Bob Mayer

Back from my long Jeep trip.  It was interesting and both conferences were well worth attending.

One thing that happened was meeting people I’d worked with years ago.  Either via Writer’s Digest or my own writing courses.  A woman in Las Vegas showed me her published book that she was very happy with.  I just got an email from a member of Orange County RWA about some information for the workshops I’m giving the weekend after this and she mentioned that a book I had given her a little help on had sold to Berkley for a 2009 publication (www.deannacameron.com)  I’ve had a couple of other people this past year that I worked with tell me they got published. 

I’m not saying it was my teaching or help that got them published.  They did that on their own.  But it’s nice to know that the assistance actually helps because teaching writing is often very frustrating.  In Who Dares Wins I talk about the Five Percent rule and I think it’s true in teaching writing:  about five percent of the people I’ve worked with really apply the material and change what they are doing.  But those who do get so much better it’s amazing.  So it’s really about them and there own initiative.

I’ll be in OK City this weekend for the Oklahoma Federation of Writers Conference.  Then LA next weekend for the Orange County Romance Writers monthly workshop.  Then back here for my Advanced Writers Workshop for which there are two slots still available, but it will close soon as I have to get the material disseminated early in May.

 Then no trips for a while.  Well three weeks which is a long time for me.  I have to get Jefferson turned in to my agent after rewriting based on feedback.

Nothing but good times ahead. 

Currently in Colorado Springs.  Via Twin Falls, ID; Las Vegas, NV; Sedona, AZ; and Albuquerque, NM.    Today I went from 80 degrees in the desert to 11,000 feet through a pass in Colorado where there was four feet of snow on either side of the road.  Of course, the top on the Jeep was down.  Pikes Peak Writers Conference is this weekend.  I’ve done it a couple of times before.  A very good conference.  Last weekend I was in Vegas for the LV Writers Conference.  Another good one.  Met some interesting people.  But do have to admit I am not fond of casinos.  New Bob rule:  no more gambling towns.  Just not my vibe.

Pulling together my Who Dares Wins team.  Getting feedback on Jefferson.  Lots of work to do.  I hear a rumor Dogs & Goddesses is done.  You know how rumors are.  Got an invite to teach Navy SEALs in Coronado how to write.  That’s an oxymoron.   

 I figured out some important stuff about Who Dares Wins this past week with some help.  Need to start simpler.  Then build.  Go through the nine steps, then you start over again at a higher level. 

The sun is setting behind Pikes Peak.  LTD.