Writers Conferences Are Like a Box of Chocolates
By Andrea Merrell
Merriam-Webster
online defines expect this way: to
await, suppose, or think; to anticipate or look forward to the coming or occurrence
of; to consider probable or certain; to consider reasonable, due, or necessary;
to consider bound in duty or obligated.
That’s a whole lot
of wishing and hoping.
I just returned
from the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference (BRMCWC) in the
beautiful mountains of North Carolina. With over 500 people in attendance, it
was a privilege and honor to be part of the faculty. Teaching classes and
interacting with conferees at appointments, meals, and free time gave me the
opportunity to observe attitudes in action. For many of these conferees—especially
first-timers—expectations ran the gamut from “God’s about to make
me a super star” to “what in the world am I doing here?”
When attending my
first conference as a newbie, I was clueless. My friend and roomie (also a
newbie) and I had no idea what to do before we arrived, while we were there,
and even after we left, but we knew we were supposed
to be there. Armed with faux courage, we were both convinced we would come home
with an agent, a contract, and a bunch of “attagirls … you are an amazing
writer and just what we’ve been looking for.”
Sad to say, that’s
not exactly what happened. Actually, that’s not anything close to what
happened. Speaking for myself, I wasn’t ready.
They say you don’t
know what you don’t know. An acute awareness of how much I didn’t know (and
needed to learn) came home with me, packed securely in my luggage—along with a
fistful of business cards, bookmarks, handouts, class notes, and an abundance of wise advice. Overwhelming?
Yes, but as I applied myself and attended this same conference (along with
others) year after year, God’s plan for my life unfolded. Looking back over the
past ten years, I can clearly see His hand in every aspect of my writing career—even
in the dreaded rejection letters. Every step became part of the learning
process as God opened the right doors and closed the wrong ones, taught me to
keep my eyes on Him instead of others, and prepared me for the wonderful
journey He had prepared for me. The key factor was—and is—trust.
This past week, I
had the pleasure of speaking with so many precious individuals who have words
burning in their heart that need to be written. Some were confident, while
others were shy and hesitant. A few were confused and frustrated because they
didn’t know what to expect, who to talk with, and which classes to attend. My
advice to them was simple: “Put away your expectations and allow God to do what
He wants to do. Believe for divine appointments, divine connections, and divine
favor. Take one step at a time, and make the most of every opportunity that
comes your way. You are not here by accident, but by design.”
God’s plans are
almost always bigger than our own, and He will bless us in the most
unusual and unexpected ways. I’ve learned that at a conference, the
person I meet in the hallway who needs a hug and a word of encouragement might
be the very reason God has me there.
Attending
conferences is essential to our writing journey. But success is in the eye of
the beholder. Yes, we all long for an agent, a contract, and an attagirl (or
attaboy). But let’s not neglect the process of learning the basics and honing
our craft. Becoming a good writer is a process, not an event.
Most importantly, don't forget to step outside your comfort zone and meet people. Forging friendships is how you build your network. I'm very thankful
for lessons learned over the years and the many opportunities that have come my
way, but some of the greatest gifts are all the incredible people I’ve met
and the life-long friendships that have been created.
So, what about you?
If you’re not getting the desired results, maybe it’s time to change your expectations.
To quote Forrest Gump, “Life is like a box of chocolates.” We could say the
same thing about a conference. You never know what you’re going to “get,” but when
you’re trusting in God, you can be sure it will be a blessing and another step
in the right direction.
Has God blessed
you in ways you least expected? We would love for you to share with us and our
readers.
(Photos courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net/Pansa/David Castillo Dominici.)
TWEETABLES
Well, this is the second blog post I've read about expectations today. I wonder if God is trying to tell me something.
ReplyDeleteHmmm ... Remember what I shared at writers' group about God getting my attention (being set free)? I believe my friend Josh is the one who said, "God can be relentless." Thanks for stopping by and for sharing. Blessings! :)
DeleteGreat post Andrea. I've only been to 2 writers conferences, but I remember going to the first one like it was yesterday. So much to learn and so overwhelming. I came away knowing that I had a long way to go, but also came away with a game plan. Part of that game plan was submitting my devotions to ChristianDevotions.us. As they started being published, I received an email from Yvonne Lehman wanting me to submit one of them for publication in her Spoken Moments book. I was blown away. Never did I imagine God to show up like that and so soon after the conference. He has continued to open doors on my writing journey. I am humbled and blessed each time. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great testimony, Sheryl. God always has a plan for us. Thanks for sharing. :)
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