GOD SHOWS UP AT THE ACFW CONFERENCE

This September I went to my very first writing conference, ACFW. It was in Indianapolis, Indiana and I must say I went filled with specific expectations. I had talked to others that had gone previously, as well as read PITCH AND PROMOTO LIKE A PRO, by Terry Burns. Though I was a bit nervous about my Editor and Agent appointments, I felt confident I’d be prepared.


But God had a different plan. A week and a half before the day I was to leave my kids were unexpectedly home from school. Not good. I couldn’t get in the quiet time I needed to mentally prepare for the conference; much less make sure all else was in order. I was also asked to give a speech at an upcoming Prison and Jail class at church…something I’ve never done before. Now I needed to prepare a speech and drum up the courage to deliver it as well.

The speech went well…as well as can be expected with my insides shaking. But God is good. Others were touched by it, and that’s all that mattered. I feel stronger having done so, and knowing I got through it. I image the next time will be easier.

So I was off to conference. It seems as though everything I’d expected from it, didn’t materialize. As well as things I never expected, did.

THINGS I EXPECTED FROM THE CONFERENCE:

To meet many Editors and Agents.

To mingle with Editors and Agents, seizing the opportunity to get a feel for what they were looking for as well as running my stories by them.

Hoping not to make a fool of myself in my scheduled meetings with an Editor and Agent.

To give copies of my One Sheet to Agents and Editors.

To purchase several books, and have them signed by the Authors. Though I told myself I wasn’t to purchase too many (ha, ha).

To attend classes that would be eye opening experiences in regards to my writing.

WHAT I WASN’T EXPECTING FROM THE CONFERENCE:

Indianapolis to capture my interest.

To be captivated and inspired by a guest speaker, Tim Downs.

To get to hear the hearts of published Authors, and Agents at the classes I attended.

To discover the love of God through amazing Christians united together for one cause…Him.

To discover the difference between Christians and non-Christians in the publishing world.

I really went to this conference expecting to fully take advantage of all the opportunities it provided but what I came away with had never entered mind. Instead of being all about the writing and getting published, I discovered it was all about God’s love.

I saw the heart of God EVERYWHERE! On the streets, in the buildings, in each and every person I ran across at the Conference. Those that attended the Conference comforted, loved, encouraged, and cheered their fellow writers and Christians on. They showed the love of Christ through their actions, and words.

Christian writers wrapped their love around me when I needed it, putting aside their own agenda. That in its self made my first writing Conference an amazing one that I will never forget.