Comments on: Writing Conferences and Your Allies http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Mon, 21 May 2012 04:28:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Cara Putman http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18358 Cara Putman Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:27:21 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18358 Great post, Randy. You are so right! The allies I've met at ACFW are the people I call and email today. We pray for each other. We brainstorm. We support each other and kick each other in the rear when we need it. Allies are critical and ever expanding. Great post, Randy. You are so right! The allies I’ve met at ACFW are the people I call and email today. We pray for each other. We brainstorm. We support each other and kick each other in the rear when we need it. Allies are critical and ever expanding.

]]> By: Wendy http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18359 Wendy Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:58:49 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18359 If I didn't know better, I'd say you wrote this for me! I'm registered for the ACFW conference (and for your class, as a matter of fact), and I'll be pitching to agents for the first time. I've been a little nervous about that, so now I have a tool that will help me calm down and just do my best. If I focus on finding Allies I won't be as worried about pitching. (Although I am seriously thinking of joining Susan May Warren's pitch polish that Thursday night!) If I didn’t know better, I’d say you wrote this for me! I’m registered for the ACFW conference (and for your class, as a matter of fact), and I’ll be pitching to agents for the first time. I’ve been a little nervous about that, so now I have a tool that will help me calm down and just do my best. If I focus on finding Allies I won’t be as worried about pitching. (Although I am seriously thinking of joining Susan May Warren’s pitch polish that Thursday night!)

]]> By: Morgan L. Busse http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18360 Morgan L. Busse Thu, 09 Jun 2011 21:06:36 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18360 Allies are wonderful! I never knew they existed until I went to my first Mt Hermon conference and discovered there were lots of people who thought like me :) Then again, that's scary too... lol :) Allies are wonderful! I never knew they existed until I went to my first Mt Hermon conference and discovered there were lots of people who thought like me :) Then again, that’s scary too… lol :)

]]> By: Richard Mabry http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18361 Richard Mabry Thu, 09 Jun 2011 21:51:56 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18361 Great post, Randy, and so very right. These aren't competitors, they're allies. I can trace the development of most of my important relationships to a writing conference. And that includes meeting you, listening as you taught a bunch of at-best sophomores, and proudly reporting to you that I'd "graduated." Thanks for your support. <strong>Randy sez</strong>: That's a critical thing to learn--the other writers are not your competition. You are your only competition. One should remember that it's impossible to get to know everybody. But you can still be nice to everybody you meet and you can find a few like-minded people and build close ties with them. That's so much better than thinking everybody else is the enemy. Great post, Randy, and so very right. These aren’t competitors, they’re allies. I can trace the development of most of my important relationships to a writing conference. And that includes meeting you, listening as you taught a bunch of at-best sophomores, and proudly reporting to you that I’d “graduated.” Thanks for your support.

Randy sez: That’s a critical thing to learn–the other writers are not your competition. You are your only competition. One should remember that it’s impossible to get to know everybody. But you can still be nice to everybody you meet and you can find a few like-minded people and build close ties with them. That’s so much better than thinking everybody else is the enemy.

]]> By: Karen http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18365 Karen Fri, 10 Jun 2011 03:44:09 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18365 Great post Randy!! I'm just curious as to how pertinent ACFW would be for someone who does not live in the states. I live in Canada but have been toying with the idea of attending. This year I am attending the Christian Writer's Conference in Canada. ACFW sounds like a wonderful group and I'd love to be involved! Randy sez: ACFW is actually quite international and has a number of writers who live outside the US. If you live in Canada, you might actually be closer to the conference than I am. I think you'd get a lot out of the conference, this year or any year that you choose to go. Great post Randy!! I’m just curious as to how pertinent ACFW would be for someone who does not live in the states. I live in Canada but have been toying with the idea of attending. This year I am attending the Christian Writer’s Conference in Canada. ACFW sounds like a wonderful group and I’d love to be involved!

Randy sez: ACFW is actually quite international and has a number of writers who live outside the US. If you live in Canada, you might actually be closer to the conference than I am. I think you’d get a lot out of the conference, this year or any year that you choose to go.

]]> By: Lynn Squire http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18369 Lynn Squire Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:41:30 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18369 Randy, my allies came from ACFW, though, to be honest I don't consider ACFW as an organization to be my ally. You know I've taken a different root for my own writer's journey. My critique group (who are my key allies) I've been with for years came out of ACFW, but they have been supportive of the direction God has given me. ACFW is a wonderful organization for anyone pursuing traditional publishing. The people which make up ACFW have a unified and great desire to help people grow in their writing. For myself, I'm keeping my eyes open for allies who are not so opposed to the route I'm going, which is the route I believe God has designed for me--which is not the route ACFW has chosen. :) And that's okay. Still love the people I've come to know there. And those I'm closest to do understand and support me. Randy, my allies came from ACFW, though, to be honest I don’t consider ACFW as an organization to be my ally. You know I’ve taken a different root for my own writer’s journey. My critique group (who are my key allies) I’ve been with for years came out of ACFW, but they have been supportive of the direction God has given me.

