Write His Answer

Creativity!

Where would writers, or artists, or musicians, or really anyone be without it?

Sometimes ideas may come more quickly than we can capture them. Other times we may feel empty of even one creative thought.

What can we do when we fear our creativity has dried up? When we’re feeling discouraged and stuck? When it’s been far too long since we’ve had a good laugh?

I love these dolphin bananas. (I can’t take credit for them though.) And what fun it was this morning to make animal waffles for my grandkids. The elephants, lions, and monkeys were almost too cute to eat.

What an amazing world God has created. If you’re feeling tired, drained, burned out, “Study GOD and his strength, seek his presence day and night” (1 Chron.16:11 MSG). Talk about creativity! Surely He must have laughed when He painted stripes on zebras, stretched the giraffe’s legs and neck, shaped the elephant’s trunk, and made intricate one-of-a-kind snowflakes. (Yes, it’s snowing here again!)

Colorado Christian Writers Conference Updates

Speaking of creativity, I’m reminded of the workshop John Chisum will be teaching on “Talent, Creativity, and Process.” How can you thrive creatively even in dry seasons? You’re sure to gain helpful insights from John who has been a publisher, author, speaker, poet, blogger, producer, songwriter with other 400 published songs, and worship leader for over three decades.

Megan Breedlove’s “Get Them Coming to Your Blog/Website” is one of four clinics at the May 14-17 Colorado Christian Writers Conference. Dave Weikel, one of the participants last year, said, “Our ministry received such value from Megan’s instruction. We learned so much about web presence. The proof is in the results.  by His design went from 1 or 2 visits on our website per day to 80 to 90 visits per day.  She gave us a real value.” Applications for all four clinics are now online at http://colorado.writehisanswer.com/clinics.

Except for the Paid Critiques page the website for our May 14-17 conference is up-to-date. You’ll find photos and bios for all 63 members of our faculty plus the editorial needs for 18 book editors and 11 magazine editors. There are also links to more info for the 6 agents on faculty.

The scholarship applications are also now online. In addition to the five scholarships Cec Murphey is offering to cover the cost of registration, partial scholarships are also available as well as $100 Vickie Baker scholarships for those writing their testimony in book form either as a personal experience story, fiction based on life experience, or a devotional/inspirational book? The deadline for applying is April 10.

Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference Update

I hope to nail down all eight continuing sessions this coming week and post the info online as well as begin making other website updates for our July 30 – August 2 conference.

News You Can Use

More on grammar from agent Chip MacGregor –    http://www.chipmacgregor.com/uncategorized/what-drives-an-editor-crazy-5/

Faculty member Dianne E. Butts has a brand new e-book on Amazon. How to Get Published by Magazines & Book Publishers: Find Markets, Submit Your Manuscripts, and More. Dianne has been coming to the Colorado Christian Writers Conference for 24 consecutive years. She has published more than 300 articles in print magazines and more for online sites. She is the author of six books including Dear America that I had the privilege or publishing through Ampelos Press. Dianne has worked hard to learn the craft of writing and marketing and continues to learn and to share what she learns with others. I’m very proud of her.

Food for thought – Do you spend more time on Facebook daily then you do in God’s Word? http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/more-people-read-facebook-daily-than-the-bible-how-about-you/

Another look at 1 Chronicles 16:11, this time from the Amplified Bible – “Seek  the Lord and His strength; yearn for and seek His face and to be in His presence continually!”

Father, help us to make spending time with you our top priority. Only then can we hope to “write Your answer.”