Edie Here: This blog post will help writing Discover how Christian authors can build lasting industry relationships through conferences, associations, and God-led connections for writing success.
Building Industry Relationships: How Christian Writers Find Success Through Community
by Susan U. Neal @SusanNealYoga
Developing relationships with industry professionals is key to success as a Christian author. I know it has been for me. You never know how someone will inspire, encourage, or positively affect your career.
Attend Writer Conferences
I started meeting industry professionals by attending writer conferences. The first conference I attended was the Florida Christian Writers Conference (FCWC). I had been writing for about five years, but I was so new that I realized at the conference registration desk that I didn’t know how to properly pronounce genre. Yes, all of us start out not knowing much about this profession.
Volunteer and Serve
At the FCWC I found out about Word Weavers a Christian writers group and joined a local chapter in Destin, Florida in 2015. By 2018 I was the president of that chapter and for another online chapter. By 2019, I became a Word Weaver mentor for three in-person chapters. I got to know so many industry professionals through this volunteer leadership experience. And influencers like Eva Marie Everson got to know me.
In 2021 when I became the director of the Christian Indie Publishing Association (CIPA) and Christian Indie Awards, Eva Marie Everson gave me free coaching on how to set up the awards so it would be modeled after the Selah Awards. When you serve others, they naturally want to serve you too.
In 2024 Eva Marie also coached me on taking over the directorship of the Blue Lake Christian Writers Conference. She had previously been a faculty member at the conference and knew all about it. It was for me to step into this leadership role, but God equipped me with the people I needed to help.
Make Influencer Appointments at Conferences
In 2018, while at the FCWC, I made an appointment with Edie Melson. I met with her to discuss a healthy living journal manuscript I was writing. She offered to Zoom with me for free after the conference to explain a bullet journal to me. She was so kind that I dedicated my book to her, Healthy Living Journal: Track Your Healthy Eating and Living Habits for Improved Health and Well-Being. At that time I started attending Edie’s conference, the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.
Edie asked me to write a monthly article for her blog, The Write Conversation. However, I was reluctant at first because I didn’t know if I really had something beneficial to offer. There was that inferiority complex. She asked me again to write for her blog when I saw her at AWSA conference, and I accepted. I also gave her a copy of the book I dedicated to her.
I have been blogging for The Write Conversation for the past seven years. I love it. At first I wrote blogs about healthy living, such as Tips to Stay Physically Active When Writing. After I became successful with book marketing, I started blogging about that subject. I have an MBA and marketing comes naturally to me.
After I became the director of CIPA and Christian Authors Network (CAN), I was able to add links to courses and these associations in my blogs. This was a win-win situation for me to serve The Write Conversation readers while promoting my business. What did I tell you about marketing feeling natural to me.
Join Author Associations
I met Linda Evans Shepherd in 2018 when she taught a speaking continuing track at the FCWC. After that, I joined her organization the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA), and I’ve attended her conference every year since then. Linda gave me my first break with speaking by asking me to teach a class at the AWSA conference in 2019. After that other conferences started allowing me to teach.
It takes a while for influencers to remember you because they meet so many people while teaching and speaking. Therefore, you need to see them numerous times before they will remember who you are and what you write. That’s why it is important to introduce yourself, make appointments, and sit with them at meals while at conferences.
Obtain Certifications
I have taken the AWSA coaching program to become a certified writer coach and their Power Speaking program. It’s always a great idea to improve your skill. I’ve been coaching authors since I graduated from that program in 2019 and have been able to quadruple my rates with loads of demand since then. It’s very important to invest in our education. How else can we improve?
Attend Trade Shows
In 2019 I attended the Christian Product Expo with AWSA where I was introduced to my first retailer trade show. I try to get the most out of author associations by participating in the variety of things they offer. That’s where I visited the CIPA booth, met Sarah Bolme (the founder), and joined as soon as I returned home. I wanted to continue learning about this industry, and CIPA helps authors publish professionally and market effectively. I needed all the help I could get.