ACFW is a wonderful organization for anyone pursuing traditional publishing. The people which make up ACFW have a unified and great desire to help people grow in their writing.

For myself, I’m keeping my eyes open for allies who are not so opposed to the route I’m going, which is the route I believe God has designed for me–which is not the route ACFW has chosen. :) And that’s okay. Still love the people I’ve come to know there. And those I’m closest to do understand and support me.

]]> By: Meg Moseley http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18371 Meg Moseley Fri, 10 Jun 2011 13:15:35 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18371 I'll be attending the ACFW conference for the first time in several years and I look forward to reunions with some of my longtime allies. Friends are the best part of the writing journey, for so many reasons. I’ll be attending the ACFW conference for the first time in several years and I look forward to reunions with some of my longtime allies. Friends are the best part of the writing journey, for so many reasons.

]]> By: Michael LeFan http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18375 Michael LeFan Fri, 10 Jun 2011 18:34:58 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18375 Allies--the word conjures up scenes of D-Day. But then writing, publishing, and marketing do share a few traits with combat, I think. Back to the Allies thing--I guess I need some, but I have a problem with encountering them. First, I'm "shy" by nature. That I can deal with. No biggie. I'm also a disabled person (as the PC crowd says, "physically challenged"). So attending conferences is a major problem. As Walter Brennan used to say on some western TV show, "No brag, just fact." The question becomes this: what is a workable alternate to meeting potential Allies? I am presently hip deep in your Snowflake program, working on a first novel. Writing and publishing are not new to me--I have had three nonfiction books published (commercial, traditional, or whatever term you like), plus scores of articles in national magazines. I wrote a couple of very bad short stories about 30 years ago, they got the rejections they deserved (mercifully), and I shifted gears into nonfiction as fast as I could. Now I want to retry fiction writing, and I am actually pleased with how my idea is holding together and maturing (thanks, in great part, to your Snowflake). So, back to the Allies question, what are your musings on alternate approaches to this endeavor? Thanks. <strong>Randy sez</strong>: You're right, the shyness thing is not a big deal. Few people are more introverted (or more socially inept) than I am, but writing conferences are one place where I just forget all that. Because most writers are introverts. As for not being able to go to conferences, that's not such an obstacle as it was before the online world was born. You can make some great friends online. Yes, there's nothing like meeting in person. But online can be a pretty good second best, and if that's what you've got, then that's what you've got. I have many friends that I've never met in person, and the great majority of my interaction with all my friends is online. Allies–the word conjures up scenes of D-Day. But then writing, publishing, and marketing do share a few traits with combat, I think.

Back to the Allies thing–I guess I need some, but I have a problem with encountering them. First, I’m “shy” by nature. That I can deal with. No biggie. I’m also a disabled person (as the PC crowd says, “physically challenged”). So attending conferences is a major problem. As Walter Brennan used to say on some western TV show, “No brag, just fact.” The question becomes this: what is a workable alternate to meeting potential Allies?

I am presently hip deep in your Snowflake program, working on a first novel. Writing and publishing are not new to me–I have had three nonfiction books published (commercial, traditional, or whatever term you like), plus scores of articles in national magazines.

I wrote a couple of very bad short stories about 30 years ago, they got the rejections they deserved (mercifully), and I shifted gears into nonfiction as fast as I could. Now I want to retry fiction writing, and I am actually pleased with how my idea is holding together and maturing (thanks, in great part, to your Snowflake). So, back to the Allies question, what are your musings on alternate approaches to this endeavor? Thanks.

Randy sez: You’re right, the shyness thing is not a big deal. Few people are more introverted (or more socially inept) than I am, but writing conferences are one place where I just forget all that. Because most writers are introverts.

As for not being able to go to conferences, that’s not such an obstacle as it was before the online world was born. You can make some great friends online. Yes, there’s nothing like meeting in person. But online can be a pretty good second best, and if that’s what you’ve got, then that’s what you’ve got. I have many friends that I’ve never met in person, and the great majority of my interaction with all my friends is online.

]]> By: Ann Shorey http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18376 Ann Shorey Fri, 10 Jun 2011 19:13:45 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18376 So true, Randy! With every conference I attend, I meet and bond with new allies. Last year at ACFW was a banner year--several of us Revell authors got to hang out together and just chat (and bond). Now we stay in close touch through Facebook while waiting for the next conference. So true, Randy! With every conference I attend, I meet and bond with new allies. Last year at ACFW was a banner year–several of us Revell authors got to hang out together and just chat (and bond). Now we stay in close touch through Facebook while waiting for the next conference.

]]> By: Melissa Stroh http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18379 Melissa Stroh Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:24:30 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18379 I've only ever been to the Colorado Christian Writer's Conference. But one day I'd like to attend a bigger one like Mount Hermon or ACFW. It would be awesome to connect with people there. To be honest, though, I don't know much about those conferences, nor the amount of money I'd have to save up just to get to one of them from here (Wyoming). So I guess that's something I'll have to explore further. I’ve only ever been to the Colorado Christian Writer’s Conference. But one day I’d like to attend a bigger one like Mount Hermon or ACFW. It would be awesome to connect with people there. To be honest, though, I don’t know much about those conferences, nor the amount of money I’d have to save up just to get to one of them from here (Wyoming). So I guess that’s something I’ll have to explore further.

