To Conference We Will Go

I recently celebrated my first anniversary as a member of ACFW. During my first year I was privileged to go to my first conference, the ACFW National Conference in Denver last September.

As a new writer, I went with the desire to learn and experience as much as I could. To accomplish this, I volunteered to be a part of the choir, picked up people at the airport and helped at the registration desk, where my first “experience” took place. Does anyone else think they would fail to recognize Chip MacGregor because he didn’t look like the picture on his blog? Not to mention by trying to follow the rules, I almost refused a request from our president (again because I didn’t recognize her) when she told me it was okay to break the rules for something. They were probably glad when my stint at the registration desk was over. I had better luck picking up people at the airport since I had prepared signs with their name and ACFW on them. I even did okay in the choir although I could have used a little more practice time before the conference.

I must say that one of the things I loved most was meeting fellow writers. It was fun to sit down next to someone and start asking them where they were from and what they were writing, etc. Everyone had a unique story to tell. I think I met more people from Colorado than anywhere else and they were all writers that I hadn’t met at any of the local chapter meetings.

If you struggle with the cost vs. benefit of going to a conference, I encourage you to try it at least once. Yes, there are ways to get the workshops on tape and save on the other expenses of going, but there is something about meeting others who share your calling. It’s an opportunity for you to share in the successes of others as well as their disappointments. It’s a way to connect with the outside world and see that you aren’t alone in your dreams and fears. Those are some of the benefits. So how do you manage the cost? There are ways to cut the costs. Find someone to room with. Find a conference closer to where you live. Forgo your Starbucks (insert weekly/daily) habit and put that money towards a future conference. Hold a garage sale. Look for a one-day conference if a multi-day is out of reach at this season of your life. Look for conferences that a local chapter is hosting.

This week is CCWC in Estes Park. You can go for a day or more. Next month there are a couple of opportunities; one at Glen Eyrie and one with The Masters Seminars with Susan May Warren and Chip MacGregor. Those are just the ones in Colorado coming up. If these are out of reach, start planning for next year. You too can have a conference “experience”. And it doesn’t have to come from volunteering although that is a good way to force yourself to participate and not sit in a corner soaking it in.

I’d love to hear one of your memorable conference experiences. To conference we will go!

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Elaine Clampitt is serving as Secretary/Treasurer of Mile High Scribes, the ACFW South Denver chapter which meets at the Barnes & Noble in Lone Tree on the first Monday of each month. Come hear Jeff Gerke speak on Trends in Publishing on June 7th. Visit www.MileHighScribes.blogspot.com for more information.

Sipping From a Gushing Fire Hydrant

Wow! What a great conference!

I went to the Early Bird session taught by Donald Maass. It was extremely helpful, thought provoking, and entertaining. By our afternoon break, I felt like I had been through a whole conference. And that was just the Early Bird. The conference hadn’t even started yet. I learned so much and must confess that I have already forgotten so much. There’s only so much space between the ears. ☺

Conferences are like trying to get a drink out of a flowing fire hydrant. You are so thirsty for knowledge and growth but you can only take in so much. You can’t learn it all in one conference.

The problem is that like many people, we go to our first conference (and additional conferences) and try to learn it all. We try to drink all the water gushing from the hydrant, then become overwhelmed and drown.

We need to step back and take little sips from the fount of knowledge and let it sink in, refresh, and help us grow a little at a time. Don’t worry about all the knowledge you’re missing (or in my case forgetting already), and focus on what you did learn and let that become a part of you as a writer.

It’s the same with God and His Word, only on a much grander scale. The Fire Hydrant of knowledge is so vast, we cannot comprehend it all, and sadly don’t try. Then we shrivel up and die of thirst. But if we try to learn everything God has to teach us all at once we become overwhelmed and don’t understand Him at all.

But if we take sips of knowledge from God’s slow patient teaching and from conferences, we won’t drown or dry up.

Sip. Sip.

What Do We Need To Do?

There has been lots of talk over the last couple of weeks about the ACFW National Conference in Denver this week. Many of us have been frantic in our preparations, hours spent perfecting manuscripts, time agonizing over elevator pitches, palms sweating over potential meetings with agents and editors.

