The SFA Summit

I’ve been writing since I was wee. I’ve been writing decently just more recently, which is why I haven’t thought much about participating in authorly activities outside of writing, editing, publishing, and repeating. I didn’t think I’d earned my place among the ranks of conference goers and writing retreaters.

What a silly thing to have held me back.

Writing Tiger Training Diaries has not been as successful as my main series or my mages may prove to be, but it is easily my favorite to write. The anticipation of a week-to-week wait, making sizzling bites rather than one overwhelming binge, chatting with readers regularly instead of only around launch time—there’s so much I love about writing a serialized story.

As I found my joy writing weekly episodes, I naturally came to explore subscriptions.

Don’t fret, fair reader. This is not the “buy into my monthly plan” pitch.

I stumbled into a community called Storytellers Rule the World. I’ve encountered extraordinary people in the indie world, and many came from this group of like-minds. When SRTW announced they’d be hosting a Subscriptions for Authors Summit in Boston earlier this month, I decided to take the plunge.

I knew there would be authors there who earned their living from their subscriptions. That’s not me. I don’t even use a subscription model. I’ve only ever released a free serial twice. So, I wasn’t sure what I would get out of the experience, but with the support of my loved ones and snacks, I made a short list of goals for my two days at the conference:

1. Meet people
2. Be nice to those people

Okay, my list was a bit longer than that, but you get the gist. I told myself as long as I walked away with three other business cards I’d been eager to get, I’d walk away a winner.

I walked away with five business cards. Two stickers. Several emails, a couple phone numbers, and over thirty pictures of me beaming next to people I cannot believe I get to call my peers.

I didn’t just walk away a winner. I took home valuable lessons from the lectures that were wonderful and exceeded expectations, but most important was the feeling of belonging. Meeting those like-minds face-to-face. Engaging with the rising tide that lifts all boats.

We readers all know that there’s nothing quite like finding your fated family—the freedom and delight true fellowship brings.

It may sound commonplace by comparison, but as an author, it is a privilege to say after waiting far too long that it is excellent to find your friends.