My Christian Writers Conferences

How to Audition for BR2013

Writer, speaker, faculty member Vonda Skelton teaching at the 2012 BRMCWC. (Photo by Mary Denman (c) 2012)

One of the most difficult things Edie Melson and I have to do each year is select faculty for BRMCWC. Why difficult? Because we receive so many request to teach. The conference has a great reputation and writers, editors, and agents lobby for positions throughout the year. It's a joy to receive e-mails from knowledgeable people who wish to help conferees along their writing journey.

Of course, we can't invite everyone. We receive far more requests to teach than we can fill. I receive teaching proposals throughout the year. Some come by e-mail; some through Facebook; some through Twitter; and some face to face.

This year, I feel the need to streamline the process a little, so here's how to submit a proposal to teach at the 2013 Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference:

1. Know what we do. BRMCWC is a "wide-spectrum" conference, meaning we cover the major areas of writing. These include (but not limited to)"

a. Novels and their subcategories

b. Book length nonfiction

c. Freelance work

d. Devotions/Bible studies

e. Business issues connected to writing (trends, agents, etc)

f. Public speaking for writers (and writing for public speakers)

g. Short form nonfiction (articles, essays, blogs, etc)

h. Visual media (film and television)

i. Craft

j. Poetry/Greeting cards

k. Children/Young adult (fiction and nonfiction)

l. Marketing

2. Know how our classes work--length.

a. Workshops. A workshop is a one-hour-fifteen-minute class. The material is covered in that time. Workshops may be offered more than once.

b. Continuing class. A series of classes covering the same material. Continuing classes run the same length as a workshop but the material is spread over three to four days.

c. Practicums/clinics. A limited attendance, hands-on continuing class. Conferees do more than listen, the practice each principle taught.

3. Know how our classes work--levels.

a. Most classes are designed for beginning to intermediate conferees.

b. Next.Level classes are designed for the experienced conferee and published author.

4. Know how to audition. Here's what we need to see:

a. A pitch sheet or topic proposal. What do you want to teach? How much time do you need to teach it?

b. A bio relating your publishing experience.

c. Make your topics interesting. Each year I receive a dozen requests to teach, "How to Write a Proposal." Be creative. This is a creative business. Better is, "Ten Ways to Make Your Proposal Unforgettable."

d. Be specific. Please no, "I-can-teach-whatever-you-want" requests. There are times when we have a slot to fill and we'll approach a faculty member, but that's rare. We need to know what your best subjects are.

e. Keep it short. I know the above sounds like a lot, but we're not looking for a thesis. We just need the basic info.

f. Send an e-mail. Please don't use Twitter, or Facebook, or Google+. We need to be able to easily review, file, sort, and share the information. That's not so easy on Facebook.

5. What we're looking for.

a. Experienced writers, agents, and editors.

b. Passionate teachers.

c. People who want to give back to the industry.

d. Instructors who can remember what it was like just starting out.

e. Enthusiasm.

f. Patience.

g. Strong communication skills.

6. Some things you should know.

a. This is a conference for people producing work for the Christian market. It takes place at a Christian Conference Center. You will be surrounded by Christians and be attending worship services.

b. We are a casual bunch. We love to laugh and enjoy ourselves. We are serious about the craft but not stuffy. There is a fair amount of silliness.

Our goal is to put on a better, more useful conference than the year before. Last year will be hard to beat but we're sure gonna try.

Alton Gansky, Director

Alton Gansky is a full time writer, director of BRMCWC, and founder of Gansky.Communications. He is the award winning author of over 40 books. Prior to turning to full time writing, he was the senior pastor to three Southern Baptist churches. In addition to his writing, he speaks to writers groups and church organizations. www.altongansky.com, www.ganskycommunications.com.

After the Conference and Ready to Work, Follow Up Etiquette

The 2012 Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference gave us a great opportunity to network with professionals in our industry. I’m sure you all came home with a stack of business cards (I know I did). But you may be wondering how—or even if—you should keep the connections current. Here are some basic guidelines to help you on your way.

First, I’d spend some time on Facebook and Twitter. Take time to friend and follow those you met during the week. This is often the first line of getting to know someone (even someone famous and important, like Alton Gansky). I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t want more friends or fans on Facebook or followers on Twitter. This is also a good way to network with your fellow attendees.

