Local Christian Writer's Conference --September 27 - 29, 2024
General Meeting--May 11, 2024
" Writing Novellas"
with Guest Speaker Ruth Douthitt
who will be discussing on the art of collaborative storytelling in the realm of novella collections. As writers, we often tread solitary paths, but when we come together for a project, the possibilities are endless. Merging our voices and visions to create something greater than the sum of its parts is what collaboration is all about.
In this talk, we'll delve into the intricacies of collaborative writing, exploring the joys, challenges, and unexpected revelations that arise when minds unite in pursuit of a shared narrative. From brainstorming sessions that spark inspiration to the delicate dance of blending individual styles, we'll uncover the secrets to crafting cohesive novella collections that captivate readers from start to finish.
" Writing Novellas"
with Guest Speaker Ruth Douthitt
who will be discussing on the art of collaborative storytelling in the realm of novella collections. As writers, we often tread solitary paths, but when we come together for a project, the possibilities are endless. Merging our voices and visions to create something greater than the sum of its parts is what collaboration is all about.
In this talk, we'll delve into the intricacies of collaborative writing, exploring the joys, challenges, and unexpected revelations that arise when minds unite in pursuit of a shared narrative. From brainstorming sessions that spark inspiration to the delicate dance of blending individual styles, we'll uncover the secrets to crafting cohesive novella collections that captivate readers from start to finish.
It's "Romance in April." - Virtual Online Conference in Place of General Meeting
Join the Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writers conference where nine outstanding speakers share their expertise. 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST (8:00 AM – 10:00 AM PST)Keynote – Becky Wade “Secrets of Un-put-down-able Romance” Becky will walk you through the building blocks she considers essential to penning a romance so gripping that it will keep readers up late into the night. 10-Minute Break “Your Writing Journey” In this session, Becky will address strategies that will empower you to follow the Lord’s guidance, find hope, and persevere through discouragement in our writing life. 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM EST (10:30 AM – 11:30 AM PST):Marketing Vincent B. Davis II – “Amazon Bootcamp” Amazon is where books are sold. Nearly 80% of all eBooks are sold on Amazon, and upwards of 40% of paperbacks are sold there as well. But if other online stores feel like barren deserts, sometimes Amazon can feel like attempting to sell in shark-infested waters. But there are tools and tricks available to all authors to improve their visibility on Amazon, and in this course, we’ll discuss some of the very best. We’ll go over the basics of metadata (keywords and categories), price points and price promotions, and the benefits of Amazon exclusivity. Whether you’re a bestseller or a first-time author, this course will give you additional tools to help your book become more discoverable on the world’s largest bookstore. Craft Roseanna White – “No Tears in the Writer” We’ve all heard the advice about “no tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.” But what about those of us who just aren’t that emotional? Are we doomed to write flat books? Absolutely not! And this is how we can make sure of it (and why we should care). 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM EST (11:45 AM – 12:45 PM PST):Marketing Lynnette Bonner – “Unlock the Power of Facebook Ads” Join this class to learn the essentials of leveraging Facebook’s advertising platform effectively. Discover how to create and organize compelling ads, target the right audience, create eye-catching images, and achieve your marketing goals in this comprehensive, insightful course. Craft Dani Pettrey – “Romance 101—Writing About Relationships” In this session, we will explore the way characters fall in love. Through examples, we’ll delve deep into what they love about the other person. We’ll explore how romantic relationships develop and grow over the course of a story. And, we’ll look at tips for keeping the couple’s romance unique and authentic to them. 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST (1:00 PM – 2:00 PM PST):Marketing DiAnn Mills – “Creating a Powerful Book Launch” A writer’s goal is to place a well-written book into the hands and hearts of readers. Entering the world of retail and appealing to readers takes creativity, imagination, and organization. Sometimes courage. The task can appear daunting, yet with the proper steps, the writer can complete the job effectively and efficiently. This workshop shows you how to create a powerful book launch that’s successful and organized. Craft Lisa Carter – “Grounding the Reader—First Chapter Checklist” First chapters—and last chapters—are the hardest to write. Often, writers will return again and again to “tinker” with either or both of these chapters. It has been said that the first line sells the book, and the last line sells the next one. A lot has to be accomplished within the first chapter to entice the reader to keep reading. This workshop will explore the essential elements in creating a first chapter that readers can’t put down. We will examine common first chapter mistakes and how to correct them. A first chapter checklist will also be provided. 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM EST (2:15 PM – 3:15 PM): Marketing Panel Roseanna White | Robin Patchen | Kari Trumbo Three successful multi-published authors--Roseanna White, Robin Patchen, and Kari Trumbo—will share their marketing expertise by answering essentials questions for authors seeking to reach a wider audience. Cost is $15 for members; $50 for non-members Get more information and register here: https://fhlchristianwriters.com/virtual-conference/. 
