A colorful phalanx of wild plants witnessed on the AM poem walk.
Yay, more Day One field notes from the Wisconsin Writers Association 2026 Conference!
My last Friday breakout was "Writing with Wanderlust," from Lori Helke. She's written children's books and two travel guides. I felt an immediate affinity when Lori described her first solo trip overseas, to Paris. She said what a life-changing, senses-heightening experience it was to be in a new place (not just geographically new, I think!). Travel makes us pay attention in a whole new way, she said. I recalled how my senses sparkled when I first dared to visit Europe. Lori also gave practical tips to help travel writers capture notes on the go (shades of poem walking?). And did you know mini portable photo printers exist? I do now, thanks to Lori! My favorite insight came at the end of her talk: think like a tourist in the city where you live. Great advice for every writer! Adopting wonder in "familiar" environments unearths revelations that enhance life and storytelling.
Next was a panel discussion of literary agents and editors who shared insights into the publishing side of things. Laura Zats of Headwater Literary, Tommy Dean of Talcott Notch, editor Shannon Booth of Little Creek Press, and Lisa Lickel, author and editor of Creative Wisconsin magazine, heaped enough industry wisdom on the audience to fill two pages of my notebook (at least, that's how much I captured).
This side of literature remains a learning opportunity for me. The generous insights these experts gave us put a few more puzzle pieces into place. They also deepened my appreciation for how vital--and busy--these roles can be. As an editor I've glimpsed how demanding that job can be, but some of these folks spend entire days reviewing submissions and managing relationships with authors and publishers and negotiating contracts and ... whew!
I was also surprised to learn that, while forecasting trends is alive and well, diverse book markets and audiences have led to flexible attitudes about what can and cannot sell "right now." Clever genre mashups remain hot. And whatever genre you write in, polish, clarity, consistency, strong voice, and deep audience awareness remain crucial to catching attention. I.e., craft matters!
My favorite insights of the hour: 1) Tommy urged writers to enjoy the writing phase of the journey for as long as possible. The publishing stage, he warned, is a long, hard road that consumes a lot of energy. 2) Laura said if a writer's not getting no's when submitting, they're not doing it right. 3) Laura urged writers to keep publishing in perspective. At the end of the day, its role is to commodify art. The writing--and its creator--are always what hold the real value.
The night wrapped with the Jade Ring Awards. I loved celebrating creative achievements of fellow Wisconsinites. What a beautiful reminder that meaningful impact takes many forms, and most have little to do with winning universal approval.
Ultreia et suseia!
