Florida Christian Writers

NOTE FROM BILLIE

2012-02-02T11:02:00.000-05:00

I can’t believe this will be our 25th FC writers conference and I’m looking forward to seeing published projects as a result of our 2012 conference. It is exciting to go through all the emails flooding my Inbox. I just received this from Laura N.

Last year's conference was my first and was a huge a motivation for me as a writer. As a result of my consultation with Jesse Florea, I received a contract for one of my children's short stories from Clubhouse Jr. In addition, my first children's book in the God's Secret Garden Adventure series was published. I will bring some to put in the conference bookstore this year.

I received priceless mentoring in Christine's workshop, and as a result, my second children's manuscript is ready to put out there. Also, the first draft of the third book is almost done. I intend to work on it in her class this year. Needless to say, last year's conference lit a fire in me, so I'm even more excited about what I will learn and the contacts I will make in 2012, with God's help.

INVITATION FROM MARTI PIEPER

2012-02-01T20:47:00.002-05:00

Dear Writer WannaBe,

I know you’re out there. And today, I’m thinking of you.

You’ve slogged it out alone for so long. You sit at your computer and dream of creating a masterpiece (okay, several). And you know God wants to use your words.

Maybe you’ve written a novel or a chunk of a nonfiction book. Perhaps poetry bubbles from your pen like foam off an overfilled glass of Coke. Are you working on a screenplay? Or do you prefer to tackle shorter pieces like devotionals, greeting cards, or Bible studies instead?

But, yes, my friend, you have a problem. You don’t know how to get your work out there, do you? These days, you hear so much about self-publishing. What’s up with that? And then there’s the whole “agent” thing. Who needs one, and why?

I understand. You'd love to meet some editors in person, to find out firsthand what they need and want. You know you should keep improving your craft, but when will you find the time, and where will you find a teacher? Could you take the chance to have a professional evaluate your writing and give you some tips to make it shine?

Of course it sounds scary—but imagine the possibilities. After all, Mom’s opinion can only take you so far.

You're right. Those are some deep needs and extreme expectations. But did you know, my WannaBe friend, that you can find hope, help, and encouragement at a writers' conference? Please take time to consider attending the 25^th annual Florida Christian Writers Conference (FCWC), March 1-4, 2012.

Allow me to share some reasons this conference could meet your needs (and a few of your wants as well):

Superb Speakers: Best-selling author and collaborator Cec Murpheyy (Gifted Hands, 90 Minutes in Heaven) will keynote this year’s conference.
Terrific Teachers: The FCWC offers continuing seminars (including fiction and nonfiction mentoring clinics) as well as individual workshops, all taught by industry professionals. These people know their stuff and share it, too.
Amazing Appointments: Dedicated time with your favorite author, editor, or agent to discuss you, your work, or the sad state of the economy (Okay, I was kidding about the last part—but it’s your fifteen minutes).
Fantastic Friendships: You'll love spending time with other WannaBes. You speak the same language, so make sure you stop talking long enough to improve your writing.
Stellar Setting: Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center in Leesburg provides a tranquil, beautiful setting. And the meals rival Rachael Ray’s (or your mom’s).

Don’t have the money? Let’s talk about that. If you or your child wanted to play the piano, wouldn't you do your best to find the funds for lessons? And then there’s your pet. When Scruffy needs something, you make sure she has it. Right?

You invest in what you value. Isn't it time to put your money where your words are?

By the way, the FCWC offers a unique opportunity for teen Writer WannaBes (I know you’re out there): hours of hands-on Teen Track training with fantasy author and teacher extraordinaire Bryan Davis at a discount price. Teens, seniors, or in-betweens can register, check on scholarships, and discover many other details at the conference website.

Do the research. Pray about it. Send me questions.(martipieper@gmail.com)But consider this my personal invitation to shed some Florida sunlight on your writing. I'd love to have you join me at the FCWC.

Your friend and fellow Writer WannaBe,

Marti

P.S. Read descriptions of the workshops I'll teach at the conference here. Have you attended the FCWC or another writers’ conference? Please add to my letter via your comments!

Note from Director, Billie Wilson

2012-01-28T22:04:00.000-05:00

Conference details are looking good and it is not too late for you to register for the 25^th Florida Christian Writers Conference. We have additional lodging available at Lake Yale and I am asking you to let everyone on your contact list know about the conference.

2012-01-28T21:21:00.000-05:00

Hello Fellow Writers,

If you are trying to decide whether or not to attend this year's Florida Christian Writers' Conference, I have one word for you--come!

Whether you are a novice writer or a published writer, there are classes designed just for you.

I first attended in 2006, and it was worth every penny. I attended classes, ate lunch with other writers, and had meetings with editors. As a result of that conference, I received several book contracts. I have been a part of this conference ever since, and it just keeps getting better.

This year I will be teaching the continuing classes on writing for children. We will cover

everything from board books and picture books, to beginning readers and Bible storybooks. We will dissect all the sub-genres within the genre of children's literature, and you will leave knowing how to write like a pro for this age group. Class sizes are small and personal.

The dress code is comfortable and casual. Bring a jacket or sweater for chilly evenings and air-conditioned rooms.

Forget fashion and wear comfortable shoes.

I hope you decide to come, because you will be glad you did. You will meet some amazing people, learn a lot,

and laugh a lot.

See you soon!

Crystal Bowman

www.crystalbowman.com

RESULTS OF CONFERENCE

2012-01-25T15:03:00.001-05:00

Billie has asked me to share this note with the followers of Florida Christian Writers' conference. Exciting results from last year's conference. Check it out by clicking to links in note. Congratulations C. Kevin Thompson.

Note from Kevin:

The time has come! My debut novel, The Serpent’s Grasp, is set for release mid-February 2012 by OakTara Publishers! I have attached the news release for you to see! It shows all the distributors who will be selling the book as well as telling you about it!

You can also check out my website, www.ckevinthompson.com, to find out the latest, stay informed, and get a sneak peek at the book!! On that website is the Official Book Trailer, but you may also see the book trailer at YouTube.com!

Thank you for your support!

Best Regards,

ARE YOU PREPARING?

2012-01-23T18:58:00.001-05:00

Every year I resolve to be more prepared for the conference. This year is no exception, but I looked at the countdown clock and realized only 37 days until the day. For some reason, seeing it in writing may be just what I needed. I'm taking another look at the editors and publishers who will be attending. I'm dragging out a couple of devotions that I thought I might polish up a bit and submit to Mary Lou Reddick. I am so glad she will be with us this year-a lovely lady.
I decided this afternoon that I needed to establish a time table and a few goals for the next few weeks. My Kindred Hearts will be ecstatic to know they have finally persuaded me that goals are a good thing.
Guest posts for this blog would be so welcome. Perhaps you have some good memories you would like to share, or some of the writing tips you have gleaned from the conference would encourage an undecided conferee.
Maybe you have a list of items that an individual needs to bring to the conference-for example, unless something has changed hair driers are not furnished. I realize that has very little impact on your manuscript, but when we meet editors and fellow writers, it does help our self-confidence to feel we are at our best.
Just e-mail me clellac73@gmail.com and I will be glad to share your post on this blog.
Thanks
Clella

NOTE FROM BILLIE ABOUT 2012 CONFERENCE

2011-12-14T22:18:00.000-05:00

The 25^th FCWC is right around the corner – March 1-4 and we have a ton of events planned for the celebration. Cec Murphey is our Keynote speaker – can’t get any better than CEC!

I just received the following email from Edwina: "I think of the lepers Jesus healed and how only one turned to say thank you. It's time I turn around and say thank you. Because of the Florida Conference, I've meet Rebeca Seitz and Steve Feldman and signed with Reclaim. Thank you for this opportunity."

Agents Andy Scheer (Hartline), Amanda Luedeke (MacGregor), Mary Sue Seymour (The Seymour Agency), Les Stobbe (Stobbe Literary) will be open for appointments with you. Les received an award for placing the most first time authors industry wide.

Sam Feldman from the Sam Hill Group and Rebeca Seitz founder of Glass Road are PR specialists will equip you to make your project stand out in the marketplace. Register by December 24^thto get a $20 discount for early registration. Our 2012 faculty is the BEST yet we’re still receiving emails from editors that hope to attend. Continue to check our website for updates – will be posting conference news often.

Billie

IS IT WORTH IT?

2011-11-11T21:39:00.000-05:00

The following post is an article I found when organizing some old documents. Thought it might be worth re-posting. I still have this opinion. :-)

IS IT WORTH IT?

“It was wonderful!” My friend had just returned from a writers’ conference. Another friend sent an e-mail recently after she came home from Write to Publish to tell me that she had an agent and two editors interested in her book. She was fired up and ready. Writers’ conferences can many times be the answer to our publishing dilemma, but much more than an opportunity for publication can be found at a conference. In the past, I have had individuals ask if I think a writer’s conference is really necessary. Do I think it is worth the cost? Let me list at least five “things” I have found at a writer’s conference.

CONTACTS: Contacts are usually friends, but they fall into a different category. Dan Penwell, who was my editor, is a friend, but not in the same way as my Kindred Hearts. (My first book came from my meeting Dan at a conference.) Contacts are those individuals in the business who know some way or someone who might be interested in your writing. Contacts are in the business of publishing and are at the conference to find material. And not to sound worldly, but publishing is a business like any other business and it is necessary to be where publishing people are…”It can be who you know.” Face to face contact and time spent with these individuals is always time well-spent and a personal blessing.

TEACHERS: Teachers can always be found at a conference. Workshop leaders and speakers who have knowledge and experience are always willing to share with the conferees. Workshops, panel discussions and speakers bring an expertise to the fledgling writer as well as the experienced author. I find teachers who were not scheduled on the program, but I learned much from them at the dining table, the after-hours gatherings or the break between classes.

MATERIALS: Sheets of writers’ guidelines, samples of magazines, handouts from workshops and business cards are always available. Most authors have books for sale at a reduced price and are willing to sign them. Also available for take home bags are CD’s of each session and addresses and e-mail addresses of the participants. My satchel overflows after each conference.

FRIENDS: Contacts of all kinds can be made at a writer’s conference, but friends are more than contacts. Friends are those people you meet with whom you have an instant rapport. Ones who understand your writing dreams, your funny jokes, your fears of failure and most of all your last article or chapter. Kindred Heart Writers are friends not contacts. I found them at a writer’s conference and continue to be blessed by them.

INSPIRATION: A group of people with common interests and goals can be a stimulation to each other. Christian writers in one large group teaching and encouraging one another always thrills me and challenges me to be a better writer. To be a part of the fellowship of believers whose purpose is spreading God’s message to the world is always a blessing for me, and I leave inspired to continue working at what I believe God has called me to do for Him.

IS IT WORTH IT?

I think so.

REASONS TO ATTEND 2012 CONFERENCE

2011-11-10T20:51:00.000-05:00

Kathy Cassel has started a list of "Reasons to Attend Florida Christian Writers' 2012 Conference". Check it out on Facebook. As always, Kathy's pictures tell a story.

Three of my favorite women at conference.

Jesse and Tory acting tough.
Love these guys.

STAY TUNED

FOR

Thanks Kathy Cassel

AGENTS & PUBLICITY SPECIALIST

2011-10-02T19:11:00.001-04:00

EXCITING NEWS!

THESE AGENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR APPOINTMENTS AND TO REVIEW YOUR CURRENT PROJECTS.

MARY SUE SEYMOUR-THE SEYMOUR AGENCY

LESLIE H. STOBBE-THE STOBBE LITERARY AGENCY

ANDY SCHEER-HARTLINE LITERARY AGENCY

AMANDA LUEBECK-MacGREGOR LITERARY

PR SPECIALIST REBECA SEITZ - GLASS ROAD

PR SPECIALIST STEVE FELDMAN- THE SAM HILL GROUP

Be part of our celebration for the 25^th Florida Christian Writers Conference

March 1-4. Make plans to be join us at the Lake Yale Conference Center

for the best writer’s conference ever!

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE!

2011-09-26T20:44:00.001-04:00

NOTE FROM BILLIE WILSON

Cecil Murphey Scholarships are available for first time applicants. If you’ve received a Cecil Murphey Scholartship in the past you are not eligible for a second one but I encourage you to apply for a conference scholarship. To apply for either scholarship email to me a brief bio, sample of writing and statement of your financial need.
Billie's e-mail address: billiewilson@cfl.rr.com

CONFERENCE TIME IS APPROACHING

2011-09-15T21:52:00.000-04:00

IT'S TIME!

September is here, and plans for the 25th Conference are now falling into place. From now until conference time, we will be posting information about the conference as we receive the latest word from Billie and the participants.

NEWS FLASH

KEY NOTE SPEAKER
2012 FLORIDA CHRISTIAN WRITERS' CONFERENCE

RETURNING

Veteran author and speaker Cecil (Cec) Murphey has written or co-written more than 120 books, including the NY Times bestseller 90 Minutes in Heaven (with Don Piper) and Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (with Dr. Ben Carson). Some of his more recent titles include Knowing God, Knowing Myself, When Someone You Love No Longer Remembers, and When a Man You Love Was Abused. His books have sold in the millions and have brought hope and encouragement to countless readers around the world. Cec offers writing tips and advice twice a week at www.cecwritertowriter.com. For more information, visit www.cecilmurphey.com.

Plan now to attend the 25th annual

FLORIDA CHRISTIAN WRITERS' CONFERENCE

AT LAKE YALE RETREAT CENTER

NOTICE FROM BILLIE

2011-06-13T20:47:00.000-04:00

Billie is without email and her husband (Doug) just received a diagnosis that he has an aggressive form of carcinoma (skin cancer). He will have surgery later this week.

Billie is working on the 25th Florida Christian Writer’s Conference faculty. If you are emailing her about that please be patient until she can get email.

Another Happy First Time Conferee

2011-05-19T22:34:00.002-04:00

Billie recently received this letter and Pat has given us permission to share this with our readers. It is always so good to hear from those who have attended conference. If you have comments you would like to share about this year's conference in March, or if you would like to suggest something for next year, e-mail Billie at billiewilson@cfl.rr.com or Kindred Heart Writers at clella37@yahoo.com.

Hello Billie
I just wanted to take the time to thank you for the wonderful experiences I had at the 2010
Florida Christian Writers Conference.This was my first conference and everything was new to me but everyone I met made me (and my husband) feel welcome. Many of my new acquaintances now seem like old friends!

I especially appreciated the workshops by Crystal Bowman. She is an excellent teacher, a great writer and a wonderful person and I learned a great deal from her.

Myappointments with Jesse Florea from Focus on the Family and Elaina Meyers from Standard Publishing, who each reviewed one of my manuscripts, were encouraging and helpful and I now have the opportunity to submit stories to both of these publishers. (I can hardly believe this!)

I enjoyed every workshop and meeting with other faculty and staff and every minute of the Conference. I can hardly wait for the next one.
I want you to know that I appreciate all the hours of work you must have put in to arrange such a helpful, inspiring event. (Your sense of humor is inspiring, too!)

God Bless you and thank you again.
Pat Schmidsrauter

AFTER THE CONFERENCE

2011-04-05T08:46:00.000-04:00

Ava Pennington ( www.AvaWrites.com )

Has it been a month already? Yes, believe it or not, it has. You attended the Florida Christian Writers Conference (FCWC) one month ago.

One month ago, you participated in continuing classes, attended a variety of workshops, and drank in Calvin Miller’s wisdom about writing.

One month ago, you met with agents, editors, and published authors.

One month ago, you received session handouts, sample magazines, and submission guidelines.

One month ago, you set some goals for yourself. Perhaps you said you would:

- send a proposal to an agent or editor who requested it.

- practice a writing technique you learned.

- begin using social media such as Facebook or Twitter account.

- read that book you purchased on the craft of writing.

- drop a note to a new writer friend you met at FCWC.

- follow-up on a new market you discovered.

Do you have a goal to add to this list?

Have you acted on at least one of your goals? If you have, good for you!

If you haven’t, why not start today?

Don’t be like so many writers who have great intentions when they leave a writers’ conference, but then…nothing. The pages of the calendar turn, but nothing changes.

Set one or more reasonable goals to apply the helpful material you received, then do something. When you return to the conference next year, you’ll be glad you did. And I can’t wait to hear all about it!

CHECK OUT THIS LINK

2011-03-12T14:26:00.000-05:00

Click on this link for a good article in the Ocala paper about the conference.

http://www.ocala.com/article/20110309/ARTICLES/110309675

FCWC Award Winners!

2011-03-10T10:29:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to this year's Florida Christian Writers Conference Award Winners!

Writer of the Year: Ollie Bennett

First Time Conferee “Best Work”: Christy Taylor

Song: Elisabeth Niederman

Drama: Chris Morrell

Children’s Book or Short Story for Children:
Bob Hicks and Kevin Harkey

Devotional: Jane Glenchur

Article: Holly Mickler

Novel: Laurie Boulden

Faculty: Dr. Vicki Crumpton

FIRST DAY OF CONFERENCE

2011-03-03T23:02:00.001-05:00

A great start to the conference. Mentoring classes started this morning and continuing classes started this afternoon. Billie is her usual- a calm, clever, classy Christian lady. Those of you who have attended know exactly what I am saying, and those of you who are strangers to the Florida Christian Writers' Conference have missed knowing a wonderful advocate for Christian writers.
The morning General Session introduced those doing mentoring and continuing classes. Jeff Gerke is leading a Continuing Class for Christian Speculative Fiction which includes the Teen Track that was previously led by Bryan Davis. (We do miss Bryan.) Mark Mynheir and Davis Bunn are teaching a Continuous Class on Writing Fiction and Eva Marie Everson and Ken Kuhlken are leading the Fiction Mentoring sessions. I am enrolled in the Non Fiction Mentoring with Janis Whipple and Larry Leech is teaching the Continuous Class on Writing the Non Fiction Book.

