Catholic Writing and Publishing – Page 28

The New Oxymoron: Catholic Secularists

October 7, 2014/2 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing/by Larry Peterson

I think that the plague of secularism that has engulfed the entire world possibly reached its optimal success last February. The highly civilized country of Belgium passed a law allowing children to choose to euthanize themselves. The final seal of approval was placed on this bill by none other than King Philippe himself. Yes, the Roman Catholic King of Belgium, Philippe Louis Leopold Marie, signed the bill making it official. Belgian children can kill themselves if they have “good reason” (They also need a physician, a psychologist, and the parent(s) to approve their request).

I am a Roman Catholic. I know many people who are Roman Catholics. Most of you reading this are Catholic. You know what? Ironically, much of the anti-Catholic sentiment comes from those who say they are Catholic. Many people who call themselves Catholic approve of abortion, contraception, and gay marriage. Heck, Belgium is a 75% Catholic country and they voted by a 2 to 1 majority for the Child Euthanasia Law. And that is after their bishops condemned the bill. But you cannot pick and choose what parts of the faith you like and do not like, especially when it comes to the sanctity of life. Many of us do our best to adhere to and respect Catholic teaching. We who do are often called judgmental and intolerant. If you possess a progressive and “caring” attitude and reject Catholic teaching you are a Catholic Secularist. You are an oxymoron, a contradiction.

Whenever did so many of our species get so smart that laws were enacted giving people the individual “right” to end the God-given life of someone else? People who call themselves Catholic and accept abortion and euthanasia and sex outside marriage now have a king who has joined their ranks. There are millions more.

Euthanasia is an abomination of the Natural Law which was established by God and is “naturally” ingrained in each of us. We instinctively know what is right and what is wrong. But how many of us go against the Natural Law because we have been desensitized to the point that we delude ourselves into thinking something ‘unnatural’ is okay because it has been legalized? Adhering to Natural Law often times involves self-denial. However, secularism is the twisted religion of self-gratification. To hell with self-denial.

The State of Oregon passed the “Death with Dignity” Act in 1997. Washington, Montana, and Vermont have also passed Euthanasia laws. Belgium passed their euthanasia law in 2002, the second highly civilized nation to do so (The Netherlands was first). In 2011, 1133 cases of euthanasia were reported in Belgium. In 2012, 1432. That figure represents 2% of all deaths in that country. Statistics show that the suicide rate of those who have undergone sex change surgery is as high as 31%. Why such despair? Why such hopelessness?

I really believe it is because many have the misguided and illogical notion that our happiness depends on “things”. Good health, money, position, and material goods have become the god that never satisfies. Worshiping those things are the violation of God’s First Commandment. Secularism honors the god of hopelessness and despair. The God of mercy and love has been rejected for a false god. And, after all those self-inflicted deaths, they pass a euthanasia law for children. How sad this is.

King Philippe is one of many highly placed people who have embraced secularism and then pretended that they are being virtuous by giving approval to all things for all people. Legalization of drugs, of abortion, of euthanasia, of same-sex marriage, are all the result of a civilized society that has deluded itself into a false happiness. This false happiness is never attained and ultimately leads people off a cliff into a sea of misery. Those that might have the “temerity” to say “NO” are branded as intolerant. At least those folks can still sport a truthful smile even though it might have cost them defilement and persecution to keep it.

One final thought. Imagine a child of seven or eight years old who has a terrible disease that can lead to many surgeries, long term disability, and no guarantee of survival. The financial burden will also be huge. Yet, other children with the same disease have survived and led full lives. Doctors advised the parents that their child will have to endure years of torment, but they do have an option. They could discuss the pros and cons of euthanasia with their child. If those parents are absent of faith, how hard would it be for them to talk their child into accepting euthanasia because, “you will never hurt again and mommy and daddy will be with you through the whole thing.”

How far we have come in our civilized world. And that includes the many oxymoronic Catholic Secularists.

