I went to a conference in Florida recently called Smut Lovers and it was so useful. I learned so much in such a short period of time that I felt like my head was swimming. I was happy to be introduced to such a kind community of BDSM and appreciated what they showed us, which was how to do things the safe and right way so we will write things correctly in order for no one to get hurt. Knife play was the biggest shocker to me on how it is really done, Violet Wand play intrigued me the most, and interestingly I learned that I am not that into fire play because of the amount of set-up that goes into it for so little.
This group respects humans to their core and consistently preached how important consent is all around. Honestly, it was a little triggering because of my background, but it is an event that I think is important for most people to go to in order to help get rid of stigmas, talk about what needs to be talked about, and to understand safety and oneself.
I had such a great few days in Chicago at Let’s Just Write! This was a very honest conference with very respectable people. The last panel was absolutely amazing because we obtained a real, hard look at the industry. During this conference, I connected closely with more people than I have at other conferences. And the best part is that most of these people are close to home for me! My favorite thing at this conference was getting kicked out of the dining room because two other people and I were talking well past hours, even after everyone had already left. That conversation was amazing. I learned so much. We discussed generational differences, culture, media, and how everything ties together.
I love this community so much that it’s hard to explain. Being able to discuss everything in life back and forth and deeply is such a win for me and something I have always craved. There was not a single person at this conference that I ran into who wasn’t respectful, caring, and empathetic. It was great to learn I can be respected for my mind and me as a person and it was great to be surrounded by people who just want to help make the world a better place and who love to write.
The organization also did amazing with the structure of this conference. You could tell they really cared and wanted to keep us all together. There were only two panels that were not master classes each other, which was great because then, during meals, we were able to discuss what someone may have missed that was important. Also, by the end of the conference, we were comfortable enough to have lunch with other people outside of the hotel after having been with them nonstop for multiple days. Not only that, but we discussed topics that I had never thought to dive into before, like personal essays, I finally took a class on back blurbs, which I have been looking for, and learned more about social media.
I am very thankful that I went to this conference and cherish the friendships and memories that came from it. It is amazing what can happen in just a few days!
Regaining Lost Aspects: Mind and Soul 