Article: Thinking of Attending a Christian Writers Conference?

Almost every time I recommend attending a Christian writers’ conference I receive the question, “Which one should I attend?” I typically respond with “The one with the most editors in your writing interest.” While I love leading workshops my fun times are spending 15 minutes unlocking a writer. In the same way fiction editors love discovering a really skilled storyteller and non-fiction editors love to find a well-written non-fiction book proposal.

You’re saying, “But what about the workshops?” There are some really helpful ones by successful authors, but as agent I consider getting feedback about your book project directly from an agent or editor is more important. That’s why I consider conferences where editors and agent are not permitted to interview writers during keynotes or workshops have a misplaced priority.

If you want to know if there’s a Christian writers conference within driving distance, buy The Christian Writers Market Guide, which in the back of the book lists all of the conferences which, when approached, return their information form to the book’s editor. There are regional one-day conferences, Friday night and Saturday conferences, Friday through Saturday conferences. Almost always, you’ll find editors only at the three or four day conference.

Clients who ask me which conference to attend get personalized attention. I’ll check which editors and agents will be at a conference; recommend which events to attend, and which conferences I will be attending. I’ve created a list of conferences here that typically have several editors and/or agents.

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