Goals, Resources, and Writing Deadlines by Diana Flegal

The New Year is just around the corner. I feel it bearing down, asking me questions, challenging the way I have functioned this past year, thinking I can do better this next one. It is awful to be accompanied by such a chatty specter.  After all, it can not possibly know all of my excuses, I mean reasons I did what I did – the way I did it in 2015.

But I am reexamining things, clearing out my inbox, and catching up on the reading of client proposals and filed away submissions. Pushy bugger.

This past week I was prompted to buy a book (at retail) titled, Show Your Work by Austin Kleon. I think it will be useful as I encourage writers this next year at conferences, and through blogs like this, as well as when I need to provide a ‘pep-talk’ to a discouraged client. I also plan to buy Donald Maass’s book Writing the Breakout Novel. It was recently recommended to me by a well published author and a screenwriter. Though it was published in 2004, I am going to check it out since I highly respect these two individuals.  

I am also finalizing workshop topics and outlines for this year’s writing conference season. So far I will be attending:

February 19-21^st Writers Bootcamp/ AshevilleChristian Writers Conference, at The Cove, Asheville, North Carolina  

May 22-26^th Blue Ridge Mountain Christian WritersConference (BRMCWC) held at LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center, near Asheville, North Carolina

August 3 – 6^th The Greater Philly ChristianWriters Conference (GPCWC) held at Cairn University, Langhorne, PA

How do you plan to switch it up this next year, improve your writing, or schedule some serious training?

No matter how slow you go, you're still lapping everyone sitting on the couch. J

conferences by Terry Burns

I'm getting ready to get in the RV and head to Orange County California for a Christian Writer's conference. It's the first time I have been to that one but I hear they do a nice job with it.

For years I've done a couple of conferences a month and I do prefer to drive if I can because I genuinely do hate airports. I've tried to start cutting back the last couple of years. It's not like I need to generate submissions, I get a ton of them. I can cut back on one that someone from the agency is already working but it is hard to turn down a small conference that's not too far away and needs me.

Then there is the Colorado Christian Writers Conference May 13-17th. We love that one and have gone there for many years. Marlene puts on a great conference. I'll be at the Tulsa Christian Writers May 20-30th,  Inspiration Alive in Amarillo June 11th, and Rose State College in Midwest City OK Sept 18-20th. There's a couple of others I'm not sure about, but I have cut back a bit.

I believe conferences are absolutely essential if we want to write, primarily because they are specifically designed to help us better learn our craft. More than that they give us a chance to interface with other people who really understand what we are doing and what we are going through. Having the support of family and friends is nice, but we really need times when we can interface with other writers, when we can just immerse ourselves in it for a short time.

Long before I became an agent I tried to go to a couple of conferences a year as a writer and it was invaluable to me. It is where I learned the business. There are a lot of them to choose from, some large and well attended, some regional ones that might be right in your own back yard. I mentioned the ones above because I'd love to meet you at one.

What conferences do you like to attend and when and where is it?

And if you haven't been at one, well . . . don't you think it is time that you did?

Economical Writing short course by Terry Burns

ROSE STATE WRITER’S SHORT COURSE

If you are looking for an economical writers conference, I’ll be on the faculty for this short course at Rose State College in Midwest City OK (Outskirts of Oklahoma City). I’ve been there several times, and it is a small conference with great facilities packed with excellent presenters, is economical and full of content.

Last year’s Short Course was attended by more than two hundred people. This year the College will expand the program with more presenters, more agents, and more contest categories. Organized by New York Times-bestselling author William Bernhardt, this conference will bring some of the nation’s most successful writers and literary agents to Oklahoma.

More than thirty published writers, agents, editors, and others in the publishing industry will present at the Short Course, led by Guest-of-Honor Jacqueline Mitchard, author of The Deep End of the Ocean, the first book selected for Oprah’s Book Club, and John Wooley, Oklahoma author of more than thirty books of fiction and nonfiction. Authors will share their secrets, agents will provide one-on-one consultations with writers, and editors will talk with attendees interested in writing for their publications.

Whether you write fiction, poetry, memoir, or creative nonfiction, this workshop will have something to help you grow as a writer and publish your work. This Short Course will explore all aspects of why this is the best time to be a writer.

