Storymakers 2023

 Last year when I went to Storymakers, it was 60% fun and 40% stress. Last year I wasn't sure I belonged. I worried I was a faker. I wasn't sure how it would go. This year I knew I belonged. It was 95% fun and 5% stress. And the stress was also kind of fun...so it was probably more like 99% fun. 

IT WAS SO FUN!

Imagine this: A weekend of talking to people about books and writing. Everyone you meet just wants to talk about books and writing. Nobody wants to talk about their kids or what their spouses do for a living or the weather or what's playing on Netflix. Books and writing, every conversation, for an entire weekend. Heaven!

Of course Amanda was there, too, soaking in all the goodness. And we also met some of our other Texas writing friends, Heidi and Jessica. 

This year Amanda and I signed up for a Thursday workshop. The one we got into was First 10 Pages. So we sent the first ten pages of a manuscript to two other writers plus an instructor, and we critiqued each other's work. It was such a good experience. My instructor was Stephanie Black who writes mystery. And I had Kent Crookston and Jamie Harmon in my group. They were all amazing. I felt especially fortunate to have met Kent. He is a retired BYU professor working on his first novel. He wrote beautifully. And he brought these lilacs for our table. He struck me as such a gentle, good-to-the-core, salt-of-the-earth kind of person. And now we're writer friends! He had also published a book about the ecology of the Book of Mormon. He generously gave me and my dad a copy even though I tried to pay him. I needed a birthday present for my dad, and this was perfect! Most of the other books in the bookstore were historical romance.    

Speaking of good-to-the-core, salt-of-the-earth people...I also got to see my parents and the Olveras and Abbie and Aunt Kathleen and Aunt Charlotte. It was lovely to see them. The last time I was with my family, I was on Accutane and birth control (because of the Accutane), and I think I was a little bit depressed. I blame the birth control, not the Accutane. Anyway, it was nice to be with my family and not be weird in the head. TMI? That was probably TMI. Yay for family!

Happiness!!

Okay, so I knew Brandon Sanderson was going to be at the conference this year. He comes to this conference every few years because he's always giving back and hasn't let himself become too cool for us (at least that's how it seems to me). I was excited to go to his class on marketing. But I told Felicia, "I'm probably not going to stand in line and get a book signed. I mean, I don't care that much about getting books signed. It's not that big of a deal. Whatever." Well. Then I got the golden ticket under my chair (about a third of attendees did) and so did Amanda, and we had the opportunity to stand in line and get a book signed. And suddenly I sent my mom and sister on a goose chase all over Utah Valley for Brandon Sanderson books. Mom and sister very generously brought me a copy of Mistborn so I could have my moment basking in the awesomeness of Brandon Sanderson. He really does strike me as a good person, not just a good writer. I guess I care a little bit about getting books signed. 

I also met this author whose book I am currently reading. Her name is Rachel Rueckert. A sister in my ward loved her book and bought copies for several of us. So I told her this, of course, and we became immediate best friends. She made my day, and I think I might have made hers. 

Sarah M. Eden gave a keynote address on Saturday afternoon. She talked about how books are like bridges. A writer writes a book, and a reader crosses the bridge when they read the book. And whether or not your story gets read by five people or five million people, you still made a connection. She said it more eloquently, but it was a good thought for me. Writing books is about connection, not fame.  

Favorite quote from a class: "I'm 11 years into my 10 year plan to become an overnight success." --Johnny Worthen. 

It was seriously such a magical weekend. I felt so blessed to be able to go. I'm grateful for the ways I've grown as a writer and the confidence I've gained. It's so good to connect with other people and love the same thing together.