The postcards announcing the July 30 – August 2 date for the 2014 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference have been ready to mail for several weeks. My plan was to get them out the beginning of the year, but I didn’t get them designed and to the printer until early in February. Now it’s March 1. Can you believe it? And can you believe that yet another snowstorm is threatening to shut down much of the Midwest and northeast?
But I can’t use the snow or busyness as an excuse for not getting the postcards mailed sooner. The fact is I have put off the huge and not-fun job of updating the mailing list – a task that took over 12 boring hours yesterday.
Not every aspect of directing two conferences is fun. It’s the same with writing. We may, as someone has said, “love to have written.” It’s just the getting started part when we make “I don’t have time” excuses.
Or we may love the process of creating, but then abandon our creations because we do not love rewriting. This is when we may begin to doubt ourselves – when making excuses becomes easier than finishing what we started.
“I want to suggest that you finish what you started to do a year ago,” Paul admonished the Corinthian Christians (2 Cor. 8:10 TLB). “Having started the ball rolling so enthusiastically, you should carry this project through to completion just as gladly, giving whatever you can out of whatever you have. Let your enthusiastic idea at the start be equaled by your realistic action now” (2 Cor. 8:11 TLB).
Have you been making excuses to avoid something you know God is calling you to do?
Colorado Christian Writers Conferences Updates
Paid Critiques – I confess that this is another not-easy and not-fun task, but finally this page is posted with the names of faculty members who have agreed to do paid critiques and their genres. For $35 you can choose one of these professionals to review your manuscript (please adhere to the specified length) prior to the conference in preparation for meeting with you for 30 minutes.
One-on-One Appointments – The first 75 to register for the entire conference receive an additional free 15-minute appointment with the faculty of their choice (based on availability). That’s a total of five 15-minute appointments to pitch your ideas to editors and agents or get helpful feedback from an author. Be sure to carefully and prayerfully review the editorial needs posted on the conference website along with their bios. And get your registration in as soon as you can to get your top picks.
Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference
Drum roll please – The names of 51 faculty members are now posted at http://philadelphia.writehisanswer.com/facultyataglance. Bios and editorial needs coming soon along with info on the 8 continuing sessions and 3 clinics. Prayer is much appreciated as I work this coming week to update the website. Now that is a fun job thanks to the wonderful EZ-CMS (Easy Content Management System) my friends at SKWD Associates have created. Thanks much, Bruce, Jonathan, Scott and team. If you need a new or redesigned custom website with the tools to make changes and additions yourself, I highly recommend SKWD.
News You Can Use
MovieGuide Awards – Please support Dr. Ted Baehr (a regular faculty member at both conferences) in his work to make a difference in Hollywood. By tuning in to the REELZ CHANNEL today, March 1, at 2PM Eastern/11AM Pacific you’ll be sending a message to Hollywood that people want faith and family content.
A Writer’s Dream – Many of you have heard Bob Hostetler’s powerful keynote, “A Writer’s Dream.” If you were to ask Bob about his “Grandpa’s Dream,” it would be finding a cure for Cystic Fibrosis for two-year-old Ryder and four-year-old Calleigh. Bob will be participating in the May 10 Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walk. Please help him reach his goal of raising $3,500.
“Nobody Writes Good First Drafts” – Check out Rachelle Gardner’s blog. Father, help us to stop making excuses and to give you and our readers our very best.
Lent Begins on Wednesday – Thanks, Karen Ball, for your challenging thoughts on “What Will You Give Up for Lent?”
Keep living and writing His answer – Marlene
Write His Answer 
Thanks for your insight…again! Making excuses for not writing or re-writing drafts is a crutch that writers often use. My trash bin is full of first drafts and rewrites and my delete button letters are gone, but I do know where that button is on my computer! I have copied that scripture from 2 Corinthians and now have it hanging on the wall next to my computer. Thanks for the reminder!