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General Meeting--January 13, 2024
" LLCs and Estate Planning"
with Guest Speaker Libby Banks
If you have ever wondered about the best way to manage your writing business, Libby Banks has some answers for you. This presentation will take you through forming a business entity for your writing to planning for someone to run your writing business if you are not able and finally to making sure your writing and assets are handled the way you want when you are gone.Libby Banks is an attorney who focuses her law practice in the areas of estate planning, probate, trust administration and business formation. Being a writer herself, she is uniquely positioned to provide guidance for writers in their business formation and estate planning.
" LLCs and Estate Planning"
with Guest Speaker Libby Banks
If you have ever wondered about the best way to manage your writing business, Libby Banks has some answers for you. This presentation will take you through forming a business entity for your writing to planning for someone to run your writing business if you are not able and finally to making sure your writing and assets are handled the way you want when you are gone.Libby Banks is an attorney who focuses her law practice in the areas of estate planning, probate, trust administration and business formation. Being a writer herself, she is uniquely positioned to provide guidance for writers in their business formation and estate planning.
General Meeting--November 18, 2023
" Blurbs 101"
with Guest Speaker Jennifer Cary
Sometimes it’s easier to write a 100K tome… than to craft a 200 word blurb. But it doesn't have to be that way.
Jennifer Lynn Cary’s Blurbs 101 will guide you towards what works and teach you how to make it work for you. In this class, you will learn the main parts of a good blurb—the Hook, the Body, and the CTA—how to craft them and where to place them.
" Blurbs 101"
with Guest Speaker Jennifer Cary
Sometimes it’s easier to write a 100K tome… than to craft a 200 word blurb. But it doesn't have to be that way.
Jennifer Lynn Cary’s Blurbs 101 will guide you towards what works and teach you how to make it work for you. In this class, you will learn the main parts of a good blurb—the Hook, the Body, and the CTA—how to craft them and where to place them.
General Meeting--September 8, 2023
"Humor" with Guest Speaker Dawn Kravagna |
What technique guarantees the easiest way to add humor to your story (besides being funny)?
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General Meeting--April 22, 2023
Zoom "Using Scivenir" with Guest Speaker Justine Covington Scrivener is a word-processing program and outliner designed for authors. Scrivener provides a management system for documents, notes and metadata. This allows the user to organize notes, concepts, research, and whole documents for easy access and reference (documents including rich text, images, PDF, etc. *Bring you laptop |
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General Meeting--February 18, 2023
Zoom "Deep POV" with Guest Speaker Karen Witemeyer Breathe life into your narrative by learning to write with deep point of view. Learn techniques that will absorb your reader so completely, they will no longer simply consume the details of your story but will experience it right alongside your characters. |
General Meeting--January 14, 2023
"Marketing"
with Guest Speaker Cathy McDavid
Don't have a large promotion budget for your books? No worries. There are plenty of no cost or low cost options. This "guided discussion" by Author Cathy McDavid
is highly interactive and structured for sharing of ideas.
"Marketing"
with Guest Speaker Cathy McDavid
Don't have a large promotion budget for your books? No worries. There are plenty of no cost or low cost options. This "guided discussion" by Author Cathy McDavid
is highly interactive and structured for sharing of ideas.
General Meeting--November 19, 2022
"Writing Suspense & Getting Ideas"
with Guest Speaker Betty Webb
Betty Webb is the author of the best-selling Lena Jones mystery series (Desert Redemption, Desert Wives, etc.) and the humorous Gunn Zoo mysteries (The Panda of Death, The Otter of Death, etc.). Lost in Paris, her new mystery series, set in1922 France, will be released in Spring of 2023; Found in Paris, in spring 2024. At the beginning of her career, Betty worked as an artist in Los Angeles and New York City, but eventually became a journalist. She spent 20 years as a journalist, interviewing everyone from U.S. presidents, astronauts who walked on the moon, Nobel Prize-winners, and polygamy runaways. In between her frequent trips to Paris, she lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Conference--October 14, 2022
General Meeting(in-person)-- September 17, 2022
"Research"
with Guest Speaker Dana McNeely
Inspired by the Bible stories of Elijah, Dana wondered why the prophet came to stay with the widow of Zarephath and her son. Who were they? What was their life, before? How did the boy change after he died, saw the other world—and came back?Those questions led to Dana doing in-depth research and writing RAIN, in which she built her dream world of adventure, danger, and romance. Peace and quiet, however, have remained elusive. Watch for WHIRLWIND, a second novel in the series, coming February 2023.
