> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://andilgregory.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Through the Realms - URL: https://andilgregory.com/adventuring-through-life/through-the-realms/ - Published: 2024-07-26T17:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-09T20:36:22.000Z - Author: Andi Gregory - Tags: Conferences & Events, RealmMakers2024, realmmakers, realm makers, realm makers writing conference, Conference recap, recap, realmies, Realmiewriters, Realmieauthors, author meets, meeting new authors, #Migrated-1787683573322, #sqs, #Import 2026-08-25 14:46, conferences and events, Adventuring Through Life, blog ![ Realm Makers Book Haul! ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/08/rm-book-stack-format-original.jpg) Realm Makers Book Haul! Another year of [Realm Makers](https://www.realmmakers.com/?ref=andilgregory.com) is in the books—quite literally. The above picture is my haul of new books from the conference this year, and I’m quite excited to dive into many of them! (Now to find the time . . . 😅) This year, the conference hit . . . **different**. Not in a bad way, but it’s not what I usually associate with the conference. I didn’t have the swooping sensation of inspiration and “I’m ready to write” like I normally do. I think there are several reasons for this: - It’s been 2 years since I’ve been to a full Realm Makers (last year I had to miss all the in-person fun 😭) - More of my expectations for the conference were in the business realm, rather than writing - I came into this conference off of four years of worry, anxiety, family medical scares, and grief, all alongside increasing stress at the day job In many, many ways, **the weekend is exactly what I needed**, from the keynote speakers to the conversations with so many others who’ve been experiencing hardships the last few years. From Allen Arnold speaking about **writing *with* God** and the rise of the artificial (in many aspects, not only Artificial Intelligence), to Carla Hoch’s supremely moving and personal story of how she came to write *Fight Write!*, to Chris Skaggs’ in-depth look at scripture and thought-provoking closing keynote on **the nature of creativity and the Kingdom to come**. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/Nightmare-Virus-Release-Party-Nadine-and-Sara.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/with-Cass-Hamm.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/Gateway-Arch-NP-Sign-and-Arch.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/Gateway-Arch-NP-Sign.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/with-Gateway-Arch.jpg) Of course, I had quite the adventure with friends (Michelle, Kaitlyn, and Liz) on **a trip to the St. Louis Gateway Arch**. It checked off another National Park for a couple of us, and it was just a fun outing with these ladies. I’d **love to adventure with them more**, and while I’m sad we didn’t have more time to explore the beautiful grounds and museum, it was still a ton of fun and a great way to kick off the conference weekend. I also had an absolutely wonderful time **catching up with so many writing friends**—those I’ve met at past conferences and gotten to know better via social media and the internet. As someone who **thrives more on the in-person interaction with people** who “get me” and my brand of weird, this is always my favorite part of the conference. Being in a physical space with so many of the people I love to chat with and know and try to keep up with as life comes in and tries to cut us off at the knees. Naturally, I spent more of my weekend chatting than in classes, but I expected that going in. 😂 I *did* attend one class throughout the weekend though: Nadine Brandes’ “Unlock the Forgotten Art of Self-Editing” class. It’s definitely something I needed, especially since **I’m working on rewriting an old story** (in-progress, but slow), and have had a hard time moving forward in it. Now I know why—I don’t know enough yet! This is unusual for me, but the majority of my discovery writing is already finished with this one, so I need more details before I can get back to putting words on the page. The class was also very encouraging in the “**perfectionism isn’t attainable**, but here’s what you *can* control” arena. Over the course of the entire weekend, I felt a nudge and need to switch projects—and *start working on the big, scary, complex idea* I’ve had in mind for a while now. (Yes, I’ve been avoiding starting it, because it’s scary. 🙈) Nadine’s class made me realize I’m putting far too much pressure on myself with this story—and it’s time to let the perfectionism go. To just **sit down with pen and paper and write** the story in my heart and head—because later, I can come back and make things make sense. I can flesh out the worldbuilding or characters or plot. I don’t have to get it all right the first time, and I likely won’t. Which recalls a quote from Maggie Stiefvater I love (emphasis mine): > “Every brain is different. And moreover, **this process we call novel writing is actually translation**. It’s a hugely complicated process where we take something that’s abstract in our head and make it concrete. Now, this abstract thing, this novel in our mind, exists in its perfect form on the hard drive of your brain. It’s beyond words—it’s feelings, it’s scenarios, it’s all possibilities.” **Perfectionism is also abstract**—it’s something that can’t be pulled into the physical realm the way we see it in our heads. So we need to let that go, and let God take our stories where he will. I’m learning this, slowly, in letting go of Project Nutcracker and as I prepare to (finally) start writing on Project Ocean. **One thing I didn’t expect this year** was a question I heard often from writers new to the conference: “Nine years! What books have you published?” This was . . . **both encouraging and discouraging.** The excitement of new Realmies is always such a wonderful thing—but the expectation of being a published author already is *hard*. Mostly because I wish I was published already. I’ve been *working at this thing for longer than I’ve been attending Realm Makers*, and I’m still “sitting on the sidelines.” Still learning, still struggling, but still writing. It made hearing “bring it back next year” from an agent I pitched to that much harder to take—because **it made me feel like a new writer again**, as though I *haven’t* spent the last 10 years studying and working to become better. But overall . . . it’s not a bad thing. I **learned something from the agent** that will help me with my first page, and I also realized the agent didn’t see my vision for the story—so I’m *taking any advice and things with a grain of salt*. For the new writers out there—**don’t give up**. There will be someone who will love and represent your writing well. *It’s okay to wait* for that, even if it’s a struggle to keep hearing “no” over and over and over again. Project Nutcracker has had several rejections over the last several years, but I also know that **I can’t keep tweaking it forever**. So it’s time to let it go and put it in God’s hands—and it’ll end up where He wants it. That’s all I can do for right now, so I’ll **turn my focus to Project Ocean and keep on writing**. Overall, the conference was a wonderful experience (especially the Awards Dinner), *even if it was very different from what I expected* in terms of excitement and inspiration. Some of that definitely came through in so many areas, but at the same time, there’s the start of a lot of healing coming, I’m sure. **I wouldn’t change any of the experiences I had** over the weekend—each was its own fun or chance to learn, and I’ll definitely continue processing much of it as I carry the things I’ve learned and the conversations I’ve had into the rest of the year. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/Banquet---Roomies---Elisabeth.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/Banquet---Kevin-Rae-Kell.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/Banquet---Stephanie.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/Banquet---Kaitlyn.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/Banquet---Cass-Hamm.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/Banquet---Ellen-McGinty.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/05/5005b841-a6a9-4902-ad65-ff17b958f53d/content/images/2026/09/Banquet---Lindsay-Franklin.jpg)