Workshop Descriptions
Candy Arrington
“Tackling Tough Topics”
Suicide, divorce, infertility, caregiving, terminal or chronic illness, and abuse – life often involves difficult circumstances. The challenge is to write about painful experiences in a way that ministers to others rather than promotes a pity party. Learn to deal with tough topics in a manner that provides hope, healing, and encouragement, while catching an editor’s eye. Determine which publishers to target for niche topics and how best to structure your proposal and manuscript.
“Query Letter Boot Camp”
Ah, the all important query letter. Even seasoned writers sometimes dread this necessary step in the publishing process. What is a query letter? When do you need one? What’s the best method for writing a query? How are e-queries different? In this workshop, learn query letter basics and SOUND OFF with an attention-grabbing query letter.
Terry Blackstock
“Mystery”
“Suspense”
Terry Burns
“Using Fiction to Spread God’s Word – 21st Century Parables”
Are you one of those people who don’t read Christian fiction because it’s . . . well . . . fiction? Jesus used fiction to make some of his most important points because people could easily relate to his stories; they’re called parables. Use fiction in order to spread God’s Word. Learn the difference between writing for the Christian market and write in hopes of reaching unbelievers.
Carol Cool
“Analyze This: Breaking a Magazine’s Secret Code”
If you understand what makes a magazine different from its competitors, you can more easily craft a query an editor will respond to. How can you analyze a magazine without spending hours reading back issues at the library? This hands-on workshop will include a magazine evaluation sheet and an opportunity to evaluate one magazine in class, so you’ll know how to analyze any magazine and increase your article sales.
“Making It Flow: Organizing Your Piece for Effectiveness”
It all sounds great in your head, but once you try to put your piece on paper, that’s another story-and not a pretty one. When writing nonfiction, how do you organize the information you wish to communicate so that it all hangs together and your readers get the point while enjoying themselves? We’ll talk through the basics of the process, give you some skeletons to hang your work on and help you craft pieces that sell and minister to your readers.
“Self-Editing for the Grammatically Challenged”
So you flunked fifth-grade grammar. Get over it! Editors don’t have time to rewrite your work. Learn editing techniques from a professional copy editor who had no formal grammar training. No talk of subordinate clauses and dangling participles, just solid advice and easy-to-remember tips. You’ll also learn secrets for professional proofreading and receive resource recommendations.
Edna Ellison
“Poetry Plus: Using Poetry in Fresh New Ways”
Got poetry gathering dust on your notebook shelf? Think no one will buy poetry you yearn to write? This hands-on workshop will help you find innovative ways to publish your poetry. Learn how to spice up your non-fiction manuscripts with poetry that brings your passion to the forefront. Explore markets in greeting cards, online sites, local spots, and your own prose writing projects with established publishing companies.
Jesse Florea
“Do’s and Don’ts of Writing for Children”
Kids crave fun, energetic, playful storytelling, yet many manuscripts are dry, predictable and preachy. By following these do’s and don’ts you’ll have a better chance of writing something that will entertain a child and catch an editor’s eye. Plus, you’ll receive the inside scoop of what kinds of stories Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. magazines are looking for.
“Talk of Ages”
One of the greatest mistakes youth writers make is to speak over the heads or talk down to the reader. From children to teenagers, this class will give you the keys to make your writing more age appropriate to your intended audience. We’ll look at the felt needs, spiritual and moral development, and cognitive abilities of various age groups.
Bill Gaultiere
“Centering Prayers for Writers”
Your most creative and inspirational writing (and living!) comes when you are centered in God’s presence in the way of meditative prayer that the Psalmist models. Come experience a way to use beloved phrases from the Bible to tap into Christ’s indwelling presence, the source of life for you and your readers.
“Take Heart Before you Write”
The way to write in a way that connects with the hearts of people is to grow as a person after God’s heart. To do this you need to “take heart” from people like David. Together we will warm our hearts for God by reading and praying from some of the ancient writers whose hearts were on fire for Christ!
Kristi Gaultiere
“Praying the Scripture is Sweeter than Honey”
Lectio Divina (Latin for Divine Reading) is a form of prayer and meditation on scripture practiced by Christians for many centuries. Kristi will teach you some of the history of this very special and formative prayer exercise and then we will do it together. This will be a relaxing and connective time for you with Christ.
“Come Alive with God's Word in your Heart”
Join Kristi as she shares the integral role scripture memorization has played in her and others spiritual formation in Christ. Kristi will share with you ideas for making this an easy part of your rhythm of life in Christ.
