Writing Conferences

Happy Monday!

I wanted to talk a little about conferences for writers. Last week, I attended the ACFW Conference in Indianapolis. This is an enormous conference. I had never been to the ACFW Conference before. It was my first time. The conference was awesome and overwhelming to say the least. Being a people watcher, I sat back and studied many of the writers—their poise, their fashion, and passion. I was excited to catch glimpses of some of my favorite authors, editors, agents, and blog buddies. I got to meet many in person for the first time, and was absolutely thrilled to meet Mary Sue Seymour. I also made some new friends along the way.

I learned some great tips from the workshops—as writers, we can never stop learning about the craft. It was refreshing to hear other author/agent methods and tips. And I also learned several tremendous personal lessons—it being my first time and all. Those were meant for me only.

I have to admit that the pitching part was stressful. Once again, it was my first time. I felt like a babbling brook. My brain was working faster than my mouth could keep up - odd, I know. Fortunately, I had some real nice people on the receiving end of my pitches. They gently guided me through to the end. There was a moment when I actually forgot my next line. The certain editor was very sweet while I re-grouped. I learned a lot from that experience and will have it down next time. Number one tip before pitching - go easy on the caffeine.

All and all, I would recommend attending a writing conference—big or small—it was a joy to be with like-minded pards. That alone was worth the trip. We each walk our own writing journey. We are at different places on the road, but trekking in the same direction. It was fun to share a part in all that, and in turn, listen to others tell their tale. Everyone has ups and downs—the Snoopy dance moments and rejections. We are not alone in this book writing walk.

Ever been to a conference for writers and authors? How did you feel after? Did it renew your writing spirit?

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree




Coming in October - Look for guest posts by Author, Brandi Boddie on Monday, October 7th

and

Author, Wendy Paine Miller on Monday, October 28th. 

Re-post - Portmanteau Words

Good Monday morning!

I'm still recovering from the ACFW Conference that I attended over the weekend, so today I am re-posting an older favorite post from April 2012 - Portmanteau Words.

Enjoy! See you next week!

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In doing some research, I ran across the word: portmanteau. I am familiar with the term, but did some extra reading on it.

According to Wikipedia, the definition of portmanteau (plural portmanteaux or portmanteaus) or portmanteau word is “a combination of two (or more) words or morphemes into one new word. A portmanteau word typically combines both sounds and meanings, as in smog, coined by blending smoke and fog.  More generally, it may refer to any term or phrase that combines two or more meanings. In linguistics, a portmanteau is defined as a single morph which represents two or more morphemes.”

The article went on to talk about the many brand names out there that are a portmanteau word. I guess I didn’t realize there were so many.

Amtrack is the portmanteau of America and track. Comcast is the portmanteau of communication and broadcast, and cinema and maximum is Cinemax. Here are a few more: Verizon is the portmanteau of veritas and horizon. Panera is pan, the Latin word for bread, and era, the Latin word for time. The brand of water softening solution, Calgon, is the portmanteau of the words calcium and gone. That one has been around for a long time! 

Of course, there is the name meshing – Brangelina (Brad and Angelina) Tomkat (Tom and Katie) A new fad? Nah, sixty years ago, Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball created Desilu Productions. Does that mean Eric and I would be: Erilor or Loric?

There are thousands of these words! Here are a few more familiar portmanteau words:

Texarkana – The area including the Texas/Arkansas border near Louisiana.

Turducken – The dish made by inserting a chicken - into a duck - into a turkey and cooking it. I’ve seen this on one of the food channels. Sounds good! Anyone ever had turducken?

Snart - On the TV show, 30 Rock, Tina Fey coined this one. It’s the combination of two bodily functions. I’ll let you figure that one out.  

I love playing with words!

Got any favorite portmanteau words? Invent any?

Would love to hear them!

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree



Coming in October - Look for guest posts by Author, Brandi Boddie on Monday, October 7th

and

Author, Wendy Paine Miller on Monday, October 28th. 

Needing Advice and We Have A Winner...

Happy Monday Everyone!

This week, I will be heading to Indianapolis for the ACFW Conference. I'm excited and nervous all in the same turn. This is my first ACFW conference. I'm prepared - business cards, one sheets, proposals, sample chapters, etc.

I will be pitching my work to editors. Yep, my first time doing that too.

One thing that I'm really looking forward to is meeting Mary Sue Seymour. I'm thrilled to finally meet her in person after nearly two years of connecting mainly online through emails. She is a real gem, and this is one meeting I'm over the moon about.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Have you been to a big writer's conference? Care to share your experience? Have you been to the ACFW Conference? If so, do you have any advice for a first-timer? Any good pitching advice? 

I would love to hear from you!

AND NOW, DRAWN AT RANDOM, THE WINNER OF MELISSA TAGG'S DEBUT NOVEL, MADE TO LAST, IS....

JASMINE A!!!!

Congrats, Jasmine!
I will be getting a hold of you for your address, so Melissa can send you the book.

Have a great week!

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree

8 


Psalm 32: 8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.


Coming in October - Look for guest posts by Author, Brandi Boddie on Monday, October 7th

and

Author, Wendy Paine Miller on Monday, October 28th.

Where has the summer gone? I'm returning to Monday blog posts in September...

