About « She Speaks

About

She Speaks Conference

History

Proverbs 31 Ministries is a non-denominational, nonprofit christian ministry that seeks to lead women into a personal relationship with christ.

With Proverbs 31:10-31 as a guide, Proverbs 31 Ministries reaches women in the middle of their busy days through free devotions, our First 5 mobile app, podcasts, speaking events, conferences, resources, Online Bible Studies, and training in the call to write, speak and lead others.

We are real women offering real-life solutions to those striving to maintain life’s balance, in spite of today’s hectic pace and cultural pull away from godly principles. Wherever a woman may be on her spiritual journey, Proverbs 31 Ministries exists to be a trusted friend who understands the challenges she faces and encourages her as she walks toward the heart of God.

She Speaks Conference

She Speaks was founded by Lysa TerKeurst, president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, founder of COMPEL Training, New York Times’ best-selling author and speaker who helps everyday women live an adventure of faith through following Jesus Christ.

She Speaks is an annual conference put on by Proverbs 31 Ministries that trains women to write, speak and lead. This two-day conference (along with the optional pre-conference day) from July 25-27, 2019, encourages and equips women as they learn specific, fresh techniques to enhance their ability to communicate God’s Word through writing, speaking or leadership skills. Women can attend workshops taught by industry professionals, network with 700 attendees, meet with publishers or agents to pitch a book idea and hear inspiring messages from keynote speakers.

WHY ATTEND?

Attending She Speaks Conference is beneficial because you will have increased options for an enhanced experience:

Choose from over 50 sessions (12 in pre-conference, 40 in main conference) to build a customized experience focused on your greatest area of need: writing, speaking or leading.
As an attendee, you have the option to meet with a publisher or agent to pitch your book idea. (Limited)
You’ll leave with a solid grasp of your chosen subjects, a new network of aspiring professionals just like you, and a wealth of ideas to continue building on once you return home.
Access to our on-site prayer room, with caring staff and volunteers to pray for and with you.

CAN’T ATTEND IN PERSON?

If you can’t make it to the Charlotte area for She Speaks, you can still experience a taste of the conference from wherever you are by purchasing a livestream package. Choose from watching only the main stage keynote sessions, or access the keynote sessions plus a handful of pre-selected workshops on writing, speaking and leading. Learn more about the livestream.

SCHEDULING YOUR PUBLISHER APPOINTMENTS

At She Speaks, we bring in agents and acquisition editors from major publishing houses to teach breakout sessions and to meet with attendees one-on-one. These individual appointments are limited and require some additional preparation. The purpose of meeting with a publisher or agent is to pitch a well-formulated book proposal. We ask that you please be fully prepared for these meetings.

Your publisher or agent appointment will last 15 minutes and will be scheduled throughout the day. We will not schedule them during main sessions or meals, but you might miss part of a workshop. Most of our workshops are recorded and available for purchase at the conference.

Preparing for Your Publisher Appointment Webinar Series

If you are a first-time attendee, we recommend signing up for our optional (and at an additional price) pre-conference training series led by Glynnis Whitwer and Karen Ehman. We offer thorough training on how to prepare for the conference, get ready for a publisher appointment and write a book proposal. Both Glynnis and Karen will stay on the webinar to answer your questions (although we can’t provide specific advice on your book idea).

If you can’t make the live webinar, we will send you a recording including the extensive Q&A. You can read more and purchase access to the calls through our bookstore.

Commonly Asked Questions

Which publishers are attending She Speaks?

She Speaks draws acquisition editors from the top Christian publishers and agents around. The list of confirmed publishers is below. We will add more as the conference approaches.

Can anyone meet with a publisher?

Yes, every conference attendee is able to set up an appointment until all the slots are filled on a first-come basis.

When do I get to pick my publisher meeting choices?

When all the available slots are filled, we will close the appointments. Shortly thereafter (usually in late May), we’ll send out an email with a complete list of publishing guests and the types of books they are accepting. That email will include instructions on how to make your choices.

How many appointments can I have?

If you get one of the available spots, we guarantee one appointment, but most people will have two. Some might even get three depending on the availability of each guest. We do our best to honor your choices.

Do I need a book proposal?

Yes, you should be prepared with a complete printed book proposal. Some publishers might ask you to email a copy after the conference, but some prefer to have one in hand. It’s good to be prepared in case they ask.

Will they also want a one-sheet?

A one-sheet is a single-page fact sheet for your book idea. It’s only one page, as the name implies, and includes compelling highlights about your book. Most publishers request a one-sheet, so we recommend you bring them.

How do I create a book proposal?

If this is your first time preparing a book proposal, we suggest you research what is included in a fiction and non-fiction proposal.

Do I need to create an individualized book proposal for each publisher appointment?

No. We recommend creating one standard proposal to hand out at your appointments and bring extra copies in case you have an opportunity to meet with other publishing guests.

Will I miss a meal or main session for my appointment?

No. We schedule all our publisher appointments during workshop times. So this means you will miss a portion of a workshop. We try and record all workshops, and make the recordings affordable. We hope the benefit of the publisher appointment is worth the small cost of the recording.

In His Service,

Glynnis Whitwer

Executive Director of Communications

PUBLISHERS AND AGENTS CURRENTLY ATTENDING

Bethany House

B&H Publishing

Blythe Daniel Agency

David C. Cook

Kregel

Leafwood

Moody Publishers

Revell

Seymour Agency

Thomas Nelson

Tyndale

Word Wise Media

Word Serve Literary

Worthy Publishing