Second, Get ready to write…thank you notes. If you met with someone or took a class or if they helped you, and you have their snail mail address, send them a note of thanks. This will immediately help you stand out in their memory, and your grandmother would be proud! If you don't have their physical address, drop them a thank you email.

Next, I’d look over my list (see previous post) of who asked me to submit something. Then, incorporate anything you learned before you send something in. Let me repeat—TAKE YOUR TIME SENDING THINGS IN. The biggest mistake writers make is submitting something before it’s ready.

You don’t have to worry about that editor or agent sitting at their desk with nothing to do. They have plenty to keep them busy and they’re not counting the hours until your submission comes in. As a matter of fact, I know of several who have turned down a submission because it was sent too soon after the conference because they didn’t think the writer had time to incorporate what they’d learned.

Important tips on sending submissions.

• Make sure you spell the name correctly. I know it sounds basic, but you’d be surprised what we’ve heard.

• If you’re sending an email put “Requested Material from Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference” in the subject line. This will keep your email submission from getting pushed into the slush pile.

• If you’re mailing the submission write, “Requested Material: Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference” on the envelope for the reason mentioned above.

• If you’re including a cover letter with a mailed submission or a brief email with an attachment, be sure to remind the editor/agent a little about your material. Many of the faculty meet with hundreds of new writers every conference season and there is no way they can remember everyone. So save us all a little embarrassment and include some history.

• After you’ve sent your submission be ready to be patient. Don’t expect to receive a confirmation email or postcard, although some will do this. Don’t expect to hear back before three months. This is the busiest part of the conference season and many editors and agents are on the road more than they’re in the office. Give them some time to wade through all the paper work. 

• If you still haven’t heard anything after three months send a polite email inquiry. If they don’t answer, assume no. DO NOT call them and DO NOT risk being labeled a pest. This is a small industry and people talk.

Follow these tips and you’ll be able to navigate the minefields of industry etiquette. 

 

Get Organized after the Conference

The Blue Ridge Conference is now just a memory (hopefully a really GOOD memory) and the euphoria of being with other writers has dissipated. You may have noticed a correlation between the excitement waning and the doubts returning. It’s not uncommon to come away from a conference with enthusiasm, only to have it replaced with insecurity after a few days at home.

My suggestion—don’t let that insecurity dig in and take root—get organized and get busy. Here are a few things you can do to capitalize on the connections you made and the things you learned while in the mountains.

• Make a list. Actually, make several. Start by writing down every one you talked with who asked you to submit something. Then list everything you learned that you want to immediatelyincorporate into your writing life. For example, if you’re a novelist you make have learned the difference between showing and telling and want to go back and incorporate it into your current manuscript. Finally, make a list of all the confirmations and positive things you heard during the week.

• Set your priorities. Obviously you can’t do everything at once. I recommend you pick a couple of things to start on immediately. Pick one short thing and one longer. 

• Commit to a due date. Even if you haven’t been given a date by someone else, set your own. Otherwise you’ll find the days become weeks, the weeks become months, and next year you’re right back where you started.

• Find an accountability partner or group. For me, it’s easier if that person’s also a writer. Other writers seem to instinctively know when I need a kick in the pants or a shoulder to cry on. Here are a couple of ways to find one if you don’t already have one.
  • Look at the contacts you made at Blue Ridge and start sending emails. It doesn’t matter if the writers you connect with are near or far—with the Internet we’re all just a click away.
  • Look for a local writers group and visit. 

• Come up with a schedule. Look at your lifestyle and carve out some regular time to write. It doesn’t have to be a normal time—but it does need to be consistent. When I first started out my kids were little, so my writing time was unconventional. I waited until my kids and my husband were asleep and then I wrote from about midnight until three or four in the morning. My husband would get the kids up and off to school and I would sleep in. Then I’d do my household stuff and be fresh when the kids got home from school. We’d have family/couple time in the evenings and then I’d be back to writing. Like I said, unconventional, but it worked for us. That’s the key—find what works for you.

Hopefully these tips will help keep your writing on track. If you’ve come up with other ways to get on track after the conference, leave a comment and share them with us!

