If you're still teetering with whether or not to attend the upcoming ACFW Conference, hopefully some of this information will help you make the decision to go. (Note: I wrote a few previous blog posts about my experiences in ACFW. You may wish to read them, too: Salamanders, Goldfish and Frogs, Oh, My! and You Might Be in ACFW If...)
Here are my Top Ten reasons for attending the annual ACFW Conference:
10. The Travel. I love to travel. My favorite part is watching an empty airport luggage carousel spin with hopes that my bags will miraculously appear. Of course, I just completed a 4500+ mile vacation, so I've had my fill of it for a while, but traveling to ACFW Conferences fills me with anticipation, and since they are always centrally located in the country, many of us are able to drive.
9. The Food. Seriously. I know we've all eaten our share of dull conference food before, but did you know that the ACFW board meets with the hotel staff and actually taste-tests our menus? They do an excellent job of selecting our meals.
8. The Maid Service. Come on, I know you're thinking the same thing. Four days without having to make your own bed, wash dishes, or clean a toilet. It's paradise on earth.
7. The Chocolate. No, this shouldn't have been categorized under "food." Chocolate is its own entity. And if you're able to come to the ACFW Conference, you'll see more chocolate in one weekend than you'll likely see the rest of your life. That is, until the next conference rolls around. Oh, and some of the carb-cutters bring nuts, which are great, but nothing compares to chocolate. And Coke used to think IT was the real thing. Sheesh!
6. The Name Badges. There's nothing like slipping that lanyard around your neck, knowing it's official. You're now at an ACFW conference. And they're handy little buggers, too. You can stuff your business cards, meal tickets, conference schedules, and any other of life's necessities.
5. The Goodie Bags. You can always tell the quality of a conference by the contents of the goodie bag. And ACFW's conference bags are better than stuffed stockings at Christmastime. Books, pens, notepads, bookmarks, pins, those little hidden-razorblade envelope openers (note: hide yours from the suspense writers) --you name it. And while I'm on this subject, let's stop to say THANK YOU to all those who do this pre-conference prep.
4. The Bookstore. The ACFW conference bookstore is better than any Barnes & Noble I've ever been in! A special thanks goes to Jeanne & her volunteer staff as well as all the authors who have either lugged or shipped books in order to make this awesome selection possible.
3. The Fellowship. I don't want to have to stop typing to dab my eyes here, but nothing (not even chocolate) compares to the warm-fuzzy feeling I get while gathered with a group of like-minded people, sitting in a hotel ballroom, and hearing Brandilyn's voice state the familiar, "Good Morning, ACFW!" I can't wait!
2. The Training. If you've been in this group for even a day, you're familiar with the expertise we're blessed with. ACFW has continually offered top-notch workshops, keynoters, late night chats, critiquers, and the list goes on. But some of the best one-on-one training takes place while waiting -- waiting for a latte in the coffee shop, in the elevator, standing in line at the concierge's counter, and, yes, even the bathroom. (The guys miss out on this part, seeing that they never have to stand in bathroom lines.)
First place is a tie. No, this isn't just a clever device to get out of a jam because I suddenly discovered my top ten list actually consists of eleven items (although you're welcome to use this idea in the future if necessary)--these two items are tied. No way could I pick which is the best.
1. The Spiritual Uplift. I've attended many retreats in my life, and all have been a blessing, but the spiritual aspect of ACFW shines through at the worship services sprinkled throughout the weekend. And the prayer room. Talk about tingles.
1. The People. It's too early to get mushy, but ACFW is the best group of people on the planet. The children's song "Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold" sums it up well. The best part to me is the entire group's willingness to serve and help each other. In truth, we're competitors, yet all I've witnessed since joining this group is the Golden Rule of helping and loving one another, which ties in with the whole spiritual uplift thing, too.
Ta-da! There's my list. Now, what are YOUR favorite reasons for attending?
Please welcome today's guest blogger: Sally Bradley.
Well, the 
The American Christian Fiction Writers annual conference is just a few months away--September 20-23, in Dallas, Texas. I'm looking forward to this conference for a number of reasons--seeing old (not age-wise, of course) friends, meeting new friends, learning from the great workshop faculty, worshiping together, and just more reasons than can be named in one spot.