Dr. Calvin Miller is the speaker for the General Sessions. Tonight he discussed Journaling, and he and his wife, Barbara, performed some oral readings from Dr. Miller's journals. Dr. Miller asked the audience, "If there were no editors or people to please with your writing, would you still write?" He says," When we write for God" is when our writing is our best effort with words." How about you? Would you write?
Will try to catch up again tomorrow.
A GOOD DAY AT THE CONFERENCE.
WISH YOU WERE HERE.
Clella/Kindred Heart Writers

IDEA T0-PROPOSAL-TO-CONTRACT

2011-02-28T06:00:00.001-05:00

Idea to-proposal-to-contract started with a two-minute chat

Aloha, I’m Karen Whiting and have been attending and helping with the Florida conference for many years. I first attended in 1996 and so many articles and most of my 16 books have come from this conference.

Last year I chatted briefly with editor Rick Steele. Several years ago they published two books I wrote and last year, shortly before the conference I received a rejection on a proposal.

(Now we do come in contact with editors who accept our writing and ones who reject it as that’s part of a writer’s life. We must not consider a rejection as a personal rejection, but understand it doesn’t fit that house at that time).

Rick mentioned he felt bad the committee didn’t want the book because he had championed it Then he tossed out a new thought and asked if I might consider writing something in their God and Country division.

(Now in submitting to a publisher you should get to know the publisher and what they produce. I knew that line though I had never considered writing anything for it. But, I’m good at instant brainstorming and instant prayer).

I said a silent, speed prayer and an idea popped in my mind. I responded that if I wrote in that division, it would have to be stories of faith and courage on the home front of American wars. Rick said that sounded interesting and that hadn’t done that perspective. I mentioned it would be a huge project I would not want to write a lone and I couldn’t even start a proposal until the end of June. I thought of my friend Jane who wrote for the series (but knew she was busy) and Rick mentioned an author (Jane’s co-author) I didn’t know. End of chat and we moved on. Didn’t chat about it again at the conference.

The end of June I finished writing a book (The 365 Most Important Bible Passages for Women due to release in April) and started to pray about the Home Front idea. At ICRS (a huge convention for book store owners) I chatted with Jane as well as some of the marketing people at AMG. Jane pitched the concept to AMG’s president. They all liked the idea and even gave me some input on what they’d like included. Jane had for the project, but put me in touch with her co-author Jocelyn who would be available. Joceyln and I worked up a proposal (not polished but presentable and close to completed) just in time for the August conference in Philly where Rick and I were both on the faculty. I asked Rick to set aside time to meet with me and showed him the proposal. He really liked it, but had forgotten our short chat. He asked for us to write more content and finish polishing the proposal by September. We did and in September the committee accepted the proposal. (This happened much, much faster than normal timelines and it helped that we both had written for the publisher in the past). I met Jocelyn a week later as we had planned to do research together when she came east to speak in PA.

So, listen to editors and needs.

If an editor asks you to consider writing within an area, or on a topic, take him or her seriously. Pray for God’s direction and inspiring ideas.

Move past rejections and be available for conversations God orchestrates.

NOTES FROM AN AGENT by Blythe Daniels

2011-02-25T22:24:00.000-05:00

One of the great tools that you as a writer have is the setting of a writers conference to wield your publishing prowess and show an editor or agent what genius ideas you have for your next (or first) book. We as agents or editors come onto the stage hoping to see some great talent that we believe will be a good match for one of our well-intended suitors/publishers.   It is a bit like a good match making game.

What you have to offer fits (or in some cases doesn’t fit and that isn’t a personal slight - we just can’t take everything we see) with what we’re working on with publishers. We generally know right away whether it’s going to be something we’re interested in or not. You can help us in the process by having a 2-minute sound bite that tells us a) what the book is about, b) what problem or issue your book is the answer to, and c) why you are the person to write it.

As agents, we also want to see a fully-developed book proposal (even for fiction) and sample chapters where we can get a feel for your writing. But we want you to tell us about your book while we talk with you – not just hand us a proposal and ask us to read it. We want to see that when given the opportunity (for the publisher and future media interviews), you can effectively (and quickly!) relate what your book is about in a way that intrigues us and makes us want to hear more.

I also find it helpful to have a one-page with your photo on it and some background information on you, bullet points that talk about the key factors for your fiction or non-fiction book, and how we can reach you. You would be surprised how many writers don’t provide their email address anywhere on their documents. The photo helps us to remember meeting you and our conversation about your book.

At the conference, I’ll specifically be talking with writers about what makes a good agent and how to be your best publicist. I believe these two areas are critical for writers who want to advance their writing careers to the next level and who want to be smart about how they are handling the business side of writing (why having an agent makes sense) and how to publicize your book since this is an area that is no longer just a good idea, but a necessity.

I look forward to meeting you and talking with you at the conference. I hope your time at the conference will be profitable. Take the time to meet and talk with as many of the faculty as you can because they provide valuable feedback and ideas for you. And enjoy this time of being with other writers and professionals—just the focused time on writing and publishing is as valuable as the contacts you will make.

Blythe Daniel, The Blythe Daniel Agency, Inc.

www.theblythedanielagency.com

THANK YOU REACH FM

2011-02-23T21:25:00.000-05:00

Donna just shared this and Kindred Hearts and everyone at REACH FM are thrilled that Donna will be attending this year. See you there Donna! Philippians 4:19

SHARE YOUR STORY CONTEST

.by Donna Collins Tinsley on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 2:46pm.
To God be the Glory! Many thanks to the Lord and Reach FM! Just whethings seem the hardest and you wonder if the Lord is listening to your prayers, something wonderful happens. Many of you know from some of my blogs and posts that times are hard for many in my family. I have a wonderful family with a husband who works hard amidst intense pain, 4 beautiful daughters, 6 grandchildren and an extended family that I love so much! But as I have said before, we are not the Cleavers, Waltons, or Ingalls:) We are a work in progress and our only hope and anchor is the Lord Jesus.

The Lord knew it was the desire of my heart to go again to the Florida Christian Writer's Conference, but with work being slow for Bill, I just wasn't going to put that burden on him. He had said I could go for one day, but I felt there were other needs that were more important. Then lo and behold last week, I saw on the FCWC blog a contest. My Mama always said "Nothing ventured, nothing gained," and so, I decided to enter.
DONNA'S ENTRY
Well, lyrics of songs always stir my heart and I had several that I started thinking about. But “You are More” by Tenth Avenue North came through for me. I will write more about this and when it is allowed I will share the entry with y'all. Anitra Parmele from Reach FM called me yesterday and I am still on Cloud 9 but more than that praising the Lord who once again gave favor to one such as I, a woman who has never really known a father's love until I met Jesus. And I must say He is the best Father and provider around. He sees the hidden desires of the heart. He knows when we need a time of refreshing and study.

I am so grateful to Reach FM and the FCWC blog that posted the contest.

http://www.reachfm.org/

.

2011-02-19T22:28:00.000-05:00

Writing for Anthologies Ava Pennington

You may have heard about it or experienced it. Editors won’t consider publishing your book without an agent, and agents won’t consider representing you if you haven’t been published. While that’s not always true, it does happen. What’s a writer to do?

One thing you can do is build a portfolio of publishing credits by writing short stories for anthologies or compilations. Inspirational series such as Chicken Soup for the Soul and God Allows U-Turns are always looking for terrific, true stories that will touch the hearts of their readers.

I speak from personal experience. Five years ago, I attended my first Florida Christian Writers Conference with several book proposals. The proposals were not accepted, but I was encouraged to pursue writing magazine articles to hone my craft and develop credibility as an author. At that time I’d already had one story published in a volume of Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Over the next several years, twenty additional anthologies published my stories, including 15 different volumes of Chicken Soup for the Soul. I also wrote articles for a variety of magazines, including The Lookout, Evangel, and Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse.

Last year, Revell Books published my first book, One Year Alone with God: 366 Devotions on the Names of God. This year, Standard Publishing published two children’s books, Do You Love Me More? and Will I See You Today?, co-authored with Crystal Bowman.

If you are interested in learning how to write for anthologies, I’ll be teaching two workshops on Saturday, March 5^th, at 2:45 and 4:00. In the first session, we’ll talk about the components of a winning story. We’ll spend the second session in a hands-on exercise as we turn a mediocre story into a winner, using the principles learned in the first workshop.

I’ll also be facilitating an “After Hours” session on Saturday evening where participants will have the opportunity to have their true stories critiqued, so bring something you’re working on!

Hope to see you there!

SONG WRITING AT CONFERENCE by Elaine Creasman

2011-02-13T23:57:00.000-05:00

An Invitation To Learn More About Songwriting—At FCWC 2011

Several years ago at the Florida Christian Writers Conference, there was a songwriting workshop as part of the nightowl sessions. As a beginning songwriter, I attended and received much encouragement. The next year I did the same and felt a bonding with the songwriters who returned from the year before. What a joy it was to share our songs.

Since then I started taking songwriting lessons from Kenn Mann, the worship leader at my church. I’ve been amazed at how much I’ve learned about songwriting from him. And what joy I’ve experienced in the process—like the times I’ve been working on a song the Lord was giving me and started weeping at how wonderful God is and for the privilege of putting that wonder down in a song I can sing back to Him.

With Kenn’s encouragement, I attended Babbie Mason’s Inner Circle songwriting workshop in November 2010 and learned more about being an excellent songwriter. I’ve had demos made of some of my songs and sent them to publishers. So far I haven’t had anything accepted, but I’m waiting to hear back from a publisher on another set of songs I sent recently.

This year my songwriting teacher, Kenn Mann, will teach a two-part songwriting class on Friday, March 4^th at 1:30pm and at 2:45pm. Through this class you can learn what makes an excellent song and how to improve songs you’re working on. The class would also be excellent for poets since writing poems and writing songs are closely related.

Kenn has been a worship leader for well over 20 years. He has created and had published four (4) major musicals and over fifty (50) choral anthems by such companies as Word Music, Brentwood-Benson, Clydesdale & Clydesdale, Radiant Music, Spring Hill / Gaither Music, Monarch Music and The Lorenz Corporation.

He presently co-writes music with Spring Hill Music Artist, Babbie Mason (whom Kenn sees as his mentor.) Together they wrote the #1 inspirational song “The Sea of Forgetfulness,” which was recorded by Helen Baylor. Kenn co-wrote “Make us One,” which won the Gospel Music Association’s 1997 Dove Award for “Musical of The Year.”

About his walk with God, Kenn says: “He continues to speak to my heart daily revealing to me His plan for my life. I’ve learned too well that accolades fade and fame is always short lived; but God’s anointing and grace are fresh every day. I never want to tire of knowing Him more.”

Kenn and I will also be leading an informal songwriting nightowl session on Friday evening after the general session. You can bring your songs there to have them critiqued.

If you have any inkling of exploring the world of songwriting or if you already have songs and want to move to the next level, I hope that you will take part in the songwriting offerings at the conference. I look forward to hearing and being blessed by your songs.

Elaine Creasman

2011-02-12T10:12:00.003-05:00

SHARE YOUR STORY CONTEST
You've been inspired, challenged or encouraged by the lyrics of a song on Reach FM.
Now it's your chance to share your story.
Click here to submit your story before midnight on Sunday, February 20, 2011.
You could be selected to attend the Florida Writers Conference.
The Florida Christian Writers Conference is one of the premier writing conferences in the nation. This conference provides unprecedented access to editors, agents and best-selling authors. Writing tracks include fiction, non-fiction, children, devotions and a track specifically for teen writers. Whether you are a beginner or a multi-published author, this conference is the next step in your unique publishing journey.
For more information and to register for the conference,
call 321-269-5831 or www.FLWriters.org.
Reach FM Contest Rules apply. Additional rules here.

CONTINUING CLASS/MARKETING YOUR BOOK/Karen Whiting

2011-02-09T09:47:00.000-05:00

CONTINUING CLASS

MARKETING YOUR BOOK

(marketing brainstorming summit)

I’m Karen Whiting, author of more than a dozen books with four more to be released in the coming year.

The conference is just around the corner and I’m gearing up for leading the continuing class. it’s all about the participants and you won’t even hear me lecture much. I bring in guests and have a continuing guest who is fantastic-the marketing director from AMG Publishers John Fallahee. John has a side business helping people learn to study the Bible that has had phenomenal growth in social networking.

It doesn’t work or go like most workshops. These classes are to generate ideas for each individual. I ask the people in the group to fill out an index card with their name, book title/topic, and a focus statement of what the book is about and who most needs it. We continually give ideas on applying various marketing ideas to the book titles of the participants (using the cards.) Each day after learning about an area of marketing we divide into small groups and brainstorm ways to apply that day's concepts to each person’s book.

The Holy Spirit has gifted me with the ability to brainstorm marketing ideas and I have a great passion for helping people harness promotional concepts for their books. John is a treasure chest of ideas. I’m praying the Holy Spirit will also pour out ideas on everyone in the group.

Market areas we will cover include:

What’s in a marketing plan
(and how to build one)

Marketing via media

Virtual marketing,
(including social networking)

Non-virtual promotion

Developing expertise in your topic

Elements of a best seller

Choosing what to work on next
(can’t do it all at once)

So, if you need to add more ideas to your book proposal or you have a book ready to launch, this continuing class will benefit you.

Meanwhile, please pray for my family and the other faculty. My husband has breast cancer and after a clean slate for several moths, cancer cells are growing again so they need to change his treatment. One daughter-in-law has a brain tumor. And that’s part of life that continues for so any writers.

I can’t wait to be there, meet new people with new visions and help them move forward with their dreams.

CHECK OUT THIS NEWS STORY/ Scholarship Available

2011-02-07T06:00:00.001-05:00

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE BY ANITRA PARMELE APPEARED IN THE GOOD NEWS 2/5/11 and Anitra gave us permission to run it on the FCWC blog.

THE CORRUPTIBLE

Ray Quinn is cynical, bitter and somewhat aimless. You can’t really blame him. Crippled by a gunman’s bullet, Ray was forced into retiring from his life as an Orlando homicide detective. His new life is bookended by his two “friends” Jim and Joe. Ray relies on Jim Beam to get him to sleep and a “cup of joe” to wake him up.  That bullet that crippled Ray? There were more where that came from- one of which struck and killed his partner, Tricia, with whom he had just begun to express his tender, and tentative, love to.
  
Lost in the story  Did I mention that Ray is a fictional character? If you lost track of that fact, it is a testimony to both Mark Mynheir’s skill and experience that Ray Quinn comes to life within the pages of this follow-up to The Night Watchman.  The Corruptible picks up the story of Ray Quinn and his rag-tag staff at The Night Watchman Private Detective Agency which includes Pam, a possible contender for the position of love interest if Ray can ever manage to extricate his heart. As a believer in Christ, Pam serves as the perfect foil for both Mark’s initial contempt and ultimately his growing respect of the faith she not only professes but which marks her daily life.  
Mark my words  Don’t be deceived. This is not solely an incredibly engrossing hard-boiled murder mystery, although even sticklers for procedure will revel in the authentic detail. Mynheir has managed to provide readers a novel which allows them to plunge headlong into the thoughts, actions, and motives of people who “exist” solely on the pages of his novel and within his fertile imagination. A task which any writer will agree looks the most effortless only when blood is spilled (along with sweat) on the part of the writer.  
About the Author  Born and raised on the east coast of Central Florida, Mark battled dyslexia and dysgraphia throughout his education - finding success in sports, including football and martial arts.  After four years in the Marines, Mark entered law enforcement where sympathetic co-workers and a lot of hustle on his part hid his daily struggles with the endless paperwork associated with the job - a job in which he excelled as he worked as a narcotics agent, S.W.A.T. team member and Palm Bay homicide detective.  A health crisis with his oldest son led Mark to investigate the claims of Christ as revealed in the pages of the Bible. The once self-described hard-drinking, profane man who struggled with the minimum requirements of written communication became a husband, father, police officer and novelist highly respected and loved by family, friends and readers for his finely-tuned and incredibly engaging novels.  

About his inspiration  After attending his first Florida Christian Writers Conference over a decade ago, Mark points to this annual conference as the place where he successfully pitched his novels, secured an agent and widened his circle of colleagues around the country.  This year, Mark is scheduled to co-lead the Fiction block of classes, an honor which he sees as his opportunity to give back to eager writers in the same way that he received encouragement each time he attended the Florida Christian Writers Conference.  
Start … Write Now… And Win
  In recognition of the elements of Mark’s success story at work within prospective writers around our community, The Good News is offering a scholarship to the upcoming Florida Christian Writers Conference. Submitting your entry is simple. Write an article (500-800 words) profiling an individual or organization within the tri-county area (Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach County) that has impacted our community for the better. It could be your neighbor who mentors young men at the area middle school, the Girl Scout troop that raised money to buy furniture after a family’s house fire, or your church’s prison ministry. E-mail your story and a picture of the subject to editor@GoodNewsFL.org before midnight February 15, 2011 and you may be one step closer to making 2011 the year you’re published.

