2012 ACFW Conference - Day 1

ACFW Conference - Day One (Thursday)

I didn't get an opportunity to post after my first official day at Conference (which was Thursday) because the schedule here has been so hectic. The typical day at the ACFW Conference starts at 8:00a.m., and depending on if you choose to attend all of the sessions they offer, ends around 9:30p.m., or even later. I can tell you that although I am truly exhausted, I've been having the best time. Actually, this has been the BEST conference I have ever attended. Considering that I have only attended legal conferences (this would be my first writers' conference), I have never experienced anything like it! I have been so amazed and overwhelmed by the energy of this event. Everyone has been so friendly, caring, welcoming, even nurturing, as well as possess such a fire for God.

 

I am going to keep this post as short as possible because like I stated previously, I'm exhausted, and I still want to blog about day 2 (Friday).  I wasn't able to capture, with pictures, all the aspects of the first day at Conference, but I will let the pics I did take tell some of the story.

God Bless!
T Denise Clary

I am sitting in the "First-time Attendees" Orientation meeting. There are a lot of other "Newbies." Yay!! :-)

 

I met and had lunch with award-winning Author, Editor, and Writing Coach, Susanne Lakin. She gave me a lot of great tips and introduced me around to other well-known Authors, Editors and Agents.

 

Attending our first General Session dinner. As you can see, this conference is well attended.

 

Keynote Speaker, Michael Hyatt, at our first General Session meeting. Michael Hyatt is the former CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers.

 

I befriended Hannah, aspiring Author, and a fellow "Newbie." 

 

Powerful and uplifting praise and worship team.

 

2012 ACFW Conference - Day of Arrival!

ACFW Conference - Day of Arrival!

I arrived! And I thank the Lord for a safe and smooth flight into Dallas for the American Christian Fiction Writers'(ACFW) Conference.

 

I must really look like a newbie here, because a lady on the shuttle ride from the airport to our hotel, who was sitting next to me, asked if I was nervous about attending the conference for the first time. LOL. She was very nice and made me feel more at ease. Little did I know (until I saw her picture in the conference magazine) that she is a known Literary Agent with the Steve Laube Agency. Wow! I wasn't even at the hotel yet and already I run into a Literary Agent.

 

When I arrived at the hotel, there were so many Agents, Editors, and Authors that I recognized from the Internet, it was truly amazing! There was only one problem. They all seemed to know one another, while I know absolutely no one. Talk about awkward! But I am hopeful that I will get to know some of the attendees as the days go on.

 

Well that's all to report for today. There was nothing really happening, with the exception of checking in and mingling with other attendees. I decided to skip the mingling aspect and opted to retreat directly to my hotel room. Not because I was trying to avoid the crowd, but because I wanted to start preparing for the Agent/Editor interviews I had just been granted upon arrival. For Friday, I was granted an interview with an Editor from Zondervan, one of the top publishing companies in the country. And on Saturday, I have an interview with an Agent from the Seymour Agency. I am super excited to be able to pitch my book to these two individuals, and the companies they represent. Wish me luck and keep me in your prayers!

 
Here are some pics from today...

My nice hotel room.

I took a pic with my conference badge.

 

 

My conference badge...I'm a NEWBIE!!! lol

 

 

View from my balcony.

 

 

God Bless!
T Denise Clary

American Christian Fiction Writers' Conference (ACFW)

Tomorrow I will be traveling to Dallas to attend the American Christian Fiction Writers' (ACFW) conference. This will be my first time attending a writers' conference and I am super excited, and a little nervous!

 

Just to give you a little background, the ACFW was organized in 2000 and has over 2500 members worldwide, consisting of authors, editors, agents, publicists and aspiring writers. The ACFW hosts an annual national conference that, "has become the premier event among Christian fiction writers and other industry professionals." Although I took this quote directly from the ACFW's website, I can attest that I have heard many people in the publishing industry mention the same thing. The ACFW has become known for its great networking opportunities and the quality classes that are offered. I have heard of authors who have found their agent and/or publisher at these conferences, as well as agents/editors/publishers who have found their authors. 

Because of the tremendous networking opportunities available at the conference, I have been preparing for a couple of weeks now. I have been polishing up my manuscript and query letter in the event I run into someone that may be interested in seeing them. I'm not holding my breath that someone will be interested in my work as there's really not a market for picture books right now--or at least I have heard and have been told several times. But at least I will be prepared in the event that there's a slight chance of something like that happening.

I found two helpful blog posts (listed below) in preparation for this conference, and any other conferences I may attend in the future. If you plan on attending the ACFW conference or any writers' conference, I hope this information is helpful to you as well.

Prepare for Conference Early
http://thewritersalleys.blogspot.com/2012/06/prepare-for-conference-early.html

How to Pitch Agents at a Writers' Conference
http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/how-to-pitch-agents-at-a-writers-conference
 

OK, wish me luck and say a little prayer for me...well, say a prayer for my anxiety, LOL! I am taking my laptop with me in hopes that I will get a chance to update my blog on a daily basis while there. 
 

God Bless!
T Denise Clary

New Bible Verse ~ Sunday, September 16th

New Bible verse posted as of Sunday, September 16th. Have a great week! Oh, and happy Rosh Hashanah to my friends in the Jewish community. I wish you a sweet and blessed new year! Shana tovah u'metukah! :-)

Hebrews 10:23 (AMP)

So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word.  

God Bless!
T Denise Clary