 

8 Ways to Beat Post-Conference Blues

I've been attending large writing conferences for twelve years and they all have ONE thing in common—post conference blues. It’s only natural. A week-long conference is an exciting, grueling experience. Just physical exhaustion alone could get anyone down—add to that the mental and emotional effects and you have the perfect set-up for a huge let-down.

For those who aren’t expecting the post conference blues they can—worst case—derail your writing career for a year or more. At the least they can set even an experienced writer behind several work days. 

The feelings can run the gamut of a vague sense of unease to out-right panic. I’ve found that once I’m at home all the nice things people have said about my writing morph into something ugly.

• They were just being polite—they didn't really like my writing.
• They don’t really want me to send in that proposal.
• hey’ll never publish that (article, devotion, whatever) they told everyone to send something in.

All of these are lies. I've sat on the editor side of the desk and believe me when I say this. Less than 30% of the writers I request something from actually send something in. I’m convinced that a big reason is the post conference melt down.

Here are some tried and true ways I’ve found to minimize the effects.

1. Give yourself permission to feel deflated when you get home.
2. Arrange your schedule so you have a few days to recuperate.
3. Pamper yourself. Sleep in, go out to eat, spend some much needed time with family.
4. Before you dive into conference generated work take time to evaluate what happened.
5. Make a list of things you want to accomplish over the next year, next six months and next month.
6. Develop a plan to stay in touch with new friends and contacts.
7. Reach out to others who may be feeling the same way.
8. Take your next steps in small increments.

All of these things can help you navigate the post conference blues. Now it’s your turn. Have you experienced the let-down? If so, what have you found to help you cope?

Edie Melson is a freelance writer and editor with years of experience in the publishing industry. She’s a prolific writer, and has a popular writing blog,The Write Conversation. She’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, as well as a popular faculty member at numerous others. She currently has two books available, the best selling eBook, Social Media Marketing for Writers, and her latest project, a devotional for those with family members in the military, Fighting Fear: Winning the War at Home When Your Soldier Leaves for Battle.Married 30 years to her high school sweetheart, Kirk, they have raised three sons. 

 

Blue Ridge, Out of the Fog

by Edie Melson

This morning I got up at 4:30am to drive to NC for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. As I drove I watched a glorious sunrise reflecting off the clouds. It promised to be a gorgeous day.

But as I got closer to my goal in the mountains, the clouds descended and fog engulfed my car. I was forced to slow almost to a crawl at times it was so thick. As I drove I couldn’t help but be reminded of the journey in front of all of us.

If you're like me, you've been anticipating this conference, looking forward to what God has planned. I have my days, as much as possible, mapped out. I have the goals of what I want to accomplish and what I hope to learn.

But just like my trip to the mountains, the journey can be filled with unexpected clouds. When I drove into the fog on the way here I didn't stop and camp out there. I kept going. I knew the goal lay before me, even if it was currently out of sight.

There are going to be times during this week we'll feel like we've ended up in a cloud bank. God, just like the sun, can seem to be engulfed in a fog of confusion and doubt.  It's at those times we need to remember our goals and keep climbing. As long as we keep moving, the sun will shine again.

Edie Melson is a freelance writer and editor with years of experience in the publishing industry. She’s a prolific writer, and has a popular writing blog,The Write Conversation. She’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, as well as a popular faculty member at numerous others. She currently has two books available, the best selling eBook, Social Media Marketing for Writers, and her latest project, a devotional for those with family members in the military, Fighting Fear: Winning the War at Home When Your Soldier Leaves for Battle.Married 30 years to her high school sweetheart, Kirk, they have raised three sons.

 

 

Nunthin' Could Be Finer . . .

tallyho |ˈtalēˈhō|

exclam.

a huntsman's cry to the hounds on sighting a fox.

noun ( pl. tallyhos )

1 an utterance of this.

2 historical a fast horse-drawn coach.

3 a shout given by conferees on their way to Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference

verb ( tallyhoes, tallyhoing, tallyhoed ) [ no obj. ]

utter a cry of “tallyho.”

ORIGIN late 18th cent.: apparently an alteration of French taïaut, of unknown origin.

Travel safe. See everyone tomorrow.

