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04 September 2016

Coping Post-Conference by Carrie Turansky



Coping with Post-Conference and Being Productive
By Carrie Turansky

I’ve just returned home from a great week in Nashville where I attended the first Christian Fiction Readers’ Retreat and the annual American Christian Fiction Writers Conference. Anyone who has gone to a writers’ conference or other work related conference or even on vacation can identify with the list of tasks that await you when you return. How do you cope and make the most from your time away?

Talking to my husband and sharing the highlights of the conference is a great way for me to debrief. I find talking it over with him helps me see the events in perspective and realize how grateful I am for the positive things that happened and what lessons I can learn from the challenging times. Then I focus on the practical needs: unpacking and getting the laundry going. I take over the dinning room table and separate all my trip items into piles: expenses and receipts, business cards, gifts, books, workshop notes, etc. 

Then I make a list of people I need to follow up with via email. If I made a promise to send someone information or a link, I send that. I thank those who met with me or went out of their way to help me at the conference. I review the business cards and make a note on the back if needed and file those away. I shelve the books or add them to my giveaway basket. I record my expenses and file my receipts. I look over my workshop notes and decide what to keep and file those. 

Writers often work in a quiet environment by themselves, so a week of high-level interaction can be draining. Give yourself time to recover. Sleep well, eat well, and move back into your routine as you feel you’re ready. Focus your thoughts on the positive events of the conference and thank the Lord for all He is taught you through your time away.

CFP: Thank you for sharing, Carrie Turansky! Great seeing you at CFRR and ACFW conference! Great tips! 

Bio for Carrie:

Bestselling Inspirational Romance Author Carrie Turansky writes heartwarming historical and contemporary novels and novellas. She has won the ACFW Carol Award, the Crystal Globe Award, and the International Digital Award. She lives in New Jersey with her husband Scott, and they have five grown children and four grandchildren. When she’s not writing you’ll find Carrie working in her flower gardens, walking around the lake near their home, or cooking healthy meals for friends and family. She loves to connect with reader through her website: Carrie Turansky.com, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.



NOW AVAILABLE!!! Check at your local Christian book stores! Also available online.
Mountain Christmas Brides (Barbour Publishing, September 2016)
From a Wyoming ranch in 1880, to a logging camp in Washington Territory in the late 1800s, to Denver, Colorado, in 1913, meet nine couples who find that Christmas is the perfect time for climbing to the heights of romance. Watch as their faith and courage propel them through challenges that come with mountain winters to cozy fireside celebrations that lead to lasting proclamations of love. Penned by an exclusive selection of Christian fiction authors—including Susan Page Davis, Carrie Turansky, Lena Nelson Dooley, and others—this collection of nine romances is one to treasure.

GIVEAWAY: We're giving away a paperback copy of Mountain Christmas Brides with stories by Carrie Turansky, Susan Page Davis, Lena Nelson Dooley, Darlene Franklin, Debby Lee, Mildred Colvin, Gina Welborn, and Tamela Hancock Murray! 


48 comments:

  1. CARRIE, thanks so much for your timely advice and for joining us today on OWG! Your words of wisdom will work not only for those who have just returned from ACFW conference, but also from vacation as well! The laundry pile can be very daunting! Sleeping and eating well are key to returning back to your regular routine.

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    1. Thanks, Diana! We sometimes forget how important it is to take care of ourselves so we can cope well and take care of others. Thanks for inviting me to OCWG!

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  2. Thanks it was great to meet you and for you taking the extra time to come to CFRR! Hope you get back into your daily routines! Still smiling about the trip myself!

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    1. Hi Nancy, I loved meeting you and so many reading friends at CFRR!

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  3. Oh my goodness...I love that cover!! Aren't husbands the best for debriefing?!?!? Glad you had a good time! Thanks for sharing! rw620 AT aol DOT com

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    1. Thanks Robin. Yes, a husband who listens is a great gift. Those who are single can share with a friend or write their response in a journal. Those are good ways to process all that happened.

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  4. Hi Carrie! Thanks for sharing this. I'm still at a fog, and definitely need to do some debriefing! I'm hoping to get back to normal fairly quickly. It was a pleasure meeting you at CCFR and then bumping into you at ACFW! Have a great September!

    Blessings,
    Annie
    justcommonlyATgmailDOTcom

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    1. Hi Annie, I can understand you still being in a fog. Managing CFRR must have been a huge task, but it was so well done! We authors really loved meeting so many reading friends! Thank you so much! It was truly a lovely day!

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    2. Congrats, Annie! You have won Carrie Turansky's latest book "Mountain Christmas Brides" from Barbour! Great seeing you at CFRR. You did an awesome job with Bonnie and Carrie "Reading is my Superpower" Booth Schmidt.

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  5. Beautiful book, beautiful stories, beautiful authors!!! I would love to read this book! Thank you for the opportunity.

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. Hi Melanie! I hope if you win you'll share with your lovely daughter, Britney! Blessings!

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  6. This is on my wish list so would be so grateful if my name was drawn! Thank you for the chance to win a copy.

    wfnren at aol dot com

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  7. I was just drooling today while looking at this book on Amazon! Love the cover and would love to be entered for your generous giveaway!
    I am an avid reader and enjoyed hearing about the conference and seeing pics on different blogs! I am glad you enjoyed it!
    jacsmi75 at gmail dot com

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    1. Hi Jackie! We're happy at OWG blog to give away a copy of this book to one of our readers. It does have a great cover! We're glad Carrie Turansky could share her insight with us!

