From May 16th to May 19th I’ll be at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference (CCWC) held at YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park Center, Colorado. We meet in the Ruesch Auditorium.

When I finished this blog, I discovered I talk too much. If you know about this conference and don’t want to read what I’ve said, you can get information about the conference by clicking here.

This is my favorite writers conference of the year for several reasons. As a Colorado native, I can’t help mentioning it is in the beautiful area of Rocky Mountain National Park. If you can come a day early or stay a day late, it is worth your time to visit the park. Note: A Sunday tour of the park is an add-on to the conference if you’re interested. Okay, now that I’ve shown my state pride and prejudice, let’s move on.

So, what makes this conference great? I divide the answer into three categories – faculty, classes, and atmosphere.

The Faculty

This is an interesting bunch. Some, despite the casual dress code, are perfectly color-coordinated with stylish clothes. But don’t be startled by the tall man in torn jeans, black t-shirt, and a black stocking cap. He’s not a scary as he looks and he gives wonderful hugs. If you work with youth, talk to him because he has a special youth groups you’ll want to hear about. The lady sitting on the stairs, giggling – the one with the frizzy hair, she really won’t trip you when you step past her, but she is an awesome editor with great advice. It really is okay to tease the guy running around the mountain in shorts even though it might be snowing. Everyone else teases him and are thankful he’s there to help keep things running smoothly. Don’t worry when you hear people talking about the little old lady who is looney. She’ll keep you laughing while she motivates you to climb higher with your writing and in your life. You never know what the guy with the machete or the skeleton might do, but he enlightens your mind with unique knowledge of God’s Word. And under no circumstances should you feel like you are the only one who gets confused or has difficulty keeping up when the director switches between talking to you and to the Father. Listen closely to those prayers to discover a beautiful relationship with God.

Despite all the quirks, this faculty has warm and loving hearts combined with an incredible amount of knowledge. They will teach you in the classrooms, answer your questions in the hallways and at meals, and encourage you every chance they get. They will do all they can to find time for you. If they can’t provide what you need, they will point you to someone who might be able to help. Most will pray with you and for you.

During one-on-one appointments they will talk about your work. Talk about the possibilities for publication. Make suggestions. Encourage. They will also help you relax. If you are new to pitching your writing it can be intimidating to talk to an editor, publisher, or agent. However, you’ll find them to be easy to like people who want to help you.

The Classes

Are you writing fiction or non-fiction? Need help with the craft of writing? Struggling with the world of publishing? Can’t figure out how to market your book? Or maybe the world of a writer is weighing on you? Not sure how to get your message across? Are you a teen wanting to connect with other teen writers? No matter which your question is – There’s a class for that.

A wide variety of workshops and continuing sessions are available to meet the needs of writers no matter the experience level. One aspect of this conference I find refreshing is no lock-in. I’ve gone to conferences where if I signed up for a class, I was committed to that class and had to stay in it. Not at CCWC. If a workshop doesn’t meet your needs, you can slip out. If you realize during the first session that a continuing session will not meet your needs, you don’t have to continue. Go to something else. There is freedom. More than once, this freedom has allowed me to be in just the right place for a divine appointment.

The Atmosphere

This is what I enjoy most about CCWC. It’s a conference designed to meet the needs of the participants when they are there. Most of us arrive with a list of classes we want to attend and editors/publishers/agents we want to talk to. We have high goals and expectations of the success we will have. The truth is our plans and God’s plans frequently not the same.

Several times, when I got to the conference, I’ve discovered I didn’t get appointments with the person I wanted. Every time, if I remembered to have an attitude of “it will work out” the person with whom I did talk helped me in ways I didn’t expect, but lead me along the path God created for me.

As I said above, there is freedom at this conference. I’ve discovered although I thought this was the class I needed, but “accidently” walked into that one and it was perfect for the questions I had. Other times, I missed a planned class entirely because I’ve gotten into a discussion with another member of the faculty or a conferee. Sometimes these divine appointments have blessed me because this person is the one I needed to help me. In reverse, these divine appointments have blessed me because I was able to help the other person.

In addition to being a conference, this is a time of retreat. There are places around Ruesch Auditorium and on the YMCA grounds where conferees and faculty can quiet themselves and their hearts in a time of communication with God. It is a place where two or three can slip away and pray together. The morning worship starts every day with the right attitude.

This conference is built on the belief if the teaching and the worship is provided, God will provide the divine appointments and bless those who come.

Now that I’ve talked longer than I should, if you’d like more information about CCWC, please click here.