Write His Answer

 Guest blogger – Margie Vawter

So what’s the big deal about writers’ conferences? They’re a big investment of my time and money. Are they worth it? And aren’t they all the same? What’s in it . . . for me?

Ever asked these questions? I hear them (or some similar) over and over on various writers loops and forums I’m a part of . . . or I get them by e-mail, on my Facebook page, or in person.

I’ve been attending writers’ conferences nearly twenty years now, and I’ve made a few observations during that time.

First, not all conferences are created equal. For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of being a published author. After my daughter was born, I felt the Lord’s nudging to do something about it. I applied for and was accepted into the classes from The Institute of Children’s Literature where I got my first glimpse into the world of writing conferences. But those were secular, and some of the reports of the competitiveness and backbiting that came from those were discouraging.

Then I heard of an ACW (American Christian Writers) conference only three hours from our home in central Illinois. Trusting the Lord, hubby and I cut some more corners on our already tight budget and I was able to go.

At that first conference, God solidified His calling on me to write—something that is reaffirmed every time I attend a conference.  In addition to receiving confirmation of the Lord’s calling, I’ve found great encouragement and support at the conferences I’ve attended. Writers are a unique group of people with unique ways of looking at our world. Even those closest to us—our spouses, children, friends—don’t always “get” us. So I find a great deal of encouragement when I’m around other writers.

It was when we moved to Colorado that the Lord expanded my conference horizons and I attended the first Colorado Christian Writers Conference (CCWC) Marlene directed. And later, when hubby was working on the East Coast, I was able to attend the Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference (GPCWC).

For me, I’ve found the spiritual emphasis and encouragement I get at GPCWC is absolutely invaluable. As part of the conference prayer team of over 100 pray-ers, I know this conference is covered in prayer. Writing aside, I could attend this conference for the spiritual value alone.

Many of my best friends today are those I’ve met at writers’ conferences. And with today’s technology none are ever very far away, even though they are spread across the country. Whenever I’m in need of encouragement, I know I can call on them to pray. That connection with other Christian writers means a lot to me as do the connections I’ve made with editors, publishers, and agents.

One of the major strengths of GPCWC is the number of free one-on-one appointments offered to every conferee. In today’s market, these appointments can be the “foot-in-the-door” opportunity we need since many editors and agents no longer accept unsolicited proposals or manuscripts.

Another reason I invest my time with GPCWC is to stay on the growing edge as a writer and freelance editor. The workshops are specifically designed to teach the nuts and bolts of the writing craft as well as keep us up-to-date with what’s happening in the publishing world. It’s changing daily with all the new technology and outlets for the written and spoken word. We need to be aware of those changes and how we can best use them to “write His answer.”

These days it’s my privilege to serve CCWC and GPCWC as a faculty member and Marlene’s assistant. The Lord has brought me a long way from that first ACW conference I attended. The time and money invested in the conferences has been returned to me ten-fold over the years in so many unexpected ways. So whenever someone asks me, “What’s the big deal about writers’ conferences?” I’m more than happy to tell them.