Writing Essentials and Vocabulary Enhancement

Hi, Everyone:

My hubby picked a great word for my vocabulary enhancement part of this post, but for an entirely different reason than you'll find me using it below.

He's been away on a business trip since Tuesday and felt the word fitting regarding how he felt about our girls and me, with missing us and all. Oh, to be so in love nearly eighteen years into our marriage. We are truly blessed! I praise God for him and our girls every hour of every day. No wonder I gravitate to romances, eh? (Yes, I am truly Canadian), and I guess that's why I read books like Keeping His Pants On...Until He Gets Home, too. Keeps the spark alive. Hey, if you haven't already commented in the posting regarding this new release to get in on the wonderful Blog Tour basket being offered as a giveaway to all commenters throughout the blogs hosting Joyce S. Oglesby's interview and book release info, stop into this post after reading this one and see what it's all about and leave a comment if you want in on the drawing. Good luck to everyone!

Okay, enough sappiness. I'm sure if cyber space had a camera on many of you you'd be gagging right now. Sorry, but I couldn't resist.

I'm actually going to take this time to talk about Writer's Conferences. A very important and motivating topic for sure. If you happen to pick the right Writer's Conference to attend, then there is much to be gained from them! These conferences aren't cheap, especially when you include travel and lodging in with the cost, so you have to be choosey--no doubt about it.

In the past I've attended an ORWA conference in Ottawa called Sweet and Spicy. This was a small gathering with a wonderful teaching lineup. The intimate and small group was just what I needed as my first Writer's Conference experience being the natural introvert that I am. I learned a lot at that conference and wish I could attend the second edition of it coming up this fall, Sweat & Spicy 2, but I'm hoping to swing the ACFW National Conference instead to try it out. I'm told this one is amazing and huge. Please God prepare me well for it!

Writer's conferences are on my mind a lot lately as I'm going to my second Write! Canada conference in Guelph, Ontario next week. (I'm getting very familiar with Guelph as I visit there weekly with my little Tucker for splint/bandage changes.) Last year I thoroughly enjoyed EVERYTHING about this conference. The early morning praise time was amazing and the perfect way to start the day and the workshops were informative, directional, and most helpful!

This year I believe next to the amazing praise time, the highlight for me will be the Romance Intensive course lead by Carolyne Aarsen. So apropos to my desired line of writing, isn't it? I'm currently working through critiquing the other participants' 3000-word submissions and looking so forward to all that we can share in this five-hour intensive class spread over the three day conference. Other highlights will be learning about Platforms, Blogging so people will read your posts, hearing the three key-note speakers presentations, one of which will be Carolyne Aarsen too and much, much more.

As with all conferences, there will be editors and agents there too. My shy nature keeps me from interacting with many of them, but it is nice to get seated at a table with one of them and just eaves drop in on their conversations and occasionally answer a question they may ask. A good way for us introverts to scout out who we may or may not want to work with once we're reading for the pitching stage.

The bottom line, though, is that Writer's Conferences host a wealth of knowledge, networking, friendship-building and hands-on-learning that you can't find anywhere else in this industry. So take a look around, get some recommendations and if you are seriously wanting to grow in the craft of writing begin attending conferences that boast a line-up you can gain much from. Pray lots for the event to be graced by God's presence and that you might hear what He wants you to. That's where I'm at now.

Good luck to everyone as they conference shop and please do feel free to drop me a comment on your experiences and how best you have utilized conferences in the past.

___________________________________________________________________

Tucker Update: Yesterday we went to the OVC for Tucker's weekly check and bandage/split change, but this week they were adding his first post-op x-rays to the routine. Guess what? I'm so very pleased to announce that new bone is growing and fusing the breaks together. The bones are still in perfect alignment (well, as perfect as reset bones can be) and the pins and screw are still in the identical position that the surgeon placed them in during his three-hour operation. So, this is the absolute best case scenario we were praying for. He came home free of bandages and splint and his stitches were removed as well.

I've got to tell you, though, our little Tucker has chicken thin legs when you see them shaved. He's adorable.

What's ahead: Well, it's highly likely that our little guy will not keep those pins and screw in his leg forever. Most need them removed, which will require a second operation sometime in the future. For now, we need to encourage him to use his healing leg so that it will stimulate more bone regrowth, but we also have to watch that he uses it cautiously until the breaks are well recovered. We're on the right track, but much can go wrong from here, so prayers are still needed. Thanks all for your concern and joining in my family's prayers. He's hearing us, and so far He's agreeing with what we're asking! Praise God!

________________________________________________________________

On with my Vocabulary Enhancement for this week.

This week's word is: Desideratum

Some definitions:
desideratum
noun
something desired as a necessity; "the desiderata for a vacation are time and money"
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.

de·sid·er·a·tum [di sìddə rtəm, di sìddə ráytəm]

(plural de·sid·er·a·ta [di sìddə rtə, di sìddə ráytə]) n

something desired: something that is desired or felt to be essential (formal)

[Mid-17th century. From Latin , a form of the past participle of desiderare (see desire).]Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

And my chosen sentence for Desideratum will use the plural version of it, Desiderata:

Writer's conferences should be considered desiderata for all who want to grow in the field of writing.

I welcome your sentences using desideratum or desiderata.

Be sure to check out my Current Giveaways, links are available to the appropriate posts on the top of the left-hand side bar. Comment away and Good Luck to everyone! And remember, commenting in any of my posts also enters you into my CATY Giveaway drawing each month! My way of saying thank you for stopping by.

May you have a blessed weekend and may you see how desideratum your spouse, dear friend, or relative has become to you and may you find an appropriate way to let them know of their importance in your life.

Blessings,

Eileen