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  8. I'm loving the looks of this book! I can see myself in that cabin, hunkered down in my recliner with a blazing fire going, a cup of hot chocolate in one hand, a fuzzy throw blanket over my legs and a copy of this in my other hand reading :-)

    And I love the line up of authors in it too, that's definitely an added bonus! Barbour is my favorite publisher for novella collections :-) Thank you for the chance to win a copy of Mountain Christmas Brides.

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. I love Barbour, too, Trixi, and am so glad to have some of my own books coming out with them soon!!! Gorgeous cover on this collection of fabulous authors, like our guest, Carrie Turansky!

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  9. Thanks for sharing your post conference ritual. I've felt like I've been in a fog since ACFW. I'm still absorbing and reviewing my notes. One thing I did was rearrange my office. I realized in order to be more productive and intentional I needed to organize my writing space. I'm still trying to figure how to keep up with all my notes, research etc. for my projects.
    I'm trying to incorporate all the great advice I received at ACFW and glad that I received your helpful critique Carrie!

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    1. Hi Daphne, I love hearing that you reorganized your office so you could be more productive! That's great. Scheduling time to write and Setting a word goal for the week are other ideas that have helped me be more productive.

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  10. Thanks for this post Carrie! Great advice for organizing after any trip! Hope you had a good time at the conference! Thanks also for the giveaway,looks like a good collection! lynnefeuerstein(at)aol(dot)com

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  11. Great post, Carrie! Post conference can be a harsh reality. I enjoyed seeing all the photos. Your period dress was AMAZING!

    Thank you for the chance to win a copy of Mountain Christmas Brides. Reading it will be a wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit.

    psalm103and138 at gmail dot com

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  12. Thank you so much for opportunity to read your beautifully covered book. I love the mountains and brides and also Christmas and all combined would certainly make for a wonderful read.

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    1. I think this looks like a great read, Carla, thanks for stopping by.

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  14. I so wanted to go to the Reader's Retreat but it was too far for me to travel. Hopefully I can manage it next year! It's been fun seeing everyone's pictures on Facebook and their blogs!

    colorvibrant at gmail dot com

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    1. Hi Heidi, I hear the Christian Fiction Readers Retreat will be in Dallas next year. I hope you can attend.

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  15. Hello OWG angels. Thanks with this from Carrie T . Wish I was as organized as you are. Used to be better in the past than now tho. I would love to win this book by so many good authors. Arm not getting much better yet. Hopeful will be before too long. GOD bless you all. Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <

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    1. Sorry to hear about your arm, Maxie! I'm putting your box of books in the mail today! Praying for you!

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  16. Thanks for your helpful post, Carrie T! It takes a little work to be organized, but afterwards you would be so glad you did! I like the way you organized everything into piles to be tackled. Must try and remember that if we ever to get to go on a vacation again... It's been soo long! The book sounds great btw! :)

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    1. Trust me, Noela, my post-conference organization doesn't look remotely like Carrie Turansky's! I wish it did! I'm still trying to catch up with the post-Michigan trip from over a month ago!

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  17. Great advice, Carrie! Thank you for sharing. CFRR was so much fun. I was glad I was able to attend.

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    1. The ladies did a great job on CFRR didn't they, Anne? I had fun participating on my panel despite being on meds for an after-lunch migraine plus an RA flare up!!!

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  18. FANTASTIC advice, Carrie T!!! Thanks for sharing with us. I sure wish I was as organized as you are! Great seeing you and fun to get out to dinner with you and the others! I think I am still decompressing from CFRR and ACFW conference! Still working on getting the last of the laundry done on those fancy clothes I brought that have to be hand washed.

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  19. Thanks for sharing this info. Thank you for the giveaway.
    JoanEC128[at]AOL[com]

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  20. Thanks for the giveaway and the information.
    MarionMPC[at]AOL[dot]com

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  21. The information is great and thanks for the giveaway.
    MarilynDKC[at]AOL[dot]com

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  22. Wonderful tips, Carrie - thank you so much!! It was such a joy meeting and spending time with you at CFRR and ACFW - thank you so much for your support and participation in CFRR, it was appreciated more than you know. I'm trying to catch up from that busy week by getting more rest and doing only the things most necessary.

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    1. I think I am not yet recovered, Bonnie! Great seeing you at CFRR and so glad your dream came true! Praying for you!

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  23. Thanks for sharing, Carrie. Having been to other conferences, I certainly understand the need to debrief and rest! My hubby regularly debriefs when he comes home from business meetings, etc. Thanks for the giveaway.
    bettimace(at)gmail(dot)com

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  24. Great post Carrie. I have been enjoying all the pictures being posted.
    Congratulations on the book!
    Blessings, Tina

    ...I bought the book yesterday, so not entering the contest...

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  25. Great tips. Thanks for sharing. pacer8[@]hotmail[dot]com

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  26. I am not an author, but know that large gatherings of any kind can keep me wound up for days. Takes a while to get back to normal life.

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    1. Me, too, Martha! I'm glad to be home and on my regular schedule again. Many authors, like myself, had to work on deadline writing while they were there and while traveling to and from, which gets a little dicey.

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  27. Marvelous tips! I will be traveling soon, and hope to make hundreds of new friends! Filing this away for later ... terirose22 (at) hotmail (dot) com

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