Last week was spent in beautiful mountains of North Carolina at the Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference at Ridgecrest. Since I wrote in my last blog about why I go to a conference I thought it might be interesting to run those four points against last week’s experience.
Teaching
This was answered with a resounding yes! I taught three elective classes (on what an agent does, on contracts, and on trends). It was also fun to teach a fourth class with Tamela Hancock Murray on “developing a thick skin” aka “how to deal with criticism in your writing career.” Each class was well attended and those who came were engaging and asked great questions.
The class on contracts created quite a stir when we touched on the issue of rights and permissions. What was intended as a quick five-minute segment turned into a rousing discussion as nearly a third of the class had a specific question relating to their own project. “You mean I have to get permission to quote from that source in my book? I can’t just cite it in the footnotes?”
It was gratifying to also help answer individual questions outside the classroom setting. It’s fun to see the light go on when realization becomes clear in that person’s mind of what they can do with their writing to make it stronger or where it can be most effective.
Learning
I enjoyed listening to a number of great keynote speeches. But I also learned from conferees who attended. A bit about taxidermy, about the pain of losing two siblings, about being an Arabic Christian, about Hollywood screenwriting from a screenwriter, about the amazing religious history of Newark, NJ, about the life of living in a RV full-time, etc. After 28 one-on-one appointments and meeting an additional 50 writers who joined me at the lunch and dinner tables, the sheer variety of conversations was breathtaking. I suspect I heard more than 100 book ideas when you add in the hallway conversations too.
Relationships
Always good to see friends in the industry. Even short five minute conversations are incredibly valuable. Taking a pulse of what is happening with both authors and publishers can be quite enlightening.
But the highlight was Monday night when I was able to participate in honoring Les Stobbe with a Lifetime Achievement Award. He has been in the Christian publishing business in some capacity for 61 years! To hear a dozen testimonies, including some pre-recorded video comments from luminaries like Dennis Rainey, John Maxwell, and Jerry Jenkins was thrilling. And to be able to add my words from the stage to honor my friend was a privilege.
When you have a chance, read the 22 blog posts Les wrote about “God Moments in Christian Publishing.” He has seen some amazing things over the last six decades in our industry.
A Successful Business
Having Tamela at the conference gave us a chance to spend a couple hours on the last morning chatting about our agency and our plans and strategies. I also was able to spend some valuable time with a couple clients. But also to talk with a number of Tamela’s clients who were in attendance.
At the same time there is that hope that one or two of the writers I met will sent a proposal or manuscript that will deliver the promise of the pitch I heard.
Conclusion
I think it is easy to say that the Blue Ridge conference was a success on many different levels. Congratulations to Edie Melson, Alycia Morales, Bethany Jett, and Eva Marie Everson for putting together a great conference.
Your Turn
What was the one, most important, thing you learned at a conference that you didn’t know before you went?
I learned that this conference in particular is more than a place to pitch a book. It’s a place to connect with friends, pray for those in pain and cheer for those who have found success. It’s about getting out of oneself and focusing on others.
It’s much more than a writers conference. It’s a place to celebrate the gifts God has given us–all of us.
Having attended five years previously If I had known Les Stobbe was going to be recognized I would have changed my plans and attended this year. In 2010 my first BRMCWC Leslie’s was the first table I sat at and he was such a gracious host making a point to speak with each of us even this newbie. The fact that he reminded me of my father who had passed made him more endearing. I had planned to attend only classes on fiction writing. But after talking with him I joined his article writing class. I came away with a story idea and ended up publishing in the local newspaper who was impressed enough to ask me to write more articles.
So I would say learn to keep an open mind to writing opportunities. And I enjoyed all of Stobbe’s “God Moments”.
I’m still seeking fiction endeavors and look forward to seeing you Steve in Nashville when I attend my first ACFW after being a member since 2006.
BRMCWC is an experience to be repeated. I will be back next year.
One thing?! How can I ever choose one thing?
I attended BRMCWC as well, and I was blown away by the camaraderie and genuine kindness I discovered in writers, authors, agents, and editors. I found myself highly inspired by everyone but especially by Les Stobbe.
I learned even more about the benefits of community. As an introvert, I tend to think I could be a hermit, but again and again, I realize how much I need people.
As always at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, there were many God-moments. But the number of new writers in attendance was an especially delightful component this year. What a joy to see new faces, eager to learn and open to suggestions and guidance.
Blue Ridge is and has always been more than a conference. It’s a reunion, a community, a family. And even when the lessons are difficult and the critiques are disappointing, the family is there to surround writers with love and encouragement. I look forward to meeting more new family members in the future!
Thanks for sharing, Steve!
