A Contest Changed My Life

Hard to believe, right? Winning a single contest could change the path of your life so irreversibly, but it did.

Like most writers, I grew up wanting to be a writer and for a number of what seemed like very practical reasons didn’t pursue it. Years later, after getting an education, getting married, and three kids, I found myself in a new town with a lot of time on my hands.

I sat down one day and started a story. I went through three Bic pens and two notebooks writing that story. I had a blast. A woman in my church was starting a writing group and she invited me to attend. I went, but in the back of my mind was solidly convinced that at any minute they would all discover I was a fraud. I was just a wannabe. I was no writer.

One night I arrived to learn that one of the ladies was being sent to a Christian writer’s conference by her employer and she encouraged all of us to go. I leaned back in my seat and stared at the poster. We barely had money for food, there was no way I could afford to attend a conference.

Later, that woman called me and said there was a contest and first prize was free registration. She encouraged me to enter. If I lost, she’d personally pay  my way.

It’s amazing how much courage a little support can muster, so I looked at that book I had written and pulled out a small scene and tweaked it a little. With one eye closed I hit send and hoped for the best.

And I won!

At that conference I met one of my best friends, I met other people who loved to write too, and I came home convinced that maybe I wasn’t a fraud. Maybe I was sorta good at this. And the rest, as they say is history.

Anyway, all that to say a giant leap of faith began something I never imagined could happen. The majority of my connections and networks were made at this conference, and I’m deeply grateful for all the opportunities, advice, and encouragement. I feel very blessed to be able to serve as Assistant Director this year and pay it forward.

Write Canada is in Toronto from June 11-13, 2015. You have a chance to win free registration by blogging about the conference, or why you’d like to attend. Get creative. Post the link on The Word Guild Facebook Page or tag @thewordguild on Twitter (deadline is May 1st). Or just register!

Next week we’ll continue with the regularly scheduled Facebook series.

Has a writing conference impacted your writing or writing career? I’d love to hear about it.

Been told you should learn Deep Point Of View? Had an editor or critique partner tell you to “go deeper” with the emotions in your fiction? Looking for a community of writers seeking to create emotional connections with readers? Check out the Free Resource Hub and then join the Going Deeper With Emotions In Fiction Facebook group.