Mount Hermon: A Writer's Perspective

Ever considered attending the annual writer's conference in Mount Hermon? I know I have, but it all seemed so overwhelming. I'm hoping to attend the 2011 conference and I've heard how BIG it is. I have nightmares of pitching my proposal to the cleaning lady and throwing my dirty socks into some editors briefcase. So this week, we're going to sit down with several writers who have gone, experienced, (survived!) and are willing to share their tips and tales.

Dan and Denise Harmer write as a joint venture. Denise, a former stenographer, uses her editing skills to synchronize with Dan’s ability to spin a whale of a tale. They lead the Temecula Writer’s Toolbox as an offshoot of the San Diego Christian Writer’s Guild, were winners of Lamp Post Pub’s 2010 short story contest, and were semi-finalists in Zondervan’s “All about the Story” fiction contest. Both grew up on the beaches of Southern California, where they maintain a laid-back lifestyle while running a cabinet shop, raising their four children, and tending a small ranch. Okay, maybe it does get a little hectic. www.jointventurebooks.com

Tell us a little about your decision to attend the Mount Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference.

Dan - I heard about Mt. Hermon at the SDCWGC and the writer’s critique group and from local Christian writers I’ve met. Five days of workshops, one on ones, and fellowship with editors, agents, and top-selling authors sounded great, but I had no idea. It was even more than that.

Denise – I had heard how valuable an experience Mt. Hermon would be, and I really wanted to meet editors and agents face to face.

As first timers, what surprised you the most about the conference?

Dan - I went with the wrong mindset. I kind of thought this was going to be like a really long job interview. I clutched my manuscript, bought some new slacks and a button down shirt, then set out to pitch my stuff, but I realized some of the best parts of the conference were meeting other new writers just like myself, learning from veterans what good writing sounds like, learning from editors what a marketable product is, and learning from agents, that they are just people, too. They don’t want to shatter your dreams, but if you are willing to listen, they have a lot of wise insights. Here is something to give you an idea of what it is like. You can submit your MS ahead of time to see if a publishing house is interested. (I don’t recommend this for first timers. I’ll explain why later.) The editors have two days to take a look. The majority are sent back with rejection letters. There are actually crisis counselors walking around to pray with people the day the rejections come. People who have traveled halfway across the U.S., their whole church is praying and are convinced that God was going to open a door, and it appears that for the time being He hasn’t. Some folks are destroyed and just wither away. I admit, I struggled with some of this. The funny thing is, there was one particular agent that really hammered me. I felt about an inch tall when she was done. Turns out she was right. Now we are represented by her agency.

I said that I don’t recommend submitting your MS to a publishing house pre- attendance your first year, but there is an option to have staff authors (many bestsellers) give an in-depth critique. Well, what I discovered is if the staff authors like your writing, they will pass it on to the publishing house they think would be interested. So now your MS is warmed up for the editor and you have an open door, and if they don’t pass it on, then you have a great critique. (The publishing houses don’t critique, they just say yea or nay.) Also, you don’t need to submit to editors ahead of time because there will be ample opportunities to share your idea in person with those same folks. When you pitch it in person, you’ll know right away if their eyes light up or not. This also allows for you to get feedback so that in the future you know what kind of writing their house favors.

Denise – I was shocked at how much information was presented and the amount of choices. Really, I wanted to experience all of it, but it was a bit overwhelming.

What advice would you give first timers hoping to attend Mount Hermon?

Dan - The best advice I can give is take advantage of the buddy system. This is where they pair up the rookies with a veteran. Besides that, relax, be yourself, and let the Holy Spirit lead. You will be surprised at who God may have set an appointment for you to meet.

Pray. Go. And be blessed.

Denise – Realize that you will be exhausted when it’s over, but the connections are amazing. Come prepared and ready to listen to advice. These talented speakers and teachers know so much and have a ton to offer if you’ll go with an attitude of learning from them.



Janet Thompson is the founder and Visionary Director of About His Work Ministries, also known as AHW Ministries, and a prolific author and speaker on topics relevant to today's Christian women. www.womantowomanmentoring.com

As a published author, what role did the Mount Hermon Writer’s Conference play in first opening the door to the publishing world?

Anytime someone asks me how to get started writing, I ALWAYS tell them to attend a Writer's Conference, and if you can, go to Mt Hermon! I learned how to write at Mt. Hermon. I wasn't an English or Journalism major and had never considered writing until I started the Woman to Woman Mentoring Ministry at Saddleback Church and other churches wanted to know how I was doing it so I decided to write a How To Kit and took my proposal to Mt Hermon. The Kit didn't get picked up there, but I took every workshop, met with as many editors as I could, and absorbed the whole experience. I came home and wrote the Kit based on all that I had learned and actually self-published for 3 years until it was picked up by LifeWay. Being with LifeWay gave me a speaking platform and mentoring became my brand.

I continued attending Mt Hermon every chance I had because the contacts you make there are invaluable. You actually have meals with editors and agents and set private appointments with them to pitch your project. The fact that you make the effort and expense to attend impresses these editors who come to the conference specifically to find new projects. You also can send proposals ahead and have them critiqued or actually reviewed by an editor of your choice.

In 2003 my idea for Dear God, They Say It's Cancer: A Companion Guide for Women on the Breast Cancer Journey was picked up at Mt Hermon by Howard Books/Simon & Schuster editor. I actually knew when I left that conference that I was going to get a contract, and I did! This book opened the door for a series, and I'm currently writing Dear God, Why Can't I Have a Baby? for Leafwood Press. I also wrote another book with Howard Books, Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter.

I met my agent, Steve Laube, at Mt. Hermon and made many author friends over the years.


Having attended the conference several times, what advice do you have for writers considering attending the conference?

It can seem overwhelming and a bit intimidating at first. There is something going on every waking moment of the day so pace yourself. Go prepared: have proposals ready, be able to give your elevator speech and stay focused. Don't hesitate to approach editors and make appointments with them early in the conference, because that's what they are there for and their calendar will fill up.

Have fun. Dress casual with good walking shoes; it is a camp! It also could rain and the evenings are cool. Check the weather forecast because it's different every year. The food is wonderful, the people are friendly, and you will have a mountain top experience if you don't take rejection personally. I heard allot of no thank you's before the doors started to open, so believe in your project enough to stay persistent and enthusiastic.

Thank you Dan, Denise and Janet for sharing your experience from the Mount Hermon Writers Conference and for encouraging other writers to step out in faith, while taking it all in stride.