WRITERS ARE A BIT OFF

Authors need to learn and network, just like anyone else. Enter the writer's conference. They're a little off.

I've been to a metric ton of engineering and banking conferences. Everyone walks around with their eyes on their shoes. Writers do the same thing. By and large, we're introverts. Don't talk to me. For goodness sake, don't actually try to shake my hand. Keep five arm-length's distance at all times. Unless you're buying a book. That's different. Maybe it's not so shocking that I'm an engineer and a writer after all.

But writer's conferences are different. Yeah, introversion and wallflowers. Stare at your shoes. Expenditure of emotional energy as if it were diesel in a long-haul 18-wheeler pulling a space shuttle. But also, as writers we were head-to-toe in costume. Laughter echoed off the walls from everywhere. One girl brayed like a horse, making the rest of us pause, listen, and then laugh even more. One girl had elf ears. A dude wore steel armor. At least, I think he was a dude. Another had a real-life ATF-defying sword. I counted fifteen ray guns. Gym time? Moot. We spent all day carrying around fifty pounds of dead trees that smelled like a relaxing rainy day in front of the fire.

Classes. Panels (I ran one myself.) Keynote speakers. An expo with a hundred vendors, all selling books or products to help writers.

So. Much. Food.

Realm Makers Conference primarily serves Christian writers involved in speculative fiction: sci-fi and fantasy. It's a niche market, and they're here to help. This year, hundreds of us met at Union Station Hotel in St. Louis. What a great time! If you write in these genres, this is your tribe.

Not a writer? Avid readers will enjoy the associated Realm Makers Expo.

How did we stand up books and add multiple levels? We bought clear acrylic boxes and stands. Basically invisible on the table (keeping people's eyes on the books), inexpensive, and lightweight to take on a plane.

Want to read some of Christian Sci-Fi or Fantasy? Try these bestsellers. Christian Fantasy bestsellers. Christian Sci-Fi bestsellers. If you specifically want my books, visit www.trippberry.com. That'll get you there.

I loved my time at Realm Makers. Can't wait for next year!