I love coming to these writing conferences. I always walk away from every session with brand new ideas for my book, ideas I want to implement immediately. But as someone whose job it is to get up in front of people and present training materials in an informal and entertaining way, I always find myself wondering if these speakers have ever gone to any presentation class.

Presentation classes are designed to teach you how to not only deliver a great presentation, but how to put together a great presentation using whatever visual tools you decide to use and in most cases PowerPoint.

Over the course of the weekend, I have seen PowerPoint Presentations that were designed perfectly, with only a few text on the slide, slides with just an image or text combined with an image. However, I have also seen PowerPoint Presentations full of text, that it was hard to concentrate on the speaker. I kept wanting to read the slide and therefore found myself tuning the speaker out, which is the last thing as a speaker you want to happen. I have also seen attendees get so hung up on wanting to write down everything on the slide that it interrupted the speakers flow as well as distract them from the fact that the speaker handed out the same text in paper form.

As a speaker, you're the reason people come to the presentation. They come to hear you speak and present.  A PowerPoint is designed to support you and enhance you're topic. It should never be used as a crutch.

I love these sessions, but my training background can't help but notice these pet peeves of mine.

Today, I experienced my first professional critique and I am glad I did it. I went in there knowing my writing was still raw but dying to know whether my concept was interesting. I am passionate about this book and the story I want to tell and I'm sure if I had heard that it didn't work, I would have probably still kept going. Thankfully, I didn't have to worry about that.

While she did pick up on the writing (I knew she would), she did say that the concept was interesting. She said that it was good for the YA market and that she understood my decision to write it from the point of view of the boy.  It's tough, but it can work.

This was what I needed to hear. After all this time, I just needed to know that I was on the right track. Even when you're passionate about something, there can still be doubts. Now I know, they're not necessary. I am justified in my passion. Yay me!

This year at the NESCBWI conference, they are introducing On-The-Spot critiques and I signed up for a slot. As I waited in the long line with my list of top five editors/agents, I tried desperately not to run away. Was I ready for this? We can submit up to 5 pages and I chose the first 5 pages of the novel I am working on. They say that if you can't hook an editor in five pages, then you won't hook the reader. I figured here was my chance. I know the pages are still a bit raw, but I wanted to see if maybe I was on the right track. Is this story the one I should be working on?

When I paid my $40 and walked away from the registration table, getting my first choice, I was shaking. I'm still not sure I'm ready for it, but I had to oversome my fear and just do it. In the end, I know it's one person's opinion and I will continue to write despite what is said. It's a big and scary step and I have taken it.

Critique is tomorrow at 4pm. Stay tuned.

Tomorrow morning I head off to Springfield, MA for my second visit to the New England SCBWI Conference. I'm quite excited. Last year, I felt like I was among friends. Other writer's who understood my struggles and frustrations. By the time I left, I was so motivated, I went to Staples and bought supplies I needed, supplies I have since used. I can't wait to see what this years conference brings.

For one thing, it brings on the spot critiquing by editors and agents. For $40, I can give 5 pages to a professional to read and give me feedback on. It's both exciting and scary. I have been rejected before, but never face to face. I have gone through workshops (which I love and miss), but these are people who do this on a regular basis and professionally. These are the people who can truly decide whether I have what it takes to become a published author. It's quite scary to think that I've spent decade of my life do something I really wasn't good at. Granted it's one persons opinion and I know that I will always continue to write even for myself and no one else, but still.

I'll let you know if I do it. I will also continue to blog from deep inside the conference. It is why I got the tablet, right?