by Bethany Jett, @BetJett

It’s officially writers conference season!

Last week, several of our Blue Ridge members attended the Asheville Christian Writers Conference, and this week, it’s on to the Florida Christian Writers Conference! There is something special about the Christian Writers Conferences…many of the faculty members and attendees alike attend a few (or several!) conferences throughout the year! The camaraderie and fellowship never ceases to amaze me!

It is the heart and soul of this Leadership Team to serve you, and make sure you’re prepared with your finest work and ready for any conference. Therefore, we’re going to spend the next thirteen weeks prepping, preparing, and breaking down pitches, proposals, one-sheets, what to pack, and all the awesomeness involved with a conference.

According to my calculations, this is countdown Week #13, with Week #0’s post on Wednesday, May 17^th. The Blue Ridge Conference begins on Sunday, May 21. If you’re not registered, click here to register and reserve your room! You can also register by calling 1-800-588-7222.

This week, we’re going to make sure that we’re all on the same page!

Stay Updated!

To ensure that you’re up-to-date with everything related to the Blue Ridge Conference, make sure you’re subscribed to our blog posts. Everything you could ever want to know will be updated on the blog, so why not get your daily fill when you’re sipping your coffee in your morning?

On the right sidebar, you’ll see a banner that says “Receive Blog Updates in Your Email.” Fill in your email address, first and last name, then select the email format you prefer. HTML will show you any images and fonts used, while the “text” option will send you plain text only.

Click “Subscribe” and voila! You’re in! You may have to confirm your email address, so once you click subscribe, open your email inbox and confirm your subscription. Easy breezy!

Facebook Group

Now that you’re always the first to know what’s going on, head over to Facebook and join us in the seriously awesome Facebook group. You can join by clicking here, or if you scroll down the right sidebar a little, you’ll see our blue button asking you to join our group. We really are waiting for you!

If you’re not a member of Facebook yet, here’s the nudge you needed. We believe that connecting with your audience, readers, family, and friends is an important part of networking and marketing your work. Facebook is a great platform to get started on.

Once inside the Facebook group, feel free to introduce yourself, scroll down the feed, jump into the conversations, and make a ton of new friends. We have a “Pinned Post” where you can share your wins and exciting blog posts. We’re excited to get to know you.

The Facebook group is the best way to get your questions answered. Seriously, there really aren’t stupid questions when it comes to this writing game. Some of our members will post mock-ups of their business cards and look for feedback. Sometimes people will ask a question regarding their pitches. There are several faculty members who are active within the group, and many seasoned authors and writers as well.

If you’re attending the conference for the first time, this Facebook group is the perfect way to meet people beforehand and get all your questions answered!

Facebook Page

In addition to our Facebook Group, we also have a Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference Facebook Page. This is the official business page for the conference. You can find links to a ton of writing resources, beyond what we publish here on our site. It’s a great source of information from industry professionals.

Be sure to head over and give it a “Like” so you can receive those updates in your news feed. You can also click Like right in the Facebook sidebar button!

Info Specific to the 2017 Conference

We have two rows of menu buttons on our website. The top row is in red font above the Blue Ridge logo. Here is where you can find the Faculty and Classes offered, information about contests and critiques, about the Leadership Team, Frequently Asked Questions, and this year’s schedule.

Some of the information is still being updated as we prepare for the conference. If you’re subscribed to receive blog post updates in your email, you’ll always know as soon as the information for each page goes live.

The second row of menu buttons are also in red, but are underneath the header image. This is where you can find details about the 2017 Conference, including registration links (which are also on the right sidebar), information regarding scholarships and the bookstore, as well as the Agent and Editor of the Year awards.

We are so excited to see everyone as we attend various conferences this year, but even more so, we are thrilled to have you join us at the Blue Ridge Conference May 21-25. We’re praying for each of you, and there’s still plenty of time to do whatever needs to be done so you can invest in yourself and your writing career.

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Bethany Jett is an award-winning author of The Cinderella Rule, speaker, ghostwriter, and founder of JETTsetter Ink, a consulting and editing company. She has written for numerous publications, created the My Moments Planner, Serious Writer Companion, and is the founder of Serious Writer Academy and the Build Your Brand Program. An avid learner, Bethany is working on her Master of Arts in Marketing: New Media and Communication. Her newest work, Through the Eyes of Hope is now available online and in retailers nationwide.

Bethany is a military wife and all-boys-mama who is addicted to suspense novels and all things girly. She writes on living a brilliant life at BethanyJett.com. Connect with her on Facebook, Pinterest,  Instagram (new profile), LinkedIn, and Twitter.