Thanks. Sounds like a great conference close to my Northeast Georgia home. Sorry I missed it. Perhaps next year. I need all the help that I can get. Daniel J. Parker, Attorney at Law, Hartwell, GA. The Gifts (c) 2016 unpublished; No Wound … No Pearl (c) 2013 unpublished. The Gifts Part II in process.
Sounds productive! I didn’t get to attend, but I am looking forward to the New England Christian Writers at Gordon-Conwell in a few weeks. Hoping it will be just as productive as Blue Ridge. 🙂 Conferences have a way of refocusing me on an aspect of my writing I may have forgotten. God uses the words of the presenters to make something click and remind me, so I look forward to seeing what that is for me this year.
I learned that we’re all in this thing together. Perhaps it’s coming from a secular MFA program, but I held tightly to my “unique book idea” until a friend, Andy Lee, encouraged me to share it, that no one can take our story. So I came to conference with a heart open to sharing and connecting, and I ended up meeting a number of authors also writing books on relationships who want to connect—and I felt unthreatened and blessed because we can collaborate! We’re in this together, each with a unique story that God can use to bless others. I was also blessed by Eva’s Nehemiah exercise in which we all stood around the room (powerful!), which illustrated this realization so well!
Although I didn’t attend the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference this year, I know from previous experiences there that it is an exceptional event. I loved the relaxed setting and the comradery of fellow writers. Having reputable agents like you and Tamela attending and being willing to share your expertise makes trips like this worth every penny. Learning from experienced authors never gets old either. I hate I missed this year’s conference, but I’m looking forward to the ACFW Conference in August and the Blue Ridge Novelists Retreat in October. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for including me! It was (“Never begin a sentence with ‘it was’.”) wonderful to see you again and to have the opportunity to share a little in your “thick skin” class.
You da best!
Steve, thanks for sharing your personal highlights and recollections. Wish I could have been there.
What I learned at the conference was to listen more. Glean from the experts. I appreciated your input on the project I pitched to you. Amazing what 15 minutes taught me. Also, I’m glad I could teach you a little about full-time RVing. 🙂
Yes, in your “thick skin” class the lights blazed in my mind and I experienced, “Ah ha!” Your jewelry illustration calmed my anxious thoughts about the quality, beauty, and timeliness of my writings. Thank you for helping affirm the writing desire that burns within me. One day I hope to pitch to you a project that is the perfect piece of jewelry for that time.
I experienced first-hand what I’ve seen exemplified by Les Stobbe, that investing in others and their writing journeys is an honor, a privilege and a joy. I learned that the Christian writing community is a microcosm of the Body of Christ in action. And I reveled in watching God at work from the oldest to the youngest gathered there, inspiring us to write light into a dark world. Aslan is truly still on the move.
One of the important things I’ve learned at conferences like BlueRidge is that well-known, successful people such as yourself are willing to share their time and expertise with those coming along behind them on the writing journey. The warm reception and kind responses Big Name Folks offer are a major encouragement. They are also a pattern to follow.
Thank you, Steve.
Steve, I walked away from the conference feeling, even as an older woman, I can begin again.
Thankful for the opportunity to attend, it was my first big conference as I work towards being the writer I want to be. I learned much from my classes but enjoyed, even more, sitting at tables and having such proximity to those who have been successful and are willing to share their wisdom with those like me who are brand new.
God moments are the best moments. That’s what I’ve learned. ACFW 2014 was my first Christian conference. I wasn’t supposed to meet Les Stobbe, but I did. He didn’t look like he was going to say yes after my less-than-stellar pitch, but he did. The woman who sat next to me during the Steve Laube/Tamela Hancock Murray class seemed nice, but there was very little we could do for each other–we were both new and on somewhat different journeys. She’d just finished her MA in professional writing and wanted an editing anything: internship, apprenticeship, job, whatever. Two months later, Les became my agent. Early this year, after being an intern and assistant managing editor, the young woman became the managing editor of a Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas imprint. She’d followed my progress via social media and asked for my proposal the week she was promoted. She’s now my editor, and my debut comes out in May of 2017. Who would have thought? 🙂 Thanks for this post, Steve. I wish I could have been there. See you in Nashville.
The one, most, important thing, I learned at this conference I didn’t know before attending is, I’m a peculiar person! Thankfully, I discovered, I’m in good company amongst other Christian writers. In all seriousness, this was my first time attending and I was blessed by the overall quality of the entire conference. However, the reoccurring theme of needing to build a platform as a nonfiction writer was well illustrated by the professionals. I needed to hear this and move outside my comfort zone. Blessings to you Mr. Laube & all those who shared!
I love to speak at conferences for these same reasons–teaching, learning, connecting. I always come away so jazzed about writers and the industry–despite these trying times!
I’ve spoken at the Blue Ridge Conference, and had the most wonderful time. Great folks, great conference, beautiful place!