I came home Saturday evening from the one day writing conference in Eugene in my usual post-conference state of exhilaration and exhaustion. I love those days when I rub elbows with people who are “in the know” and, might I say, are just a bit quirky about words in the same way that I am. I arrive at the conferences eager to meet and greet, absorb new information and see friends. I come home filled up with writerly stuff to ponder and sort through when I go back into my little writing space. I need to find a way to become three or four people at those events so I can take in all the workshops at once. I just want to learn it all!

When I got home I was greeted by six copies of the summer 2010 Fruit of the Vine in which I have seven devotionals. Fruit of the Vine is not a paying market, but I love Barclay Press because they gave me my first opportunity to be a published writer. That was a nice homecoming. But then I had a big decision to make. I’ve known for quite a while now that I need to take the next step in being a writer– giving greater respect to the pieces I create. After a conversation in Eugene with a seasoned writer I came to the conclusion that I can no longer take work for hire contracts in which I give away all rights to my work. When you’re a newbie there’s a balance to find between gaining writing experience and making a few dollars, and in having enough pride in your work to retain management of it. I guess I already knew that selling all rights is dangerous territory, and now I believe I’ve reached the right decision: no more of that. So yesterday I made my fingers write no thank you’s to two publishing houses and watched some dollars go down the drain, but today I feel stronger in my commitment to give my best as a writer, working with intention and confidence, integrity and enjoyment as Mr. Zinsser taught (and which is sticky-noted to my computer monitor.)  It’s kind of like growing through those awkward gangly teenage years when you’re looking for the right path but have to stub your toes a few times before walking ahead confidently. I made a similar decision about writing for content sites–that one was a no-brainer because writing an article for 13 cents isn’t very enticing. So sit back and watch me grow. I may yet become a writing adult!