A couple years ago I signed up for the ACFW Conference, and then we had this happen:
Raccoons ate through our roof.
And then this:
A tree that fell in the yard.
In other words, a trip anywhere just wasn’t going to happen, we were full up with house repair costs. I was disappointed but I know God is at work in my life, and sometimes you wait for things.
In the last two years, I was given amazing opportunities in my freelance writing life and was kept very busy. So it wasn’t until recently that I got back into my dreams of fiction writing. I’ve been working on some things, and decided this year I would go.
Can I Do This?
I’m not a “conference” type of girl. I’m a bit of a dork. Introverted. I enjoy meeting people and talking but it can get overwhelming for me. Luckily I met with the amazing, generous, wise Cynthia Ruchti before the conference and she gave me great advice. If I was feeling overwhelmed, I should go to the prayer room or find a place to chill out, get my bearings, and go back out. (It’s an introverted thing – we love people but it drains our energy and we’ve got to recharge somehow.)
So I signed up, and what an amazing experience. I met so many cool people and came away with lots of ideas and inspiration. It was informative and socially rewarding on so many levels.
The Fangirl Emerges
I’ve been a writer a long time and have known a lot of other writers a long time, but for some reason I went all “fangirl” a couple of times at the conference. What is it about fiction writers that can make you become giddy, but when your friend hands you their latest book on dating or diabetes (to mention two of mine) you just go, “That’s nice.”
It’s that fiction thing. You create a whole new world and it’s pretty cool. So I went all fangirl on Jenny B. Jones, who was in the elevator with me and I blabbed about how I loved her and she asked me who I had appointments with and what I wrote. And did I say, “I’ve been a full-time working writer for eight years now”? No. I said, “Oh! I write romance. And women’s fiction. And I just love your writing! I just… love it.”
Funny how a writer can’t find the words to talk when the occasional calls for it.
Jenny (as I’m calling her now, because we’re totally buds… in my mind…) was totally gracious and lovely.
I also went all fangirl on Kaye Dacus, who was at a table with a friend of mine, and when I walked up to say hello to my friend could only say, “Is that Kaye Dacus? I love her writing. Do you think I should tell her? Would that be weird?”
Well, I’d already gone fangirl on Jenny (my bud) so I threw caution to the wind and gushed over Kaye Dacus, too. I’ve read every one of her books, but I got all crazy talking about one in particular (Turnabout’s Fair Play
Kaye (my other new bud… in my mind…) was also really gracious and seemed to take my gushing in stride.
Meeting a Friend for the First Time
The highlight of the conference for me was meeting my friend, Debby Mayne. Debby and I found each other years ago when we both worked for an online writing site. We became Facebook friends, and found out we had lots in common.
We emailed a lot… then called each other a lot… and now I consider her one of my closest friends. I was really curious to see how it was going to be to meet her in person. Would I cry? Would it be weird? Would we get along?
It was like we’d known each other our whole lives. We just hung out and chatted like we did it every day. Really happy that I was able to give her a hug in person.
Exhausted and Inspired
I knew the conference would be tiring, simply because I’d be going so far out of my element. But it was inspiring as well.
At one point I was at a service and just broke down in tears at all the amazing things God was doing in each of our lives. (I’m a crier in church. The Lord moves my spirit and that’s how it comes out. The problem is, everyone thinks I’m sad when really I’m so happy that I’m bawling like someone just kicked me. I had a lovely writer pray over me during my crying jag. You don’t get that at any old business conference, folks!)
We are blest to be able to do what we love and tell the world about God through our stories. We are so, so blessed.
I’ll end with advice that Rachel Hauck (another favorite author of mine, although I didn’t go fangirl on her – I did say “Well hi there!” like I knew her… cuz I do… in my own mind…) wrote in the ACFW Journal:
“Believe it or not, there is life after conference. Relax, love others, make the most of my day and relationships. Get to some workshops. Then go home and trust God to make something beautiful of my time and efforts.”
Trust God? You bet I do.
Cherie, this was a charming read! Any of us who have been doing it for a while can really relate to your first-time flood of emotions. I also want to point out to you that, whenever the obstacles (like raccoons and falling trees!) pile up in front of you to keep you from something … it’s a good bet that God has a plan for you that will lead you in that direction eventually.
Hang in and keep at it! Welcome to the club.
Sandie,
Thank you so much. You’re right of course – God has a plan. Sometimes I wish He’d clue me in to what it is, but most of the time I’m glad He doesn’t. Life is so much more interesting that way.
(Incidentally, if you were there I would have gone all fangirl on you, too!)
Love this post! I’m so glad you got to go to the conference. So true what you said about how fiction writers are just “cooler” than everyone else. I wonder, though, if your favorite fiction writers admire you for writing about dating and diabetes. Just like fiction writing, not everyone can do it.