The Writer’s Fruit of the Spirit

by Vonda Skelton

There’s a saying that goes something like, “The fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Hmmm…

In Galatians 5, Paul says we identify ourselves to the world by how we live, whether in the sinful nature or the nature of the Holy Spirit. The evidence of that nature is visible for all to see. It confirms our heritage, our roots.

What does the world see when it looks at us? What does it see as it watches us deal with each other as writers? Jealousy, discord, selfish ambition, and gossip announce that we’re walking in the sinful nature.

But Galatians 5:22-24 says:

. . . the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

The Fruit of the Spirit. I’d heard that phrase all my life. I could even stand up in church and quote the verse word for word. But for years, those who knew me could look at the evidence, and it was telling a different story. It was telling of selfishness and greed and rudeness. Of pride and fear and self-centeredness. On the day I came face-to-face with the attitudes of my heart, I was shocked. I was ashamed.

Friends, the Fruit of the Spirit is not a list of nice things we should try to do. Neither is it a collection of possible gifts we may or may not have. Instead, this is God’s command to those of us who belong to Christ Jesus: to crucify the sinful nature and the evidence it produces.

Crucify is such an ugly word, but that’s exactly what we have to do. We have to kill that sinful nature with all its ugliness, and put on the image of Christ. And that includes in our writing relationships.

In other words, can we:

• Love the person who lands another fast contract when we’re still waiting for our first?
• Find joy in the midst of our poor sales?
• Claim His peace when we find another rejection in the inbox?
• Be patient with the person who doesn’t deliver what he promised?
• Be kind to the new writer who wants us to teach her in 15 minutes what it has taken us 10 years to learn?
• Demonstrate a heart of goodness by sharing our leads, our resources, and our contacts with other writers?
• Be faithful to pray for those we promised to pray for?
• Let the gentleness of our Servant-Savior, Jesus, come through our words, whether written or spoken?
• Use self-control to avoid hogging the conversation with faculty at conference meals?

There it is—the Writer’s Guide to the Fruit of the Spirit. If others can see His fruit in us, our words are more likely to bear fruit for Him.

And isn’t that why we write?

Let’s not fall far from our Tree.

To make reservations for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference, call 1.800.588.7222.

To register online click here.

 

 

Preparing Spiritually for BRMCWC

                                                                                                                      Photo courtesy of Mary Denman
A guest post by Cathy Baker

✔ iPod loaded with music from Brandon, Zach (from college days),Aaron Keyes, and David Crowder. What better way to begin and end a day? 
 
✔ Lots ‘o one dollar bills for the Cloud 9 Coffee Cafe. Latan, are you ready? 
 
✔ My “Edie” notebook, stocked with business cards, writing samples, and a flashback-style plastic pouch filled with pens, paper clips, and sticky notes.  

✔ Much, much more. 

If you know me, you know I’m all about the checklist. The process makes me giddy: 

• Empty thoughts onto page. In detail.

• Grab debit card. Go shopping.

• Ask hubster to bring luggage down from the attic. Okay, beg.

• Check off each item -- quickly. Score!

Searching for the most comfortable shoes or snazziest notebook is gratifying, but if I’m not careful, I can allow the temporal prep to override the eternal one. 
 
Becoming spiritually prepared for next week’s Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference also involves a process—one of searching the soul, with God leading the way. For me, it looks something like this: 

God, would you search my heart? Turns out, I have a tendency to see only what I want to see about myself. 


God, would you see if there is any offensive way in me?  

• Pride - even a speck of it can leave enough space for the enemy's big toe.

• Envy - "Envy is dissatisfaction with who God has made me to be. It is also suspicion that God is withholding what I deserve and giving it to someone else." -Mindy Caliguire. God, am I envying someone else? If so, please forgive me and show me how to put on dancing shoes (preferably, without heels) on behalf of another person's success.

• Greed - "Greed grows out of the suspicion that God will not take care of our needs as well as we can do it ourselves.” -Mindy Caliguire. I say I trust You to lead and guide the way on this journey, but when I try to make things happen in my own strength, there's a whiff of greed in the air, i.e., the stench of flesh. Father, may You find me dying to self, allowing the Holy Spirit to move fully and freely in my life, bringing forth the sweet scent of Your glory.