Even for those of us who won't be attending the conference, there have been ways to get involved. Preparing materials for our chapter, critiquing proposals for friends, volunteering to help set up tables -- many have gotten involved in countless ways.

So now that we are here, down to the wire, let's consider what part each one of us can play in the conference, regardless of whether we are attending or not. Just because it seems like the work is done, it really isn't.

As you have read in previous blogs, there will be over 500 Christian writers coming from all over the world. While sometimes it can seem like we are involved in a solitary pursuit, the fact that 500 like-minded believers are coming to Denver should light a fire inside of each one of us.

What part can every writer out there play, regardless of their financial situation, publishing situation, writing accomplishment situation, family situation -- regardless of where we are and what we are doing?

Pray.

Pray like you've never prayed before.

The enemy will be faithful to attack over and over again during this conference. We've already seen instances where he tried to keep people from attending, from driving here. We know he is roaming around, looking for who he may devour.

And it can be easy to let him devour our hopes for this conference. He can steal our joy, rob us of our finances, purloin our travel arrangements. He is more than happy to keep us from fulfilling the plan of God.

So pray. Pray for safe travel for all attendees. Pray for protection and provision for the families left at home. Pray for open hearts for agents and editors to recognize passion. Pray for hearts content to let God work His will. Pray for strength, sweet sleep, settled stomachs, and a desire to learn, share, and minister.

Because sometimes the most important meetings at conferences don't happen across the desk in an appointment time. Sometimes the most ministry happens in the hallway, the elevator, or even the bathroom. Sometimes the best relationships are developed between room mates who were strangers before the conference.

Please pray for those attending, those teaching, those searching for the next best seller. Pray for those who are not attending, who wanted to come but couldn't for any number of reasons. And, please, pray for those who will be serving at the conference, the hotel staff, that they would see the love of Jesus in the midst of their workplace.

We are part of a large group of Christian Writers -- let's not forget the Christian part in the busyness of the Writer part.

The Writers Are Coming! The Writers Are Coming!

I feel somewhat like Chicken Little running up and down the streets shouting, "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!" only no one listened to her. I pray that doesn't happen here. :) In fact, I pray just the opposite. That a whole host of people will read this and learn it's a GOOD thing that the writers are coming to town.

That's right. It's time for the 8th annual ACFW Conference, and it's coming to Denver!

Some have already started arriving, but by Thursday, there will be over 500 authors, writers, editors, agents and other industry professionals present at the Denver Marriott Tech Center for fun, fellowship, training, networking, and delicious food! As a friend always says, "It's all about the food."

I'm thrilled to see the conference come to a town near me...even if I can't take advantage of it due to lack of funds. But I can still come up and hang out in the lobby and see all my friends passing by on their way to somewhere important. :) Just being present at the hotel will be a treat, as I can soak up the atmosphere and ride on the wave of excitement that fills the air each year at this conference.

It's the premier fiction writer's conference in the country, and the authors that come out of this organization are top notch, some even going on to become best-selling and award-winning authors. The training and instruction and mentoring can't be equaled anywhere else that I've found. So many members have a heart to help, which is truly inspiring.

And where else are you going to find over 100 authors all signing in the same place? You heard me right. Over 100. Go here to find a complete list.

So, Denver....look out! We're going to take this city by storm, make our mark and leave our calling card once we're gone.

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Tiffany Amber Stockton is an author, online marketing specialist and freelance web site designer who lives with her husband and fellow author in beautiful Colorado Springs. They celebrated the birth of their first child in April and have a vivacious puppy named Roxie, a Border Collie/Flat-Haired Retriever mix. She has sold eight books so far to Barbour Publishing. Other credits include writing articles for various publications, five short stories with Romancing the Christian Heart, and contributions to the books: 101 Ways to Romance Your Marriage and Grit for the Oyster.

Read more about her at her web site: http://www.amberstockton.com/.

Perfecting Your Pitch

The annual ACFW conference is next week. I'm really getting excited to see so many friends and meeting new ones, especially our newer members here in Colorado.

One of the things that gets everyone, especially those who have yet to sell a book to an agent or editor, is the pitch. Including me. I hesitated putting the word perfecting in the title to this post, because I'm sure there are others reading this that fight perfectionism like I do. Daily. And if it's not perfect why bother to do it all? Right?

