Hale and Hearty Words

As many of you are aware, I spent last weekend in St. Louis for the 10th annual ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference.

If you don’t know how it works, let me give you a little explanation. The conference provides not only a time to meet and mingle with published authors, but to meet with agents and editors to pitch books and seek representation, and to take classes taught by well known agents, editors, and authors. It’s a time for learning, laughing, and for me, seeking God’s direction for my career.

To understand how I was thinking before I left for conference, check out my last post.

Here are some words to describe how I’m thinking and feeling now:

Amazed. Rejuvenated. Excited. Liberated. Focused. Star-struck. Loved.

Here are some of the things I learned:

1. My name is Jennifer and I am a seat-of-the-pants writer. And there is nothing wrong with me. (Thanks, Karen Ball!) And did you know that SOTP writers are more spiritual? 😉
2. The market for international settings in fiction for the CBA is remarkably narrow.
3. Editors and agents are people, too. Super cool, funny, warm, helpful people.
4. God put me with just the right agent. I am so blessed to be with Rachel Kent because she is an incredible person. And Books & Such is a warm, inspiring agency.
5. Learn the rules so that when you break the rules, you can do it well.
6. Not all suspense writers are actually exciting in real life. (I think there’s something here that needs to be analyzed by the Character Therapist.)
7. Erin Healy was inspirational and helpful. Sitting in her class cleared up so many things for me. I think hers was my favorite of all. It could just be that her overall persona was helpful and encouraging.
8. A kiss is NOT just a kiss. Wowza. 
9. My boys might just have missed me a little. 🙂

I don’t think I can accurately describe the atmosphere at this conference. Even though everyone was there for the same thing, there was no sense of competition or jealousy among the attenders. In fact, everyone, and I mean everyone, was supportive of each other.

When someone had a meeting with an agent or editor, there was always a spirit of prayer, and friends outside the door to build you up or celebrate with you after. Such an incredible, God-breathed atmosphere unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.

Not once did I feel alone or unwelcome or “out of the loop.” In fact, I appreciate so much being taken into “the fold” by the life-long friends God brought to me in this one weekend.

And as a super-cool side note, I was quite star struck this weekend as I got to meet, hug, and chat with many of my favorite authors. What wonderful, inspiring individuals!

I’m already looking forward to next year. If for no other reason than to get to spend some time with my lovely writer-friends!

*All of my writer friends are really tall. Like, really tall. I’m a shortie. Sarah F., you and I are stuck together in Munchkinville, I suppose. 🙂

Share with me: When you know that God is opening doors, how do you react? Do you run ahead or creep through slowly?

I’m heading to the ACFW Conference in St. Louis, MO this weekend.

ACFW= American Christian Fiction Writers.

And pretending that I’m Judy Garland, I’ve been singing “Meet Me in St. Louis” (pronounced Louie, of course) for days. Not only am I excited about conference, that movie is one of my favorites, and I’m known to randomly burst into song, especially from a cherished musical.

This is my first conference experience, so in order to prepare, I’ve made some lists.

What I’m excited about:

1. Meeting my writer cyber-friends in person. (To make sure they really do exist.)
2. Spending some time with my awesome agent, Rachel Kent from Books & Such.
3. Learning, learning, learning.
4. Meeting some of my favorite authors in person. (To make sure they really do exist.)
5. Pitching my book to prospective editors.


What I’m nervous about:

1. Flying. It’s a control issue. If they’d let me fly the plane, I’d be okay. But as it is that I have to settle for being a passenger, I’m not all that cool with it.
2. That my luggage will somehow get misplaced, and I’ll be forced to wear the same outfit all weekend.
3. Missing my boys.
4. Pitching my book to editors. (I’m usually able to control my nerves pretty well, so I’m hoping that I don’t get all stupid tongue-tied.)

What I will do:

1. Make new friends.
2. Learn, absorb, learn, and learn some more.
3. Enjoy every precious second I have with the writer friends from all over the country who have become a very important part of my life.
4. Make contacts with prospective editors.
5. Did I mention learn?
6. Enjoy the praise and worship with people who are striving to do the same thing I am–glorify God.
7. Drink caffeine to keep myself up late enough (past 9 pm) to get everything I can out of this experience. This is a big deal because I am SO not a night-owl. 

What I will not do:

1. Freak out.
2. Cry. (Although I’ve heard that this is a pretty normal thing for writers feeling overwhelmed.)
3. Say something stupid like, “Hey, aren’t you Stephenie Meyer?”
4. Let my nerves get the best of me and botch my pitch and end up talking about other people’s books instead of my own. Or throw up on an editor.
5. Call my children every 5 minutes. I’ll push myself to every 10.

I am so excited about this opportunity and I cannot wait to share all of the wonderful things that I’ve learned when I return home. I expect to have a life-changing weekend.

Thanks to all of you who have supported me on my writing journey thus far. I appreciate your support–keep it coming!

Share with me: Have you ever stepped outside of your comfort zone to do something God was pushing you toward? Writers: what is the best experience you’ve had at a writer’s conference?