As you may know, the 2020 Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference was canceled due to COVID-19, ending 50 years of continuous operation. In addition, the Mount Hermon organization decided they could no longer sponsor the event moving forward.
Just like that, the longest-running Christian Writers Conference ended.
We’ve been asked to stand in the gap and save the conference, running it as an outside guest group. This means committing to a significant financial investment. Quality conferences in quality locations are expensive. Also, with all of the uncertainty over travel, we don’t know how many could attend the writers conference in March 2021.
So we decided to put the conference on Kickstarter.com. The campaign is all or nothing, so if we don’t hit the goal, there will not be a Mount Hermon conference in 2021 or possibly in the future. But if we do hit the goal, the conference will be back, hopefully for years to come.
Kickstarter campaigns are not charity. In exchange for backing the campaign, you get special rewards like:
- A digital copy of The Christian Writers Market Guide 2021
- A $128 bundle of courses from the Christian Writers Institute
- Recordings of the 2021 Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference
- Registration for the 2021 Conference
- And more!
The more you pledge to support the conference, the more rewards you get. But you will only be charged (and only get the rewards) if we successfully hit the funding goal.
Mount Hermon offers a one-of-a-kind atmosphere for writers at every skill level, from not-yet-published to multi-published, and offers help to writers in a wide span of genres and in every phase of a writer’s career. Whether you desire to publish the traditional way with a royalty publisher or you intend to go the indie-publishing route, you’ll find industry professionals who can instruct, direct, and encourage you.
The Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference Is Worth Saving
The Mount Hermon Writers Conference connects you to:
- Vital training to take your writing to the next level
- Literary agents to connect you to the publishing world
- Book and magazine editors looking to work with new authors
- Freelance editors to provide valuable critiques
- Fellow writers to encourage you in your journey
We know a lot of people are struggling right now; and if you can’t support the campaign financially, we totally understand. If you would be willing to share a link to the conference, that could make the difference between success and failure; and it won’t cost you a thing.
The number of well-known authors who got their starts or accelerated their careers due to this conference is breathtaking. With your help we can keep the venerable Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference going as a beacon of light for Christian authors.
UPDATE September 2020
Unfortunately, the campaign to save the conference did not achieve its goal. We raised $163,000! But we needed to raise $200,000 to cover all the costs associated with the event. Thank you again to all who supported the effort. Your pledges will not be charged.
UPDATE February 2021
Given that the pandemic still has the country in its grip it would have been unlikely we could have held a successful event in late March 2021.
Fun Fridays – July 10, 2020
I’ve never had the honor of attending Mt. Hermon but its reputation has a long history. The feedback from those who have has always given me a sense it’s holy ground for writers. Even if I never have the pleasure I hope my small contribution to the kickstarter has helped and encouraged others. Thank you Steve and your team for leading the charge.
Daphne,
The setting does feel a bit like holy ground. I’ve attended as faculty for about 25 years. Each time I take a walk down to the river. There’s a spot I found where two creeks converge and a waterfall adds to the torrent. I sit among those redwoods and praise our God for his wonderful creation.
Refreshed I return to the conference and help writers become better at what they do, to help change this world that is in such desperate need of the Gospel.
You’ve painted a beautiful picture Steve and I agree the gospel is much needed for those who have no hope. A challenge for believers to share.
Thank you so much for taking this on! I contributed immediately! I was one of the scholarship recipients for the 2020 conference. Seeing it canceled permanently after hoping and praying for a chance to attend for over a decade was heartbreaking.
I’ll be praying for this campaign. This conference has meant so much to so many, and I hope it can continue for many more years.
L.G.
Thank you!
I went to Mount Hermon last year for the first time. It was a great experience and I would love to help other writers also go there. Glad to give.
Thank you, Steve, for organizing this.
Even though I haven’t attended a Mt. Hermon conference because I focus on conferences I can drive to here in the Midwest, I’ll be glad to help with the Kickstarter campaign to help other Christian writers. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. God’s kingdom writers need continued training and encouragement.
Jeanetta,
Appreciate your thoughtful support.
I felt sadder than sad when I read of Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference’s demise. That it had met its unfortunate end on the chopping block of the whatevers seemed like when you watch a giant oak tree fall. For the past decade I have wished to attend the conference but have not been able to. Then ‘poof’ it was no longer even a dream to be wished for. I am thankful, glad, and heartened that you and your agency are pressing forward to save this remarkable venue. I will share this information on my social media and writing sites and pray the necessary funds are forthcoming. I’m sending a social distancing hug ((Steve Laube)). Thank you.
Norma,
Appreciate the support! Hopefully this can be put back on your bucket list.
I love this! Thank you for this plan to bring back Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. You are exactly the right person to head this up. I plan to give and spread the word and pray that this is a success!
Thanks Joe!
Is there any possibility of putting it online? I just attended Carol Kent’s Speak Up conference via Zoom, and although it wasn’t the same as an in-person conference, the face and voice connections were enough to satisfy this serial extrovert. (I imagine introverts would LOVE it.) Just a thought.
And yes, I realize giving suggestions means I’m raising a hand to volunteer to help… 🙂
Becky,
If it went online it wouldn’t be the Mt. Hermon conference. It would be something else entirely run by me and the Christian Writers Institute.
The effort here is to preserve the in-person event held among the Redwoods of Northern California. The setting is part of the magic of the event.
Going online loses that element.
I saw that it was cancelling and it just makes your heart plummet. This has been on my bucket list for years as well, and to not have the hope of attending is heartbreaking. I’m so glad that you guys are jumping in there to try and run this as a rental group! I live at a Bible camp (way way so way smaller than Mt. Herman) and it is so much more work when we run the camps ourselves. I see why Mt. Hermon might decide not to continue it as a Mt. Hermon run retreat, but it is still so sad. Our summer is usually full of our own camps and our winters are full of rentals. A rental camp is a win win … if the group leaders know what they are doing (which I know you do, yay!). So, here’s to hoping that we can all jump in (even just a little bit) and keep this conference on so many bucket lists and for some people’s next year list as well! Attending a conference that is both writer’s conference and camp … well, that just sounds ideal to me. I’m so glad you are giving this a go, Steve!
Kristen,
Thank you for your support. Great insight as to how camps work with “outside groups.”
Steve,
Thanks for stepping up. The conference is in good hands. Remind me about the funds timing…when do they get banked if the conference is in 2021? Just budgeting…
Let me know how I can help.
Dave
Dave,
Good question.
Kickstarter campaigns fund at the end of the campaign but only if the funding goal is met.
In this case the money would be banked on August 31st of this year.
Then we will know we can hold the conference.
I’ve been praying someone would step in and save this conference…thank you so much! Just signed up and now I’m urging friends to do the same. God bless your endeavors! It’s a sacred charge.
I just attended my first Writer’s conference in February before everything shut down. (Lit Masterclass 2020) it was invaluable. I put Mount Hermon on my bucket list too. I’ll help. Prayers that you reach your goal.
It is by far the best conference I have ever attended. I was looking to go back when I saw their post of no longer holding it. I am saddened by this news. I am interested in the Kickstarter campaign.
I loved the conference when I attended several years ago. I met many writer friends who remain encouragers and friends to this day. Although I live far from California and may never have the chance to attend again, this conference gave me some great memories. I pray it will continue!