Writing for the Soul:
The Sweet Agony
by Beth K Vogt

"Don't think you are the worst. Don't think you are the best. You are a writer in progress." —Liz Curtis Higgs, author and speaker

I almost decided not to attend the 2007 Writing for the Soul conference.

"Why wouldn't you go?" my husband asked. "You always come back encouraged. You always tell me how glad you are you went."

He was right. And so, for the fourth year in a row, I attended the conference, hosted by the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild. And yes, I am glad I went. I even put my deposit down for the 2008 conference.

Writer's conferences aren't optional if you want to hone your craft, pitch your book, or find out what's happening in the writing world. There's an excellent selection of 2007 writers conferences—with a wide range of locations and costs. If your writing budget is limited, check out American Christian Writers' (ACW) local conferences. Or start saving for next year's Writing for the Soul conference in Colorado.

Let me say up front: I am a strong advocate for the Christian Writers Guild—both their courses and their conference. I completed the Guild's two-year Apprentice correspondence course. I pitched my book on late-in-life motherhood at the 2005 conference—and celebrated my book contract with my Guild friends at the 2006 conference. This year I was part of a panel of mentors and former students who talked to people interested in joining the Guild.

The list of this year's conference speakers read like a Who's Who of Christian writers: Liz Curtis Higgs, Dr. Tim LaHaye, Dr. Dennis Hensley, and James Scott Bell, just to name a few. Editors representing Discipleship Journal, Focus on the Family, MOPS International, as well as Tyndale House Publishers, Guideposts, and Bethany House and others were available for appointments.

My writing comrade, Tiffany, and I looked over the workshops before the conference started—several times. And by Friday morning, the first full day, we still couldn't choose which classes to attend. That's the sweet agony of Writing for the Soul—too many quality workshops to choose from.

I'm a committed non-fiction writer, but I was tempted to attend James Scott Bell's Novels They Can't Put Down sessions. There were classes on writing a non-fiction book or children's book, and how to best use Scripture in articles. David Moja, a CPA, made his sessions on the business side of the writing life sound like fun—even joking that he'd be giving away a car.

I attended Jeanette Littleton's workshop on Establishing Yourself as a Magazine Writer. I felt frustrated at first because I wasn't learning anything new.

Then I realized that wasn't true for most of the people in the class. Jeanette was an encouraging speaker who patiently answered any and all questions, assuring each person that they could succeed as a writer.

"Are we afraid to tell the truth about the complexity of life?"
—Dr. Rosalie De Rosset

If I could have found a rewind button for Dr. Rosalie de Rosset's talk, I would have pushed it. A professor at Moody Bible Institute, Dr. de Rosset challenged us to write in a way that entertains, arouses curiosity, and stimulates imagination. "Religion has become efficient. Symbols are tasteless—flat and perfunctory," she said. "Grace is present to our readers in our writing."

“Procrastination is part of the writing process. Your subconscious is working on the story. Just make sure you finish.” —Jerry Jenkins, author

Jerry Jenkins was an affable conference host, eager to step back and let the other speakers be in the limelight. Even so, his Thick-Skinned Critique sessions with Andy Scheer, as well as his question and answer session are favorites with attendees year after year.

For some reason—probably just plain old physical exhaustion—Tiffany and I had missed Randall Atcheson's piano concerts in previous years. That won't happen again. Atcheson is a Julliard trained concert pianist who has performed at Carnegie Hall nine times. His performance Saturday night was enthralling. I wish I could write like he plays the piano—with passion and consummate skill.

"There is no greater life than writing to this generation. Keep writing until He comes. It is a privilege to be a writer. You never know the effect of what you’ve written until you get to heaven." —Dr. Tim LaHaye, author and pastor

While Writing for the Soul is a conference for writers—it never strays from its focus on strengthening writers in their faith. Bill Oudemolen, who pastors the church Jerry Jenkins attends, challenged us to read the Word, respond to it, and then to risk everything for it. "I believe the church is drifting away from God's Word." Christian writers, he said, can—and should—stop the drifting away—if we keep His Word first in our lives.

"Doc" Hensley has spoken at each Guild conference I've attended. My opinion? He's worth the price of admission alone. He closed the conference on Sunday morning with a talk entitled, "Lessons from Three Wise Men and Three Wise Women."

His questions to us were: Why were you here? What will you do? How do you maximize what you’ve learned? His advice:

• Stay focused.
   
• Establish a worthy goal for your life—and don't rest until you reach it.
   
• Become diligent students of the Word.
   
• When you consider your goals, consider your God.

Sound advice for all writers.