Goodreads asked Thomas Locke:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Thomas Locke The most important advice I can possibly offer a Christian author is this:

Attend one of the major Christian writers’ conferences.

Make sure the conference you attend is large enough and so well-established that several major publishers and agents will attend.

This is a crucial component of a successful conference. Do not be swayed by one that is quicker, closer, or cheaper. You need to have the connection to the commercial world, and see your work through the eyes of those people who have the power to offer you a contract.

Christian vs. General Market Conferences

There are a number of significant differences between one of these Christian conferences and the mainstream counterparts. Most of these began as church-based ministries, and ALL of them see their work as a service to our Lord. The same is true for the teachers. We come in order to serve God and further the Kingdom’s work.

Structure of a Writers’ Conference

The days are basically split in two. In the mornings are ‘major tracks’, ongoing classes designed to cover the basic nuts and bolts of your chosen direction—fiction, non-fiction, song and poetry, magazine articles and greeting cards, and screenwriting. The afternoons are focused upon the commercial side of the writing world—meetings with agents and publishers, classes on pitching and presentations and marketing, and so forth.

Advantages to Attending

Two other advantages come from attending such a conference. The first is, you have the opportunity to discuss your work with other authors, and know what it means to translate a private dream into a commercial reality.

The second is, you are granted a set of realistic expectations and tools for change. Both of these are vital components to growth and success.

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