Visit Our New FCWC Facebook Page

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:

1. In this blog's righthand sidebar, scroll down until you see the "NetworkedBlogs" box.
2. 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

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

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

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:

1. Fiction – Davis Bunn, instructor
2. Non-Fiction – Patricia Lorrenz, instructor
3. 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.

Attend 2010 Conference; Get a CD of Every Session

You’ll receive an added bonus when you register for the 2010 conference: a CD that includes a recording of every single session, keynote speech, workshop, and continuing class. What a deal!

A couple of years ago, I purchased a CD of a writers’ conference I attended for $100, and it was well worth the investment. I still listen to those workshops on my MP3 player whenever I go for a walk or go rollerblading (I love multi-tasking, and what’s better than learning while working out?).

At the 2009 conference, I was busy teaching, so I didn’t get to attend several workshops that sounded interesting. Then I got sidetracked and forgot to buy CDs of those workshops.

So getting a free CD of the entire conference is a deal I won’t pass up.

You may be wondering: What’s the catch? This sounds too good to be true.

There’s only one small requirement, which is that you are a full-time registrant. Doesn’t matter when you register – you’ll still get the CD. On your registration form, check the box that says, “Complete Conference Tuition.”

There are several options from which to choose:

• Complete Conference Tuition, without meals or lodging - $465
• Complete Conference Tuition, with meals but no lodging - $625
• Complete Conference Tuition, with double room (1 roommate) and meals - $775
• Complete Conference Tuition, single occupancy and meals - $975
• Teen Track Special (ages 13-19), includes complete conference tuition, food, and lodging - $450

If you register by December 24, 2009, you’ll get a $20 discount off your fees.
If you pay by check or money order, they’ll lop off another $10.

To guarantee your spot, you can submit your $150 deposit now, and pay the balance by February 9, 2010. So start saving your pennies now, folks. This is one conference you won’t want to miss!

Here's a PDF of the 2010 registration form.

**If you aren’t already subscribing to get the latest updates about the Florida Christian Writers’ Conference via e-mail, I recommend that you do so, right now. In the coming months, we’ll be posting periodically on the blog, and subscribing to e-mail updates ensures you won’t miss an important announcement. As we get closer to the conference dates, we’ll be updating the blog regularly.

To subscribe, type your name and e-mail in the sidebar form. You'll receive a verification e-mail from Feedburner within seconds. Click the link in the e-mail, and you're set.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post, when we’ll reveal another exciting new addition to the conference.

Keynoters Named for 2010 Conference

Conference Director Billie Wilson and her team are hard at work planning the 2010 Florida Christian Writers' Conference, scheduled for March 4-7 at beautiful Lake Yale Conference Center in Leesburg.

If, like me, you're from a non-Florida locale (I live near Seattle, WA), Lake Yale is about a 1 1/2-hour drive from the Orlando airport.

And now, for the announcement of 2010s keynoters...

...drumroll, please...

Jerry Jenkins and Cecil "Cec" Murphey!

The FCWC is growing to be the premier Christian writers' conference on the East Coast; Billie has secured commitments from four editors who've never attended the conference before:

• Sherri Langton, editor with Bible Advocate
• David Long, editor with Bethany House Publishers
• Jeff Gerke, publisher of Marcher Lord Press
• Suzette Jordan, editor of JourneyForth

And there's more!

Two new continuing classes (6 sessions each, offered daily throughout the conference) are scheduled:

1. Screenwriting, with Zena Dell Lowe
2. Branding Yourself for Maximum Impact, with Laura Christianson of Blogging Bistro

(that's me)

And that's not all. Three mentoring tracks will be offered:

1. Fiction, with Ken Kuhlken
2. Fiction, with Eva Marie Everson
3. Non-Fiction, with Janis Whipple

You'll be learning more about all of these courses, instructors, keynoters, editors, and publishers throughout the year, so be sure to subscribe to our blog so you'll receive the latest updates via e-mail. To subscribe, type your e-mail address into the form in the sidebar. You'll receive a confirmation e-mail. Click the link and you're subscribed!

Will There be Books in Heaven?

Do you think we’ll have books in heaven?

I twirl that one back and forth in my mind, sometimes deciding yes, sometimes no. I do know we’ll have friendships. Deep friendships that go to the core of our glorified bodies.

That’s why I’ve said, “Relationships” when people have asked about my conference highlights.

Relationships with new friends like Al Gansky, Matt from Dayspring, Tim Shoemaker, Loyd Boldman, Ginny Smith, Jon Vonhof, Ken Kuhlken and many others.

Spending time with long-time buds like Carla Williams, Athena Dean, Randy Ingermanson, and Bryan Davis.

Meeting my wonderful friend Twila Belk in person for the first time.

These are rich moments that will carry into eternity.

Getting the chance to chat with Johnnie, Shelly and so many other talented aspiring writers. Discovering Torry Martin is the creator of Wooten Basset on Adventures in Odyssey. (Wooten is my family’s fave character by miles.)

Seeing Billie up there on stage simply being herself, not aware of how warm and funny and wonderful she is.

Walking in the morning sun with my teacher, mentor, and dear friend Cec Murphey.

Five years from now will you remember the classes you went to this past week? Snippets maybe. But what you won’t forget is the encouragement you gave or received. The thrill of meeting a kindred spirit. The laughter you shared with a new friend.

