Assignment 5 - The 15-Minute Appointment
Your assignment five deals with the 15-minute appointment. Writers Boot Camp is a large conference shrunk into a tiny one. We do everything here, that the large conferences do - including 15-minute appointments.
We want you to learn to navigate these necessary appointments so when you attend larger conferences you have the knowledge and confidence to make every moment count. We have a number of editors from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, a couple of publishers (magazine, book, and web), authors, social media, speaking, and we are fortunate to have two agents attend our conference. All of these folks want to help you in your writing career.
If you don't have work to pitch - it's fine. Don't skip out of making an appointment just because you don't have a work-in-progress. Instead, write your questions down, pick a faculty member, and learn the process of working in a 15-minute appointment. None of the faculty comes armed to shoot if you aren't perfect. Instead, they all have the heart of a servant. Take time to practice an appointment. Perhaps they can give you guidance of what to write, how to find your voice, or why they love the art of writing. The point - learn how to do this.
Your assignment this week is to read the blog on 15-minute appointments. Then PREPARE yourself. Gather together all you need to make a successful appointment. Study the faculty (don't stalk - grin) but study them. Choose the one you think can best help you further your craft.
If you have a paid critique, you'll automatically have an appointment, but we'll let you choose a second one after everyone has signed up.
Get to it! Click here for the link to the blog post forAssignment 5.
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THE WOES OF HAVING A PERFECT CONFERENCE!
First of all, there is no perfect conference. And the closer we roll to our launch date, the more little attacks happen. Remember, first and foremost. You are called to attend this conference. We know this because we have prayed for God to send you. You heard the call and obeyed. We are no more spiritual than the next guy. We simply have faith. And with that faith comes testing. So you may find yourself tested in the next two weeks.
Keep your armor on. Don't give way. Roll with the knocks. Stand up and keep walking.
Here are some of the issues I've faced this past week:
*Dealing with our 501c3 and Uncle Sam - Filing our Treasury Report and our Yearly State Tax reports.
(I'm thankful for dear Allison Flexer-McGaha who does the real grunt work. But I still have to pay fees, assure everything is in on time, and of course all those deadlines hit this week as I work for final preparations with Boot Camp.
*One of our off-campus hotels CANCELLED ALL THEIR RESERVATIONS! Now, in the beginning, I nearly had a stroke as conferees began to call. I made a call to the Cove, and with the daily 5:00 closing time ON FRIDAY coming up, finally connected with an event planner, who - had a small stroke as well. She had a stroke because, we are not the only people who use off campus housing. Other conferences are rolling at the same time and like us, they may end up with off-campus housing. What we found out between myself and the event planner was that the Holiday Inn Express has been closed since November to remodel. Their plans were to reopen this week. But the sprinklers were not completely installed and the work would not be completed until the 22nd. No help for us. We felt a little better knowing this was not something they had control of, but it didn't make things better. SO if you have a reservation at the Holiday Inn, call the Days Inn (1-828-298-4000 - directly across the street). You can also call the Red Rocker Inn (136 N Dougherty St, Black Mountain, NC 28711 - Phone (828) 669-5991. This is only about 4 miles away. Neither us nor the Cove, or the Holiday Inn express had any idea this would happen. It was just one of those things. We're sorry for the inconvience and we ask for grace. There are plently of hotels with in a few miles of the Cove so if you need help, contact me.
Keep your eyes focused. That's exactly what scripture tells us to do. And finish the race. Things will be awesome. I PROMISE!
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PREPARE FOR ARRIVAL PAGE
I have added a Prepare for Arrival page on the website. This page is your go to page for last minute information.
What to wear - Come casual but modest. Jeans and sweaters. It gets cold at times and we want you comfortable.
What to bring - Your writing work and a good attitude.
Where to meet - Boot camp happens on the 3rd floor of the main conference building. You will go to the hotel assigned to us. (More than likely Pilgram's Inn - they haven't given me this information yet). You'll go there, check in and get your name tag. That's admittance the main building and boot camp. But don't go to your room. Hop on the bus and ride the two minutes up the hill to the main building. The bus runs every 5 or 6 minutes back and forth. Or you can drive and park on the hill by the main building. Boot Camp starts at 1. (Off campus folks, you'll report to Pilgram's Inn for your name tag too). Go inside the main building, take the elevator to the 3rd floor. WELCOME TO BOOT CAMP. You'll be greeted - by our staff and given everything you need for boot camp. After the early bird classes end, you can go to your room, drop your bags and then return to the main building for dinner (or supper as we say in the mountains). After supper, we'll meet back in our event room on 3rd floor and that is when we will go over everything you need to know about classes at boot camp. TRUST ME! We're good at this. We've done it for several years. We'll get you where you need to go and in plenty of time.
*Here's the link to the schedule page.
Don't worry about super giant details. Pack your bag, bring your work, your computer if you like (because my computer is part of my clothing attire - I never leave it at home.) Everything you need to prepare for boot camp is on the website. You have to click the links and there you have it.
*Check the Newsletter page for your assignments and newsletters.
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Pray for Boot Camp and here's how you can:
Pray for a conferee who's husband is very ill with cancer.
Pray for our event planners at the Cove. Our sweet Heather who has cared for us the last 3 years has left the Cove to be with her children. We now have Autumn who is literally coming into our conference work this week. And Nancy who is helping her.
Pray for safe travel.
Pray for open hearts and minds as we study and work together.
Pray that God will show you direction with your call to write.
Pray for good weather.
Pray for all the kinks to smooth out.
Pray for our continued financial assistance. God is good. He never lets us down.
Pray for our faculty.
Pray for your writing work.
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You were called. Called to do His work. Called to use your gifts and talents which, in the beginning, were given by the Father. Work for the time will come when we work no more and we see the glory of His face. Work not for yourselves, but for others, and in your working for others you will be blessed.
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. - Galatians 5:13 NIV
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