Notes from a conference

Musings on the NCWN 2024 Spring Conference

I picked up some nuggets, even a few gems.

Learning first that writing for American audiences is vastly different than writing for or in other countries and cultures was eye-opening. The presenter, Hananah Zaneer, spoke to her experiences living and writing here vs oversees, stating that she not only writes but also thinks differently here than there. It stirred my soul a little. Piqued my curiosity a whole bunch.

When I hear of these experiences, I immediately want to know the where, the what, and most importantly the how. How do I obtain these types of experiences for myself? How do I fall upon writing in and for another culture other than my own? This type of knowledge from a person of a different culture, a non-native, reminds me of the wide world where mystery, adventure, and quite possibly, expansion of intellect lies. It reminds me that I too would like to be non-native somewhere in the world. I got some real-life practical learning in flash fiction as well.

Going into the conference, I wasn’t particularly pleased with my session selections. I keep wanting to do the full day masterclasses in fiction, poetry, or nonfiction. Yes, all or any of the three but late registration leaves those options full and closed for participation. But the way Spirit works, is that I end up exactly where I am. Where what I need is placed in front of me and its up to me to dispel the longing for what I think I want. Maturity in motion.

Dissecting lines of poetry left me energized. Learning the flow and studying the nuts and bolts of a line was, I guess I can say it, amazing. Boring to some, but exactly what I needed. Struggling with my work had me taking suggestions to pivot my work into memoir, which leaves me elated too. But struggling with poetry in a way that leaves me feeling like I just don’t know how to write is unsettling. Like, I’m supposed to know this.

Another reminder that the work is in the practice.