]]> By: Shane http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18380 Shane Fri, 10 Jun 2011 21:12:09 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18380 Shoulders to cry on... LOL! Shoulders to cry on… LOL!

]]> By: Pam Hillman http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18385 Pam Hillman Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:11:35 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18385 Wow, this is spot on! The Seekers formed in 2005 after butting heads in unpublished writing contests. Six years later, we’re all published. All 15 of us can’t always make it to the ACFW conference every year, but we did manage to all go to Denver. What fun! My other allies definitely came from joining ACFW, attending the conference, being an officer, volunteering. It's one thing to meet people online, and you can become great friends (and allies), but once you meet them in person at a conference, you REALLY become allies! Wow, this is spot on!

The Seekers formed in 2005 after butting heads in unpublished writing contests. Six years later, we’re all published. All 15 of us can’t always make it to the ACFW conference every year, but we did manage to all go to Denver. What fun!

My other allies definitely came from joining ACFW, attending the conference, being an officer, volunteering. It’s one thing to meet people online, and you can become great friends (and allies), but once you meet them in person at a conference, you REALLY become allies!

]]> By: Allied Forces Step Forward! | Valerie Comer http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18411 Allied Forces Step Forward! | Valerie Comer Fri, 17 Jun 2011 08:43:21 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18411 [...] June ninth, Randy Ingermanson posted about allies on his blog, and it got me to thinking about the people in my writing life who [...] […] June ninth, Randy Ingermanson posted about allies on his blog, and it got me to thinking about the people in my writing life who […]

]]> By: Pam Halter http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18429 Pam Halter Tue, 21 Jun 2011 10:43:22 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18429 Absolutely true, Randy. I met my Allies at the Greater Philly conference 11 years ago. We only meet once a year because we're pretty scattered across the country, but we keep in touch via email and several of us live close enough to see each other. If I did not have this group, I would have given up long ago. Our mentor is a best selling author and has been so incredibly generous with her time and instruction. We've morphed into something waaaay more than a writer's group. It's amazing. And when other authors find out what we have, they always ask if they can join us. But we've closed ourselves. That may sound snobby, but we've had so many years together and there is such a shared spirit between us that it would be like having another person enter into an established marriage. I don't know anyone else who has this kind of group, but I'm sure there are some out there. So, yes, listen to Randy and get thee to a writer's conference! And be ready to give of yourself as well as receive what you need. It will make all the difference to your writing and your life. Absolutely true, Randy. I met my Allies at the Greater Philly conference 11 years ago. We only meet once a year because we’re pretty scattered across the country, but we keep in touch via email and several of us live close enough to see each other. If I did not have this group, I would have given up long ago. Our mentor is a best selling author and has been so incredibly generous with her time and instruction. We’ve morphed into something waaaay more than a writer’s group. It’s amazing. And when other authors find out what we have, they always ask if they can join us. But we’ve closed ourselves. That may sound snobby, but we’ve had so many years together and there is such a shared spirit between us that it would be like having another person enter into an established marriage. I don’t know anyone else who has this kind of group, but I’m sure there are some out there.

So, yes, listen to Randy and get thee to a writer’s conference! And be ready to give of yourself as well as receive what you need. It will make all the difference to your writing and your life.

]]> By: A recommended read | Nick Harrison http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18482 A recommended read | Nick Harrison Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:57:27 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18482 [...] I’m preparing my next blog entry, please take time to read this one from Randy Ingermanson. I wish I would have written it. For aspiring writers, these “allies” Randy recommends [...] […] I’m preparing my next blog entry, please take time to read this one from Randy Ingermanson. I wish I would have written it. For aspiring writers, these “allies” Randy recommends […]

]]> By: Jan Cline http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18483 Jan Cline Mon, 27 Jun 2011 18:15:58 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18483 Great post and I echo the importance of conferences. I founded one last year that I hope to have you come to sometime. I tell every new writer I meet that it's important to connect with other writers as much as possible. Conferences are so much fun and challenging at the same time. Keep pushing them! For anyone interested here is our conference website: www.inlandnwchristianwriters.com Blessings! Great post and I echo the importance of conferences. I founded one last year that I hope to have you come to sometime. I tell every new writer I meet that it’s important to connect with other writers as much as possible. Conferences are so much fun and challenging at the same time. Keep pushing them!
For anyone interested here is our conference website:
www.inlandnwchristianwriters.com
Blessings!

]]> By: Carrie Schmeck http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18484 Carrie Schmeck Tue, 28 Jun 2011 01:24:17 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/09/writing-conferences-and-your-allies/#comment-18484 Such truth, Randy! And I will vouch for Mount Hermon. Go expecting one thing and get another. That is the way it works. I made connections there that have already changed my life. Such truth, Randy! And I will vouch for Mount Hermon. Go expecting one thing and get another. That is the way it works. I made connections there that have already changed my life.

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