Write2Ignite

“As iron sharpens iron,
 so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 NIV

“… and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:17 NIV

Conferences Matter

A favorite saying of my husband’s uncle was, “Consider the day wasted if you haven’t caught flack or learned something.” No matter what happens, you learn either way.

As writers, there is always something to learn about the craft. A new punctuation rule, a change in style, or a fresh way to look at an old idea. Successful writers will continue to take workshops, read books, and attend conferences to keep up with the ever-changing writing world. It’s some of the ways we sharpen ourselves, our pens/swords, and each other.

I attended the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference the end of May for the first time. The first writers’ conference I ever attended was Sandy Cove in October 1997. That’s a l-o-n-g time ago! I’ve attended at least one conference every year since. That makes twenty-seven years of attending conferences! Whew! And that doesn’t count workshops, writers’ group meetings, and critique group meetings.

You’d think I’d be a best-selling author by now, huh? I’m not, but here’s the thing: I *am* published. Both traditionally and self. Not super consistently until a few years ago, but still. 

Critique Groups Matter

How did that happen? I never gave up learning and growing. I never stopped submitting. I stretched myself from what I considered my writing strength – picture books – and branched out into MG/YA novels, daily devotions, articles, and short stories.  

The best thing I did was to join a critique group. We all need a group that will encourage as well as give good feedback. A group that you can trust and who will pray for you. One with faithful members who are actively writing and learning. There is nothing better for your career than a group of writers who will be there for you through rejections, and who will celebrate with you in acceptances. 

Iron Sharpening Iron Matters

There’s something that happens when creative people get together. An energy that sparks creativity. I always write better when I’m with other writers. Even if I can’t physically be with other writers, I find writing with a small group on Zoom helps almost as much.

Here’s how it works for my one group: we meet every Tuesday night. We share what we’re working on, then we mute and write. We keep our videos on so we can see each other. It helps us feel less alone. And if anyone has a question or needs help, we unmute and help them. Tuesday nights have become my set-apart, sacred writing time. I get more writing done on Tuesday nights than any other day of the week.

I also am part of a small critique group that meets once a month on Zoom. We send our pages to each other the week before so we can read and make notes. We can’t see our own “stuff.” Typos, repeated words, weak verbs/nouns, confusing phrases, etc.  We know what we’re saying, but we need other writers to look and help us make our writing stronger. We need fresh eyes! And this group does that for me.

No matter what we write, we need other writers, either in a group, workshop, or conference setting. 

It’s iron sharpening iron at its best!

Pam Halter is a former home-schooling mom, has been a children’s book author since 1995, a freelance children’s book editor since 2006, and was the children’s book editor for Fruitbearer Publishing until January 2023. She’s the author of Fairyeater, a YA fantasy, and the Willoughby and Friends picture book series (available on her website.) Pam has also published short stories in Ye Olde Dragon Books , the Whitstead Anthologies and Renewed Christmas Blessings. Her first short story won Readers Choice in Realmscapes.  

Pam lives in Southern New Jersey with her husband, Daryl, special needs adult daughter, Anna, and four cats. When she’s not writing, Pam enjoys spending time with her grands, reading, quilting, gardening, cooking, playing the piano, Bible study, and walking long country roads where she discovers fairy homes, emerging dragons, and trees eating wood gnomes.