2011-02-04T08:55:00.000-05:00

KINDRED HEART WRITERS displayed this post on Friday, Feb.4 written by Johnnie Donley. Is she excited about the conference? OH YES! We all are looking forward to it and hope we see you there.

Four weeks from today, on Friday, March 4th, we'll be in the midst of the 2011 Florida Christian Writers Conference (March 3rd - 6th). Clella will arrive early in the week so she can be there to welcome the attendees and help them with registration. The rest of us will arrive on Wednesday evening, just in time for supper. Believe me, there'll be lots of hugging, laughing, and interrupting each other before we settle down to eat!

We're busy getting ready. Clella, Karen, and I got together last week to work on a book proposal for a collection of devotions that the five of us have written. We're submitting this proposal to an editor at the conference.

We're also working on our individual proposals, trying to decide on the continuing classes and workshops we want to take, and planning the appointments we want to make with the publishing professionals who'll be attending.

A writers conference is a great place to meet agents, editors, and other writers. It's a great place to find out the latest trends and genre-specific craftsmanship.

And take it from me -- a writers conference is a great place to make significant, lasting friendships.

When the writers conference is held in Leesburg, Florida, you can add sunshine, warmer weather than most of the rest of the country, and confernce director Billie Wilson's southern charm to its appeal.

If you've already registered, be sure and look us up. If you're not, what are you waiting for? It's not too late and we'd love to see you there.

Check out the FCWC Blog for interviews with the faculty and staff. You can also find the FCWC on Facebook.

Johnnie

BE YOURSELF by Ken Kulhken

2011-01-31T06:00:00.009-05:00

Ken will be leading the
Christian Fiction
Continuing Class

Having lived as a writer and teacher of writing since long before my
hair began to disappear, I can offer advice about plenty of challenges
a writer faces. Out of all that, the most helpful to aspiring writers
is: be yourself.

Here’s a grim thought: “Moderate giftedness has been made worthless by the printing press and radio and television and satellites and all that. A moderately gifted person who would have been a community treasure a thousand years ago has to give up, has to go into some other line of work, since modern communications put him or her into daily competition with nothing but world's champions.” -Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., novelist

These days, with the ease of self-publishing and small press
publishing, the competition is evermore daunting. But take heart from the words of another fine and famous writer, Raymond Carver: “A writer doesn’t need to be the smartest kid on the block, only to be able to look with amazement at a leaf or an old shoe.” And, I’ll add, to express that amazement in our own words.

A Perelandra College student first tweaked my admiration during the application process, when she expressed a wish for me to “have a smashing weekend.” Soon thereafter, she confessed to being “all
aflutter.” I will gladly read whatever she writes, simply because I’m intrigued to know about a person from Ohio who uses words like “smashing” and “aflutter.”

A preacher I like is liable to use the “dude” and “as it were” in the same sentence. I often return to a second service featuring the same message and listen again with pleasure.

Yesterday, a friend mentioned someone who is fit to be operated upon. She called him “surgible.” I asked if that was a dictionary word. She said, “Oh, no. I just invented it.” Need I add that she is a wonderful writer?

Now, being ourselves involves more than using original words or using words in original ways. At least as important is expressing our own unique ideas and perceptions. Let’s talk about that in Florida.

2011-01-23T00:03:00.000-05:00

John will be presenting workshops at the conference and will post concerning his presentations in February. Watch for this post.

John Vonhof writes for Christian and secular markets. He is the author of self-published and mainstream books and booklets, with articles in print and on the web. He is an expert on finding ideas and writing for niche markets, and manages http://www.WritersConferenceGuidelines.com, a website to help writers get the most out of attending writers conferences. He loves helping new writers discover their writing niche and how to market their writing.

I AM INSPIRED BY THE CONFEREE

I attended my first writing conference in 1996. Three year later I started teaching at a local conference. Whether attending as a conferee or as one of the faculty, I was hooked. But I have to be honest, what draws me to the conferences is not the keynote speaker, the other speakers, or the workshops, the venue, or the food – it’s the conferees.

Allow me to share an email I received a few years ago from conferee Janet Rockey.

“I remember my first experience with the Florida Christian Writers Conference. I had high hopes of my book becoming the next best seller. After my first class on writing good fiction with Gayle Roper, I wanted to "un-submit" my manuscript. The only thing right about it was the font! Since then, with the help of conference classes, writer workshops, and critique groups, I've rewritten it, re-edited it, shaved off unnecessary and weak words, punched it up with more tension, and tightened my writing. In January, Eva Marie Everson suggested I enter it in the Christian Writers Guild First Novel Contest. That's the most encouraging critique I've ever had.

“The classes you taught at the conference have been a great help to me. You gave me the confidence to continue writing, and now I have a few published works. Chicken Soup for the Soul What I Learned from the Cat bought my story, Romeow and Julicat; and Barbour House bought my story, Silhouette on the Shade for their Heavenly Humor for the Cat Lover's Soul. PCCWeb Daily published my story, The Great Escape, in their daily e-mail devotional.”

My goal in going to any conference is to help others. I want you to return home, like Janet, and work on your writing – to make it better. I think I can safely say that is the goal and motivation of the other faculty too. We are there to teach, to share, to guide, to encourage, and to help. I love that. It’s beautiful.

The conferees come full of anxiety and apprehension. Is my writing good? Are my ideas worthwhile? Will someone request my proposal or manuscript? What will I learn? Will I know anyone?

They also come with a willingness to learn. They want to take notes, to pick our brains, to collect handouts and material off the freebie tables.

And they have questions about writing. Did I write a good query or proposal? Did I format my manuscript correctly? Which major track should I choose? How do I know which workshops to attend? Who should I meet with? Did I submit to the right editor?

Three factors: apprehension, a willingness to learn, and questions.

That’s what inspires me. That’s what inspires us as faculty.

You challenge us to deliver.

We are there for you. We want to talk to you. To help you choose the right workshops, to think through your ideas, to talk one-on-one, and to help you grow as writers.

"JUST DO IT' by Sharon King

2011-01-06T10:09:00.000-05:00

For everyone who's wondering if investing the time and money in a major writer's conference like the FCWC is worth it, I encourage you to hold off on the debate and "just do it." You will thank yourself later--maybe years later.

I attended the 2009 conference and received two manuscript reviews. The reviews were encouraging, but they pointed out some things I needed to improve, not just to get published but to be a better writer. THAT's the value of attending a conference.

Yes, I have a success story to share--one of the FCWC manuscripts is under consideration by a major publisher and the second one (which I completely revised) has been published by Healthy Life Press in Florida (The Spiritual Fitness Checkup for the 50-Something Woman). But, the publishing was just the end product of a process that began when I spent time learning, sharing, and gaining guidance (and confidence) from other writers at FCWC. Conference attendance doesn't guarantee you'll get your book published, but you will leave a better writer--and isn't that everyone's real goal?

DO YOU COME HUNGRY? by Jean Wise

2010-11-19T11:11:00.001-05:00

Do you come to writers’ conferences hungry? Not in the physical sense, but with a thirst for learning and growing as a writer. Attending writers' conferences can be a wonderful, though overwhelming, experience(particularly if this is your first experience.) As you begin to prepare for the Florida Christian Writers Conference, one step to take can be listing specific questions you would like to explore.

I find if I have a list of what I want to learn, it is easier to focus. If I hit the brick wall of fatigue, doubt, and rejection, I have something concrete to center on. If I have already identified what I most need to learn, I can then concentrate on finding that answer.

Everyone will have a different set of questions, but here are a few you might consider:

· What specific writing technique do you want to learn? Dialogue? Voice? Point of view?

· Do you want to explore a new genre? A non-fiction writer grows by learning fiction techniques. All of us become better storytellers by studying how to write a movie script.

· Maybe you are working on marketing. Your focus may be to gather as many examples of business cards or one sheets as possible. You may want to sit down and talk with more seasoned writers about ideas.

· What new approach to social marketing can you learn?

· Is there a new trend in the publishing business?

· Is this person the right agent for me?

· If I could ask the keynote speaker one question what would it be?

· Have two or three ideas ready to develop and brainstorm with other writes about how to bring your ideas to life.

Listen more than talk is a good guideline for making the most of a conference. If you take a few minutes of preparation to get your questions clarified and ready to ask, your hungry heart will find some answers. Florida Christian Writers’ Conference is a great place to be fed.

NOTE FROM EVA MARIE EVERSON

2010-10-17T22:17:00.001-04:00

LOOKING AHEAD FROM EVA MARIE

I received a bit of interesting news today. According to an email from Billie Wilson, our illustrious leader at Florida Christian Writers Conference, I have two registrants already signed up for my Fiction Mentoring Track. I'm doubly excited.

For one, I love the Fiction Mentoring Track because it's about getting "in there" with "both hands" and helping other writers. It's about more than just my ideas or my so-called expert opinion. It's about Christian writers learning and growing together. It's about forming bonds. It's about one day seeing a book on a shelf that you didn't write and saying, "I had a hand in that" and being truly proud of and for the author.

But the doubly comes because, after last year's Fiction Mentoring Track, we learned that there is much to say and much to do and the hours we were given were not enough. So, I groveled at Billie's feet and she graciously gave us more. YES! (I didn't really grovel...)

So then, what do we do in this Fiction Mentoring Track and who is qualified to sign up for them?
Question one: Well, for one we sit around and nibble on little squares of chocolate. But more importantly, we work on the basics of fiction and those all-important first pages, the contract-winning proposal, dialogue, character arcs and plot lines. This track is about making words sing! About making them jump off the pages and right into the reader's heart. This is about finding what works and making it work harder and finding what doesn't work and editing it to pieces.

And, again, it's about doing it as a team.

Question two: who is qualified to sign up (real question: Are you qualified to sign up?). If this is your very first writers conference, if you are getting your feet wet in this wonderful world of the pen (or keyboard), then by all means you do not want to venture in. There are a host of classes and workshops prepared just for you. But if you've been at this long enough to feel ready, if you've written a good chunk of your manuscript and you want to see if it's set to meet the eye of an editor, if your manuscript has already met the eye of an editor and they'd like to see if again after you do a little self-editing, if you think you are ready for the gruesome task of self-editing, if you think it's time to move closer to publication but feel the work needs a little more polish ... well then! You are not only qualified, you are just who we are looking for for the Fiction Mentoring Class.

Just know that while others are sitting in a wide variety of hour-long workshops, we will be together for long periods of time, hands-on working. And writing.
Later on I'll share what you will need to bring ... but in the meanwhile, if you want to join this illustrious group at FCWC 2011, just let our lovely leader know.
And I'll bring the chocolate...
Eva Marie Everson
Fiction Mentoring Leader
FCWC 2011

NOT TOO EARLY!

2010-10-04T10:00:00.000-04:00

Kindred Heart Writers are already preparing for the conference in March. It isn’t too early to begin to make plans. Here is our list below:

Check out the editors or agents who will be in attendance.

Look into their websites. Study the possible needs of the editors. Check out the editorial styles and read some of the published materials. Look into the authors that an agent already represents.

Talk to other people about the agents and editors.

Decide what you will want to present at the conference. Is it a WIP or do you have something finished that you feel is right for one of the editors or agents?

Begin to plan your time (even now) in order to have some free time before the conference for changes or re-writes or emergencies.

PRAY ABOUT THE CONFERENCE AND FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES AND UP FRONT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE.

PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR BILLIE AND HER STAFF

ONE WEEK LEFT

2010-09-23T09:09:00.000-04:00

ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SPECIAL OFFER
$75.00 Deduction
One Extra Manuscript
Register for Conference
before
Sept. 30, 2010

Contact Billie billiewilsoncfl.rr.com
or
Florida Christian Writers web site

DON'T MISS IT!

2010-08-31T21:32:00.000-04:00

   REMEMBER
THE SPECIAL OFFER
  $75.00 Deduction
one extra manuscript

REGISTER FOR CONFERENCE
   BY SEPTEMBER 30,2010

  Florida Christian Writers Conference

(click on this)
contact Bille at billiewilson@cfl.rr.com

SPECIAL OFFER

2010-08-15T23:12:00.011-04:00

Note from Billie:

Want to give you a heads up on the FCWC, March 3-6, 2011 and make you aware of a special offer not available on-line.

Receive a $75 deduction and get an extra MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION by getting your registration in the mail by September 30.

For a registration form click on this source Florida Christian Writers or e-mail Billie at billiewilson@cfl.rr.com Looking forward to seeing you in March.

We have most of the faculty in place and are getting ready to whip the official website into shape soon. Until then check out this blog for news and information about the Florida Christian Writers Conference.

Billie

2010-08-15T21:58:00.000-04:00

KINDRED HEART WRITERS
We're your new best friends
at
FLORIDA CHRISTIAN WRITER'S CONFERENCE

We are excited! Laura Christianson recently contacted our group and asked if we were interested in maintaining the blog, Facebook, and Twitter page for the Florida Christian Writers' Conference this year. Laura's business has become so time consuming that she felt she could not give this project the attention it deserved. Congratulations to Laura on the well-deserved growth of her business. We hope to maintain the high standards and informative articles that Laura has presented so well in the past.

For former FCWC conference people the Kindred Hearts are not new faces. We are the five rather noisy, fun-loving, friendly, stick-together women you see around the lunch table and in the General Session. If you are new to the conference, we always proudly wear identification as a "Kindred Heart Writer." To become even better acquainted with us go to www.kindredheartwriters.com where one of us will be posting each day (Monday-Friday) starting in September. For now, our posts are on Monday and Thursday.

2011 FCWC Set for March 2-6

2010-04-12T23:55:00.002-04:00

It's official -- the 2011 Florida Christian Writers Conference will be March 2-6, 2011. Mark your calendar!

We wanted to share two more things with you to wrap up our terrific 2010 conference: a comment from one of the young conferees who attended the Teen Track, and a slideshow of the conference.

I just attended the conference, and I wanted to let you know, that this past few days have been some of the happiest of my life. There wasn't a moment when I was unhappy, or confused, and everyone was so friendly. I'm a shy person, and I had no problem talking with the people who attended, and I just wanted to let you know how special that was to me. Thank you for make that possible.

Yours Truly,
Calleigh Walker

Feel free to embed the slideshow on your own blog or Web site. A huge thank-you to Sylvia Dunnavant, who supplied most of the pictures in the slideshow.

Did you Blog About the Conference?

2010-03-10T18:55:00.000-05:00

Now that those of us who traveled long distances to the conference are overcoming our jet lag, we're beginning to blog our thoughts about the conference.

Nick Harrison (editor at Harvest House Publishers) blogged about why "personal experience" stories have a hard time finding a home with publishers.

I (Laura Christianson of Blogging Bistro) blogged about writers' conferences in general, and I included a picture of the lovely people who attended my Branding Continuing Class.

What about you? Have you been blogging about your experiences at the FCWC? If so, please include a link to your post(s) in the Comments area.

Stay tuned for a slideshow of the conference. If you have great pix, please send me low-res versions of your best shots. Or better yet, send me a link to a slideshow of conference pictures you've uploaded to a photo sharing site. I'll share the link on this blog. My address is laura@bloggingbistro.com.

The Cardinal Sin of Writers’ Conferences

2010-03-01T08:00:00.002-05:00

At a writers’ conference, I sat with one of my editor friends during lunch. Another conferee joined our table and proceeded to share her life story with the editor (completely ignoring everyone else at the table).

She droned non-stop in a loud voice for 45 minutes (I kid you not!). The editor listened politely, nodding occasionally.

At the end of her monologue, the conferee announced, “The Holy Spirit gave me the gift of gab.”

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Writers’ conferences have unwritten rules of social etiquette. Here are five to engrave on your heart:

Listen more than you speak.
Ask questions that show you’re interested in others.
When you’re chatting with others, observe their body language. If their eyes are flitting all over the room and they’re fidgeting, it’s time for you to stop talking.
When you share a meal with others, give everyone an opportunity to speak before you chime in.
Don’t use 100 words when 10 will do.

Conferees and conference faculty: what "rules" for conference etiquette would you add?

9 Tips for Getting Your Manuscript Accepted

2010-02-25T08:00:00.002-05:00

By Jevon Bolden
FCWC 2010 Faculty

Because of the work that I do, I am often asked, “How can I get my book published?”

I know that they are not asking what is the process for submitting a manuscript to a publisher. They are asking, “How can I get accepted and see my book on bookstore shelves across the country.”

This is a very legitimate line of questioning that basically gets past all the diplomacy and straight to the point: “How can I guarantee that I will get published?” I have to admit that other editors and I find ourselves asking the same question to each other as we review unsoliciteds or plan strategies for acquiring new authors.

And of course, what better topic to squeeze into my blog called “Embrace the Impossible” than how to get a book published, ’cause that’s what it can seem like (impossible) when you have a book and no publisher wants to give you the time of day.

But let me just share this truth with you: book publishing is a tight market if you can only see yourself being published using traditional models. Expand your horizons a bit and consider investing in your own dream, and your options may open up a bit more. There are still a few publishers that accept unsolicited manuscripts, but even though they do, many of the unsoliciteds are only accepted for copublishing or print-on-demand agreements. But that is not really a bad thing. There have also been many traditionally published authors who began with copublishing or even self-publishing and were later acquired for contracts that followed a more traditional model of publishing.

