OK so I am off to LA on Thursday!Do yo know what that means? I will not be blogging until next tues or wed! I will pause to give you all a chance to boo at my extended absence and wonder how in the world you will get along without me and my brilliant rantings for 5 long days.
Are you done?
Seriously, I leave Thursday am and have no idea what to expect when I get there.
I am rooming with Kimberly Derting (other alias: Road to Publication, author of Body Finder) and I have never met her in person. Just on our blogs. A little scary right? I totally think we will have a blast. She is hilarious and I like to laugh.
I just hope she doesn't mind that I sleep in my BIRTHDAY SUIT
(Just kidding Kimberly!!!! ha! I thought that might get your attention!)
Seriously, I'm very excited to go, but petrified at the same time.
I am looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones. Can't wait to learn and absorb some more writing energy. Take in some editor and agent brilliance. I think my writing energy gage is just about on Empty as we speak.
Now about the petrified part.
For starters, I have never been away from my kids for more than a day or two. What if something happens to me? What if I miss something? Wht if they can;t go to sleep at night b/c I am not hear to sing their lullabys (you would understand how tramatic this could be if you had heard my hubby sing! IN fact, we have a no singing rule in our house just for him. Sorry honey! :)
Now, for the other petrying part.
How do I feel about meeting my blogger friends - which category do they fit in? Excited or Petrified?
The other night, I watched Dating in the Dark (the degrees of shallowness are amazing to me) and felt like that is what I am heading into with my blogger buddies. Some of us have been conversing for about a year now and I have never met them in person. Unless you count me talking to the 1x1 photo in the upper left hand corner.
I've shared some of my deepest fears and best moments on my blog. I have read some very intimate posts from some of you. I have laughed and cried and screamed with many of my BBF (blogger buddies forever) over the last several months.
But the lights have been off.
But now, they come on. No more mystery, no more hiding. It's all out there. Now these people will meet me and see that yes I am this crazy in person. No it is not an act for my blog. We will graduate from little photo, the daily rantings, and funny comments -to the real world.
Then what?
What if I am not as funny?
What if I am not as cool?
What if they don't like my shoes?
What if I am not what they thought?
What if they don't like me?
What if I don't know what to say?
What if I don't recognize someone from their artsy photo but they recognize me from me boring one?
What if I don't know who they are because they're blog name is not on their name tag?
The horror!
What if at the end of it, I am left standing on the balcony waiting for them to come out and say - "yes we want to keep blogging with you!"
What if I come back to 0 followers, no one to tweet with, 0 comments??
What if I come back and hear nothing but....cricket cricket!
So I am off to LA to flip that switch and see if I pass the blogger-in-person test.
Wish me luck!
So have a great weekend. I'll be taking great notes and will post them next week.
I'm going in! See you on the other side!
Let's just hope I don't come back a dumped and single blogger who only rants about stuff everyone decides they don't want to hear.
24 comments:
Have a great time! I'm sure your blogger friends will love you just as much in the light! :) I've recently found out that one of my blogger friends lives close to me, and we've decided to meet sometime soon. I have to admit, I had the same feelings of insecurity that you are speaking of. Anyway, let us know how your trip goes! Can't wait to hear all about it!
"You are going to be brilliant and everyone will love you"
*BAM*
You have been fortune-cookied by The Mame
You're so cute, Shelli. You'll be fine! I think you're experiencing normal conference thoughts/fears/panics. I'd feel the EXACT same way about leaving my kids and meeting people from our lovely blog community.
Have fun! Can't wait to hear about it!
You don't have to worry about that from me! I'm not going to LA! :)
LOL! I bet it will be just fine!!!!! You'll meet in person and wonder why it took you so long!!
And BTW, I went on a trip once, just me and my mom, and left hubby home with our daughter for 6 days. She was almost 4 at the time. It gave them some quality daddy and daughter time, which they don't always get...and gave him a chance to realize just how much work I actually do around here!! (Though I think 4 out of 6 nights he ate dinner at his mom's house)
And I left just this past April for a once in a lifetime trip to LA!! I won it! A big deal for me, seeing as I live in Buffalo, NY. It was from a radio station to see a concert for a band my hubby had no care whatsoever in seeing, so I took one of my girlfriends...it was only 3 days...we had a blast and hubby survived with two kids this time.
