By Michelle S. Lazurek
It all started with a door.
In 2010, with the help of a wonderful writing mentor and friend, I opened the door to a hotel where my first writers’ conference was being held as a brand- new writer, knowing nothing about the writing process. Working on my first book, it was a step of obedience to what I felt God was asking me to do.
When I walked through that door at that first writer’s conference, I was a deer in headlights.
Just nine years later, in July 2019, I walked though that same door again, only this time it was to pay forward what I learned and gained from that first conference to every other woman who opened that door for the first time just like me. I received the opportunity to teach at that same conference I attended as a new author just nine years prior.
The first time I walked through the door, I hadn’t written a single thing. Not one book. Not one blog post. Not one article. Nothing.
Nine years later, I had earned four traditional book contracts, published twelve books, written hundreds of articles, some for some of the biggest websites in the United States.
To be there in that role was humbling to say the least and surreal to say the most.
To every writer out there, conferences—as well as training in general—do help. Whether a conference points you in the right direction in writing or if you land that coveted book deal, it is important to hone your skills in whatever way you can.
Take that course. Watch that video. Receive your training from anyone and everyone you can. It all matters, and in the end, you never know when the information you receive will be the catalyst to achieving the results you desire in your writing career.
What door might you need to open to get you started in achieving your dream of being a published author? How can we at Bright communications assist you in that process?
About the author: Michelle S. Lazurek is a multi-genre award winning author, speaker, pastor’s wife and mother. She is a regular contributor for ibelieve.com and crosswalk.com and is a movie reviewer for Movieguide Magazine. She also is a literary agent for Wordwise Media Services. When not working, she enjoys sipping a Starbucks latte, collecting 80s memorabilia and spending time with her family and her crazy dog, Cookie. For more info, please visit her website www.michellelazurek.com.
