I’ll be a presenter at the 15th anniversary of the La Jolla Writers Conference this weekend in San Diego (check out http://lajollawritersconference.com/schedule/). I was at the very first conference way back when, when it really was in La Jolla, CA, and I couldn’t resist being part of this anniversary event.

The founder and originator of the event, publicist Antoinette Kuritz, asks that presenters prepare two 50-minute lectures and one 110-minute workshop presentation for all participants. This presented a problem for me: I have been writing novels for almost 30 years, but I honestly do not know how I do it. I have never taken a creative writing class and have no idea about the mechanics of writing fiction, or anything else for that matter. I just get busy and write what sounds good in my head. I don’t know anything about style, structure, character, plot, theme–none of that junk.

But I realized the obvious: that’s the theme and the point I want to drive home to my fellow authors: You don’t need to know the nuts and bolts–you just need to sit down, get busy, and write. Just Do It. There’s no right or wrong–just DO IT.

To be a good trouper, I’ve prepared my three programs. My two lectures: 1) the Quest story profile; and 2) writing characters in the opposite sex. My workshop: writing a techno-thriller. Sheesh, I hope I know a little bit about all three topics!

But like all conferences of this ilk, such as the Civil Air Patrol Wing and National Conferences and the U.S. Navy’s Tailhook Convention, it’s not about the courses and conferences–it’s about the networking. It’s about meeting fellow authors, getting to know them, and them getting to know you. You attend a conference and greet other attendees by name. They know you: you know them. The circle expands.

What else are you doing this weekend? What else do you want to do to gain some more knowledge?