So becoming a published author may depend on your definition and expectation of what “getting published” means.

There are several models of publication that may meet and exceed your expectations, so take the time to get to know what’s out there, and follow the nine tips I put together with the hope of helping you increase the likelihood of being published. They are based on what I have observed and even desired to see when reviewing unsolicited manuscript submissions and from my many meetings and discussions with other editors.

Also know that none of what I say below will guarantee any kind of publication. We’re talking about increasing chances, people, not a guaranteed win. There is a high risk of rejection in this industry, but most things of high value carry a great risk of failure. So don’t give up after one try. Try, try, and try again!

1. Follow the instructions given to prospective authors on the publishers Web site to a T.

I know you may be anxious to be like Nike and just do it, but please oh please slow down enough to see what publishers need from you to make a good decision about the work you submit to them.

Carefully read the instructions that they have posted on our Web site. Do they accept submissions by mail or online? Do they require a full or partial manuscript? I know that it has been my preference to see a completed manuscript, especially from a first-time author and especially with a work of fiction, so that I can get a full grasp on their message and what they are trying to say.

Can this author tell a good story and captivate their audience, leaving them wanting more? A proposal or submission application alone will not do, a synopsis alone will not do, and an e-mail describing your book to me will not do.

Another reason to have your book completed at the time of submission is so that the reviewing editor can determine the best season for when your book should be released. Books about health and weight loss do well in January right after the holidays and in the spring right before bikini season. Books about politics do well in the fall around election time. Then there are topics that are trendy or attached to a fad that need to be released right away or at other strategic times because their unique selling point quickly becomes extinct.

From approved proposal to when your book lands on the street, it can take as long as twenty months to as little as six weeks to see your book on the shelves. So having it finished is a big advantage for you. You never know, your topic may be so hot that we have to fast track it!

2. Use the book proposal submission form they provided.

Some publishers provide a form for you to fill out and return with your manuscript. Others want you to submit a basic query. But most often the kind of information needed includes the authors contact information; suggested title of the work; a brief summary; the book’s message, benefits, and unique qualities; why readers will want to or need to read the book; who the audience is; author bio; promotional opportunities that the author already has open to him/her; endorsements from other notable leaders in the author’s field or in mainstream media that would draw attention to the book; and has the work been published before.

The proposal or the submission application is probably the most important piece to me when I pull an unsolicited file out to review. If the person didn’t include the book proposal form, I am basically at a loss. Sure, I could finger through the mass of papers that is their ever-so-delicate work, but I have thirty others to review in the one hour we barely can spare to review them. I don’t have the time to do that.

I also want to be able to judge fairly quickly if the author has a handle on who they are writing for and if they have a sturdy platform on which to build a publishing career around. So if the proposal or application is missing, I usually write a note on the folder to the editorial assistant to send it back to the author requesting more information and that they fill out the proposal form, and I do not review or read the manuscript. This will of course increase the writer’s waiting time and affect the timing on when the book could have been released in the marketplace.

Timing is everything. So just take the time and do it right on first submission. This is your future, your dream, and it is worth your time to pay it careful attention.

We don’t need any special graphics or creative fonts, family photos, crayon-colored pictures, magazine cutouts, or any other glittered, glued, or taped craft that further illustrates your story. Just be simple, professional, have good spelling and grammar, and have confidence and take pride in the work you are submitting.

When I do come across a nicely organized, fully completed proposal form with full manuscript attached (which rarely happens, unfortunately), I know I can quickly assess if this one is for us or not. I can send it on for further review, and, depending on if the author followed the rest of my steps, publication is almost guaranteed with one of our imprints.

3. Specifically define whom you are writing your book for.

We get a majority of submissions that say their audience is anyone who ever lived and breathed, anyone who ever went through this situation or knows someone who did, anyone who is young or old, anyone who ever went to church, anyone who ever had a mom or dad, and on and on.

You would think that I am being sarcastic, but people really are this broad with their audience. Or you might be one of those people who is wondering what’s wrong with that kind of audience. The problem with an audience that large is an unfocused manuscript and the teeny tiny chance that what you have to say will meet everyone’s needs, preferences, and desires.

What you want to do is identify that one corner of the market that can relate to your story and build from there.

The kind of answers we look for is:

“I am writing for young Christian professionals between the ages of 25 and 40.”
“My book is geared toward African Americans who are socially and politically active between the ages of 35 and 55.”
“I wrote this book based on my testimony to help men and women who still suffer from the effects of childhood sexual abuse.”

4. Know your subject.

Make sure that you have researched the topic you are writing on and have up-to-date information, statistics, and sources.

Are you an expert or professional in the area that you are writing?
Do you have firsthand experience with the topic you are writing about?
What qualifies you to be able to write on this topic?

5. Know who the publisher is, whom they publish, who their audience is, and so on.

I work for a Christian book publisher. We do not publish secular or nonreligious books. If your book seems to be in opposition to God and Christianity, we probably won’t publish it. We do allow for various interpretations of Scripture and Christian beliefs and doctrine.

My editorial director is famous in our department for saying, “We let them dangle over the edge of the abyss, but we don’t let them go in.” So there is some flexibility and creativity in the kind of books we publish.

Other publishers have their niches as well. Take time to browse best-seller lists and the bookstore shelves and see who is writing what and who publishes what is written. Research the books and authors you enjoy reading. Who publishes them? Find books that cover the same topic or are a part of the same genre as your book. Research the publisher on the copyright page and find out what kind of people read their books. Take notes, and you’ll begin to see who your audience is.

6. Get to know and understand the book publishing industry as a whole and especially the genre for which you are writing.

It is important that you follow the recommendations and advice about publishing that are already out there from proven professionals. There is wisdom in that. Don’t try to be so cutting edge and different that nobody knows what you’re doing. Watch the trends in the market. Get a feel for what readers want to know and whom they like to get their information or entertainment from.

Don’t live in a bubble and say, “I don’t need any direction. What I have stands out and is unique.”

Don’t get me wrong; unique is good. But if something is too different, it’s just weird and scary. The book industry is relationship oriented. We cannot afford to weird people out or scare them, else no one will buy our books. You may not be one who cares what people think, but if you want them to read your book and care about the things you’ve written about, you may want to start caring about what matters to them. The writer/reader relationship is a two-way street. You gotta give a lot to get a little! Oops! Did I say that right?

Get on Twitter and Facebook and locate profiles of prospective publishers and their editors, agents, authors, and such, and see what they are blogging about. Connect with trade publications like Writer’s Digest. Join the conversation, and stay in the mix!

7. Consider having your ideas vetted through an agent, a writer’s group or workshop, or a good freelance book editor or writer.

Your friends and family are sweet people, I’m sure, but they will not give you the objective perspective you need for your book. They love you and want the world to know who you are so the world can know who they are. No, but seriously consider joining a writer’s group that meets a couple times a month to discuss each other’s works. One of the most valuable classes I took in college was a poetry workshop. We sat in roundtable style and spent the whole class time reading each other’s work and discussing it with candor and honesty. The main advice given to me: show; don’t tell.

Having a publishing professional like an agent or editor review your work and give you some feedback isn’t a bad idea either (not to mention that most publishers only receive manuscripts handed to them by agents). They can give you an objective and very valuable critique. There may be a cost involved, but what thing of value doesn’t have a cost?

8. Know your personal goals for the project you are writing.

How far do you want it to go? Do you want a national and international stage, or do you just want to have a published book as a memorabilia? What type of publishing would you like to use? Traditional, copublishing, self-publishing, or some hybrid of all of those?

You also have to be realistic about what you are willing to put into the process of marketing and promoting your book. The days of publishers putting hundreds of thousands of dollars into the hands of a first-time author are over. As you’ll see in the next tip, who you are in your professional and personal life as well as who you are willing to become play a big part in how far you go with your book project.

9. Have a personal/professional brand.

Many times what publishers hope to see is a platform or venue that the author already has that they can tag onto to help them push the author onto a more visible stage, using some of the networks and connections the publisher has. The smaller your sphere of influence, the harder it is for publishers to get people to want to know what you know. Publishers invest a lot of money into each book project they take on. Their hope is to recoup the investment and then some so that they can continue on as a business.

So when you think about getting published, realize that the company you are querying is a business with strategies to make profit. Consider how you would fit in with this fact: Where are you with the market you hope to reach? Are you an influencer? Do people want to know what you have to say? Would they pay to have your opinion?

If you think you need time to develop these areas, copublishing is one of our many publishing models that can help with that. Copublishers work with new authors to develop marketing plans and strategies that include radio, TV, speaking engagements, book signings, and the like. But you have to be willing to be thoughtful in your submission, consider who you are submitting to, know your audience, be an expert in your field, have well-defined publishing goals, and be willing to develop a personal or professional brand.

Jevon Bolden is a developmental editor for Strang Book Group. The projects she focuses on are political/social issues, religion, diet/fitness, alternative health, self-help and motivation, career strategy, finances, and business ethics. Jevon is excited about reviewing manuscripts and meeting with authors at the conference. A graduate of the University of Alabama with a BA in English, Jevon is also a worship leader, wife, mom, and blogger.

My First Rejection Opened Other Doors

2010-02-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

By John Vonhof
2010 FCWC faculty

I attended my first writers’ conference in 1996. With visions of success, I had a book idea and a manuscript. It would catch the eye of an editor. It was a book about pastoral search – helping vacant churches find a pastor. I thought I had a winner.

Then I got my manuscript back. Yes, there was red ink. Lots. Apprehensive, I read the comments. No market. Too small a market. Not for me. Needs work. Not marketable. And more. I went home rejected.

But I believed in my book. I went home and did my homework. First, I taught myself how to do layout, design, and marketing – and in 1997 self-published my search book. Second, I researched the market and found an interdenominational publishing house, the Alban Institute. In 1999, Alban took my book and published it as The Alban Guide to Managing the Pastoral Search Process.

Has it been a best seller? No. It is a niche market book with a select audience. But, it has continued to sell year after year. Then ten years later, in 2009, I pitched a second edition to my editor at Alban. The revision, now called The Pastoral Search Journey, will be out this month.

That first rejection taught me a valuable lesson. Another lesson I never forgot was a woman sharing her book idea at another conference. It was a book for parents about protecting their children at school. The speaker told her it was not a workable idea. Several years later Columbine happened and the value of her book was evident to me. I don’t know what happened to her idea.

What’s my point?

Believe in your idea – but be willing to think outside the box if your idea is rejected.
Study the market.
Seek advice from freelancers at the conference. Most have had the same experience and can give you a fresh perspective.
Spend time brainstorming how your idea can be modified or enhanced to make it better.
Study other book that are similar. Realize that there are other publishers and research other markets.
Work with a critique group to gain valuable insights to improve your proposal and manuscript.

I love talking to new writers who are struggling to find a home for their writing. It’s refreshing to hear their enthusiasm. If you come to Florida and need a listening ear, find me. I’d love to talk.

John Vonhof is teaching the pre-conference session, Thinking Like an Editor; three workshops: Fine-tuning your Writing Niche, Writing and Publishing an E-book, and Taking Your Writing Beyond Paper; plus two After Hours.

Does Your Manuscript Need CPR?

2010-02-23T08:00:00.003-05:00

By Linda Gilden
2010 FCWC Faculty

Have you ever finished a manuscript only to feel like it needs a breath of fresh air?

Have you poured your heart out on paper only to find that your story has no heart at all?

Do you have an article or book proposal that has made the rounds and every response is flat-lined?

You need Manuscript CPR!

Manuscript CPR invites full time conferees to bring two manuscripts for consultation with freelance writers. Manuscripts in this category include those that may have been rejected, need a final polish, or seem “flat” and need suggestions to improve them to “wow” a waiting editor!

Professional writers in every genre are anxious to help bring your work to life. On the spot they will read your manuscript and give you their expert critique and marketing advice.

Be sure to come by and sign up to meet with one of our professional writers. Bring your manuscript and let someone help you revive and revitalize your work.

Don’t wonder if there’s merit in what you have written. Of course there is! Let our professional writers help you get your work ready to pitch to an editor.

Linda Gilden is an experienced writer, speaker, editor, and writing coach. Author of the popular Love Notes series, Mommy Pick-Me-Ups and many ghostwritten books as well as hundreds of magazine articles, Linda Gilden loves to help others discover that “Aha!” moment in their writing. www.lindagilden.com

Music in Prose and Song

2010-02-22T08:00:00.001-05:00

By Jeanne Gowen Dennis
2010 FCWC Faculty

When I told a beginning writer that I’m teaching a continuing class at the Florida Christian Writers Conference called Beyond Words: Writing Great Prose, she said, “Prose? That’s poetry that doesn’t rhyme, right?”

Wrong. Prose is language without meter or rhyme—ordinary language. However, I hope by the end of our six hours together your writing will be anything but ordinary.

We’ll examine examples of excellent prose and explore how we can make our words sing by employing the art, life, meaning, and truth inherent in language. Our in-class writing exercises should be fun, as well, and will help us all grow as writers.

Speaking of words that sing, I’ll also be leading two night-owl sessions for songwriters. On Friday and Saturday nights, we’ll discuss the art of songwriting and the elements that make great songs. Feel free to bring along your own songs, melodies, and lyrics. We’ll critique and encourage one another and maybe do a little jamming and praise singing, as well.

I’m looking forward to meeting new writers, renewing old acquaintances, and hugging old friends. If you’re still undecided about attending, don’t miss it. This is going to be a great conference with something for everyone—whether you knew the definition of prose or not.

When The Writing Gets Tough … Fighting Discouragement and Despair

2010-02-17T08:00:00.002-05:00

By Shellie Arnold
2010 FCWC Faculty

Being a writer can be euphoric … and lonely. Discouragement and despair threaten to ambush us at every turn. Knowing our strengths and weaknesses as writers and individuals is crucial to avoiding the writer’s “emotional” pit.

You can identify your strengths and weaknesses, and with God’s help, create a plan to stay out of that pit. Come and join me for a Thursday (March 4) Night Owl Session and learn how to work with God, to make your writing all He intends it to be.

Shellie Arnold is a freelance author and home school mom. She writes and speaks on marriage and family issues. To contact Shellie visit www.shelliearnold.com.

How to Enjoy Your Conference Experience

2010-02-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

By Renee Gray-Wilburn
2010 FCWC faculty member

I remember being anything but relaxed at my first writers’ conference—mostly because I had no idea what to expect. I was intimated by all the amazing writers and editors around me, and I didn’t realize how fast paced and jam-packed the days would be.

I was completely overwhelmed. Since then, I’ve done better at preparing and learning to enjoy the whole conference experience.

Here’s what I’ve learned that may help you truly enjoy your time at the Florida Christian Writers’ Conference:

Dress comfortably. You may think this goes without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway: women, no high heels, and men, no ties (I’ve actually seen both at conferences.). If you’re like me, your enjoyment level is directly proportional to your comfort level. Do yourself a favor and wear something (especially shoes) that will be comfortable ALL day. You still want to make a good impression, so no cut-off sweat pants, but you get the idea.

Meet new people. At my first conference I mainly kept to myself and just observed. Many writers have similar experiences. But consider a writers’ conference a safe haven where you can—and should—step out of your comfort zone. If you come with writer friends or your critique group, I give you permission to ditch them from time to time! One of the most rewarding parts of a conference is the new people you meet.

Don’t always sell. Although there’s a time and a place to pitch your manuscript and tell people how awesome of a writer you are, don’t feel you need to sell yourself to everyone you meet. Be yourself and meet people just for the fun of it. Don’t look at everyone as a potential sale for your writing. Others will appreciate that much more, and you won’t have the pressure of always being “on.”

Know what to expect. Here’s where your prep time comes in, and where I failed miserably at my first conference. Familiarize yourself with the conference schedule to plan where to be when. Thoroughly research the publishers, agents, and faculty so you can choose who to meet with. Always have Plan B choices for appointments and workshops in case of cancellations. Finally, make note of break times, meal times, and locations of workshops and appointments.

Schedule time for yourself. Make the most of your breaks and downtime. Use this time to do something you enjoy, like shopping, resting, or relaxing with friends, as well as spending time seeking the Lord. There’s so much “buzz” at conferences, it’s hard to get quiet with your own thoughts. You’ll benefit greatly from taking time to connect with God to hear what He’s saying to you as you meet new people and make your workshop rounds. Who knows what divine appointments He may have in store?

Be anxious for nothing! Don’t panic if you can’t meet with the editor you wanted to or if you get a bad report on a manuscript you thought would be a slam-dunk. God is in control (if you’ve asked Him to be)! He sees the end from the beginning and has prepared the perfect path to get you there. Nothing happens by accident or coincidence. Put everything into His very capable hands, and refuse to worry.

Prepare and plan to your heart’s content. But also…pray, relax, and get ready to enjoy yourself!

Renee Gray-Wilburn writes for business, children’s, adult nonfiction, and Christian markets. Her articles have appeared in Focus on the Family’s parenting and children’s magazines, Grand magazine, KidZone, The Christian Communicator, and others. She’s a contributor to several Cup of Comfort and Guidepost anthologies, and has co-authored eight children’s curriculum books. Stop by her new blog at: awaywithwordswriting.wordpress.com

Characters, Characters Everywhere … But My Story’s Going Nowhere

2010-02-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

By Shellie Arnold
2010 FCWC Faculty

Do you have an idea for a novel, but don’t know where to start? You need great characters.

