Keynote Events: Caryn Rivadeniera

Masters of Our Craft, Servants of Our Calling: “Musts” for Every Christian Writer

How does the writing of Christians differ from that of non-Christians? What role does our faith play in our writing? Together we’ll examine these areas: becoming masters of the technical (grammar, usage, etc.); knowing who we are and how it shapes our words, and learning to write fearlessly.

All Together Now: The Thrills and Benefits of Writing in Community

Being in community with writers—whether meeting one writer for coffee or being in a writers group or at a conference—helps us understand our calling and our craft. As we continue to think about being Christians who write, we’ll consider the issues of community and its importance—its strengths and its potential challenges.

Workshops:

The Word Made Flesh: Writing the Short Story—Hugh Cook

Perhaps you find yourself thinking, “I want to write fiction, but how can I turn my desire into actual stories? And how do I write fiction that incorporates my Christian faith without becoming preachy?” This workshop explores how to turn experiences into stories, and presents possibilities for writing stories that honor God and follow the requirements of good fiction.

The Magical Spring of Metaphor—Hugh Cook

Metaphor is everywhere: in everyday conversation; in poetry, fiction and nonfiction; Scripture itself, from Psalms to Paul’s epistles, is filled with creative metaphor. Metaphor, clearly, is more than device or ornament—it’s a basic tool of comprehension. This interactive workshop explores how metaphor works, and presents ways of using it in all forms of writing.

Creating the Best First Line—Cynthia Beach (Powerpoint)

Embark on a journey through the best first lines in literature, then develop a great first line for your book, story, or article. Brainstorm new ideas and have an old one critiqued, if you choose. You’ll also get tips on ending well.

Level 1: Publishing Possibilities: Past, Present, and Future—Tim Beals (Friday afternoon)

Publishing is way past just putting out a book. Beals will look at the array of new ways to publish your book, from traditional to self-publishing, from POD to digital-only.

Level 2: Digital World 101—David Frees (Friday early, Powerpoint)

Learn the basics of engaging the digital world, from a definition of terms to how you can engage the digital world as you develop your writing project. Define the role of ebooks, look at distribution of digital content, and learn the broad scope of a digital book.

Level 3: Social HQ – Holistic Visibility

Expand your writing platform by integrating your website, blog, Facebook, and other social platforms into a top notch social headquarters. We will also talk about effective social engagement, time management, and free tools available to help you manage everything in one place and on the go.

Level 1: Book Publicity 101—Kelly Hughes

This session will cover the basics of how to publicize a book: from planning and strategy; to creating effective promotional materials and building a targeted media list; to pitching media, and finally, preparing to ace each interview!

Level 2: Book Publicity Workshop—Kelly Hughes

Here we get down to the nitty gritty of publicizing your book, exploring both traditional, new, and social media opportunities and creating a specific plan. Whether promotion is completely in your hands or you’re looking for ways to complement what your publisher is doing, you’ll come away with concrete ideas about how to get the buzz started.

Writing for Social Justice: From Cause to Connection —Tracey Bianchi

From Richard Sterns to Julie Clawson, writers are raising awareness and participation in both local and global causes. What social, global or local issues get your heart beating? How can your writing help create a movement and generate enthusiasm? Discover how your passions can find their way into print and to motivating others to rally around a cause.

Get Started: First Steps Toward Building Your Writing Life—Ann Byle

Beginning writers will discover how to start building a writing life. This experienced writer will share how to overcome fear, set goals, make those first queries, create a writing space, and get writing.

Anatomy of a Novel: Scene Cards and Storyboards—Tracy Groot (Friday)

“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at the typewriter and just open a vein.” Tracy will show how two valuable tools brought structure, sanity, and a little less bloodshed to the writing of her latest novel, Flame of Resistance.

