The 2010 ACFW Conference -- One More Time!

Writers talked about the 2010 ACFW Conference for months before 620 attendees descended on Indianapolis September 17-20 to eat, breathe and talk writing, writing, writing.

Then we came home and talked about how the weekend went--how much sleep we (didn't) have, how many times we pitched our books, which agents or editors requested a proposal--and which ones didn't--and who wore what to the awards banquet. And, yes, we came home with a whole new way to do the writer's "Happy Dance," thanks to Susan May Warren and her line dance finale at the MBT Pizza Party. (Check out the video on YouTube to learn the steps!)

Thanks to the October issue of ACFW's e-zine, Afictionado, you've got another chance to relive the conference. Or, if you didn't get to attend, here's your chance to glean insights from the different workshops and speakers.

E-zine articles include:

• Author Tim Downs' two Keynote Addresses, one on Friday night and one on Saturday
• Dr. Dennis Hensley's workshop on Mastering Structure, Symbols, 3-D Characters
• Agents Rachelle Gardner & Sandra Bishop's workshop on Selling Your Stuff
• Author Terri Blackstock's workshop on Writing Suspense
• Jeff Gerke's workshop on The Last Show vs. Tell Class You'll Ever Need

Many more articles on all the workshops and session offered at the conference are also in the e-zine. Considering I only managed to attend two of the classes I signed up for, I need to read through Afictionado myself. It will hold me until my conference MP3s get here!

Everybody's Talking About It: ACFW Memories

The 2010 ACFW conference in Indianapolis ended last Sunday night--and I'm still trying to catch up on all my lost sleep! From the time I met up with my roomie, Roxanne, in the Denver airport, until we hugged goodbye four days later, life was all about friends and writing and friends and writing and friends--with occasional meals, where I ate with friends and talked about writing.

Yes, I attended workshops and heard some insightful comments, like author Tim Downs' definition of a writer: "Writers need to be weird. They need a computer, a printer, and a whole lot of paper."
And while his comment that a writer lives in an alternate universe that resembles the manuscript you're working on made me laugh, he also challenged me when he said that we experience life as story.
"Story is inherently spiritual," he said," and heaven is the place where God will tell you your story."





To be honest, I came away with very few notes--and a whole lot of memories tucked in my heart. I had the chance to encourage other writers, as well as being motivated by watching other writers pursue their dreams. I met online friends face to face and shared hugs and laughs and prayers that will get me through the "it's just me and my computer" times.

We often talk about the expense of getting to a writers conference. But when I look at the photos of my friends . . . when I think of our late-night chats . . . the times we gathered together and prayed for one another before we went off to pitch our books . . . how we celebrated our lives as writers . . .

well, times like that are priceless.

Tonight: Batter Up for ACFW at MBT PitchFest Online Chat

photo by justino307/stock.xchange.com


I leave for the 2010 ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Conference in--gasp!--four days! I've got to pack. But first I have to figure out what I'm going to wear. And I've got to make sure everything's settled on the home-front before I slip away from motherhood for a few days and focus on being a writer.

And while I'm packing and preparing, I've got to practice my pitch for my novel!

Actually, I'm not stressing about my pitch, thanks to the MBT (My Book Therapy) Polish and Promotion conference I attended last May. The insights from bestselling author Susan May Warren and literary agent Chip MacGregor helped me craft a strong pitch for my contemporary romance.

What about you? How are you feeling about your pitch for ACFW--or any other conferences you plan to attend?

If you're looking for a chance to polish your pitch, join us at the Batter Up for ACFW PitchFest at the online MBT Chat tonight at 8 p.m. ET ( 7 p.m. CT). Spend two hours--or however much time you have available--interacting with other writers as you polish your pitch to perfection! Learn how to zero in on your hook--that first sentence that grabs an editor, agent or publisher. And then discover how to write a premise that feeds their interest, while focusing on the most important elements of your story.

For some warm-ups, read the following blog posts:
Pitch Practice by Susan May Warren
Pitch Fest: The Why and Why Not by Beth K. Vogt
Pitch Fest: The Hook: How Ironic! by Teri Dawn Smith
Pitch Fest: Premise Practice ... and a Promise: It's Really Not So Hard!

This and That Along the Writing Road: ACFW Conference

Registration for the 2010 American Christian Fiction Writers Conference (ACFW) is open. Go here to start the registration process. Dates for the conference are September 17-20 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Winners for two writing competitions will be announced at ACFW:

• The ACFW Genesis competition (finalists listed here)


• The first annual Frasier competition hosted by Susan May Warren and My Book Therapy (finalists and Bronze Medalists listed here)