I Survived Florida Writers Association Royal Palm Awards Dinner 2023

Well, this year for some reason the Florida Writers Association was not selling a Day-Only attendance for me to attend on Saturday, they were offering the full weekend which cut into my work schedule (and honestly I cannot afford). So I missed the conference presentations and discussion groups.

I did pay to attend the Royal Palm Awards banquet as I was a Finalist this year in the Nonfiction - Published Blog or Article category and I had high hopes for my submission "All Which Wicked Designs" this year.

Checking in before the dinner.

It seemed to be a smaller crowd than last year's, but well attended.
Only a handful were finalists, the rest were there for the good food
and the friendships.

People at my table wondered why the dessert was out first.
I suggested the possibility the cheesecakes were frozen served,
and the servers put it out early to warm up to room temp.

Nice mix of zucchini, mashed potatoes, and a chicken/steak combo.

I have to admit this photo is 7 years old, I may need a new
Author headshot.

And... well...

SQUEE

I received GOLD in the Blogging category!!! 

As I already planned to include the article in the collected essays book I'm currently putting together, I will need to include the update for it.

I did not receive printed stickers this year, because someone must have realized as an online article I had nothing physical to place stickers upon. I should get an image file shortly.

Yay.

I Survived Florida Writers Conference 2022

And I have documented evidence that they didn't survive me. BWHAHAHAHA. Ow stop hitting me.

Okay. TO THE PHOTOS.

I have my Batman logo t-shirt on, but
my blue button-shirt is in the laundry
so I wore a white-blue beach bum shirt
instead. I masked for much of the day
because yes COVID IS STILL OUT THERE...

One of the two writing sessions I attended.
The FWA organizers hosted a smaller program this year,
again due to COVID and people still being wary of
public places...

The lunch gathering.

The dinner gathering. They switched out the tablecloths,
obviously. ;-)

One thing at FWA was the backlog of annual anthology
publications offered for FREE. I'm guessing they were
clearing out storage space somewhere.
AS A LIBRARIAN I CANNOT RESIST
FREE BOOKS!!!!! This was just the one I brought with me
to the dinner. There was a huge pile of volumes
back in my car...

I changed out to a more professional look for the dinner,
because I was a Royal Palm Literary Award finalist in the
Nonfiction - Blogging/Articles category. I know this isn't
Oscars-worthy fashion, but WORK WITH ME HERE.

Hark! A Blogger Approaches!

HOLY FORKING SHIRTBALLS.
I WON SILVER (2nd) WITH THE 
"Irrational" ARTICLE FROM MY POLITICAL BLOG!
BRING TO ME THE FINEST CHEESES OF THE LAND.

There may be more photos and prize stickers forthcoming. Long day, satisfying night. 

Update: Here is the official event photo of me accepting the award!

Keep on blogging, you beautiful bastards!

 

Quick Note: Florida Writer's Conference

 Here's hoping I do well in the Non-Fiction - Blogging category this weekend!

FWA 2019: A Melancholic Seminar

I attended this year's Florida Writers Association's conference in Altamonte Springs, and... kinda felt like a wandering spirit this year. Wasn't in the mood for selfies and really couldn't find a time or place (they've taken away recharging stations at the hotel) to focus on any bit of writing I hoped to do.

This is author Delilah S. Dawson, writer of various fantasy/sci-fi
works including Star Wars novels! She is living the dream!

Bumped into a few people from the Lakeland group, bumped into a few presenters from previous conferences still providing their motivationals and tutorials to fellow writers. But this year it just seemed... rushed, everybody running everywhere else. 

I dunno, I might have been feeling bummed out from last year's conference when I went in with high hopes and kinda left without 'em. It might be all the personal and work-related stuff I'm coping with that's got me stressed for differing reasons.

I'm sorry. I'll try to be in a better mood.

Attending Florida Library Association Conference 2018

So I will be at the conference, focusing on getting the word out some more for our state's Outcomes and Standards.

But it's also the big weekend for the Orlando MegaCon. With Kaylee!

Busy busy busy.

I Survived the Florida Writers' Conference 2017... And Found Out I'm Using the Apostrophe All Wrong

(small no)

It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times...

