It’s All About the Writing

April 18, 2016 by Pat Bean

The Wyndham Hotel in Austin kindly turned the men’s room into a women’s room this past weekend when over 100 female writers took over the premises.

It is necessary to write, if the days are not to slip emptily by. How else, indeed, to clap the net over the butterfly of the moment? For the moment passes, it is forgotten; the mood is gone; life itself is gone. That is where the writer scores over his fellows: he catches the changes of his mind on the hop. ~Vita Sackville-West (I know I’ve shared this quote before, but it is my favorite writing quote because it explains why I’m so glad I can call myself writer, a title which took way too many years of writing before I gave myself permission to use it.)

Doing It With Sisters

I’m just hours away from spending four days surrounded by my writing sisters, where we gathered in Austin this past weekend for the Stories from the Heart Contest. It was a fantastic experience, and for way many more reasons than – can I hear a drum roll – that I won the flash fiction prize for my story “The Heart of a Dog.”*

And someone was kind enough to turn the urinals into unique vases.

The reason I’m sharing this with you is because one of the presenters, awesome Debra Winegarten, encouraged us to put ourselves out there to the world without apology, and that was just one of the many pieces of wisdom I came away with.

Now laugh if you will, but the biggest note of things to do that I wrote to myself was to put a note pad by the toilet. Doing just that I realized would better help me to clasp that net over the butterfly of words.

Bean Pat: Live to Write – Write to Live http://tinyurl.com/gpkwxyv This is one of my favorite writing blogs, and today its author, Lisa Jackson, encourages writers to enter contests.

*If you, men included, want to read my 600-word story, “The Heart of a Dog,” send me your email (mine is patbean@msn.com) and I will send you a copy.

Posted in Books, Journeys, Writing | Tagged Story Circle Network | 26 Comments

26 Responses

on April 18, 2016 at 3:32 am | Reply 1WriteWay

Congratulations on your win! Enjoy the of your time in Austin, and thanks for the reminder about writing daily 🙂
- on April 19, 2016 at 2:18 am | Reply Pat Bean
  
  Thanks 1WriteWay
on April 18, 2016 at 4:12 am | Reply Diane Henders

Major kudos to the Wyndham – what a great move! Not only did they respond to the needs of their guests, but they did it with class and a sense of humour!
- on April 19, 2016 at 2:22 am | Reply Pat Bean
  
  The hotel was great Diane, but being with supportive female writers was priceless. Thanks for commenting.
on April 18, 2016 at 4:53 am | Reply Robin

Congratulations, Pat! 🙂
- on April 19, 2016 at 2:22 am | Reply Pat Bean
  
  Thanks Robin
on April 18, 2016 at 6:00 am | Reply mayadeb02

Congrats, Pat! Your story was great! Great conference too.
on April 18, 2016 at 6:00 am | Reply Nancilynn

I sat with you as you wrote down those word
“notepad next to toilet”.
I have already begun to read Travels with Maggie!
Safe travels!
Nancilynn
- on April 19, 2016 at 2:23 am | Reply Pat Bean
  
  You are a priceless gem Nancilynn. I am so fortunate to have you as one of my tribe.
on April 18, 2016 at 6:44 am | Reply Sam

Congrats on winning, Pat! Your story was a great story and a statement of proof that writing from the heart (maybe a small intentional pun there *G*) is good not only for the soul but for applause. You done good all ’round!
- on April 19, 2016 at 2:24 am | Reply Pat Bean
  
  It was so great to see you and your tribe Sam. Hugs headed your way.
on April 18, 2016 at 8:48 am | Reply Laura J. Jones

Love those urinal vases…great idea! What a grand time you must have had. Sending my email for the story to your email. Thanks?
- on April 19, 2016 at 2:24 am | Reply Pat Bean
  
  I did and the memories will live forever. Hope you got the story all right. Thanks for asking.
on April 18, 2016 at 8:53 am | Reply Pit

And where did the men go? Just use some out-of-sight corners? 😉 Or were there absolutely no men?
- on April 18, 2016 at 10:38 am | Reply Sam
  
  There was another restroom abou fifty feet down the hall. That’s where my SO went.
- on April 19, 2016 at 2:32 am | Reply Pat Bean
  
  There was no male bashing at the conference Pit. We all love them, and several speakers said as much, and there was another restroom for the men just down the hall. Its just that when its all female writers, there is a special bonding and the shy ones (not me) speak out. Just as an extra note to other readers out there, Pit has an amazing blog mostly about Fredericksburg, Texas, which I passed through on my way from Austin to Dallas.
  - on April 19, 2016 at 3:42 am Pit
    
    Hi Pat,
    I wouldn’t have thought that there would have been any male-bashing. 😉 And of course, I knew there would have been restrooms for them. But I couldn’t refrain from that comment. 😉 Typically male??!! 😉
    Thank you ever so much for mentioning my blog! 🙂 I appreciate that very much.
    So you passed through Fritztown?! You should have hollered and we might have got together. Maybe some other time.
    Take care,
    Pit
on April 18, 2016 at 9:03 am | Reply Marjorie Witt

Your story still resonates within – a true keeper. Awesome that you won! Pens don’t work well on TP – need to find a notepad.
- on April 19, 2016 at 2:33 am | Reply Pat Bean
  
  Or an actual notebook. Thanks for making me laugh Marjorie.
on April 18, 2016 at 11:29 am | Reply lgood67334

Such a good story!
- on April 19, 2016 at 2:34 am | Reply Pat Bean
  
  Thanks Lynn.
on April 19, 2016 at 2:26 am | Reply Pit

Congratulations, Pat! Way to go!
- on April 19, 2016 at 2:34 am | Reply Pat Bean
  
  Thanks Pit.
  - on April 19, 2016 at 3:38 am Pit
    
    You’re welcome. 🙂
on April 24, 2016 at 4:36 pm | Reply Candace

Congrats!
- on April 25, 2016 at 5:00 am | Reply Pat Bean
  
  Thanks Candace