*As a bonus, Dana will also share highlights from the National ACFW conference.
"Research"
with Guest Speaker Dana McNeely
Inspired by the Bible stories of Elijah, Dana wondered why the prophet came to stay with the widow of Zarephath and her son. Who were they? What was their life, before? How did the boy change after he died, saw the other world—and came back?Those questions led to Dana doing in-depth research and writing RAIN, in which she built her dream world of adventure, danger, and romance. Peace and quiet, however, have remained elusive. Watch for WHIRLWIND, a second novel in the series, coming February 2023.
*As a bonus, Dana will also share highlights from the National ACFW conference.
General Meeting(in-person)-- May 21, 2022
"Your Plot or Mine"
with Guest Speaker Pamela Tracy
The Beginning, Middle, End, and Ins and Outs of Plotting your book:
This hands-on workshop starts by cementing you in the everyday ' world (with a hook beginning), emphasizing how 'everyday/ordinary' can change in a moment, and how most writers are full of everyday experience that with the turn (okay, quite a few turns) of a pen can become a novel. It works on what chapters should contain, research, and how to plot and write an entire book.
"Your Plot or Mine"
with Guest Speaker Pamela Tracy
The Beginning, Middle, End, and Ins and Outs of Plotting your book:
This hands-on workshop starts by cementing you in the everyday ' world (with a hook beginning), emphasizing how 'everyday/ordinary' can change in a moment, and how most writers are full of everyday experience that with the turn (okay, quite a few turns) of a pen can become a novel. It works on what chapters should contain, research, and how to plot and write an entire book.
General Meeting(virtual)-- April 16, 2022
"Commas Running Amok"
with Guest Speaker Pamela Osback
As a college professor of English, commas give me no grief. Do they give you grief? They don't need to. Also, what is the difference between proof-reading, editing, and revising? Let me help you with the very basic of writing tools and even show you how to look at the page as a whole with attention given to word choice, place, and more.
General Meeting--March 19, 2022
"His Personality Ladder"
with Guest Speaker Laurie Schnebly Campbell
Every hero needs to move through five steps, comparable to climbing a ladder with a few detours here and there, along his journey from Mr. NOT YET Right to Mr. VERY Right. Of course, the heroine has her own ladder to climb in parallel stages...until the end, when they reach the ultimate triumph together. There's even a ladder for the villain, although in most books he never makes it to the top!
General Meeting--February 19, 2022
"Voice"
with Guest Speaker Mary E. Lambert
Mary was born and raised in Arizona. As a child, she had two main ambitions: to be a teacher like her grandma and to write books like the ones she loved. After completing a bachelor’s degree in English literature, Mary graduated from Covenant College in 2006 and took a job teaching junior high at a Tempe charter school. Sixteen years later, she is still in the same classroom! In 2014, Mary finished her M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her debut novel, Family Game Night and Other Catastrophes (Scholastic), was published in 2017, followed by Distress Signal (Scholastic) in 2020. When the global pandemic forced her out of her classroom and she was stuck working from home, Mary adopted a rescue dog. Ollie Duke is her constant companion and main source of distraction when she is typing away on her latest work-in-progress.
"Voice"
with Guest Speaker Mary E. Lambert
Mary was born and raised in Arizona. As a child, she had two main ambitions: to be a teacher like her grandma and to write books like the ones she loved. After completing a bachelor’s degree in English literature, Mary graduated from Covenant College in 2006 and took a job teaching junior high at a Tempe charter school. Sixteen years later, she is still in the same classroom! In 2014, Mary finished her M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her debut novel, Family Game Night and Other Catastrophes (Scholastic), was published in 2017, followed by Distress Signal (Scholastic) in 2020. When the global pandemic forced her out of her classroom and she was stuck working from home, Mary adopted a rescue dog. Ollie Duke is her constant companion and main source of distraction when she is typing away on her latest work-in-progress.
General Meeting--January 22, 2022
"Starting on the Write Foot"
with Guest Speaker
Tina Swayzee McCright
Tina is a multi-award-winning author of romantic mysteries. When she isn't writing, she enjoys beach vacations with her husband, The Irish Charmer, and playing with her granddaughter. She was president of the Valley of the Sun Romance Writers, has a B.S. in Communications, and an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction. Although she was an educator for twenty-five years, she believes her greatest accomplishment was raising an amazing daughter.
* Tina sold to Harlequin Love Inspired three days after she spoke to CWOW
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Check out some of the prior speakers CWOW is pleased to have hosted here! * visual courtesy of http://cliparts.co/meeting-pictures-cartoon |