From the President’s Desk – Courage and the Catholic Writer

September 26, 2014/4 Comments/in Blogging, Catholic Writing and Publishing, Inspirational, Journalism, Religious Liberty/by Ellen Gable Hrkach

photo by Josh Hrkach

As I write this, it is a gloomy, cold and wet day. It feels more like the end of November than September. The Farmers’ Almanac and recent weather forecasts have predicted that Canada and much of the Northern and Midwestern states will be experiencing another brutally cold and snowy winter. Upon hearing this, I groaned.

It’s good to be prepared, not only emotionally, but practically as well. For our family, that means making sure we have enough logs for the long winter ahead to keep us warm and always having extra provisions in case we lose electricity.

In the grand scheme of things, a cold winter can be uncomfortable, but not usually life-threatening, especially for the vast majority of us who live in well-insulated homes and have warm coats and cars. In fact, a brutal winter has the potential of being a positive experience because it can build our character and increase our patience.

Right now, Middle Eastern Christians and others are dealing with worse atrocities than cold temperatures.

With Social Networking, many of us thought that genocides (like the Holocaust) would not be possible. Instead, extreme Islamist terrorists are using Social Networking to boast about and to spread their evil through their graphic beheading videos (which admittedly, I have not watched). Christians are being murdered and persecuted not only in the Middle East but also in Africa.

So what does all of this have to do with the Catholic writer? A great deal.

Catholic writers must have the courage to speak the truth through their blogs, columns, books, novels and Social Networking. In fact, nowadays, that courage to write the truth has already resulted in the brutal deaths of several journalists. Jim Foley, a Catholic journalist, was one of those beheaded last month by terrorists.

I see this courage to speak the truth daily as I read the inspiring and no-holds barred posts of some of our members (Rebecca Hamilton and Elizabeth Scalia to name a few).

Elizabeth shares an Op-ed article, but also comments that the world situation is, in fact, as bad as we thought in this gripping post.

I know some of us don’t want to read the depressing realities. But as Elizabeth writes, “Sadly, this is essential reading; this is essential thinking. The long sleep induced by prosperity and power must now be broken. The choice to remain unengaged, fully tricked out with technology, is coming to an end, as is the easy habit of playing partisan games at the expense of human lives.”

We’re nearing the end of the Week of Prayer and Fasting for Peace so check out Lisa Hendey’s post for more information.

Finally, please take a look at this video from Cardinal Wuerl, “Where Are The Voices?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kujTZbwOMcc

We have no idea how this will play out for the rest of the world or, more specifically, for North Americans. Right now, many of us are groaning and complaining about the impending cold winter. But we are safe and we have freedom to practice our Catholic faith and freedom to live where we want. This is not the time to be complacent or spend our time complaining. This is the time to prepare emotionally and spiritually for those difficult and challenging times ahead. Let us offer our prayers, fasting and sacrifices for all those who are the victims of evil. May God give us the courage to write about the truth. Amidst the darkness, Christ can and will be our light. As Catholics, we know that God’s goodness, love and mercy will triumph over evil.

Until next month, as always, please let me know if you have any comments, complaints or concerns. You can email me at president -at- catholicwritersguild.com Please keep me in prayer as I keep you all in prayer.

In Christ,

Ellen Gable Hrkach
President, CWG

St. Paul Calls Out to Us from Across the Ages

September 2, 2014/2 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing/by Larry Peterson

The second reading at Sunday’s Mass (the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time: 8/31/2104) was from St. Paul to the Romans: 12:1-2. The words reverberated in my head, and I think it was not only because of their simplicity and timeliness but primarily because of the message.

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not CONFORM yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the WILL of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

Offering our bodies as a living sacrifice does not mean jumping into an open volcano. It does not mean that we are supposed to self-flagellate or harm ourselves in any physical way. I think it simply means that we must do our best to follow God as He would have us follow Him, and not to conform to the secular, morally bankrupt world we live in. The thing of it is, the secular world has encapsulated its meistic philosophy into a false narrative of “pretend virtue” suggesting that self-gratification (no matter what that might be) is perfectly permissible. Some of the cliches which precede anything self-gratifying are, “You don’t have to do it” or “I’m not bothering you” and “Mind your own business”. In the world of Meism (my word) the other person NEVER comes first.

