Sarah Sumpolec is co-director of the Gideon Media Festival for teens, a hands-on conference that connects teens with some of the biggest names in the Christian world of arts, media, and authors. We shared the news of the festival last week, but wanted to know more. We invited Sarah Sumpolec to join RTF.

Suzie Eller: Before we talk about the festival, I’d love to hear about you. Tell us a little bit about your writing.

Sarah Sumpolec: My Becoming Beka series came out a few years ago but I am so blessed that new girls are still discovering the stories. I get letters begging me to continue the series, but to be honest, there are several other stories that I’ve been working on.

I wrote a new YA this year (that I adore!) and am pondering which project God wants me to tackle next. I know He will give me direction:-) I’ve also been doing a lot of screenplay work and next year will be co-writing at least one major script. I’m excited about the project because it is something God has given me great passion for.

SE: You started young as a writer. What advice do you have for teens who have a desire to write novels, screenplays, make films, etc?

SS: I love working with young writers but I have three pieces of advice – and really, this applies to anyone who really wants to write. One, read a lot, but read widely. Writers should read a variety of different genres and read books by bestselling authors as well as new authors. See what works. See what doesn’t.

Two, write a lot, but write different kinds of stuff. Writing is like dating – you don’t want to get yourself tied to a particular genre too early. Explore the options out there. Try your hand at different styles and genres till you find your true voice.

And three, never stop growing and learning. I see too many new writers who think they’ve arrived already. No one has arrived – in fact, there is no final destination point when it comes to writing. We always have to be willing to move forward and hear criticism and get better.

SE: Who can apply for the Gideon Media Festival?

SS: Anyone who is interested in the Media Arts is welcome to attend Gideon – but the Intern program is specifically for teens aged 16-18 with a passion for film, acting, music or any kind of media arts. We even have a graphic novelist coming this year, along with producers and authors from around the country.

SE: What can interns expect once they arrive?

SS: Vonda Skelton and I run the intern program and together we shepherd our interns throughout the week. We meet with them early to prepare them for the schedule. We oversee a week-long project that they present at the end of the week, and we help them map out their plans to get the most out of the conference. In addition, the Interns have special access to the faculty since we get to have nearly every meal with one of the faculty members. This is a special time to hear from the faculty as well as ask specific questions. In the past, faculty have even been willing to review work from the interns and offer feedback. That kind of access is amazing.

SE: Is it expensive?

SS: It’s average for a five-day conference. The things students will need to consider when figuring up the expenses: The travel and from the conference (will vary depending on where you are), the conference tuition ($315), Meal Pass ($115), and Lodging (varies depending on how many are in your room) – we pair you up with other interns so it reduces expenses for everyone.

SE: Can you share one experience of a teen from this last year’s festival?

SS: Last year we had one intern who was invited to “shadow” a faculty member and received a ton of individual input. Every one of our interns had their work reviewed by professionals and I’ll never forget the lunchtime where a Hollywood producer sat around after lunch watching and giving feedback on the short films our students brought with them.

They were an amazing group of kids and I can’t see who God brings around next year:-)

Thank you Suzie, for spreading the word about it! For more information, teens can check out the website.