Early Bird Registration extended...FaithWriters' Conference

Linda Glaz leads a session at the 2010 conference

Do you want to go to a writer's conference? Do big crowds of real writers intimidate you? Are you afraid of spending money on a conference and then finding out only a few of the workshop topics interest you? Do you want the camaraderie that comes from being around fellow believers?

Well what if I said there's a conference that's just the right size, has so many relevant workshops that you'll have trouble choosing between them, and it's run by and full of real people who write and are fellow believers?

If this sounds too good to be true, then have I got a conference for you...

The annual FaithWriters' Conference is only a few weeks away, August 12-13. And it's every bit wonderful and not a bit awful.

I attended the first-ever FaithWriters' Conference back in August of 2006. I will admit, I was nervous. All those latent junior high fears start to surface. Sure, these folks are nice to me online, but what about when they meet me in person? Will I be spending the bulk of my time shrinking like a violet in a corner? Are the workshops actually going to be good? Is this really going to benefit my writing? Can't I learn most of this stuff in books or online? I hate "networking", how am I going to "schmooze" for a whole weekend?

Rest assured, dear shy beginning writer, this is the best you can imagine and none of those things you fear.

Do you remember on that TV show Cheers when Norm opens the door to the bar and steps inside and everyone looks up and shouts, "Norm!"? That's the feeling you'll get when you get to the conference. Sure there's the initial awkwardness- you are trying to place real live humans with those tiny little icons and usernames that you're used to seeing- but then it happens, the name tag scan and the reader says, "Lynn!", "Joanne!", "Patty!". It happens, over and over. Within minutes you are surrounded by what feels like family. These are friendships you've formed online, and it's as if someone is walking around touching heads with a magic wand turning your online friends into real friends.

I dare you to find someone who doesn't make a friend at this conference. We're a very likeable bunch.

But, let's say you haven't been involved over on FaithWriters. You really don't know these people from Adam, and you don't have those online friendships behind it. It matters not. Come, be who you are and you will be swept up and carried away in the friendly current. If you dare to squeak out, "I'm new." Your bravery will be rewarded with an even warmer reception. Why? Because, it seems, by nature- those of us at FaithWriters tend to have a common shy, not-the-popular-kid past and we know how hard it is to extend a hand in friendship. You WILL be welcome.

And, once you're feeling welcome, the networking comes easily. You trade a business card, you shake a hand, you make a new friend. And later on- months, maybe years later, you remember that this friend you met said to send her your manuscript if you needed another pair of eyes to look it over, or maybe they even said that the idea of your manuscript (sometimes known as a 'pitch') sounded good and that they know someone who knows someone and to send it along when it was finished. It's as easy as that. There is no need to force it or push your work on those that are there. Let it happen naturally.

Now, you're there. What will you find?

I kid you not. I've never regretted any workshop I've attended. Years later something from a workshop resurfaces in my head and I integrate it into what I'm doing. Even if it's information for a stage you're not ready for yet- it gets inside you (the information) and it will come to mind when you are ready for it. The workshops are run, for the most part, by other FaithWriters. This means the person up front is learning and growing just like you. It feels like a mutual exchange of information- not like they have it all figured out and you're the poor inept fool that won't succeed. This is a place where you really feel like everyone is there to help each other better their work and succeed.

And while you can learn a lot online or in a book, there's something about that direct interaction with others on the topic you're learning about. It's like getting to go to school for a weekend, a school where all that you're learning is relevant, and you don't have take a P.E. class... well, on second thought, there might be some physical education involved, last year Dub Wright led us in some stretches and talked to us about how being well physically enhances our ability to write well. (See, I told you things come back to you-- when you least expect it.)

For me, these conferences always inspire a new zeal for digging into my own writing. It's kind of like a revival but for writing. We spur each other on.

homemade treats. a frequent occurrence at FaithWriters' Conferences

You'll also find food. Now, you must understand, there isn't a lot of spare cash at a FaithWriters' Conference- no lavish buffets or high end hors d'oeuvres, but wow, the treats. There's this guy- Pup, that's what he calls himself. So far, and we really hope he's coming again, he's brought homemade fudge to every conference. And last year? Someone brought homemade chocolate truffles. Yes, chocolate does tend to appear at this conference- I see that as a definite plus.



Do not hesitate, act now. Go on over to the FaithWriters' Conference registration page and get signed up now.

Here's a link to the Top 10 post I did after last year's conference.

Comedian Timmy Boyle doing what he does best

p.s. you might even pick up a few Karate skills....


(All pictures from FaithWriters.com on Facebook)