Linda Gilden, Linda Jewell, Christine Sneeringer, and Tama Westman
“The Writer’s Personality”
Ever wonder why you think the way you do? Why are some subjects easier to write about than others? Do you identify with some characters and empathize with their every move while struggling to know what another character will do next? Your personality affects the way you write both fiction and nonfiction. Join this team of writers of different personalities as they share truth and tricks from a sanguine, melancholy, choleric, and phlegmatic perspective.
Len and Carolyn Goss
“From Editing to Ghostwriting”
Do you have a great book idea but aren’t sure how to begin writing it? Have you already written it but think it needs tweaking? Or maybe you prefer to tell your story and let a professional writer put it together. This workshop will familiarize you with what you need to turn your manuscript into a publishable book. Covering editing to ghostwriting, it will provide examples of both the raw material and the finished product to help you identify your needs.
“A Tour of the Publishing Contract”
Though many publishing contracts are very much the same (with nearly fifty clauses that read about the same way), there are certain basic elements that usually cause confusion but that every author must nevertheless grasp. What principles are needed to negotiate a contract with a publisher? What deal breakers or secrets lurk behind language concerning copyright, royalties, manuscript deadlines, subsidiary rights, supplementary provisions, grant of rights, permissions, editing and form, distribution, and many other areas? This workshop is a grassroots approach to understanding terms and concepts in book publishing contracts.
Karen Jordan
“Writing and Healing: A Soul Map”
This workshop provides a unique setting for Christian writers to consider the power of writing in the healing process. Not only will we discuss the topic of writing and healing, we will investigate the healing process as we create our own "Soul Map" in this writing workshop
Florence Littauer
"Using Your Testimony to Make a Difference"
Susan Titus Osborn
“Writing from the Heart”
Only God knows what He has in mind for us regarding our writing. To write effectively we need to get in touch with our own feelings, get it touch with God, and get in touch with others. We need to: STOP – LISTEN – WRITE. If we can help others get in touch with their own feelings and in touch with God, then God has truly used us as his divine instrument.
“Beware: 28 Pitfalls Ahead”
When journeying through the first draft of your manuscript, watch out for these 28 pitfalls. Writers must be able to separate themselves from their work to effectively edit their manuscripts. An article that appears to flow onto paper has probably entered many rewrite sessions. By knowing what to look for, you can make your writing stronger, clearer, and alive.
Golden Parsons
“Historical Fiction”
Dan Penwell
“How to Get an Editor to Sit Up and Beg for More”
Is there a secret to getting an editor to pay attention to your query letter or proposal? Why should you take a few days to write a good query letter? What elements in a proposal will make the editor sit up and take notice? Why do some proposals turn editors off? Why are editors more interested in seeing a proposal than in seeing a manuscript? This class will direct authors to the finer points of preparing a cutting edge query letter and proposal.
“How to Eliminate Wordy Writing and Make an Editor Smile”
Most new authors have the impression that good writing has to be flowery and full of verbiage. But good writing—the kind that editors love—is tight writing. Unnecessary words have been eliminated. The writing is compact, concise, and precise. This class will dissect different types of wordiness and offer suggestions how to trim flabby writing. Learn tips to streamline your writing and become the type of author that editors are looking for.
Mary Lou Redding
“Writing Daily Devotionals-Two Part Workshop”
This two-part course in the basics of good writing, uses the daily devotional form as the practice model. Topics include drafting and refining a devotional and having it ready to submit to a publisher. (Participants also learn something about the market so they’ll be able to choose where their work fits.) Learn how to analyze different magazines and identify what “works” in short devotionals.
“The Well-Tempered Sentence”
This advanced stylistics workshop focuses not on grammatical sentence types (and grammar’s less-than-useful terminology) but on the rhetoric of sentences – what works best in various communication settings. The workshop includes a look at how and why to write effective series and at the dangers and rewards of parallelism. Learn new concepts in this information-packed workshop.
Linda Shepherd
“How to Write a Book in 10 to 14 Days”
Have you ever wanted to write a book but felt you didn't have time? Now you do. Bestselling novelist and nonfiction author, Linda Evans Shepherd, will show you how she writes fast so you can too. Learn the secrets of how to finish your next book in only days instead of months or even years. Linda knows the shortcuts and she's really to show you the way to get your book from idea to paper in record time. So what are you waiting for? Your next book could be just around the corner.
