Left Behind

No, this post has nothing to do with the series by Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, but when you have to miss out on a conference, it can sure feel like the end of the world. Trust me, this year I have said, “Bye, bye, have fun,” to several writer friends as they headed off to a conference. And before the year is out, I’ll be in that position a few more times.

It’s hard to get left behind. Especially when you’ve been reading about how great conferences are on certain loops and blogs.

So what’s a writer to do? How can you beat the don’t-get-to-go blues?

I have a couple suggestions.

1. Accept the disappointment, pray about the opportunities you feel you’re missing, and then move on. I know it’s hard. It’s not fair. It stinks big time. But as I tell my boys everyday, we don’t always get to do what we want to do. If we did, I’d be eating chocolate and having a pedicure right now.

2. Keep up with your critique group and ACFW chapter meetings. You can learn a lot from these interactions, maybe even more than you could at a conference. You get to know fellow writers deeply. They get to know you. And best of all, you get help and encouragement for your writing on a regular basis.

3. Have a write-in or a write-out. Get your writer friends together and head to Starbucks or Barnes and Noble with your laptops. Or host a write-in at your house. Get creative with snacks. Maybe have a writing-related game to play when everybody’s taking a break.

4. If there’s a particular presenter at the conference you really wanted to learn from, why not read their book while the conference is happening? They’ll be teaching on material from those books, and when your friends get back, you’ll be ready to discuss the techniques they (and you!) learned.

Bottom line, it really isn’t the end of the world. Although conferences are a great place to learn and advance your career, God does not need CCWC, Mount Hermon, or ACFW to execute His plans for you. Trust that He has gone before you and prepared your writing way.

And if you just can’t shake those blues come conference time, give me a call and we’ll go out for pedicures and chocolate. Unless you’re a guy. Then I’ll just hit you in the arm and say, “Tough luck, dude.”


Evangeline Denmark has storytelling on her heart and in her blood. The daughter of novelist, Donita K. Paul, Evangeline grew up living and breathing good stories. She has co-authored two children’s books which are under contract with Waterbrook Press and also writes adult fiction. Evangeline is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers, serving as chapter secretary.

Making the Most of Your Conference Appointments

In the six writers’ conferences I have attended, I have had roughly fifteen editor/agent appointments. Some have been a lesson in humility, and a couple were divine appointments, but regardless of how things turned out, the editor/agent appointment has become one of my favorite things about attending a conference. Based on my experience, I’ve come up with some tips to help you make the most of these important opportunities to network and learn more about the publishing business.

1) Do your research. First, make sure that you request meetings with publishing representatives that would be a good fit for your book. Study the information on the conference website and go to each publishing house’s website. Study the kinds of books they publish. You don’t want just any publisher to say yes to your project, you want the right publisher. Once I get my editor appointment sheet at the conference, I also like to go online and check out their recent releases. If I’ve read any of them, I make it a point to mention them. If I haven’t read any of them, I usually ask questions about a couple that interested me.

2) Have a plan. I wouldn’t suggest scripting a conversation. Each editor and agent is different and I think it’s best to approach them as individuals. That said, it is beneficial to have a general plan of what you would like to say. I usually start by chatting about the books their house has released. (If it's an agent meeting, I ask them how they're enjoying the conference.) Then I give them some brief information about myself. How long I’ve been writing, magazine articles I’ve published, my professional background. After that, I go through a brief overview of my story, usually revealing just enough to get them interested. (If you need help with preparing your pitch, there are a lot of good resources out there. Specifically, literary agent Rachelle Gardner has some great tips on her blog: http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/search/label/Pitching) After the pitch, the editor or agent will usually ask questions, or possibly ask to see a sample of your writing.

3) Bring along a professional one sheet. Most people are visual. A compelling one sheet can be a valuable asset, not only serving as an outline for you, but also showing the editor or agent that you understand the basics of marketing yourself and your work. It gives them something to look at, and, if you use the right graphics, it can help them picture your story. If you’d like more information on doing a one sheet, you can e-mail me at sara@wisarsolutions.com. This is something I have spent a lot of time with, and I would be happy to send you some examples.

4) Adjust your expectations. While the editor and agent meetings are a good time to pitch your project, they are mostly about networking and learning. It’s highly unlikely that someone will contract you on the spot. In fact, even if they request material from you, it will likely take months for you to hear back from them. Knowing this can actually help calm your nerves. Your whole publishing career will not hinge on one appointment at a conference. So relax and focus on building relationships in the business over time.

