I attended a Capitol City Young Writers Conference this weekend and am happy to report that the love of telling stories is alive an well in future generations.
The literary gathering in the idyllic setting of the Marin hills brought together some of the most inspirational minds in literature today. Keynote speaker was Peter S. Beagle, who wrote his best-selling "A Fine and Private Place" at the age of 19, followed quickly by the classic "The last Unicorn". He connected with the children and adults in the audience when he shared the storytelling urges that have plagued him as long as he can remember. "My mother wrote down the stories before I was able to write them myself," he said. From the beginning, he knew writing would be his passion. Heads young and old nodded in agreement as he spoke.
My friend and event volunteer Dena Kouremetis shares her inspired take on the day here. I would like to add, however, a few bits of wisdom shared by Writer's Digest Community publisher and editorial director Jane Friedman. While she refused to predict the future of publishing, she counseled young writers to not be attached to the medium. Storytelling doesn't require paper and ink. A literary tale can be delivered through online posts, podcasts or some other format not yet imagined.
The common thread for me was the advice to persevere. Find new ways to connect with your audience and hone your craft. That had me nodding my head.
Yours in Writing,
Promptmasters
Jennifer Sander
JT Long
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