Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference

A Place for Me
by Linda Boe'

"Is there really I place for me here?" I wondered as I arrived at the San Jose airport on the day before the 38th Annual Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference.

In the airport shuttle, conference veterans began to teach beginners how to pitch our ideas to editors. One message I heard over and over during the ride: Expect tears and redirection during the week.

As I arrived and registered, I looked over the syllabus and wondered how I would choose from eleven morning tracks and seventy elective workshops on an array of topics: blogging, writing for children, poetry, screenwriting, non-fiction, fiction, marketing, self-publishing and so many more. Not only was there something for everyone, but many, many choices for each person.

I was overwhelmed!

That first day, as I explored the lovely conference center grounds and admired the majestic California redwoods, I could not remember why I, a beginner, was here at Mt. Hermon. I mused, "Lord, is there a place for me here?"

"Here" being an event long recognized as one of the most prestigious conferences for Christian writers. Held each Spring, it draws scribes from across the nation, as well as other countries (See its website for information about next year's event.). This year, I was one of some 450 writers who attended the conference.

Step in the "Write" Direction

As I pondered whether I would fit in, I reminded myself that I was here because author Cecil Murphey, who generously invests in beginning writers, offered me a scholarship for the conference. I was here to learn how to improve my writing. I was here to meet and fellowship with other writers.

At the orientation on Friday afternoon, Gayle Roper spoke these calming words: "Your writing ministry or career does not depend on this week. It is just a step to a life committed to writing." She closed with the exhortation to be open to redirection—I had heard that before—and to lay down expectations.

Hearts in Harmony

I first experienced the musical harmony at Mt Hermon at dinner Friday night as we sang Happy Birthday to a fellow conferee. I whispered to the woman sitting next to me, "Why such harmony?" She answered, "I guess because so many people are trained in singing the hymns." I heard the harmony again in the evening kickoff session when we sang the grand old hymns together, accompanied by Dave Talbot, conference director, on the magnificent Rodgers organ.

At the Friday night general session, Dick Foth, overseer of the National Prayer Breakfast, introduced the conference theme, "Writing in the Sand... and Other Things Eternal." He told the story from John 8 of the adulteress condemned by the Pharisees. Foth noted that when Jesus stooped and wrote in the sand, "We do not know what he said, but we know that his heart was speaking to their heart." In those few moments, "Freedom spoke to bondage. Light spoke to darkness."

Lord, may light speak to darkness through my writing!

By Saturday, the conference was in full swing. The manuscripts I had submitted for critique were returned to me with encouraging notes. A meeting with the team member who reviewed my work was so helpful that I came away with a list of concrete ways to improve my writing and ideas for possible markets for my work. Editorial panels offered an opportunity to hear what editors were looking for and to ask questions. As the conference progressed, I began to meet other beginning writers and to feel more comfortable.

Meals were especially comfortable events—and lively, thanks to the humor of Dave Talbott, who served as emcee. The buffets offered a lovely presentation of delicious food for every taste and diet. The stories of the writers Talbott called up to interview inspired me. Further inspiration was found during evening sessions that began with praise and worship, prayer and musical solos. Each night Foth expounded on the conference theme of writing eternal things.

Writing as Worship

It was fitting that the last workshop I attended, Ethel Herr's "Priorities, Passions and Plodding," brought me full circle to the beginning of my writing journey. Two years ago, when God first stirred in me a desire to write, Ethel Herr's book An Introduction to Christian Writing was my personal introduction to Christian writing.

In her workshop, she repeated words I had first read in that book, "Everything we do and say must be an act of worship, done for God's pleasure. Some of our writing goes on to bless others as well, while some does no more than bless God and ourselves. Whatever else our actions and ministries accomplish, if they don't please him, they have failed." Her words were a gentle reminder of why, indeed, I was at Mount Hermon, and they charged me go forth to continue in grateful stewardship of the gift that God has given me.

A Place for Me

Three things stood out to me at Mt Hermon: harmony, variety, and sovereignty. In addition to the musical harmony, there was harmony of purpose in the midst of variety of background, experience, skill and doctrine. Finally, I reaffirmed my trust in the sovereignty of God in ordering my steps and the steps of each writer who attended.

I left Mt. Hermon with a bag of books, pages of notes, new friends, and renewed purpose. I spent my time on the flight home writing short-term and long-term goals. I prioritized my writing projects to present my work to new markets I had discovered. I delighted in the fact that, yes, there was a place for me, a beginner, at Mt. Hermon!