Join us at our Christian writers’ conference, an intimate gathering designed to inspire and empower writers of faith. Whether you’re a budding author or an experienced scribe, our conference offers a nurturing environment to refine your craft, connect with fellow Christian writers, and explore the intersections of faith and storytelling. With workshops led by industry professionals, keynote speeches from bestselling authors, and ample opportunities for networking, this event is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to make a meaningful impact through the written word. Don’t miss this chance to elevate your writing in a community that shares your values and vision.
Workshops are being added for this year’s conference and are subject to change. Check back often!
KEYNOTE:
Eva Marie Everson
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
Limited to first 10 participants
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 is limited to first 10 participants. After registering for this ongoing workshop, registrants must pre-register by emailing Eva Marie at PenNhnd@aol.com with “ST DAVIDS” in the subject line.)
GENERAL SESSIONS:
Writing Christian Worldview into the General Market with Cindy Sproles
Christian writers tend to preach to the choir, writing only to those in the Christian market. But what about those who do not read within the confines of the Christian Market? We will discuss the importance of writing into the general market and maintaining a Christian worldview. Authors can write wholesome, enjoyable, and fulfilling fiction for the general market without letting the world lead them in a lie that the world won’t read. We’ll prove you can write good fiction and maintain the love of Christ without thumping your reader on the head. It’s time to advance and put our toes in new water where the ripples can make amazing changes.
Preparing Your Presentation with Jill Marie Thomas
Jill will look at the eight essential components of a fun, engaging, professional presentation. You will leave this session with a sturdy formula for putting together a killer talk.
When I (Run) Create, I Feel God’s Pleasure with Lora Zill
Why is it that when non-Christians create art, they describe it as a spiritual experience and when Christians create art, they don’t? How and why do we experience God in our creativity and art? Jesus says we are to love God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength … and that includes our redeemed imaginations. Can we trust where our imagination leads us? Could that journey be the leading of the Holy Spirit? Some provocative questions to consider as we learn how being creative makes us better Christians.
Writing to Shape Culture (Instead of Culture Shaping You) with Michelle Lazurek
Global Pandemic. Government shutdowns. Economic uncertainty. Given the tumultuous nature of the world around us, is it any wonder Christians feel more hopeless than ever? It can feel like no matter what they do to spread the Gospel, it doesn’t seem to help. This general session will help them understand that they already possess some of the best tools to tell people about Jesus and will help to inform Christian writers how their words can shape not only the lives of those who know them, but also the culture around them.
MARKETING/SPEAKING TRACK WITH JILL MARIE THOMAS
1. Understanding Your Audience, Host, and Venue
We will look at the scientific evidence and experiences of other professional speakers as to what things and methods of presenting engage the audience. Also, we’ll consider how to communicate with and interact with your hosts and how to manage the “crowds” in your event venue.
2. Understanding Yourself—Scabs, Scars, and Fears
Most people have horrible public speaking experiences somewhere in their past. We will hear some hilarious stories from amateurs and pros, examine our own scabs and scars, and investigate ways to overcome and master the fears.
3. Put on Your Deodorant and Take the Stage
The day has come to give your presentation. All your preparation up to this point will be tested today. Now go and make it great. We’ll touch on self-evaluation after the event.
CREATIVITY/POETRY TRACK WITH LORA ZILL
The Making of A Creative Wordsmith—The Art and Craft of Poetry
3 Ongoing Sessions—Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons)
If you love language and creating with words this class is for you. Every writer, no matter their genre, can benefit from writing poetry. It is an art and a craft that strengthens your feel for language and skill in using it. We will learn about imagery, sound, rhythm, line length, and white space and engage in creative, hands on writing exercises each day. We will create, write and share with each other and enjoy the fellowship of a community of writers who love the word and The Word. Each class stands alone so you will benefit from one class and certainly all of them!
OTHER WORKSHOPS:
What Did They Say? with Cindy K. Sproles
You’ll want to know the industry lingo if you are new to writing and conferences. What is a critique group, and what a good critique is? What is the difference between traditionally published, self-publishing, and custom publishing? POD, POV, RUE. What are all these initials? In this class, you’ll be introduced to the lingo of the industry and what to do in those 15-minute appointments. This class will help you navigate the ropes as a new conferee.
The Writing Tool that Will Refine Your Skill—Devotions with Cindy K. Sproles
The misnomer is devotions are simple to write because they are short. But the truth is, learning to write a devotion properly is the greatest writing tool you can add to your toolbox. In this class, we utilize the hook, book, look, and took method of writing devotions. We’ll discuss aspects that stop the reader from reading and offer tips that draw readers in and provide them with the ah-hh moment that strikes the soul. There is no one right or wrong way to write a devotion, but there are specific elements necessary to make an impact. Learn the dos and don’ts of writing tight and concisely.