Our Judeo/Catholic/Christian beliefs are under attack around the world. Not just from ISIS but from people just “like” us. Many of our neighbors, friends, colleagues and even family members have been swept up in the phony virtue of meism. Many Catholics attending Mass do not even believe in the Real Presence. Many Catholics believe abortion is okay and that birth control should not even be discussed because it is just a normal part of life. It is okay for people to: live together first as an unmarried “husband and wife”; then have a child; then get engaged, and then, when the child is old enough to be a flower girl or ring-bearer, maybe get married. Talk about putting the “cart before the horse”. Belgium, which is supposedly 75% Catholic, has approved euthanasia for children, and that is after the Bishops condemned the entire concept.

So, as St. Paul calls out to us from across the ages, many do not listen. They do not want to surrender their secularly approved philosophy of self-gratification. The term, “Cafeteria Catholic” has become common-place. Many do, in fact, pick & choose what church teachings fit their lifestyle. No doubt about it, secularism has taken a heavy toll.

The two verses quoted above are so profound for all of us, especially today. Here they are, one more time:

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not CONFORM yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the WILL of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

As members of the CWG and/or other Catholic writing groups, we have, in a way, found a comfort zone with each other. Most of us are traditional minded Catholics doing our best to follow the faith as handed down by Holy Mother Church. It is kind of a “safe place” to be because most members agree with each other regarding church teachings, especially in regard to faith & morals. Step outside our comfort zones and roll the dice with the anti’s (I do this quite often) and it can get ugly. All I know is that I am NOT so smart as to know better than the Church that Christ Himself founded. I shall listen and do my best to discern what is the WILL of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. I guess that is all any of us can do.

St. Paul, please pray for all of us.

10 Steps to Indie Publishing

August 26, 2014/18 Comments/in Catholic Fiction, Catholic Writing and Publishing, Editing, Encouragement for Writers, Marketing Your Work, Networking, Self-Publishing, The Writing Life, Writing Tips and Tricks/by Leslie Lynch

These are the best of times for authors—and possibly the worst of times! The changes in the publishing industry over the past five years are nearly as significant as the advent of the internet. In fact, the two developments are intertwined and build on each other.

We all know traditional publishing has undergone tremendous upheaval. It’s still difficult to find an agent. Same goes for a publishing home, doubly so when entire houses fold or get bought out by another entity. Authors are taking to the waters of Amazon and related ponds by the droves, flooding the markets with their manuscripts.

What are some advantages to independently publishing your work? Total control is the one most often mentioned. You work directly with a cover artist to produce the best one for your story. You can replace it if you decide it’s not working. You can set your pricing, then change it at a moment’s notice if needed.

Total control is also the disadvantage to indie publishing. Marketing is incumbent upon you, no one else. Make no mistake: this is a big responsibility.

Given this environment, if you are interested but have yet to dip a toe into the pool, how do you go about what has become known as indie publishing?

1. Know your goals. Do you want to get something in print form for family and friends? Skip down to items 4 through 7 and ignore the rest. Do you want to reach readers who don’t personally know you? Start here and slog through every step listed.

2. Hone your craft. Write the best book possible, run it by critique groups and/or beta readers and/or enter it in contests to get unbiased feedback. Then hire an editor and revise. Yes, this will cost money. Yes, you must do it. Do not fall prey to the delusion that your book is the best one on the planet or the only one not in need of professional editing. It’s not. You can always make it better. Believe me, if your critique partners/beta readers/editors say it needs work, it does. Fix it. If you don’t, the whole world will be privy to the lashing you will get from Amazon and Goodreads reviewers. So make it the best possible book before you put it out there. At least no one will be able to say “poorly written/edited!”

