Preparing for Conference

I will be attending the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Conference later this month—my first conference ever! *cheers* I am excited and terrified. Right now it’s about 50/50. My list of to-dos for the conference grows every day and it’s frustrating. I finish one thing and two more pop up in its place. My mind is swirling with terms like one sheets, pitches, workshops, etc.

Here’s my to-do list (part of it anyway):

--Finish Dividing Spirits (about 28k to go)

--Complete one sheets for The Impossible Choice and Dividing Spirits

--Fine tune pitches for IC and DS

--Print out sample chapters of both novels

--Research the agent/editors I signed up to meet

--Buy a dress for the banquet

The list may not look very long, but anyone who’s gone through this before knows that they are rather time consuming. Plus you throw in the packing and everything else. Ack! My husband is leaving for a work trip next week and I also have to pack the girls and get them to the in-laws before flying to the conference.

It’s going to be a long couple of weeks.

Yet, each day my excitement grows. I have some wonderful friends that I’m anxious to meet. My critique partner, Cathy Bryant, has been such a blessing. I can’t wait to see her and give her a great big hug. My roommates for the conference have been wonderful in helping prepare pitches and such over the last month.

Even more than all that, I just know God is going to move in a great way at this conference. I know that may sound hokey…but I just know it. I don’t know if it will involve me or if I will just be there to witness it—whatever the case, it’s going to be huge!

I look forward to conversing with people who think like I do. To be in an environment where talking to yourself, acting out scenes, and blubbering when you kill off an important person is not signs of a crazy person. I am also excited to know that I am going to learn so much. Between the workshops, the seminars, meals with editors/agents, and everything else, I’m going to walk away with a wealth of information to apply to my life and my writing.

And when I get back, you can expect to hear all about it!