Five Things to Remember While Attending PPWC

By Anne Marie

I attended my second Pikes Peak Writers Conference last year. Aside from the fact that there was only one of me and I couldn’t go to all the sessions, I had a fantastic time. The faculty was funny, knowledgeable, and inspiring. The Staff was helpful and kind. My critique partner (Hi, Jen!) attended with me, and we came away with so many ideas on how to improve our novels. We’re more than excited to start revisions! However, Jen’s from sea level, so I thought I’d share my top five things to remember while in Colorado.

1. Wear sunscreen if you’re going to be outside for an extended period of time. A person can get burned fairly quickly here. We were sitting outside for lunch and within about 15 minutes both of us were showing signs of sunburn. I really should have taken my own advice.
2. Bring sunglasses. Again, being so close to the sun with a thin atmosphere, it’s bright. Protect those beautiful eyes!
3. Drink lots of water. I could go into an awesome science lesson here, but basically, the higher the altitude, the less oxygen, the more dehydrated you’re going to get. The Marriott provides a wide selection of naturally flavored waters (the orange was my favorite). 
4. Colorado Springs sits at a little over 6,000 feet above sea level. That means you could experience Altitude Sickness. Signs include: dizziness, nausea, vomiting, trouble breathing, and weakness. This usually clears up in about 24 hours as your body adjusts to the lower levels of oxygen. Drinking alcohol increases these symptoms. The bar is a great place to mingle but doesn’t require you to buy a drink to hang out there.
5. Wear layers. Colorado has experienced 70's in January and 30's in June. The conference rooms can be chilly, too. Attendees dress between business casual and jeans Friday. Wear whatever you're comfortable in.

Last year was an amazing experience filled with more knowledge and expertise than my brain could handle in four days. I’ll be back this year. Hope to see you there too!

About the Author:  Anne attended the University of Colorado for a BA in English Literature, where she fell in love with folklore and myths from around the world. She adores languages, great white sharks, and the impossible. Her work usually includes one of those three things. She currently lives in Aurora, Colorado with Brody Beagle. Her most recent short story, La Dame à La Licorne, was published by Euterpe YA, an imprint of Musa Publsihing. Buy it from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Musa Publishing.