Remember back in school how that first day after vacation some teacher would inevitably assign an essay on what you did during the summer? Consider this a grownup version: what I did during my five-week blog breather.
FIRST THING THAT HAPPENED? I revamped my webpage. Since you’ve likely never looked at my site, this piece of trivia probably means little to you, but it’s something I procrastinated about for months.
This time ’round, I used website builder Weebly instead of dedicated web software. As a fan of white space, streamlined design, and simple navigation, Weebly suited my needs. It’s drag and drop, and I didn’t have to deal with WordPress’s CSS editor, which has already caused me ample heartache with this blog.
Fresh website launched, it was on to Halloween in Salem, a month long celebration brimming with enough activities to keep the most stalwart ghoul or ghostie busy. My two favorite events this year: An Evening with Edgar Allen Poe, presented by the superb Scarlet Letter Press and Gallery, and the Official Witches’ Ball held at the venerable Hawthorne Hotel. My costume for 2014? Dead Renaissance Woman. If you missed the pic on Facebook, you’ll find one below. There was a photographer at the ball, but digital rights are pricey, so you’ll have to settle for this selfie.
Random fact: I am still scrubbing black face paint from the inside of my ears.
HALLOWEEN IS OLD NEWS. GOT ANYTHING AU COURANT? I do! The release of Level Best Books’ anthology BEST NEW ENGLAND CRIME STORIES: ROGUE WAVE. I’m honored to be a part of this fine collection. In case you missed the earlier post and the sidebar widget top left, there is a Goodreads Giveaway underway (Giveaway underway? Eesh!). Enter by December 3, to win. I realize begging is pathetic but PLEASE ENTER!
YAWN… IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE? YOU’RE BORING ME. There IS more! A first peek at the cover proof for A TWIST OF HATE (release date: July 2015). Not certain how my publisher works these things, so there may be changes, but given that I have no plans for a cover reveal promo, I’ll share the proof now.
No bait and switch here. The cover captures the heart of the story. Huge sigh of relief. I was terrified it was going to be an image of the Golden Gate Bridge or a Richmond, California tank farm.
AND THEN THIS HAPPENED…
In early November, I had the incredible privilege of attending the inaugural Writer Unboxed Un-Conference here in Salem. I’m sure many of you read the brilliant Writer Unboxed Blog (if you don’t, you should start) and won’t be surprised to hear that Un-Con was extraordinary from start to finish.
No promotion, no egos or competition, no stalking of agents or editors, no pitching, no dwelling on “The Rules” or on social media. Un-Con was five days of inspiration focused on the universals of finding the way into story without ever disrespecting process or genre. It was what writers’ conferences aspire to be but never are because of the myriad of not-so-hidden agendas. Un-Con was geared toward camaraderie and strengthening our writer selves both on and off the page. The event hit on all cylinders.
To have Un-Con in my neighborhood was like winning the lottery. I couldn’t have attended otherwise. I took my meals at home and slept in my own bed. While I missed out on some conference activities because being home meant no eating out, no maid service, and keeping up with day-to-day chores, it was a tiny price to pay for such a remarkable and transformative experience.
I’ve attended a bevy of writing conferences, workshops, and even a couple of smaller conventions over the years, and I assure you, the Writer Unboxed Un-Conference was one of a kind. And I’m not the only one who feels this way. When was the last time someone wrote a song about a conference you attended? Un-Con can boast two: Valerie Chandler’s “Un-Con Song” and Jo Eberhardt’s “Breakfast in Salem.” Chew on that.
A slew of blog posts already exist about the marvel that was Un-Con. In an effort not to repeat what’s already been said, and because this post is already far too long, here, in no particular order, are some links to give you a taste of what made the event matchless. When I first drafted this post, I only had five links. We’re now at thirteen sixteen.
