A Writer’s Conference Takeaway

Today marks my final day of TRUE VACATION. Time away to recharge, reflect, and do whatever, whenever, without limitation or schedule. I’ve been in North Carolina for the last ten days while Michael graciously agreed to keep the girls at home in Costa Rica.

I signed up for the Blue Ridge Christian Writer’s Conference a few months ago while solo parenting. Michael was on a ten-day work trip in Thailand, and it had been a hard night with the girls. My writing was at a standstill with little hope for inspiration in the coming weeks.  “Well, maybe I should check out a writer’s conference,” I thought. Somewhere between peanut butter sandwiches and snotty noses, I signed up.

More than 500 people attended the five-day conference which includes speakers, seminars, and one-on-one appointments at a historical retreat nestled in the mountains. In preparation I got my nails professionally done (with sparkles), printed business cards at our local photo shop (with a translucent global map on the back), curated a “one sheet”, and packed clothing that I hadn’t worn since my sophisticated day job as a humanitarian analyst in the Middle East. Thanks to the marathon, the pants still fit.

Nothing could have prepared me for the nerves. I felt like a pet goldfish dropped into a lake, “Be free! Get out there! Show them you can swim!” Determined to make this trip worthwhile, I gingerly tapped the shoulder of a stranger while standing in the food line my first night there.

“I guess I’m supposed to talk to you. What’s your name?”  I asked.

“Lisa, have you been here before?”

“No, I’m quite nervous.” I explained as if she couldn’t sense the awkwardness of a finger tap on the shoulder.

“Stick with me, I’ll show you around.” Lisa said with a smile.

Lisa and Stacy - New writer friends.

Thank God for Lisa from New York. She took me under her wing and showed me the ropes. She happily took my first business card with the word “writer” hanging in the blank space of uncertainty. “Here,” I’d say while handing them out to complete strangers, “I’ll never use these again, can I have yours? Let’s trade.” Before I knew it, I was making friends with people from all over the United States – plus three from Australia (shout out to Raewyn and Penny)!

One of the main reasons I chose to attend this writer’s conference is because of the opportunities to interact with industry professionals. On the first night we signed up for fifteen-minute slots to meet with any of the lead faculty, agents and publishers included.

After working with Marigold for nearly six years, I was ready to pitch her book proposal. I can’t remember the last time I have been so nervous. As I stood outside the door waiting for the appointment my heart raced. I checked my watch to confirm that; indeed, my resting heart rate was well above 100!

Fifteen minutes is all I had to prove to a dream agent that our book is worth the time and money. The pressure only increased as I began to learn from other attendees that the author’s appeal is just as important, if not more, than a book. No pressure. I’ll spare you the stories of each meeting – suffice to say, I have notes scribbled all throughout my trusty, black, spiral bound notebook alongside random thoughts like:

“The real issue behind procrastination is fear.”

“Nobody has time to be nice.”

“Treat your blog like a promise.”

“God can’t steer a parked car.”

And my favorite, starred for emphasis, *“Books don’t change lives, sentences do, make everyone count.”*

This morning, I called Marigold who I am writing a book with. It was 9 PM in Australia where she works and 7 AM here in North Carolina. I told her how the conference helped to put my feet on the ground so that we can keep walking. There were no golden promises and no assurance of a future as budding writers. Just a hint of persistence. Good ole, keep going because it’s worth it.

Sharing stories is worth it. If Marigold’s stories, or even my stories, stir even one person to pursue a life of purpose. Or even better, to take risks and trust God. Then – it’s all worth it.

In the words of my favorite 90’s Audio Adrenaline (a band) hit – “We were meant to live for so much more, we lost ourselves.” Keep going.