By Edie Melson @EdieMelson
One of the fun things at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference is all the cool things scheduled in the evenings. There are lots of options, so be sure to read all the way through so you’re ready for the Blue Ridge night life!
Tuesday Evening, Storytellers Café
Our very own Karen Porter will emcee an evening filled with imagination, inspiration, and laughter as writers take the mic to tell their best five-minute stories. Whether you’re funny, heartfelt, fictional, or factual—every type of story is welcome(as long as it’s clean and culturally appropriate!).
Why Storytelling?
Because stories matter.
Jesus used stories to teach eternal truths—and we follow in His footsteps every time we share a meaningful, memorable tale.
Whether you want people to listen, learn, or turn the page—tell a story.
StorytellersCafé is a celebration of creativity, courage, and connection. It’s entertaining, emotional, and unforgettable.
What types of stories?
Any kind of story—true, fiction, happy, sad, etc.
How long do you have?
Everyone has only FOUR minutes. And YES, we will have a timekeeper.
Extra Benefit:
Karen is an international Speaking Coach and will be giving a private critique to help you with your personal speaking.
Additional Information
- Where? It’s held in the Jim Henry Auditorium on the Conference Level of Mountain Laurel. The evening will last 1 hour.
- How to Apply:Due to the HUGE response the past two year, this year we have had to move into an audition process. Make a short video (with your phone is fine) and send it to Karen Porter. BRStorytellersCafe@gmail.com
Want to Watch?
Not ready to take the mic? Come anyway!
Be part of the audience—clap, laugh, cry, and cheer on your fellow writers. The room will be filled with encouragement and community.
Preparing for the Conference: Special Evening Events—Story Tellers Café, Genre Night and Awards Night by @EdieMelson on @BRMCWC #Writingconference #Writing #BRMCWC Share on X
Wednesday Evening, Genre Night
Genre Night is a favorite tradition at the Blue Ridge. Once again, we are inviting everyone who attends the conference to dress in a creative costume on Wednesday night. This is optional, but we encourage you to participate. Even the faculty joins in. We conclude the evening with photo-taking and a book signing.
What kind of costume should you have? The options are limited only by your imagination, but the categories include:
- The genre you write.
- The genre you love.
- Some clever spin on being a writer or the writing life.
For those that know me, it will come as no surprise that in years past I’ve had a Steampunk costume. I’ve also dressed up as a writing fairy, a circus ringmaster, and movie director. I packed up my hatbox with my favorite top hat, along with plenty of velvet and lace. My costume this year hasn’t yet been decided—but I have some fun ideas!
For those who write spec or historical, this is pretty easy to figure out. For those who write in a contemporary genre, it might mean dressing up as a cowboy, or DJ, or even a rock star. For others, puns are also a favorite—can anyone imagine a ghost writer? The only limit is your imagination.
And the most important part is to have fun. I’m frequently asked if people really participate in this event and the answer is a resounding YES. Every year we have between one-third to one-half of the attendees and faculty participate.
Here’s how Wednesday evening’s schedule will play out:
Wear your costume to supper Wednesday evening, then proceed to Spilman for the evening group session. After the keynote, we’ll invite everyone to take part in a costume procession across the stage. This gives all of us a chance to see the costumes. Finally, we’ll have time to visit and take pictures during the faculty book signing, which will also take place in Spilman.
This isn’t time to be shy. Begin now thinking about how best to illustrate the genre you love by taking part in our annual, Blue Ridge Genre Night.
Thursday Evening Awards Night & Dessert Reception
One of the highlights for the Blue Ridge conference is awards night. We have two contests affiliated with the conference:
- The Selah Awards: This is for books published in 2025
- The Foundation Awards: This is for unpublished writers who are attending the conference
The Selah awards have finalists who have already been announced here: 2026 Selah Award Finalists. The Foundation Awards do not have finalists.
Winners from both contests will be announced on Thursday evening of the conference. Following the contest will be the dessert buffet in the atrium of Spilman.
What to Wear Thursday Night
You will see everything from floor-length formals to cocktail dresses, to blue jeans. We want you to be comfortable and enjoy the celebration so there is no dress code.
Where to Sit on Thursday Night
We ask EVERYONE who entered (Foundation Awards) and who finaled (Selah Awards) to sit close to the front and on an aisle. The auditorium is big and there is a lot of awkward waiting if your name is called and you have to squeeze out of the middle of a row.
Will the Event Will be Live-Streamed
Those stuck at home will be able to follow along live—but it will be a chat stream instead of video. We will post the live link closer to the event.
Bottom Line
All these evening events are created to add to the fun and excitement of the conference. None of them is mandatory. Our goal is to provide an atmosphere of comradery and connection with those in the publishing world.
Click here to watch a fun video about all of our exciting events at BRMCWC!
Read the other Mentoring Moments posts here:
WEEK 1: Make The Most Of A Writing Conference
Week 2: Preparing Spiritually for a Writers’ Conference
WEEK 3: Six Tips to Prepare for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference
WEEK 4: Paid Mentoring – Preparing the Writer for The Blue Ridge Conference
WEEK 5: Paid Faculty Critiques at BRMCWC
WEEK 7: Preparing For The Conference: The Elevator Pitch
Week 8: Preparing For The Conference: The One Sheet
WEEK 9: Preparing For The Conference: The Fifteen Minute Appointment
WEEK 10: Preparing For The Conference: The Proposal
Edie uses the truths God has taught her as an author, photographer, and blogger to encourage others. She’s learned to embrace the ultimate contradiction of being an organized creative. As a sought-after speaker, she’s empowered and challenged audiences across the country and around the world. Her numerous books reflect her passion to help others call on God’s strength during challenging times, often using creativity to empower this connection. Edie is also the executive director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and board member of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.
She and husband Kirk have been married 44+ years with three grown sons and four grandchildren. They live in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and can often be found with their big black dog hiking the mountains. Connect with her at www.EdieMelson.com and through social media.
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