5) Learn everything you can. Take the full fifteen minutes to gain all of the wisdom that you can from the agent or editor. If they tell you in the first five minutes that they aren’t interested in what you’ve pitched, don’t run away and hide in the bathroom. Instead, use the rest of the appointment to ask them questions. Ask what they’ve worked on recently. Ask them about the market. Ask them about their favorite books. Show them that you’re interested and that you want to learn.



A lifelong storyteller, Sara Richardson is passionate about communicating reasons for hope. Previously she has been an advertising copywriter, an Internet communications manager, and a whitewater rafting guide. In addition to writing fiction, Sara has published nonfiction articles in parenting and family magazines. As a member of MOPS International, Sara enjoys speaking to moms’ groups. She earned a master’s degree in journalism from Regent University. Visit her at www.momstories.org.

Conferences -- Make time to go

Having just returned from the Colorado Christian Writers' Conference in Estes Park, I would like to reiterate once more just how important conferences are.

I mean, would you expect to sit behind the wheel of a car for the first time without someone having taught you at least the rudiments of driving? Would you expect to pass your driver's test without studying and practicing? Do you think you could just imitate your dad's driving and pass?

Writing is much the same as learning to drive. Sure, you can ride around in a car for days (read many books) and hope to learn how to drive. You can study the driver's test for hours (read books on writing), hoping to understand the fundamentals. You might even watch old videos of The Streets of San Francisco (watch movies and study plot and character arc) to learn how to drive up and down steep hills at high speeds. But you still won't really know how to drive. Or write well.

Going to a conference combines all the basic elements of writing -- learning, having a teachable heart, being able to express your projects to others, brainstorming, taking criticism and rejection, and if it is a Christian conference, spending time with like-minded people. Not to mention, any rejections you get at a conference will probably be the nicest rejections you're likely to get.

Choosing the right conference is key to enjoying the experience. Take a good look at the continuing education tracks being offered, and choose one according to your skill level and type of writing. The continuing education classes are the backbone of your conference. If you mess up on selecting a workshop that isn't appropriate for you, no worry -- it's just one hour out of forty. But choosing the class you will be in every day is much more important.

Determine if you are looking for a conference where you get to meet one-on-one with agents or editors to tell them about your project (pitch your work) to see if they are interested enough to have you send the project to them. If this is not your goal right now, don't worry about setting up appointments, or choose a conference that doesn't offer appointments.

Going to conferences is every bit as important as joining a local writers' group or being part of a critique group. Each of these will give you an opportunity to learn, and you will also be able to help someone else.

Hey, going to a conference is kind of like going to church -- you shouldn't go to church only to receive ministry, but also to give ministry to others.

Conferences are like that. You can make lifelong friends, find out what the industry is doing, and spend time hanging around people who love to write as much as you love to write.

If you cannot attend a particular conference, check out their website -- most conferences offer CD's or tapes of each class, which you can purchase for a fraction of the cost of attending.

The start of the conference season is upon us. If you plan to travel, find a conference or a workshop in the area. If you plan to stay in your home area, do a search on the internet for conferences -- www.shawguides.com is a good place to look, as is the Christian Writers Market Guide.

Go to a conference, come back filled up with good information, excited about your project. Share your passion to write with someone else, and watch their eyes light up.

Conferences -- Are They Worth It?

All right, I admit it. Since last year, I've been rather jaded when it comes to writing conferences. But I suppose it actually began about three years ago.

I had sold 6 books by that time and 3 of them had released. Considering how many other authors said speaking comes with writing, I figured speaking at conferences was my next step. So, I assembled topics on which I was skilled and presented them to every known writing conference where I had any contact with the committees.

Each one of them came back with a "no, thank you" or a "sorry, we already have someone teaching on that topic" or a "sorry, we don't have any openings."

For three years, I continued to submit my requests to speak and attempted to determine where there might be a need. But each time, I was turned down. It started to feel like a duplication of my writing career, where the bigger houses rejected me in spite of being a multi-published author.

So, I had some thinking and praying to do. At first, I was hurt and disillusioned, thinking I needed to become a more "known" name or get to know the "right" people in order to travel in the "accepted" circles of authors and speakers. I began believing I hadn't crossed some imaginary rite of passage that only I knew and had created. After some time spent in reflection, I realized it just wasn't time yet.

