I spent last week under the redwood trees, surrounded by writers. Mount Hermon, which is just outside San Jose, is one of the most peaceful and beautiful places I’ve ever been, and each time I come back, I feel like I’ve entered a place of supernatural wonder. It’s absolutely gorgeous.

This was the 50th anniversary of the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference (Fifty years!), and to celebrate, they had a different keynote for each night. I learned so much during the week and really grew as a person. It was quite amazing. Yes, I was there to teach, and I did teach. But the meetings I had were dear to me. And the authors, editors, and agents at this year’s conference were so filled with wisdom and experience, I had to bring some back to share with all of you. Here are some highlights, in no particular order. Keep in mind, I’m paraphrasing. Each keynote was deep and inspiring.

Bill Myers: Just say yes. Be flexible and try new things. You never know where those yeses might lead you.

Jill: I felt so convicted by his talk. I did say “Yes” to going back to school and teaching, and it’s scary! So it was nice to feel a little confirmation in all this. Bill never said that saying “Yes” wouldn’t be scary.

Brandilyn Collins: You can’t control what happens to your career. Chasing a dream of becoming famous will never fulfill you. You will always want more. So write the best books you can, find joy in writing, and be thankful for every little blessing.

Jill: When I was about eleven years old, I remember sitting out in my front yard, looking up into the sky and thinking that I wanted to be famous someday. I didn’t particularly care how. I could write movies, books, be a rock star, an actress, or a fashion designer. The point was to me then, I could be anything I set my mind to. Dream BIG! And I did. The problem was my motivation from this “dream” came from a broken place in my heart. I wanted to be seen in my family and know that I was loved and that I mattered. This dream of fame was born out of that lack. I felt like it was something I could control and make happen if I worked hard enough. Guys, I have been working SO HARD for the last fourteen years. And Brandilyn’s keynote hit me square in the face. I need to let go of that “dream” of being famous and trust more. I need to write the best books I can and have fun doing it. That’s what really matters. I SO NEEDED to hear that.

Kay Marshall Strong: It’s just a house. She told the story of how her house burned down while she and her family were on vacation in London and she met a woman who said she knew how she felt. This woman told her that the Gestapo had burned down her house and arrested her entire family. The woman came back to that burned out house years later but the rest of her family never did. Kay realized that she might have lost their house, but she was thankful to have her family with her, safe and healthy.

Jill: When we got word one morning at the conference about the fire at the Notre Dame cathedral, our lone French conferee had something to add to the news report: “It’s like Miss Kay said. It is just a house.” So sad, but so true! I was heartbroken to see something so ancient and lovely burn, but I’m so thankful that no lives were lost. People matter most.

Phil Calloway: “If the world didn’t suck, we’d fall off!”

Jill: Phil is a comedian, and I laughed through his entire keynote. (And then I bought the conference CD of his keynote so I could laugh again.) But what he wanted us to remember is that it’s tough out there in this world, but tough times make us stronger. Just like the wind causes the roots of a tree to dig deeper, so life’s troubles help us build a firmer foundation to stand on. Phil urged us to be thankful in all circumstances and to write like there is pain in every reader (because there is), and to use the pain we’ve suffered to connect with our characters, who will then connect with our readers.

So much good stuff, I’m still processing.

Anyone go to a writers’ conference lately? What did you learn? Share in the comments!

Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms, and the author of several young adult fantasy novels including the Blood of Kings trilogy. She loves teaching about writing. She blogs at goteenwriters.com and also posts writing videos on her YouTube channel and on Instagram. Jill is a Whovian, a Photoshop addict, and a recovering fashion design assistant. She grew up in Alaska without running water or electricity and now lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two kids. Find Jill online at jillwilliamson.com or on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.