LDStorymakers Conference

I should have done this years ago.
Before I published.
Maybe even before I wrote anything.
Totally worth the time and even the money (cheepskate that I am).

Sooo, if you want to be an author, go to writing conferences. Yup, I've heard it all before and guess what--it's all true.
At conferences you do cool things like:
1. Learn how to write better.
2. Meet other authors and aspiring authors.
3. Find people to do critique groups with.
4. Get tricks for finding an agent or publisher for your book.
5. Did I mention learn how to write better?
6. Find yahoo groups to join with other authors/aspiring authors.
7. Win cool door prizes (more about that in a sec)
8. Meet agents and people from publishing companies.

So for today, #1 cool thing about LDS Storymakers Conference:
All the really amazing people I met. I didn't bring my camera so I don't have pictures :( but trust me, I met some great people.

I met people I'd been emailing with, real (as in more experienced) authors, aspiring authors who are learning to do things right, and I made a lot of new friends.

#2 cool thing about the conference: I WON THE ULTIMATE BEST DOOR PRIZE AT THE WHOLE CONFERENCE. Yup, me. They do a ton of door prizes, all donated by authors (I donated a basket myself), publishing companies, and other companies with connections to writing. Name after name they'd pull out of the basket but with something like 450 people there I never expected to hear my name. And I didn't, time after time. They gave out books, CD's, candy, baskets, etc.

The last door prize drawings were the three big ones. The first was a replica of the engagement ring Edward gives to Bella, donated by the jewelry company that made it for the movie. I thought that would be pretty cool to win but alas, it wasn't me. The next one was even better, a Neo! Didn't win.

I was wondering how they could possibly top that when Cindy announced that the final door prize of the evening was a free manuscript edit from Precision Editing Group. And guess who's name they called.

Did. Not. Expect. That. I'm totally psyched!

Ok, Ok, I get it. If you're not an author, wannabe author, this may not sound like the totally amazing prize that it is but trust me, this was the maraschino cherry on top of the ice cream sunday. 

Now if I can only implement all of the great things I learned...