I Almost Didn’t Go, Part Two
By M J Sewall, Coastal Dunes Branch
Start reading with Part One that ran in November’s edition of socalwritersshowcase.com where M J Sewall explains the cogitations involved in his decision to apply for a scholarship to attend the Central Coast Writers Conference.
They are all writers. They will understand. Hey, life gets in the way, but it can also inform a great writer. But I’m not a great writer yet. Tell them that! They are a writer’s conference; they’re there to help. Well, I do need help – I want to connect to other writers, learn from them, have a dialogue with them. But, again, why would they choose me?
They may not. But you have to stop whining and ask. Be honest. But I write fiction, I’m a total liar. You know better than that – a fiction writer often creates a lie to show a truth. Now that sounds pretentious. It does, doesn’t it? But it’s the truth, so tell it. I will tell them. I will ask for it. (Before this construct becomes too tedious.)
I would love to go to the Central Coast Writers Conference this year. The truth is that I can’t afford to pay right now. Sitting at the little table last year, representing my writing group, I was sure I would go this year. I could catalogue my 2016 woes and troubles, but I don’t want to pander to your emotions. I also don’t want to bore you. Things go wrong for all of us; we are all fighting hard battles. I try to keep struggles in perspective since mine are smaller than many. But I do love writing, and I want to get better.
I will already be at the conference this year. I’ll be sitting at that table, telling anyone who will listen about my awesome writing group. I appreciate you considering me for a scholarship. Either way, I will be saving my pennies to come next year.
And then I got one! The two days at the conference were amazing. I took panels and classes with Anne Perry, Michael Stackpole, experts in fight training (for action scenes), a magazine article writer, real literary agents giving actual advice and taking questions. Marketing, writing as craft, and great keynote speakers. Plus, I met a lot of new people whom I might not have otherwise. And they all love talking about writing and stories as much as I do.
I can’t recommend the conference enough. It’s only a few hundred dollars. I know we are all starving artists, but I’m already saving my pennies for next year. I know if we all go, no one will be at that table handing out CWC brochures, but I urge everyone to try. You will not be disappointed.
This essay first appeared in Coastal Dune Branch’s November 2016 newsletter.
For more about M J Sewall and his new short story collection
Wild Monsters Dance About, Stories from an Unruly Mind,
visit his website mjsewall.com.