Today’s guest post is by Cassandra Wessel, a writer of devotionals and poetry whose work has been published in the Presbyterian Church of Canada’s Daily Devotionals. She responded to my request for Christian writers to share their experience at their first writers’ conference.  Visit her Web site for more information.

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My alarm clock roused me, but a stuffy head and sore throat made me want to throw it across the room. Instead, I hit snooze for ten more minutes of sleep. When it sounded again, I rolled over and thudded to the floor. Moaning, I staggered to the shower where streams of scalding water revived me. After a breakfast of strong coffee, egg and toast, I packed a lunch and headed out.

I was bound for the St. David’s Writing Success XIX Conference in Stoneboro, PA, a two hour drive through dense fog. I arrived—late. I caught the tail-end of the keynote address, then went to the Beginners group. There I learned heaps about manuscript content, formatting and point of view in spite of a runny nose that rivaled the Allegheny River at flood stage.

I arrived at my second group to find a full room. Disappointed, I went back to the cafeteria where I met a writer and radio personality. She smiled at me and asked if I was okay. Sniffling, I said, “No. I’m sick.” She prayed, and I thanked her. This was followed by a lovely chat about our mutual passion for Christ, devotional writing, her radio ministry, breaking into the publishing industry, and driving long distances in the fog.

Next came lunch where I met more authors and researchers. They amazed me with their talent and tenacity in dealing with the publishing world. The number of successful silver heads around the tables encouraged this white-headed writer.

During this down time, I perused comments on my contest submissions. Another author came over, and we chatted about her critique of the first five chapters of my book – an informative and worthwhile exercise. I must totally re-do the book—again. Sigh.

After lunch, when my third choice for a workshop was full, I found a group of writers sitting around a table talking. We shared our stories and prayed for one another. Silently, I asked the Lord, “Is this really why I am here – to share with others and pray?”

The final workshop was on being a mentor. The presentation was crisp and chock-full of encouragement. The leader paired us off. Each got to read the other’s work and offer suggestions. You’ve heard of the blind leading the blind? Well, that was how my partner and I felt. To our surprise, at the awards, each of us won in our category.

As I departed, each one present wished others well, bade them a safe journey, and encouraged everyone to attend the St. David’s Conference in Grove City, PA, in June. Then I left through a pouring rain that rivaled the deluge from my nose.

The most wonderful thing had happened, though. I had gone there a solitary widow who wanted to write and came home part of a group of Christian writers.