by Jennifer Hudson-Taylor Most of us think of church or local ministries when we consider volunteering, but there are plenty of volunteer opportunities at the ACFW Conference. It isn’t only about writing workshops and meetings with agents and editors, although those are wonderful assets to the conference. More importantly, God is at work during prayer time, praise and worship, devotions, …
Connecting With Publishers
by Lena Nelson-Dooley When I wrote and sold my first two books, I didn’t know much about publishers or agents or anything. We didn’t have an organization like ACFW. After the organization started having national conferences, that changed in my writing life. I was able to actually meet editors face-to-face. I ate meals with them, and many of them have …
NOVEL IDEAS—CONNECTING AT THE TABLE
by Cynthia Ruchti “Can we talk?” Among the things that surprise ACFW conference attendees are these: · It’s amazing how many writers consider themselves introverted. · It’s amazing how noisy introverts can get when set loose at a writers’ conference. Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk! We talk in the elevators, in the hallways, in the lobbies, in the classrooms, in …
Conquering an Introvert’s Fear of Conference
by Missy Tippens By Missy Tippens The ACFW conference is fast approaching, and I know some may be first time attendees. And others may be looking forward to it but are worried or nervous. I suspect a lot of writers are introverts, and I know quite a few who are. And then we go to conferences to network and force …
Professionalism 101
Is it the suit? Not really. I know it looks professional to wear a suit, but professionalism 101 is all about simple skills and the appropriate attitude. The clothes are tools that enhance skills and attitude. When you think of professionalism as skills and clothing as tools, it’s easier to pick the right tool for the circumstance. Now we can …
Making the Most of Your Conference Experience
by Mindy Obenhaus Time is ticking away. In only six short weeks, hundreds of Christian fiction writers will converge on the Mile-High City for ACFW’s annual conference. Whoo-hoo! Whether this is your first ACFW conference or your tenth (though I’m pretty sure they haven’t had that many), you want to get everything out of your conference that you can. Take …
Confidence at Conference
by Angela Breidenbach ACFW Publicity Officer Many Christian fiction writers are gearing up to attend the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference in Denver this September. Some are feeling the pinch of nerves as if their finger were caught in the car door. They want to go, need to go, but don’t know how to get through it without serious doubts. …
Conference Prep – Part Three
by Mindy Obenhaus We’ve ordered/printed our business cards, perfected our pitch, polished our one-sheets, and organized our wardrobe. We’re almost ready to go. One more quick note before I totally leave the topic of wardrobe. I couldn’t resist sharing a quote from Coco Chanel. Ms. Chanel believed looking our best showed politeness to others. She said, “Maybe today’s the day …
Conference Prep – Part One
by Mindy Obenhaus You’ve registered for your favorite writer’s conference(s). Your hotel is booked. Your transportation is squared away. Now the real work begins. Business Cards – Whether you’re a multi-published author or a beginning writer, you’re going to want business cards. Networking at conferences is invaluable. You’ll make new friends, meet those people whose names you’ve seen attached to …
Dining Options in the Park Meadows Mall (Colorado’s only retail resort!) Food Court (AKA Dining Hall)
by Megan DiMaria If you’re looking for an adventure and want to explore the area to find a good spot for dinner on Friday night, one option is to hop on the light rail and head south to Park Meadows at the County Line Road exit. It’s a short ride, only four stops south of Belleview Ave. The Belleview station …