The Best Laid Plans

I don't want to turn this into a "poor me" post. But I am going to start out with my disappointment in missing most of the Storymakers Conference this weekend.

See, I got sick the week before. Knowing I wanted to be at my best for the conference, I went to the doctor on Tuesday. He gave me the last antibiotic I'd used. What neither of us realized was I had a reaction to that antibiotic. I knew I'd broken out in a horrible rash, but I blamed it on the stress from moving and all that entails at the time.

But Tuesday my skin turned red and puffy until I looked like a puffy lobster. I got a half shot of epinephrine and a new antibiotic. The problem was, by Friday I still didn't feel any better.

My biggest issue was the sinus pressure and subsequent pain. I'm actually keeping the pain at bay by alternating two different pain meds. This is the worst it's ever been. At any rate, because of my misery, I didn't even make it all the way through Friday because I was in too much pain. And I was so mad. I was so disappointed. And thoroughly depressed.

Plus, I felt like a baby. Especially after seeing Karen Hoover hobble by on her not-quite-healed foot saying "ow" with each step.

Enough dwelling. Let's move on.

What I was able to glean from my first day of Storymakers was amazing. I had a great time. Not only was I able to see my author friends, but what I remember of the classes I attended--so glad I took notes--I know I learned quite a lot. One that stands out was Jeff Savage talking about what kind of time we spend developing our villains. Thankfully, I think I'm in good shape with my evil king. It's just a great reminder that my one character can't be a fluke. I need to focus a healthy amount of attention developing all my villains.

What makes these conferences so fantastic isn't so much what we learn, or what prizes we win (huge congrats to Christine Bryant)--it's the camaraderie we feel with one another. It was said more than once Friday, that writing is often such a solitary business it is so important to gather as a group and remember that we are not alone. That we aren't the only people to hear voices in our heads, and that it doesn't (necessarily) mean we're crazy. If you've ever visited Julie Wright's FaceBook page, under her picture she put "I write to stave off schizophrenia." Ain't that the truth?

And I'm sincerely hoping, for the next gathering, my health will not get in the way.