Bring them home some souvenirs...that makes it all better!!
*hugs* Have a great time!
Ahh! So jealous! We'll be there with you in spirit! Have fun, take notes and tell us everything!
Lol, I think you'll be ok. ;) Have fun in LA!!
don't worry, I'll be here. I like crickets. Just met a few blogger buddies myself this last week for the first time. It is a little strange that you know so much about each other but don't know anything in person. How do they sound? How are they in person? shy? outgoing? What? I don't get to be as witty in person, dangit. I can't correct myself before I "send" my words (like I do anyway).
It's all good though, because they're going through the same exact thing too. Writers inherently share a strong connection. We're all closet psychologists anyways, delving into character's issues and motives. I think we tend to care about the more deeper traits of someone, rather than just the window dressing or delivery. Which is why you're going to have a blast. They're already looking forward to meeting you and they already like you! Have fun. (sorry for being so long)
WHAT?!? Don't be silly. I'm sure everyone will love you. And if you come back with kick ass notes, I'm sure you'll get MORE followers, not less.
It's nice to see I'm not the only terrified one, though. If you see me shaking in the corner, no need to offer me a blanket. That's just the nerves.
If it makes you feel better, I could wear an I <3 Shelli shirt. No? Too creepy? Well don't say I didn't offer ...
:)
I'll be huddling in the dark with you, hoping we're still friends when the light comes on =)
Ok, so I just introduced my husband to a guy that is getting ready to climb a mountain with him. They're leaving on Thursday, sharing a tent and we just packed their poop bags. Did you know that you can buy individualized bags to poop in? I think you and Kimberly should remember that they just met and will be squatting over bags together. Giggle, have a glass of wine and thank your lucky stars you're in a hotel. She will love you, you will love her and both of you will have access to a shower.
You know they always say "Cleanliness is next to Publishing Credits."
I'm so jealous that I won't be there. I don't know if you saw my comment on my blog, but you, Katie, SF and Kimberly have to track down Jess Jordan and force her to "pour one out" for me. I need a picture.
Have a wonderful time and hopefully we'll catch up at another conference!
I can tell just from this post that you won't come back dumped and single unless everyone is intimidated by your wit and hilarity.
Have fun and good luck!
How about if we sit clicking your blog over and over until you get back? ;)
Have FUN!!!! The kids will be fine. Husbands have secret powers they don't let us see.
I would have the exact same fears! My writing partner, Becky, and I have been working on PBs together for five years and we have never even spoken by phone. I am terrified that if I called her it would be awkward and would ruin our relationship!
But good for you for going!
you crack me up!
You'll have a great time. Wish I could be there, too!
HAHA! Okay I admit, you *definitely* had my attention!
My husband keeps telling people that I'm rooming with someone I met on the internet. He likes to joke that you're really a dude who calls himself "Shelli" and types a blog while wearing dirty tightie-whities.
But seriously, we're going to have a blast!
I seriously think I already commented at 3 am when I couldn't sleep, but I thought this post was so hee-larious that I link to it on my post.
Love ya!
Safe flight and all that :-)
I've met blogging friends and writing friends in person after months, sometimes YEARS, of knowing each other online and I can say, the experience is ALWAYS wonderful. Better than you'd expect. You end up feeling like you're lifelong friends within seconds of meeting. There's nothing like it.
Can't wait to see you!!
We are going to have a BLAST! And, don't worry. You'll be in a gigantic room full of like-minded people with similar goals and interests. What could be better?
Plus, you get to go in knowing so many people (even if you haven't actually met in person).
Plus, I have met you in person. And, you're totally cool and you wear great shoes and you look just like your amazing picture.
sf
You are going to have a great time! From one Shelley/Shelli to another, I am glad someone will be at SCBWI representing the name.
and I'm not jealous at all....really.
HAVE FUN!!!
Shelley
hey giuys - I did not have time tothank each of you - but thank you all for the well wishes - see you next week :)
I may be doing some blogging or tweeting over the weekend if i get bored :) If not - I promise Ill take good notes and do a series of posts.
have a great weekend.
Dear Shelli,
LMJ has dared me to "pour one out" for her. And say something hood. This worries me a little, because I am lacking all gangsta ability. Perhaps you can attend the ceremony, toss out something hood for me?
:)
I loved you in person....
Post a Comment