Finalist! ACFW Genesis … Success Nevertheless
Walking into the room ten minutes ahead of the mass was interesting in itself, but that wasn’t the most significant part of this whole experience. That started a week earlier and would culminate in an unexpected blessing approximately an hour and a half after the ACFW National Conference 2023 gala dinner started.
But let’s get back to walking in ahead of most of the others. Being one of the early birds signified something special. I was an American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) finalist. A step up from the ACFW semi-finalist I’d arrived as three days earlier.
“I need to see your certification,” the door keeper requested with a smile.
Having forgotten to have it in hand … I’d never had to do this before … I dug the little notice out of my purse. It simply read, “Finalist,” but I knew from an awards run-through earlier in the day, that meant I needed to be on hand ten minutes before the doors opened to the masses, go to the front, right side of the room, and get my seat. I don’t know how it was for the other contenders, but that bit of preferential treatment helped waylay some of the nerves attacking my stomach. I knew where to sit and when. But first, I had a mission. More on that in a moment.
I gained more that night that taking the top spot
The meal was delicious and the company—two of my writing besties, one on either side, making sure this writer, who can get caught up WAY too much in her feels sometimes, was comfortable—was enjoyable. A thought ran through my head more than once. “Who are you and what did you do with awkward-in-a-crowd Cathy?” But I was having fun. That weird deliberation only cropped up once in awhile. Thankfully, I was able to replace it (for the most part) with, “no matter WHAT happens, enjoy it all. Soak up everything. You are enough for Him. That is all that matters tonight. Win or not.” I almost wrote, win or lose here. But I didn’t lose. I gained more than night than taking the top spot would have likely taught me.
Stay Humble
Which brings me around to a week earlier. I was heading to the 2023 American Christian Fiction Writers yearly conference as a semi-finalist in the Genesis contest. If you know me, you understand that I don’t and can’t travel lightly. I have severe food allergies to multiple items. It’s hard to go where others are making my meals without knowing ahead of time what’s on the menu to work around. And I was flying this time, so I couldn’t bring many “extras” to swap in and out as I’d done before. The butterflies were in full force in my stomach already. After a less than fruitful phone call to procure a menu, prayer time was required. I needed divine assistance to calm down and get a handle on the next steps. Afterall, I still had a week to get through before the big days of the finalist announcement on Thursday and the winner on Saturday.
But when I sat in my office chair and closed my eyes the week prior, I had an overwhelming sense to “stay humble.” Huh? What in the world does that have to do with allergies, or getting ready for the conference for that matter?
Again. “Stay humble.”
“Do you mean if I win?” By definition, humble means to be meek and servile. How am I supposed to do that in an acceptance speech? “Okay, God. Then I need your help because I’m not exactly sure what you mean.”
Peace settled on my shoulders. I got the information I needed for the menu switches a few days later. Not to say that it was 100% smooth, but I didn’t end up in a meltdown like last year (I thank my unnamed waiter in 2022 for saving me a trip to Benadryl-land or worse), and the exchanged meals were nutritious and delicious this time. I didn’t feel like I was an inconvenience.
But how do you be humble about something like that? For me, I determined to acknowledge those who coordinated it, knowing I am only one of many to feed, and they don’t have to take my special needs into consideration, they just do, to the best of their abilities. Also, seeking out those that presented the food and thanking them for their conscientious serving and requesting that they thank the chef for me as well. Their smiles were worth that little bit of extra effort. I’m not one who’s naturally funny and can crack jokes to ease tension, but I tried to show small acts of respectfulness even through the minor meal hiccups. (I‘d like to go on record that I wasn’t 100% successful, but better than before.) Hopefully, this “humble,” helpful attitude made their jobs easier. I know trying to focus on them kept me from escalating into another (previously mentioned) melt-down.
