The Side Roads of the Writing Life

In three oh-so-short days, I leave for the Hearts at Home National Conference. While I'm there, I'll teach two workshops on both Friday and Saturday. One workshop is related to my book Baby Changes Everything: Embracing and Preparing for Motherhood after 35. The second workshop is about how moms can help their sons choose purity instead of pornography.


Writers are encouraged to have a platform. Speaking at this conference is part of my effort to build a platform as a writer/speaker. Right now I am focused less on writing and more on speaking. And I get caught up in side roads like:

1. Managing my book table:

• How many books do I take?
• How do I display my books and other items?
• Do I want to use a cash box or a bank envelope or something else for my money?
• What other items do I want to offer at my book table?
• Printing up price lists

2. Preparing for my workshops:

• Gathering ground support, i.e. a group of friends to pray for me
• Polishing my talks
• Preparing my handouts
• Practice, practice, practice

3. Odds and Ends:

• Selecting outfits
• Packing
• Getting my hair cut (It's a girl thing!)
• Figuring out how to pay state tax for Illinois
• Staying on top (sort of) life here at home before I disappear for four days

I never considered all these details part of the writing life--but they are if you are pursuing the life of a writer/speaker. I'm thankful that I've got friends along the writing road, like my writing comrades Trish Berg and Susie Larson who have answered my questions along the way.