Me, at the T&P Station, 6:20am, April 4, 2018 |
Being around literary folk—big name literary folk— always
has an affect on me. Going to sessions where professional writers talk about
their craft and influences just does something. I get the tingling of
creativity pulsing through the air. I’m not sure if this is just a writer
thing, or if everyone gets it, but it’s a great burst of energy. I spent most
of my lunches doing research on a young adult historical (maybe paranormal) mystery
series that I had thought up several years ago, but filed it away. I just have
to keep the mojo going after the conference. The fact that I don’t have other
distractions at the moment will make this an experience that I hope to carry
over for the rest of the year.
Oh, and I learned some great library things, as well. I
don’t want to discount that at all, but my library has been in a transition
this year since we quit doing AR cold turkey and I’m still trying to find my
groove to make programming mine. The best takeaway so far has been Adulting
101, where several high school librarians created groups at their schools to
teach students skills that they need to know either for college or adulthood,
but just haven’t been taught at home. I’m definitely taking that back to my
campus!
If anything, attending TLA inspires dreaming in me. I dream
of a better library. I dream of my own books I will write. I dream of someday
being one of those authors up on the stage or in the signing line, having an
audience who loves my stories as much as I do.