The Best Writers Conference May be an Unconference
~Catherine McKenzie/Therese Walsh Q&A
A Recipe for fear—and Its Antidote
~Kathryn Craft
Three Notes to Self from the Writer Unboxed Conference: Risk Aversion, Agency, Make a Mess
~Keely Thrall
Shedding Layers/Adding Layers—The Insights and Effects of UnCon
~Vaughn Roycroft
Writer Unboxed Un-Conference: Through-ness and the Power of Genuine Community
~Heather L. Reid
Writers, UnPlugged: Lessons from the Writer Unboxed UnConference
~Lisa Cron
The Writer Unboxed UnConference: My Own Moveable Feast
~Mike Swift
WU UnCon: A Conference of Connection
~Jo Eberhardt
Put Ninety Introverts in a Room and Watch Magic Happen
~Kim Bullock
The First Writer Unboxed Un-Conference: Unbelievably Valuable
~CG Blake
Drilling Down to the 3rd Thing
~Natalie Hart
Writer Unboxed Un-Conference and Un-Con Song
~VP Chandler
To Thine Own Self Be True
~Liz Michalski
Lessons from the UnCon: I Surrender. I’m Finally Ready to Be Naked
~Jan O’Hara
The Un-Conference Kitty
~Rebeca Schiller
A Haven of Writers
~LJ Cohen
Heartfelt thanks and hugs to Writer Unboxed founder, the amazing Therese Walsh, and the entire AWESOME WU Team for working their asses off to make the magic(k)*** happen.
Okay, enough gushing. Next time I’ll share how Un-Con changed the way I see myself as a writer, and I promise a less rambling post.
Last but certainly not least:
HAPPY [U.S.] THANKSGIVING!
A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues. -Cicero
What’ve you been up to?
VR BARKOWSKI 
All good news! I forgot you lived in Salem, so that was convenient! And your cover looks very nice…I take it they designed it with you unaware of what they were going to do.
As for me, I’ve been up to the same as you, at least as far as the uncon goes. The before, during, and after effects have kept me quite busy for awhile. But it was all worth it.
And now…bedtime. Whoa. Almost 1:00. Good to find your blog. 🙂 I like a lot of white space, too.
Hey, Mike!
Yeah, living so close to UnCon had a couple of drawbacks (for example the guy came to take my A/C out of the window the night of the cocktail party), but the positives far, far, far outweighed the negatives.
The publisher did ask my for input on the cover, but I was told they’d pay no attention. Delighted to report that wasn’t true.
Thanks so much for swinging by, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Love the makeup, VR! Sounds like your October was a blast, and November is shaping up to be the same. I’ve been slogging through all kinds of work, have a workable draft of a manuscript that I’ve been muddling through for four years now and is in the hands of some readers. So of course I’m working on another manuscript, because what else would I do with my “free” time?
Nice cover, by the way. I can see why you’re pleasantly surprised.
I often ask myself whether I could do what you do, Steven. As much as I love to write, I still look forward to my breaks—even though they’re usually tied to writing in some way. I continue to admire and envy your ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously. Have you ever blogged specifically on how you turn your mind off from “job writing” and turn to the creative side?
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
I envy you going to the UnCon or any con actually. As for me? I’ve driven 900 miles in the past 3 days in blinding rain — but when ill patients’ lives depend on the rare blood you’re transporting, you do what you must.
Great news of your story and new book! The cover looks intriguing.
So thankful for you and what you do, Roland. Please be careful. I worry about you out on the roads this time of year. I know Southern LA and how ferocious (and dangerous) the weather can be. Until one has spent time south of the Mason-Dixon, one can’t fully understand the term blinding rain.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Thanks for caring. 🙂 I sent you a free download of my HIBBS, THE CUB WITH NO CLUE — only an hour and 20 minutes. Paddington and Rupert eat your furry hearts out. Happy Thanksgiving to you, too. Oh, I talked of you on yesterday’s post on who we would miss in blogville.
Although I was too far out of the loop to participate in the “Miss You” blogfest, you’d have been at the top of my list, Roland. Can’t wait to read HIBBS, THE CUB WITH NO CLUE with my ears. I love Hibbs. Talk about a holiday surprise!! Thank you so much!
What a great Halloween costume! And very cool cover — very evocative. I spent the first week after UnCon recovering and the week after starting a temporary office job. And shoveling snow.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Natalie. It took me about a week to come down off of UnCon and get back to writing. The first thing I did was to retype all my notes because I had so many epiphanies, and I didn’t want to “lose” them. Normally, I just shove conference notes in a drawer and never think about them again. More evidence of how special UnCon was. Good luck with that new job.
Wishing you a mild winter and very happy Thanksgiving!
“Normally, I just shove conference notes in a drawer and never think about them again.”
Yes! Same here. At one point I wanted to introduce a new note-taking system in Salem, to try to address that problem. The system would have had each attendee with a small index card notebook. At the end of each session, attendees would take the time to write the most direct takeaways for their ms onto an index card.