Are you stuck in your story and don’t know why? The problem might be your characters. Knowing their hair color or pet’s name isn’t enough. You have to know what makes your characters tick and why they are who they are, before you can translate it to the printed page.

Want to make readers care about your characters? Give them characters they can sink their teeth into. Come learn this step-by-step process for building believable, powerful characters.

(This workshop is tentatively scheduled for Friday, March 5, 2010)

Shellie Arnold is a freelance author and home school mom. She writes and speaks on marriage and family issues. To contact Shellie visit www.shelliearnold.com.

Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

2010-02-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

Eva Marie Everson
Fiction Mentoring Project Instructor, 2010 FCWC

Remember the song by Elton John and KiKi Dee? The year was 1976 and people dressed funny. Well, okay. Elton John dressed funny and Ki Ki wore pink overalls.

The point is, no one likes their heart broken, do they? And no one likes to hear that there is something wrong with their baby. Yet, week after week and month after month we writers drag ourselves to our respective critique groups saying, “I want you to read this and tell me what I can do to make it better.”

Often translated: Tell me that you love it. Don’t break my heart on this one. I’ve worked so hard … so long … read all the right books … self-edited my little heart out.

Anyone who has been a part of a critique group for any period of time knows the personalities who make them. We get the “God told me to write this and not allow anyone to change a word” folks. We hear the “I hope you like it; my mother said it was wonderful” lines. Rarely do our ears behold, “Rip it to shreds. Make it better. Heck, make it the best!”

The Background Story

In 1997 I was invited to a new writers group starting at the church I attended. Five hopefuls (including myself) showed up. We developed a system which allowed two people per month to be critiqued. But when our group grew, that system stopped working.

One Saturday, a newcomer walked into our midst. Bryan Davis. (Yeah, that one.) He watched how we did things and then suggested something he called “cold critique.” What was that, we wondered. Bryan explained that anyone who wanted to bring a piece (up to a certain number of words), could. There should be enough copies for everyone. The person to the right of the critique-ee would read. The person to the left would start the critique. At first I thought, “I’m not sure if this will work.” But within an hour, Bryan had us all convinced.

Since that time, Word Weavers (the name of our group) has grown enormously … and not just in numbers. A great many of our members are published and multi-published. Why? Because we’ve learned not only the art of critique, but the value of it as well.

Mentoring & Me

For years now I’ve been teaching first one thing and then another at writers conferences. A few times I’ve been asked to teach on subjects I had no idea about. So I learned and then I taught. But two years ago I was asked to lead a workshop on something I know a lot about: the art and value of on-the-spot critique.

We call them “mentoring sessions” and for the conferee they are of great worth. Below are the top five reasons you should consider one:

A sense of “team” is established. Suddenly (and we try not to use the word “suddenly”) this is no longer just your piece but rather the piece of the group. Now there are others in our court who commit to praying for us as we write and re-write, as we submit and submit again. And again. They are there for us when things look bleak and they’ll party – even with miles and miles of distance – when we get the news we’ve been waiting for.
The areas we knew were weak are exposed and by that revealing, they are strengthened. Most of us don’t go to Bally’s or Curves because we’re firm but because our muscles need some attention. They are our weak points. In a mentoring workshop, we openly ask others to show us those places that need strengthening. Do we use certain words repeatedly (my editor tells me I use “a bit” in excess. Now I know to look for it.)? What about the overuse of adverbs and adjectives? Those pesky clichés? What if we are writing in passive voice and just don’t realize it? Do we have all the elements of dialogue – tags, quotation marks, etc. – correct? Are we staying within the rules of grammar? Or, at the very least, do we know the rules enough to know why we’ve broken them?
We find what does work. We learn our areas of strength and can then build upon it. These may be areas we didn’t even realize were our finer moments.
Our readers are important. Those sitting around the table – including the director – are essentially our readers. Getting the work past an editor and then the publishing board is one thing, but if your potential readers don’t get your work, you’ll be a one hit wonder.
We have the opportunity to talk about the market. You know the old adage, “Two heads are better the one,” right? Well, think of what we may glean concerning the current trends, where the market is heading, etc. with nine other people sitting around a table.

Check it Out!

Something I love to do in my mentoring classes is a game whereby I give a list of paired-off sentences. They both look correct, but only one is. The winner gets a prize. It’s fun. Actually, the whole experience is fun … it’s not a heart-breaking experience at all.

I promise.

Eva Marie Everson is an award-winning author of both fiction and nonfiction books. Her book Reflections of God's Holy Land was a finalist for both the ECPA Book of the Year/Inspiration & Gift and Foreword Magazines Book of the Year/Travel Essays. She will lead the fiction mentoring project. For more information as to what to bring to the workshop, contact Eva Marie @ EvaMarieEverson@aol.com

Gearing up for the Conference

2010-02-09T08:00:00.002-05:00

By Billie Wilson
Conference Director

We’re ramping up for the greatest FCWC ever! Jerry Jenkins and Cec Murphey are keynoters, and we've scheduled a ton of eager editors and agents to have a look at your manuscripts.

Plus, you'll have access to top freelancers, who can give your awkward or ailing manuscript CPR on the spot.

If you haven't yet registered for the conference, scheduled for March 4-7, I want you to know that we have received additional lodging from the Lake Yale Conference Center. Please pass the word along to your writer friends -- THERE IS STILL TIME TO REGISTER for the entire conference. Several partial scholarships are available.

If you’d like to apply for a scholarship, send (or e-mail) a brief bio, snippet of your current writing projects, and a brief explanation of your financial need to:

Billie Wilson, FCWC Director
2344 Armour Ct.
Titusville, FL 32780

Fax: 321-747-0246
Email: billiewilson@cfl.rr.com

If you miss the deadline for mailing a manuscript for editorial review, bring your writing projects with you and turn them in when you arrive.

Branding Yourself for Maximum Impact - Continuing Class

2010-02-08T08:00:00.001-05:00

By Laura Christianson
2010 FCWC Faculty

A Utah mother had the name of a casino tattooed on her forehead in inch-tall block letters to raise funds for her son to attend private school. The publicity stunt garnered her—and the casino—worldwide media attention.

While you won’t be auctioning off space on your forehead, you do need to understand why branding is the central first step in expanding your writing or speaking career.

Branding doesn’t have to be painful, either. During this hands-on Continuing Class, you’ll CRAFT a Consistent, Relevant, Attractive, Frequent, Targeted brand message that sears itself into your audience’s memory.

We're going to do some fun (and wacky) activities during this course. If you have a laptop and an extension cord, bring it to class -- we're going online! If you don't bring a laptop, you're still welcome to join us... we'll share. Here's an overview of what you can expect during our six hours together:

Session 1
WHAT'S YOUR STORY?
Identifying your core values

A strong brand reflects the values you hold most dear. We’ll discuss what branding is—and isn’t—and you’ll pinpoint unique qualities about yourself that you can begin developing into a stellar brand.

Session 2
BULLSEYE
Aiming for your target audience

Your audience is finicky, fickle, and narcissistic at heart; before they “buy” your story, they want to know, “What’s in it for me?” You’ll learn how to identify your target audience and how to build a brand that meets their needs and desires.

Session 3
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
Crafting your brand’s promise statement

Similar to a 30-second “elevator pitch,” your brand’s promise must engage your audience. You’ll learn how to avoid muddling your message and you’ll prepare a promise with pizzazz.

Session 4
GROUP HUG
Building brand loyalty

People bond with your brand when you promote it compellingly. You’ll learn how to guide and influence your brand so it makes a consistent emotional connection with your target audience.

Session 5
THE ESSENTIAL BRAND IDENTITY KIT, PART 1
Designing dynamic marketing materials

Your marketing materials must reflect and promote your brand. You’ll learn how to enhance your brand with a logo, business card, stationery package, sales brochures, and other print pieces.

Session 6
THE ESSENTIAL BRAND IDENTITY KIT, PART 2
Optimizing your brand on the Internet

Your Web site will likely serve as the hub for all your branding efforts. You’ll learn how to solidify your brand via a Web site, blog, and social media such as Twitter and Facebook.

In addition to managing the blog, Facebook, and Twitter accounts for the Florida Christian Writers' Conference, Laura Christianson owns Blogging Bistro, an Internet marketing company based in Seattle, WA. This will be her second year teaching at the FCWC. Laura looks forward to having a "tweetup" with her fellow social media addicts at the conference.

The One-Sheet Method: Making a Great Pitch

2010-02-04T08:00:00.001-05:00

By Shellie Arnold
2010 FCWC Faculty

Does the idea of making a pitch to an editor or agent fill you with dread? Do you try to practice and plan, but don’t know where to begin?

Join me Thursday, March 4, to learn about the One-sheet method.

The One-sheet method can help you focus and make a great pitch to editors and agents. This method can be used for fiction projects, non-fiction works, and by writers and speakers as a means for marketing. Come learn how to fuse your pitch and personality into a customized representation of you and your message.

Shellie Arnold is a freelance author and home school mom. She writes and speaks on marriage and family issues. To contact Shellie visit www.shelliearnold.com.

Fundamentals of Christian Art?

2010-02-02T08:00:00.003-05:00

Part 2 of 2

By Zena Dell Lowe
2010 FCWC Faculty

Now that we know what it looks like to be a Christian Artist, we can start exploring the idea of what kind of art a Christian Artist makes.

This is a very tricky question because again, a Christian artist is just an artist who happens to be a Christian. Consequently, there is no complete list of rules we get to follow in order to ensure we are glorifying God in our work. That's why we must be in fellowship with other Christian Artists.

As Flannery O'Connor says:

“The Christian writer does not decide what is good for the world and then proceed to deliver it. Like a very doubtful Jacob, he enters into the struggle and wonders if he will come out at all.”

There are no black and white rules. There are only principles and guidelines. Just as a Christian baseball player "plays the game" differently than his secular teammates, so also does the artist who happens to be a Christian. There are, then, a few guidelines I would like to suggest, and/or a few elements that might be included or present in artwork created by a Christian.

As I mentioned before, when most people consider what the goal ought to be for Christian fiction, they automatically assume that the goal is to be “non-offensive” in terms of sex, language and violence. But the problem with that standard is that it only describes a void. It doesn’t give any creative guidance.

As Barbara Nicolosi pointed out, “A lot of Christians lauded the release Walk to Remember mainly on this basis: It didn’t have any bad language and the two teenagers didn’t sleep together.”

Now I enjoyed the film as much as the next guy. Nevertheless, this kind of movie can't be the goal of Christian artists. It was decent. But it wasn't great. It was a trite, predictable story with underdeveloped characters and humdrum acting and overly sweet dialogue. It wasn’t a good movie because of what it didn’t have. Entertainment is a positive, not a void. A story is great because of what it offers, not because of what it lacks.

So if Christian art is not art that lacks sex, language, and violence, what ingredients should we look for to identify a so called Christian work? Again, the fundamental rule must be:

TELL THE TRUTH

“The secular novelist sees what is visible; the Christian novelist sees what is there.” Frank Sheed

“The Christian writer lives in a larger world.” Flannery O’Connor

“I would rather see an R-rated truth than a G - rated lie.” Act One

The problem with showing sex and violence is not that we show too much, but rather that we show too little. We need to show the full consequences of sin, the whole picture. Don't stop short. Tell the whole truth.

Be true to your characters. Sometimes people do bad things. How can you show the redemption if you fail to show the depravity? Look at the Bible for an example. Lot slept with his daughters. David saw Bathsheeba bathing on the rooftop - a pretty erotic voyeuristic image. He then slept with her, got her pregnant, set up her husband, and then committed pre-meditated murder to cover up his sin.

If the Bible were a movie, it would be rated R because of the content. God himself didn't hide behind pretty pink bows and a false world. He dealt with real issues. But HOW we deal with these issues makes all the difference in the world.

DO NOT VIOLATE YOUR AUDIENCE

We MUST tell the truth, the whole truth, about our character, his world, and his choices. If we don't, we will not succeed in effecting the audience towards real change. However, in telling the truth, we must be more creative than our secular counterparts - because we are morally responsible to our audience. So here's the acid test - find a way to tell that truth without violating your audience.

Scott Derrickson gives a talk about his experiences in Hollywood called "A Christian's progress." In it, he describes the different camps he fell into as he wrestled with this question of the Christian artist's responsibility. His conclusion is that our only responsibility is to tell the truth.

But even here, he adds a condition. He writes, "If a creative work is going to have a primarily detrimental effect on the audience, then a Christian shouldn't participate in it.

Consider the TV commercial director who is trying to use his craft to sell shaving cream. His entire moral obligation is the creation of an excellent commercial that sells a product. For the Christian in Hollywood, excellence is the constant obligation, moving the audience AWAY from "the Good" is the forbidden practice, and moving the audience toward "the Good" is more often than not, the unique opportunity to be taken.”

There are several ways we can violate our audience. One way is to create visual images that are so disturbing that they literally damage the human being who views them. Often times sex scenes do this, which is why we have such a knee-jerk reaction to them.

We must remember we answer to God, and I certainly don’t want to be responsible for causing my audience to sin in lust as they read my book or watch my film. However, my story might be a lie if I don’t include some kind of sex scene. So what am I to do? Find a way to show it without damaging your audience. That’s all, and it’s everything.

YOU CAN'T HAVE REDEMPTION WITHOUT DEPRAVITY

There is a mystery in every human person. “I am not a book to be read and understood, I am a man with all his inconsistencies.” Edith Stein

“The purpose of literature (stories) is to reveal to man his hidden greatness.” Pascal

One of the paradoxes of the Christian experience is how we can endure both terrible suffering and have intense joy at the same time without any sense of contradiction. We are complex, complicated people because we’ve been created in God’s own image. And every human being has the potential for grace, redemption, greatness and hope.

But at the same time, we have this terrible propensity for sin. We are capable of such evil. We are depraved – which doesn’t mean we’re as bad as we possibly can be all of the time. But rather, we are infected with sin at every level of our humanity – our intellect, our emotions, our thoughts, our dreams.

So at any given crossroads, our decisions or thought processes can go astray and lead us away from our Creator. We need to be willing to portray this truth about the human condition. We need to be willing to explore the sinful realm that so infects our humanity.

As the great Christian novelist Flannery O’Connor noted, “Redemption is meaningless unless there is a cause for it in the actual life we live.”

SOME CLOSING WORDS

We don't have to be afraid. We are free to tell the truth. And we are challenged to become even better, more creative artists in so doing, which gives God all the more glory, since he is well pleased with those who seek excellence.

We follow the example of Jesus, who was in the world, but not of the world, who hung out with sinners and told parables and stories, so that those sinners might find Him. When Jesus told parables, they rarely mentioned God. Yet when Christians write fiction that does not directly or overtly mention God or Christ, we are suspect. This should not be. Our goal is not to save people or evangelize. Rather, we endeavor to write great stories to the best of our ability, and glorify God with our lives in the process. And we do this not by writing “Christian” fare, but by engaging and infiltrating mainstream culture.

My hope is that Christians will be major players in Hollywood in the next five to ten years, not because they are writing "Christian" movies, but because they are telling GREAT STORIES with EXCELLENCE. If we can do this, we can truly change the world one movie at a time.

The Calling & Responsibility of the Christian Artist

2010-02-01T08:00:00.002-05:00

Part 1 of 2

By Zena Dell Lowe
2010 FCWC Faculty

For the last fifteen years, I’ve been blessed to work in the entertainment industry. I’ve had a variety of jobs, from being an administrative assistant, executive, actress, production assistant, script supervisor, sound girl, and grip to being the writer, director, producer, and project creator on a variety of projects.

I’ve also had the unique opportunity to work as the former associate director of Act One: Writing for Hollywood, a training program for Christian writers pursuing mainstream entertainment industry careers.

And God has allowed me to teach in other venues as well, as an adjunct professor of writing at Covenant College in Georgia, and also at Christian writers conferences around the country. But whatever role I’ve played in Hollywood, my goal has always been the same – to work in the mainstream. I am not interested in producing art for the Christian subculture. I want to impact the culture at large.

This inevitably leads Christians to ask, “Why mainstream Hollywood? Why not write Christian films or novels?” “What does it mean to write mainstream, anyway?” “And how is it even possible if a person is truly a Christian? Wouldn’t it inevitably mean compromise?”

There is a lot of confusion in the Church about what it means to be a Christian writer. My goal is to provide a better understanding of what I believe it means to be a Christian artist, and give standards by which we should and can measure our work.

PART 1: WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN ARTIST?

Perhaps we can best understand the answer to this question by exploring a different one. What is a Christian baseball player? Most of us would have no difficulty here. Since there is no separate Christian baseball league, we would be able to say with confidence that a Christian baseball player is simply someone who plays baseball for a living who happens to be a Christian. But as such, there are some things that should set him apart.

1. MOTIVATION

Why does a man grow up to be a professional baseball player? Sure, there's lots of money in it once he gets to the "big show," but most baseball players never make it that far. And yet they still pursue the dream, playing for pennies in the minor leagues. So why does he do it?

If you say it's because he loves it, you're half right. But loving it isn't enough. You have to love it, but you also have to be good at it. I love Broadway musicals, but I'm not a great singer. So I can enjoy them from afar and I know not to waste my time trying to get cast in a Broadway show for which I just don't have the talent. To become a professional baseball player, you have to love it, but you also have to be good at it. So, the only reason to pursue a career as a writer or artist is because you are good at it.

