My Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer's Conference Experience - Year 3

So, a couple weeks ago - the day after my high school graduation, to be exact - I packed my bags and left with my mom for the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer's Conference. For my third year in a row. And just so everyone knows, it gets better pretty much every year. Even though the first year was pretty exciting since that's when I met my future publisher, I learn so much from this place each year. And each year, I meet incredible people and end up coming home very inspired to continue my writing journey.

It's the best in the world. Seriously. That place makes me not want to go to another writing conference. Of course, I'm sure they're all great. But there's something about Ridgecrest... maybe the mountains... or the people... or the campus in general... that makes me feel as if I'm on vacation. Seriously.

Unfortunately I always forget to take pictures until the last day of the conference, but here's a few:

Me with Eddie Jones (my publisher at Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and co-founder of Christian Devotions) and Cindy Sproles (co-founder of Christian Devotions).

Me with children book author and freelance writer, Michelle Medlock Adams.

My mom and I with best-selling author Jim Rubart. Read his books. Seriously. You won't be able to put them down.

This is my friend Katy and I at the banquet. I am very, very thankful for her and her family. They helped me my first year at this conference when I was pretty much clueless. Not to mention, if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have known to sign up for more than one appointment my first year. And one of those appointments just happened to be with my publisher. =) Click here for Katy's amazing blog.

Me with comedian, actor, and Adventures in Odyssey writer, Torry Martin. Oh my goodness, I've never laughed that hard listening to a speaker. Not only was he hilarious, but his classes were amazing. He's an extremely talented guy.

Here's a list of some of my favorite quotes from

the conference classes I attended:

"We're in spiritual warfare.

We're going to enemy's camp

and snatching souls.

Speak their message so clearly

that they see how attractive Jesus is

and they run to him."

~Rusty Wright

"God can use us,

however it's not our responsibility to save them

but to love them and plant seeds...

Focus on that and it'll be easier."

~Rusty Wright

"The first key to writing is to listen,

because you want to simply to listen to your imagination.

Stop thinking so hard that you can't think

what your imagination is telling you."

~Ann Tatlock

"In the world but not of the world

does not mean we should stay away from culture.

Not being in the midst of culture

means that we have given up the battle."

~Zena Dell Lowe

"Our goal should be to cause people

to seek greater truth when reading our story.

The story will cause people to look inward at themselves,

which will look at their sin,

which will lead them to God...

It will cause them to look for something higher.

Realization of sin always leads to God."

~Zena Dell Lowe

"Humility is where everything starts as Christian.

To be like Christ. He hates pride

and wants humility for his children.

Jesus came to earth as s helpless baby

who has to be taken care of by his own creation."

~Caleb Breakey

"Did God go to a Bible school to find his disciples?

No. He looked for humble fisherman."

~Caleb Breakey

"The closer you get to your breakthrough in writing,

the more Satan will try to attack."

~Jim Rubart