How Writing Ruined My Wife—Now I’m a Book Collector Too

My wife had this autographed—to me.

I was perfectly happy not being a reader. Oh I can read, I just never much cared to. I made it all way through school—with a master’s degree in engineering—without commercial fiction. I thought I was safe…then my wife began writing.

Thursday Review—Top 10 Reasons to Attend a Writers Conference

Say YES to moving forward by attending a conference!

It's that time of year again. Writing conferences are gearing up, the faculty has been chosen and the websites are humming, ready to take your reservations. So why attend a writers conference? Is there anything to be gained? I believe the answer is an unequivocal yes!

Thursday Review—the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference

photo provided by Mary Denman

The Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference is unique in what it offers those attending. Ask those who’ve come in the past to describe their experience and you’ll frequently find the conference described as a small gathering of family and friends. That may seem odd, considering it’s one of the largest Christian conferences in the US. 

But this description is at the heart of why so many return to Blue Ridge year after year. In spite of the numbers, the staff and faculty are committed to meeting the needs of each individual. Everything has been carefully planned to encourage a camaraderie of writers growing together in their craft and in their faith.

If you haven’t attended, here are some of the highlights:

Photo provided by Mary Denman

Registration is where it all begins on Sunday afternoon. You’ll hear squeals of recognition, as well as a murmur of introductions as lifelong friendships take root. This is also where the newbies gather, excited to put faces to names. Most have already met through the Blue Ridge Yahoo group where writers gather to network before and after the conference. Membership is moderated by Edie Melson to prevent spammers, but encouraged for anyone who has ever attended or who’s interested in attending the conference.

After everyone gets settled into their rooms and has supper, the first big meeting takes place. The Monday night kick-off includes the first keynote of the week and after, an introduction to the faculty. Alton Gansky—Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference director—gives a run-down of any last minute schedule changes and then dismisses the assembly to sign-up for the coveted 15 minute appointments.

Meals are a great place to meet with the faculty and network with other writers. Each round table in the cafeteria has the name of a faculty member posted and attendees are encouraged to use lunch and supper to meet with faculty. Breakfast is informal, with faculty not required to attend, but lunch and dinner are a great time to make valuable contacts.

Classes are divided into several categories:

Photo courtesy of Mary Denman

• Continuing Classes are classes that continue all week during that time slot and build on previous sessions. To get the most from these classes it’s best to stick with the same one all week if possible. But if you find yourself in a class that doesn’t fit, don’t hesitate to change to one that does.
• Workshops are one time sessions. These classes give you all the information during one class time.
• Practicums are special, hands-on classes. These vary in how many sessions they are held. Some are only one session, others last all day—everyday. There are two offered that require PRE-REGISTRATION, so be sure to check the class listings.
• Next.Level Classes are sessions geared toward the more experienced writer and contain advanced material.
• One of the unique aspects of Blue Ridge is the fact that attendees aren’t required to sign up for a classes in advance. We understand that your needs change—sometimes abruptly—and what you thought you wanted to concentrate on when you signed up for the conference may be radically different from what you need when you arrive. 

Photo courtesy of Mary Denman

Evenings are special at Blue Ridge, beginning with keynotes from amazing professionals. They also include a chance to see the sillier side of some of our faculty with an always hilarious improv offering.

After hours you’ll find groups gathering at Clouds coffee shop (where they serve Starbucks coffee) or in the lobby of Mountain Laurel. Many times faculty will sit around talking and catching up—but don’t shy away—the point is always to include attendees and make them feel like they belong.

15 Minute Appointments are held in a central location—the Rhododendron Auditorium—you’ll find others waiting who are just as nervous as you, so don’t hesitate to strike up a conversation.

Awards Banquet on Wednesday night is a highlight for everyone—no matter if you entered a contest or not. By then you’ve made close friends out of strangers and everyone has someone to root for. The dress for the banquet is varied. It’s a fun time to dress up a little, but no one goes overboard. Just a nice dress or slacks for the ladies and a jacket for the men—ties always optional.

I hope this gives you a taste of what to expect. It’s by no means exhaustive, but hey, everyone needs a few good surprises. I’m looking forward to meeting all of you at the 2011 conference and hopefully the Yahoo group as well! 

To make reservations for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference, call 1.800.588.7222.

To register online click here.

Now it's your turn, if you've attended Blue Ridge in the past, please share one of your highlights from years past.

Don't forget to join the conversation!

Blessings

Edie

Conference Etiquette from Vonda Skelton

Today I’m finishing up my series on attending a writers conference with a great post from my writing and critique partner—Vonda Skelton. She originally posted this on her blog in 2009. Read the original here. She offers great advice on how to be a gracious addition to any conference!

Vonda Skelton is a national speaker, freelance writer, and the author of four books, including Seeing Through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe and the Bitsy Burroughs Mysteries for kids. She is the owner of The Christian Writer’s Den Writing Blog, She and Gary have been married 41 years—and they’re still happy about it! 

Conference Etiquette

Here are some suggestions on how to be a gracious receiver of an editor's or agent's or other faculty member's time and input:

1. Seriously pray about and consider who you should meet in faculty appointments. Don't just take an appointment because there's an opening. I did that the first year. Signed up to talk to just about everybody-even if I had no intention of ever writing what they'd be interested in! Wasted my time and theirs.
2. Be on time for your faculty appointments and be considerate when the faculty member says the time is up. I think most instructors are like me and try to stay on schedule in fairness to all those with appointments.
3. Listen more than you talk. Like many others, I tend to talk too much when I'm nervous. And before I learned this lesson, the less I knew, the more I talked! The best use of your time is to make a short introduction, tell a little about your experience, ask a sensible question, and then listen. Don't plan your next question while the person is answering the one you just asked. Really listen. Take notes if necessary. Follow up with other questions as time allows.
4. If you're getting a critique, don't defend every point the critiquer makes. If you do, you're wasting valuable time you could be using to learn. Of course, you may have questions you need answered for clarification, but don't argue or rationalize every point. Sincere questions are one thing, continually being on the defensive is another.
5. Realize that instructors will most likely be unable to take your manuscript home from the conference. Remember, you're one person. Multiply that by 300-400 students. If they are interested, they'll give you instructions for sending it to them.
6. Faculty members love to eat with students, answering questions and giving encouragement. But don't hog the conversation at meals. Occasionally there are those who dominate the conversation, treating the opportunity as one-on-one time.  Not good.
7. One more thing about meals with faculty: It's really nice when they can get a bite or two of food in.
8. Be considerate: Don't shove your manuscript in their faces in the restroom. Don't interrupt a conversation or break in line to speak to someone.  Don't bad mouth one instructor to another. ;-)
9. And a common courtesy that's often missing in our culture today: thank you notes. Handwritten ones are especially nice, but email ones are certainly acceptable. I cringe every time I think of those kind people who invested in me...and yet, I never even wrote a thank you note. Sadly, that wasn't something that I was taught as a child, and I didn't even take such notes seriously until someone mentioned it regarding conferences. Now I try to write notes to everyone who does a kindness to me. Sometimes I forget, but it is something I want to do. They've invested time in me. The least I can do is invest time to write a note.

So there you have it--suggestions on how to present yourself as a professional writer, as well as a kind, considerate person. ;-)

Now it's your turn - have you witnessed any crazy behavior at a writers conference? Have you seen anyone go above and beyond at a conference? I want to hear your stories.

And don't forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,

Vonda

Top Ten Reasons to Attend a Writers Conference!

This time of year writing conferences are gearing up, the faculty has been chosen and the websites are humming, ready to take your reservations. So why attend a writer's conference? Is there anything to be gained? I believe the answer is a resounding, YES. 

Personally, I've been attending large conferences for years. And as my experience level has increased so have the benefits from attending. Here are my top ten reasons to attend a writer’s conference this year.

10. Relationships. Writing is all about relationships – your relationship with the reader, with the editor and with other writers.

9. Loneliness. Writing is a lonely business. We need time to socialize with others who get this crazy passion we have with words.

8. Confirmation. We all face doubts as to whether or not we really are a writer. A conference is the best place to confirm that calling and receive support from our peers.

7. Misery loves company. If you have spent any time at all as a writer, you know all about rejection. It helps to hear other people talk about their experiences and realize we all face the same thing.

6. The classes. Where else can you spend hours at a stretch learning about all the different aspects of writing?

5. Late night brainstorming sessions. Many of us keep odd hours as writers, where else can you find others ready to share a cup of coffee and discuss an idea at 2am?

4. Meet your neighbor. Okay, I admit, this one’s personal for me. But I had to go to a writer’s conference to meet my writing buddy Vonda Skelton – who lives less than 3 minutes away!

3. Hang out with the stars. We all have writers we admire and a conference where they are on staff is the perfect place to get to know them.

2. Sharpen that pitch. If you want to pitch an idea, a conference is the perfect place to try it out on other professionals before you send it to the editor.

1. Network, Network, Network. Like I said, writing is all about relationships and its human nature for an editor to prefer someone he’s met to someone he doesn’t know.

So where should you start in your search for a conference? I can recommend quite a few, from experience and reputation. The Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and The Southwest Christian Writers Studio for a start. Next week I’ll post about how to choose a conference that’s a good fit for you.

In the meantime, I'm taking your suggestions. What conferences have you enjoyed the most? 

Don't forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,

Edie

Thursday Review - ACFW Bound - Part Two

It's been an amazing day . . . and I'm exhausted! Those of you who've been to writing conferences know what I mean. It's an "I can't stuff any more knowledge into my brain" sort of tired.

This moring we had the priviledge of learning from James Scott Bell from 8am until 12. I've taken his class twice before, but I learn so much, it all seems brand new. I reviewed his third book on writing, The Art of War for Writiers in my very first Thursday review, if you're curious why I think he's so great.

Then lunch with my newest friends  fellow writers MBT Ponderers. An amazing group of encouraging, praying, talented writers. Several of the group are Genesis finalists so I feel like I have a vested interest in who wins on Sunday evening.

Then, tonight we heard from Tim Downs. He delivered a great keynote. I can hardly wait to gett some of his books to read!

Supper (Jim Bell claimed not to know what "supper" was - said he'd heard of dinner, but not supper - he's from CA, need I say more?) was really good. I can already tell I'm going to eat way too much while I'm here. Tonight their were editor panels and tomorrow night will be agent panels.

Like I said, my mind has turned to mush. Tomorrow my first appointment is with editor Jeff Gerke - I've been practicing my pitch all evening And thanks to my MBT Ponderer friends it's honed to a razor sharp edge.

Tomorrow is packed with appointments, meals and workshops, I miss all my Blue Ridge buddies, but Lisa Carter and I are representing!

I'll be back tomorrow with more updates.
Don't forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie

Thursday Review - Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference

I've been attending the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference for 9 years now. This year, May 16-19, I got to meet many of you in my classes or through 15 minute appointments. Although Blue Ridge isn't the first writers conference I've attended, it's definitely one of my favorites. Today I'll share why.

Warning, Grammar Note: Many of you have asked me why there isn't an apostrophe in "Writers" in the above conference title. It's because the writers attending don't possess the conference - they don't own it. The word is plural, not possessive.

Blue Ridge is one of the bigger Christian writers conferences so it has plenty to offer, no matter what level you're at in your career. The director, Alton Gansky, goes to great lengths to insure there are classes on everything from memoirs to marketing, all sprinkled with truths from God's Word. This year there were approx 40 faculty members and almost 370 attendees. It made for some heady worship times in the general sessions and lots of smaller God moments.

If you're anywhere on the eastern side of the continent, then attending Blue Ridge is almost a no brainer. This year there were several agents and book editors taking appointments. There were also several magazines and devotion markets represented. All of these are opportunities for the attendees to get their work seen and in some cases, contracted.

For those who find themselves on the western side of the continent, Al has a new conference this year - Southwest Christian Writers Studio - October 19-22, 2010. This is a more exclusive conference, taking only the first 100 who register. Knowing what Al has done with Blue Ridge, I don't hesitate to also recommend this conference.

Stop by and tell me what you thought of Blue Ridge this year, whether you were a new attendee or one who's been going for years.
Don't forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie

Staying on Track with an Article

I just returned from teaching at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference last week and while I was there I had the opportunity to meet with lots of new writers. I love talking to those just starting out—they are so enthusiastic it’s contagious.

But with that enthusiasm sometimes comes a lack of focus. Newer writers tend to want to cover everything, in every piece they write. So today I’m going to give you some hints to help you stay on track.

The ability to keep focused on your subject matter is important whether you write fiction or non-fiction. But this column will deal with short writing—specifically with articles. In the next few weeks we’ll tackle other forms of writing.

It's critical to keep your reader engaged when you’re writing an article. Today’s readers have shorter attention spans than ever before and very few will tolerate rabbit trails to nowhere. Here are some specific ways to keep your articles on track.

• Pinpoint Focus – make your subject matter as specific as possible. Don’t just write about babysitting, that’s way too broad a subject. Pick a slant, like babysitting certification for teenagers.
• Theme Sentence – I always have a single sentence that sums up the point of my article. If I can’t say it in one sentence, I know I haven't narrowed my topic sufficiently. I write that sentence on a sticky note and keep it visible while I do my research and write my article. It helps me cull out information I don’t need and keep me focused.
• Self Editing – I always take time to go back though my article and check to see that every single sentence relates to my focus. It may be a beautifully crafted sentence, but if it doesn’t relate it’s useless to me and especially to my reader.

What tips have helped you to stay focused on your subject? I'd love know, so don't hesitate to share them with us.

Don’t forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie