It's been great to spend time doing some of my favourite writerly things over the past couple of weeks and really good to get back to more in-person events. Zoom meetings definitely still have their place in shrinking the world and making opportunities accessible anywhere.
Last weekend it was great to meet up with local writers in Belfast at our SCBWI social - the first time we've had a get together for three years. It was lovely to see familiar faces again over coffee and a cake. Even though we've kept in touch online, it's not the same as meeting together. It was good to hear what everyone is working on and how we've managed to keep writing (or not) since we last met up.
While it's great to get back to the way things were pre- pandemic, there are definitely some advantages to online meet-ups. One evening during the week I was able to take part in a SCBWI online webinar with a literary agent based in Brussels.
And yesterday I was able to attend the SCBWI winter virtual conference in New York. It was a wonderful opportunity to hear the speakers and while not quite the same as a trip to the big apple, I didn't need to worry about flight connections, jetlag or lost luggage 😀.
Yesterday morning I took part in a poetry workshop in Belfast as part of the LookNorth Festival. Again it was lovely to be at an in-person event with other local writers. There is energy in a room you can't capture on a Zoom call. Ably led by local poet Maureen Boyle we had a very enjoyable morning inspired by art.
I can see the benefits of both the in-person and the zoom meetings and hope this hybrid approach will be the way forward. How else could I have arrived in New York from Belfast on time?
In between on a busy but thoroughly enjoyable writing day, I managed to #squeezeinaread - even if only for a little time.
