by James L. Rubart, @jameslrubart

We’re moving into conference season and I’m guessing some of you have never been to a writing conference or The Rubart Writing Academy (which I co-own with my son Taylor)

You’ve probably considered why you should come to the Academy or another writing conference this year, but have you considered why you SHOUDN’T? 

Here are a few of my favorite reasons I’ve heard over the years:

• I’m too young to start.
  • Yes you are. Please keep yourself under wraps for at least another 20 or 30 years (or at least till I’m done publishing).
• I’m too old start.
  • That’s right, you are. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to take the wisdom you’ve gleaned over the past how many decades and share it with others. Your kids, grandkids, friends, readers would have no use for any of that.
• I’m really bad at writing
  • Oh yeah? Then definitely stay away. Every successful writer I know (including myself) started by spitting out golden prose every editor and agent cried over due to its unbridled brilliance. If you’re not stellar from the start, you’ll never get there, so why bother?
•  I’m such an introvert. 

Then you definitely need to stay away from The Rubart Writing Academy and any other conference. All the writers I’ve ever met love being on stage, love being the center of attention. They crave the spotlight, so you’d be among people who don’t understand you at all. No one will talk to you or sit by you or support you in any way.

•  Conferences cost too much. 
  • I know! I was thinking the same thing when I snagged my fourth latte of the week at Starbucks and then had to race home to get my Netflix and Amazon Prime and Hulu payment sent off and that was after I picked up my new iPhone … 
• I can learn everything I need to know from books and the internet
  • Exactly. That’s the same reason I don’t understand why Olympic athletes hire mentors and coaches. What a waste of money.
• I’m not good in new situations
  • I get this. And if you can’t be perfect, why try? Why stretch myself and try to grow? Why concentrate on the good that could happen when I can focus on the bad?
•  It’s such a hassle to get the time off work, get someone to feed my tarantulas while I’m gone, and apparently it takes A LOT of work! 
  • Boy do I understand this one. When I started this writing journey, NO ONE told me how hard it was going to be! That whole “Get Published Fast!” thing turned out to be a fraud.
• My wife, husband, sister, brother, mother, aunt doesn’t support my writing dream
  • For this last one I have to get serious. If you’re up against this reason, it’s tough. I’m probably not the best to address the issue because Darci has been an unbelievable support my entire career. So let me just say I’m sorry. This is more frequent than most know (from what I’ve heard) and can be a huge detriment to pursuing a writing dream. My only thought is to attempt having that candid conversation about how important it is to you, and then seek out community with a local writers group, or friends you can meet online.

Final Thought

If this year isn’t the time when will it be? Maybe this isn’t your year, but if is, don’t hesitate, jump in. I promise you, the water is wonderful.

The Pages of Her Life

James L. Rubart is 28 years old, but lives trapped inside an older man’s body. He thinks he’s still young enough to water ski like a madman and dirt bike with his two grown sons. He’s the best-selling, Christy BOOK of the YEAR, CAROL, INSPY, and RT Book Reviews award winning author of ten novels and loves to send readers on journeys they’ll remember months after they finish one of his stories. He’s also a branding expert, audiobook narrator, co-host of the Novel Marketing podcast, and co-founder with his son, Taylor, of the Rubart Writing Academy. He lives with his amazing wife on a small lake in Washington state.