In Regard to ACFW, I actually attended the Dallas conference a few years ago but I did not have the warmest of experiences.
After recently reading over all of the tips and pit falls for new attendees at a writer’s conference, authored currently by a friend of mine – who also happens to be a member of the board of ACFW – I concluded that “Yep- I’d experienced ‘all’ of those things at the ACFW Dallas conference (ironically, some of them I experienced at the hand of that particular friend, who at the time had not yet become my friend.
At the ACFW conference (and in keeping with my friend’s recommendations), I looked right, smelled right, was kind, giving, prayerful, etc. and for those conscientious efforts I
Image courtesy of St. David's Christian Writer's Conference
was even approached by an Agent who asked me after our luncheon conversation to send her chapters and a synopsis of my manuscript (others at the table dropped their jaws nearly to the floor!). This agent continued to treat me amicably throughout the remainder of the conference- even seeking me out on more than one occasion. But 4 months later, and after several unsuccessful phone calls to her office, her secretary finally confided in me that her boss had never even opened my packet.
Another agent, whom for my $1000.00 dollars was made exclusively available to me for 15 minutes, told me that, “while she liked my work, she could never sell it because it exceeded 95,000.” My naïve reply to her was, “Well, given that criteria, War and Pease would never have been published. Neither would Moby Dick, nor Ulysses, etc; and while I’m not saying that my work is anywhere near that caliber, I think you get my meaning.” She then pretty much dismissed me, prematurely, so that she could finish her cookie before being bombarded with the next hopeful in the long line behind me. “Next!”
I’ve come to the conclusion (and I hope that this does not offend) that the ACFW is pretty much an ‘all girls’ club and a De facto factory recruiting station for formula romance fiction. When I was in Dallas the female to male ratio was about 500 females to 10 males or less than 1% male attendance (and I’m pretty sure that many of those were merely supporting husbands accompanying their hopeful wives). This suspicion was somewhat affirmed in an allusion made by my friend (that writer of ‘tips’ mentioned earlier) who is incidentally, a member of the ACFW committee when she wrote to me recently to say: “Yeah, but more guys have been showing up over the years.” However, a quick look at the Current ACFW Board Members page reveals (you guessed it) 13 females and one token male (sorry Randy). That reflects that same ‘less than’ one percent male representation.
So why do I even care? You may be asking ‘what’s wrong with females dominating the Christian Romance Novel genre and even having their own nearly exclusive club in support of one another? Here’s the Reason: On the ‘Who We Are’ page at ACFW’s website it says the following:
“In January 2000, six authors with a vision … came together and formed American Christian Romance Writers (ACRW). (Note: In September of 2004, the name was changed to American Christian Fiction Writers to better reflect its members’ scope of writing.) They intended to develop an organization that served writers of Christian romance and women’s fiction.”
So there you have it: If I’d known that I was spending a Thousand Bucks to attend “an organization that served writers of Christian romance and women’s fiction,” I never would have pony’d up the cash. I am a man and my Novel (in Manuscript), A Chain of Flames, is not ‘chick-lit.’ Now granted there are several sub plots that deal with romance and women’s issues but it is also an adventure novel. So plainly speaking: I feel that I was duped by the ACRW’s acronymic change that seems to have been designed to do nothing more than broaden their conference attendance base. And that’s just not fair- because it was at mine (and other’s) expense. Not to mention the anguish and hopelessness that I felt in thinking for several years (before I recently figured this out), ‘Maybe my book is just no good – I mean, if a big organization like American Christian Fiction Writer’s (no mention of Romance Genre or ‘Women’s Fiction’) doesn’t give it a second thought then maybe I should just face the facts.” Everyone in the writing profession knows that when you stop believing in your work, you might as well toss it into it’s grave.
So let me pose a question: Is anyone aware of any Christian agents, publishers, conferences etc. that are not so predisposed to stamping out quick-little-money-maker-fluff-books, and who might be open to work of ‘Christian’ fiction that was written in hopes of measuring up to the art of writing and not merely with the profit-factory criteria in view as its end result? Granted, a publisher must keep the bottom line in view throughout the process but can there really no longer be a balance between the art and the mechanism?
And to ACFW/ACRW I’d like to say this. I forgive you for leading me to believe that I might not have ‘the stuff’ and thereby causing me to abandon my efforts for a couple of years. And just to let you know: ‘I Rise Again;’ to submit obligingly to the scrutiny of the wholeness of the industry and not merely to some ambiguous subset. I will stand or fall based on the quality of my work, and not by my inability, or unwillingness, to submit to a mold or ‘join the stable.’
Be Blessed in Jesus name,
Main image on ACFW.com Home Page
Anton
FOLLOW-UP to this blog: After having a discussion with my new friend, noted author, Nancy Moser, I’ve concluded (based on her assessment) that I may have been a bit harsh in seeming to categorize all ACFW Member Writer’s as being mere drones of some ‘Formula Fiction Machine.’ I’m sure that that there are many talented and truly inspired masters of the craft who have gone through, or continue to remain within, The ACFW. I apologize to any whom I might have offended.
Your servant,
Anton Cleav