by Alycia W. Morales @AlyciaMorales

With BRMCWC 2024 a little more than a week out, all sorts of craziness has likely set in. Nerves. Jitters. Doubts. Worries. Concerns. Excitement. Knotted stomach. Caffeine overdrive. Sleeplessness. Spiritual battles.

This. Is. Normal.

You. Are. Not. Alone.

How do we handle these things so we can succeed in making it through the week and preparing for the conference?

Pray. Take a few moments throughout the day to pause the crazy and talk with the One who brings a peace that passes all understanding.

Watch for God. He knows what’s on your To-Do List. He knows you’re super busy. But He also knows exactly what you need in each moment. He has a habit of providing in a variety of ways, some of which may not be so evident in our distracted mode. Watch for those small blessings in the middle of the storm.

Visit the Blue Ridge Conference Writers Facebook group and post a prayer request, share your crazy, or just check out all the wonderful posts as you breathe deep and remember that you. are. not. alone.

Call a trusted friend and have them talk you off the ledge. But whatever you do, don’t cancel your reservation. (Yes, we know some of you are considering that. Some even admit to considering it.) The weeks ahead of you are going to totally be worth attending!

So, the real question is “What do I pack?”

The Dress Code: The dress code is business casual. What does that look like? Nice jeans with a blouse or polo shirt. Slacks with a button-down shirt. A skirt with a blouse. Basically, whatever you are comfortable wearing. As long as it doesn’t have holes in it and is modest (we are a Christian conference), you will be fine. Remember that you will want to look professional. Dress as though you were going for a job interview. Because, technically, you are. You want to make a good first impression.

I hear we’ll be walking a lot … up hill and down hill and … Yes, you will be walking a lot. There are elevators everywhere, but you will still be going from building to building.  There is no shuttle service on campus, so I highly suggest comfortable walking shoes. If that means heels for you, enjoy wearing your heels. If it means sneakers because you have health needs or just prefer your Converse All-Stars, you won’t be alone.

Bandaids. Because blisters happen.

PLEASE leave your fragrances home. We are a fragrance-free conference. I can’t begin to tell you how many of us have allergies to even the slightest hint of a cologne, perfume, or body wash scent. They provide headaches, even to the point of migraines. Please don’t ruin someone else’s conference by wearing your perfume or cologne. Leave it home.

Extra hangers. If you have a habit of packing your entire wardrobe because you aren’t sure what you’ll want to wear (ahem. raises hand.), you’re going to want to bring extra hangers. There may be five to ten in the closet in your room. For me, it’s never been enough. Which reminds me…

Irons and Hair Dryers are in the room. But I will warn you that sometimes irons get that black/brown goop that comes with age and use, so if you want to be sure you can press your clothes, you may want to bring your own. The hair dryers are the small ones that attach to the wall.

Don’t forget your chargers. I’ll be the first one to get halfway to Ridgecrest and realize I forgot my phone cord or the plug that goes into the outlet, so I have to stop at Target or Walmart along the way and buy a new one, spending $20-plus of my bookstore money. 🙁 Don’t be me. Remember to pack your chargers: laptop, tablet, iPad, phone, camera, whatever. (Pro Tip: If you own one or can buy one before the conference, bring a portable charger. Mophies rock. No outlet? No problem!)

Let’s get down to business. Don’t forget your newly created, hot-off-the-press business cards. And your proposal (have a few copies printed). And your one sheets (have 7-8 copies of these). You’ll want to take notes, so bring whatever you need to do so, whether it’s your laptop, a note pad and pen, or any other form of note-taking supply you prefer.

Caffeine. Long days of stuffing information in your brain will make anyone sleepy. If you are a Pepsi drinker, Ridgecrest has all you need. Coffee … same. But if you are a Coke fan, you’ll want to bring your own. Not a drop on site.

Rain, Rain, Go Away! If we all pray, maybe our gracious Father will dry the sky over Black Mountain. But rain is always possible. There are ways to get around campus that involve very little exposure to water falling from the sky, but it’s wise to bring an umbrella. Or galoshes and a raincoat, if you prefer to have a little fun with the weather. 😉

The Fun Clothing:
Don’t forget your costume! Genre Night is Tuesday, and it’s so much fun to see all the clever costumes our conferees put together. Shy? No worries! You’ll fit right in!
Also, you’ll want to bring something special to wear to the Awards Ceremony. This is the night where you can get all decked out and gussied up. People will wear everything from slacks and a polo shirt (guys) to a tux or Sunday best (girls) to the ballgown of your dreams. If you are an announced finalist of the Selah or Director’s Choice Awards or have entered anything into the Foundations Awards, be sure to wear something a little extra special in case you get to make your way to the stage. We are live streaming the event!

Fresh breath is always best. Don’t forget your gum or mints.

Thank you. It’s always great to thank someone who has blessed or challenged you during the conference. Many conferees bring thank you cards so they can give them out before the conference ends. Maybe a faculty member said something that changed your writing career. Thank you. A conferee sees you are having a difficult day and provides an encouraging word or shares a story with you about how she overcame a disheartening appointment. Thank you.

BONUS: Because I love to help others, I have created a simple packing list that you may print out. Keep in mind that different people will want to pack different things based on their preferences. I tried to make the list all-inclusive, so don’t feel like you need to bring the kitchen sink. Cross out whatever you don’t have or need. Pack the rest. Click here to get the list.

There are so many things we could pack, but the most important things aren’t even the material ones.

Confidence: In yourself and your writing ability. But even more so in God. When we trust Him with our writing careers, allowing Him to direct our paths, we win every time.

Optimism: Closed doors may mean better opportunities lay ahead. Don’t get discouraged every time you hear a “no.” Either these will lead to God’s best “yes,” or they will signify a need to …

Teachable spirit: … learn more. Practice more. Even gifted and talented writers have things they can improve. Especially in a business that is always changing. Learning is a lifetime career. As much as we wish we did, we will never know everything.

Patience: Writing (and learning) also takes time. Overnight successes are extremely rare. On another note, we are imperfect people living in an imperfect – and complicated – world. We will make mistakes, every one of us. If God has grace for us, we can certainly have grace for others. Keep that in mind if someone snaps at you or says something that tweaks that spot in your spirit. Love one another. Imperfections and all. We never know what someone else is going through.

Your smile. We can’t wait to see it!

If you have any questions about what else to pack, feel free to comment below or ask on the Facebook group. We’ll be happy

Alycia Morales is a freelance editor and writer. Her work has been featured in numerous magazines and several compilation books. Thanks to her mad editing skills, her clients have won multiple awards in several national contests. She’s also a sought-after ghostwriter, with years of experience working with clients across many different categories. In addition, she’s the prior Conference Assistant for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. Alycia is currently working on a nonfiction project while characters are running around in her mind waiting to be released into children’s books and YA fantasy novels.

When she isn’t busy writing, editing, and reading, Alycia enjoys spending time with her husband taking hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Carolinas or running off to the beach with friends. She loves coffee, sweet tea, crafting, and watching crime shows.

Alycia can be found at alywmorales.com. She hangs out on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.