There comes a time in every writer’s life when you are in one of these two categories:
- You are at the writers conference — and you’re posting non-stop photos on your Facebook page of your smiling self and all your writing buddies who are at the same conference because you are happy, happy, happy!
- You are not at the writers conference — and you’re avoiding Facebook, because all your friends’ smiling photos remind you of where you want to be … but you’re not.
There are lots of reasons to attend writers conferences. They’re a time to network, to learn, to pitch manuscripts, to (maybe) win awards, to teach — if you’re selected to be on the conference faculty.
And yet, for all their benefits, there are lots of reasons why people can’t attend conferences:
- Cost — Think registration, hotel room, air fare, or gas costs if you decide to drive.
- Timing — Conferences don’t happen in a vacuum and there’s always the “do I go to the conference or do I go [fill in the blank] question to be answered.
- Conflicts — Everyone has to figure out how a conference fits with work schedules, with other commitments, with the demands of children.
- Health issues — Every conference I’ve ever attended has had people back out — both attendees and faculty — because of illness of some sort.
So, how can conference attendees be sensitive to their writing buddies who want to be where they are? And how can their stay-at-home friends support their friends while they’re at conference?
If you’re at conference:
- Give a shout-out on Facebook to your friends back home. I’m one of the “at home” writers this year during the annual ACFW conference due to extenuating family circumstances. Yesterday, several friends posted, “We’ll miss you, Beth” messages that touched my heart and put a smile on my face.
- Share some of what you learned at conference with your writer buddies. If you live in the same town, meet for coffee or lunch and share about the workshops you attended. Or post a few choice quotes from some workshops or the keynote speakers on your Facebook page.
If you’re at home:
- Pray for your friends while they’re at conference. They’re pitching to agents and editors. They’re up early and up late. They’re tired. Pray for strength. For encouragement. For God to open and close doors accordingly.
- Do the next thing you need to do for your writing career. If you need a rest, take a rest. If you need to make progress in your manuscript, punch out some word count. If you haven’t read a craft book in a while, read a craft book.
What about you? Are you at the ACFW conference right now — or are you wishing you were?