2. GOAL

A Christian baseball player does not play baseball in order to save people. When he plays baseball, his goal is to play baseball in a way that honors God. But it is NOT TO EVANGELIZE. That happens off the field. If anyone gets saved, it will NOT be because of the home runs he hits or the triple plays he completes or the MVP awards he receives. Rather, it will be because of the personal relationships he has established along the way that have given him the opportunity to talk to people about his own relationship with Christ.

People who create art in order to save people are practicing lazy evangelism. They let themselves off the hook. Scripture clearly paints a picture of evangelism through the establishment of personal relationships. It is lazy to confer the task of evangelism to our work. If we want to witness to people, we must spend time with them. We must invest in them and intimately get to know them. This is the biblical picture of evangelism. Thus, the goal of a Christian writer is not evangelical, but pre-evangelical. Like John the Baptist, our goal is to prepare the way of the Lord.

Art has the ability to touch people in ways that straight-forward teaching cannot. It transcends typical human defensive barriers. It has the power to transform us from the inside out. When make-believe characters grapple with real-life hurts and follies, we are more willing and able to admit similar faults within ourselves. By exposing the truth of the human condition, a good story forces people to search for answers outside of themselves.

A Christian baseball player doesn’t play baseball in order to save people. That is not his goal. It would be absurd if it were. Rather, his goal is to play the game to the best of his ability and to glorify God in the process. We must go and do likewise, trusting that by committing ourselves to excellence and truthfulness, we inevitably direct people to God.

3. BEHAVIOR

A Christian baseball player behaves differently both on and off the field. In his regular life, a truly committed Christ-follower always endeavors to become more Christ-like. Integrity, honesty, humility, respect, authenticity – these are a few of his traits. In all things and at all times he models Christ-like character. In devoting himself to personal holiness and sanctification, his life inevitably manifests the Spirit’s fruit. It is the transformation of his moral character that proves his relationship to Christ.

On the field, his behavior also differs. It’s not what he does, but how he does it that makes the difference. For example, he doesn’t curse other players, or pick fights, or do the victory strut when he nails a home run. He also doesn’t object to the rules on moral grounds. It would be absurd if we heard a Christian baseball player say, “I don’t think it’s right to send a player to the bench after he strikes out, so I’m not going to do it.” No. He follows the rules. He plays the game. But he plays the game differently.

The same is true for the Christian writer. In our daily lives, we endeavor to seek Christ and put Him first. We don't lie, cheat, or steal to get in to see that publisher. Nor do we object to the rules on moral grounds and say, “I don't like the way the publishing world works so I'm not going to play that way.” No. You work within the established set of rules to pursue your career.

But there are other rules we need to follow as well – the ones that say you have to be excellent at your craft. Unfortunately, too many Christians suffer from the entitlement mentality. They think that because they have a message, they are exempt from doing the work.

Now don’t misunderstand me. I understand that all of us need faith to fulfill God’s call on our lives. We are all ill-equipped and inadequate, and therefore must rely on God’s abilities and not our own. But this is not the kind of “faith” to which I’m referring. I’m speaking of lazy faith – the kind that postures itself as spiritual, but is in reality an excuse to bypass the work that excellence requires. Christians, we must honor the God of all Creation by becoming craftsmen worthy of our calling. This is our "off the field" behavior.

But what about “on the field?” What does it look like for the Christian writer to honor God with our work? Or perhaps more to the point: What kind of art are we at liberty to create?

Unfortunately, when asked to define a "Christian movie," many people think in terms of no sex, no language and no violence. Indeed, these three ingredients become the sole criteria for evaluating art. As long as these three things are absent or very, very minimal, then we somehow feel the work has merit. But the absence of sex, language and violence only describes a void. A story isn't good because of what it lacks. It's good because of what it offers.

Act One founder and former executive director Barbara Nicolosi used to say, “I'd rather see an R-rated truth than a G-rated lie.” Sometimes it's a lie NOT to have our characters engage in sex, language, or violence. Even those of us who are most adamantly opposed to such things would make the occasional exception for the right project. For example, very few of us would reject “Schindler’s List” because it included sex, language and violence. In fact, the absence of these would illicit outrage because the story would be a lie.

The father of lies has one great goal: to turn us from the truth. Thus, the Christian’s greatest responsibility always is to know and see and proclaim Truth. If we were to “soften” Schindler’s List in order to uphold this false ideal of art, we would be doing an even greater violence to the world. We must tell the truth about the human condition.

All Truth points to God, the author of Truth Himself. To attempt to be nonoffensive by sugarcoating or softening our character’s situation is to be in league with the father of lies. Truth must be our guide, always and forever. The key is HOW we tell the truth.

Is This Your First Writers' Conference? Learn the Ropes from John Vonhof

2010-01-25T08:00:00.001-05:00

Here’s an overview of the three workshops John Vonhof will be teaching at the 2010 FCWC:

Thinking Like an Editor

This pre-conference evening workshop (included in your registration fee) focuses on making your conference the best possible by knowing how an editor thinks.

From an editor's point of view we’ll talk about:

your writing idea
perfecting your pitch
pitching your idea
making your proposal, sample chapters and articles right for their publishing house

Fine-tuning your Writing Niche

We'll look at fine-tuning our writing niche by exploring the importance of ideas, niches in various genres, keyword searches, market size and value, Web sites, and type of writing to exploit your niche.

Writing and Publishing an E-book

E-books are a great choice for writers.

We'll explore the best types of writing for an e-book, software, formatting, adding value, where to sell them, pricing, marketing, and resources. CD of resources for participants.

John Vonhof writes for Christian and secular markets. He is the author of self-published and mainstream books and booklets, with articles in print and on the web. He is an expert on finding ideas and writing for niche markets.

His niche book, Fixing Your Feet, is going to a 5th edition in 2011 while his book on The Pastoral Search Journey is being released in early 2010 in a 2nd edition.

John is the owner of www.WritersConferenceGuidelines.com, a Web site to help writers get the most out of attending a writers’ conference. He loves helping new writers discover their writing niche and how to market their writing.

The Power of Personal Experience

2010-01-18T08:00:00.001-05:00

By Sherri Langton
2010 FCWC Faculty

The August of my sixteenth year, I did something I’d never done: be a live-in babysitter for one week. The married couple (the man was my sister’s boss) wanted to attend a Christian camp in the Colorado mountains, and they offered me $25 to stay at the cabin and watch their four girls. I didn’t realize my guardian angel would be there as well.

The week had its challenges. I struggled to fit in with a family I barely knew. I came down with a bad case of homesickness and fought depression. The topper occurred the morning the adults attended their Bible study at the lodge. While the oldest girl, Kristin, was popping popcorn on the stove, the oil from the pan dripped on the gas flame. Poof! Instant ignition!

I remained amazingly calm. Telling the older girls to get help, I balanced the baby on my hip and turned off the burner. In seconds, the flames extinguished. By the time the adults made it back to see if the cabin had burned to the ground, all was well.

I earned more than 25 bucks that week; I got a wealth of material to make a story. Months later in my high school creative writing class, I poured my babysitting experience on paper and concluded it with what I’d learned: that nothing since that week in August had been too hard — for me or for my guardian angel.

My teacher loved the story. She awarded it an A and read it to the class.

I’ve come a long way since that creative writing class. Over the last twenty years, my personal experiences have appeared in magazines and book collections. With these and my work as an editor, I’ve learned the ingredients of a good story and what makes it marketable.

Would you like to know? Join me in my workshop From Personal Experience to the Printed Page at the upcoming Florida Christian Writers Conference. I look forward to hearing your stories!

Sherri Langton is associate editor of the Bible Advocate magazine and Now What? e-zine. She is also a freelance writer whose work has appeared in Focus on the Family, Discipleship Journal, Today’s Christian Woman, and other publications. Sherri has contributed to several book collections, including Chicken Soup for the Soul in Menopause. You can find her on Facebook.

Planning to Pitch Your Writing Project to an Editor or Agent? Follow These Guidelines

2010-01-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

By John Vonhof
2010 FCWC faculty

Sixteen years ago I went to my first writers’ conference. I was a rookie. I had my proposal and a sample chapter – such as they were. I had studied the list of speakers and knew who wrote what and who I wanted to talk to.

Looking back, I thought I had done my homework. I’m an analytical person, thinking things through and trying to plan ahead. I had a book idea. It was good. At least I thought so. But I went home with rejections. Deflated.

I returned year after year and kept learning. Having attended more than 36 conferences as participant and speaker, I’d like to share a few thoughts on planning for a conference.

At every conference, I talk to writers who are frustrated because they can’t interest an editor in their idea. Just like I was when I attended my first conference.

Let’s start with your writing idea. Whether it’s for a book or article, it must be the best you can do. Maybe you think it’s your best. But until you have studied the craft of writing and received feedback from others, it’s probably not your best. Here’s where critique groups come in. Join one if you can (on-line or face-to-face) and learn from the feedback of others. And don’t forget to read a book about writing in your genre.

The same goes for your proposal or query letter. It’s your responsibility to know how to write them. If you haven’t read a book about queries or proposals, take the time to do so and then implement what you learn. You have the opportunity to submit proposals, queries, articles, and sample chapters to the faculty. You want them to be professional.

How about your idea? Have you identified its audience? Is it large enough to make the publisher money through book or magazine sales? Publishing is a business and while we love our ideas, they have to stand on their own merits. Too small a market makes it hard for publishers to earn back expenses. An over done idea will be a hard sell. An idea whose time has come and gone will receive no support.

On the other had, an idea that has been thoroughly explored and vetted, an audience identified as well as how to reach them, is timely, has been written as close to perfect as possible, and is a good match for the publisher to whom it is being pitched, has a better chance of catching an editor’s interest.

Did you catch that last point – a good match for the publisher? Billie does a great job of getting publishers, editors and agents to the conference. Look over the faculty list and do your due diligence to learn what they publish. Spend a few hours exploring their Web sites to see what type of books they publish, or if a magazine, what articles they use. Find several that might be a good match for your writing. Your pre-conference submissions should go to these individuals.

Then at the conference, meet them and get feedback on your submission. Remember that the faculty at the conference is a small representation of the much larger Christian publishing industry. While you may not find a home for your writing at the conference, you will learn a lot to help you polish your work and this will help you submit to other publishers after the conference.

I love to talk to writers about their writing interests. Many are well thought out and with patience and perseverance, they will be published. Unfortunately, many others are not. When you decide to go to a writers’ conference, you need to make a plan that will not only help you be successful, but also the editors to whom you pitch your ideas.

If you want to learn what came out of my first ideas and rejections, ask me at the conference. It may inspire you. I took those rejections and turned them into a positive outcome.

John Vonhof writes for Christian and secular markets. He is the author of self published and mainstream books, with articles in print and on the web. He is an expert on finding ideas and writing for niche markets. His niche book, Fixing Your Feet, is going to a 5th edition in 2011 while his book on The Pastoral Search Journey is being released in early 2010 in a 2nd edition.

John is the owner of www.WritersConferenceGuidelines.com, a Web site to help writers get the most out of attending a writers’ conference.

8 Ways You Can Help Promote the FCWC

2010-01-08T19:57:00.011-05:00

The Florida Christian Writers’ Conference doesn’t hire paid staff to promote the conference, so we’d appreciate it if you would spread the word about the FCWC.

Here are eight things you can do:

If you’re attending or teaching at the conference, list the FCWC on your schedule of events (on your Web site, blog and social networking calendars).

Blog about your preparations for the conference.

Link to the conference from your Web site or blog’s “Favorite” links page (also known as a blogroll). The conference Web site is http://www.flwriters.org

Encourage others to become a fan on Facebook, and interact with other conferees on our Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/FloridaChristianWritersConference

Follow the conference on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/FLWritersConf

Tweet the following:

I’m attending the Florida Christian Writers’ Conference @FLWritersConf March 3-7. Hope to meet you there. #FCWC

(You can also tweet during the conference; if you do, use the hashtag #FCWC so those who can’t attend in person can vicariously experience the conference via everyone’s Twitter updates.)

Include a listing of the conference in your newsletters, e-zines, and mailings.

Mention the conference (word of mouth) as you interact with writers via e-mail or other venues. Encourage them to subscribe to our blog’s RSS feed so they’ll receive all the latest conference news (they can sign up on our blog: http://www.floridachristianwriters.blogspot.com/)

Embed the YouTube conference video on your blog, or forward the link to the video to others. Here’s the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ngeu0mMq4U

To grab the code to embed the video, click the "YouTube" logo in the lower righthand corner of the video. In the right sidebar of the video's YouTube page, click "Embed." It will highlight the code for you. Copy the code and paste it into the HTML area of your blog's text editor.

Here’s a conference logo you can upload to your Web site or blog:

Thanks for your help promoting the conference! Please share your own ideas for how to spread the word.

Join the Template Queen at the Florida Christian Writers’ Conference

2010-01-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

By Cheri Cowell
2010 FCWC Faculty

Over the years as I’ve taught at writers’ conferences, I’ve become known as the Template Queen. If it is a repetitive writing activity, rather than recreating the proverbial wheel each time that task is required, I look for ways to take the drudgery out by creating a template.

I have templates for cover letters, proposals, mailings, and press releases. Yet, the most requested of all of my templates is the one for query letters.

Queries are those one page letters written to an editor “selling them on your article or book idea.” Many people hate the query letter because they are so difficult to write. We only have one page to pitch our idea, sell our writing ability, and tout our credentials. In essence, this is your first and only chance to impress this editor so you need to put your best dress on.

Several months ago I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Israel as part of a small group of Christian journalists, BUT I needed to secure some writing assignments to assure the Ministry of Tourism I was someone worth sinking some money into. So, I pulled out my tried and trusted query template and at the end of the day, I’d created fifteen query letters. Of those fifteen letters sent, I received ten article assignments and landed two regular columnist gigs.

At one of the first writers’ conferences I attended, I learned about the six items covered in every query letter. I also learned of six “never dos,” which I will also share in my class, Learn to Write a Dynamite Query.

So, if queries have you puzzled, and if you would like to simplify this part of your writing life by learning my winning query writing process, come join me Friday afternoon. I’d love to share it with you.

Cheri Cowell has published over 250 articles in such magazines as Marriage Partnership and Ideals, and her second book, Making the Story Real: Speaking Christ Into a Changing Culture, is set to release from Beacon Hill this June.

Connect with Cheri through www.Twitter.com/CheriCowell and www.Facebook.com/CheriCowell or her website www.CheriCowell.com.

In addition to teaching two workshops at the FCWC, Cheri will be assisting in the Manuscript CPR room, where you will be able to bring your work-in-progress and receive one-on-one feedback from published authors.

Choosing a Biblical Writer as Role Model

2009-12-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

By Les Stobbe, Literary Agent
2010 FCWC Faculty

Who is your writing model?

As part of celebrating 90 years as a magazine for writers the Writer’s Digest introduces the “secrets” of best-selling writers whose writing appeared in the magazine. For decades many of them have become models for writers.

While I agree that we can learn a lot from these writers, early on in my writing career I decided to focus on biblical writers as my primary role models. I loved the transparency, the honesty of David; the lofty, God-centered writing of Isaiah that inspired Friedrich Handel, composer of The Messiah; the purpose-driven writing of the apostle John; and the reader-focused writing of the physician Luke, which inspired my address, “Earning the Right to Be Published.”

Yet it is the apostle Paul that I turn to most often when considering my writing style. I never get the feeling that he is writing solely for the sake of spilling his guts or unloading information. In every letter he figuratively looks the reader in the eye and focuses on issues raised in a communication that came to him.

Consider his opening statement in Romans 1:8-10:

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times, and I pray that now at least by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.”

In the next verses he continues interacting with the Romans before he gets to what he has heard is troubling them.

That’s why I chose to interview the apostle Paul on becoming “The Authentic Christian Writer,” one of my workshops at the Florida Christian Writers Conference.

10 Tips for a Terrific Writers’ Conference

2009-12-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

By Jerry B. Jenkins
2010 FCWC Keynote Speaker
Owner, Christian Writers Guild

Take it from one who has been to dozens of writers conferences over the last nearly 40 years in capacities ranging from first-time attendee to speaker: there are ways to maximize your experience.

You’ll be happier and more productive if you follow a few simple guidelines:

1. Plan your itinerary carefully and don’t include errands and intermediate stops that may make you late or wonder if you’ll be late. There’s enough pressure at a conference without adding to it.

2. Get as much sleep as possible the night before you leave home; it may be the last time you get enough for a few days. You’ll need every ounce of energy you can store.

3. Plan to arrive with time to spare so you don’t have to start running as soon as you show up. Leave time to settle in, gather your materials, find the meeting rooms, and get ready to learn.

4. You’ll stay up late enough with the scheduled activities, so resist the urge to stay up even later, despite all the new friends and acquaintances. If you’re a zombie by day two, you’ll regret it.

5. Choose your workshops carefully and buy recordings of the ones you hate to miss. If you need to skip one for a nap or an appointment with an editor or speaker, do it.

6. Bring a little more money than you think you need. If you still have it by the end of the conference, reward yourself by buying that extra book or resource you didn’t expect to find.

7. Don’t trust your memory. Take lots of notes and, if a speaker particularly inspires you, buy the recording , too. It’s a small investment for an experience you can re-live whenever you want to.

8. Bring business cards that include your address, phone, and email address. Be prepared to exchange cards with many new friends.