It was a long day for me, driving early to avoid the I-4 traffic even on a Saturday morning. I'd been up ever since 3 AM, so if I look a little pale or puffy eyed in my Selfie, well that's just me being a fat 47 year old.

I *am* cosplaying as myself for how I dress at comic-cons promoting my works.

At the writers' conference they host sessions on how to promote yourself, such as this one about "Book Promotion On A Budget" by Nancy Cohen...

There was a luncheon offered...

They ask a handful of agents and publishers to judge on a Gong Show event, where people give them a 2-minute pitch (more than an "Elevator Pitch" but not a whole summary) about their books. When I attended two years ago, the judges were pretty harsh (and I intentionally flubbed it just to be the class clown for the day) but this year they were more complimentary in their critiques (and this year I think most of the attendees figured out how to do it right).

Oh, and there was CAKE.

As far as motivation towards writing, I've gotten some pep talk from two of the attendees, and so I hope to get at least one project completed before the NaNo stuff overwhelms me.

Good luck.

Documenting FLA Conference 2016

As part of my professional duties, I attended this year's Florida Library Association conference. This year, due to ALA's Annual taking over Orlando in June, the state group held this conference earlier (March) and in Daytona Beach.

The same week as the bikers rolled in on their Hogs for Biker Week. Well, technically they start this weekend, but you know bikers, they show up early so they can cruise A1A.

So, with all the roar and thunder, we librarians did our best to survive... And thus did I document the atrocities...

The Plaza Resort made a swan on my bed! 

The street side view of Daytona Beach. Down below
is A1A and a steady parade of motorcycle enthusiasts...

Getting ready for the opening session event

Opening Session speakers

Bartow Library's donation to the Silent Auction.
Sad to say, we had only two bidders on the basket of books.
Apparently, librarians prefer bidding on wine and chocolates.

Host county Volusia has a library system that employs
a mobile mini-library for outdoor events. A keen idea,
considering the scenery and amounts of outdoor events
at a major tourist destination...

I was told I have the best Florida tie at the conference!

At the Local Authors presentation on how libraries can
support local writers and boost local readership.

Foolish me, I forgot to bring beachwear this trip.

At the Mystery Writer's Breakfast. Sad to say, having the morning sun
come through the window darkened too much of the room. This needs editing.

Standing with Debbie and Susan for the Standards Committee meeting.
Susan is departing Chair, Debbie incoming Chair, and I'm Vice Chair.

The bandshell area near the Boardwalk.

As noted, I'm with the state's Standards committee, and we've completed a revision of Standards and Outcomes (PDF document) that we hope to deploy at volunteer "pilot" libraries to test-run those standards for real-world effectiveness. By next year, we're hoping to pass along the results to the FLA Board and begin applying these standards across the state. With hope, we can use these guidelines to convince the state legislature to improve library funding...

At the 2016 Florida Library Association Conference

hashtag FLACON2016

Although my Nook Samsung Tablet keeps wanting to autocorrect that to Falcon 2016.

I'm here for some professional development, some socializing, a lot of work with the Standards Committee to follow through on the revisions we made in 2015, and auctioning off book donations from Mystery & Horror LLC for library fund-raising! Thank you, Sarah and Gwen!

Pictures to follow.

Librarian Plans for 2016

There's always the Florida Library Association conference, although this year it's in early March because the AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION is meeting in Orlando this summer.

So, yeah, I got choices.

I kinda need to go to both.

Florida Writers Conference: Links of Interest

The presenters included a set of websites that would be of interest to the authors of the state of Florida, so I am including a few here.  Check back later as I may have forgotten one or three and will update this page.

Oh, and I wasn't at that particular presentation but there was a class promoting the hell out of NANOWRIMO.

Duotrope
Poets & Writers dot Org
New Books Network
..

This wasn't at the conference but I came across it on the web:

Florida Literary Links via Sawpalm

Tweet me at @PaulWartenberg or comment here if you can if you remember the other website services talked about at this year's conference!

Florida Writers Conference 2015: Towards the end of the day

As mentioned in the earlier article, I am at the Florida Writers Association conference for the day, and I learned a few things:

1) the comma is dead, unfortunately.  ...I should also include ellipses, sad but true.

