Waving hello from the river . . .

Tracy here, from Charles Town.

With encouragement several years ago from former dear colleague Ethan Fischer, known to many of you, I began to pursue writing and seeking publication of my poetry in earnest, with small but steady acceptance--I have pieces and collections now under consideration for a variety of competitions and reading series, as well as already-accepted and ready to come out this very spring (just waiting for the *launch* button).

I have not yet made it to the conference--the timing does not work well with professional demands, which actually ramp up in the summer for me. But my husband may go--he also is a writer and has been before, enjoyed it very much.

Even so, this is the first time I have associated myself with a writers' group--it still feels a bit awkward to claim the name for myself. The work has been such a solitary task--joyfully so--that to cast the circle wider, to put my words forward for other writers to see and comment on . . . well, it takes some getting used to.

So. Gently, please. And I promise gentleness in return.

Tracy, I feel exactly the same! In the past, I have only posted on a blog for comments from people I don't hope to know. That's much easier than enduring the silence from those you do. Knowing that the people in this group might put a face to me makes "coming out" a difficult but courageous step. Whether or not anyone else thinks I am a writer, I will continue to be one. It is who I am!

Tracy, so you have never been to the conference. I used to go every year, but since I retired I only go every few years or so. You will love it. To be around other writers makes one feel accepted, not like the weird kid in the room. Many, many years ago, I took my first college writing class and the first day I thought how strange they all were, talking characters, plots, etc. But by the end of the class, I was just like them. Welcome to the Writers' World.