Writing to Learn Who You Are in Christ, Who Christ Is in You, And Why He Called You in the First Place with Eva Marie Everson
Class Type: Continuing Class Practicum
Class Description: 6 Sessions Over 3 Days
So often, as writers, we ask God questions. Daily, we run to Him with concerns and pleadings. “When is this going to happen?” and “When is that door going to swing open for me?” We wonder, “Why her and not me?” or “Should I take this road to publication or that one?” After awhile, it can become exhausting, especially if we feel God is either ignoring us or that He hears and refuses to answer. But what if God is waiting for us to hear His questions? And what if we could dig into those questions and discover the answers we’ve been waiting on all along … or perhaps find a different path?
In this practicum, Eva Marie Everson shows participants the method God used with her to bring her writing to a deeper level, her role in Christian publishing to a higher place, and her heart to a new level of understanding what it was exactly that God wanted from her.
Participants should come prepared to listen, write, and share so that at the end of the conference they’ll not only know the hows of writing, but the “why for” as well.
Class Requirements:
This class is limited to the first 10 participants.
Fiction Retreat for Intermediate and Advance Level Writers with Shellie Arnold (limited to ten participants | $50 additional fee at registration)
If you’ve ever taken a fiction class and wished you knew how all the “stuff” works together, this retreat is for you. If you want to dive deep into the nuances of craft, ask questions, and get actionable answers, this retreat is for you. We will cover many craft topics including plotting, character arc, point of view, premise, scenes, dialogue, senses and setting, tension and pacing, genre specifics, subplot, secondary characters, how to avoid common mistakes, and take your fiction to the next level. Those who want to have a portion of their work critiqued will have the opportunity to do so (five to fifteen pages, as time allows). Attendees must pre-register for this track and will receive instructions for preparing for critique.
Diversity in Manuscripts with Edwina Perkins
The number of books with ethnic characters has risen over the last few years. Because publishing houses are looking for more diversity in what authors are submitting, non-ethnic writers need to address some important issues when including diversity in their manuscripts. This workshop addresses the impact of writing about a culture outside of your own and offers information to help write with authenticity concerning marginalized communities.
Fiction Boot Camp—From Idea to Done with Janeen Ippolito
As an experienced author coach, editor, and book marketer, Janeen Ippolito has a heart for helping authors get their stories finished and into the hands of readers who desperately need them. In this fiction boot camp, you’ll get fresh inspiration, plus practical guidance and exercises, on how to finish this book (so you can write your next one). This fiction track uses Janeen’s secret sauce methods of tapping in your unique story message, desired readership, and core motivation to get quality words on the page. Includes bite-sized tips, key story moment troubleshooting, and her exclusive beat sheet to get your story to the finish line. Let’s do this!
Streamline Your Social Media with Janeen Ippolito
New to social media and unsure where to start? Or are you just tired of grinding away and not seeing results? Either way, this is your workshop for greater ease in showing up on socials and getting sales. Join publishing industry expert and bestselling author Janeen Ippolito in this practical, action-oriented class. Includes tips for increased reader engagement, ideas for content batching, ways to cross-promote your work effectively, and how to step away from your platform while still staying active. Let’s streamline your social media and free up your time to write!
Children’s Author, Children’s Author—What Do You See? with Julie Lavender [Continuing Workshop (3 workshops total)]
Learn tips and techniques for writing for children from A to Z and 1 to 3 to wow little ones and impress big ones, too. In this class, we’ll talk about writing for kids that includes devotion writing, article writing, curriculum writing, and book writing. Bring a favorite picture book and we’ll find all the elements of great children’s writing!
Extra! Extra! Read All About It! with Julie Lavender [Continuing Workshop (2 workshops total)]
Have you ever dreamed of seeing your byline on the front page of a newspaper? More than 1300 daily newspapers and other weekly ones fly off the presses in the wee hours of the morning, and your local newspaper needs fresh content with every issue! With that necessity for constant content, breaking into newspaper writing is often much easier than getting other writing gigs, and you can build writing credits quickly. Find out how to write for newspapers and how to share faith-based, God-stories in the pages of your local newspaper from instructor Julie Lavender, author of more than 1000 newspaper articles and recently voted “Statesboro’s Best Newspaper Columnist” by readers in her community.
Workshop: Writing for Guideposts Magazine with Julie Lavender
Wanna write inspiring, true stories for Guideposts Magazine and have your words join other pages that have been read by millions of people for the past seventy years? Come learn tips and techniques for getting your story accepted for Guideposts Magazine and other Guideposts publications from Guideposts contributor and Guideposts 2014 Contest Winner Julie Lavender.
Rolling through the Writing Cycle with David Fessenden (3 continuing workshops)
A book-length project can be a daunting task. This workshop breaks the process down into simple, manageable steps, and helps you keep on track, through to a final manuscript that is ready for submission. (Based on Dave’s book, Concept to Contract.)
The Bible Is Not a Quote Book with David Fessenden
Bible study is the most important research work that a Christian writer can do. This seminar shows how you can infuse your writing with a foundation of Scripture, rather than simply dropping in an occasional “proof-text.”
Working with Other People’s Words: Anthologies and Compilations with David Fessenden
Books that consist of the collected and edited works of others can be very successful and have a significant ministry. This workshop teaches the art of choosing, organizing and showcasing the collected works of other authors.
How to Write When You Really Don’t Want To with David Fessenden
What is this phenomenon called “writer’s block” and what is the motivation (or in this case, the lack of motivation) behind it? This workshop will help you learn how to give yourself a psychological kick in the pants.
Write Like A Mad Scientist with Joanne Brokaw
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You Finished Writing Your Book … Now What? with Sue A. Fairchild
This workshop will encompass the next steps in your journey once the writing is done. We will discuss the different levels of editing and what to look for in a reputable editor (contract, pricing, etc.). We will also have a brief discussion about agents (what they do and what to expect); differences between traditional, hybrid, and vanity publishers (how to determine which is best for you); and what to expect from publishers and dangerous pitfalls to avoid.
Essential Ingredients for Chicken Soup for the Soul Stories with Sue A. Fairchild
Chicken Soup for the Soul is one of the most recognizable and prestigious publications in the world as the best-selling trade paperback book series of all time. And they use submitted stories from authors just like you! While they have many opportunities to become a published author (they publish about twelve titles a year!), finding the right ingredients for a Chicken Soup story is like following a complicated recipe. In this workshop, we’ll look at those ingredients essential to a Chicken Soup story and discuss how to submit and what to expect after your story’s been published.
Write Short, Write Sharp: Devotions from Idea to Market with Cathy Mayfield
During this three-part workshop, you will create a publishable devotion from idea to finished project with an intended market. We’ll cover how to get ideas (and play a game for inspiration), how to follow several publishers’ guidelines (with sample copies), and how to condense 8,643 words into a 300-word devotion (including a trial devo to cut). Come join us for a fun time working together to bring God’s message to the generations.
Heart to Pen Poetry Workshop with Anne Waterman Murphy
We will do some fun, hands on exercises, explore poetry forms, share ideas around a theme, and write a poem or two.