3. Buy books on the process. Let’s Get Digital and Let’s Get Visible by David Gaughran are great resources, they are cheap, and they are fairly up to date. He is a proponent of the Amazon-only model. If you are comfortable with reading advice by savvy romance writers, The Naked Truth About Self-Publishing by The Indie Voice is another great resource. This group is a proponent of getting your work out to every venue possible; why limit yourself to one vendor? These three books come to less than $15 and lay an excellent foundation for understanding the nuts and bolts of self-publishing.

4. Explore publishing options. Amazon’s self-pub arms are KDP for ebooks, Create Space or print on demand, and ACX for audio books. Ingram Spark is another option. Barnes & Noble, Apple, and Kobo have platforms for uploading books; I have not gotten that far and do not have information to share. I’m sure others can contribute to the conversation here!

5. Utilize the tutorials on each publishing site. They provide a wealth of information. My experience with customer service on each site has been exceptional. If your budget allows for additional services, pretty much anything you need is available .

6. Remember that nothing is set in stone. If you make a mistake, all you usually have to do is replace the file. For ebooks on KDP, the old one will still be available for sale until the new one goes live. With Create Space, the title will not be available during the changeover, typically twelve hours or so. That said, some mistakes require taking the book down and reissuing it. Call customer service if it looks like something you can’t address on your own.

7. Mistakes: You will make them. The earth will not stop rotating. You will fix them. A week later, you will probably have forgotten the details. Moral: Be nice to yourself when you demonstrate your humanity. Even better, laugh!

8. Connect with your writing community. Ask for help, share insights, cheer each other on, and promote each other’s work. There are enough readers out there for all books. Amazon gave a presentation at a conference I attended recently. Their statistics show a dramatic rise in books sold since the ebook became widely available. More titles, more sales. Readers are voracious. There is enough success to go around; it’s not a finite quantity.

9. Adapt. There is no right way or wrong way to do this. The only given is the quality of the product you put out. Beyond that, much of the process for individual books is trial and error. Try something and see if it works. If not, try something else. Be persistent. Realize that marketing is part of the authorial journey these days, whether you are traditionally or independently published.

10. Remember this is a business for the long haul. It may take years to build a following. Meanwhile, keep improving your craft and writing new content. That is the one action you can take to improve visibility of your books, and visibility translates to sales. Continue to interact with readers, either online or in person, so they remember you and look for your books as you write them.

Questions? Discussion? How about suggestions of books or other resources you’ve found? Please share!

Thursday Highlights from the 2014 CWCL

August 6, 2014/1 Comment/in Catholic Writers Conference Live, Catholic Writing and Publishing/by Ellen Gable Hrkach

Arthur Powers wins the CALA award

Gary Zimak

Claudia Volkman, “Manuscript Preparation”

John Desjarlais’ writing workshop

Rebecca Hamilton spoke about marketing and social networking

CALA winner, Arthur Powers, is interviewed by EWTN’s Doug Keck

CALA finalist, Dena Hunt

Treasurer and Conference Coordinator, Ann Margaret Lewis.

Margaret Realy, author and blogger

My turn to be interviewed!

I moderated the Catholic Fiction Panel: left to right, John Desjarlais, Ann Lewis, Gene Wolfe and Arthur Powers

Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle moderates the blogging panel. L to R: Gary Zimak, Kathy Schiffer, Rebecca Hamilton, Margaret Realy

Roundtable discussion after hours…

Special thanks to James Hrkach for the photographs!

The Great Enigma–Gender Dysphoria (Gender Identity Disorder)

August 5, 2014/0 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing/by Larry Peterson

by Larry Peterson

I thought I would get a bit controversial this time and jump into murky water. It is definitely “cloudy” so plan to keep your eyes wide open before jumping in.

