A bustling Nashville held the ACFW conference this
year. You may have been one of the lucky ones to attend. All attendees were meant to
sit in those seats as Divine appointments. Newbies and aficionados who have
been coming since inception, rubbed shoulders. You who didn’t get the chance to go, I
want to encourage you to plan on next year which will be held in Texas.
Over four hundred, like-minded and slightly ticked in the head men and women, slugged back and forth down halls to meetings and
ballrooms. Eyes on phones in hand reading the app to find the next
place, deciding if they should boost themselves with a coffee or step into the
restroom, trying to be on time, find a good seat, and not get lost.
Most people don’t understand writers who hear voices,
configure intricate scenes and engaging dialog, take in everything around
them, and file it for a possible future crime or passion. These slightly slouched,
mostly bespectacled, and almost always introverted people, came to learn from
the best, made appointments, were encouraged, and sometimes become disappointed
and even crushed.
They shared a common thread—write the perfect book. The
writers spent three days learning together and praying for one another. The
power of prayer was felt throughout the two floors of the gathered children of
the most high. The sweet Spirit breathed through the rooms and into the lungs and
hearts of those willing to receive.
The inspiring words of our esteemed key note speaker,
Ted Dekker, brought tears, smiles, laughter, and people to their feet. He encouraged
us to work out our love for the Lord and others on paper, to fight through
troubles in our soul while struggling to find answers to life’s burdens by interacting
with our characters. As our protagonist learns, so might we.
Some storytellers had agent or editor appointments,
all nerve racking and often life changing. The lucky ones were asked to send
chapters. The editor or agent had a spot or niche that fit what the writer had poured
their heart into. Most got sent away to work harder or pitch to another. Those
leaving the meetings wore smiles of rejoicing or drawn faces and moist eyes. All
were Divine appointments. The Lord doesn’t make mistakes. A “No” is not a
sentence of doom, but of learning and redirection.
A few crafters took the challenge of being sharpened
by authors who wielded a red pen and bloodied the first chapters of their
babies. Brave souls—we slightly crazy writers are—took the risk. Is all this worth the emotional upheaval? Yes.
Risk takers are the ones who win in the end and hold their baby wrapped in a
hard cover with their name splashed on the front, or downloaded around the
world.
The Gala, oh the Gala. Excitement filled the air as over five hundred well dressed men and women,
in everything from Sunday best to tuxes and elaborate sparkly gowns, were full of
expectations. The food scrumptious in a beautiful presentation and placed on laden tables. The question on everyone's mind--who will win
this year’s awards? It thrilled us as we watched the winners cross the stage with
gracious beaming smiles and give the glory and praise to their Lord.
You may ask—should I go next year? Pray. Search the
Lord to know His will and remember, He promised to direct you.
Robin Densmore Fuson
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Gala Ready |