The annual ACFW conference starts this week. I’m leaving Wednesday. Wednesday. Where has the summer gone? I can’t believe it’s time already. What I can believe even less is how ill prepared I am. One sheets? Do editors really look at those? Proposals? At this point I can barely remember what my book is about, let alone be ready to pitch it to a publisher.
Did I mention my travel plans have sort of fallen apart in the last three days and I’m not sure how I’ll get to St. Louis?
Sigh. To say I'm a little freaked out at this point is an understatement.
To prepare--or perhaps bluff my way through how little prepared I am--here's how I’ll spend the next two days before I leave for conference.
Get real. I won’t have as many stories polished and ready to go as I had hoped when I registered for conference earlier in the summer. I’ll be happy if I remember to pack my shoes. But I have a project or two I hope to talk about. I will do what I can and not sweat—at least not too much—over the things I simply don’t have time for.
Saturate every moment in prayer. I can’t stress this one enough. I’ve been so overwhelmed and frustrated over what I won’t finish before I leave—in two days—I haven’t had time to get excited about the opportunities awaiting me and my career. In fact I dread Wednesday and almost wish I could stay home. But I want to enjoy myself. I want to learn and grow as a writer. I want to network with other writers and spend time with people who understand the doubts, joy, and frustrations of creating another world through my words.
Expect the unexpected. The only thing I know for sure about this year’s ACFW conference is that God enabled me to go by providing the financial means to make it possible. As soon as I realized I could afford to go, I believed God had a purpose for sending me. So I’m going to make the most of the experience, have fun, make friends, and grow in my writing.
Hope to see you there.
6 comments:
I hope you have a wonderful time at the conference, Teresa, and talk to just the editors who will love your stuff. I also hope you remember to pack your shoes.
Comfortable ones are a must.
I was in a rush like you are once when I attended a Christian Women's Bible conference. I remembered to pack my shoes, but in the rush, I packed the dictionary instead of my Bible. They both had brown covers and were about the same size. But what a difference.
So, don't forget to pack your Bible. Probably all the words in the Bible are in the dictionary, but they are not in the right order.
Love,
Molly
Molly, that is so funny. I never thought about the words being out of order before. You should use that line in a book. If you don't I will. Thanks for the reminder to slow down and enjoy the experience. Hopefully I won't be so frazzled by Thursday.
Best advice: don't stress it and cover your trip in prayer! Have fun, Teresa, and best wishes for success.
Take your hands off my dictionary story, Teresa. I'm using it in my upcoming non-ficton book, The Overcomers, and that book will come out from Westbow Press in late 2011 or early 2012.
Love,
Molly
Thanks, Carole. Are you coming? Won't be the same without you and Linore.
I hope you have a wonderful time at the conference. Hopefully, I can go next year and maybe we can meet up to chat over coffee or something.
~Cecelia Dowdy~
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