On June 21, the President of the United States once again bypassed the Congress of the United States and signed an executive order barring federal contractors (including faith based agencies) from discriminating based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Here was my problem with this: I have no understanding of what “gender identity” is. I mean, how can a guy think he is a girl or a girl think she is a guy? Deep down inside me I knew there had to be much more to this phenomenon than a simple choice of lifestyle preference? But it was so bizarre to me I just could not handle it. Some folks might call that “denial”. Maybe it was.

I am a Catholic man who tries to stay true to his faith and not pass judgment on others, (especially those whose behavioral lifestyle I do NOT fathom). The truth is I have personally avoided this topic because it just always seemed so “out there” to me. After all, I am a man and I know it. My wife is a woman and she knows it. All the men I know and have known knew they were men. Same for the women. How can you NOT know what you are? The worst part was it was being politicized. That was deplorable. So what kind of ambiguous term is “gender identity”? What does it mean? Finally, I kicked the strange fear of confronting this subject to the curb and I decided I should look into it.

It did not take me long to realize that I truly had kept my head in the sand when it came to this subject. In so doing I had failed myself. I have now come to realize that among the great enigmas in our society today is the paradoxical condition known as Gender Dysphoria (aka: Gender Identity Disorder). This is real and this is a fact of life and it has existed for a long, long time. I have also come to learn that this is a medical “disorder” and not simply a “lifestyle” choice. I also admit that I am a bit ashamed I never had the guts to confront the subject.

Evidence shows that besides psychological and behavioral causes, biological ones (genetics) play an important part in a person having this condition. A person who is born with Gender Identity Disorder has a very high mountain to climb. They live in a society that, for the most part, looks at their condition as nothing more than a perverse lifestyle choice. I cannot imagine a person having to live every day pretending to be a gender they knew they were not. The alternative for them would be to live the way they knew they really were and be treated as one of society’s aberrations constantly facing rejection and derision . I now understand the desire for hormonal treatments and transgender surgery. I also understand that these people need our compassion and understanding. But, like it or not, this Great Enigma brings forth the other side of the story.

President Obama’s executive order seems to place “gay rights” above all other rights, including religious rights as set forth in our Constitution. In 1994 the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was proposed by Sen. Ted Kennedy and Rep. Gerry Studds of Massachusetts. It has been proposed in ten sessions of Congress and has never passed. Obama’s order is his way of passing his own ENDA. It provides no protection for religious groups, even though civil-rights laws recognize these rights. The laws have recognized that religious employers have the right to hire people who share their faith and moral standards. ENDA proposals exempted these groups. Not anymore.

The president’s order has bypassed all of this and permits federal agencies to cancel contracts with “noncompliant” employers, including faith based agencies, who can also be ‘blacklisted” from future contracts. This will effectively shut down many faith based agencies. Look at how Catholic Charities has already been declared “unfit” to place children for adoption in Washington, Boston, San Francisco, and the State of Illinois. I believe that the executive order of July 21, 2014 will usher in a new wave of religious intolerance and persecution the like of which has never been seen in the United States of America. The people who suffer from Gender Dysphoria are simply pawns in a quagmire of ideology. Theirs is not so much a sexual problem as it is a correctable medical problem. They deserve better from all of us, especially from a president who uses their condition to advance his own agenda. More than anything, these folks with GD/GID need our prayers.

2014 Catholic Writers Conference Live – Wednesday Highlights

August 5, 2014/0 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing/by Ellen Gable Hrkach

On Wednesday, July 30th, the conference began with Mass and then our CWG members meeting. We had a few technical difficulties. James, our official photographer, was helping with those technical issues so we didn’t get any photos of that talk/meeting.

Cassandra Poppe’s inspiring talk was entitled, “Writing Through the Passion.”

James Hrkach spoke about “Christian Art, Composition and the Contemporary Writer”

The lovely Lisa Hendey (author, blogger, speaker) gave an inspiring keynote presentation on “Perseverance.”