Back to the Gala
Now, let’s back to the big event. I knew this was going to test my prayers of humbleness. If I won, how was I going to handle it? More importantly, if I lost, how would I react? I had my little speech ready, should my name be called. (I am nothing, if not prepared for most situations. You don’t run events for years without becoming that way—ADHD or not.)
As I walked into the room without anyone I knew, yet—remember, only finalists were allowed the early bird entrance—I had a strong sense to find the other finalist in my category. And I do mean strong. There were three of us named among Mystery/Suspense/Thriller. Only two of us were in attendance. Cindy Rieke was the other one there. I kept trying to brush it off, “she’s not going to care. Why would she want to meet me? I don’t even know who she is, Lord.”
Winning, nevertheless
I had a strong sense to find the other finalist(s) in my category, and I made a new, hopefully lifelong writing friend in less than ten minutes.
Photo, l-r: Cathy Rueter and Cindy Rieke, both finalists for the Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Category of the Genesis contest.
Still that sense to seek her out.
“Are you sure? What do I say?”
But my feet were already moving toward a lady I just knew was my “opponent.” I introduced myself and we had a quick, pleasant chat. We congratulated each other on the finalist win and wished the best to one another. I’d made a new, hopefully lifelong, writing friend in less than ten minutes.
Fast forward through that delicious meal, the words of encouragement I received by text from my family, and past the other categories until the M/S/T designation showed on the screen. That part was rather surreal. To see my name and face up on the display between two other candidates, for the first time ever … a thrill all in itself. But I digress.
And the Winner Is …
“And the winner is …”
Not me. Not the third candidate. Cindy’s name was called. And I …?
… was genuinely, wholeheartedly excited for her! If claps could be registered, mine was Richter-scale worthy.
Those writing friends flanking me throughout the evening, bolstering my sometimes-detrimental shyness? The one seated behind me leaned forward and tapped me on the shoulder, “You okay?”
“I’m fine. Truly.”
I continued to clap until Cindy stepped on stage to gather her award and give her speech. I quietly put away my own acceptance speech and enjoyed the rest of the proceedings.
Somehow, I expected remorse or dejection. Maybe even after I returned home from the event. But none came. Well, truth be told, there was a small twinge of regret that I couldn’t give my carefully constructed acceptance speech. I’d quoted a wonderful author and her beautiful, lyrical writing. I’d wanted everyone to know about her book and her words that struck me so deeply about the writing community. But that can be a post for another time, so no loss there.
I have a nifty certificate, beautiful silver pin, and a cool badge to display and add to my writing goodies. I’m good with that. For now.
From Semi-Finalist to Finalist
2023 American Christian Fiction Genesis Contest Finalist! I may not have won the top prize, but the event was a success nevertheless!
Weeks later and I’m still in those same feelings about that night. I get a small thrill to have been named in the top three of the 2023 ACFW Genesis contest for M/S/T. And I’m super grateful that God urged me to practice humbleness that week. I hope my words and actions to others helped their week at the conference to be as successful as mine was.
So, you may be asking, “if you’re so humble, why are you telling us all this? That’s not a very deferential attitude.” And you would be right if you only looked at the definitions of meek and servile.
Filled with honest joy for others
But being humble can also mean temperate, courteous, and respectful. It can mean being kind to others (especially when you don’t want to be). It can require showing the spirit of the Lord to those around you when you’d rather retreat into your shell and cuddle with your own little worries. Or being filled with honest joy for another (even if there is a pin-prick of “darn” for yourself behind it), knowing the loneliness that can sometimes fill this writing life. The doubt. And the long hours they’ve poured into their work. It might even be getting out of your own head and making a new friend.
Or it can mean sharing a God-directed moment of prayer and the unexpected, unprepared for lesson learned through a week’s worth of places and faces He showed up in. Sharing so others can be looking for those moments in their own life.
I may not have won the 2023 Genesis contest Mystery/Suspense/Thriller category top award, but I succeeded, nonetheless. No one can convince me otherwise. So … thanks for sharing in this bit of my accomplishment as a writer.
