Travels

Not a Classy Authorâ€”But I Sure Do Have Fun!
8/4/2007 7:14:47 PM by: Elsi

Iâ€™m on my way home now from the Oregon Christian Writers Summer Coaching Conference in Canby Grove Conference Center, southeast of Portland. What a glorious time I had! I can only touch the high points here, of course. And, by the way, let me start with one of the MANY things I learned: I need to write in my blog regularly. Minimum of three times a week, preferably five or more. Okay, I hereby covenant to do that. You wonâ€™t be getting long, rambling, carefully thought-out entries, but you will get succinct thoughts, planned, revised, and done as well as I can manage. And Iâ€™ll be expecting responses from you, too, so be sure to do your part! The very air at the OCW conference is filled with writing and prayer. Everywhere you go, people are talking about the Lord, talking to the Lord, writing, discussing writing, or relaxing with an eye to doing more writing and praying. I always come away with new ideas and inspiration, pressed down, overflowing, running into my beard as it were (Psalm 133:2). Iâ€™m getting to know a lot of people at OCW, and itâ€™s great to see old friends and make new ones. Plus, the grounds are accessible to me: not only can I camp at the conference center (instead of down the road somewhere), but almost all the rooms are within my walking ability. Of course, this year someone put all my workshops up a flight of stairs, but even so, I managed three of the five workshops! My coaching class (2.5 hours a day for three days) was superb. Nancie and Bill Carmichael led a non-fiction critique group, with nine of us who had shared our writing samples in advance. So many good ideas â€¦ new direction â€¦ fresh inspiration â€¦ Iâ€™m eager to put pen to paper (well, fingers to keyboard, anyway) and get moving on my projects! The highest high point, I suppose, was meeting and hearing Angela Hunt. If you arenâ€™t familiar with her books, please read "Magdalene."All her books are great; she has a unique writing style and point of view; her themes and approach are powerful. Listening to her keynote talks over three nights, I began to understand some of where the power comes from. She writes from her heart, from her understanding of what the Lord is teaching her. And it shows. We wept and laughed with herâ€”and you should SEE the photos of her mastiff!

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Comments

	8/7/2007 7:45:21 AM

	Elsi, Hi! Thanks for being such a special part of the writing group at the OCW conference. Now you have a reason to stop in Missoula!! Christine

	Christine Prescott,

	8/6/2007 8:10:59 PM

	Blogging every day is essential if you want us to keep up otherwise we might forget but now I will check you every day just like the news report;0)

	Anna,

	8/6/2007 6:49:09 AM

	Thanks for your kind words. I loved the conference, and loved our coaching class! You will be engrossed by Angela's book--I almost guarantee it!

	Elsi,

	8/5/2007 6:56:17 AM

	Elsi, you made the conference sound as wonderful as it was. What you didn't mention was how much you gave of yourself to the writing community. Your wit and your wisdom were such a big part of the experience for so many people. And by the way, I am going to read Angela's book too.

	Jamee,

	8/4/2007 9:43:40 PM

	It does sound like you had a glorious time at the OCW conference. I'm thrilled that you're going to be posting more often as well. You keep life interesting and encourage me to look for the wonder as well. I'm definitely going to read Angela Hunt's book you mention. Thanks, Elsi! Happy travels Sunday.

	Jane,