Reaping Good Fortune at the ASJA Conference
Conference Roundup
by Kara Douglass Thom

Packing late into the night before my early flight to New York for the annual ASJA conference, I wondered what was in store for me. The airlines were in the process of canceling flights, which disrupted airline service across the country. For an extra dash of anxiety, snow was falling. I wasn't sure I'd make it to the airport in time to miss my flight.

I urged myself not to be pessimistic. Even if one bad thing happened, it didn't mean doom for my entire trip. Then again, missing the Personal Pitch session would certainly make me feel doomed.

Despite the evil foreshadowing, the day began well. The snow was innocuous by Minnesota standards and I made it to the airport without incident. My flight was on time. The good karma kept flowing. I sat next to a friendly, chatty couple—perfect victims for Personal Pitch practice. After landing (a little early) I walked right into a cab and made it straight to Manhattan without a hint of traffic. This was better than the beginning of a feel-good movie.

After lunch I went to check out the conference where I ran into the one magazine editor I hoped to land an assignment from. She was just standing there. Of course I introduced myself and we had a nice friendly chat, which helped me diffuse any nervousness I harbored for the PP session. Ring up one more good thing.

It seemed everyone at the Hyatt wanted to check in early. The lobby was lined with suitcases waiting for hotel rooms. But I asked for a room anyway. Why not? Everything else seemed to be going my way. Indeed, the clerk gave me a room and even upgraded my room, too. It was a sign. A sure sign, this weekend was going to deliver big. With a nonfiction book and a children's book to sell and freelance stories to pitch, the connection seemed so obvious. The Universe spoke: I was moving up.

My good fortune continued. Two book editors at the PP session wanted to see the proposal for Hot (Sweaty) Mamas: Five Secrets to Life as a Fit Mom, and the magazine editor I had chatted with earlier liked my ideas. The next morning I ran in Central Park with a new friend, picked up a stand-by ticket for Saturday Night Live and met my agent for the first time. The sessions I attended provided useful advice and feedback, but more importantly I met other freelance writers. Connecting with this community was so important to me. I may no longer work in an office, but it's nice to have colleagues again. To top another great day, at the reception that evening I won a $100 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble. It had to be another sign, right? Abundance? Or just that I would come into a lot of books? Any books? Maybe, my own books?

Sadly, that was the end of my good streak. I didn't know it at the time, which is why I took my SNL stand-by ticket and waited in line to get in, only to be told with just 10 people in front of me they had filled the studio. I was confused, to be sure. When you have two full days of "all good all the time," being told "no" is jarring. Although disappointed, I made the most of the evening. I walked the streets, shopped, ate hot dogs and enjoyed the strange dichotomy of being alone in New York City.

The next morning, because I was still oozing positive attitude, I was unaware that the streak was officially over and that I had two more "bad things" to go (because bad things always happen in threes, right?). Oblivious and still reaping the good stuff at the conference, I attended the children's book session, met with more editors, had lunch with new friends and made it to the airport on time (albeit in traffic—evil foreshadowing?).

While waiting for my flight I rummaged through my bag and noticed a grievous error. I had given the two children's editors a file folder with my children's book manuscript, but apparently only one of those editors received the children's book manuscript. The other received the file folder titled Hot (Sweaty) Mamas. I stopped breathing for a few seconds. Then I started laughing about all the possible subtitles (consider adolescent boys as the target reader and you can really come up with some good ones.) I called the editor the next day and fortunately for me, he had a good laugh over it, too.

When my flight arrived in Minneapolis two hours late, I knew I had experienced my third and final "bad thing" for the weekend. Still, the good outweighed the bad. I hated missing out on SNL, but I loved being part of the ASJA show. Having the opportunity to sit face-to-face with editors, agents, and new friends was invaluable. And all my extra good fortune, yes, that was priceless.

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Kara Douglass Thom is a freelance writer and ASJA member who specializes in health, fitness, pregnancy and parenting topics. Find her at www.karathom.com