But that didn't mean I'd give up. I continued to speak to smaller writing groups, at women's ministry events and various other venues where I could fill a need. That way, I could keep up my speaking from growing stagnant and continue to build a resume.

Another disillusionment from conferences came in the form of rejection after rejection because I didn't have an agent. Despite being a multi-published author with 8 books in print and over 100,000 copies of my books sold, I'd been feeling like I was a unpublished author starting from scratch all over again. The editors were all saying they wanted a publish-ready manuscript that had not yet been sold before they would even consider my writing. But while under contract with my current publisher, I didn't have time to polish my other manuscripts and get them publish-ready.

Needless to say, it began to affect my enthusiasm and even my passion for writing. I started to believe I'd always be "stuck" in mass market, category romance.

That's when CCWC came into play. For those unfamiliar with this conference, it's the Colorado Christian Writer's Conference, and it takes place every year in May at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. Several of us board members with ACFW Colorado were present this year, and it was an amazing conference!

For the first time in two years, I finally received some encouraging feedback, and multiple invitations to submit my work, despite not having signed with an agent. And although we haven't "inked" the deal, the agent I've been praying would show interest gave me permission to say we are seriously talking should anyone ask if I have representation. Since it's not official, I won't give the name of this agent, but it's looking really good.

I just have to write another book before the end of August. Simple. :)

Oh, and two editors gave me their business cards and permission to bypass the "normal" submission and grow straight to them with this new series.

After too many rejections to count, being turned down to speak at every major writing conference, and feeling like I was missing the "secret" to moving forward in my career, I finally have some great leads and a step up. I'm on the next rung on the ladder, and I'm sure it's only a small nugget of all that's in store.

So, if you're wondering whether or not to attend a writer's conference, and if it's worth the investment of your funds, I'm here to tell you to go! It IS worth it. And if you can't afford one of the national ones due to distance or cost, start small and look for regional ones that might be a bit closer to home. They're out there. I promise. You just have to discover that diamond in the rough.

And if you are having trouble finding one near home, let us know. We'll be happy to help you locate one for you.

Now, how about those of you who HAVE attended a conference. Any success stories that might not otherwise have happened if you hadn't gone? Please share.

---

Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since she was a child. Today, she is an author, online marketing specialist and freelance web site designer who lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart. They have 1 daughter and a border collie. She has sold eight books so far to Barbour Publishing, is a columnist for the ACFW e-zine and writes other articles as well. Read more about her at her web site: http://www.amberstockton.com/.

Conference Lessons

Not all lessons are learned in the classroom. I was reminded of some important lessons this week at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference in Estes Park.

I took a clinic at CCWC where each person submitted the synopsis and first ten pages of his or her novel prior to the conference. Then, during the meetings we discussed each one and the instructors went over the manuscripts. The instructors were experienced authors and editors. When mine was discussed, they pointed out good aspects and some that needed to be corrected. Later in the day, one member of the group came up to me and made an extremely rude statement about my writing. I have to admit I was hurt and angry. My attitude was tempered the next day, however, when her manuscript was critiqued. I listened to her defend her writing against every comment. Although I don’t know what was in her heart, it seemed she had a need to always be right, even at the cost of putting someone down to make herself feel better. She reminded me of the first lesson – always go to a conference with a teachable heart. Listen to the comments others, both faculty and conferees, and evaluate whether or not your writing would be better if you edited it with those comments in mind. You don’t have to agree, but you can’t learn or improve if you are so busy defending your work you won’t accept advice.

The second lesson was about the importance of being part of a writers group such as ACFW. During workshops and in general conversation, it was easy to spot those who have never been part of a writing organization. They didn’t have the background or skills to be as effective in pitches or in classes. I can’t encourage you enough to be part of a writers group that helps you to learn the ins and outs of the publishing business.

The third, and possibly the most important, lesson was to be prayerful and mindful of God’s direction while at the conference. I felt it most at CCWC as I went through the ups and downs of the days. My value and calling as a writer was affirmed as every time something negative happened, like the comment mentioned above or an appointment that didn’t go as well as I would have liked, it was countered by a positive and encouraging message, which usually came from an unexpected event. I felt God was directing me through these meetings and events. When you go expecting God to direct your steps, He will.