The Storyteller | Mary Vee

One of the most important things we can do is network. Networking is the core to: *spreading the Gospel *keeping up to date with our family *learning our trade *selling a product and not only that, God knew we would be lonely if we didn't network. I have been in Dallas this week, and will be for half of next week, speaking to K-12 classes in a school and attending the ACFW Gala event. Today, I'm sharing with you some of the fun pics taken by the teachers. Highlights:  8th Grade English-Mary Vee All the students indicated they enjoyed the presentation. I taught the students how to write stellar stories--How to turn a blank piece of paper into meaningful black ink.  10th Grade English-Mary Vee   "Every story has..." and so went the lesson for twenty minutes. Included was a reading from my story. The manuscript I am hoping to pitch to an agent Saturday night.    I also gave them a way to remember the lesson: The Kit Kat b...

ACFW Conference in St. Louis        Mary, Amy, Laurie Alley Cats             Mary Vee and Lee Carver Casey chilling Krista chilling Casey fun photo Organization Booth Cara Putnam and Candace Calvert Amy Simpson and Laurie Tomlinson Casey Herringshaw and Beth Vogt The bookstore Mary Vee with Erica Vetsch Mary Vee, Krista Phillips, Casey Herringshaw Mary Vee and Joy Melville AND THERE IS MORE TO COME!!!! Meeting with friends, learning, talking with agents and editors...WOW God is good.

Today, I head off on a solo road trip. To save money, I'm driving seven hours to the ACFW conference in St. Louis. I've Googled directions, Map Quest for a back up, and AAA online trip tik to check for road issues. I have a few cd's of past writing conferences to keep my mind alert. Cruise control is my friend. Drivers in a hurry are not my friends. Also impatient local drivers who know where they are going, and expect me to know the same then cut me off to communicate said impatience, are not my friends. Photo Courtesy Sigh. I have allowed the day to land at my destination. I expect to get lost a few times and be forced to call my techy teen at home to bale me out and direct me back to the road I somehow turned off of. These adventures can make great fodder for stories and awesome pictures. Speaking of the which, I have my AAA card. I hate changing tires. I have my umbrella. Soggy Mary's can get grumpy. I'm wearing comfy grunge clothes and ...

The ACFW conference is in full swing. The hotel is filling up with writers anxious to meet each other, renew friendships, and to attend those all important meetings.  Warning, this weekends post will be filled with random fun pictures from the ACFW conference.  Yeah! Scroll down to see about a book give away. Mary Vee, Pepper Basham, Amy Lee Simpson, Casey Harringshaw Casey Herringshaw, Beth Vogt, Amy Leigh Simpson, Pepper Basham Mary Vee and Pepper Basham Cara Putman, Casey Herringshaw Angie Dicken View outside our window in Indianapolis, Indiana There will be a book give away with one of the books I get  at the conference. The winner will have a chance to choose.  Must leave a comment Must be a follower of this website U.S. Only. 

I couldn't figure out, for the longest time, why I had such a problem choosing a topic to write for this post. Ideas always popped into my head then are filtered into something that met the standards I'd set for this website: 1. A topic I can say at least something about. 2. A topic you, my friend, would be interested in. 3. A topic that solicits comments because I don't want to just talk to myself. 4. A topic that honors Christ in some way. And as I worked ahead (since I will be at the ACFW conference), I looked at the date this post would be published. 9/11 Then I understood the reason for the struggle.  This date represents so much. I know where I was when thousands of people sipped their last drop of coffee, when the power went out and men were trapped, when the structure around women's offices crushed down on them, when their families heard from them no more. My heart groans for the family and friends affected--as they remember those they knew. So...

One week remains to the ACFW conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. This conference is a huge opportunity for writers to network, present their current works, and learn new skills.  Practice: The Great Lakes Chapter of ACFW held a meeting in August giving those who came opportunity to practice their pitches for the conference. Wow! It really helped. I was able to practice with my friend Peggy. I met her at my first conference, Write to Publish in Chicago.  It is so amazing how God holds precious friendships together despite distance. Network : I am excited to meet friends I've only known through the Internet. Last year I recognized them from the little pictures by their posts (and the name tags). We greet each other, cheer, share our hopes and dreams for the conference, snap pictures, and turn to meet someone else. There are so many people there. Every moment is a great opportunity to connect with new friends. Present current works : I was surprised...

Today I welcome American Christian Fiction Writers as my guest. Yes! All of them. Live from the Conference From all over the world, many Christian fiction writers drove, flew, or possibly walked to this year's conference held here in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. We have come to sharpen our skills, test our work, network, make new friends, and mentor each other. But the greatest of all, we will worship and pray. This is my fifth Christian Writers' conference. I've also attended conferences for teachers, caseworkers, and accompanied my husband for his medical conferences. And during the days saturated in specialized topics, I've seen a huge difference between a Christian Writers' conference and others. First , no one is required to attend. Therefore those who do attend, come because they want to. We receive no brownie points or certification required to get a license. One of many advantages: a writing conference provides a unique opportunity to...