The Storyteller in You with Cindy K. Sproles
Most anyone can write a story, but few can really take that story and TELL it on the page, so your readers can’t let go. We will talk about what makes a good story and the characters that stick with your reader. We’ll learn the skills needed to take your storytelling skills to the next level. The class will discuss adding dialect, emotion, and dealing gently with hard subjects. Conferees will discover the importance of a good hook and colorful description, pinging all the reader’s senses.
The Making of a Page-Turner with Cindy K. Sproles
What makes your reader continue to flip the pages? What does it mean when a reader says, “It’s a fast read?” These are questions every writer needs to answer and understand. In this class, we discuss what a cliffhanger is, the types of cliffhangers (every cliffhanger is not a devasting thing), and how to add them at the end of every chapter. Learn about twists, how they pull the reader to the next page, and how they may even surprise you. If you are writing a novel, this class is a must.
Nonfiction and Such with Cindy K. Sproles
In these sessions, we will touch on all the variations of nonfiction, from how to tell a solid nonfiction story to learning what your voice is and how to stay in your “lane.” Nonfiction can turn dry fast, so we’ll discuss ways to draw in your reader, how to interject emotion and even humor, and finally, we’ll talk about things you may not know unless someone tells you. We’ll put to rest unrealistic expectations and add in setting realistic publishing goals.
Writing for Early Readers with Michelle S. Lazurek
Many people want to write for children. But how do you write engaging content that not only tells a story but also keeps a young audience engaged despite the instant gratification world in which we live? In this workshop, Michelle will address the following aspects of children’s writing:
- Why is writing children’s book so important?
- Five tips to help you if you have a desire to write but don’t know where to start
- Four ways to keep children engaged in the story
- How to structure your book
This workshop is best for beginning or intermediate writers who want to write for children studies but don’t know how to start and/or intermediate writers who write for children but find their material is not resonating with their audiences.
Twelve Questions to Ask When Creating Character Profiles with Michelle S. Lazurek
Have a great character in mind for your next children’s book, short story, or YA novel but don’t know how to start creating one? In this interactive workshop, Michelle helps you create a dynamic main character that will help jumpstart your next writing project. This workshop is a fun and exciting way to develop characters through mind mapping. Come prepared to participate!
7 Story Blunders and the Story World Secrets to Avoid Them (Shorter title: Don’t Cheat the Reader) with Lisa Betz
Strengthen your self-editing skills by learning how to identify and fix seven common plot mistakes. Based on material from Wired for Story by Lisa Cron.
Rx for the Creative Soul: Keeping Your Creativity Reservoir Filled with Lisa Betz
Creative content is vital for thriving as a writer, but good output requires good input. Learn how to overcome writers block and avoid uninspired prose by intentionally keeping our creativity reservoirs filled and guarding against the big creativity killers.
Perfecting Your Media Pitch: How to Snag Interviews on Podcasts, Radio and More with Lisa Betz
Learn how to promote your work through guest interviews. These strategies will help you craft an effective pitch, figure out where to send it, and sound like a pro when you’re accepted for an interview.
Authentic Representation in Historical Fiction: Balancing Between Time Periods with Janet Pierce
Discover ways to balance terminology of the past and present to accurately describe and label
characters, actions, and settings. In this workshop we will incorporate concepts of world building
such as the culture and geography of the time-period. After each concept, participants will pair with others to discuss applying the workshop ideas to their own works in progress. Then we will share this information as a group. This workshop is for novice to experienced writers of historical fiction. Participants are encouraged to bring their laptops to the session and examine their own WIPs through the lens of ideas presented.
Thinking Outside of the Box to Stoke the Fires of Your Imagination with Janyce Brawn
“Imagination is like a muscle. I found out the more I wrote, the bigger it got.”- Philip Jose Farmer
We all imagine differently. In this workshop, we will do a series of activities to consider what we see, touch, smell, taste and hear to stoke the fires of our imagination. By thinking outside of the box and using our five senses with various techniques, we will investigate how the taste of a sour lemon and the smell of peppermint can enhance our creativity. We will find that the feelings we have for certain types of music can increase our focus and boost our openness to generate new ideas. In any art form you need negatives and positives for conflict and tension to make a complete work. So, building spatial awareness through drawing negative spaces can foster imagination and creativity and help us see how negative elements in our writing such as heartache, loss, and hurt can create a more dimensional character. At the end, participants will have new strategies to stoke their creative fires as they move forward in their writing.
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