Wrong.

Okay, I know that in my head, and even through experience. But that doesn't keep me from going through it all again when it comes time to do this again.

So how do I perfect my pitch? Thankfully there's lots of guidance out there on this subject. But an article I read in the Christian Fiction Online Magazine last week says it better than I can. So I'm going to let Brandilyn Collins tackle the subject for me. *smile*

Go here to read her words of wisdom.

And if you're in the area next Monday (Sept. 14), Rachelle Gardner, Wordserve Literary agent, will be discussing this topic at the HIS Writers chapter meeting. They meet 7:00–9:00 p.m. at the Borders in the shopping center on the northwest corner of 104th Ave. and I-25. We look forward to seeing you there!

One Thing Leads To Another

In the olden days, writing was a solitary, lonely process. When I started out writing, there was no ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) to find other writers to commune with; there wasn’t even ACRW (American Christian Romance Writers). You counted yourself lucky to happen upon another writer in your town. You sent your proposals off to an editor by snail-mail with a SASE (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope). And dinosaurs roamed the earth. (But I won’t get into dinosaurs in this post.)

I had taken a correspondence course and then found out that there was another lady in our church who was a writer too. We became friends. She knew someone who knew someone who knew a lady who was part of a critique group. My friend told me to call and I did. We both joined the group. It was so great to have other writers to understand and support me. (Because let’s face it, we writers are a different breed.)

Then I moved and lost my support group. I was alone again, writing by myself in my closet. I was desperate to find other writers, so I searched and found one. It wasn’t like my old group, but I was around writers again. :-D

The leader of that group told me about a writers conference where I met a woman who told me about another conference that I also went to. Through circumstances beyond my control, my writing sample that was supposed to go to one of my favorite authors went to an editor to be read. I was terrified. But meeting with that editor led to my first book contract and publication.

So what? You’re probably thinking.

So because I met the other writer lady at church, I joined a critique group which led to another writing group which got me to my first conference which led to my second conference which eventually led to my first contract.

If you are one of the people who don’t think you are ready to go to a conference or that you shouldn’t go because you don’t think you should spend the money, you should go. Ready or not, conferences prepare you in your writing growth. I was not ready for my first conference, but it prepared me for the next one and my first sale.

It is all a building process. You don’t know what God has planned or who He has for you to meet, so . . .

One Thing Can Lead To Another. If you don’t go, you could miss the one thing that leads to all the others.

ACFW has an awesome conference September 17th - 20th. If you are thinking of going, GO! And see what God is going to start.

Conference Time

It's that time of the year again. Right now I'm at the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference, helping Marlene Bagnull with the second conference she runs each year. I arrived last Wednesday night, and we've been scrambling ever since to get the details taken care of. We have a record number attending this year at 283, and we are rejoicing in God's provision. Of course it makes for more behind-the-scenes work. This year, Marlene also put me on faculty, and today I taught my editing workshop on punctuation. Would you believe around 50 people attended that class? We had great participation, but goodness, my mind still boggles at that number. And today I had a good number of appointments, as well. I'm excited about those I spoke to today.

As always it's good to connect with other writers, editors, agents, and publishers—people who understand and love this wonderful world of writing and the unique minds that go with it. And I'm loving seeing my Colorado friends here in Philly, many of them for the first time: Jeff Gerke, Tanya Warrington, and Shannon (Hill) Marchese. And I'm probably missing someone. Though I'm too tired to go look at the list.

Next month is the annual ACFW Conference in Denver! And I already can't wait. I'm looking forward to more wonderful times with my writer friends. This is the one conference I attend that I pay for. But even then I won't be sitting idly in classes. Since Colorado is hosting the conference we have many unique opportunities to volunteer and give back to a great organization. Some of the opportunities we've already let you know about through our chapters and the ACFW Colorado loop. Others we will try to keep you updated with here on the blog as they come up. If you are interested in helping out in some way, please leave a comment on the blog, and I'll get back to you with the possibilities. Many of you have already volunteered. Thank you to all of you for making ACFW Colorado a great place to be!