Blogger: Mary Keeley
Location: Books & Such Midwest Office, Illinois
The largest number of writers conferences occur in the spring. Now is a good time to map out your plan to attend at least one conference this year if at all possible. Even if you have been to conferences before, the benefits are new and fresh each time. Among them are:
- Introduce yourself to editors and tell them about your book project. Many editors won’t look at your proposal unless they met you at a conference or it was submitted by an agent.
- Learn how to solve problems you are struggling with—and improve your craft in general—in the continuing sessions, clinics, and workshops.
- Meet and develop lasting friendships with other writers of like mind and passion in a Christ-centered atmosphere.
- Find critique partners.
- Sign up to have an editor critique your WIP (requires a fee).
- Learn industry news and what editors and agents are looking for during the panel discussions.
- Take time away from the daily routine to refresh, clean out the cobwebs, and be inspired to keep going and growing.
Here are dates of some of the Christian writers conferences this year:
Writing for the Soul Feb 16–19 Denver, CO
Florida Christian Writers Conference March 1–4 Leesburg, FL
Mount Hermon (Headstart Mentoring Clinic) March 28–29 Mount Hermon, CA
Mount Hermon Writers Conference March 30–April 3 Mount Hermon, CA
Colorado Christian Writers Conference March 16–19 Estes Park, CO
Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conf. May 20–24 Asheville, NC
Write-to-Publish Conference May 30–Jun 2 Wheaton, IL
Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conf August 1–4 Langhorne, PA
Oregon Christian Writers Conference August 13–16 Turner, OR
American Christian Fiction Writers Conf Sept 20–23 Dallas, TX
CLASS Christian Writers Conference Oct 31–Nov1 Abiquiu, NM
The Christian Writers’ Market Guide offers a comprehensive list of conferences. Also go to the American Christian Writers website to check out their one- and two-day conferences in various U.S. cities between March and the end of the year. There’s even a conference on a Caribbean cruise!
Spend time on conference websites to check out the general sessions and workshops. If you have the ability to travel a distance, choose the one that seems to best meet your needs. If you need to stay close to home, the nearest conference is automatically the best one for you, rather than not going to a conference at all.
How do you get ready to make a strong positive impression and gain the most bang for your buck out of a conference? I’ll talk about that tomorrow.
Tell us about one of your writers conference experiences. In what ways did attending help you?
Sarah Thomas
My first conference was secular. Since then, I’ve been to two Christian conferences. Night and day! The secular conference was super competitive and cliquish. The Christian conferences were super supportive and welcoming. Going to a conference is THE way to find cheerleaders and to learn that agents and editors are just regular people who hope your book is spectacular.
Cynthia Herron
Mary, the ACFW conference last September was defintely a highlight for me. Though I’d been to smaller conferences over the years, the ACFW conference was where I learned the most. The keynote address by Tracie Peterson was amazing, as were the various writing workshops and clinics offered. And to worship each morning alongside 700+ fellow writers and believers was a great kick-start to the day.
There was so much to take part in that it would have been impossible to do it all, but that’s the beauty of attending a larger conference–I was able to choose from a wide variety of options and ones that best suited my needs.
Conferences offer unique ways to learn, network, and take part. I wholeheartedly recommend them! (And of course, having a Starbucks close by is a definite plus.)
Sarah Forgrave
I agree, Mary. The benefits of a writers conference are too many to count. It’s neat to see layers of relationships deepen at each conference I attend.
Cheryl Malandrinos
I love attending conferences. Since I work from home and there isn’t a lot of support for my writing here, it’s good to be with fellow writers. I’ve met a lot of fabulous and helpful people.
Even though the agent meeting I had at WriteAngles last year ended up with a rejection, the agent provided so much helpful feedback that I know how to improve the manuscript before submitting it for consideration again.
Thanks for this post. Looking forward to tomorrow.
Meghan Carver
I have attended the Indianapolis Christian Writers Conference for the past two years, and the sessions have been amazing. A lot of it was material I had read in different books about the craft, but the conference gave the added dimension of interaction with the author. I also met with editors and that boosted my confidence that I can present myself as a competent professional (as a stay-at-home mom of six I first had to wipe the peanut butter off my fingers and locate a bag that wasn’t full of diapers!). I came home rejuvenated and ready to write.
Janet Ann Collins
Why are so many of them in the Spring? If they were spread out people might attend more than one.
Next week I’ll be speaking at a small one for beginning and intermediate writers, the Castro Valley Christian Writers Seminar. No agents or editors will be there, but it’s a great place to network with other writers and much less expensive than most.
Richard Mabry
I got my start at the Glorieta (NM) Christian Writers Conference (alas, no longer around), but my career was jump-started at Mount Hermon and my first contract was solidified by an interview at the ACFW Conference with the editor who was to finally sign me .
Expensive? You bet. Worth it, if you’re serious. Undoubtedly.
I’d urge your readers to attend if at all possible. I don’t think you’ll regret it.
Rich Gerberding
I went to Writing for the Soul and Indy last year, and wish I’d gone a couple years earlier. I learned so much at both, met my agent in Denver, and signed after Indy!
This year I’m planning on Write to Publish and Indy again. Hope to meet you in Wheaton.
Mary Keeley
Well, we all resoundingly agree on the benefits of attending writer’s conferences. I hope to see you at one of them. Rich, I hope to meet you at Write-to-Publish in Wheaton.
Leigh DeLozier
I’ve been to several good-size conferences over the last few years and have learned so much from the classes and keynotes, appointments, and just sharing with other writers. If budget and family weren’t factors to consider, I could probably find a conference to enjoy every month!
That being said, I’ve become pickier about the conferences I choose. The faculty and caliber of classes matter a lot, no matter how close by or inexpensive the conference might be.
I write for MG, so am going to Write 2 Ignite in Greenville, SC, next month (and I can drive instead of paying for airfare — yay!). It’s only 2 days, but the entire conference focuses on writing for kids, from picture/board books to YA. No, it’s not the biggest, flashiest conference out there. But I think it could fill a huge need for those of us writing for kids, and that’s what I’m looking for.
Jessica R. Patch
My first conference was last year at the WFTS conference in Denver. It was the best experience! I learned a lot about myself, and it was there I pitched to the fabulous Rachel Kent. She’s now my agent.
I’m looking forward to the ACFW conference this year.
Julie Surface Johnson
Mary, thank you for mentioning the OCW Summer Conference in Turner, Oregon. I’ve been to larger conferences, but one of the blessings of this one is having a greater opportunity to meet with caring editors and agents, like yourself, in a relaxed setting. This year OCW-SC will be offering 12 morning coaching classes and 32 afternoon workshops as well as mentoring appointments and manuscript submissions, etc. For more info, your readers can go to http://www.oregonchristianwriters.org.
Peter DeHaan
Another upcoming conference is the “Festival of Faith and Writing” at Calvin College (Grand Rapids, Michigan), April 19 – 21.
This will be my first year at this one, but everyone who’s been there before just gushes over it.
Nikole Hahn
Your conference present and past blog posts have been helpful as I prepared for The Writing For The Soul Conference this week.Thank you.