God, open my eyes to the new and unique ways You are calling me to live out the Gospel as I choose to see this amazing conference as a blessing from You. Not one person will be in attendance by "coincidence".  

Next week is about You, not me. 
Next week is about transformation, not information. 
Next week is about becoming the men and women You've called us to be, not trying to become someone through the process of "doing".   

"Lay your deadly doing down
Down at Jesus' feet
And stand in Him, in Him alone,
Wondrously complete." 

-James Proctor, It is Finished

Cathy Baker is an award-winning poet who delights in observing God at work in the nuances of life, and sharing those observations through writing, journaling, and blogging. She’s a woman who has been forgiven much and strives to live a life that shouts, “Thank You, Jesus!” An experienced Bible teacher, Cathy leads a Bible group in her church, as well as a community Bible study for women. She and her husband Brian live in South Carolina with their answer to the empty-nest syndrome—a pampered pooch named Rupert. Visit Cathy’s blog at www.cathybaker.org.

To make reservations for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference, call 1.800.588.7222.

To register online click here.

 

 

A Short Note from Al on Registration

Are you excited yet? Soon like-minded folk will be traveling from around the country to the beautiful, salubrious (what writer doesn't like to use salubrious when the opportunity presents itself?) mountains of North Carolina. New friends will be made; previous acquaintances will be renewed. It's gonna be great.

I'm getting a lot of questions about "registration" and I want to clear up a wee bit of confusion. We operate as an open campus. There is no registration for classes. You choose the classes you wish to attend and show up. That's it. Easy-peasy. I won't bore you with why we do it this way, but there are good reasons.

However, you do register with the conference. This is done in Pritchell Hall, a large stately building near the front of the grounds.

Registration is between 2:00 and 4:00, but you can register after that. With people traveling from all over the country, there are always those who register outside that window--including faculty, so no worries. We register by "grace" and not by the "law."

I look forward to seeing all of you there. 

Al Gansky

Bringing the Intangibles

BR2012 is almost here.

Conferees are excited; directors are frantic. Some are thinking about what to pack. Along with clothing, a change of socks, deodorant, laptops, and the latest (ahem) Gansky book, there are a few intangibles to bring along.

1. Spiritual stuff.

This is a conference for Christian writers. Unlike general market conferences, we have a spiritual component. The Ridgecrest conference center is dedicated to providing a comfortable spiritual retreat. BRMCWC includes times of worship and devotions so bring a desire to grow spiritually as well as professionally. Come ready to learn how to be a better writer for the faith. Arrive ready to fellowship with other Christians.

2. Attitude stuff.

Pack a desire to learn. Writing is lifelong learning. The former Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendel Holmes was in the hospital. He was a man of advanced years. FDR visited the jurist and found the 94 year old man reading a Greek grammar. "Why are you reading a Greek Grammar," the president asked. The answer: "To improve my mind." Holmes was a student to the day he died. So it is with writers. The learning never stops. 

Pack a little humility. Few things are as humbling as writing.

Included some flexibility. Writing is an art and art is subjective. The faculty and the other writers you meet have traveled different and varied roads. This means their experience is wide ranging. It is not uncommon to hear seemingly contradictory statements. Don't be bothered by that. That's because the writing universe is not uniform. Imagine if every painter had to use the same colors on the same size canvas applied with the same kind of brush. There would be very little original art in the world.

3. Pack some emotions.

Bring along a bunch of good humor. At BRMCWC we like to laugh . We even like to be a little silly at times. The world is hard enough, bleak enough, troubled enough that we need a few chuckles now and again.

Load up on enthusiasm. The word enthusiasm comes from the Greek en-theos: God within. Enthusiasm is the result of God working inside you.

Toss a little patience in the suitcase. Not just for your dealings with others, but patience for yourself.

Slip in a little love. Why? Because we all need it.

What other intangibles should we be packing?

Al

Alton Gansky is a full time writer, director of BRMCWC, and founder of Gansky.Communications. He is the award winning author of 40 books.  Prior to turning to full time writing, he was the senior pastor to three Southern Baptist churches. In addition to his writing, he speaks to writers groups and church organizations.

To make reservations for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference, call 1.800.588.7222.

To register online click here.