A Writer’s Workshop

I am making a bold move, for me, a hard core introvert. I applied for a seat at the Big Sur Children’s Writers Workshop in Cape Cod in October, and I was accepted. Oh no!

I quickly paid the invoice, so that I couldn’t back out or change my mind. Apparently, this is how I manufacture the courage I may be lacking. I  can do this!

It’s an intimate group, as far as I can tell, sponsored by the Andrea Brown literary agency. Small critique groups, an assigned mentor – everything my writing needs at this point. But up until now, all my critique groups have been online, where I can hide behind my keyboard and give my ego a bit of distance from the harsh realities of daylight. How will I do face to face?

You know, I’m betting that I will do fine. That the fear is in my head. I bet I will make a few friends. Maybe find some new critique partners. Gain some insight into the industry that will help me be sure I want to keep pursuing children’s writing as my retirement career. But mostly, I want to be brave enough to watch people’s faces when I read them my stories. To see first-hand if they hit them the way they hit me when I write them. That, for me, is the most interesting feedback, and exactly what I cannot get in my online writing groups.