Highlights from a Writers Conference

Earlier this month I attended the Wisconsin Writers Conference. Each year is a different location, a fun little hopscotch around the state. This year it was held in Stevens Point.

I attended interesting general sessions and listened to brilliant keynote speakers. I listened to the Wisconsin Poet Laureate, Brenda Cardenas, read her work and I participated in a variety of breakout sessions and met loads of writers, some with book deals or already published novels, and others working to refine their work and shape it for potential publication. I even led a breakout session on Saturday.

My breakout session was called 'Prompting Your Muse.' Now, not all writers like writing prompts. One of my writing friends blanches and balks just at the mention of them. However, many other writers, including me, like and benefit from them.

Despite some technical difficulties at the beginning of my session (my computer refused to pair with the projector), it went well. Attendees appreciated the discussion of different types of writing prompts, and even tried a few during the course of our time together. One writer sought me out later in the day to thank me for the session. She said she used one of the approaches and it helped her move past a block she was having with one of her characters. Yeah!

Here are the broad categories of prompts that we explored:

• Brainstorming as Fuel

• Photos as Inspiration

• Music as Muse

• Other Writing as Jumpstart

• The Art of Eavesdropping

In my opinion, using writing prompts is a great way to bypass the inner critic. And you never know where a good prompt will lead you. It could be just what you need to get you past a block, or to start a brand new piece.