by Cindy K. Sproles @CindyDevoted
Being raised in the mountains of East Tennessee, I didn’t have access to a great choice of classes in high school. Many small county school systems were and still are financially challenged, so these writing classes simply were not a part of the school curriculum. Schools inside the cities have a greater financial advantage over smaller county schools that don’t have access to additional tax funding that provides a greater school curriculum.
When I attended my first conference, I had no idea about POV (Point of View) or even what it was. I didn’t have a clue about plotting, description, or voice. I knew basic English. I’d never had a deeper exposure to the writing world because our schools just didn’t offer those types of classes.
There were so many wonderful folks who kindly educated me on writing as a career at conferences. I will always be grateful for their help in helping me understand the steps of writing for publication.
Conferences are wonderful places. They give us an opportunity to meet other like-minded people who love the craft of writing. Conferences give us hoards of learning, tons of ideas, and truckloads of information to process. Let’s face it. Conferences are super places, and it’s one reason you should take the time to encourage interested newbies to attend.
I was recently at a book signing in Knoxville, TN, when a young woman came up and began to chat. I eventually found out she was writing but had no direction. The closest conference to her that fit into her work/school schedule was the Carolina Christian Writers Conference. I immediately fed her the information and guess what? She attended. That conference was her first real writing experience.
There is so much to learn about the craft of writing, and it’s up to us to share those things with other writers. At the risk of sounding contradictory, “a writer does not a teacher make.” So, what exactly does that mean?
It can be an assortment of things. To the conferee’s advantage, directors vet their teachers. Most host faculty that are multi-published in the traditional publishing world or who have the credentials to offer private editing and mentoring. Publishers who attend are well-versed in the industry, and most have years of publishing, editing, and writing experience under their belts. Conferees can trust that those who are tasked with teaching and taking appointments have the experience and knowledge to assist up-and-coming writers.
What this means is you, as a conferee, always do your homework when it comes to hiring unvetted individuals to help you with your work. More times than not, this goes array when a conferee hires another conferee to edit. They may assume they will receive a content edit when what they end up with is a comma queen. I’ve had conferees tell me they hired another conferee who sat next to them to do editing. That person told them they could edit. After paying them in advance, the conferee who hired this person, never got the first edit. Do your homework on individuals. Ask for references, and do not pay upfront because as much as we’d like to think that dishonesty or lack of integrity doesn’t exist in the Christian Conference world, it does. Be wise before you hire work done.
Anyone can write a piece that looks nice and might be published in the church newsletter, but that doesn’t make that person a qualified editor. Again, always do your homework.
Learn to listen to your faculty. Trust that they are guiding you with experience and knowledge. The first thing you will hear faculty members say is to learn the craft. That is, first and foremost, why you attend a writing conference. The rest is a progression.
- Learn the craft.
- Write.
- Improve.
- Complete a manuscript.
- Seek an agent.
- Seek publication.
This line of progression that, when followed, grows you as a writer and protects your heart from huge disappointment. You won’t be published until you have work completed that is of publishable quality. It takes time to learn the craft.
We can rush a project into a one-sheet, present it to a publisher, and even get a nod to send the manuscript, but have no completed manuscript, there is nothing to publish, and an opportunity passes by you like a vapor. Writing is a process that is both joyful and frustrating. It’s a long, drawn-out process that, when done well, has earned every minute it’s taken. Be patient. Don’t rush. Do your best work and bring it to fruition, then seek an agent and publication. This industry demands time.
Come to a conference ready to learn. Soak in all you can. Share what you’ve learned with others and help those who are just starting the journey. Though the writing industry has limited slots for publications, it doesn’t mean you aren’t good enough. It simply means you keep writing, editing, learning, and know that the right moment will come for you. Seek out that wonderful Christian Writers Market Guide, and the opportunities will pour out of the pages.
We’ll see you soon at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.
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