ist1_2926242-pencil-sharpenerI’m preparing my manuscript and various other hunks of paper to take to the Oregon Christian Writer’s conference in Turner, Oregon in two weeks. I’ve been writing for five years and have been thinking back to my very first conference at Canby Grove.

I didn’t know anything much about writing for publication. I just had the crazy idea that it would be fun to see my name in print just once in my life. So off I went to check out a conference with classes, speakers, lots of writerly-type people and I had very few expectations. I read all I could on ways to get the most out of conferences, but the best advice I gleaned from all my reading was to relax, get to know people, enjoy the teaching and just get a feel for what it takes to be a writer.

I loved that first conference. I learned a lot, especially about ways to get my foot in the door. I learned to write short pieces like devotionals and personal experience stories and I learned the submission process which was a total mystery to me at first. (Thank you Sally Stuart)

So if you’re a newbie, you’re in for a great time. And you’re in the best of positions as you don’t have to sweat trying to pitch your manuscript or cause those intentional meetings to happen. You can just lean back and enjoy yourself. But don’t forget to make an effort to connect. In the long run your connections with other Christian authors is one of the best prizes you’ll ever earn as a writer.

I envy you, first-timers.