The JOB Experience as a First-Time Writers’ Conference Faculty

The first week in March met me with a wonderful new opportunity as a first-time guest at the Florida Christian Writers’ Conference (FCWC). I am grateful to the conference director, Billie Wilson, who saw fit to accept my request to attend, and to my supervisors who saw it beneficial enough to count the three days as work time.

The conference was held at the Lake Yale Conference Center located by one of the many beautiful lakes Central Florida is spotted with.

Along with the thick wooded areas that intertwined themselves between the modest 1960s-style buildings, the setting would have been a perfect spot for inspiration had it not been so chilly. I couldn’t bring myself to enjoy the outdoors on this trip. Florida has been uncharacteristically cold this winter and spring, and anything below 70 is cold to me.

I wouldn’t have had much time for reflection anyway. My days were pleasantly filled with meeting with writers who had a passion for their craft and wanted to share their gifts with the world.

No Such Thing as a Bipartisan Editor: Either You’re a Conservative or a Liberal

Just thinking about this and I have decided that there are two kinds of editors out there: a) the ones who have to play it by the book (Chicago Manual of Style or The Associated Press Stylebook), and b) those who’ll keep the rules as long as they don’t cramp the ever-changing landscape of style that comes and goes with the trends.

Yes, I just made this up because it’s funny—and I’m a little high off this Venti Iced Latte from Starbucks.

We have both types of editors in our office. Sometimes it's like Mac vs. PC up in here! Here’s how a typical conversation might go when our style preferences collide:

Liberal editor asks, “Why are we doing it [whatever punctuation, spelling, number treatment rubs the liberal editor the wrong way] like this? With the Internet and social media taking over the way they are, our books should reflect that new and fresh style.” (Whatever that is.)

Then the conservative editor says, “Well, this is how we’ve always done it. This is what our style guide says, and CMS allows us to set this precedent.”

Liberal editor: “Whatever. I think that eventually we are going to have to step up and recognize that our reader base is changing, and they will expect a certain look and feel to the interior of their books. They’ll want it to match the kind of fast communication they are used to but in a sophisticated way.”

Conservative editor: “Well, until that time comes and we don’t see any other way around it, this is how it’s going to be.”

Liberal editor: “OK, but you’ll see what I mean when our books are left on the shelf and the new consumers of books are going for that product that reflects the way their generation communicates.”

How I Prep for My First Writers’ Conference

OK, I’ll admit that I don’t always like to show all my cards amongst my peers (and I am good at cards—well, Spades), but the truth is I’ve never been to a writers’ conference. I’ve spent the last six years in the books—editing, editing, editing. I think I’ve got it down enough to where it’s time for me to look up for a minute and check out the beautiful scenery around me. So I figured a writers’ conference was in order.

I found the Florida Christian Writers’ Conference through a colleague’s mention. I checked it out and saw that it was close and maybe I could afford a last-minute trip a few hours away. I didn’t know how accommodating they would be at my wanting to come at the last minute. (Like I said, I’ve never been to one.) Apparently book editors are well received at these shindigs, and I was asked to be one of the faculty who will review manuscripts and meet with authors/writers one-on-one. A few e-mails up the chain of command at the office, and my attendance is approved as work time out of the office. How awesome!

Since last week my mind has been going a thousand miles an hour trying to make sure all my ducks are in a row, so I won’t look or act like I’ve never actually been to one of these. In other words, credibility, professionalism, and confidence are paramount in my book. And I can’t have any of these without being prepared. Here’s what I’m doing to be on my A-game: