3rd Annual Teen Writers Conference

As I do my final preparations for this weekend's LDStorymakers Writers Conference and the Whitney Awards gala this weekend, I'm already looking ahead to yet another fantastic conference.

But unless your age ends with teen, you're not invited!

The first Teen Writers Conference was June of 2009, put together by several writers in the West who wanted to reach out for young aspiring writers. We thought maybe we'd get 30 attendees.

We ended up with 108.

To say that first year was a smashing success would be an understatement. We knew the event had tapped into a real need: helping teens who love the written word to improve and grow.

So we did it again last year, and this June will mark the third Teen Writers Conference.

Each year, successful, award-winning authors come to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with young writers.

Past speakers include Jessica Day George, Janette Rallison, and J. Scott Savage.

Attendees get to enter a writing contest and get solid feedback. Older teens can attend a class about what comes next, including how they can set their feet on the path of writing and publication now that they're entering adulthood.

Everyone involved with the conference, sponsored by Precision Editing Group, does so because of their desire to give back; this is not a money-making venture for anyone.

That means it's uber cheap for a full-day conference, with fees just enough to cover expenses. It's just $35 for the whole day if you bring a lunch with you, or $43 if you to order a lunch. (Can you say "bargain"?)

Plus, it's loads of fun.

Here are the details:

Saturday, June 18th

8:30 am - 6:00 pm

Weber State University in Ogden, UT.

Keynote: Bree Despain, the author of The Dark Divine series.

Plus ten breakout workshops including classes taught by:

• Dan Wells
• Lisa Mangum
• Robison Wells
• Julie Wright
• Matthew Buckley
• Josi S. Kilpack
• H. B. Moore
• C. S. Bezas
• Ronda Hinrichsen
• and me!

Every class is focused on real things TEENS can apply to their writing right now, while working toward a future in writing.

Speakers will have their books available for sale (usually at a discount from what you can get them anywhere else). Be sure to have the authors sign them before you leave.

Registration is open now (register HERE), but will close when we reach 150 attendees or on June 8th, whichever comes first.

Based on our numbers from the past, I'm guessing we'll fill up before that and registration will close early, so if you know a teen who wants to go, sign up soon.

See you there!

The Lyman Flat Daddy Family

I swear, I have the best blog readers ever.

TODAY I get to officially place the order for the Patterson Flat Daddy. Booyah!

The next ones to get a Flat Daddy are the Lyman family.

Get this: their Flat Daddy is already paid for. I didn't even get a chance to tell you who they were, and you all donated enough to pay for it!

So here's their (belated) spotlight:

The Lyman Family

Daddy Lyman departed for his first deployment just two weeks ago. In his wife's words, it's already "surprisingly HARDER than we thought it would be."

The Lymans have four children: 8 months, 4 years, 6 years, and 8 years. (My heart is aching just thinking about those little ones.)

Daddy Lyman

The family loves adventure, the outdoors, camping, and animals. Daddy Lyman is a huge kid at heart and loves wrestling with the kids on the floor. They have a menagerie of animals, including a horse and chickens. They enjoy reading together as a family and discovering new, exciting books.

Now his young children will be able to "wrestle" with Flat Daddy on the floor, take him on camping trips, and read books to him. It's not as good as the real thing, but it's a big step up from the alternative.

A BIG thank you to the donors who made the Lyman Family Flat Daddy possible.

This time, they're, well . . . ahem . . .

Anonymous

and

Anonymous

You know who you are . . . especially the first one with your big donation! (I will keep my promise by not linking over to you, but dang, it's SO HARD not to. I want the world to know how awesome you are!)

I guess the best I can do is to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

As a result of your generosity, my personal Flat Daddy fund already has the money, and the Lyman Family will receive their Flat Daddy very soon.

Next week I'll spotlight Ashleigh's Family.

Because my readers are over-the-top generous, Ashleigh's family already has a progress bar, and it's moving up at at steady pace.

IMPORTANT (BUT UNRELATED) NOTE:

Today is the last day for teens to postmark their registrations for THE Teen Writers Conference, to be held Saturday, June 5th at Weber State.

For all attendees, today is ALSO the last day to submit your contest entries! DO ENTER! (Find the details and rules HERE.) It's worth doing just for the judges' feedback even if you don't get one of the fantabulous prizes!

Another reminder: To donate to the general Flat Daddy fund or to a family you know personally, visit the Flat Daddy site directly.

To get a family onto the waiting list for a free Flat Daddy, contact the "Flat Daddy Lady," Elaine Dumbler, via her website: I'm Already Home.