Home From Mount Hermon 2011

Well I'm home. After spending a day cuddling and hanging out with my kids, attempting (and failing) to unpack, I decided to sit down and write about my week at Mount Hermon. I've heard from so many writers who have been there what a great conference it is and now I see why people go back year after year. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous and this year's conference just happened to land in a sunny patch of the weather forecast so we had warm, blue skies every day. Last night over Mexican food, I told my husband about the conference and he was very attentive. Finally, he said "So it's kind of like band camp but for writers." Haha, pretty much. Who else but a group of writers would think a late-night panel discussion on e-books between Steve Laube, Randy Ingermanson, James Scott Bell and several others is as fun as an episode of Saturday Night Live?

I decided to take Steve Laube's morning track which was an inside look at the publishing process from idea to print. Our class was small, just six people, but he was a great sport about it. Steve Laube answered our questions and personalized his examples around our own books and places in the publishing process. The folks in my morning track were so friendly and it was a great time of sharing our writing projects and goals and getting to know one another. I wish them all the best! And I was really glad for such a small group when it came time to stand in front of the class and test our elevator pitches. Everyone gave feedback and we all walked away with the perfect pitch. Although when Steve reminded us that the class was being recorded for all to hear who chose to buy the conference cd's...gulp. I think he thought he was funny :)

And really, I have no idea why I was so nervous. It's not like any conference I've ever been to. I even wore my purple converse most days and fit in perfectly with the jeans and tennis shoes theme. Mount Hermon is so welcoming and makes it easy for first-timers to get into the groove of things. Meal times were an opportunity to meet writers from every genre and walk of life, while sitting down with faculty members who are more than willing to hear pitches, story ideas and schedule appointments. None of those dreadful 15 minute speed dating appointments at Mount Hermon. Thank God! I admire those who are seeking an agent and bravely set up appointments and pitch their projects. It really is quite a task, one that I spent a long time pursuing, making me all the more thankful for my wonderful agent.

The days were jam-packed with workshops from morning til night on every writing topic under the sun. My favorite was a night-owl workshop held by Sarah Sundin about researching for historical fiction. I almost didn't make it because my fabulous sense of direction had me wandering around in the dark forever until I finally found the room. Let me just tell you, the girl knows how to research and had some of us drooling over her massively thick binders chock full of perfectly documented notes, countless copies of magazines, newspapers, even food ads from 1940, complete with color coded tabs, a table of contents and detailed bibliography on every book she has used. She must have read a hundred books on WWII and her suggestions and tips for researching were INVALUABLE. I had to pick my jaw off the floor and make a mental note to whip my own resources into better shape. And congratulations to Sarah for her win at the awards ceremony Monday night!

When I found time to sneak away, sometimes skipping a workshop for a walk along the paths and a deep breath, I felt instantly energized. The redwood forests, lush with ferns and greenery, wildlife and streams, was the perfect place for reflection and spending some time alone with God. Every evening, a message of encouragement and a challenge to walk closer with God seemed to spill out of the keynote speaker, Bill Myers. It was a wonderful time of study and reflection on my own walk and a reminder that God is with us through all times. If you have considered purchasing any conference cd's, that is a session I highly recommend.

Being there with my critique pals made the trip so much fun. We supported, encouraged, and often times laughed with each other as we took it all in, making my first trip to Mount Hermon one I will never forget.

Mount Hermon, Here We Come!

I am so excited! In less than a week, some fellow writing pals and I are going to load up in the car, weighed down by a variety of road snacks, Starbucks gift cards waiting to be redeemed, a little help from the GPS, and we'll set out on the 7-ish hour drive to Mount Hermon. Can I get a "Roadtrip! Woohoo!" *composes self* Thank you.

Oh and by the way, I took this picture while writing this blog post. Yep, no kids and what is a writing mom to do but spoil herself? That box may or may not contain pastries from the tea shop in town. You would see the slippers on my feet but you know...the whole feet on the table thing...

So back to Mount Hermon. This is my first major writing conference. For several years, I attended the two-day conference put on by our local Christian writer's guild in San Diego...I know I'm not really local, but they let me hang anyway :) The guild hosted their annual Spring Event just this past weekend and it was so much fun getting to meet with my fellow writers, chit chat, nibble on yummy food, and listen to Leeana Tankersley, our fabulous speaker, author of Found Art. Also, Susan Meissner, author of The Shape of Mercy, always hosts one of the workshops. This year she showed us how to create a fabulous one-sheet. Invaluable tips and advice, thanks Susan! I've got mine all done and ready to print out to take to Mount Hermon.

But like I said, never been there, so I am a little (OK, really) nervous about the conference. This is very outside my element. I'm a mommy who stays home with little rug rats doing all those sticky, noisy, things that mommies with rug rats do all day. So rubbing elbows with people who actually have a wardrobe of business clothes, professional business cards, and eloquently delivered elevator pitches...well has me shakin' in my apron. Ya know?

But I think that's sometimes the point. Writer's conferences can be INCREDIBLY intimidating to those who are new or just plain inexperienced. Like me. And my guess is, for many others. The good news is that it always seems like once we step into the unknown, put on our Lucy Pevensie brave face, and dive into a new experience, we often (if not always) come out a little stronger, wiser and the better for it. So I am excited about the new experiences I will have, fabulous workshops and tracks awaiting, and the new friendships and contacts yet to be made. Not to mention...this mommy could use a vacation :D

And for more on Mount Hermon, check this post out.