Speak Up Conference Team 2012
Hey Friends –
In yesterday’s post, I left off with my friend Jen Ferguson and I discussing Carol Kent’s Speak Up Conference over guacamole in Austin, Texas.
Jen had a dream of being published, and I encouraged her to prayerfully consider attending the Speak Up Conference. I knew at Speak Up she could meet 1:1 with editors, publishers, etc.. – and I had a sense God was up to something.
Today I’m excited to have Jen share part of her experience….
Flashy Not Required
I spent hours. I mean hours on my one sheet.
Jen & her husband Craig
First, I had to find out what a ‘one sheet’ was. Then I had to figure out my layout. Find the perfect profile picture. Fill in all the appropriate text boxes I had placed strategically. Choose graphics that would make me stand out and be descriptive of me and my book.
I had to be flashy. Make a good first impression. Be unique.
I took my one sheet and sat myself down in front of the acquisitions editor at Speak Up! I told her my story. I laid out my heart. I divulged pretty much the whole journey of my husband’s porn addiction.
And she found a typo. And she strongly disliked my “unique” profile picture. Oh, and the title of the book.
So much for a flashy first impression.
She actually had some great constructive criticism to help me improve my one sheet, but I still felt pretty dejected walking away from that first meeting.
All I wanted to do was to curl up in a ball and hide out in Cindy’s minivan. But I didn’t have the keys.
And, in 25 minutes, I was supposed to meet with another editor.
I texted my husband, held back the tears, and started over on my one sheet. There was only a black and white printer, with plain old stock paper in the tray, on which I could spit out my new one sheet.
There was no flash on this new creation. Only heart.
And I took this heart and sat down with Miranda from Discovery House Publishing. And I told the story all over again. The heart that was already bleeding bled again.
She listened, barely even glanced at my one sheet, perhaps because we were so caught up in the story and dreaming and wondering if this was a good fit between the two of us.
I didn’t need flash. I just needed the Holy Spirit. I wasn’t going to pitch my book and get a contract based on my own merits alone. You see, the whole time leading up to this moment was God teaching me that to do this, I needed Him.
And sometimes to remind us that He is the one in charge, we get a crash course in humility.
He doesn’t need us to be flashy because He is Light.
He doesn’t need us to be armed with a perfect pitch because He is the Word.
He doesn’t need us to manipulate circumstances because He is the Orchestrator of the world.
All we have to do is do the work that He has given us to do. We have to listen carefully to His direction. We have to be about His glory and not our own.
All we have to do is be brave, cloaked with humility. – Jen Ferguson
Did y’all catch the part about Jen meeting with Miranda from Discovery House? Well, I’m pleased to share (with Jen’s permission, of course) the rest of the story!
Jen was offered a contract with Discovery House, prayerfully said YES, and is currently in the midst of writing her first book to be released in 2014. Yay God! Yay Jen!
Sweet friend, if you dream of being published, I’d love for you to prayerfully consider attending the Speak Up Conference as well this summer.
Want to read more encouraging stories about the Speak Up Conference? Check out the amazing blog posts linked up below!
Thanks so much for stopping by *She Sparkles*! God’s richest blessings to you!
Carol Kent is used by the Holy Spirit to teach, inspire and empower. Her wisdom comes from her faith steps through her life experiences. Tapping into that wisdom for 10 minutes would be a blessing that would help me to follow the path God has designed for me.
I have registered for the Speak Up Conference and truly feel that the Lord is nudging me into speaking and writing. My prayer is that The Lord will use this experience to equip me to take His ministry into the next phase of growth and outreach for His glory.
I have registered for the Speak Up 2013 conference and am very excited. Receiving a scholarship would help me greatly as I am traveling from Maryland and have many travel expenses.
What an incredible God-story! Thank you for sharing with us Jen!
Here’s my Speak Up story: http://www.ameliarhodes.com/2013/04/26/why-you-should-speak-up/
Aside from the fact that I would get to meet you and Jen IRL (squee!!!) I want to attend Speak Up so I can learn how best to use this platform God has provided me with, to His glory and not my own. Thanks for hosting this giveaway- you are such an inspiration!
I would just like to learn from others who desire to write with excellence and are also committed to their faith and families. I would especially appreciate good counsel in making the most meaningful revisions to my work for agents. I am afraid of losing the original heart of the story.
I loved these words from Jen:
“He doesn’t need us to be flashy because He is Light.
He doesn’t need us to be armed with a perfect pitch because He is the Word.
He doesn’t need us to manipulate circumstances because He is the Orchestrator of the world.”
That means so much to me. Thank you for putting those truths into words to share. Can’t wait for that book to come out!
I would really love that call with Carol, because she’s walked a road I haven’t walked in using her hard things for God’s glory. I’m registered for Speak Up, but I would be thrilled to have those golden 10 minutes to know how to prepare with the specific hopes I bring … and I haven’t even done that One Sheet yet! 😉
I Tweeted! 🙂
Shared on FB!
I’m in tears… sweet, unsalted ones…
WOW! God really is amazing : )
I’m so blessed by these powerful words and the powerful things that God can do with a willing, imperfect soul… so blessed!
God is still on the Throne!
My hope if I were chosen would be to take gratitude to another level; we have such a short time on this earth. It would be a leap for me to attend, but I would leap fully and soak up with a thankful heart the opportunity to stretch, explore and let Him reveal to me through the conference whatever I am meant to learn. Thank YOU for the opportunity!
Jen. You ate guacamole WITHOUT MEEEE?
Seriously, I’m beyond thrilled for you. I knew this book needed to be published and that God would show up to make it happen!
Thanks for this post. It helps me breathe… I’m just starting to work with a freelance editor and was getting sort of “wrapped around the axle” about my novel. (It’s easier to be confident about someone else’s work, yes?)
Visited Shelly’s blog and commented
Commented on Jeri’s blog too
Left a comment on Amelia’s blog.
Commented at JJ’s blog as well.
“Death comes to us or for us;; it’s best to be prepared.” I need to learn if writing this book, helping people get their affairs in order, is how God wants me to take the next step.
It was a pleasure to visit and read the recommended posts; they encouraged me this dreary, wet, sunless morning. I tried to do my part and left comments encouraging them as well. God’s blessings on you, yours, and the work of your hands and heart.
Cindy –
I would like to enter the contest for the 10 min. phone conversation with Carol but I did not see where to do that.
Thank you!
Living Life Together (LLT),
Lori Boruff, Radio Host
Jen, I’m so thrilled for you! God is amazing (and so are you)
I tweeted this post 🙂
And I posted it on Facebook 🙂
Cindy-
Love this . I love it to because I got to meet Jen last year and heard this story from her lips. How awesome is our God. And i remember your keynote speaking meaning so much to me. In fact I just found the bookmark you gave us.
I would love love to go to speak up again this year– this time more armed and ready with a more refined God sized dream. Financially on my own right now there is no way I can afford, as since January I have moved between taking care of my dad who has a rare acute leukemia, and my sister and her family who were in a freak accident with a deer going through their minivan. However during my hospital time with my family I have been writing. I believe God has called me to publish a devotional called 31 days to Coming Alive. I so want to go to Speak up armed with these God sized dreams– ready. Wouldn’t mind the phone call with Carol either 🙂 I will tweet this and go to each of the blogs linked up (hahah.. i do sound desperate don’t I) Thank you for your sweet sparkly ministry!