“How to Create Your Own Web TV Show or Video”
Have you heard? What worked before doesn't always work now. But don't worry, Linda Evans Shepherd is here to discuss how you can still reach the world AND sell your books in the process. Linda, the co-president of the Internet television company, WebTV4Women and Could Be TV, is here to show you how you can create an international TV show on a shoestring with a simple and inexpensive video camera, a computer, and the Internet. Use this info to create your own book trailers, or bring your message to Youtube or even to create your own weekly show or special. Students will also learn about the coming waye of Internet to Television technology, the new frontier for Christian authors and communicators.
Betty Southard
“Using PIER in Writing”
When we begin to write, we know what we want to communicate with our readers. But..... do we know how to be sure they understand what we are trying to say? Betty will help you craft your writing so that the reader will clearly understand your point, know the instructions they need to follow, which are illustrated by the example you use to show them how, and finally, this information will be backed up by proper reference. This seminar will help you discover a simple tool to ensure your message is easy to understand and implement.
“Alert and Oriented Times Four" Who am I? Where am I? What time is it? What just happened? How do you connect with the right publishing venue? How does a publisher connect with the right author? What do you do once you make a connection? Robin Stanley knows the secret and would love to share it with you in this information-packed workshop.
"Making the Move from Well Water to Wine" New writers often feel discouraged and think it will take a miracle to get published. Have you ever had that thought? If so, what's getting in the way of your miracle? Clenched fists? Hurt? Fears? Lies? Money? When bravely opening yourself up, pouring out what you have -- even imperfection, you risk vulnerability. By not responding, you risk even more. Only God can take the icky, drippy well water and turn it into the finest of wines. Bring your dreams to this workshop and join others in pursuing the miracles God has for you!
Robin Stanley
John Thurman
"How to Become a Local Expert"
This workshop is designed to help participants identify their core message, develop their 30-second commercial, identify local and regional markets and learn how to use their speaking and writing skills to get exposure in local, regional, and national media (Christian and secular).
Craig von Buseck
"NetCasters: Using the Internet to Make Fishers of Men"
The Internet has become a part of everything we do as writers and communicators. If you do not have an understanding of how digital media works, and how it can work for you and your ministry, you will be "left behind" in this rapidly changing world. In this series of classes, Craig von Buseck of CBN.com will explain the current trends in digital media. He will teach communicators how to use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace, and online radio outlets like BlogTalkRadio to add planks to the Christian communicator's platform. Learn how to write for the Web and whether a blog or vlog is the right fit for your ministry and career. Now is the time for NetCasters to harness digital media to take the Word to the world!
Lee Warren
“Start Your Blog Now! Two Part Workshop”
Have you wanted to start a blog but just couldn’t figure out how? Lee Warren is the master and wants to show you the joy of blogging. Everybody will leave the class with a blog and some working knowledge about what to do with it—including how to update it.
“Social Networking 101”
This workshop shows writers the benefits (and pitfalls) of social networking (Facebook, Twitter, etc.). If a writer is strategic about how he or she uses social networking there are major benefits. Purposely follow people who are in any field you would like to write about.
"Article Writing 101”
Discuss the eight major types of articles and their nuances. Learn eight different ways to lead an article, how to craft a “nut graph” as a transition to the body, how to construct the body of the article, nine ways to close an article, and many of the extras—things like sidebars, hotboxes, pull quotes, etc.
Tama Westman
“Power Up Your Portfolio”
Your portfolio works as a visual writer’s resume and can be the most powerful marketing tool in your writer’s tool belt. Learn how to plan, assemble, and organize a portfolio. Learn what to include and what to leave out. We will discuss progressive vs. thematic styles and put in your pocket a plan for a powerful portfolio.
Kathy Willis
“What’s God Got To Do with It?”
Come and learn how God’s guidance can empower you to write with a freedom and confidence like you’ve never known before. Some write because they dream of being writers. And that’s okay. But those who write because they can’t NOT write-who seek God’s face for direction, experience something more.
“Get Branded! Literary Publicity from Rockin’ A to Lazy Z” From developing a platform and social networking, to creating a marketing plan and securing media attention, this workshop will prepare you to be your own marketing expert on a tight budget. Kathy will teach you how to create buzz about your projects, build relationships with your target audience, and prove to acquisition editors that you have what it takes to promote your work. A newfound or upgraded brand will create the name recognition it takes in the industry to steer readers and industry pros your way.
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