A magazine with something to celebrate, and conferences and networking

The women's writing magazine Mslexia is celebrating it's 20th anniversary this year. I've been a subscriber for a good few years now, and before that I would buy it from the newsagent. I've recommended it to others and I have submitted poetry and fiction on a number of occasions. I suppose you could say I'm a fan.

This morning I was reading Editor, Debbie Taylor's article about how the magazine came together. Fascinating. I never realised the struggle there was in the beginning with their first PR company backing out over the name of the magazine. Despite negative remarks they fought on, and how they have grown over those years. I've seen names of writers I've got to know (through online courses or as part of a group I've been part of) flourish as their names have appeared in the magazine, and some have gone on to publish poetry books, which I've bought. Mslexia deserve this time to enjoy the celebration of all they have achieved and for all the writers they have set on the road.

This year as part of that celebration Mslexia is arranging a conference in Leeds over a weekend in July. I've been devouring the programme and really think I might go! It looks great.

The second article I read this morning is from the latest Writing Magazine. Anna Ganley, head of staff at The Society of Authors talks about networking. Now, I'm not good at this, so need all the help I can get. There are tips here if I'm brave enough to use them. I remember the first Writer's Conference I attended. There was a meet up in a pub opposite the accommodation. It took me all my strength to get myself out of my room and over the road. I actually got inside the pub, but I couldn't tell who were regulars and who were from the conference. I knew no one and at that point seeing everyone cosy with laughter and chat I backed out and went back to my room. That was a step too far.

During the weekend I did fair better, chatting to people over meals and I exchanged Twitter details with one person and got chatting to someone else I felt I'd known all my life but hadn't the courage to ask if she wanted to stay in touch.

I'm not good in crowds. I often find myself overwhelmed by it all and have to retreat to my own space to recover. I have attended other conferences (on site ones and one where I sorted out my own accommodation). I always come home mentally exhausted but feel better for contact with like-minded people. The are inspiring places and there's nothing better than hearing you are not alone and finding we all suffer the same fears of not being good enough writers.

Well, that wraps up my chat for today.. Enjoy your writing everyone.