View from the south

Nicci Jordan Hubert is an independent editor. A faculty member at Write! Canada for the first time in 2009, Nicci led a continuing class intensive on fiction editing for advanced writers. We asked Nicci her impressions of the Canadian writers she had met here. She said:

“The writers I’ve met are devoted. They’re completely devoted to their craft and they really want to write a good book. They’re extremely hard working, so it’s really been fun. I feel like I know them now, and I’ve enjoyed them so much. They have a real appreciation for fiction and are serious about their work. They just want to do a good job and write a good book, whatever that may be. So I’ve enjoyed helping them improve as writers.”

Don Pape is publisher, trade books at David C. Cook. A Canadian citizen who now lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Don joined the faculty of the 25th anniversary conference in order to visit authors and encourage Canadians because he says, “their message needs to get beyond the borders.” Commenting on what he sees as the greatest value of the conference, Don said:

“Community. First and foremost, I think one of the things that Christian writers face is often a sense of isolation, loneliness, even depression. You know, a feeling of, ‘I’m not worthy.’ So this conference creates a community where people realize, ‘I’m not the only one that pens a poem or writes a memoir or is writing a story. All the people in this room do that.’ That realization builds a sense of community and provides encouragement. Iron sharpens iron.
I think the conference also raises the bar and says, ‘this is a craft.’ And I believe very strongly that Christians, in every way, should hone their skill and excel at their craft.”

Les Stobbe is a Canadian literary agent, living in North Carolina, who has a special interest in helping Canadian writers. He was founding editor of The Mennonite Observer (now the MB Herald). He first came to the conference when it was still God Uses Ink. Asked how Write! Canada differs from similar conferences in the U.S., Les had this to say:

“The huge difference is that The Word Guild focuses not only on Christian authors, but it includes journalists who are Christian at a level that none of the U.S. conferences does. So I really appreciate the inclusion of Christians working in various news media in Canada. It’s a great, great thing. It adds a realism and a dynamic and know how.”