Yes, the publishing world is about writing in the here and now, but the friendships we build are forever.

You are a Brand…Now Act Like One! - Katie Sukowski

What are publishers looking for?

Is this the first question you ask yourself when choosing a topic to write about?

Publishers do not think like marketers. Effective marketing will always be a big part of your job in addition to doing the writing, and it is your responsibility.

The top two questions you ought to be asking yourself first are:

1. Who is my audience?
2. What is my brand?

If you understand the audience that you and your product provides a solution or need for, you’re half-way to successfully identifying what your brand can be.

What exactly is a brand, and how do I turn into one?

A brand is a living, breathing animal. There is no one shape, no one form. In fact, if you create a new brand, all the better because now you own a niche market and you’re the only one in that space.

David Foster discovered Josh Grobin and cites him as a great example of someone who has carved out a niche, created a new brand, and owns that category.

What’s my brand?

Just like your agent cannot tell you what to write, your agent cannot tell you who you should be. The origin of this must come from you once you’ve done some serious soul-searching or thinking or whatever is your way of knowing who and what you are about.

I recommend beginning by asking yourself: What am I passionate about?

I, Katie, believe if you tap into your passion—not trends—you will stay motivated, committed, and energized to continue to build your work and your brand. You’ll stay ahead of trends and/or outlast them; and when things are not going according to plan, you will have the energy and optimism to persevere because you wholeheartedly believe in the work you are creating.

We all know success happens in peaks and valleys. By defining your brand and implementing strategy to building and growing your brand and audience, you are increasing your chances for more peaks over the course of your career.

Recently, I opened a fortune cookie that read, Take aim, and you will increase your chances hitting your target.

Sounds obvious, but that day it wasn’t. That fortune gave me the permission to keep trying innovative strategies to grow authors’ presence in the marketplace, grow their audience in numbers, and to communicate their brand effectively.

So I offer this advice: Take aim at your brand and strategy, and you will increase your chances hitting your targets—be they greater book sales, increased audience, more trafficked blog and Web site, etc.

Now that I know I am a brand, what do I do?

• Get a good Web site with all the necessary fixins
• Collect e-mail contacts; service e-newsletters/blasts
• Blog and publish in print magazines
• Keep creating more content and submitting ideas to your agent
• Form strategic partnerships
• Submit your articles to credible journals for publishing
• Concept amazing ideas
• Publishing 501: Pay attention to sales copy and think like a book retailer
• Hire a publicist to do ancillary PR pre-release of your book
• Cultivate a street team
• Do live speaking in any capacity to increase your exposure to your audience
• Do TV, Web, podcasting, and radio

How you can get the most out of your agent working with you on your brand:

• Feed him or her the latest news about your Website, PR you are doing, readings, and media you are doing and communicate how that can link into your book proposal.
• Get podcasts/copies of press of your talks as they happen. Give to your agent so he/she can keep a EPK on you and send out to publishers.
• Continuously dream up and pitch amazing ideas. Carve out time once a month or once every 2 weeks to dialog on those ideas and choose which ones to develop further.
• Choose strategic partnerships to go after and put your agent in touch with them (if in your network). If not in your network, choose well so your agent can be successful in contacting that person, author, or personality’s agent.
• Go over your goals with your agent. Let them in what you want to see happen over the next 3-5-10 years. Are you committed? If yes, be persistent and show up often. Agents need authors who can write excellent and write at a healthy pace. And authors, for the sake of your brand and growing your brand, YOU need to write at a healthy pace. We recommend releasing a book every year to stay current with your audience. If this is not where you are today, consider making this your goal in the near future and put a plan in place to get you there successfully.

Katie Sukowski is a Literary Brand Manager at Creative Trust Inc.

Our Calling as Writers

On May 4th of last year my first novel went to committee at B&H Publishing. I expected to hear yea or nay within a few days. Nope. May 7th, 10th and 17th came and went with no answer.

Around May 20th, as I was praying about it—no, not begging, praying—I felt God say, "Enjoy this."

Huh? Enjoy what? The anguish of not knowing if my book would be contracted?

Then he added, "It's going to sell; enjoy this time of anticipation."

Was I really hearing God's voice? I couldn't know for sure. But as I allowed his words to settle, a thought floated up from my heart. My calling as a writer means one thing. Obedience. Obedience to what God has asked me to do; write. Anything beyond that is out of my control.

In that moment I had a choice. Worry, or let go of my anxiety. I chose to rest in, and even enjoy his peace, knowing I'd invested the talents he's given me to the best of my ability. I had no regrets. I'd poured everything I had into my novel. That's my part.

Whether you're multi-published, longing to be published, or just starting to dream, remember this is not a journey of getting by-lines or contracts.

It's a journey of following him.


Jim Rubart
www.jimrubart.com

Obeying the 'Nudge' to Write - Mona Hodgson

I can’t say that I had a dream to write. It felt more like a nudge . . . even a nagging. Be that as it may, I felt compelled to explore the possibilities. That’s what took me to my very first writers’ conference. I’ve been a loyal writers' conference fan ever since.

Little did I know, as I took those first shaky steps, how crucial that conference would turn out to be for my 21-year (and still counting) writing career and ministry. I look forward to connecting with you at the Florida Christian Writers Conference.

Mona Hodgson
www.monahodgson.com