Realm Makers Wrap Up // 2016

Due to the blogosphere exploding with pictures and wrap ups, you've probably already heard about this, but Realm Makers happened last week.

And it was epic.

I waffled back and forth a few times on whether or not to do a wrap up post (since there are so many already), but I figured that it would be a fun way to "journal" my time so I could look back on it later.

Getting to Realm Makers was a bit of an adventure. My plane kept getting delayed (nooo), which meant that I would be late for the conference (double noooo). It was a mad rush to the conference center, AFTER getting lost several times. And walking around in the humidity, sweating, trying to find the dining hall while simultaneously searching for a bathroom. :P

But I made it! Immediately there were many hugs and giggles and accidentally not recognizing bloggers and returning their glomp with an enthusiastic, "I have no idea who you are but hi!" (spoiler alert: i quickly realized that the hugging stranger was in fact hannah. whoops. #awkward) 

Most of the conference meals took place in the cafeteria/dining hall, which served pizza. Which only meant that I got to eat pizza four times in three days. Aw yes.

I'm trying to think of a way to properly condense the three epic days into one, small blog post... but the only proper way is to time travel to the future, steal a transporter, transport back to present times, and transport everyone to Realm Makers so everyone could be involved in the awesomeness. Simple. :P (If only... *sigh*)

I went to Realm Makers last year, but this year easily topped it. I knew so many more people, and was able to bring myself to say hi to random strangers, and meet blog readers, and it was just amazing. The people were definitely the best part of the conference.

This post will mash together photo + memory dumps. In no specific order or organization. So here goes. :P

MEMORY #1 // meeting other teen writers.

DUDE. This was probably one of the best memories of them all, just since teen writers are actually the best. (I mean, I'm a teen writer, so I might be a little biased, buuuut.)

I knew most of the teen writers over the wonderful internet, but it was awesome getting to meet them in person. Flailing in person. Hugging in person. Meeting new writer friends in person!

storytime: I got to meet two fabulous writers, Brianna and Lillian at Realm Makers. (pictured below) As soon as I saw Lillian (on the right), I knew I recognized her from somewhere. I sat near her at lunch, introduced myself, and tried not to stare at her too much while I did my best to figure out where I knew her from.

Somewhere in the middle of the meal, we all exchanged business cards. And then I realized. I had already been following Lillian's instagram. She's an amazing Fine Arts Photographer, and you should all follow her if you haven't already.

There was much astonishment when we realized that we already "knew" each other. So it was fun actually getting to know each other, as well as talking with her sister Brianna. (they're the nicest, you guys.)

MEMORY #2 // my fabulous roommates.

I'm not sure how I got so lucky to be able to room with Ashley, Tricia, and Nadine -- all amazing and published authors. It was one of the best experiences, and there were lots of late night talking, giggles, snacks, and general awesomeness.

(And finding a twenty dollar bill in the couch cushion??? Not sure how that happened???)

Saturday night we all sat around and shared our story ideas. (Well, they did more than me. It's hard to share story ideas when you don't get many ideas and you pants all of them while writing.) It was so amazing to hear the plot lines of genius stirring in their minds. Be watching for future releases -- they are going to be epic.

Ashley (above) is the sweetest and absolutely hilarious. She kept me giggling throughout the whole conference (especially at two in the morning), and made me insanely happy with her cheerful and upbeat presence. She's awesome.

We were also costume buddies with our Padawan and Rey costumes. We were supposed to be looking fierce in the picture below, but I failed and had a massive giggle attack instead. :P

Tricia (above), was another one of my fabulous roommates. She's so sweet and selfless and only got twenty minutes of sleep on the last night so she could drive people back and forth from the conference to the airport. (what. even.)

She was my walking buddy to most classes and back to the dorm, which I'm incredibly thankful for, since I would probably be lost in some alleyway to this day if I hadn't had a fearless leader with me. xD

our new annual goodbye hug after eating breakfast together. <3

Nadine is my only roommate that I had previously met before this Realm Makers, and it was so amazing getting to see her again. (much glomping. :P)

She's basically a human made of smiles and epic writer powers. (seriously. so much is stirring in her brain that it's insane. o.o) I love my ninja leader. xD

MEMORY #3 // silly adventures

...such as cramming thirteen (maybe more??) crazy insane writers into an elevator. (so much shouting. so much noise. so much happiness. xD)

...squishing everyone together for group pictures. therefore turning our cheeks into mush with all of the smiling.

...inside jokes. ("my mom's ring!" "banana nadine!" "the fellowship!")

...travels through creepy tunnels. (below)

...ashley, tricia, and I all walking to the conference under a very tiny and broken umbrella.

MEMORY #4 // ten page critique with patrick carr

THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST TERRIFYING THINGS. Talking about my novel is something I'm not quite comfortable with yet, let alone with a very qualified author. :P

Patrick hurt his ankle right before the conference, so he walked around on crutches the whole time. The thought, "At least I can run away if this goes really badly" may or may not have ran through my head. Whoops.

But Patrick was amazing. He was super conversational and made me feel comfortable the whole time. I tried very hard not to geek out. :P 

MEMORY #5 // no sleep. ever.

first night: stayed up until two.

second night: stayed up until three. (doing my blog post. xD)

third night: stayed up until four thirty. 

#hardcorenightowl

The night owl me was very happy with all the late night fun, but as soon as I had to wake up... ew. nope. The mornings were the worst and I'm still recovering. :P

Next year I'm bringing seventy pounds of coffee. 

left to right: savannah, megan, me, and my sister Laura. (WHY AM I SO SHORT. xD)

MEMORY #6 // the classes

Not only was Realm Makers filled with awesome friends and fun, it also had education purposes? (waaaht?) I furiously scribbled pages and pages of notes. 

There was a class on proposals (which was really helpful considering that I'll have to go through that sooner or later), and Steve Laube taught a continuing session on spiritual formation for the writer. At one point the whole room sang the doxology together, and it was so, so beautiful. (Writers have amazing voices. There was harmony and everything.)

And Kirk's cover design class. His covers are the best and I can flail over them forever.

Note to self for next year: 
   - stop losing your water bottle.
   - bring caffeine.
   - make room in your suitcase for lots and lots of books.
   - do your blog post ahead of time so you don't stay up until three.
   - get there a day early to have maximum awesomeness.
   - snacks. lots and lots of snacks.
   - TAKE MORE PICTURES BECAUSE YOU WILL REGRET IT IF YOU DON'T.

Thanks to Ashley, Nadine, Tricia, Jamie, Megan, Hannah, Zac, Zachary, Victoria, Brianna, Lillian, and Stephanie for making this conference awesome!

^ (ashley, nadine, tricia, jamie, megan, hannah, and zachary all wrote posts about realm makers, so if you want to read more about the awesomeness... go visit their blogs. :P)

Next year, July 27-29, Realm Makers is in Reno, Nevada. I'll see you there.

// katie grace

Will you do everything and anything in your power to get to Realm Makers next year? 
(answer: yes.)