9. When meeting with an editor or speaker, be prepared, plan to make just a point or two, and do a lot of listening.

10. Develop a thick skin. Every piece of published writing is a duet between editor and writer, not a solo. If you just want someone to love your writing, show it to your mom.

Writers’ conferences are almost always feasts for the senses, but it’s easy to overload. Everything is new and unforgettable, until you try to rehearse it in your mind on the way home.

Free time is built in, so strive to make every general session. Often the speaker you’ve never heard of turns out to be your favorite.

Visit Jerry at the following sites:

Blog: http://jerryjenkins.blogspot.com/
Official Web site: http://www.jerryjenkins.com/
Christian Writers Guild: http://www.christianwritersguild.com/
Jenkins Entertainment (his movie company): http://www.jenkins-entertainment.com/

Finding Your Niche... or Not

2009-12-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

One of our 2010 faculty members, Renee Gray-Wilburn, recently launched a blog for writers called "A Way With Words Writing."

I love her tagline:

Encouraging and equipping those who love to write. Rescuing those who don't.

Renee shared links to some recent thought-provoking posts that I know you'll enjoy:

Finding your niche–or not

Renee writes:

"It’s good to be specific so you can begin to build your brand, and therefore your platform, and therefore sell your books. But wait…"

In the Hands of God

Renee asks: "Do you feel like a pencil in God's hand?"

Be sure to visit Renee's new blog and leave a comment!

What to Expect from Keynoter Jerry B. Jenkins

2009-12-07T06:00:00.001-05:00

By Karen Whiting

Jerry B. Jenkins is best known for the mega bestselling series Left Behind (co-authored with Tim LaHaye). He says he can’t take credit for its success, as it’s a phenomenon that spread by word of mouth.

I recently interviewed Jerry and asked what can we expect when he comes to the conference and gives a keynote talk. He remembers the time he was unpublished and unknown and hopes to be an example who inspires us all to persist. He will tell stories and weave in hints and tips to help writers. Jerry wants to engage his audience to be touched by stories, motivated to write better, and laugh with him. Hopefully we will all come ready to do that.

What is Jerry Jenkins like as a person? I barely know him, but in interviewing him, one answer spoke volumes about keeping a balance between relationships and work. Jerry said:

“I keep family first. Fortunately our sons are grown, but we have five grandchildren, soon six, and we believe in investing time in them. I write when I’m on deadline, and then it’s all I do. I get away and hunker down.”

Jerry recently made the move into social networking because colleagues and his publisher insist it’s the wave of the future. On his blog he invites writers to share their stories. He has found these outlets fun. It’s good to know he enjoys interacting with writers and readers.

The legacy he’d like to leave is simple, but shows his priorities. I’m honored we made it in to his list: “Husband, dad, grandfather, writer, and teacher of writers.”

So come to the conference in March and be prepared to listen to one of the men behind Left Behind.

To learn more about Jerry’s views on mentoring and his tips for getting published, check out my article on Suite 101.

You’ll also find Jerry at the following sites:

Blog: http://jerryjenkins.blogspot.com/
Official Web site: http://www.jerryjenkins.com/
Christian Writers Guild: http://www.christianwritersguild.com/
Jenkins Entertainment (his movie company): http://www.jenkins-entertainment.com/

Scholarships Available for 2010 Conference

2009-12-03T14:00:00.008-05:00

If you’d like to attend the 2010 Florida Christian Writers’ Conference and need a little extra financial boost in order to attend, consider applying for one of our scholarships.

Our beloved Cec Murphey, who is well-known in the Christian writing community for his “give back” vision, has offered to provide scholarships for several writers to attend in 2010.

Another one of our faculty has caught the “Cec thing” and has also offered to give several scholarships.

In addition, we’re starting a brand new scholarship fund in honor of Christine Harder Tangvald. Christine (who will be co-teaching the Writing for Children Continuing Class with Carol Wedeven at the 2010 conference) has served at countless writers’ conferences. She has worked upfront, downfront, behind the scenes and wherever she’s needed for many, many years.

Christine’s mission statement is classic Christine:

We are a team, working together, to bring honor and glory to God’s holy name.

You may be surprised to learn that hidden behind the illuminating smile and ready wit lurks an award-winning author of over 100 picture books in 147 editions in 12 languages. She has over 3.5 million books in print, two #1 bestsellers/CBA and has been on the bestsellers list over 10 times.

If you’d like to contribute to the Christine Harder Tangvald Scholarship, please send a check to FCWC and note that it’s for the “Christine” scholarship fund.

If you’d like to apply for a scholarship, send (or e-mail) a brief bio, snippet of your current writing projects, and a brief explanation of your financial need to:

Billie Wilson, FCWC Director
2344 Armour Ct.
Titusville, FL 32780

Fax: 321-747-0246
Email: billiewilson@cfl.rr.com

Conference Director Billie Wilson Needs Our Prayers

2009-12-02T16:53:00.004-05:00

From Laura Christianson, FCWC blog manager:

Many of you know and love Billie Wilson, the FCWC director (if you haven't met her yet, you're in for a treat). You may not be aware that Billie's husband, Doug, has been battling severe health issues these past few months.

I asked Billie to share some details with us so we can be praying for Doug -- and for Billie -- as she attempts to organize a major writers' conference in the midst of life's turmoil.

Here's what Billie shared:

In 2004 Doug had heart bypass surgery which went well. He then got MERSA and it just about killed him. His health has gone downhill since that time and is subject to various ailments since that time.

His recent spa at the hospital was to treat a systemic infection that had settled in his knee. He came home with a picc line and I’ve been infusing with antibiotics for the past month.

He is getting the picc line removed today (Dec 2) and will begin a new round of oral antibiotics.

The worst thing of all is that he has lived his life to the fullest – a great participator in everything and now his life has become so narrow – from the recliner to the kitchen – from the kitchen to bed – from the bed to the recliner (I’m sure you get the picture).

My prayer is that he will just regain a small measure of vitality so that he can enjoy his family and the hobbies that catch his fancy.

Calling All Children’s Writers

2009-11-30T06:00:00.001-05:00

By Crystal Bowman
FCWC 2010 Faculty

If you are interested in writing for children, then we need to get acquainted! I’ve been writing kids’ books for nearly 2 decades and have had some incredible learning experiences that I’d love to share with you. I have written over 60 books and consider it a privilege to write for the best publishing houses in the business.

A Whole Different Ball of Wax

Writing for kids is a whole lot different than writing for adults. Many writers think it should be fairly easy. Let me put it this way—it’s not! And there is so much more you need to do besides create a good story. You need to know what is already out there. You need to know what the market needs. And you have to offer something that is clever, unique, original, and well written.

I Think I Can…

I am excited to be a presenter at the 2010 Florida Christian Writers’ Conference. My session, I Think I Can, I Think I Can: Writing for Kids 0-8, is a study of the subgenres within the genre of children’s literature.

We will take a detailed look at board books, picture books, and book for beginning readers. This information will help you understand what type of children’s books fit your writing style, and it will also help you decide what age group you should target.

I will be giving you tons of helpful information, but do not fear—you will get a detailed handout so you won’t get carpal tunnel syndrome from trying to write it all down.

Writing in Rhythm and Rhyme

Another session I will be presenting is Writing in Rhythm and Rhyme. Many writers attempt to write a children’s story in rhyme because kids love a rhyming text. However, publishing companies cringe at rhyme because much of it is poorly written.

If you have a flare for rhyme, this session will give you many tips on how to polish your rhyming text and write like a pro. If you’ve written something in rhyme, please bring it along.

The Bowman B & B

I am a recent resident of Florida and am happy to welcome you to our lovely state! My friends and family back in Michigan are becoming regular visitors to our home, which I appropriately call The Bowman Bed and Breakfast.

What Clothes to Pack for the Conference

If you are traveling from the northern climates, please keep in mind that even though you will be in Florida, it is still winter here. It will not be 90 degrees! The days are usually warm (but not hot), and the nights can get chilly. I recommend layering. Be ready to add a light jacket or sweater if you get chilly.

And, this is the most important thing: wear comfortable shoes! You will be doing lots of walking so forget fashion and aim for comfort.

See you soon!

Crystal Bowman is a best-selling children’s author. She writes for Zondervan, Tydnale, Standard, and Boyd’s Mills Press. She also writes stories for Clubhouse Jr. magazine, and she has contributed to several anthologies. Crystal is a national speaker and has been a guest on Christian radio programs as well as local television programs. Visit www.crystalbowman.com

Marketing for Today's Publishing Industry

2009-11-23T06:00:00.004-05:00

By Karen Whiting
FCWC 2010 Continuing Class Instructor:
Marketing for Today's Publishing Industry

Aloha,

I’m Karen Whiting, an author of ten books, and looking forward to meeting you at FCWC. Besides teaching a continuing class on marketing I’m on the staff behind the scenes working on promoting the conference. Look for my articles on suite 101 that will help you gain the most from the conference (http://www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/karenwhiting)

I’m a grandmother of six now (youngest is a few weeks old) and a mother of five. My oldest son will leave for Iraq (AF) in mid-January. His wife and two little children will live with us during his deployment (life change coming up). Since my husband is retired Coast Guard and spent months at sea on ice breakers and other vessels I understand a little of the upcoming stress my loved ones will face).

What people probably don’t know about me…

I actually chased a garbage truck to a dump to retrieve something—and that triggered writing about over-commitment
My two previous homes were both struck by lightning twice, had a spontaneous combustible fire, and had a major hurricane hit (Andrew severely damaged half of one house). (shh… my current neighbors don’t know)
My favorite speaking engagement was a three-day creative ministry conference in Malaysia.
I’m a country girl at heart (grew up in dairy country and learned all those homemaking skills of knitting, sewing, needlework).

Sneak Peek

At FCWC I’ll be teaching a continuing class (6 hours of instruction) called Marketing for Today's Publishing Industry. I want it to be interactive and look at going to the next step in promoting our books. I’ll provide examples of real success stories and we’ll use participants’ books to brainstorm how they can apply the concepts to their books.

Here are two examples of topics we’ll delve into:

1. We’ll look at how we can harness the power of social networking (not how to get on or what social networks are out there). We’ll study having successful network parties (Twitter party or Facebook party) surrounding a book’s topic and the type of comments to make in social networking to engage an audience on issue of your book and to build yourself as an expert.

2. Release and promotion day specials for Amazon that drive up sales will be discussed (works for new and older releases). These work best with a combination of activities: scheduling radio and blog interviews before the release date, offering free downloadable files, tip sheets, or podcasts/audio files, and contests.

Other topics include:

Using the media to promote
Timelines on promotion and what can be done ahead of the release
Choosing strategies that work for your personality and book
Developing a workable marketing plan

Learning to Crave Criticism

2009-11-16T17:22:00.005-05:00

By Elaine Creasman
2010 FCWC staff member

“I’ll never show anything to that editor again,” I vowed after reading his critique at one of the first writers’ conferences I attended: “This article is preachy and negative.”

For months I stewed. Then a gentle whisper came: “What that editor said is true.”

I looked objectively at the article and prayed for God’s help. Back at the same conference two years later, I gave the same editor a piece on the same subject–grief. He bought my article on the spot and many more in years to come.

In my 23 years of leading a critique group and over ten years of being on staff and helping with manuscripts at the Florida Christian Writers Conference, I’ve met many writers who become defensive or crushed when someone critiques their work. Here are tips to help you move from hating and resisting criticism to craving and benefitting from it.

SEE CRITICISM AS A GOOD THING.

“I haven’t written in two years,” admitted a friend. “I brought a poem to a writers’ conference, and an editor wrote a two-page critique. I was devastated.”

Having become more mature when it came to criticism, my first thought was, “Wow! That experienced writer and editor wrote a critique that long? It must be a great poem.”

I read the excellent poem and what the editor wrote, then explained why a two-page critique from this editor was a good thing. She returned to writing and has had many pieces published since.

SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM YOUR WRITING.

A piece of writing can seem like your baby. None of us likes having our child criticized.

I’ve learned to view what I write as a gift from God, just as Scripture tells me my children are a gift from Him. (See Psalm 127:3 TLB) And just as I’ve released my children to God repeatedly, I’ve learned to release my writing. Lately I’ve thought: what I write doesn’t come from me, but through me.

AVOID SEEING CRITIQUERS AS ENEMIES.

My earlier delusion was that editors delight in rejecting writers and telling them what’s wrong with their writing.” The truth is most find great joy in helping writers succeed. Editors and fellow writers who critique my manuscripts are like personal trainers who assist clients in working on “trouble spots.”

People willing to honestly critique what I write are my allies. A quote by Abraham Lincoln opened my eyes to that: “He has a right to criticize who has a heart to help.”

PRAY FOR A TEACHABLE HEART.

A teachable heart is a key to writing success. Those willing to learn are also eager to improve. And editors–like teachers–enjoy working with eager learners.

Proverbs 19:20 reminds me to maintain a teachable heart and be open to criticism. “Hear counsel, receive instruction, accept correction, that you may be wise...” (AMP)

SEE WRITING AS COLLABORATION.

All writing is a collaborative effort. Many people contribute--the pastor who sparked the idea and authors I quote in my pieces. Then there are members of my critique group, friends who help with final edits, and editors who give excellent suggestions for rewrites. When I see writing as collaboration, I don’t have an “all mine” attitude, and I welcome input from others.

Criticism in the form of honest critiques has helped make me a better writer and to sell what I’ve written. I thank God for those who have the courage and honesty to offer it. Yes, it can sometimes hurt, but if taken the right way, as a friend put it: “It hurts real good.”

Elaine Creasman has written for over 30 Christian publications and local newspapers. She has contributed to numerous gift books and writes greeting card verses. She has led the Suncoast Christian Writers Group since 1986 and lives in Largo, Florida with her husband, daughter, and granddaughter. She also works part-time as a mental health tech. Visit www.elainecreasman.com.

Why You Should Attend a Christian Writers’ Conference

2009-11-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

By Jeff Gerke
2010 FCWC faculty member

You should go to a Christian writers’ conference. They're wonderful. Where else can you find hundreds of other weird people like yourself? [grins innocently]

Seriously, writers’ conferences are great places to meet like-minded people who want to write and who love the Lord. You can laugh and weep with these folks because they understand you like perhaps few other people in your life do.

Conferences are places to attend seminars by experts in the field you're trying to break into: acquisitions editors, accomplished writers, influential agents.

Sometimes, depending on the conference, you can even catch VPs of publishing, sought-after speakers, and that holy grail of Christian writing: famous authors. I've had the pleasure of rubbing elbows with the likes of Frank Peretti and Jerry Jenkins at some of these conferences.

It's a tremendous place to network too. Sometimes "who you know" really can help you out. If you meet an agent and you two hit it off, who knows but that a beautiful professional relationship might just be born. If you meet an aspiring author like yourself and you critique each other's work, who knows what might happen if that author gets published and is willing to put in a good word for you with her editor?

Best of all, Christian writers’ conferences are the only place I know of where you can pitch your book idea directly to the acquisitions editors at major publishing houses, even if you don't have an agent. Almost every CBA house is closed now to unagented authors. The Christian writers’ conference is your way to bypass that restriction and get right to the person who can get you in the publishing door.

The classes and seminars and panels you can attend at these are often worth the price of admission unto themselves.

Imagine learning plotting from James Scott Bell, Writer's Digest author and Christian novelist.
Imagine learning how to market yourself from Rebecca Seitz, a professional publicist who works with all the major Christian houses.
Imagine learning suspense from master storyteller Angela Hunt.

Writers’ conferences afford you opportunities you'll not get anywhere else.

And did I mention the wonderful people you'll meet?

Some of these conferences (like the Florida Christian Writers' Conference) are held at beautiful retreat locations too, giving you the chance to get into the mountains or the forest or the beach when you're not in class.

But you might be having too much fun yukking it up with your new lifelong friends--or pitching to editors--to do much sightseeing.

After you attend one Christian writers’ conference you will be hooked. You'll think, "That's the best thing I've ever done for my writing career." And you'll be back next year.

Attend a Christian writers’ conference. You won't be sorry.

Jeff Gerke has been called the de facto gatekeeper of Christian speculative fiction. After writing his own speculative fiction and spearheading the launch of a fiction imprint dedicated to Christian speculative fiction at a major Christian publishing company, Jeff branched out on his own to launch Marcher Lord Press, the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction.

How to Make Your Characters Breathe

2009-11-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

By Lee Emory
2010 FCWC faculty member

I will be teaching two workshops at the 2010 FCWC:

Connecting to Your Characters

Learn to make your characters stand up on the page and breathe. Following my suggestions you will learn to create a real person on paper BEFORE you begin writing your story. This will be a character/s with traits you can relate to or it won’t work with your readers and you will not believe in them either.

Using History to Create Stories Today

You can take any era of history and tailor it into a contemporary story. We’ll discuss some examples in class and have fun with it. If there’s still time, I’ll give you a dose of my talk on “Solid Writing versus Chopped Liver.” Warning, this talk may contain common sense. Anybody remember what that is?

What’s sparks your interest? Florida history? Biblical history? Victorian Era history? Western history? Napoleonic history? Medieval history? U.S. history? Roman history? The list is almost endless, as are the stories we can create from that list.

