by Lisa Jordan, @lisajordan
Attending my first writers’ conference was a life-changing experience…and a huge leap out of my comfort zone. I’d traveled to Nashville in 2005—my first time flying solo. For this directionally-challenged gal, I worried I’d end up on the wrong plane. Not only that, but I was about to head into a hotel where I didn’t know a single soul. Well, I knew some of them, but I hadn’t met them face-to-face. Our contact had been online via email, blogs, etc. My mother’s warning about talking to strangers, especially online, rang in my head even though I was a grown, married woman with children. Well, I’m happy to report there wasn’t a single stalker or psychopath among them.
What impressed me the most about that first writers’ conference was how other writers went out of their way to bless me with words of encouragement, prayers and random acts of kindness. My conference takeaway was I wanted to be that kind of person to others at upcoming conferences.
So now before each conference I attend, I pray and ask God to use me to bless someone who may need it. This person may be a stranger at the airport, another writer or a staff member at the conference hotel.
How about you? Maybe you’re uncertain where to start. Here are five suggestions on how you can be a blessing to others…not just at conferences but also in your everyday life:
- Be kind. A simple smile and a kind attitude go a long way. A smile signals “I see you” to someone else in a crowded room. Step outside of your comfort zone and say hello. This is a tough one for me. I’m an introvert so talking to strangers can be a challenge. But at a writers conference, we have commonalities. While standing in line, ask someone what they write or where they’re from. Those icebreakers open the gates to conversation.
- Be a Volunteer. Volunteering at a conference blesses the conference director, and it puts you in contact with others. Use those opportunities to build relationships and give back to the organizations that work hard on your behalf.
- Be a Prayer Warrior. Before you register, pray for God’s presence at the conference. Pray for those who can’t attend. At the conference, pray for someone who may be feeling discouraged. If you notice someone sitting by herself and seems to be discouraged, ask if everything is okay, then offer to pray for her.
- Be authentic. Conferences are ripe with moments of embarrassment. When someone wants to crawl under the table, empathize and share one of your own faux pas. Chances are, you will be able to bond and help the other person laugh about the situation. Showing your heart puts others at ease. Build real relationships—after all, it’s not about who you can use but how you can grow a friendship.
- Be gracious. Conference emotions run rampant when hundreds of people attend the same place. Hurt feelings are bound to happen. Be sensitive to situations, but focus on grace instead of allowing resentment and bitterness to steal your joy. Also, show grace to busy staff members and be patient when mistakes happen. We’re all fallible, right?
People will leave the conference with suitcases stuffed with dirty laundry, purchased books, and lasting impressions. Make sure their impression of you is one of blessing. Your attitude is remembered long after the conference ends.
Maya Angelou said it best: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Your Turn: How has someone blessed you at a writers conference? How can you be a blessing to others?
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Heart, home, and faith have always been important to Lisa Jordan, so writing stories with those elements come naturally. Represented by Rachelle Gardner of Books & Such Literary Management, Lisa is an award-winning author for Love Inspired, writing contemporary Christian romances that promise hope and happily ever after. Her latest book, Season of Hope, released in March 2019. She is the Operations Manager for Novel.Academy, powered by My Book Therapy. Happily married to her own real-life hero for thirty years, Lisa and her husband have two grown sons. When she isn’t writing, Lisa enjoys family time, kayaking, good books, and being creative. Visit her at lisajordanbooks.com.