dawn Simon says
May 15, 2016 at 9:43 pmThat sounds like a great conference! I’m happy for you, getting to go! Also, the photos are super cute! 🙂
Optimistic Existentialist says
June 11, 2016 at 4:04 amLooks and sounds like it was a great conference 🙂 love those smiling faces!
DL says
July 4, 2016 at 5:33 pmI’m determined to meet you at a conference some day soon! If I could just get you and Julie Dao at the same location at the same time! 🙂