By Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted

As a conference director, I receive a lot of requests to serve as faculty at our conference. Selecting teachers is always a tough job, one I dread passionately. Throughout the year, I meet hundreds of writers who have fabulous “presence” but don’t have an excellent command of the craft. I look at a career in writing as rungs on a ladder. We begin at the bottom and learn to write. Hopefully, we will gain experience and knowledge, which will move us up a notch. Then we’re asked to teach. Mentor. Guide. The gamut of requests is huge, and as much as I’d love to have everyone teach, there is more to teaching than charisma. It’s time we address what conference directors look for when extending teaching invitations.

Command of the craft

Like any teaching situation, faculty members must have a command of the writing craft. It’s important to remember we are charged to train new writers and refine seasoned ones, so having faculty who are well-versed in the knowledge of the craft is vital. The worst advice I’ve received as a writer came from a conference where the director didn’t do their homework. A faculty member told me that telling a publisher they were losing out because they rejected my work was a “key” tactic in becoming published. (Palm slap to the forehead.) No, no, no. First, writing is a skill, not a military action. Secondly, there are no “tactics,” only skill and ability. If you want to burn a bridge (which could be considered a necessary military skill at some point), then try threatening a publisher or editor with that “tactic” and see how far it gets you.

Choosing faculty who have a command of writing and the industry requires doing some homework. Directors must be sure those they choose to serve, offer good teaching and accurate knowledge. If you are new to writing, chances are, you  won’t be invited to be faculty – not right out of the gate. Spend time honing the craft so your writing smoothes on the page like butter on bread. Gain experience.

Published authors are better teachers

That would be nice to say, but it’s not always true. In today’s world, authors can publish themselves at a whim. I’ve had a few faculty members who haven’t published books but have proven their skills by writing many articles and amazingly well-crafted blog posts. They understand the process of publishing in both self-publishing and traditional publishing. They can discern well and teach good and unique angles. Many editors (and some agents) aren’t published book authors, but their knowledge is extensive in publishing. Their gift and love lie within the mechanics of writing and in the business end of publishing. They are avid readers and understand a plot, character development, and the Chicago Manual of Style. They understand the ins and outs of the industry. Everyone does not have to be a published author, but they need to understand the industry and, again, have a command of the craft.

Writers and speakers and vice versa

You’ve heard it said if you’re going to be a writer, you need to learn to be a speaker, and if you’re going to be a speaker, you need to master being a writer. It’s true. The two go hand in hand. Writers will eventually be asked to teach, and speakers will need to write, so this is not something you can avoid. Being a faculty member means speaking to a group, offering thoughts in good order, and leading and teaching the craft. Being a speaker only broadens your platform and helps you hone a new skill. I’ve set through conference classes where the faculty member was so dull and dry that I longed for a pillow. Speaking is a skill, just as writing is a skill. To teach and connect, you have to know how. Learn to speak. Become a presenter. You can’t, in good conscience, lead a conference class for folks who have paid big dollars to attend if you cannot present in an engaging and knowledgeable fashion. Conferees have come to you in good faith, hoping to learn tricks of the trade and valuable information to help them grow their writing careers. You have a responsibility as a faculty member.

Faculty members need to be welcoming

You must be prepared to welcome folks into your presence, love them where they are, and share your knowledge. People are people. I once heard it said that we could love everybody if they weren’t people. As faculty members, folks will demand your time and, sometimes, very loudly. Learning patience and, more so, being willing to stop and talk at any time is important. I am an introvert, but I change into my extrovert hat from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. (sometimes later) because, as a faculty member, conferees need to draw from me, and I need to be available. If you aren’t willing to do that, then being a faculty member is not for you. I’ve likened these times to my days as an office manager for a caregiving company. Sometimes we repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat ourselves. You will be a successful faculty member when you can stop, listen, and repeat easily. Conferees are learning. Our job is to love them as we teach them. I look for faculty members who have “the right heart.” Those who are willing to spend additional time with conferees. Those who want to guide and direct, even if they’ve just said the same thing multiple times. Faculty members who are welcoming and warm put the conferees at ease, offer hope, and share stories about their bloody knees, so conferees feel “normal” and see the process.

Understand conference directors must choose those who draw

Unfortunately, running a conference requires the numbers game. In order to have faculty, you must have conferees, which requires choosing faculty who draw attendees. You’ve been a conferee. You know this to be true. You want to attend a conference that is bringing you folks with a name – with known success and experience. You get this. And this is what makes it hard for a conference director to choose faculty. To offer the teaching, present a well-rounded group of faculty, and pay the bills, directors must bring in faculty with deep experience. It doesn’t mean that faculty members with lesser experience won’t be chosen, but the slots are fewer.

Finally, be a part of a critique group. A good critique group allows new folks to learn from the more experienced. The more experienced can learn from the well-published, and the well-published learn to teach and mentor. Be a part of a solid critique group.

You’ve heard these words a thousand times. Build your platform. Learn the craft. Write, write, write. Are you starting to see one of the many reasons why? To be considered as faculty, a writer has to become proficient in their skill. They need tried and true experience. This is what makes your conference experience fun, enjoyable, and, yes, successful.

If being faculty is your goal, then work toward it. Write articles, practice your skill, write, learn, and hone your craft so that you can become a valued and dependable faculty member. Aim for the next rung on the writing ladder.

Cindy K. Sproles is an author, speaker, and conference teacher. Having served for a number of years as a managing editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and Ironstream Media, Cindy now works as a mentor, coach, and freelance editor. She is the co-founder of Writing Right Author Mentoring Services with Lori Marett and the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Cindy is also the co-founder of Christian Devotions Ministries and www.christiandevotions.us, as well as www.inspireafire.com. Her devotions are in newspapers and magazines nationwide, and her novels have become award-winning, best-selling works. She is a popular speaker at conferences and a natural encourager. Cindy is a mountain girl, born and raised in the Appalachian mountains, where she and her husband still reside. She has raised four sons and now resorts to raising chickens where the pecking order is easier to manage. You can visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com or www.wramsforwriters.com.