Information is available at http://www.rose.edu/shortcourse

Marlene Bagnull has directed the Write His Answer Conferences for many years now, hosting one in Colorado Springs and one in the Greater Philadelphia Area each year. One year Becky Spencer wrote the first stanza and set music to Marlene's vision. Marlene then wrote the second verse. We sing this song at the conferences now and it says so much about why we as agents and faculty, do what we do.

Marlene gave us permission to share the words with you all. May they inspire and encourage you as you write.

Write My answer
Make it clear
Shout My message
Help them hear
All who read it
How they’ll run
To share the vision
That has come

 

Live My answer

Make it clear

Love My people

Help them hear

I am coming

Coming soon

Focus on Me

Trust Me, too.

7 Reasons Why You Need to Come Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference July 30 - August 2, 2014

    

7 Reasons Why  
You Need to Come

Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference

July 30 - August 2, 2014

1. To learn the craft of writing. Okay, maybe you've been writing for many years, but there is always more to learn. Master craftsmen will teach  workshops  and  continuing sessions that, as one conferee said, are the equivalent of a semester college course in writing. You'll learn from authors like Cec Murphey, Linda Evans Shepherd, Tim Shoemaker, and Jeanette Windle. And they are just four of the 56 authors, editors, agents, and publicists serving on this year's faculty.   

2. To learn the craft of marketing your work to potential publishers or how to indie publish. If you've gotten more than your share of rejection slips or have yet to get your first rejection (I'm sorry, it goes with the territory of being a writer), GPCWC offers a "Get Published" track of six hour-long workshops that will provide practical help. In addition, literary agent, editor, and author Dave Fessenden is teaching a two-hour Wednesday early bird workshop, on "Book Proposals: The Front-End Method." You also can choose Tim Shoemaker's continuing session, "How to Get Published."  If you're considering indie publishing, a special two-hour workshop, "You Can ePublish Your Book" is offered among the Wednesday early birds plus we have a continuing session that will walk you through step-by-step using Createspace to publish your book.

3. Face-to-face opportunities to pitch your work to editors and agents.  At GPCWC full-time conferees get FOUR 15-minute one-on-one appointments with the faculty of your choice. Because we have such a large faculty, there's a good possibility that you even late registrants will get their top choices. On Thursday afternoon you'll have the opportunity to sign up for additional appointments with faculty who still have openings. In today's publishing world, the only way to connect with most agents and editors is through meeting them at a conference. Check out our helpful spreadsheets of their editorial needs. You'll find links on the pages for our editors and agents. Anxious about meeting a real live editor or agent face-to-face? Jeanette Windle's two "Practice Your Pitch" early bird workshops (one for nonfiction and the other for fiction), will give you more confidence for your one-on-one meetings. Our authors are also available for appointments. They can point out the strengths and weaknesses in your writing, answer questions, and provide helpful guidance.  

4. To learn the craft of marketing/promoting your published work. And yes, it's a craft, and not one that comes naturally to most writers. I've often said that the reason I quit Girl Scouts is because of the stress of trying to sell cookies. Whether or not you like marketing, the fact is that you hold the key to the sales of your book. But the good news is that it's a craft that can be learned. We've also got a track of six hour-long marketing workshops. 

5. Friendships with other writers. My closest friends are writers I've met at writers' conferences. In amazing ways writers connect deeply with one another more quickly than I ever have in the chit-chat before and after Sunday morning worship services. And we need each other. A key verse for me that I've experienced and sought to follow is 1 Thessalonians 5:11, "Encourage each other to build each other up" (TLB). It happens at GPCWC!  

6. Inspiration and encouragement to keep on keeping on. Our keynoters will challenge you to "Write His Answer."  

7. Direction from the Lord. Each year, and this is my 31st year directing GPCWC, I see God at work in Ephesians 3:20 ways.  He has a plan for you and for your writing. He is the One who makes the impossible possible. Indeed, GPCWC is "More than a Writers Conference." 

There's still time to register and to request appointments. Housing is still available in Cairn University's Heritage Hall. None of the workshops or continuing sessions are filled because of the university's large classrooms. And time payments and some scholarship help is available if needed.

You're welcome to contact me if you have questions at mbagnull@aol.com

God bless you and your writing - Marlene

 

Back to Back Conferences by Terry Burns

So, here I am sitting here in the hotel in Albuquerque waiting for the Class Christian Writer's Conference to kick off in the morning. I blogged about this conference last week. It should be a good one. When I leave here I rush home, repack, get my materials ready and head out to the next one.



