It’s the middle of day two of the Midwest Writers Workshop here in beautiful Muncie, Indiana.
Writers are scurrying from pitching an agent to a social media tutoring appointment to their next session from one of our amazing faculty to a manuscript makeover appointment to finding a bathroom to grabbing a snack to checking out the book table to heading to yet another session.
And that’s what it’s all about. Learning more about the craft that we all love.
We’re all here supporting one another as writers. Some with published books. Some with dreams of publishing. All with a passion for words.
That’s why I love it.
This place reeks with people who love words and writing. We’re all geeks sort of geeking out over words and how to put them together. This place reeks of geeks.
And it’s awesome.
There are lots of writers conferences, and I’m a strong proponent of all writers attending a conference for the continued training, support, and encouragement from other writers. I’m new on the planning committee for the Midwest Writers Workshop (we’re celebrating 40 years with this conference), and I’m amazed at how this team pulls together to make a great conference happen.
This year, Cathy Day and I worked together with some savvy Ball State students. Several of the students are acting as assistants for the five agents who are taking pitches, and the others are working in the social media lab giving one-on-one tutoring advice in the art of social media (websites, Twitter, Facebook pages, etc., etc.). Here’s a photo of our social media lab:
I’m sitting in the social media lab listening to the students talk about how great the attendees are, how they feel like they’ve both been able to teach something to their clients as well as learn something from them, and how they’re enjoying connecting with other writers. We’ve built in time for the students to attend a couple of workshop sessions as well.
We’re all in this writing life together.
And we’re having a perfectly awesome time.
You ought to think about attending next year!
Linda Taylor: Teacher, Editor, Publishing Professional 
It’s been such a great experience. Learning a ton, every minute!
Oh Linda!!! I’m so glad you’re thriving and in a great community!!!
Linda, like you I am a strong proponent of writers attending conferences and workshops. Prospective writers often ask how to get an “in” to the publishing world, and the best way (other than being a gifted writer with a platform and valuable content) is to attend a writers conference where they can meet with editors. Thanks for all your efforts to make such opportunities possible!