I left my 💜 in Park City, UT 🐝

I just returned from the Understory Writers Conference in Park City, Utah. This was the inaugural year, and it did not disappoint. Events were intimate, casual, and designed to foster a supportive creative community. Billed to be “For Writers, By Writers,” it served emerging and multi-published authors with equal grace.

Everyone was part of one connected community and many new friendships were forged. I commend Annie Tucker for having the heart and grit to create such a nourishing, tasteful, and inspiring new conference. It was purposefully not focused on publishing advice and agent pitches but rather celebrated a love of writing craft—a passion shared by newbies and pros alike.

It still managed to nurture writers keen to publish by first refining their craft, and published writers were able to return to their roots of inspiration, creativity, and community.

Also, getting together in person was the “bees knees.” With so much of our attention focused on screens these days, it was refreshing to gather in person, where we all bounced (buzzed?) between Park City’s incredible library, the park across the street, and the cutest little Main Street in downtown Park City. Surrounded by green hills criss-crossed with grassy ski runs, the bright sun shone against a brilliant blue sky all weekend long.

I supposed I didn’t really “leave” my heart in Park City so much as expand it while I was there.

I taught four workshops, each one lovingly received by the wonderful participants. I have to say, it’s an honor and a blessing to get to share my passion for storytelling and my gifts for helping writers solve problems and celebrate the potential of their stories in progress. It’s clear to me that we’re all swimming in this creative sea together, and the best thing we can do is lift each other up as we enjoy the ride. Which is really about crafting the kinds of creative stories that bring clarity, courage, and change to this world we all love.

Of course, I do love all my zoom groups—the variety of gatherings, the ability to cross times zones, not having to commute, not to mention the option to wear pajama bottoms or sweats—but I see these as the next best scenario to meeting in person, which is the most potent way to seed heart-based creative communities.

While there’s more trouble and cost to meeting in person over a few days, we need these experiences when we can get them. They help us be more human—to be humans-beings and not just humans-screening.

If or when you have a chance, I hope you get to experience something as lovely as Understory. Annie intends to keep this annual conference small and craft-focused, so keep an eye out for details for 2026. I have a feeling a lot of writers from this year will try to come back next July.

My heart is full after meeting so many writers and making new friends this past weekend--thank you all! And a special shout out to Ariela, Marianne, Elizabeth, and Amy for making this a truly special trip for me.

"We ought to do good to others as simply as a horse runs, or a bee makes honey, or a vine bears grapes season after season without thinking of the grapes it has borne."

~ Marcus Aurelius ~

P.S. Did you know Utah is known as the beehive state? Though it’s not because of actual bees. When Mormons settled there, they were busy as bees, with the beehive being symbolic of industry, cooperation, and unity. (More history.)