The next one would be the East Texas Christian Writer's Conference put on by East Texas Baptist University and held on their beautiful campus in Marshall, Texas. This regional conference is a great bargain to stretch your conference dollar. The actual dates are October 25th and 26th.

Information, schedule, registration information, etc all are found at the website at http://www.etbu.edu/News/CWC/

With a fine faculty and great facilities, this packed two day conference offers a great bargain. I've gone there a number of times and have thoroughly enjoyed it every year.

Meet you in Albuquerque by Terry Burns

Yup, it's that time. I followed this conference when it left Glorieta NM after many years, wnet with it when it moved to the Ghost Ranch in Abique NM for several years and will now be there as it is at the First Baptist Church in Albuquerque NM on October 17-19th.

I have quite a history with this conference and I don't just mean the length of time that I have gone. Way back when I was a fledging writer it was this conference that I went to in order to see how I could follow my leading to use my writing for the Lord. If you are interested you can see my writing testimony at my personal website at www.terryburns.net - just click on the testimony button. We anjoyed this conference so much that my wife, Saundra, and my mom both went with me for years before mom passed away. Saundra usually goes to this day but has a conflict and can't make it this year.

The conference is put on by Classservices and is under the direction of my client Linda Gilden and Gerry Wakefield. Any questions you might have you will find answered at http://classeminars.org/faq-writers-conference including how to get registered and the cost.

This is a great conference that I always enjoy attending. If you are a fledging writer looking for that first publication credit attendees work with industry pros during the course of the conference and get a chance to be in an anthology produced during the conference. This is one conference that you can walk away from as a published writer.

There will be chances to pitch agents and editors, for individual coaching, and the chance for a lot of networking with other writers and with industry professionals. So what are you waiting for? Go to that site now and come meet me in Albuquerque!

A nice regional conference by Terry Burns

If you live in the Oklahoma area a writing short course is being offered at Rose State College which is located in Midwest City (on the East side of Oklahoma City) this coming weekend. That would be September 27-29th.

Details on the conference and registration information is located at http://www.rose.edu/shortcourse and it is not too late to get in on this as they are still encouraging late registrations. The theme of the conference is "Finding your voice in the changing world of words."

I'm going to be there taking pitches from authors and doing a program on "Surviving your way to publication" and one on "Sure ways to turn off an editor or agent." The guest of honor will be bestselling author David Morrell, author of "First Blood" and creator of "Rambo."

They have a great faculty lined up including authors who will be sharing writing secrets and techniques, agents talking about the business side of writing and having one on one appointments with attendees, and editors there to talk with attendees interested in writing for their publications.

Regional conferences are a great way to stretch those career growth dollars and are a great investment. I hope to see you there.

Meet you at Atlanta? by Terry Burns

Will be on the road headed to the "Catch the Wave" Christian Writer's Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference is August 22-24th at the Lodge at Simpsonwood and is put on by the Christian Authors Guild. I've been there once before and it is a beautiful facility and a great place for a conference.

I have a little more expanded role this time as I'm going to set the tone for the conference in an opening talk on "Just Say Yes." Decisions that we make take on a whole new meaning when we realize that there are only two answers when we come to realize that the Lord wants us to do something, yes or no. Later, maybe, I'm not qualified, I can't do it, are just forms of saying no. We'll talk about what this means for writers . . . and just for Christians in general.

I'll be doing appointments, of course, and doing a workshop on "Developing a writer's persona" as well as one on "Agent and Editor pet peeves." I'll be speaking in the closing session as well, talking about, talking about "Why do we write?"

Hopefully there is something in these for everybody and the remainder of the conference content is very strong with presenters like Cindy Sproles, cofounder and Executive Director of Christian Devotions Ministries, Faye Lamb, acquisition editor for Pelican Book Group, and Stacy Robinson of the Robinson Talent Agency. Others are bestselling author Lynette Easton, publicist and media specialist ReAnn Ring, and Pix-N-Pens publisher Tracy Ruckman.

The conference is very affordable and a great opportunity to network and learn, particularly convenient for those who live in the Southeast. I hope I get the chance to meet you there.