Conferences and such

This time last week I was reflecting on everything I heard and learned at the Tri-Region SCBWI conference in Gettysburg.  It was amazing!  One thing that was very cool was the fact that over the last few years I've made friends at these conferences.  Now, it is true that I don't get to see these friends very often, but our love of writing, and probably our shared frustration regarding our writing that at times we all experience, makes it easy to pick up where our last conversation ended.  These are the people who understand how much I care about my characters, and who know how far my story has come--and improved!

And, since I've already marked my calendar for the Spring WPASCBWI Retreat, I know when I'll see many of these writing friends again.  I also found out more information about another conference I want to attend, so I'm working on getting a submission together for that.

Oh, and did I mention I spent more money than I'd planned buying books!

The past few weeks have been hectic because of complications around my day job, and while those complications are still present, I have come up with better ways (I hope!) of dealing with them; therefore, I plan to get back on track with my postings as we move into the holiday season.  So, with Thanksgiving right around the corner, I want to share how thankful I am  for all of you who have encouraged me in my writing, especially my sweet husband.  Most of all, I am thankful to God for the stories He's given me, and I hope the next few months find me being a good steward of those stories, as well as of all the other gifts He's given me.

Happy Thanksgiving!  What are you thankful for?

Social media?

I've spent the week working on writing, but most of the time I haven't been writing!  Based on everything I've learned at conferences, I've known that I needed to update my social media connections, but I just hadn't taken time to do it.  Well, this past week I did just that.  


I bought my domain name, lilliankeenan.com, updated my twitter account, lillianwrites, and revised my facebook, linkedin, and blog information.  Yes, I've been busy.


So, now you can follow me on twitter and all the other avenues as well.  I have plans to change around my blog, so stay tuned for that.

Also, Lisa Robinson came to do research for her book at my day job on Friday.  It was cool to show her around and I think she got some great information to help her with her novel.  I know I'm excited to read it!

New Beginnings

In April I attended the Western Pennsylvania Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (WPASCBWI) Spring Retreat at Bethany College in West Virginia.  It was amazing!  The other participants and the two editors, Kate Sullivan and Connie Hsu, were encouraging and insightful.  I've been able to go to this event for several years and have learned so much each time.  I returned home determined to work on my writing and integrate what I learned.

And, so far, I have.  The Monday after the retreat, things at my day job heated up and have been steadily boiling ever since, but I've been writing.  So, a gold star for me in that department.  I have not kept in contact with my fellow writers from the retreat, so in that department, I'm a "bad webbis" (Shirley Jackson--Life Among the Savages--if you haven't read it, go NOW and get a copy!).

One thing that impressed me at the retreat was how much I enjoyed--craved the contact with other writers.  I do not belong to a writing group, not because I don't want to be in one, but because I haven't found one in my area.  I know there are on-line groups, and I may look into one of those.  As writers, we work in isolation, and we need to do that to achieve our writing goals.  But. . .we are also social creatures and contact with other writers can help us become better.

So, my question for today is how do you keep in touch with other writers, other artists?