I recently spent a few days at a writers’ conference in the beautiful North Carolina mountains. If you’ve attended an intensive writers’ conference, you know the stimulating but exhausting sixteen-hour days filled with classes, conversations, and appointments. The devotions, keynotes, and worship nourish our souls and we feast as we remember long after we return home.

Another plus is reuniting with old friends as if we are at a family reunion; we are. We meet new writers and our Facebook friend requests rise exponentially. Our diet changes. At least mine did, consuming larger than usual meals, high carb food, and desserts. For me, the chocolate cake was irresistible. The banana pudding was surprisingly delicious-not artificially flavored-but that wasn’t my only surprise.

Another feature of conferences is eating meals with faculty who are interested in what conferees are writing, and it’s an opportunity to ask questions. Sometimes, writers want to share their latest project in hopes of catching that editor’s attention. It may be difficult to get your turn to talk with seven others around the table.

But at one lunch, I was surprised.  No, not by another dessert. 

Before the faculty member arrived, one conferee asked, “Is there anyone here who didn’t get an appointment and wants to share their work? Let’s make that happen.”

I couldn’t believe it. Rather than push his agenda, he was looking out for everyone else. I was surprised and impressed.

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:4 ESV

I don’t know if that conferee met an editor who wanted to see his proposal. But when his book is published, I’ll try to be among the first to buy a copy (and I’ll be humble and not cut the line). I’m sure it will be as impressive as his character.

What about you? How have you been surprised by humility? I imagine you can remember who, what, when, and where, because humility is as impressive as it is refreshing.

Perhaps we should take the lead regularly—give up the parking space that another is eyeing, let someone go ahead of you in line, and strive to be a listener instead of monopolizing a conversation. Do you think people might be surprised? 

Marilyn Nutter is a contributor to magazines, on-line sites, and compilations. She is a Bible teacher and speaker for women’s and grief support groups and serves on the women’s ministry team at her church. Marilyn lives in Greer, SC and is a member of Word Weavers, Upstate SC. In her life’s seasons, she has met God’s faithfulness and clings to Lam. 3:22-23. Look for her blog at www.marilynnutter.com to find extraordinary treasures in ordinary and challenging days. 

We are less than three months away from the Second Annual North Georgia Christian Writers Conference. Eleven weeks from today, to be exact. Have you registered yet?

Don’t forget, if you are a Word Weavers member, you will receive a $50 rebate at registration – how cool is that? If you are not a member, you can join first, then register and the rebate will apply to you as well. 

The start and end time of the conference will be hard to forget, just remember the number one! Registration begins on Thursday, August 15 at 1:00. The conference ends on Sunday, August 18 after lunch at 1:00. Super easy to remember as you make your plans for the conference. 

All meals are included with the price of the conference, so no need to worry about that. 

There are many classes already scheduled and you want to make sure to keep checking back as there could be more to come. And there’s not just classes, but worship time, critique sessions, editor/agent pitch appointments and more. 

And the fellowship and connecting with other writers is the cherry on top of the whole fabulous weekend.

Will we see you there?

Tammy Karasek

You’ll find Tammy seeing humor and causing laughter in every aspect of life. Her past, filled with bullying and criticism from family, is the driving force of her passion to always encourage others and give them The Reason to smile. She’s been married to her college sweetheart, Larry, for 37 years, a mom to their grown daughter, Kristen and wrapped around the paw of a little dog named Hattie. Born and raised in Ohio, her family now resides in South Carolina.

She is the President of Word Weavers Upstate SC, the Blog Editor for Word Weavers Int., a monthly contributor for The Write Conversation, a Conference Assistant for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, and a member of ACFW. She’s a contributor in the compilation 2018 Divine Moments Book, Cool-inary Moments.

Connect with Tammy  Blog: http://www.tammykarasek.com     Email: [email protected]

The Ideal Writing Life

What is the ideal writing life? It’s a place where we can focus, contemplate, and be inspired. Most writers prefer a home office or a writing space similar to the Writers Room, a nonprofit urban writers’ colony in New York City. It is for writers of all genres looking for a dedicated space that is quiet without interruptions. At various desks in the giant loft space of the Writers Room, thousands of pages are written. With a dedicated place to go, especially one filled with other working writers, many writers find motivation to do their own work.

The importance of place varies among writers. Many writers choose libraries or spaces that are totally quiet and controlled, other writers find busy public places inspirational. Ben Franklin wrote in a bathtub, Jane Austin amid family life, Ernest Hemingway standing up. Mark Twain was a traveling correspondent who was inspired by his Mississippi steamboat excursions to write his novel, Huckleberry Finn.

Travel can provide a different kind of transitional space. Many writers find that the journey between places and an unanchored feeling of a foreign place will influence their storytelling. While on missionary journeys, Paul wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians in Corinth, Ephesus and Antioch, 1 Corinthians in Ephesus, 2 Corinthians in Macedonia, and
Romans in Corinth. When Paul was in prison for two years in Rome, he penned Ephesians. Paul was writing letters to the early Christian church that went way beyond what he could ever imagine—touching millions of lives over 2,000 years.

Banished to the Aegean island of Patmos, Jesus’ disciple John lived in a cave. John heard the Lord’s voice and saw visions through a crack in the cave’s ceiling that inspired him to dictate the Book of Revelation to his disciple, Prochorus. Today, thousands of pilgrims visit the Cave of the Apocalypse, where a worn rock shelf marks the place where John’s scribe penned the last book of the Bible.

In the early 5^th century, theologian, St. Augustine wrote The City of God, a book of Christian philosophy, while traveling from the Mediterranean coast of Africa to Italy. During his time in Ireland, British author C. S. Lewis was inspired to create the world of Narnia in his bestseller novel, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

The ideal writing life is finding places that fuel our imagination and creativity. Whether it’s in a cave, prison cell, a front porch rocking chair, a studio facing the sea, or a sidewalk café in Paris, as a writer, no matter where we are, our curiosity and reflection are met by God’s guidance and anointing.

May His elegant grace pour through every word you write.

A marketing travel copywriter for one of the largest tour operators in the U.S, Debra has
published travel articles with Atlanta Intown Newspaper, as well as a 2013 featured
piece on HLN/CNN TV’s Weekends in America. Debra is the founding member of the
Brookhaven, Georgia, chapter of Word Weavers. She lives in Atlanta with her dog Daisy
and is a proud mom of two children and three grandchildren. Debra loves to travel and
whether at home or abroad, she’s on a quest to seek out places of adventure, inspiration,
and faith. Visit her blog at http://www.Sojourn4theSoul.com or find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/deb.bryant2941

Photo Courtesty: Peter Lewicki on Unsplash.com