Write His Answer

Meeting with agents, editors, authors, and other professionals is one of the most valuable aspects of attending a writers’ conference. And no conference provides more opportunities and help than the Colorado (next year’s conference is May 16-19) and July 26-29 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference (GPCWC).

GPCWC is only four weeks away, but there’s still time to register and to request your appointments.

Register for all 3 days
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
(no appointments are scheduled on Wednesday)
and you’ll receive 4 – yes FOUR
free one-on-one 15 -minute appointments!

Register for 2 days – 3 appointments
Register for 1 day – 2 appointments

AND register by June 30
and you’ll receive
an additional free appointment
as well as save money!

Plus on Thursday afternoon
you can sign up for additional appointments
with faculty who still have room.

I’ve never forgotten my first writers’ conference. It was a huge sacrifice financially. I was beyond nervous!

Even though I’d not forgotten the shorthand I learned in high school, I couldn’t begin to write down everything the editors said they were – and were not – wanting to see.

Trying to choose was even more stressful. And then there was no guarantee that those I chose would want to meet with me.

At the Colorado and Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference you get to choose who you want to meet. There’s no last-minute deciding once you arrive or long lines. Instead, you submit your appointment requests pre-conference.

On our website you’ll find helpful info on

Our Appointment Procedures
Making the Best Choices
Preparing for Your Appointments

In addition, our extraordinary Appointments Coordinator, Barb Haley, has prepared charts to help you process all the info for our faculty of 55 agents, editors, authors, and other professionals. Below is a sample.

And this is just one of the eight charts Barb has prepared. In addition to Fiction and Nonfiction, you’ll find charts for Children & YA and Other Interests for our agents, editors, authors, and other professionals.

Still need more help? Tim Shoemaker’s early bird workshop from last year’s Philly conference, “Starting Appointments Out on the Right Foot” is available postage paid for only $3. Mail your request to GPCWC, 951 Anders Road, Lansdale, PA 19446. Here is Tim’s description of the workshop: “Stomach churning. Palms sweating. Hey, an appointment with an editor, agent, or seasoned writer IS a big deal. Relax. We’ll look at tips to make sure your appointment is a step in the right direction.”

I’ve seen Father do incredible things through the appointments at each year’s conference. For me, too. Most all of my nine books are the result of meeting with an editor at a conference. One, the second version of God, I Need to Talk to You – A Prayer Diary for Girls, almost didn’t happen because even though I was on faculty, I had convinced myself the editor from Concordia wouldn’t be interested. It turns out mine was the first book she acquisitioned and saw through the entire process to publication. I don’t know who was more excited – her or me?

The bottom line? Since we’re trusting God for salvation, I know we can trust Him for the appointments He wants us to have. He knows the plans He has for each one of us and our work (Jeremiah 29:11). I am convinced that He will not allow you to go home without talking to the people He intends for you to meet—if not in a scheduled appointment, then during mealtimes, coffee breaks, or walking on campus.

Remember, He can also make a way when there seems to be no way to attend GPCWC. My pastor provided the funds for my first conference over 40 years ago. Each year afterwards friends babysat my kids for the FIVE-DAY conference. Trust Him! And please don’t hesitate to ask your family or friends for help. I can still provide some partial scholarships as well as time payments if there is no other way.