2) I was the only one to show up with a comic book character's logo on a t-shirt.

3) there's a lot of things I can do to improve the odds of getting published.

I sat in on the discussions involving the importance of networking, from there a session discussing the many literary magazines out there and the tips on successfully getting published with MAYBE one of them.  Maybe.

I participated on a pitch-fest where I made my first effort to pitch a story idea to a rough, heavily-armed group of agents and publishers just waiting for the blood sacrifice, mwha.  I intentionally flubbed it because I promised the fellow writer who went ahead of me I would: she was so nervous she was going to get "gonged" - yes, there was a gong and it was used often - that in order to settle her nerves I did so.  I wanted to show her it was just a practice pitch - not a real one to worry over - and that you NEEDED to relax and let loose and unclench.  Do it without the stress, you know?

I wowed them with the first line anyway: "Aliens." hehe.

...what, you all never watched that bit with the pigeons from Disney's Bolt?

(Update: Yeah. Like that. Snap,)

Past that there was lunch, and a session on how to tell the difference between novella and novel (hint: it's NOT entirely based on word count, but on the focus/complexity of the work).

I sat in on the "Ask An Agent" session to see what the agents themselves suggest about looking for one and how to succeed.  For myself, I'm kinda in the self-publishing stage for now.  Once I get novels done - FINALLY done - I will do the legwork to get an agent to do the real legwork for a small-to-big market publisher.

The day is finishing up now with a session on how to submit to the FWA-based writing contests and publications, and thence to the dinner hall.

I documented the atrocities with photos.

I tweeted all over the place with #FWA2015 by the by

Talking about getting published to literary magazines

From the Lakeland Writers meetup group, here's Alison Nissen!

Agents of SHIE... no wait...

Florida Writers Conference 2015: Prologue

Just to note: Today I am at the Florida Writers' Conference in Altamonte Springs.

This is my first time here, although not my first conference/convention.

It's more akin to being at the librarian conventions with meetings and presentations than cosplaying at a comic-con.  Although I am the only one here with a Batman logo t-shirt so everyone's been taking to calling me "Batman"...

I am photographing and documenting the atrocities.  More posts will follow.

#FWA2015

Florida Library Association Conference 2015

I attended this past week, learning a few new things about the advocacy of 3D printing and makerspace planning for libraries.

I also attended as part of the Standards committee, where we presented the first draft of the revisions.  We are re-designing the guidelines to focus as much on outcomes as anything, and thinking of how the Public Library Association's planned revisions in 2017 will affect the various states (including our own).  I'd love to add a link to the first draft if I can find it... knew I should have written it down somewhere.

And if anyone's got pictures of the Standards presentation on Friday morning, please pass along.

Oh, and Ellen, I still owe you for the hot-spot Internet usage.

At FLA 2014

I'm attending the Florida Library Association convention this week.

I'm here to learn about outreach, marketing our library services, and how to pose with cutouts of Daleks.

...what?

Things I Learned At Florida Library Association Conference 2013

1) The hotel where the convention is being held sells $12 sandwiches.  Note to self: pack a lunch next year.

2) About half of the librarians I worked with between Broward County Libraries and UF Libraries are retired or going to retire this year.  I did not do a good enough job keeping in touch with a lot of them.  :(  P.S. if any of them cross this blog, please get in touch with me...

3) It's less a question of keeping up with new technologies - although you really have to - and more a responsibility to make sure you train your library patrons to be comfortable with said new technologies.

4) No, seriously, $12 sandwiches.  It's cheaper to walk down the street to the McDonald's.  Plus you get more exercise.

5) I decided against bringing my Nook eReader device with me (it functions as a tablet as well, although not as effectively as an iPad).  Turned out to be a bad move: I realized I was out of email communication with everyone for most of the day!  ...still shaking off the withdrawal symptoms...

6) The primary thing being discussed at the conference sessions - at least for this day when I attended - was community outreach, keeping libraries involved with their communities.

7) I saw a 3D printer for the first time.  I bowed and prayed to the Maker Deity, the provider of All Things Plastic.  And It made for us a miniature plastic Mayan temple.  Because It could.

Anyone got any questions about the conferencing experience?