Write Now! conference a success
I spent the weekend in Hot Springs at the Write Now! conference, and by all accounts it was a success. The workshops all drew 20 to 30 people, and I came home with a stack of reading for my bedside table.
On Friday night, poet Andy Thorstenson of Hot Springs spoke about reading aloud to get a better feel for a poem. After Andy, I talked about how writeres can use the Internet — websites, blogs, social networking sites, etc. — to market their writing and build an audience/reputation for their work.
On Saturday, South Dakota poet laureate David Allan Evans held a poetry workshop. We all got to write some haiku and do some other writing exercises. In the afternoon, fiction writer Craig Johnson of Wyoming also held a workshop, which I did not attend and now regret not attending.
Saturday night, Johnson and Evans read from their work at the Wild Burro Bookstore. I shot some video of them, as well as some of the Friday night presentations, which I hope to post to YouTube soon.
Everyone seemed very pleased with the conference. I was thrilled with the feedback I’ve gotten about my presentation. I even got the chance to read some of my poems, which I was not expecting.
Next year’s Hot Springs writers conference is already in the works, I hear. I know I’ll be there.
I have always wanted to attend one of those seminars. If one is ever in my area I will have to check it out.