What I Learned at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference

Just got back from the Colorado Christian Writers Conference in Estes Park. Marlene Bagnull and her volunteer staff did an excellent job of shepherding the flock of conferees and faculty--hundreds of people and dozens of workshops and continuing sessions. They did have a few hiccoughs along the way, but nothing nothing that ruined the conference. We are triumphant!

My trip to Colorado was fraught with a few hiccoughs of its own. First, at 5AM I lost grip on my curling iron, dropped it on my eyelid and have a nice little burn there as a souvenir. Lovely--head to the conference looking like Quasimodo. (wasn't too bad. Praise God for eye shadow). Then, on the trip up, I got a migraine. Wasn't too bad, though, and since I wasn't driving, it didn't delay the journey. It was gone by the time we arrived, although, for a while I was a little loopy in that "day-after" state. Of course, things didn't end there. The next morning, I dropped the curling iron again. This time onto the back of my neck (did I mention my hair is shorter than it has been in a while?). So, then I had a burn on my neck, also, so I looked like Quasi from the front and the back! Sheesh! (anyone think I should avoid metal rods glowing with heat?) But none of that took away from the conference experience...oh right, this post was supposed to be about things I learned at the conference....

• There are so many talented up-and-coming authors out there who have a heart for Christ. It's refreshing.
 
• Reading instructions is a good thing. (Kind of like reading submission guidelines :) )...Hopefully the recording of my session will turn out OK even though I wasn't wearing the mic for a good five-to-ten minutes. (The sound guy said it was fine and also said I wasn't the first one, which made me feel better. Why is it we're comforted by others making our same mistakes instead of saddened that the mistakes are repeated?) And, thank you to Loree Lough for allowing me to use her synopsis as a sample. It really saved the presentation.
 
• Statistically, movies that show Christianity in some type of positive light do better at the box office than those that have no mention of Christianity at all (there is hope, after all.) Many producers are now including Christian references, and, even if it's solely to make money, it doesn't really matter what the motive is as long as the true message is getting out there. Amen? (I think that's also indicative of the continued up-swing in Christian publishing.)
 
• I can be a cafeteria with hundreds of 5th graders and not implode. (although, there were a few touchy moments when I thought I might just spontaneously combust--oh wait, that was probably the heat emanating from the burn on the back of my neck.)
 
• Did I mention there are many talented authors who have a heart for Christ? It was so great to see the enthusiasm and dedication to writing Christian content that these men and women share. I can't wait to read the submissions that will be coming along shortly. And it was a blessing to get to meet a couple of PBG authors: Davalynn Spencer and Eddie Jones. I hope to meet others of you at some time in the future.
 
• And, the number one thing I learned at the conference? God is working through so many people in so many different ways that we have everything to rejoice and nothing to lament. (OK, I already knew that, but the reminder is a total adrenaline rush.)

  Happy writing everyone. Keep the faith. Write for Him. Rejoice in the obstacles that are thrown in your path as you go about your Christian witness. Remember, if the devil ain't messin' with you, you're doing something wrong, so rejoice when those stumbling blocks are tossed at your ankles.  I thank God for each of you PBG authors and staff. You are all awesome!