Saturday, November 02, 2013

My Favorite Things -- Conference Kernels

Hi folks!  This month I'm so busy. Crazy busy! I hope to see a few of you at the the KidLitCon in Austin, Texas on November 9, 2013.  I salute all the Nanowrimos! Good for you.

This month I'm going to share my favorite kernels of creative advice from wherever they have come my way.  This week I'm focusing on conferences.

Liza Ketchum -- Her talk flowed through my work like a spring Zephyr. Her advice? Use endowed objects to show emotional connections between characters.  You can do so much with this. Perhaps there is a ring. The golum has the ring. The hobbit has the ring. Everyone wants that ring.  You know you can get a lot of mileage out of an endowed object changing hands. You don't have to say anything more than the ring changed hands.

Brian Floca -- I walked around mumbling for a couple of weeks when I heard this guy talk. His deal was that you need to seek your best work and go for it.  Don't settle for a less than stellar career. Whatever is humming in your heart? If your soul is screaming, I have so much more to offer. Do it. Jump up. Namaste.

Mark Siegel -- This guy's talk took me by then neck and throttled me. I swear. He shared that the creative process is either dying or being born. You are either are coming from the outside and seeking the bright light. You see it, but it is out of your reach.The trip toward that light is a painful, digging deep process, and you will come to the end of yourself to reach that light.  Death.  The creative process can also work this way. You are in the light, dancing, full of it, but no one is with you. You are alone. You must go a narrow, harrowing journey, to reveal your light to the world. Birth. It's been years, and I'm still thinking.

Well, I hope some of this genius will help you do your thing. I'll be back next week with more of my favorite things.

This week's doodle: "Psalmist"



Here is the quote of the week:

A miracle is when the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. A miracle is when one plus one equals a thousand.   Frederick Buechner

15 comments:

Leandra Wallace said...

All super great kernels! =) I might be going to a conference next year, and I hope to come away w/some amazing stuff.

Molly/Cece said...

I really enjoy conferences. It a great way to grow.

Becky Shillington said...

Wow--I am going to have to think over that last one for awhile. These are all WISE tidbits, Molly. Thanks for sharing!

Molly/Cece said...

Oh, I'm glad you find those words helpful. I think of them as little treasure inside and wanted to share.

Anna Staniszewski said...

Great advice! I love those tidbits of wisdom that really get to you.

Anna Staniszewski said...

Great advice! I love those tidbits of wisdom that really get to you.

Unknown said...

Best of luck to you at the Con this weekend, Molly. :)))

Molly/Cece said...

Anna, Thanks for dropping by! Some ideas just burrow in.

Molly/Cece said...

Thanks, Candi! I will send you my conference packet if you would like it...

Rachel Schieffelbein said...

Very interesting. I love going to conferences, they always get me all inspired. :)

Molly/Cece said...

Same here! Thanks for dropping by. :)

Jennie Bennett said...

Do you live in Texas? I'm moving there in a couple of weeks. Keep me updated about conferences out there becasue I really want to go to one. I love conferences!!

Molly/Cece said...

Welcome, to the Lone Star State! It's huge. Do you know your area: Houston, Dallas, Austin-San Antonio, other...?

Jennie Bennett said...

I'm going to be in Houston, so a couple hours away from Austin. :)

Cynthia said...

Have fun at Kidlit Con! Conferences always leave me motivated and inspired.