 Where has the summer gone?

Eric holding his mom's hand the day before she died.
Photo by Loree Huebner

Hi everyone! I hope your summer was wonderful and a memorable one.

I can’t believe school has already started here in Indiana.

I just wanted to touch base with all of you. My summer has been filled with many things. The main event that occurred was that my lovely mother-in-law, Carol, passed away right in the middle of it. I had mentioned her, and her cancer, in my last post before my summer break from blogging, and I thank you for your loving, warm prayers. Eric and I were with her the entire last week of her life. Her death was somewhat unexpected at that time. We had thought there would be more time. It seemed she knew her time was running short, and she was waiting for our visit. Over the week, we watched her slip away - a turn for the worse - as they call it. I felt honored to be by her side, holding her hand, as she left this earth. She was a believer, which brought us peace. Her death has left an imprint on Eric, and I. We have become closer together as a team, and as husband and wife. There is a renewed spirit of appreciation and oneness in our marriage. We saw God's hand in it at every moment. I plan a blog post on it soon.

There also were a few reenactments and plenty of writing going on, and this week, a visit (or as I playfully call it—an invasion of all things Huebner) from my husband’s family, in celebration of Carol’s life.

I'm returning to blogging on Monday's in September.

Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I will be returning to my regular blog schedule of Monday posts, starting in September.

I’m so please to announce that my first post back from break will be an interview with the enjoyable, high-spirited, Melissa Tagg! In her own words she loves “all things funny and romancey”. That’s right up my alley. Her debut novel, a romantic comedy titled, Made to Last, is releasing in September—so don’t forget to stop by on Monday, September 2, 2013.

You can find out more about Melissa at: http://www.melissatagg.com 

She's got a great blog! Stop by and check it out!

I look forward to visiting with you all once again! I have missed you! We've got the ACFW Conference coming up in just a few weeks. This will be my first time to the writer's conference, this year in Indy. I'm super excited and looking forward to this big event! Until September...

How was your summer?

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree

Life and Writing...

Crabapple Tree in bloom - Photo by Loree Huebner

Life and Writing:

A lot of stuff is going on in my life right now, and having gone back to work full time, I've decided that I'm going to allow myself a flexible blogging schedule for the summer months until September. I'm still blogging, but with no set schedule. I have a lot on my plate this season, and it will just be easier to post - when I post. I will still be hanging around reading other blogs, and visiting on Facebook and Twitter.

Other things going on - I want to get my work-in-progress novel done, and get it ready to pitch at the ACFW Conference in September. I'm very excited about this novel. I finally found my real niche. It's the second novel I've written since October of last year.

This summer, I also will be attending several large Civil War reenactments. I won't be in the thick of the fight because of my knee, but am happy to wave my handkerchief and shed a few tears as my husband marches off to battle.

One last issue is that my mother-in-law is very ill. She has cancer - I hate that word. Anyway, she and I are pretty close. I love her very much. I would appreciate prayers for her. There will be no surgery or chemo at her choice. She is such a wonderful, brave soul.

Anyway, I will be around and still posting, here and there.

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree

Blooming Crabapple - Photo by Loree Huebner

We Remember...

Of course, we all know that this week marks the tenth anniversary of 9/11. I can’t believe it’s been ten years. I remember watching it on TV as it was happening. Like most people across the country, I watched in shock and horror, helpless to do anything as we watched the towers fall, the Pentagon burn, and saw nothing left but a smoldering black hole in the ground in Pennsylvania.

We remember...

A few years ago, I stood at Ground Zero with my husband and son. I tried to imagine those twin towers standing tall and proud. I cried at site. I read names and saw pictures of somebody’s loved one. I cried for all those who were lost. I cried for the heroes. I prayed for all those who lived through the terror and continue to live with it every day. I mourned with those in mourning. I was standing in a battlefield.

Yes, we remember…

Of course we remember the horror…the planes…the explosions…the destruction…the loss of life.

What I remember about that day was how beautiful it was. It was a gorgeous, Tuesday morning. Around 8 am, our good friend called and told us that his wife gave birth to a precious little girl just a few hours earlier. Who knew that our country would be turned upside down on such a lovely day?  

We remember…

If you would, please take a moment to share something that you remember about September 11, 2001.



Loree at Ground Zero
Photo by Eric Huebner



The ACFW Conference – 2011

I had taken the time off work to go the 2011 ACFW Conference. A few months back, just as I was about to make plans and book a room, something came up that was unforeseen. I know God has His reasons for everything, and I don’t question His plans. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend the conference this year. I look forward to all the blog reports on the conference.

To all those going to the ACFW in St Louis next weekend – I pray for your safe travels to and from the conference. Whatever you are there for, I pray that you get you what you need or the right words come. I pray that you learn and share. I pray that you are blessed with giving remarkable pitches - knocking the socks off of those agents and editors! If you speaking to a large workshop or small crowd, I pray your words teach, encourage, and inspire. I pray that many requests for full manuscripts and contract offers will come from the awesome agents and editors present. All and all, I pray for the love and friendship to rule the day in the end. I pray you come home renewed and motivated. You have great time! I’m excited for all of you!

Are you going to the conference? If so, are you pitching a novel? Are you speaking at the conference? What's your plan? I would love to hear about it.

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree