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The Benefits of Smaller Writers’ Conferences

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Blogger: Rachel Kent

There are many benefits to attending large writers’ conferences like ACFW, but smaller conferences have some great perks, too!

First is cost. The big conferences have to bring in a large faculty from all over to a large, expensive hotel. The registration fee has to be high. A small conference typically tries to tap in to local editors and agents to reduce some of that expense. And many of them are hosted at churches to reduce the overhead charges. Also, you can most likely find a Christian writers’ conference in your area–or at least within driving distance. Not having to pay for airline tickets will make a big difference in cost.

Even with a smaller faculty, the editors, freelancers, and agents are usually a great group of people. A lot of editors, freelancers, and agents like that the small conferences tend to be shorter, too. Less time away from the desk means that you don’t fall (as far) behind in your deadlines and office work. Faculty also like staying local if they can, so finding a small conference near a publishing house or agency you are interested in might lead to a meeting with a dream editor or agent.

A small conference is also a great opportunity for new writers to learn the ropes and to get connected. If you’ve never been to a conference, sometimes starting small is the best way to go. You can learn from all of the instructors and also get an idea of how the conferences work before you invest a lot to attend a big, expensive one. And sometimes writers aren’t even sure they want to be writers. A small conference is a great place to figure out if writing might be a good fit for you.  The small conferences tend to be less overwhelming than the large conferences. A new writer can feel more at home because it’s likely that there will be many other writers at your level at the same conference. The bigger conferences draw more published writers–which is awesome because you get to meet and learn from them–but it also means that the majority of the workshops might not be just right for you.

I’ve had positive experiences when I served on faculty at the San Diego Christian Writers’ Guild Conference; the Northwest Christian Writers’ Association conference in Seattle, Washington; Write! Canada in Ontario; and the Colorado Christian Writers’ Conference in Estes Park. All of the conferences were in beautiful locations, too! The smaller number of attendees meant that the editors, freelancers, and agents all got to meet with a large percentage of the people there. And two of these conferences had group appointments to alleviate the pressure of meeting with an industry professional. I’ve been to other small conferences, too, and all of them have been nice!

Mary Keeley and Wendy Lawton have enjoyed the SPEAK UP conference in Grand Rapids, MI in the past. It’s not as small as some of the conferences, but it’s a great one! I asked Mary about her experience there and she reported that the faculty was really good and the conference is unique because it caters to speakers and authors. There were a lot of new and unpublished authors in attendance. The total attendance was around 200.

What other small conferences have you attended?

What do you like about them?

SPEAK UP Scholarship Opportunity:

If you are interested in attending a conference this year, one of our blog commenters, Sheila King, wanted me to pass along some information about scholarships for the SPEAK UP 2015 Conference.  A supporter of the conference has donated 6 full tuition scholarships (worth $450) for writers. The scholarships will be given out based on need.  If you would like more information about this, please contact Sheila: SheilaKingauthor @ gmail.com (You will need to remove the spaces in the email address.)

Even if you don’t need a scholarship, feel free to check out the conference link to see if this one might be a good fit for you.

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  1. I first attended the Write to Publish Conference http://writetopublish.com/ in Wheaton, Illinois (outside of Chicago) over ten years ago. I was unpublished. The conference offers a wonderful learning experience of large and small group sessions, panels, critique groups, worship (lead by Cynthia Ruchti) and appointments with authors, editors, and agents. I continue to attend WTP every year. I love how the conference offers something for writers on every level. The continuing classes range from How to Get Published to a Freelance Career Track taught by Karen Porter.

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  2. Thanks for sharing all this, Rachel! I’d be interested in attending the SPEAK UP conference since I could drive to it. Plus, Grand Rapids is in such a pretty part of Michigan!

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  3. Oregon Christian Writers has a very good summer conference and it draws keynote speakers and agents and editors from farther afield than Oregon. I’d call it a mid-sized conference.

    I agree attending a small to mid sized conference is a great way to acclimate if the large ones are intimidating for the various reasons they can be.

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  4. I’m attending a three-day conference in April. It is named Called to Write and is in Pittsburg, Kansas. Here’s the link.
    http://calledtowriteconference.blogspot.com/

    Last summer I attended the Cedar Falls Christian Writers’ Conference in Iowa. It was my first one and I soaked up the experience. Had the guts to get a professional critique of some of my writing. It’s held in mid-June. Cecil Murphey was the big name there last year. Here’s the link to last year’s info. They haven’t posted anything yet for this year.
    http://cedarfallschristianwritersworkshop.org/

    Such a great post, Rachel.

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  5. Small conferences can be a delight; I’ve been to many, though not for writing.

    And Grand Rapids is indeed a lovely place. I would sign up for one of the scholarships if a) I were reasonably sure of being able to afford transport, b) I were reasonably sure of being well enough to travel, and c) I were reasonably sure of being alive next week, much less for the conference. The past week has been undiluted hell, and I went to the brink a few times, latest yesterday.

    A couple of small conference caveats –

    * – If you’ve only been to large conferences, treat small ones as a totally different animal, or you may be disappointed. There’s far less polish, far less swirl and excitement, and you may miss those factors more than you know, and end up metaphorically looking down your nose at what could otherwise have been a rewarding experience. I did, and regretted it.

    * – I have been to themed “tribute” engineering conferences celebrating the career of a single individual in academia, and these have typically been cliquish. The Friends Of The VIP were First Class, and everyone else was steerage. Perhaps it’s an engineering or, more likely, an academic phenomenon. More likely the latter, as egos grow to the point of inciting knife-fights over privileged parking spots…ADJACENT parking spots right outside the front door.

    I do thank everyone for their prayers and kind support. Please keep them coming; I won’t hesitate to say that while I’m up enough to write for a bit today, I am in deep, deep trouble, and the issue is very much in doubt.

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      • Consider us all Friends of the VIP–because you, Andrew, are our first class VIP. We are all smarter for just being in the presence of your thoughtful comments. Shelli nailed it, you amaze us. You are the heart of our little on-line writers conference. We pray for your continued strength, for your sake and (selfishly) our own.

      • Shelli, thank you so much. I will keep trying.

        Went down hard about 45 min ago, back in the chair for a little bit. For as long as I can.

        Being here, among my friends, means more than any of you could guess.

      • And Shirlee…I am flummoxed. And in tears.

        I will be here every day I can, and will put all the love and support I can into my words, for everyone.

        God willing, it will be awhile yet; today has turned ominous, but as Elvis sang,

        When you walk through the storm,
        hold your head up high,
        (can’t remember the next lines)
        …and you’ll never walk alone.

    • Andrew,
      Good to have you back!

      Praying for strength, for a real turn-around of your health situation, and for patience as you experience these set-backs.

      Hang in there – we are all with you on this.

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      • Sheila, thank you so much. Prayers are important, and felt…and they are keeping me upright as I type, literally.

        And thank you, Jill. It’s not fun, but it does bestow some spiritual perspective and life perspective that might make for a good book.

        Guess I am really a writer…lying in a foetal position and screaming in pain (with the dogs howling in dread, for effect), I’m still thinking…how do I write this scene, and infuse it with a touch of humour, or at least the absurd? (Because my head was pillowed upon a pile of…wait for it…BOOKS.)

        But I did come up with a lame joke…

        Why didn’t God let Satan kill Job?

        Because God didn’t want to be unemployed.

        Job-less, right?

        Let the groaning begin.

  6. I have attended the SCBWI Editor’s Day held at Cal State Fullerton several times. It’s a smaller conference with between 125-150 each time. There’s time for q&a sessions with the various speakers and time for networking built into the schedule, too. It has been good to see what editors of various genres are looking for, what their houses are publishing soon, what genres are over saturated, etc.

    In contrast, I’ve been to both BEA and ALA which have thousands of attendees! No time for questions, very impersonal, but lots of books and authors to see.

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  8. Is Mount Hermon a smaller conference? That’s one I’d like to attend … because of the location … location, location! And because reps from B&S are usually there and Jenni. Right?! 🙂

    I’m planning on attending ACFW Conference in Dallas this year. I know I’ll be lost as a goose, but at least I’ll be lost in my home state. 🙂 And I do not like driving in Dallas! I thought about signing up for a beginner class … one that instructs you, shows you the ropes … I’d probably meet new friends, but I’m afraid it will keep me from hanging out with writer friends … those I already know. Any advice?

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  9. I’ve been to the Philadelphia Christian Writer’s Conference (twice) and to a couple small workshops. Each has its advantages, and none were a waste of time. I find it hard to “sell myself” under any conditions, and a smaller group is less intimidating. But the experts were universally helpful and encouraging. I met some fascinating folks and came away with constructive ideas.

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  10. I attended a SCBWI conference this year on Mackinaw Island. It was expensive, but they pulled out the big guns and had legendary editors on board.

    The Speak Up Conference, is held by Carol Kent, well-known writer and speaker. The conference has three tracks – new speakers, advanced speakers, and writers. The keynotes are for all, then participants get split up into tracks.

    I attended both of the speaking levels many years ago, then a few times I helped Carol by facilitating small groups. This time (gulp) I am an author/mentor so I will do appointments with brand new writers. I look forward to helping them learn the ropes a little, but I do so humbly as I consider myself a relative starter. One thing I do well is connect people with resources, so I am confident that I can point them in the right direction. For sure I will suggest that they tune into the Books and Such blog for guidance!

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  11. I’ve been to Orange County Christian Writer’s Conference and I got so much out of it. I might go again this year, but only for one day to save on the hotel cost. That’s another nice thing about a smaller conference 🙂

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  12. I love our small, local conference. I can afford to go and there are always several awesome professionals to pitch to. It was great to meet you there Rachel, although the disadvantage I suppose is that you have to hear us pitch the same thing again. But it has also taught me something valuable. Perhaps, write something totally new instead of revise the same ms. for 10 years. Which I eventually did. So if I get to see you again, don’t worry, I will pitch something different.

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    • 🙂 You can feel free to send me your proposal in an email. I’d be happy to take a look. You don’t have to wait until I come to another Washington conference.

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      • Oh yeah… that is true. Thanks so much Rachel! I do enjoy pitching to you at conferences, but a brave e-mail is just as good…if not quite as chatty.

  13. The Speak Up conference is fantastic! I’ve attended for 3 or 4 years and have taught and facilitated groups for the past couple years. These scholarships are a wonderful opportunity! Because of the location in Grand Rapids, Carol is able to pull in a great group of editors and publishers.

    Another great smaller conference in Grand Rapids, Mi on Oct 9-10 is the Breathe Christian Writers Conference held on the campus of Cornerstone University and Grand Rapids Theological seminary. I’m on the planning committee and this year’s keynote is Steven James. We run around 125 attendees. I would love to see some of you there! Info at http://www.breatheconference.com

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  14. Mount Hermon is the largest conference that I have attended, and it’s definitely my favorite. But I have also been to some very nice smaller conferences. The West Coast Christian Writers’ Conference grew out of Jon Drury’s Christian Writers’ Seminar (after he retired). It was brand new this year and went beautifully! This conference does not invite editors; it’s all about learning. Registrants really benefit from this focus. WCCW is in Freemont, CA.

    I also attended the Write to Inspire Conference this year, which is VERY small–so small that everyone stays together the entire time instead attended workshops. The teaching was really good! And keeping everyone together created a nice intimate setting for learning and getting to know one another. Inspire is usually held in Sacramento.

    I had the fun of serving on the faculty at the Central Coast Writers’ Confence at Questa College (San Luis Obispo, CA) two years in a row and really enjoyed it. This is not a Christian conference, but I didn’t feel at all alienated as a believer. In fact, I met several Christians there. It had a very friendly atmosphere and the teaching was top notch.

    When I meet a new writer I always recommend that they start with a smaller local conference. They are less expensive and perfect for easing in to the whole conference experience.

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  15. I’ve had the exceptional privilege of attending or serving on faculty at very large, large, medium-sized, small, and very small conferences. Each one has a unique personality and offers benefits the others don’t have. Because I serve on staff, and because of its all-fiction-all-the-time focus and its heart, I love the very large ACFW conference. But this year, I’m also teaching at the large Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference in May–which offers instruction and opportunity for fiction, nonfiction, short, long. In June is the Write-to Publish conference, where I’ll lead worship and devotions and provide critique help, etc. That conference offers another style too, with appointments with editors and other professionals in writing opportunities some writers don’t immediately consider–magazine writing, online magazine, curriculum, Bible studies, devotionals–through which many new writers have gotten a foot in the door. In August, I’m co-directing the Green Lake (WI) Christian Writers Conference in a spectacular setting and conference grounds. This is a small, intimate conference with perhaps 30 attendees, but solid instruction and the kind of prolonged one-on-one attention a larger conference cannot offer. There are usually no editors or agents in attendance, which eliminates the pressure of pitching to anyone except the faculty members who are instructors…and who develop a relationship with the attendees over the course of the week. For years, I was the assistant director of the Quad Cities Christian Writers Conference, which had the same feel, but in a church setting.

    Rachel, I so appreciate your post. I tested the waters at smaller conferences and writers workshops to gain my footing, plus experience, that served me well in larger arenas.

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  16. Rachel,
    You mentioned several Christian writing conferences, and I’m sure they are all good. I assume that most of the aforementioned conferences cater to CBA publishers. That is understandable. I believe, however, that my WIP needs a non-CBA publisher. If I want a Christian agent, someone with whom I am personally comfortable, but also want a general market publisher, would attending a Christian small or large writer’s conference be of value? Would it be an exercise in futility? If it wouldn’t be helpful, do you have any suggestions for an appropriate conference?

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    • D.T.,
      I am in the same boat. I am not sure that a Christian agency will be interested in my novel, but I fear that the secular publishers will want me to cut scenes where characters of faith chime in.
      I would love to hear Rachel’s advice.

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    • Some CBA agencies do represent books to the general market. Books & Such does not do much of that.

      I have been to The Wrangling With Writing conference in Tucson, AZ. It is a small, general market conference but some of the authors had books with faith-based content. That might be one to check out.

      I’ve also been to a one-day pitch conference in Corte Madera, CA. It was the Algonkian Write and Pitch conference and it was nice and really relaxed.

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  17. I’d like to recommend the Write2Ignite! Conference in Travelers Rest, SC. It is a small conference (about 100 people plus 19 speakers, editors,& publishers. This one focuses on Christian literature for children & young adults and puts as much emphasis on worship as on writing.Whether I write for children or not, I always come away inspired and prepared to write in any genre. The next one is March 27& 28 so you can still register. http://www.write2ignite.com

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  18. The Southern Christian Writers conference in Tuscaloosa,Alabama in June is a great conference to attend. I’ve been several times and always walk away with new writing opportunities. Dr. David Sloan and his entire family work hard to put this conference together. I believe that it’s in its 25th year? Don’t quote me on that. Very enjoyable staff! Thanks for this post.

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  19. I led workshops at the Christian Writers Seminar for years and it had originally been the first writers conference I ever attended. I miss it. The new WCCW one was good, but not the same. And I love Mount Hermon. Conferences are great because we learn, make connections, and get to hang out with people who care about the same things we do. And they can help us sell our writing, but that’s not the main reason I go to them.

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  20. Thank you for the timely post, Rachel. I’m going to be attending my first small conference in a few weeks. The Write in the Springs Conference in Colorado with Ms. Hauck presenting. 🙂 I’m very excited that it has FINALLY worked out for me to attend a conference. My schedule is so packed, it’s hard to get writing trips in.

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