...I am back

Have they created a pill to prevent the foot in mouth disease?

The writers workshop was just as it was billed.  The morning session proved to be chock full of information on how to be published.  The process was geared to help writers know what editors and publishers look for but most importantly what will cause an automatic rejection.  Very very informative.  

The second session, about getting a professional editor to read your manuscript out loud in front of the whole class while providing only what was wrong with your work, provided a room chocked full of nerves.  Very very unsettling.

From the two sessions I was able to compile several pages of valuable notes.   These notes, if I will use them, will make me a better writer.  The workshop was well attended.  It was well organized.  The Mobile Writers Guild and our local library helped make it very comfortable.  

I met some very nice people.  There were some very talented writers in the room.  This was evident as the manuscripts were read aloud.  Plus Mr. Garrett said it was one of the more talented group of writers he had visited.  Even with our nerves on edge with our manuscripts about to be reviewed by a professional editor, the seasoned writers in the room made me feel welcome.  I felt anyone of them would be willing to assist me in my journey to be a better writer.


Remember how in Here I go... I created a few scenarios about how the workshop may play out for me?   (If you have not, the rest of this may not make sense)  What happened next was actually in a portion of that post...

If you are thinking I accurately predicted being asked to step out in the hall scenario, well that would have been less embarrassing.  Remember the part about Ms. Marple and her vampire novel.  Yeah she was there.  Matter of fact she sat right beside me.  Really?  Reeeelly?!  Yes.  Follow me on this.

During the first session and up to the beginning of the second session when the manuscripts were collected, we were guarding our manuscripts as if they were top secret.  So nobody knew the content of anybody's work.  My table neighbor and I had not spoken during the first session.  We introduced ourselves right before the second session started.  She asked me the genre of my manuscript.  "Non-fiction, oh OK" she replied.  I asked her about her genre.  "Horror, interesting" I said.  Some more small talk led her providing me with a writers forum she frequently visits online.  I provided her with my blog address.  With the second session about to begin our question and answer session ended.
Everyone's nerves became heightened as the anticipation to respond with just a few words when Mr. Garret asked us to identify the genre of our work before he read it aloud.

My table neighbors' manuscript was one of the first to be read.  As her work was being read, it made Silence of the Lambs sound like Mary Had a Little Lamb.  It was scary, grotesque, bizarre, how do people think of this stuff, mess with your mind, freaky "stuff".  Some of you may think those descriptive words as being negative comments, but au contraire; to a writer of horror Ms. Marple accepted them as compliments.  

With that being said.  Ms. Marple if you are reading this post, because you requested and I obliged providing you with my blog address before I knew you were submitting a vampire novel manuscript.  And if you have already read the "Here I go..." post because it has been sitting out there for a few days now.  Or if this post is the first one you happen upon and have gone back to read previous said post.  I just want to say I am sure the vampire horse does still have life and always will.  I hope you understand I was just picking on the ever so popular Twilight series because of its huge success. 

So just sayin', if anybody hears of a needed test group for the foot in mouth pill, I am available.