Adding Market Value and Helping Readers Dig Deeper with Study Questions and Curriculum—Sharron Carrns

Learn how to write questions and curriculum that will help your readers apply the stories and concepts of your book (fiction or non-fiction) to their own lives in thought-provoking, meaningful ways. You will write a few questions of your own as part of this workshop, led by an expert who has written, reviewed, and purchased countless similar resources.

Character Development and Continuity—Martie Bradley

Books lead us alongside people in transition and transformation. Well-written characters become beloved friends, but poorly conceived ones lose our interest. This workshop offers a cross-disciplinary understanding of holistic human development that will help you create and sustain characters that are intriguing, authentic, and unforgettable.

Rhyming with Orange: Creativity in Your Writing—Don Perini

From the wheel to sliced bread to the Internet, ideas have changed the landscape of our world for centuries. Ideas were the driving force behind the pyramids, classical music, and medicinal cures. Come discover how to generate unique, useful, and powerful ideas to stimulate creativity in your writing that will enable you to rhyme with orange.

Create a Winning Book Proposal—Lorilee Craker

Tap into the expertise and success of this top-notch proposal writer in a workshop designed to teach you what to include, how to write, and the best looks for a book proposal sure to grab an editor’s attention.

Writing Poetry from the Heart—Michael Stevens (Saturday)

Poet and professor Michael Stevens shares advice and techniques for creating poetry that touches the heart, moves the emotions, and challenges the mind.

Agenting 101: Finding an Agent—Karen Neumair (Saturday)

What is a Literary Agent? When do you need one? What does an agent look for in a potential author? Learn the answers to these questions and more from this experienced Credo Communications Literary Agent.

Say it with Sizzle: Writing from Life—Shelly Beach

Learn the secrets to turning your life experiences into saleable fiction and nonfiction. Leave equipped with tools for evaluating manuscript saleability, reader take-away, and your unique selling position in the marketplace. Learn to “mine your life” and pass on the riches.

The Key Element in Writing for Young Adults–Noel Seif (Friday early)

What is the one critical element a YA novel absolutely can’t be without? Find out what you can and must do to reach your YA audience. Includes a review of other important elements in YA fiction.

Spiritual Care for the Writer—Latayne Scott

Serving as a font of God’s grace through writing is hard if your own sources of spiritual nourishment run dry. Discover how a “Three-D Model of Reality” can orient your thinking about your role as an index between readers and God, learn practical ways to make sure your body and mind can stand up to the rigors of writing and “the real world,” and move forward from stalled spiritual postures.

Writing Non-fiction for Magazines—Latayne Scott

This experienced writer will share how to break into magazine article writing: researching markets, crafting a great article, querying editors, getting paid, and other issues. The session will include a guided brainstorming session to help you identify marketable article ideas.

Self-Editing Your Novel—Dave Lambert

This fiction expert will help you discover some of the most common re-works writers must make on their novels, including characterization, story arc, and more.

Publisher, Editor, and Writer—Dave Lambert

Find out what each expects of the other and how all three work together to create the best manuscript possible.

Fish Out of Water—Don Perini

It is not uncommon for fiction writers to feel like a fish out of water when attempting to write a screenplay.  However, if you are looking to improve story structure, character development, and dialogue in your fiction writing, screenwriting will help you to stretch your craft in ways that can produce great results.  And who knows…maybe you will learn to swim on land.

Lunch Forums:

Writers Groups: The Missing Link—Tim Burns

A writers group provides accountability, inspiration, and fellowship that writers need to get in the game and compete to win. Join us to discuss writers groups and finding the right one to stimulate your creative game. We’ll discuss issues such as differences between groups, finding the “right fit,” and starting your own group.

Conquering Your Writing Fears—Sharron Carrns and Cynthia Beach

Fear. Perfectionism. Intimidation. These blocks can stop us in our writing journey. Discuss your blocks with writer-coaches Sharron and Cynthia and find new tools for unblocking.

Publishing Process Overview—Andrew Rogers

Once your book is accepted by a publisher, then what happens to it? Learn from an insider how the process works: editorial board, pub board, line editing, marketing and publicity decisions, etc.