Sorrowful Mysteries Panel: Dealing With Rejection (Erin McCole Cupp, moderator, along with me and Karen Kelly Boyce)

Action Adventure Panel with Ann Lewis (M), Tony Kolenc, John Desjarlais, Gene Wolfe and Declan Finn

Ann Lewis giving a talk on pitching your book (or idea) to a publisher

Self Publishing Panel: Arthur Powers (M), me, Ann Frailey and Eileen Leamy

Author Reception (this is where we handed out over 200 SoA booklets)

Special thanks to James Hrkach for the photography.

Highlights from the 2014 Catholic Writers Conference Live (Tuesday)

August 4, 2014/3 Comments/in Catholic Writers Conference Live, Catholic Writing and Publishing/by Ellen Gable Hrkach

In the coming days, I will be posting a few highlights from the 2014 Catholic Writers Conference Live and Catholic Marketing Network Trade Show. It was a whirlwind of activities, presentations, daily Mass, Confession, Adoration and even an opportunity to venerate a first class relic from St. John Paul II.

Tuesday’s Highlights

Setting up the Guild Booth

Selfie with Alan Napleton, Immaculee, myself and Ann Margaret Lewis (photo courtesy Ann Margaret Lewis)

Speaking to the booksellers…

Training booth volunteers

Opening reception, Tuesday evening

Next: Wednesday highlights.

Special thanks to James Hrkach for the photography

From the President’s Desk: NFP Week and Catholic Writers Conference Live

July 25, 2014/5 Comments/in Blogging, Catholic Fiction, Catholic Writers Conference Live, Catholic Writing and Publishing, Fiction, Self-Publishing/by Ellen Gable Hrkach

James and I teaching an online (virtual) NFP class

In case you didn’t know, we are coming to the end of NFP Awareness Week.

Before I became President of the Guild…even before I started my writing career, I taught Natural Family Planning (NFP). This year, my husband and I will mark our 30th year teaching NFP. My passion for promoting Natural Family Planning and Saint John Paul II’s Theology of the Body is what prompted me to start writing fiction. Since this is NFP Awareness Week, I’d like to first share a few of my NFP-themed blog posts from this week:

Theology of the Body in a Nutshell

The Spiritual Works of Mercy – TOB Style

Theology of the Body Fiction

When I self-published my first book nine years ago, I joined a local (secular) writers’ group. At the first meeting, they asked me to introduce myself and when I said I had five children, I heard a few gasps and perhaps a scoff. Someone said, “With five kids, where did you find time to write a novel?” I remember thinking, “Five kids isn’t all that many.” It wasn’t that they weren’t welcoming; they were nice enough, but I had little in common with the members. I attended a few more meetings, but eventually decided to stop going.

Soon after, I found a Yahoo group called “Catholic Writers Online.” I looked forward to the posts of fellow members, but rarely posted anything. A few years later, some of the Catholic Writers Online members started a group called the Catholic Writers Guild. Knowing they were “faithful to the magisterium,” and knowing I wanted more interaction than daily emails, I joined the Guild in early 2008 and I really felt like I had “come home.” These were writers with whom I shared a common faith and common goals. There were online conferences and in 2009, the first live conference.

The (Sixth) Catholic Writers Conference Live is just around the corner. I’m looking forward to meeting, networking and just chatting with other Catholic writers next week in Schaumburg. If you’re attending, please come and introduce yourself to me (I’ll be the short one giving orders). If you’re not attending, please pray for a successful, safe conference.

With Karina during our book signing. 2009 Trade Show/Conference

As always, please let me know if you have any questions, comments and/or concerns: president(at)catholicwritersguild.com

Ellen Gable Hrkach
President, CWG

Catholic Writers Conference, July 29-August 1, 2014

July 22, 2014/7 Comments/in Catholic Writers Conference Live, Catholic Writers Guild, Catholic Writing and Publishing, CWG member benefits, CWG Needs Volunteers, Encouragement for Writers, Marketing Your Work, Networking, The Writing Life/by Leslie Lynch

EWTN Bookmark interviews at the CWG Booth

Headed for Catholic Writers Conference next week? Are you excited? You should be! Take a look at this photo to get a sense of the energy and opportunities that await! What an opportunity to rub shoulders with industry professionals, to put names and personalities to folks you’ve met online, to renew friendships, and to network. This is a once in a lifetime experience; make the most of it. There will never be another gathering of exactly the same people at this point in their faith and writing journeys. Truly you are in Chicago, Illinois, because God has called you to be there!

Each of you has a specific reason for attending, a goal you hope to accomplish. If this is your first conference experience, the coming days are likely to be a roller coaster of euphoria juxtaposed with self doubt. Be assured that you are not the only one grappling with these feelings. I hope this knowledge translates into a greater sense of ease in a new and sometimes intimidating environment. Here are some words of advice (of wisdom, too, hopefully!) for both newbies and veterans, for authors, for agents, and for editors, geared toward making this conference the best it can be for everyone:

1) Everyone’s goals are the same, ultimately. Editors want to find the next diamond of a manuscript to publish. Agents want to discover the next author whose career they can guide to new heights. Authors want to find a publisher and/or agent to promote their awesome work. And in this particular setting, all of these people want to serve God with their talents and gifts in the way that pleases Him the most.

When viewed through that prism, competition loses the edge of greed and rejection loses its sting. We’re all on the same side, and God’s looking out for the good of each person’s life and career. This doesn’t mean you should fail to promote your product, just that there is no need for fear. Which brings us to the next point.

2) Be confident. You have something no one else does: your voice, and your work. These are gifts that God has given you, gifts that you have honed with hard work and prayer. No one can duplicate your contribution. Take heart in that fact, and know that your work will find its home. Maybe through this conference; maybe not – which leads to…

3) Don’t take rejection personally. Sometimes it just isn’t a good fit for the publisher or agent. Imagine a library with thousands of books. You have three days to find the best two. You will have to create a system to sort and discard the ones that aren’t suitable for your purpose. Do you see that many wonderful, deserving books will be overlooked? This does not reflect on the worthiness of each one, the same way it does not reflect on your particular project. And in today’s climate, many options are available. So…

4) Be open. There are many possibilities that we may not recognize in our limited, human view. Be open to new ideas, new directions, new options. You may discover a brand new path, or even a calling! You may discover it through…

5) Networking. This is the whole purpose of a conference. Meet people! Ask them what they write, who they want to represent, what they want to publish. Have a brief answer ready when others ask you these questions. (I write ____ and my current project is about ____.)

This is a remarkably small community, and the contacts you make in the next few days will serve you for your entire career. Do not discount the importance of these interactions. They are crucial for your success. But remember…

6) Be nice. This should go without saying, especially in this setting, but we are human and sometimes we need to be reminded. Keep your comments positive; you never know who might overhear or repeat something you said in a frustrated or disappointed moment. Again, this is a remarkably small community even though it may not seem that way.

Also, restrict your interactions to appropriate venues. Don’t try to pitch to an agent or publisher in the restroom, or shove your manuscript under the door of the stall. I have seen the first and have heard of the second, so these are not as far-fetched as they seem. Be considerate of folks. If the target of your interest has a headache or gets a pained look on their face when you approach, be brief. Introduce yourself and say you’d like to send them a query if that is acceptable; believe me, they will remember and appreciate your kindness. And that goes a long way. Which leads to the last point…

7) Be yourself. This may call for leaving your comfort zone, though. If you tend to be shy (many writers are!) push yourself to be more sociable. It’s not hard; smile and ask people around you about themselves. You’ll be glad you did. If you are an extrovert, recognize your tendency to overshadow the more timid among us and let them shine, too.

8) Use social media to keep the non-conference-goers among us updated! There’s the CWG Facebook page and your personal Facebook/Twitter, etc. accounts. The ripple effect can be unlimited. Share the love!

I hope each one of you has a wonderful experience at the Catholic Writers Conference! And… Oops! I forgot the most important words of advice! HAVE FUN!