Lessons for Next Time and... the Official Banana Peel Thursday Badge!

I left the house Saturday morning sportin' my lucky Frida Kahlo socks and my mom's old cowboy boots feeling pretty good about myself, ready for my two hour, caffeine-pumped, drive.  I was on my way to my first writing conference, a fancy nonfiction intensive. Out of all my manuscripts, only one is nonfictiony. 

As with most firsts, there is a learning curve to consider. Therefore, I have a few things I'm gonna keep in mind for next time I attend a conference, now that I know. In fact, I made a list for myself, to be printed out and pocketed for quick referencing convenience.

SELF, NEXT TIME...

-DO try to act normal when you see someone you have connected with socially online, even though you feel you are on a first date arranged by an Internet match-making service where you know practically everything about them including their dog's name, how old their kids are, and whether or not they like the Rolling Stones, despite the fact you have never before heard their voice.

-DON'T be the first person to jump out of your seat and go talk to each speaker who just finishes and literally hasn't disconnected their laptop or literally hasn't had a chance to sit down...Yes. I was that person. Cringing with regret ever since.

-DO count to forty as soon as the speaker finishes, then get out of seat.

-DO slowly WALK to speaker's table, wait patiently in line, etc.

-DON'T approach an editor with, "I have a book for you! I'm not afraid!" It appears that they may avoid you at all costs after that. I wonder why?

-DO rehearse question(s) for agents to avoid awkward moments like: "Uh, I have looked on the Red Fox, uh,  uh, website...." Completely star-struck.  =)

-DON'T sit next to the cookie table.

It was an AMAZING event.  Excitingly enough, I discovered that I am a nonfictiony kind of gal!  What the heck have I been doing all this time?  Oh, yeah! Blogging! =)

Which leads me to my next topic:

Blogging.

I have been so, so lucky to receive the help of Heather Newman with the design of this year's Banana Peel Thursdays badge! Please check out her illustrations at http://www.heathernewman.net/.

 So, without further ado...

She writes, she's classy, she's sassy, and she has a mess of banana peel stories to tell! I love her.

Should we name her?

Please feel free to copy the Banana Peel Thursday (BPT) badge with pride to your site if you are either:

1. my mom
2. a BPT contributing author
2. a BPT contributing commenter
3. Heather's mom
4. if you appreciate the idea of BPT and vow to return to read another post within this next year=)

If you do decide to display the badge, please remember to link it to the site's URL (http://bananapeelin.blogspot.com/ )so that any curious blog wanderers may check it out. =)

Thank you so much Heather Newman for your help! You are wonderful!

Make sure to check back this Banana Peel Thursday for our next amazing author's accounts of her own battles against banana peels.  HINT: You already love her. =)

Thanks so much!