Biting the Bullet

I’ve been waffling about going to the ACFW conference this year pretty much since I realized it was within driving distance. I know I’ve blogged about it at least once before. I’ve pretty easily talked myself out of, then back into, then back out of going for months. I think I’ve finally decided that, deep breath, I will go.

I want to connect with other writers. I feel like that’s a good idea on many, many levels. And a conference sounds like a great place to do that. (Though my admittedly small experience with conferences would say otherwise so far. I’ve only been to one recently and I met exactly one person and she was someone I’d met beforehand on Facebook and we planned to meet in person. So does that count? I mean, it’s not as if I didn’t talk to anyone the whole time – I schmoozed just like you’re supposed to. But it doesn’t seem as if that netted me anything other than a blistering shock of reality for my inner (and outer) introvert. So I’ll go again and give it another go.)

I’m also looking forward to the learning opportunities. That, at least, should hopefully be different this go round. See, when I went to Blue Ridge last year, I was still pretty tied to the traditional method of doing things. I wanted an agent and a big publisher. Just like nearly every newbie out there. Most of my class choices were based on that assumption. And it was incredibly disheartening. Now though I’m comfortable–and delighted, to be honest–with working with a small press. Sure, I have a small readership right now – but that’ll grow with time and exposure, and I’m not sure being with a big press would’ve made much of a difference in that respect. I’m also toying with doing a little bit of self-publishing for some novellas that are related to my Grant Us Grace trilogy. That’s a post for another day.

Point being, I’m a lot more secure in who I am as an author and where my publishing niche is for now. Which means I can go to classes purely about improving my craft or marketing and not feel like I’m doing something wrong because I haven’t begged and pleaded to get an extra appointment with such and such editor or agent. I can go to the conference as a multi-published author (you have no idea what a kick it is to write that), not as a supplicant with my hat, and manuscript, in hand pleading for someone to like me.

I suspect the change in my attitude and self-confidence will make it a different, and better, experience.