Why Can’t I Go To A Conference?

By Michael Ehret

After a solid decade (almost) of regularly attending writer’s conferences, this year I’m not able to. Let me correct that: I’m probably able to, but the door to attend one has not opened for me this year.

My conference of choice, American Christian Fiction Writers, is even meeting within driving distance of my home and the keynoter is one of my favorite authors: Ted Dekker. But it’s not happening this year and I vacillate between being OK about it and being pretty ticked off, truth be known. Can you relate?

At last year’s conference, I got what I considered a pretty clear message from God about my writing. (See the details here and here.) “I’m inviting you into a new season of writing.”

Surely that would include attending my favorite writing conference? Seeing my favorite writing friends? Surely? Apparently not—and don’t call me Shirley.

Feel like this guy because you can't attend
a writer's conference?

Despite my efforts to pry that door open—or to find that ‘promised’ open window God provides when He closes a door (you know that’s not biblical, right?)—there’s no conference in my year.

Are you there too? Are you feeling left out? On the outside looking in? Not one of the cool kids? Bring your pocket-protector self over and have a seat. OK, you’ve got three minutes to cry and fuss and whine. I’m setting a timer. 3-2-1 Go!

Feeling better? No? Well, me either, but here are three things you can do if you’re not attending a writer’s conference:

1. Buy yourself a much-needed or long-desired writing resource.

One of my favorite
fiction craft books

One of my reasons for not being able to go this year is monetary. That may be a reason for you, too. And it’s a valid reason. Even though we’re writers, we still have responsibilities that we can’t just toss away. Am I right?

So, instead of buying a conference (easily upwards of $1,500 with registration, hotel, plane ticket, etc.), treat yourself to some resource you’ve been wanting and putting off. Maybe that’s a craft book. Maybe that’s a writing assist program like Grammarly or Scrivener. Maybe it’s a framed inspirational quote to display in your writing corner.

Just buy it. Feel guilty later if you must, but console yourself that (whatever it is) it’s far less than the cost of the conference you’re not going to.

2. Consider, oh, I don’t know, writing?

Wilma Rudolph, an American Olympic track and field sprinter who won three gold medals in 1960, once said: “Believe me, the reward is not so great without the struggle.”

You get that, right? The struggle is what makes the reward, when it comes, so sweet. So persevere in your writing. Take the time you’re not going to spend at your preferred writing conference, put your butt in your chair, and write.

Honor your gift and your calling—and, for your own sake, get lost in your fictional world. Bring life where there is no life. And if your sadness is overwhelming, choose to write the scenes where your hero and heroine face their Black Moments—and all seems lost.

All is not lost for them. You know it, as the creator, but they don’t. They are just living the day-to-day lives you, their creator, wrote for them … You’re getting the point right? You don’t need a hammer on the head, right?

3. If you can’t write, then pray for your writer friends who are attending conferences.

No, I’m not kidding. When you’re locked in a pity party, the best way to break free is to do something nice for someone else. So, if you can’t be there…then be there for your friends who are there.

Hold them up before the Lord. Pray for encouragement. Bravery. Their emotions. The editors and agents they’ll meet with.

Pray for the casual, unplanned for meetings around meal tables. The overwhelming feeling of the introvert writer who just can’t face another class or another “thank you, but this isn’t right for our house” appointment.

Be Aaron to their Moses.

If you do these three things, you’ll find the time goes much quicker, you’ll feel more productive, and you’ll be a blessing. And isn’t that better for everyone, including you?

____________________________________

Michael Ehret has accepted God's invitation and is a freelance editor at WritingOnTheFineLine.com. In addition, he's worked as editor-in-chief of the ACFW Journal at American Christian Fiction Writers. He pays the bills as a marketing communications writer and sharpened his writing and editing skills as a reporter for The Indianapolis News and The Indianapolis Star.

Read More

Writers Conferences - Worth the Expense?

Dan Walsh is the award-winning and bestselling author of 10 novels, including The Unfinished Gift, The Discovery and What Follows After. He has won 3 Carol Awards and 2 Selah Awards. Three of his books were finalists for Inspirational Book of the Year. Dan is a member of ACFW and Word Weavers. He lives with his wife, Cindi, in the Daytona Beach area where they love to take long walks. You can connect with Dan on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest through his website at www.danwalshbooks.com, or get a sneak peek at all his books.
                                                      *     *     *
I've got writers conferences on my mind today. Guess that's because I'm preparing for my next one, the Oregon Christian Writers Summer Coaching Conference in Portland, August 4-7th. I'll be sharing the final keynote message there, as well as teaching 3 coaching sessions and a workshop. My friend and fellow Novel Rocketer, Allen Arnold, will be the featured keynote speaker for the first 3 main sessions. Quite a few other Novel Rocketers will serve on the faculty. If you live on the West Coast or in the Midwest, you should seriously consider attending. I'll spend the rest of this blog post explaining why.

Do you need to attend writers conferences if you hope to be published? Is it an absolute necessity? I'd have to say no. I didn't attend my first conference until after I'd already signed with a literary agent and received a publishing contract for my first two novels. In fact, my first novel, The Unfinished Gift, came out the same month I attended my first conference (ACFW, Sept 2009).

Having said that, this is also true: I've interacted with countless writer friends who've helped me realize my publishing journey is very unusual (2 of the first 3 agents I contacted wanted to represent me; the one I picked had a contract with a major publisher within 2 months). But I've been attending writers conferences ever since that first one in 2009. Over the last 2 years, I've been invited to speak and teach at several of them. I'm now a firm believer in their value to a fiction writer's career. I've listened to the publication journeys of so many writers who'd say a writer's conference was directly responsible for getting their book into print. Many met their agent or grabbed the attention of an editor during one of those oft-dreaded "15 minute appointments."

Benefits I See in Writer's Conferences

• You can read and get a lot of help from reading how-to-write craft books. I certainly did. But you can't ask questions of the author like you can after every workshop or seminar you attend at a writer's conference. I find the Q&A sessions to be some of the most valuable learning experiences at a conference.

• You can't get a personal critique of your work from a craft book or reading a blog. Many conferences offer paid personal critiques from published professionals. You send them a sample of your work, which they edit before the conference. Then you meet and go over their suggestions. Sometimes you can learn enough from these insights to fix problems laced throughout your book.

• It's hard to place a value on the specific kind of fellowship you experience meeting with dozens, even hundreds of other people who totally "get you." Writers are peculiar people, fiction writers maybe even more so. We look at life differently than most, and feel this inner compulsion to express our thoughts and observations by telling stories. But we're not content to simply tell these stories out loud. We must write them down. I find it very encouraging whenever I'm around others born with this same compulsion. There is an intangible benefit to this fellowship that, almost by itself, makes it worth the price of the event.

• Critique groups can certainly be a good thing, but I would see them as a complement to, not a replacement for conferences. Jesus said, "If a blind man leads a blind man they will both fall into a ditch." There can be a danger receiving input from someone who doesn't quite know what they're talking about, but imagines they do. At a writer's conference, you will be taught by and surrounded by people who actually do know what they're talking about. That's a very valuable thing in itself.

I'd like to wrap up with one piece of "foundational" advice (if I have persuaded you to attend a writer's conference). Don't go fishing for compliments for your work; go with an expectation to receive correction and valuable advice. God honors that kind of humility.

Imagine that your work, even if it reflects your very best, is only 90% there. The missing 10% that will make it acceptable for publishing lies in the correction, advice and insights you will get from others. You will find that writers conferences are filled with people who can help you with that last 10%.

I'd love to hear from some of you who've attended writers conferences already. Share some of your stories, things you learned, fond memories, other benefits I haven't mentioned, even things newbies should watch out for.

Read More

Conferences for Children's Writers

ACFW is going on this week, and I'm home all alone.

Well, if you're here reading, I guess I'm not all alone. But isn't it hard to sit home while so many of our Novel Rocket plans are whooping it up at ACFW?

In order to help us not get stuck home again, I decided to list some of the best writer's conferences for children's writers to attend. I'll go in alphabetical order.

Christian

• ACFW (aka American Christian Fiction Writers):

This is not geared toward children's writers, but there are a few editors and agents there who will look at MG/YA proposals and there are plenty of YA writers in attendance. A great place to go to make new friends and meet old friends and the place to be if you want to keep in contact with the Christian publishers and agents. Held in swank hotels every fall--you'll get a good night's sleep at this one.

• Blue Ridge Christian Writer's Conference:

In the beautiful Smokey Mountains in the fall. This is a largish conference with classes for children's writers. I've heard great things about this one and they have a great faculty each year.

• Florida Christian Writers Conference:

I've never been but I'll be attending in 2013 in the spring. A smaller conference but one with a great staff and a couple of mentoring tracks for children's writers.

• Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference:

This spring conference is, I believe, the largest Christian writers conference. This one does have a children's track most years. It has publishers who will look at children's fiction and nonfiction as well as some agents who are willing to look at YA proposals. This is my favorite conference, because of the beautiful setting (in the California redwoods) and the warm, friendly people. It's a bit on the rustic side and the beds are not the most comfortable, but other than that, this conference is perfect.

• Write2Ignite:

Finally one that is aimed specifically at children's writers. A small conference. A short conference. The perfect place to go if you want intimate and less expensive.

General Market

Highlights Foundation

• Workshops

Excellent workshops all year round. Wonderful accommodations and fantastic staff. I can't gush enough about these.

SCBWI Nationals

• SCBWI--LA:

The summer conference. Very big, fantastic staff. Pay a little extra and get the paid critique. They are worth every penny. The workshops are great. This is for all children's writers--non-fiction, fiction, PBs through YA. 

• SCBWI--NY (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators)

The winter conference. Ditto all I said above.

SCBWI Regional Conferences--Spring

• Atlanta

• New England

• Oregon 

 

SCBWI Regional Conferences--Fall

• Birmingham WIK (Writing and Illustrating for Kids)

• British Isles

• Northern Ohio

• Ottawa

• Wisconsin

OK that's all I have right now. Help me out if I've missed some please, and don't forget to bookmark this page so you can find it again easily. Which is/are your favorite conference/s?
   

photo credit: RubyGoes via photo pin cc

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  

Sally Apokedak is a new associate agent with the Leslie H. Stobbe Literary Agency. She's looking forward to attending lots of conferences next year and hoping to build a dynamite list of children's authors (PB to YA). She is also the local liaison for SCBWI in Cobb County, Georgia.

Read More