Conferences

6 Chances to Meet Me in 2020

By Bob Hostetleron February 19, 2020

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!

The 2020 Christian writers conference season is at the starting line. And this year, it presents writers with six distinct and geographically diverse opportunities to meet me! And pitch to me in person. What could be better? I ask you (and I’m still waiting for an appropriately enthusiastic response. Still waiting).

But seriously, folks, there’s so much to know about writing for publication—not just how to write but also information about submitting your work; mistakes to avoid; working with agents, editors, and publishers (and meeting them!); and more—that those who’ve never attended a writers conference just can’t imagine. The experience will blow your mind and maybe set you on a course toward publication, which is why it is one of the most frequent pieces of advice I give to developing writers.

And even if you’ve already attended a writers conference sometime, somewhere, it’s my suggestion that you consider not a one-and-done strategy but regular frequenting of writers conferences as a part of your plan for writing and publishing development and success.

So here are six opportunities to cross paths with me (in person, no less!) in 2020:

February 21-23, 2020 Asheville Christian Writers’ Conference (Asheville, NC)

February 28-29, 2020 West Coast Christian Writers Conference (Livermore, CA)

March 25-28, 2020 Blue Lake Christian Writers’ Retreat (Andalusia, AL)

June 18-20, 2020 Kentucky Christian Writers’ Conference (Elizabethtown, KY)

June 24-28, 2020 St. Davids Christian Writers’ Conference (Grove City, PA)

October 20-25, 2020 Florida Christian Writers’ Conference (Leesburg, FL)

Those are all fine conferences (and this blog post I wrote last year offers a little more descriptive detail on some of them). They’re not the only ones, of course, as others I regularly recommend include Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers’ Conference, Mt. Hermon Christian Writers’ Conference, Write-to-Publish Conference, Colorado Christian Writers’ Conference, and others. (A much more comprehensive listing is available in The Christian Writers Market Guide.)

Hope to see you soon!

Down Under

By Steve Laubeon October 14, 2019

By the time this blog is posted I should be nearing home after spending the weekend with a wonderful group of Australian and New Zealand writers at a retreat center in Mulgoa, Australia (approximately an hour’s drive west of Sydney) for The Omega Christian Writers Conference. I had the privilege of giving six hours of presentations, taking a number of appointments, and just enjoying their …

Category: Conferences

Always Be Learning

By Steve Laubeon October 7, 2019

During the Summer of 1978 the #1 hit on Christian radio was the classic “He’s Alive” by Don Francisco (click here to listen). That same Summer I attended a Christian music festival in Estes Park, Colorado and decided to take a class on songwriting being taught by Jimmy and Carol Owens. I settled into my chair near the back of the room with notepad ready.

Just as the class was about to start a …

Category: Conferences, Get Published, The Writing Life, Writing CraftTag: Book Business, Conferences, Craft, Get Published, Writing Craft

Reflections on a Busy Writers Conference Season

By Bob Hostetleron July 3, 2019

The first six months of 2019 were an exciting whirlwind of writers-conference activity for this author and literary agent. I presented and met with writers at eight conferences from February through June—four I’d never attended before and four others I returned to. I delivered six keynote addresses and more than a dozen workshops. I met with more than 150 writers in appointments. And I renewed …

Category: Conferences

3 Things Never to Say to Agents and Editors

By Bob Hostetleron February 20, 2019

Believe it or not, agents and editors are regular people. Some more regular than others, of course; but most of us are pretty easy to approach, whether via mail or email, at writers conferences, at church, or on the street—preferably without a visible weapon. But there are some things you should never say to an agent or an editor. Not in conversation. Not in a query or one-sheet. Not in a cover …

Category: Agents, Book Proposals, Conferences, Pitch, Pitching

Lessons Learned As a Literary Agent

By Dan Balowon October 23, 2018

Dan is leaving the agency at the end of this month to focus his attention on the work of Gilead Publishing, the company he started in 2016. Here are some parting thoughts. _____ I’ve been a literary agent for about 2,000 of the 13,000 total days spent working with and for book publishers over the last thirty-five years. It’s been a great experience, for sure; but as I look back at the thousands of …

Category: Agents, Book Business, Branding, Career, Conferences, Craft, Creativity, Encouragement, Inspiration, Marketing, Personal, Pitch, Platform, Self-Publishing, Social Media, The Publishing Life, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

Planning Ahead

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon September 27, 2018

Conference season is coming to a close as we approach the holidays. Our local Lowes store had Christmas trees up last weekend. Does this mean I’m already too late for fall cleaning? Because a budget of time and money is involved in considering whether to attend any conference, it’s not too early to think about your travel in 2019. Don’t miss early-bird savings that conferences may offer. Another …

Category: Conferences

What Does Your Reader Need?

By Bob Hostetleron June 13, 2018

I attend many writers’ conferences, as an author, speaker, and agent. As a result, I meet and become friends with many fine people and outstanding writers. At a recent gathering, I enjoyed a spirited and stimulating conversation with an aspiring author who has a passion for reaching readers with the good news of Jesus Christ. I identify with that. But I’m not sure we ever got onto the same page, …

Category: Book Proposals, Conferences, Pitch, Pitching, The Writing LifeTag: Audience, book proposals, pitch, Pitching, readers

Five Ways Getting an Agent is Like Dating

By Bob Hostetleron May 30, 2018

At a recent writers’ conference, I enjoyed my first “speed dating” experience. Maybe I should clarify. “Yes, you should,” says my wife. These were “speed dating for writers” sessions, in which writers sat down for rapid-fire five-minute appointments with editors, agents, and authors (many conferences provide writers with the opportunity to sign up for fifteen-minute appointments, which pass …

Category: Agents, Conferences, Get Published, PitchingTag: Agents, Get Published, Pitching

Your Role in a Conference Workshop

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon April 19, 2018

Have you ever attended a conference workshop that really seemed like a snooze? It happens to the best of participants and the best of instructors. While the hope is every class will have chemistry, sometimes there just isn’t any. But you can help! I’ve talked at conferences and paused with, “Does anyone have any questions?” But I met with crickets. Well, actually, singing insects would have been a …

Category: ConferencesTag: Conferences, Workshops