Yesterday I presented at the NCTE-NCTM Joint Conference in Chicago with the always-amazing Leah Thomas and Sarah Valter. Our goal was to get teachers interested in and excited about becoming writers. How? Through writing, of course.
At one point, we asked participants – ourselves included – to write a Slice of Life for seven full minutes. My writing was, to say the least, stream-of-consciousness:
THOUGHTS OF A PRESENTER
Here I sit in Salon A3. It’s deay one of the NCTE-NCTM conference. LONG DAY.
I’ve been to 3 presentations today, and now it’s my turn. I hoped beyond hope that people would. Just. COME. And they did! I also worried, when I danced to the music tester, that people would see my dancing and turn RIGHT ON AROUND.
Behind me, in another room, is another workshop presentation. There’s been music pumping, bleeps, buzzing, laughter. I hope people here aren’t having FOMO.
I wonder if people are getting antsy. I hope they got my joke about being a Woman of a Certain Age. I wish they had laughed a little more. And please, for the love of all that’s right and good, I just don’t want to waste anyone’s time. That’s the WORST.
No one’s left yet, and we’re 45 minutes in. I’ll take that as a win.
7 minutes writing. Boy does this feel LONG. Guessing some of the folks here are feeling the same.
Timer beeps. Moving on.
All of which is to say, if you’ve ever sat through a workshop with what I call “busy brain,” just know this: You are NOT ALONE.
Soapbox: The Way I see Things 
Your post is a reminder of my very first writing project summer workshop in 1987? (I think) where we did the novel, at the time, task of decorating notebooks, writing, and sharing. It was a mind-bending moment that certainly empowered me in ways I never could have imagined!
I love this, Anita. It makes me wonder about the various “a-ha!” moments that members of our writing community have had.
I loved seeing this photo on Facebook this morning. Congratulations on a successful session. You have a gratifying number of attendees! (Lucky them!)
Thanks! It was a good afternoon – lucky us!
Having been on the presenting side at a conference I totally understand your the thoughts running through your mind. Will people come? Will they be engaged? Will they leave with a better understanding of themselves and how their will benefit? I don’t think you had anything to worry about.
Thanks. I think my fear of wasting people’s time probably stems from the way I feel when I’m in a PD session that feels tiresome or useless. I guess it’s sort of the same idea where we try and be the teacher we wish we had as a kid? I’d like to be the presenter I’d like to see…