>No posts for a few days. I’m off to Savannah with the DH, taking my camera to record the sites and paper/pen to record my impressions. What a place to do research. 🙂
>It’s a great quote for life in general, but especially struck a chord with me in regards to writing.
‘Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.’ –Theodore Roosevelt
>Today’s post is inspired by Elisabeth’s over at Romance Worth Killing For, where she asks, “How involved are you?”
Some might say I’m too involved, even crazy. (Well, that crazy bit it a whole ‘nuther topic.)Others might say I could do more.
I’m in two chapters, had 2 jobs in one online chapter, one in the other. I cut back when the 2-job tenure was over to concentrate more on my writing. Then the local chapter had a position come open and really needed to fill it quickly. There’s a lot of exposure.
I knew I could do the job, so I agreed, knowing it’s long-term and will work into even bigger jobs. I cut back in other areas, but I still wasn’t prepared for the scope of the project.
This year it’s Programs Coord for our conference. With board approval, I advance: 2 years as Asst. Chair for the conference and the 2 yrs after, Conference Chair/VP on board.
We’re talking a 5-yr committment at nearly a full-time job and pretty much giving up any notion of ever entering a workshop unless you’re having to pinch-hit as a moderator. Plans for the next year conference begin before the present year conference has taken place.
But I’m in a large chapter. There are big perks to being in a chapter that mentors and has more published authors than most chapters have members. I’ve learned a lot.
Yes, I’m finding myself in a situation that could seriously hamper my writing, UNLESS I GET VERY, VERY ORGANIZED. I intend to do just that so my writing won’t suffer. I tend to get more done when I have a bit of a crunch anyway.
Each person has to decide what is right for them, what they can handle in their schedule.
There’s a lot of behind the scenes work that goes on in order for any of us to benefit from the programs and workshops and speaker presentations in our individual chapters.
My philosophy is: you get more out of anything you invest of yourself in.
What do you think?
CAROL BURNSIDE / ANNIE RAYBURN 