As the countdown to the RWA National Conference in Washington, D.C. begins, I find myself surprisingly glad that I’m not going. Okay, maybe I’ve just talked myself into it, but after two years in a row of attending National, I’m ready for a break. Typing this, I realize I’ve never attended National three years in a row. I suppose I will some day. This year, given the cost of flying across the continent, the fact that neither I nor Penny sold a project in ’08, and because I’ve attended National in D.C. once before, I don’t think I’ll miss it. I’ll miss seeing my Looney Bin and Scrabble buddies, Tina Ferraro and Diana Duncan, attending the RITA ceremonies as nominees, however. Wouldn’t it be cool if they both won their categories?
As for myself, I’m looking forward to continuing to write instead of going crazy prepping for conference. The money I would have spent on new conference clothes can go toward the new stove instead. Last week, I began a new story for Penny, her first “short.” Wrote 3800 words on Thursday, I think it was. Aside from the year I participated in NaNaWriMo, that’s a record for me. Am revising them now before proceeding with writing new stuff. Target market requires 5000-15,000 words, so I have a lot of leeway.
Meanwhile, my cindpk ST is sitting and gathering inspiration. Depending on how Penny’s short story goes this week, I might dig into revisions on the cindypk in another week. Two at the outside. I don’t want to leave it sitting too long.
I signed up for Carbonite last week, an on-line document backup system. I really like it, it’s easy to use, but my desktop is 4.5 years old, and, alas, I fear Delbert is too slow for Carbonite. I’ll have to allow my trial to expire and return to using flashdrives.
With the weather so nice lately, for the first time in my writing life I’m really feeling the absence of a laptop. Especially now that the household budget has recovered from buying each of the kids a laptop for high school graduation. And, also, the cost of those new netbooks is rather tempting. If I sell something this year, I might indulge in a netbook or a small laptop. I prefer my ergonomic desktop keyboard, but the portability of a netbook/laptop is carroting in front of my eyes.
A heads-up, I’m blogging at Nobody Writes It Better on Wednesday, July 1st, which is Canada Day for those not in the know. I’m giving away a paperback copy of my Canadian-set novel, HEAD OVER HEELS (by the way, if you visit that link, the upgrade to Internet Explorer 8 seems to have affected some spacing issues on my Books pages. I’ll have to fix that one of these days).
I’ll post a reminder about the book give-away Wednesday. How is your week shaping up?
Have fun with your story. I’m not going to National this year, either. Way too expensive for me.
I belong to Dropbox for back up, which I love. My computer is 5 years old, but I don’t have any problem with Dropbox.
I should finish my wip today. I’ll wait for my CPs’ critiques and start sending out. Wish me luck!
My week is busy 🙂 Work today, school work tomorrow, Canada Day on Wednesday, late shift at work on Thurs. On Friday we may ride up to Lund on the motorcycle. School work on the weekend and getting ready for my mum’s visit next week!
I too am torn re National. Would LOVE to be going – four of my best friends will be there (sniff), but we couldn’t swing it this year. OTOH, I do NOT miss all the palaver invovled in getting ready to go and getting to the airport from here.
No National for me either this year. Or last year or the year before. I am SO going to miss seeing friends…again. I was looking forward to sightseeing much more than I did in 2000, but this just isn’t the financial year to be going anywhere. Maybe Nashville next year?
Get an external hard drive for backing up. It hooks up easily and can be set to back up as often as you want it to. I put off getting one and regretted it.
Have a great one, CPK!
Hi Edie,
Here I thought no one had stopped by my blog today. I’m not getting email notifications. I hate it when that happens. Have had the blog for over a year, and this is the second time it’s happened.
I’ll check out Dropbox after my Carbonite trial ends, thanks for the recommendation. I remember you mentioning it before, but Carbonite seems to get the most rave reviews, so I tried it first.
Good luck with your WIP!
Teresa,
You do sound like you have a busy week! When does school end?
Think about Nashville next year. I’m definitely going to that one. And of course my presence should be the determining factor in whether ANYONE attends, LOL.
Rox, hi! I’m so glad you gave me that shut-out on Di’s FB page. I think it was the last DC conference where you’d just made your first sale.
For the back-ups, I was looking for a system outside my house. External drives are fine, but I won’t remember to take it each time I leave the house. I’m thinking in terms of fire, etc. My best friend when I was ten had her house burn to the ground–that’s the kind of event I’m thinking of.
I’ll continue using GMAIL and my flash drives for back-up. I have one by my computer that I use to back up my docs as I’m writing throughout the day, then another on my keychain, but I don’t back it up as often. I try to take the one by my computer with me whenever I leave the house, but sometimes I forget. An on-line system that operates without me having to do anything is perfect. I really do like Carbonite. Maybe it’s just my computer, but my email and my internet both slow down when it’s working.
I’ve heard a ton of people say they aren’t going this year, myself included. I totally agree with you–I’m glad to be staying home. Preparing to go sucks up so much of my time (and money!).
Good, Avery, I can hassle you during National!