Tourist in Philly with Tuvia and time for writing.  Now, without the stress of the conference schedule, I can write in the afternoon, late at night, early in the morning. Whenever I want to and it’s good that I built up my word count before I came to the conference because the schedule there has slowed me down.

I wanted to write more but I was just too distracted with full days and too tired by the time I was back in the room.  My guitar practice suffered as well.  I never opened it, never moved it out of the corner it was staying for the week, not until we were ready to leave.

And as a tourist, the word count started growing again, moving closer now to 40,000.

I can see it moving to the final K’s, even if I’m not sure what it is I’m writing, my fingers are moving comfortably across the keyboard and that feels good.

Time for museums, for walking for eating, for writing…

Philly Marathon from the sidelines

Magic Mosaic  Garden

Rocky’s Spot at the Philly Art Museum

Rodin’s 6 Burghers- a knock out!

Great day and time to get writing as well.

Another full NWP Day in Philly!

Early morning walk to the Marriot to meet the Two Writing Teachers. I’ve been writing with them for two years and this was our first face-to-face. It was wonderful to see and share a bit of their lives in a comfortable conversation.  I love my online life but there’s still nothing like Face-to-Face at a great breakfast, compliments of Ruth’s good fortune at the Marriot.

Then off to the NWP for the General Session on a glorious, sunny morning in November with just a fall jacket. I am there is plenty of time to get my saved seat with my HVWP team and send time grabbing a few photos.  Here’s one:

And then finally we began with Sharon Washington…

And poet, Billy Collins, our Keynote-Funny, clever!

And then a surprise find- old buddy, Melba and off to lunch at the Terminal. Loved that!

and…

Finally our walk back to the NWP for an afternoon of sessions

Joseph and Matt present our collaboration from last year’s tech conference- their journey.  So lucky to be with them.

Joseph

and then off to see Patti and Peter’s work with SI coaching…

A bit of the reception snacks and off into the fresh evening air for a walk back to the hotel and preparing for dinner with the TL’s.

Joining with Steve to find The Devil’s Alley.

With Kevin..

And back to the hotel, some writing and off to bed…

One more day of NWP conference and a writing marathon to get back to NaNoWriMo, hopefully!

The NWP annual conference in Philly is in full swing today.  Lots to do and I want to write. I spend the morning in workshops but in the first one, I need more tech hands on.  In the second, I need fewer people around me.

And then lunch and I walk with my great buddy, Joseph outside into the fresh air for a lunch spot.  We don’t find an interesting one but it doesn’t matter.  We have great things to talk about and plan for- tech that we share.  It’s stimulating and exciting.

We return for an afternoon outside the workshop rooms.  I need to sit and write.  I need to meet up with Lynn.  I am on my own but not really, still lots of stimulation but I have my computer, wireless online access, my story document to build on and  cookies and coffee in front of me.

It’s been a stimulating day all around me and I don’t have as much attention and focus and energy that I wish I had but I get back to my book and I kick up my count.  Almost 33,000!  I am loving the challenge, especially writing from his voice.  Love that!

I’m off to write to Rachel Maddow!

NWP in Philly on Wednesday for: Digital Is…

A special day in Philly with the NWP and a ballroom filled with techies.  I was proud to be in this group.  A day of stimulation in the digitial world and the quesiton: how will we move into the future with what we know and are learning?

My favorite part of the day was the second session in the afternoon- the jigsaw conversation when we sat in small groups and talked and raised the questions that we will take with us, beyond this moment.   Everything else that comes after is dessert.

As for NaNoWriMo, I’m writing and thinking.  Harder to write and to think.  My story is not coming out with the force that I’m used to having for it. It’s on the back burner.

Now I know how others are feeling when they can’t give their books the energy they need and deserve.

I will be back!

Bonnie