Leave it to you to be so sweet and suggest this! I would love to think they’d believe I was cool cuz of my nonfiction stuff, but something tells me I’d get a polite, “Oh. That’s nice.” LOL Those things just don’t inspire like the fiction world does.
Cherie, I loved seeing you in person too! It was so fun hugging you and watching your expressions as we both had those “aha!” moments.
Great post, Cherie. Glad you got to go to ACFW. There’s nothing like it. I didn’t go for the 1st time since 2005 because it was so far away. Back in the neck of the woods for the next several years, so I plan on being there. Hope to run into you there in the future.
By the way, I went all fan girl on Lenora Worth at my first conference. I gushed about how I loved her books, but couldn’t come up with one title or character. Until she was gone.
LOL – I love that story, Shannon. Glad I’m not the only one.
YES, hope to see you at a future conference!
Cherie, to say I loved what you wrote above doesn’t really seem fitting enough. You have a way with words and they drew me into your post. Thank you for sharing your experiences from the conference so someone like me who wasn’t able to go this year could live vicariously through you (hope you don’t mind.
) You talked about “Fangirl.” I have a feeling next year when I get to go I will be the same fangirl probably next year seeing all the people I’ve come to love and also their novels.
If you go I hope I’m there too so we can meet. Thank you for your kind words!
I forgot to mention your pictures. Talk about one thing after another with your poor house. My mouth literally fell open as I saw each picture. I swear it just kept getting wider and wider. I just felt for you. Hopefully all that is now behind you and no more bad stuff happens to your house.
Oh bless you, Kristena – I hope you’re right. We really went through a season of awfulness with the house. It’s those times that are most challenging. You begin to feel like the world is against you. I don’t know what I would do without God in those moments. My husband and I really clung to Him during that summer of house disasters (and there were more if you can believe it…. shudder…. )
I um may be able to relate to the squeeing fangirl thing… Maybe. Perhaps.
Oh who am I kidding???
For the record, Kaye is just that awesomesauce.
And i got to meet Jenny B Jones again this year [briefly both times I have].
And Robin Jones Gunn and Frank Peretti [who called me his new best friend when I gave him cookies ;)].
And…
There might have been that moment with BOTH Becky Wade and Dani Pettrey at the same time.
Well… you get the .jpg. Which reminds me… I need to do a post of my own with pics…
Yes, you do – I want to see your pics! And how cool that Frank Peretti called you his new best friend. Glad I’m not the only fangirl out there.
I loved your post! I’m still in the waiting mode. Last year, I relocated to Waco for a new job, and this year, my husband had a knee replacement (surgery #36). Although not quelled, my wish to attend the conference was quickly replaced by more pressing needs. But I’ll keep plugging away. I can’t wait until I have that fan moment. Who knows? Maybe 2014 will be the year!
I hope it is, Renee. So sorry to hear about your husband’s knee surgery. Hope it went well. Funny how these life events get in the way when you make plans to attend a conference like this. I’ll pray 2014 will be your year!
Oh, how fun! I loved hearing your “fangirl” moments. I did the same thing with Terri Blackstock who is now a great friend–in my mind, !
I hope you get to go to many more. 
Me too, Lynette. Thanks!
I go fangirl over Jenny all the time! I love her books, along with a whole flock of other writers.
Never lose that, Cherie. Your BFF Jenny will love it!
LOL, Thanks Ane! It was great to meet you at the conference, too.
Cherie, I’m thrilled you were able to get to the ACFW conference, be encouraged, and meet some terrific fiction writers. Rejoicing with you! Your fan girl stories had me smiling. Loved every word of your delightful piece.
Thank you, Lori! It’d be great if you could go too next time.
So glad that you had a good time! When I went for the first time, I was all Fangirl over Tracie Peterson. It is a wonderful, unique conference.
You’re right, it is a very unique conference. I was talking today with a friend about how great it is to go to a business conference and yet also talk about your faith. How wonderful it was to pray with other writers!
My one regret about the conference is that you and I couldn’t spend more time together. LOVE this post!
Mine too. We’ll definitely have to connect again sometime, tho!
Shannon, I still remember when we met and sat together at lunch. You were so sweet. I am one of your biggest fans now! Cherie, I’m so glad you had a good conference. I do the crying thing a lot myself. I cry happy tears and then I cry overwhelmed tears but I do love going to the ACFW conference and getting hugs. Your blog was lovely :))
Nice to meet someone else that cries like that. Next year let’s sit next to each other at lunch.
Since we are all confessing our fan girl moments, I have to admit when I was working at the registration table and saw Frank Peretti’s packet, I touched it and felt a little star struck. Someone I had never met said, “You know, he’s just a man like everyone else.” I smiled and said nothing, but I wanted to say, “He’s just a man that almost got me fired in the 80s because I couldn’t stop reading his book that was hidden in my desk drawer!” Some authors just have the anointed gift to transport us to another reality. That’s why we love them.
LOL – Love that story, Teresa