Saturday, July 17, 2010

Pitch, Pile, Pack

All right--frittering time away is definitely a no-no from this point onward. Why? Because I am getting ready for the RWA National Conference which begins July 28, 2010. There's a lot for me to do prior to going, and my time is limited due to travels out of the area.

Last year I was very ready for Nationals. I had a roomie via the RWA matching service. I was so glad to make a new friend and share the room costs, I had a pitch for my story(s) written and practiced on anyone, including my hairdresser, who would listen. I'd researched my editor and agent online long before my pitches were due.  I had my elevator pitch, my new skinny body, my hair done, my nails and toes done, my new dress (bought in the spring!), and my days mapped out.

The 2009 conference went so well. I met a wonderful new person and made a new friend with my roomie, I made tons of new connections and I actually survived pitching with the end result of both agent/editor requesting my little book. That was a wonderful result for my first time to any conference.

Now 2010 is here and the RWA National Conference is only 11 days away and I AM NOT READY. Nope. I am no longer sporting my new skinny body. Apparently, the Gods have decided I should be buxom and curvy and every time I lose the weight, I always put the same pounds back on. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not super chunky or obese, but oh, being a size 8 was so nice compared to the size 10-12 I am today. And to be honest, a lot of my cool conference clothes that I bought for last year's conference to fit the said skinny body no longer fit my regained voluptiousness. And we're going to ORLANDO which means there might be bathing suit (haha as if!) time.

So much for wearing pants to the conference and you can forget about catching me in shorts. They should be abolished for anyone over 40. Just saying--they aren't the most flattering piece of clothing for a woman in her forties with curves.

Thankfully, most of my wardrobe problems are solved by my love for summer dresses. They tend to stay with me regardless of my weight's ups and downs. And I do have marvelous shoes to go with them as well as a comfy pair of silver, fun aerosole flip flops that look great with all colors and on my feet (and one thing I have--say I with a vain grin--is adorable toes and feet).

But what I don't have to bring is a fabulous dress for the Golden Heart/Rita Ceremony. Now I have to look awesome for that ceremony. My friend and CP is a finalist and I refuse to go cheer her on in an old, black standby cocktail dress. But the dress I wore last year for the GH/Rita Ceremony has been worn again to the Moonlight & Magnolias conference in Atlanta. I refuse to trot that bad boy out again. Oh the nightmare. Not only do I feel chubby, I have SHOP for a new dress while I feel chubby. AACK.

Talk about not being ready. I am ready for only one thing: PANIC.

Okay, so have I shopped? Nope. I  have not. I keep hoping for a miraculous weight loss between now and Nationals. So far, the Miracle Fairy  has not shown up at my door. This has forced me to use the utmost method of creative avoidance. I have *gasp* sat down and formulated my new title for my 4th book (it had to sound like a spicy category), a log line, an elevator pitch, a long pitch, a short pitch and I've begun practicing. I'll do anything but shop say I.

I will shop, I promise.

But first I have to research my editor/agent and other agents (just in case I get lucky and stand next to one in an elevator who asks about my writing haha). Then I must do laundry, iron, make a packing list, create my business cards (oh, did that--darn), pull together my briefcase, mildly panic about how to get to the airport, check schedules and workshops (shoot did that, too).

Sigh. I've created my pitch, I've got my pile of business and travel documents ready, and now all that's left to do is paint my toes/nails and do my hair. Sigh. I guess I will have to face the dressing room mirror and go buy that gorgeous dress for my not so perfect body. But wait, there's a silver lining! I get to buy NEW SHOES, too! And if there's something I've learned in life, SHOES ALWAYS FIT AND LOOK FABULOUS regardless of how chubby one feels.

10 comments:

Mary Curry said...

Okay, Christine, so your write this wonderfully funny and endearing blog and all I can come away with is jealousy over your shoes and cute feet! I used to LOVE shoes. I had closets full of shoes. My husband finally had to ask who this Vanessa was who kept showing up on our credit card bill - just the cutest little shoe boutique off 5th Ave.

But now - after years of teaching and being on my feet all day - merely looking at cute shoes sends my now not-so-pretty feet into spasms.

So I'll envy you your shoe shopping and hope that everything else falls neatly into place.

Christine said...

Thanks MaryC--I will not take my pretty feet for granted. To be honest I used to worry I'd end up with my mom's feet. She had corns and horrible bunions. But nope. Course. I was lucky and quit my waitressing career before it destroyed my feet. I'll take a picture of my shoes if I find the right pair.

Vanessa Boutique sounds like my kind of place :-)

Katherine Bone said...

We are both going through the same problems, Christine, with one exception... the pretty feet. I'm not a fan of my feet. They are big, titanic BIG, and I've never thought they were pretty. But they do provide me with a sturdy foundation so I supposed I can't complain too much.

I have the dress to wear to the Rita's but I haven't narrowed down the rest. Go figure... By the end of this coming week, I should have it all figured out. LOL!

Good luck dress shopping. I LOVE to shop! Ross is my very good friend. ;)

Christine said...

Hi Kathy: I'm glad you have your Rita Dress! Way to go. I am hitting TJ Maxx, Ross and Marshalls this week. Then I'll go to the one boutique I figure might have something I like. And I definitely am getting new shoes. My shoes from last year were great, but by the end of the conference, my feet were too swollen to wear them -- I had to wait till M&M to wear them. So this year I am getting a more sandal type shoe that is more forgiving, but still cute.

Anne Gallagher said...

I'm jealous. I want to go to the conference too. Actually I think I want to go shopping for a new dress and shoes.

Christine said...

Piedmont Writer: I wish you could come to this conference! It's going to be so much fun. I'll try to absorb as much as I can and share it with you vicariously. In the meantime, I say new shoes and a dress are in order. Shop till you drop!

Talli Roland said...

Have fun Christine! :) You'll have a fab time again this year, I'm sure! I wasn't anything near ready for my conference last week and I was scrambling around til all hours the night before, but I all came out fine in the end.

Have a great time!

Jody Hedlund said...

The ultimate conference dilemma! I think most of us are trying to lose a bit of weight before heading to our conferences! It's good to know we're all in the same boat!

Christine said...

Thanks Talli: I will have fun. The amazing line up of speakers as well as the people I am going to see again will guarantee it! I am slowly getting it together. Bits and pieces.

Now about that dress... this week I plan to hunt for one.

Christine said...

Jody: It's true--it is the ultimate dilemma for many of us. I think we all get so enmeshed in our writing that even working out seems like a time waster to us. I need to get out of that mindset.

I need to find my resolve again and lose the weight one last time. And this time I will keep it off! But there's not point in worrying about it now. I'll put the big push in when I return.