How to prepare for Appointments with Lee

Bring yourself. (Don’t be a no-show if you’ve signed up.)
Be yourself.
Bring copy of your first chapter page hook (one page only).
Do not ask Lee to take home your proposal or manuscript.
Learn to state the premise of your story in less than 50 words.**See below for a tip from Robin Perini regarding the story question. This helps you pin down your story premise briefly and concisely.
Do not ramble and keep to the subject of your manuscript.
Answer her questions as clearly and concisely as you can.
Don’t be afraid to ask her questions.
Stop shaking. Lee is human.

**The Story Question (by Robin Perini):

(Your Protagonist)____________MUST_____________( Critical Plot Goal) BY ______________(Conflict with the Antagonist) ONLY TO REALIZE__________________(What the character learns about life that helps him change his goal during the journey of the book).

Here is the example:

Jacob Marshall must avenge his father's honor by implicating Serena Jones' father, only to realize revenge often hurts the innocent.

About Lee Emory

“I’m definitely a morning person. Call me jack of all trades, master of them all. Uh-huh, sure I am.” Lee likes to write a variety of genres, fiction and non-fiction. Her books and articles have been published in numerous magazines and publishing companies.

In her publishing company established in 2001, she decides within 90 days whether or not to accept a manuscript for publication. She assigns manuscripts to her reading staff and editor, analyzes the reports, creates the physical book layout and design, plus critical last edit/corrections of the book before it goes to print; she designs most of the book covers, fills book orders, sends invoices, packs and ships the books to customers, designs booksigning table posters and magazine ads if the author decides to do them.

Don’t forget she does the royalty statements, writes the checks and envelopes and year end tax prep, while she slowly tears her hair out by the roots. Oh, yes, answers hundreds of e-mails and phone calls. She travels, speaks, and presents workshops across the country from her home in Arizona. There’s even more, but after paying the bills enough is enough.

Visit Treble Heart Books

Squidoo pages:

In Writing Critique Groups, Trust Nobody

2009-10-26T06:00:00.000-04:00

By Ken Kuhlken
Fiction Mentoring Track instructor

Everybody who reads your work is liable to respond differently. Even in a group of smart, knowledgeable writers or editors, you might get responses ranging from abject boredom to wild acclaim.

The graduate school I attended is famous, so good writers apply. I went there expecting that most every participant in the workshops would give me wise insights. Most of them didn’t.

But I didn’t need the comments of 15 people. From the critiques of two or three with whom I felt some accord, I learned plenty.

Everybody brings his background to his reading. When a reader appreciates my work, I know it could mean he relates for his own reasons. Or he may dismiss my story in reaction to something personal, such as a hurt he suffered or a bias with which he has armed himself. A person who grew up with alcoholic parents may bond with a story about a boozer or recoil from it.

Suppose several readers point to some problem. Odds are good your story has failed to communicate the way you’d like it to. But that doesn’t mean the readers’ suggestions for fixing the problem are correct. They’re worth considering, but not necessarily the best way to solve the problem.

When critiquing an early draft of a novel by Kevin McIlvoy, I noted that a certain section dragged. I suggested cutting some details to speed it up. Kevin later told me he’d solved the problem by adding to the section, using more details that made it more gripping.

Your task is to listen to critiques with your mind open, then ponder each comment as much as it deserves, all before you decide whether to revise. And if you decide to revise, consider suggestions, but also look for alternative ways. Suggestions can come from other people, but revisions have to come from you.

Ken Kuhlken’s novels have been honored as finalist for the Ernest Hemingway Award for best first novel, won the Private Eye Writers of America/St. Martin’s Press Best First Novel competition, and been chosen as a finalist for the Shamus Best Novel Award.

His Tom Hickey California Century novels are: The Loud Adios (1943), The Venus Deal (1942), The Angel Gang (1949), The Do-Re-Mi (1971), The Vagabond Virgins (1979), and coming in May 2010, The Biggest Liar in Los Angeles (1926).

At the Florida Christian Writers Conference, he leads a group in the fiction mentoring track.

Visit Ken at www.kenkuhlken.net and http://writingandthespirit.blogspot.com

30 Reasons to Attend the Florida Christian Writers' Conference (Video)

2009-10-22T15:09:00.007-04:00

Thinking about attending the 2010 FCWC but not sure what to expect?

Watch our brand new video (2:26 minutes) -- you'll get an up-close-and-personal overview of everything from the gorgeous conference facilities to conferees dressed up as tacky tourists to our keynote speakers and faculty.

Hope you enjoyed the video. Please share it on your own social networks.

Here's the YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ngeu0mMq4U

A huge thank-you to the following people for contributing to this video:

Karen Whiting - producer
Carmen Leal and friend - music
Leann Weiss-Rupard - most of the photos
Jeanne Gowan Dennis - Jerry Jenkins photo
Sarah V. Tinsley - Sunrise photo

The Path to Publishing Success

2009-10-17T19:54:00.004-04:00

By Ava Pennington
Guest Columnist

I dreamed of writing for years, but never considered publication a realistic goal. Writing took a back seat while I worked in New York City. When a co-worker published her first novel, it validated her effort to follow her dream, and it gave me hope for my dream, too.

When we moved to Florida, I put pen to paper and fingers to keyboard. My passion is teaching, so I first completed an inspirational non-fiction book. Rejections from several publishers were tempered with comments that although I had a fresh writing style, the content had already been addressed by more well-known names. I was crushed that my first manuscript did not enjoy the same overnight acceptance my friend’s did.

Then I submitted a story to Chicken Soup for the Soul, and eagerly waited. A year later I learned they received over 5,000 submissions. I’m happy to say my story was selected.

This writing business seemed easier than I first thought. My friend was published on her first try. My first anthology submission was published. Surely an agent or editor would soon recognize the quality of my writing and offer me a book contract.

After I finished patting myself on the back, I continued to submit my book to agents and publishers. No takers. I also continued to submit short stories to anthologies. Still no takers.

I finished my second book, a novel, but no one was interested in that one, either. In fact, no one was interested in my work for the next three years. I kept plugging away. I joined a writers’ critique group. I had much to learn about writing and publishing!

Then I attended my first writers’ conference, The Florida Christian Writers Conference, in 2006.

Several speakers suggested the participants think “outside the box.” They encouraged us to develop our skills and our platform by writing articles for periodicals. I showed a chapter of my non-fiction manuscript to one editor of a monthly magazine. Based on that sample, he gave me a freelance assignment for one article.

That article led to several more, and in the past three years they published five articles. A meeting with another editor at the conference also resulted in an article published by his magazine.

I attended the FCWC again in 2007. There I met with additional magazine editors, and subsequently published more articles. In 2008, I met the editor of a monthly devotional, and have now published a month of devotionals through her organization.

Since 2006, I have been published in sixteen anthologies, including twelve different Chicken Soup for the Soul books and three Cup of Comfort books. Additionally, I have published (or am contracted to publish) more than thirty magazine articles with more submissions in the pipeline.

But here’s the best news of all:

In 2009, I attended FCWC and pitched a one-year devotional guide which will be published by Baker-Revell, to be released in 2010!

Another writer and I also pitched a children’s book series at the same conference. The proposal has since passed Committee with another publisher and we are awaiting word on a contract.

I’ve learned that overnight successes in publishing are rare. For me, the path to success consists of a series of small steps: membership in writers’ groups, attendance at writers’ conferences, writing magazine articles and short stories, co-authoring a children’s book, and finally, authoring my own book. In the process, I’m becoming a better writer.

Ava Pennington
www.avawrites.com

Publisher Considering Novel from Writer of the Year

2009-10-06T14:26:00.007-04:00

The first twenty pages of Johnnie Alexander Donley's novel, tentatively titled Twirl, won two awards at the 2009 Florida Christian Writers Conference: Novel of the Year (tie) and Writer of the Year. Winning the awards gave her the courage to include the first two pages with her thank you note to an editor who wasn't that impressed with a different fiction project that he had critiqued.

"I didn't expect a reply so when an email from him popped up in my inbox, I momentarily forgot how to breathe," says Johnnie.

He requested a proposal and additional chapters. A few weeks later, he asked for the completed manuscript.

"I spent the summer writing, rewriting, and revising to meet the September 30th deadline. Now the novel is in his hands and I'm trying not to think about it too much. This opportunity only came about because of the Florida Christian Writers Conference and I'm so grateful for it."

Through the writing process, Johnnie learned significant lessons about creativity, expressing her chosen theme, trusting her characters, and resolving what she calls sticky-wicket plot knots. She shares her Novice Novelist Novel Notes at www.johnniedonley.com.

Johnnie will be attending her fourth FCWC in 2010. She says that the conference isn't just a great opportunity to meet editors and agents, it's a chance to network with other writers.

Johnnie is a Kindred Heart Writer, one of five women who met at the 2007 FCWC and joined together to form an online writing group. The FCWC is their reunion time. They post about writing and their experiences at www.kindredheartwriters.com.

Blogs from Our Conferees

2009-10-01T18:24:00.000-04:00

Here are links to blog posts written by conferees... enjoy!

Conference Plans, by Shirley Corder

Follow along as Shirley prepares for the Florida Christian Writers' Conference 2010. Read articles on how to prepare for the conference of a lifetime, plus the story of a trans-Atlantic trip to get there. From Port Elizabeth, South Africa, to Leesburg, USA. Nine articles and counting...

Imagine, by Beth Willis Miller

Terrific strategies for learning to think creatively by using our imagination, including examples applicable to both children and adults.

Kindred Heart Writers

This on-line writing group met and organized at the Florida Christian Writers' conference. Every Monday and Thursday, they post articles about writing. As the conference draws near, they will write more posts about preparing for it. They even have a Conference Countdown Clock on their blog!

No Whiners, Please

Kathy Helgemo expected whining. But after attending the Women of Faith Conference in Tampa, Florida, she shares the pleasant surprise of finding inspired music and spiritual food in the midst of thousands of women.

Do you blog about writing? Do you plan to attend the 2010 conference? We'd love to feature links to some of your best articles. Please check out Calling All Bloggers for instructions on how to submit your link.

Calling All Bloggers!

2009-09-18T09:00:00.000-04:00

Do you blog about writing? Will you be attending the 2010 conference?

If so, we'd love to feature links to some of your best articles geared to help your fellow writers.

Just e-mail me (Laura Christianson, blog manager) the following:

title of your post
link URL to the published post
your byline and blog name
1-sentence description of your article's topic

Here are two samples from my blog, so you can see the format:

The Three Best, All-Time Tips for Increasing Your Blog’s Readership
http://www.bloggingbistro.com/the-three-best-all-time-tips-for-increasing-your-blog-readership/

Want more traffic to your blog? You have to do only three things -- and do them well -- to pump up your blog’s readership (by Laura Christianson, Blogging Bistro).

7 Pros and Cons of Group Blogging
http://www.bloggingbistro.com/7-pros-and-cons-of-group-blogging/

If you're considering starting or joining a multi-author blog, consider these 7 plusses and minuses first (by Laura Christianson, Blogging Bistro).

Visit Our New FCWC Facebook Page

2009-08-21T09:00:00.003-04:00

Last week we joined Twitter, the micro-blogging service that's taking cyberspace by storm.

This week, we launched our Florida Christian Writers Conference Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/FloridaChristianWritersConference

You could say we've gone bonkers over social media.

Why?

Because we want you get pumped up for the 2010 FCWC via the social media channel that appeals to you most.

If Facebook is your social hub, you can engage in conversation with conferees and faculty, browse the blogs of many Christian writers, ask questions about the conference, and do all the other stuff people normally do on Facebook.

We've also joined Facebook's NetworkedBlogs; if you prefer to read our blog from your Facebook account, here's what to do:

In this blog's righthand sidebar, scroll down until you see the "NetworkedBlogs" box.
Click "Follow This Blog"

If Twitter is more your style, you'll find links to our blog posts, quick conference updates, and other entertaining tidbits from the writing world.

If you'd rather stick to reading our blog posts, you can get the latest posts delivered to your Inbox, or read them from your favorite RSS feed reader (see the top of the righthand sidebar to get set up). Or just come right here to the site.

Feel free to reprint this post, or links to the FCWC Twitter, Facebook, and blog on your own social media sites.

Florida Christian Writers Conference on Facebook

The Value of a Writing Critique Partner

2009-08-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

By Laura Christianson

A magazine editor called me out of the blue (I love it when they do that!) and assigned me a docu-drama.

Befuddled, I asked, “Uh…what’s a docu-drama?”

She explained that it is a dramatic, first-person, as-told-to story – similar to those “drama in real life” features in Reader’s Digest. “It’s written like fiction, with scenes and dialogue.”

Uh oh. I’m not a fiction writer, but the assignment sounded fun and challenging, so I agreed to tackle it.

I conducted the interview, wrote out the whole story so I could get the big picture, and then started cutting. And cutting. And cutting. After the fourth draft, the story sounded so disjointed I wasn’t even sure it made sense anymore.

It was time to call in the rescue squad. I dashed off an email to my writer friend, Jenn Doucette, asking her to highlight places in the article I could condense and to suggest a headline (I’m headline-challenged; Jenn cranks out perfect headlines like nobody’s business).

A couple of hours later, I received her reply: “I’m on it, girlie.”

An hour after that, she returned my marked-up draft, accompanied by the terse message, “The story seemed way too choppy and disjointed.”

Whoa…she doesn’t mince words!

But I appreciate Jenn’s blunt honesty, because it’s exactly what I needed to hear. I knew, in my heart of hearts, that the story was… er… choppy and disjointed. I just needed another writer to confirm it.

During the last five years, I’ve been a member of a writers’ critique group, joined my local writers’ association, and had several writer friends (such as Jenn) who I can call on in emergencies.

These sorts of relationships are invaluable for us writers, for several reasons:

Writers tend to be solitary people, scribbling away in dimly lit rooms for hours on end. We need human contact to stay sane. Even if they are other writers.

We writers tend to fall in love with our words. We pen (what we assume is) the perfect phrase, and we dread the thought of someone criticizing our words.

But constructive criticism is most often just what we need. I sent my draft to Jenn because we have developed such a deep trust over the years that I knew she’d tell me exactly what I needed to hear, without sugar coating it. And I knew she’d get back to me quickly.

I wasn’t disappointed. While I disagreed with some of the changes she suggested and didn’t incorporate those edits into my next draft, the vast majority of her suggestions were right on target and had me smacking my head, saying, “Duh! Why didn’t I think of that?!”

Jenn (who is a fiction writer) pointed out gaps in the story’s timeline, places where I’d made choppy transitions, and stilted dialogue (among other things). After her honest critique, I felt much more confident tackling the next revision. All it took was a second pair of eyes.

Do you have a critique partner/group? Tell us about one thing your critique partner has said that has helped you improve your writing.

We’re all a-Twitter

2009-08-11T14:49:00.000-04:00

The Florida Christian Writers Conference is now on Twitter. You can follow us at:

http://twitter.com/flwritersconf

If you’re not familiar with Twitter, it is a micro-blogging service in which you get 140 characters (that’s characters, not words) for each update (updates are called tweets).

Twitter is one of the fastest-growing social networks, due to its ease of use and giant chat room feel. You can search for and follow users who share your interests, sound interesting, or are from your geographic region.

From the Florida Christian Writers Conference Twitter account, we’ll post:

The latest conference news and updates
Links to our blog posts
Testimonials from conferees
Tidbits and links of interest to writers (if you blog about writing and want us to link to your post, please notify blog manager, Laura Christianson)

Of course, you can follow our Twitter stream right here on our blog, too (check out the sidebar to the right).

Yesterday on my business blog, I posted an article called, “Why Every Writer Needs to be on Twitter.” If you’re ready to join Twitter and want some tips for how to craft your Twitter profile, consider reading that post.

Are you a tweeter? If so, introduce yourself in the comments area and provide a link to your Twitter account so we can find each other.

And don’t forget to follow @flwritersconf on Twitter; we’ll follow you back!

One more thing: If you re-tweet one of our Twitter updates or talk about the conference in your tweets, please include the hashtag #FCWC. That way, everyone who tweets about the conference can easily search for and find information.

Three New Pre-Conference Tracks Added

2009-07-30T11:00:00.000-04:00

How would you like to spend an afternoon with a master instructor? You’ll have the opportunity to do that at the 2010 conference.

On Wednesday, March 3, you can choose from three pre-conference tracks (four hours of instruction for $75) in the following areas:

Fiction – Davis Bunn, instructor
Non-Fiction – Patricia Lorrenz, instructor
One Sheet – Shellie Arnold, instructor

I’ll provide in depth information for you about each of these three tracks once I have a chance to interview the instructors, but I can tell you a bit about Shellie’s One Sheet course.

A “one-sheet” is a writer’s tool (think of it as a sales brochure) for using when pitching your project to editors and agents.

Shellie says:

“It’s kind of like a one page, quick-captioned advertisement about a writer and the writing project that’s being pitched. It’s not part of the proposal; it’s something to hand to an editor or agent when the writer pitches in person.”

I spent time with Shellie at the 2009 conference and she is such a fun, high-spirited person. I’m sure that her one sheet workshop will help you prepare for those editor and agent appointments you’ll have during the course of the conference. And even if you don’t have your one sheet ready for the 2010 conference, you’ll still need it for future use.

If you want to see a sample of my one sheet (this is for my Blogging Bistro business, not for my books), you can download the PDF.

Do you have a one sheet? Share a link to it in the Comments area, so we can get ideas of what different types of one sheets look like, and see what info they include.