Feeling Frazzled

I've been putting more effort into my writing career lately, and it's left me feeling a tad overwhelmed. There are just so many things that I don't know, and I feel like I'm feeling my way through a dark maze filled with all sorts of unexpected terrors.

I have begun reading agents' and publishers' blogs religiously, snapping up any bit of useful information. I have researched local writing groups (which are depressingly few, and out of the two I would consider, one requires that you be published, so I'm left with the second one). I also found, much to my excitement, that a writer's conference is going to take place in Eureka Springs in October. It costs $90 (ouch!) but I'm going to scrape it up and go. 

The thing is: I'm terrified. Why? Well, this will be uncharted territory for me. I've never been to a writer's conference and I have no idea what to expect. I've done a little bit of reading on them, but I still don't get what all it offers. And what all is expected of me. Should I bring query letters, sample pages, a defibrillator? Also, I will be going ALONE. Not sure if I've mentioned this yet, but I am a very shy person. It's difficult for me to approach people on my own, but I guess that's something I'm going to have to get over before October. Hey, who knows? When I join that local writer's group (if it's for me) I might find someone else who is going and be able to cling to them a bit. (Ok, that's a pathetic idea, Brandi. Grow a spine, will you?)

What I need to do is contact the guy I interned for at the UA Press. He is a book editor and he knows what a writer's conference is all about. Plus, he's really nice and helpful, so I'm sure he won't mind giving me some advice. (But that means I will have to tell him WHY I'm going. ::gulp::.) Jeez, I need someone to smack me. Just e-mail him! Now! 

On a different end of the writing spectrum (the actual writing part), Dragon Queen is giving me some difficulties. In all honesty, it's pissing me off. I'm trying to find a way to salvage the story, because Chapter 18 isn't working. I've been told by a couple people on WD Critique Central that Jade's rescue is a little too convenient, and I agree. At the time, it was the only thing I could think of. But now I have a couple other ideas.

One would involve the creation of a new character. Darion's son. I've fiddled with this idea and even wrote a bit of the scene, but I don't think I like it. It's probably going to get scratched.

The second idea involves Honey. Now, in the original Ch. 18, Honey also comes to Jade's rescue (as revealed in Ch. 19) but she isn't seen. I think I'm going to try to rework it where Honey more actively helps Jade escape. Not in the coming down the chimney bit, but in some kind of deception. She could be one of those to play both sides, but that would mean giving her a different reason for helping Jade than the one that I've created. Still, I'm leaning toward this one. (It also would give me the opportunity to bring another conflict in the story in sooner.)

A third idea would be for Jade to experiment with her newly discovered powers (as suggested by Looneywriter). She could overpower Darion, or she could find that she's invulnerable to flames. I'll keep this idea in mind, but I'm not sure if I'm going to use it either, as it may fall under the "convenient" category as well.

So, I'm frustrated. It's my goal today to get a new version of this scene written, however. Maybe once I start writing I will amaze myself and come up with something brilliant. Let's hope so.