Al Gansky and me BRMCWC 2010
I’m in the midst of final preparations for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference that begins this coming Sunday, May 20 and runs through Thursday, May 24. As always, I’m thrilled to be part of this amazing conference. Have you registered yet? It’s not too late!
And since conference season is up and running, I thought it’d be a good time to repost my Conference Etiquette reminders. I hope it’ll help you make a better first impression than I did! Like many of my blog entries, this one is written and shared with you because I wish someone had taught these concepts to me when I was starting out!
I’ll get right to the point about Conference Etiquette: I didn’t have it and didn’t even have enough sense to know I didn’t!
Here are my suggestions on how to be a gracious receiver of a faculty member’s time and input:
1. Seriously pray about and consider who you should meet in faculty appointments. Don’t just take an appointment because there’s an opening. I did that the first year. Signed up to talk to just about everybody–even if I had no intention of ever writing what they’d be interested in! Wasted my time and theirs.
2. Be on time for your faculty appointments and be considerate when the faculty member says the time is up. I think most instructors are like me and try to stay on schedule in fairness to all those with appointments.
The Black and White Ladies BRMCWC 2010
3. Listen more than you talk. Like many others, I tend to talk too much when I’m nervous. And before I learned this lesson, the less I knew, the more I talked! The best use of your time is to make a short introduction, tell a little about your experience, ask a sensible question, and then listen. Don’t plan your next question while the person is answering the one you just asked. Really listen. Take notes if necessary. Follow up with other questions as time allows.
4. If you’re getting a critique, don’t defend every point the critiquer makes. If you do, you’re wasting valuable time you could be using to learn. Of course, you may have questions you need answered for clarification, but don’t argue or rationalize every point. Sincere questions are one thing, continually being on the defensive is another.
5. Realize that instructors will most likely be unable to take your manuscript home from the conference. Remember, you’re one person. Multiply that by 300-400 students. If they’re interested in what you have, they’ll give you instructions for sending it to them.
6. Faculty members love to eat with students, answering questions and giving encouragement. But don’t hog the conversation at meals. Occasionally there are those who dominate the conversation, treating the opportunity as one-on-one time. Not good.
7. One more thing about meals with faculty: It’s really nice when they can get in a bite or two of food.
8. Be considerate: Don’t shove your manuscript in their faces in the restrooms. Don’t interrupt a conversation or break in line to speak to someone. Don’t bad mouth one instructor to another.
9. Don’t tell a faculty member that God gave you that book or article or story or song and it can’t be changed. The Bible has already been written. Your words may be inspired by God, but they’re not the words of God. I can almost promise you that it won’t be published as it is.
10. Don’t insinuate that the publisher/editor/agent will be out of God’s will if he or she doesn’t publish or promote your work. The statement, “God told me to that you are to work with me” is often answered with, “Well, when He tells me, I will.”
Brittney Breakey and me at BRMCWC 2010
11. And a common courtesy that’s often missing in our culture today: thank you notes. Handwritten ones are especially nice, but email ones are certainly acceptable. I cringe every time I think of all those kind people who invested in me…and yet, I never even wrote a thank you note. Sadly, that wasn’t something that I was taught as a child, and I didn’t even take such notes seriously until someone mentioned it regarding conferences. Now I try to write notes to everyone who does a kindness to me. Sometimes I forget, but it is something I want to do. They’ve invested time in me, the least I can do is invest time in writing a note.
If you’d like additional information about talking with faculty members or the benefit of attending conferences and taking classes, please check out this blog from the past: Put on Your Grown-Up Britches and Get to Work!
So there you have it–suggestions on how to present yourself as a professional writer, as well as a kind, considerate person. 