Sound familiar? We did a spin on this to help keep the Twitter account updated.
Maybe I’ll revisit this next go-round.
On a more personal level, I’m thrilled you were able to be a part of Un-Con, VR. Lucky for us. And that’s a great cover. Congrats!
The tweets were amazing. It was a testament to WU as a community that members who couldn’t attend were not left behind.
After the first full day of sessions, I had so many “aha” moments, I started to review conference notes in the evenings—unheard of. The key takeaway for me was personal but too important to be rolled into this overly long post. I finally understand how crucial our perception of ourselves as writers is to what ends up on our pages.
Thank you again, Therese. Wishing you and Sean the happiest of Thanksgivings!
Love the cover, your Halloween costume, and your take on Un-Con. Can’t wait to read more about that. Me? I’m working. I’m always working.
Work is a good thing, Polly. Particularly when you love what you’re doing. I’m not sure what the point was in not blogging for five weeks then cramming what should probably have been five blog posts into one insanely long post, but no matter. 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving! I trust you’ll be spending it with the precious Ella?
Yup, Princess Bella Ella will be here. We have celebrated Thanksgiving with the same family for 30 years, and it’s the only holiday our family celebrates. We do get hooked into celebrating other holidays as tag-alongs, but Thanksgiving is our special time. Hope you have a wonderful day.
I’m so glad you got to be a part of the Un-Conference. It really was a magic(k)al time. I wonder if there were some magical residual vibes from the Witches Ball? I bet it was fantastic! I’m in awe of your makeup, it’s very good!
I wish I had as much writerly stuff going on as you. Congratulations on your achievements. I too have a lot of work to do. A lot of rewrites because of my new insights.
Thanks for mentioning me and my song. 😝 LoL It was fun and I wasn’t ready to let go of the warm fuzzies from the conference.
Love your song, Valerie. It is so awesome, so thank YOU.
Lots of UnCon insights for me, too. Although I do quite a bit of editing as I go, for once I’m excited about the full MS rewrites—that’s definitely new for me.
Attending the Witches’ Ball and the Un-Con banquet back-to-back was surreal. As many times as I’ve been in the Hawthorne ballroom (not that many venues in Salem), it was still hard to believe it was the same space.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Same old same old at my sea, but boy have you been busy. Lots of fun on your break. The Un-Con is the first I’ve heard of it. Weebly is easier to build sites than wordpress.
I’m happy with Weebly, although I’d be happier if I could hire someone to do the website for me. On the other hand, I’m a control freak so it helps I can get in there and change it whenever I want.
I’d wish you a happy Thanksgiving, Pat, but as I recall, we took care of yours last month. 😉
Wow, you’ve been busy. But in a good way, so it’s all good.
It is good Liz, although I’m happy to be able to relax without fear of missing out on something.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Awesome makeup job! Totally worth the black paint still in you ears! You have been super busy. Congrats on it all.
Thanks, Holly. I’ve never been good with makeup, and what was supposed to take an hour took two, but it was a lot less expensive than buying a costume.
Have a spectacular Thanksgiving!
Geez, when I take a lengthy break from the blogosphere, I usually end up doing stuff like washing windows, shampooing carpets, and painting walls. I like the stuff YOU did a whole lot more. It sounds like you had a blast! It also sounds like Salem has given your writing life a huge boost. Good for you!
Your book cover looks terrific! The make-up job, too.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Usually, I take blog breaks to write. This time I didn’t, even though I managed to work writing in. In hindsight, I probably should have gone with the windows. They certainly could use a scrubbing. Next time. 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving to you and Smarticus!
What a fantastic post! Now I’m very jealous I missed UnCon, and I’m delighted to see all these links. I’ll be back to explore. 🙂
Thank you from all of us at Writers In the Storm for including Kathryn’s post in your list of links!
My pleasure, Jenny. Honestly, I think we all came away from UnCon a little overwhelmed (in a good way). Kathryn’s post poignantly captures the power of embracing our fears and moving forward.
Thanks so much for stopping by. Wishing you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving!
The Un-Conference sounds awesome. Maybe next year it will be in my neck of the woods. I love your cover!
Thanks, Carol! I think WU is considering 2016 for the next event, location TBD. This being the inaugural launch, it was also part experiment. At the outset there was a question whether it would be a one-off, but it was clear early on that UnCon was something special.