In February 2020 I attended the National Religious Broadcasters convention with CIPA for the first time. What an amazing experience to obtain so many media interviews and participate in a book signing for 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates where I had a 30-foot-long line of people waiting to get a signed copy of my book. I felt like I had finally arrived as a successful author.
As Sarah Bolme and I were leaving the convention, I asked her what her plans were for this year. She indicated that she was retiring at the end of the year and was praying for God to rise up a leader to take over the organization because it had always been God’s business. I prayed for her next ministry and didn’t give a second thought about CIPA’s leadership.
Say Yes to God
Then, in the middle of the night, God woke me up. We wrestled. He wanted me to become the leader of CIPA. I resisted—I already had a mission to inspire others to improve their health so they could serve God better. But God gave me a dual mission—to also help Christian authors get their divine-inspired messages into the hands of more readers to further the kingdom of God.
God has bigger and better plans than we could ever imagine. Ephesian 3:20, Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think (NLT).
I said yes and became the CIPA Director in 2021. That same year, several CAN board members joined CIPA and were impressed with the high standard of excellence it provided authors. (I used to be an administrator at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville—my standards are high!) In 2022 I became the director of the Christian Authors Network.
In 2025 I became the director of the Blue Lake Christian Writers Conference. The founder, Marilyn Turk, is a friend from of the Destin Word Weavers group. When she announced she was retiring, I prayed and felt led to accept. With over 500 CAN and CIPA members, plus the Christian Indie Awards and CAN Excellence in Marketing Awards to oversee, it made sense to have a conference where we could announce and celebrate the winners.
I didn’t seek out these ministries. But when God opened a door, I prayed, and walked through it trusting that he would provide the help and resources I needed to serve him well. God equips the called, and meeting industry professionals was key.
Steps to Develop Writing Industry Relationships
What should you do to develop industry relationships?
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- 1. Attend writer conferences. I’ve attended three to four conferences per year since 2017 when I committed to becoming a professional author. In 2021 I transitioned to teaching at them.
- 2. Make appointments with industry professionals. Research shows takes up to seven times before someone buys a product. It may take that many encounters before an influencer remembers who you are and what you write in.
- 3. Travel with writer friends. Drive or fly with writer friends to conferences because a trip is a great way to build deeper connections. I always ask my fellow writer group members who is attending a conference and coordinate travel plans if possible.
- 4. Room with someone new. I know this can be scary but pray and put it in God’s hands. In 2021 I posted on the AWSA email group that I needed a roommate for the AWSA Conference and Christian Product Expo convention. Virginia Grounds replied and we became roommates. We got along so well that she later became the CIPA eBlast Coordinator, but more than that we became dear friends.
- 5. Join a writers group. I’ve been a member of the Destin Word Weaver group for ten years. I would not be where I am today, with ten published books, including How to Sell 1,000 Books a Month.) without the support of this group. I highly recommend joining word-weavers.com.
- 6. Hire a coach. I wish I had done this sooner as it would’ve shaved years off of my learning curve. I got my first professional coaching at the AWSA Conference in 2018. At that point I had five books and no website. We all have to start somewhere, right? The coach helped me determine my next steps: create a website, get professional photographs, and develop my brand. I wish I had done this in 2016 when I published my first book. Coaching is worth the investment. You can see my coaching packages here.
- 7. Join writer associations. I started with Christian book Academy, which taught me how to write a book. Then I joined Word Weavers. AWSA took me to the next level. CIPA taught me how to market my books. If you are traditionally published, CAN is a great fit.
The Christian writing world is encouraging, not competitive. Linda Evans Shepherd, the founder of AWSA, even invited me to her home when I was vacationing in Colorado. You never know how one relationship can influence your career and future. Seeking out and develop relationships—they are key to building the kingdom of God together. That’s how God designed us, to live in community with unity and peace.
Please share other ways you’ve developed relationships with industry relationships. I’d love to them!
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