Write His Answer

There are so many opportunities at the August 1-4 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference to connect with professionals who can help you grow your writing ministry and get your work in print. The bios and editorial needs for GPCWC’s 16 book editors are now online at www.writehisanswer.com/Philadelphia/book-editors.htm. Info on our agents, periodical editors, and authors will be posted in the next few days.

GPCWC happens just once a year! I’m praying you won’t miss it. Partial scholarships are still available for those with financial need. Time payments can also be arranged if needed.

When you visit the conference website, be sure to click on the News & Update page. We’ve added two more book editors and have had some changes in workshops including the addition of a new 5:00 – 6:00 pm Wednesday earlybird workshop. Suzanne Kuhn will be presenting her popular workshop, Getting the Social Back in Social Media. This workshop focuses on engagement, building true fans and readers through the process and becoming relevant to your audience. (This is not a mechanics workshop.)

Suzanne has more than 20 years of book retailing experience, working in all areas of book retailing and event sales, including traveling as part of Karen Kingsbury’s team. In 2010 Suzanne launched SuzyQ, a full-service author promotion firm that works with authors, publishers and retailers, helping to coordinate any type of live event and training authors to engage and connect with readers. Suzanne’s experience and knowledge in the book retailing venue gives her an edge when facilitating book tours, arena events, and speaking engagements, ensuring a more successful and profitable event. Suzanne truly believes in the power of Christian literature to impact and change lives.

Enough from me. 🙂 Now . . . here’s Donna and Patti!

Part 2 – Interview with Patti Shene
An Editor Who Mentors and Encourages Both Young and Old

by Donna Brennan

Question: Where do you get your passion for mentoring youth and publishing the writing of teens and young kids?

I truly believe God puts us in certain places in our lives to prepare us for work He has for us in our future. I am a retired RN and practiced mainly in the psychiatric nursing field. I worked at a residential child care facility for several years. My husband and I raised two children, but my time with those troubled young boys in the clinical setting helped me realize some of the tougher issues young people face today.

Add to that the fact that my granddaughter is strongly interested in writing. She is my assistant. She gives me a kid’s opinion of some of the work that is submitted and she proofreads, in addition to helping me keep track of email and paperwork.

The written word is one way for young people to express their frustrations, fears, dreams, and aspirations. It also serves as an effective means to advocate for young people.

Question: What are some of the things you like most about working with young writers?

I love their creativity, their realistic view of the world, the way they analyze and study the things we adults take for granted. Their dreams are boundless. They have ambitious goals and they are willing to work hard to reach them.

When I was approached about WWC and the editorship of Starsongs, I developed a vision for the magazine. Over the past few months, I’ve been rewarded with the excitement and enthusiasm kids experience when they are published.

Some of our Starsongs contributors are crafting novels and a couple of them already have novels in print! I think this is amazingly wonderful. My dream is that someday I’ll walk into a major bookstore and find that one of our Starsongs contributors is a multi-published author.

Question: Tell us about Written World Communication’s annual writing contest for kids. Where can we go to get more information?

This contest has two facets, novella length work for young people ages 9-12 and novel length work for ages 13-19. This is open to all genres, again as long as the “R” rating restriction is met. The grand prize is publication with Written World Communications. Contest rules, including judging criteria and due dates can be found at the Starsongs blog, www.kidspublished.blogspot.com.

Question: From teaching teens and younger kids to teaching adults starting their writing career after the age of 50—you definitely cover both ends of the spectrum. Why do you feel it’s never too soon or too late to begin the writing journey?

It’s never too late to begin any journey! We tend to impose limitations on ourselves all the time, and age is one of them. Young writers bring innocence and a sense of curiosity to writing that we older writers tend to lose over the years. On the other hand, over 50 writers contribute a factor that young people can’t claim – experience – years of it!

God can and, if we let Him, does use each and every one of us to fulfill His purpose. He places no restriction on age or any other factor for those who are willing to spread His Word.