Is It May Yet?

I know, I know…The year is already speeding along and I’m wanting it to go faster?

Well…

Yes. Sort of.

May 1 and 2 is the annual Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc., conference at Embassy Suites in Norman, Oklahoma. There is a pre-conference workshop called “Self-Editing without Self-Destructing” given by Robyn Conley Thursday, April 30.

I’m looking forward to that workshop. I try to self-edit, but I know there is a lot I could do to improve on that.

There are a lot more workshops and speakers I’m looking forward to as well. Tess Gerritsen is the keynote speaker for the Friday night Famous Authors banquet. (After the actual banquet, one side of the banquet hall will be opened up to anyone who didn’t go to the banquet but wants to hear her speak.)

As for the conference workshops themselves, there will be tracks for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and memoir. I have no doubt I’ll have trouble deciding between a few of them. I also hope to have an appointment with an editor or agent. (Note to self: You won’t be getting an appointment if you don’t send the blasted e-mail.)

Other presenters include Jodi Thomas, Romney Nesbitt, Jackie King, Mel Odom, Elaine English, Sandra Dark, Merline Lovelace, Jordan Dane, and many more. (I’ll add additional links as I find them.) There will also be editors and agents available for appointments.

Friday after the banquet, there will be “buzz sessions” — informal gatherings/workshops that cover some of the same topics as what is discussed in the sessions and then some. (FYI, I’ll be doing one on blogging and microblogging — such as Twitter, Plurk, etc. And we’ll talk some about Facebook, LinkedIn, and MySpace too.)

Saturday, the banquet is the awards ceremony for the contest. I entered — I think — 14 categories this year. That’s a record for me.

I’m looking forward to connecting with new people and reqcquainting with friends I haven’t seen in a while.

If there’s something I’ve left out about the conference that you want to know, leave a comment here or send me an e-mail. Or you could check out the link to OWFI that I gave at the beginning of this post.

See you at the conference in May (or via the Internet between now and then.)