I'm driving home from the 2017 annual Teen Writer's Conference, and boy was it fun this year!

Amazing Things:

~I was on the Teen Committee this year, which meant I got a Ravenclaw lanyard (they gave us lanyards with each of our Houses which makes me so happy) and a fancy red "Committee" ribbon to put on my name tag

~I got to help set things up, meet the other Teen Committee members, and get to know them

~Every single attendee got a free copy of Brandon Mull's new book Dragonwatch, which I already own but is sO GOOD (and now I have two signed copies so I can sell one online :D)

~Marion Jensen, the only male board member, was here this year after being absent last year. He's my favorite panelist, especially because he taught me the value of using fanfiction to improve your writing skill. I really missed him last year so I was so happy to see him again.

~Lee Falin, PhD, did a panel on genetics and how you can use them in fiction, which is tOTALLY MY THING. Also I learned that 1) we have successfully created glow-in-the-dark bunnies (just like in The Hounds of Baskerville) and 2) we have the scientific knowledge and ability to create winged humans, we just haven't because of ethics, meaning that secret organizations creating human-animal hybrid life forms is totally plausible

~Lee Falin also has a book called "Science Fictioned" where he turns cutting-edge research papers into sci-fi and fantasy short stories. I TOTALLY bought it, and his sci-fi book Half-Worlder, for a total of $10.71

~I got to see all these tiny thirteen-year-olds coming for the first time and wonder if I was ever that smol

~I got to pick names out of the bag for door prizes and I felt so powerful

~I wore my Pine Tree beanie (always wear fandom stuff to nerd gatherings) and a bunch of people recognized it, and I even got one girl who wanted to read my fanfiction after I told her about it :D

~I went to this panel with Lisa Mangum, Managing Editor at Shadow Mountain (the publishing company I want to be published by - either that or Tor), and afterwards she came, sat by me, gave me her card, said "You had some great questions. Feel free to contact me if you have more." And I kinda just squeaked and said, "Thanks...I was the one who emailed you a couple months ago and asked for an interview for my psychology project." And she smiled and said, "Oh, cool! Nice to meet you again!" And then sat by me for the rest of the next panel and I was just inwardly hyperventilating because she is honestly so cool and I want her to be my editor someday (which actually has a good chance of happening).

~The panel she sat next to me for was Brandon Mull's, and ahh I just love him. This is the third time I've met him and the second panel I've been to with him, and he is just the sweetest? Like he knows that he's a good author and talks about his books knowing that they're good, but he's also so sweet to fans and acts grateful that he has them. He's a cinnamon roll.

~During the panel he asked who had read which books, and Lisa Mangum held her hand up high for basically all of them, which just made me happy because I'm 90% sure that she's the one who discovered him

~Afterwards he did a really quick signing of all the Dragonwatch books, but he still took a moment to say hi and talk a little to every person, which was so sweet

~Lisa Mangum, Lee Falin, and Marion Jensen were all on this Q&A panel, and they are all just my favorite people. Lisa and Marion have been coming to TWC since I have when I was 12, so I just feel happy whenever I see them again.

~I ACTUALLY WON THE CONTEST THE YEAR! So every year there's a first page contest where you send in the first page of a story. I've entered for five years and every year, nothing...UNTIL NOW. I GOT AN HONORABLE MENTION. Out of like six other honorable mentions and four prize winners. BUT I GOT TWENTY BUCKS, BRAGGING RIGHTS, AND SOMETHING TO PUT ON MY COLLEGE APPLICATION. SO I'M HAPPY. Do you guys wanna see what I sent in? I just realized I haven't posted it here on Wattpad.

~It's my fifth year at TWC, and so they gave me a prize bag. I've always wanted one of those :D

~Said prize bag had FREE BOOKS so I'm going home with NINE BOOKS, and I only spent TEN DOLLARS.

~I just keep thinking of twelve-year-old me, following my sixteen-year-old friend around and being so mesmerized by everything, on her first year. And now I imagine her being grown up, helping run things, standing in front of everyone multiple times, winning the contest, getting prizes, and mentoring other kids. I've just. I've come so far.

All in all, today was an amazing day. The takeaway is: go to writing conferences, guys. Even though they cost money and you may have to travel, it's SO WORTH IT. This one was only two hours away from my house - I bet you can find one near you. Being around other writers, being taught by published authors, is just so amazing. It's such a great environment, and I make new friends every year (and sometimes even recognize them from past years). You meet people at all different places in their writing journey, which really reminds you that everyone is running their own race and you're fine just where you are.

Writing conferences are great. I'm so thankful for the Teen Writer's Conference and the five amazing years I've spent there. I can't wait for the sixth!