I’m standing behind a podium at the front of a room with my heart beating double time.  Tables arranged in a U-shaped pattern fill the small room.  Sitting at those tables are writers.  Writers staring at me expectantly waiting for me to tell them something they don’t already know.  The three page handout in front of me starts to blur and a sheen of sweat breaks out across my forehead.

You’re probably thinking I’m describing one of my worst nightmares.  But no.  I’m describing my Saturday afternoon. 

This is what happens when you attend a writing conference, take a bunch of kick-ass workshops, then float into your next chapter meeting on that conference high.  I still have no idea what possessed me to volunteer back in the fall, but this weekend I gave my first workshop ever.

I wouldn’t say I got off to a flying start.  And as my chapter is filled with talented writers who have many titles under their belts, it’s no surprise they looked at this still-aspiring-as-yet-unpublished author with a bit of skepticism. 

But then I decided to get them involved.  My workshop was called “Digging Deep With Your Characters” and my goal was to get them to look deeper into their characters my asking questions you might not usually think about.  I asked an off the wall, detailed question regarding characters and gave them a minute or two to write an answer.  Then I made them share those answers. 

That’s when one established author said this little exercise gave her an idea for her current WIP.  And again later in the workshop she got another idea.  By some miracle, I had helped someone.  Believe me, I’m as amazed as you are.

Now it’s time to get you involved.  One of your characters, hero or heroine, has an old shoebox under their bed.  What’s in that shoebox and why is it under the bed?  What would be the consequences to your character if that box is discovered.  Why?

PS:  Nine years ago today I was in the hospital giving birth to a beautiful baby girl.  Happy Birthday to Isabelle.  She is my life and my light.