By Cherrilynn Bisbano @bisbanowrites

 I’ve been asked many times, “How did you get selected for a faculty position?”

After three years of submitting more than five class ideas each time, I received an invitation to teach the class I knew the least about, Your Platform is Bigger Than you Think. I studied for a year and the class was a huge success. I was invited back to teach it again this year.

 I want to share with you some of my steps, and the attitude I learned to maintain throughout the entire process. This will not guarantee you a position on the faculty, but I hope my post encourages you not to give up.

Do’s and Don’ts of class proposal submissions.

Do:

• Follow the proposal guidelines at https://www.blueridgeconference.com/faculty-proposal/
• Submit more than one class idea.
• Check previous classes for ideas or areas not taught.
• Maintain an attitude of prayer and praise.
• Remember, the directors and the prayer team pray for God to choose the faculty.
• Select fun and unique names for your classes.
• Keep submitting.
• Apply to teach at smaller conferences to gain experience.
• Fine tune your speaking skills.

Don’t

• Take it personal if your classes aren’t chosen.
• Say “God said I should be on the faculty.”
• Nag faculty about why they didn’t pick you; they wish they could chose everyone.
• Give up.

Cindy Sproles is an author, speaker, and conference teacher. She also is the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Her blog post, Moving Up the Writing Ladder, When Can I Teach, will inspire you and provide a pathway to your teaching dreams.

https://www.blueridgeconference.com/moving-up-the-writing-ladder-when-can-i-teach/

God knows when you are ready. May you seek His face in all decisions.

Cherrilynn Bisbano is an award-winning writer, coach, editor, and speaker. As former managing editor of Almost an Author, she helped the website earn the #6 spot on the Top 100 best writing websites for 2018 by The Write Life and Top 101 Websites for writers with Writers Digest. Cherrilynn is a speaker with Women Speakers. Her topics include leadership, book proposals, and the Bible.

She is a two-time winner of Flash Fiction Weekly. Her work in progress, Accidental Findings, won the first 10 pages award with, When Words Count Retreat. You can find her published in Blue Ridge Writers Blog, Southern Writers, More to Life (MTL), Christian Rep, Christian Voice, Refresh, and other online magazines. Cherrilynn is a contributor to award-winning, Get to the Margins-Author Anthology; Breaking the Chains; Heart Reno, Kiss Guilt Goodbye; and Chicken Soup for the Soul-Miracles books. Her latest book, Shine Don’t Whine, released October 2020. Cherrilynn proudly served in the Navy and Air National Guard, earning the John Levitow Military leadership award.  She lives with her eighteen-year-old son, Michael, Jr., and husband of 22 years. Cherrilynn loves Christ, Chocolate, coffee, and Cats. You will often find her on the beach sea glass hunting.