Surviving Boot Camp, unwelcome zits and More

Boot Camp:

I attended my first Boot Camp at the 2013 Storymakers Conference in Provo, Utah this past Thursday.  It was a bit intimidating to meet with Abel Keogh and 3 other writers.  We each had about an hour to read our 15 selected pages and then get feedback from the others.  I sat to Abel's right.  He began with the woman to his left.  They knew each other, having both served in the same mission at the same time; Romania, I believe.  Her story was amazing.  She was helping her mother write her memoir about escaping from the oppression beginning just prior to Stalin's death.  It was very well written and gripping.  Abel began with his critique and then we went around the table from his left.  That meant that I got the last turn every time.  The first time around, we had only 3 minutes for me to get my 2 cents in.  Not that I minded.  It's just that everything I had to say had already been said and I didn't feel I had much to add.  Not sure that I added much to our group.  I certainly gained a lot for myself.

The 2nd story was a fantasy taking place in the Garden of Eden with an Arch Angel that gave up immortality to save the day.  We started on chapters 3 and 4.  It was an original idea that I wouldn't have thought of and well written.  I wished I had read the first two chapters because I felt myself lost and trying to make sense of who was who.  I shared these comments in a positive way.

I went 3rd because the man who would have gone third had not copied his pages yet and needed to do this during the break.

I became emotional a few times as I read through the 15 pages.  I got it back together each time, but how embarrassing!  Then I had to wait until after the 30 minute break to hear what people had to say for the most part.  That was difficult.  I started second guessing myself.  I was most shocked to hear the men say they would definitely read it.  I figured women might find it interesting or gripping.  Everyone was hooked and wanted more.  I have a few things I want to change to clarify some questions, but I'm thinking posting the first chapter and asking for feedback would be helpful. 

It was suggested that I swap the sub title and title of my book to:  "Recognizing the Signs of an Abusive Relationship:  Lessons learned in love and loss."

What do you think?

The final critique was of the first two chapters of a murder mystery.  I'm a bit squeamish when it comes to swearing and talk of female gender body parts and pubic hair, so that took me by surprise.  He said he was most interested in hearing my perspective having been in an abusive marriage.  That surprised me.  I do wish that the book could be written without the swearing because after growing up in a home with plenty of it and then my first husband using a swear word or two every sentence, I prefer to avoid profanity.

I love working at an elementary school where I don't hear foul language and to be married to a man, who with his Methodist background and upbringing refrains from swearing.  For me, staying away from profanity is what I need to do to feel the influence of the spirit in my life.  I never want to be without that guidance in my life again.

Conference Highlights:

I have to say that my favorite instructor was John D. Brown.  I found his information applicable and something I could use immediately to help in my writing.  Hannah Bowman, an agent from back east, also gave great information which enabled me to get my whole book mapped out in 15 minutes.

I can now say I have definitely  met my 100 licensure points for my teaching license.  I am now ready to upgrade to a level 2/3 license thanks to my first two years out of college working for Jordan School District.  That means I am completing my 3rd year of working as a teacher.  Yippee!

The other items that stand out to me had nothing to do with the conference, however.  My face breaking out was a huge inconvenience for  me.  I'm 45 years old.  Shouldn't my face start to cooperate by now.  I don't know if it was due to the stress of Boot Camp and needing to be observed a couple more times by my principle last week, or what, but I have to say I'm dreading being seen by anyone today - and I'm usually not that vain!

Finally, spending time with my best friend of over 30 years, Kelli, was amazing.  We giggled hysterically as usual.  We stayed up until the wee hours talking about things I don't think I ever knew about her growing up.  I realize that I may have lost the sister that was most like me to a brain tumor, but Heavenly Father gave me Kelli to be able to be close to.

Mothers' Day:

Mothers' Day has been amazing so far.  It began with breakfast in bed - scrambled eggs, Greek strawberry yogurt and enormous strawberries and watermelon. 

Chalyse had dropped a present by a couple hours before I returned home from the conference.  I waited to open it up this morning.  "Beautiful Day" body spray, lotion and shower gel.  She knows what I like.

Then I had two treasure hunts to find my other gifts.  First - my favorite candybars:  Twix and Snickers and second:  Each clue led to a piece of a charm bracelet - with each charm representing a member of my family with their birth stone.  There was also a picture on the computer - my last stop - of the concrete rounded benches I want for our gazebo where climbing roses wend their way through the metal framework to the top.  Some day, I hope to have electricity to the fountain that sits in the center of the gazebo.  I think it will be a beautiful place to sit and ponder in the summer evenings when things have slowed down and cooled off.