I almost didn’t push that button.

The one that would cause a big chunk of my tax refund to fly out of my bank account, never to return. The one that would sign me up for Emily Wing Smith’s beginning novel Workshop at Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers.

Now we know the same kind of workshop costs at least double anywhere else–more often five times–but it was still a lot of money for me.

I stared at the screen for a long time, took a breath, and hit enter.

People, I’m so glad I did. It’s one of my best decisions. Life-changing in all sorts of unexpected and glorious ways.

I learned a TON and met some of my dearest friends. Friends I still work with and meet to share/critique our writing.

I didn’t have the instant success we all dream about, but I’m a better writer. And I will become a better writer. I want to spend my whole life learning, published or not.

I’ve had plenty of close calls with success through the years. Several agents have requested full manuscripts. Editors too. I got into Brandon Sanderson’s small workshop, won awards, and got into Pitch Wars and studied with Newbery winner Erin Entrada Kelly. I’ve assisted incredible authors and interned with Dave Farland to become a better editor. I’ve even had a dream agent get enthusiastic and meet with others at her agency and debate on my manuscript … to ultimately pass.

Lots of almosts. Too many to go into here.

(Man, this is getting depressing. Why am I telling you about this again? Oh, right. Because … ) 

WIFYR gave me a place to learn, try things out, make mistakes, and do better. It gave me a foundation to find incredible opportunities. Someday, I believe one of my almosts will turn into a yes. 

But if not, at least I tried. I created and grew and met wonderful people instead of staying home and spending my life bingeing Netflix. (Okay, I do that, too. But you get what I mean.) 

I love this conference. 

I’ve been to plenty of other workshops. There are some wonderful writing communities out there, especially in Utah. And we have the events to prove it.

But none are quite like WIFYR. 

Because listening to talented lecturers can improve the quality of your writing, but to truly understand vital concepts you need to have someone teach you using your own manuscript.

That way, you don’t make the mistake of thinking, “Oh, yes. Everyone should do what Talented Author is saying. Not me, of course. I don’t have that problem.”

But when talented author shows you examples in your own book, trust me. Your eyes open right up.

What got me thinking about all this was reading Kelsy’s comment in the December newsletter:

“To me, WIFYR is one of the most immersive writing craft workshops I’ve ever seen. Learning everything the faculty has to offer is like trying to drink from a firehose, and students come away from the weeklong workshop with new knowledge and actionable insights to boost the quality of their writing.” — Kelsy Thompson, Editor at Flux and Jolly Fish Press

Immersive is the word. Knowledge. Insights, too.

All of it. It’s why I keep coming back, and why I will—even if I publish and am fabulously successful—keep coming back. Because I want to be a better writer. 

Always, a little bit better.

And these are my people. 

My friends and my writing family.

And oh, my friends, all I can say is thank heavens I pushed enter. 

I’m grateful for all of you.