Taking the Jesus out of ACFW.....

SO COOL seeing my books
in the conference bookstore...
even cooler on Saturday seeing them
SOLD OUT!

... (continued from title) would totally stink!

I wrestled with going to ACFW this year.

I'd gone in 2008 and 2009 and LOVED IT. Granted, I'd had frazzled nerves each time, trying to pitch to agents/editors etc. But they were wonderful times of learning about writing craft and networking with authors.

2010 and 2011 I missed because I had a very special little girl at home who needed her mommy much more than mommy needed ACFW.

But 2012 came. And I wanted to go SO INCREDIBLY BAD.

Caramel Mousse Cheesecake. *swoon*

After much fretting about money and praying, my husband and I both decided it'd be best for me to go. It's my first year with a book out. My first year not having to pitch to an agent and editor.

And honestly, the last two years have been brutal. This Mommy needed time away.

Conference without the pressure of pitching was, in one word, AMAZING.

And it wasn't just about not pitching.

Look! We are stair-steps! :-)

It was seriously about Jesus. About being around a group of people who love Jesus and want to write for Him. It was about seeign people stop and pray for each other in the middle of a room without any concern over what others thought. It was about listening to workshops on not being so scheduled that you schedule Jesus into a box. It was remembering that while publishing IS a business, taking Jesus out of your writing equation is counter-productive.

God wants to use our fiction. But He won't if we take Him out of the picture and let all business override our brains.

That's what I learned at ACFW this year.

Casey the... reindeer?

In a way, I rededicated my writing to the Lord who gave me the talent in the first place.

I've rediscovered the JOY in writing/editor/selling books for Jesus. Without Him and without that purpose, it falls pretty flat.

Another thing I learned at ACFW:

Alleycats ROCK.

Seriously. I cannot begin to tell you how amazing it was to spend time with these incredible women that I've been privileged to become a part of. It's odd to walk into a room of strangers and instantly feel this thick-corded connection. To be able to be yourself, drop all pretense, and just relax in your differences.

Oh yeah... and we were crazy a few times too.... we MIGHT have done an extreme amount of laughing.

Discussion: Have you ever rededicated your writing to Jesus? What part does God play in your writing equation?