Fifteen years ago, an upstart author, filmmaker, and industry executive named Clay Stafford decided to start a writing conference. Over the years, that conference has become one of the world’s premier conferences for writers.
Success breeds a desire to help others
“Part of the reason I launched a writers’ conference was because I had experienced success,” Clay said. “I worked hard for my achievements, but so many other authors also work hard and don’t get as lucky. I wanted to give back to the writing community, to pay it forward. For me, it has never been about money or accolades. It’s been about supporting my fellow authors and creating an environment that nurtures success through true education.”
The authors that Clay has helped have developed a deep appreciation for his efforts. Maggie Toussaint once called him the ‘patron saint of writers.’ These days, she describes the conference as “a stepping stone for many unpublished writers because of the agents and editors the conference attracts. Clay created two contests to help writers with resume building and name recognition. He’s been a positive force for all the years of Killer Nashville.”
The reason Clay works so hard to help others is he believes that we’re all in this together. “The publishing business is harder than it ever has been before. Books are being published at a frequency never before seen in human history. It’s difficult for any one author, particularly those just starting out, to make a splash. That’s why the mission of Killer Nashville is not only to educate authors and aspiring authors but also to create a community of writers who support and champion each other.”
Killer Nashville – a labor of love
“It’s no secret that writers’ conferences are big endeavors. They take a lot of time, effort, money, and hard work to produce. Each year, I sink my heart and soul into producing a better conference than the year before. Often this means forsaking my own projects, such as my writing, sacrificing time with loved ones, sleepless nights—and, of course, there’s a financial obligation. Regarding presenters, most of our speakers don’t get paid a dime (and don’t expect it). They sign up to share their advice and expertise simply because they are part of this community we’ve created and they, too, want to give back to authors. Many of our attendees have even sponsored scholarships to cover complete strangers’ tuitions because they believe in the mission of Killer Nashville so much.”
Clay believes strongly in Killer Nashville. He takes no salary and donates a large portion of money every year with the goal of keeping prices low and the quality high. When asked why he would do this, he said, “This is not a profitable business and there are many parties (staff, the hotel, contractors, etc.) that must be paid. We’ve tried to make Killer Nashville as self-sustaining as possible without passing that cost along to our attendees, but it’s difficult, especially in this past year of COVID. Without our sponsors, advertisers, and those who donate their hard-earned money to our conference, the event wouldn’t be possible.”
As with other conferences, the event also depends on volunteers. Clay said it takes dozens of people to produce Killer Nashville, particularly on the day of the event. “We rely heavily on our volunteers to keep the show running, and we couldn’t do it without them. We’re always looking for more volunteers because many perform multiple functions. The bulk of the day-to-day work relies on just four people: myself, my wife, Jacqueline Stafford, who is our CFO, Office Manager Joseph Borden, and Special Projects Coordinator Liz Gatterer.”
The fun parts of the conference
Clay said he loves reuniting with longtime attendees and meeting fresh faces. “I especially love those moments when someone comes up to me, smiling, telling me they just had the most interesting conversation or attended the most inspiring panel. I love seeing connections made.”
A large part of the joy Clay gets from hosting Killer Nashville comes from helping others succeed. “At a certain point in life, you come to realize that it’s not all about you. We’re all just miniscule bits of a much larger picture and, to me, one of the most rewarding things you can do is recognize that and actively participate in helping to shape that big picture. I’m overjoyed to see friends and acquaintances find success, and it feels really special to be part of that.
“Seeing someone go from nascent career confusion to a movie deal, watching that trajectory, and knowing as I go to sleep at night that I made a difference, that what I did might have played a role in that, is really what’s important to me. In the end, it’s not a matter of how many books you sell, how many people see your films, or how much money you make. For me, it’s what good you can give back. Killer Nashville is how I do that to a community that I love.”
A passion for diversity
Killer Nashville has existed for fifteen years. During that time, the publishing world has changed, learning to adopt terms such as e-books, indie, and diversity. Clay believes that Killer Nashville began stressing the importance of diversity before other conferences, publishers, and writers’ organizations were ready to deal with it.
“I have spent a lifetime railing against the ‘isms’ that plague our world. I believe everyone has a story and that sharing those tales makes life worth living. We understand ourselves only by understanding others. I want to understand the experiences of other people. I want to champion those experiences. We also strive to make our conference accessible to people from all walks of life. We strive to keep costs low—even changing host hotels a few years ago to better provide savings to our attendees. We also provide scholarships so authors who are struggling financially can still attend and learn. It is important to me that every voice be heard. It’s been my passion for a lifetime.”
Covid-19 brings more change
When Covid-19 hit in early 2020, conference hosts faced a dilemma. Should they put on their conferences virtually, or delay until they could safely host an in-person event? In Killer Nashville’s case, most of the attendees said they would rather see a delay than go virtual. Clay believes the attendees felt the way they did because of the event’s networking opportunities.
“I geared Killer Nashville toward more than just listening to people speak and providing opportunities to see your favorite authors read from their works. I’m sure a virtual event would work fine. But that’s not the purpose of Killer Nashville. Our conference fosters connections and creates a community. In my opinion, that can only be done in-person.”
This year’s event will look different because Killer Nashville will comply with all city, county, state, and federal rules regarding Covid-19. “We’ll also be practicing common sense. Part of it, too, is up to each attendee. I’ve been vaccinated and I’m still wearing a mask. We cannot compromise on safety. By the time Killer Nashville comes, everyone should have had the opportunity to have been vaccinated. The hotel has their protocols in place for protecting others in terms of spacing and food service. We’ve got a multitiered and excellent plan of action. It’s going to be so good to see everyone again this year.”
Advice for writers
Killer Nashville is only a few months away and Clay is looking forward to the event and the effect it could have on the attendees. His biggest hope is that everyone who attends will leave feeling excited and inspired to write and grow as authors. Whether or not an author attends the conference, Clay has one last piece of advice. “Close the door and write.”
Learn more about Clay Stafford and Killer Nashville at www.KillerNashville.com and www.ClayStafford.com. Did you like this interview? Check out my behind the story interviews with your favorite authors.
Great interview, Terry and Clay!