Write His Answer

Stories made a huge impact on me when I was growing up.

I remember the 12 volumes of My Book House, trips to the library and the armful of books I’d lug home, my promises to do the dishes just as soon as I got to the end of a chapter . . .

Stories were my escape from a painful childhood. The friends I made in the pages of the books I read helped take the place of the real-life friends I lacked.

When I became a teenager, I discovered Taylor Caldwell’s Tender Victory and Lloyd C. Douglas’ The Robe. I devoured The Silver Chalice, The Big Fisherman, and all the biblical fiction I could find.

I’m so grateful that God led me to fiction that drew me into a relationship with Him.

The power of fiction, of story, continues to impact lives either drawing readers to, or away from, the One who loves us so much that He willingly endured the agony of the Cross.

What about you and the stories He is calling you to write?

Dave Lambert, leader of the Fiction Intensive Clinic at the May 15-18 Colorado Christian Writers Conference, says:

Learning to write fiction is like learning to play the piano. You don’t just get up one morning and decide you are ready to give a classical piano concert, any more than you suddenly decide you’re ready to write a novel. You have to master an extensive list of skills, and you have to be able to make it all seem effortless.

“This clinic can put you in position to become a better novelist with each book. We’ll examine some of the more advanced techniques: character growth and change, creating believable character emotion, voice, exposition, a sense of place, style, conveying meaning through implication, and more.”

Dave Lambert is a fiction writer, editor, and teacher with more than 40 years of experience including more than 20 years as the former senior fiction editor at Howard Publishing, a division of Simon & Schuster, and former executive editor for fiction at Zondervan. As the owner of Lambert Editorial, he has been serving publishers and authors since 2003.

This clinic will be an intensive, hands-on workshop for SIX serious novelists that will help you with your work-in-progress as well as your fiction technique in general. If you’re selected to participate, you will receive a full hour’s worth of critique of the 25-page sample you will submit—a half-hour from the group, and a half-hour from Dave in a one-on-one. He will identify your strengths as a novelist, as well as the areas in which you need to grow, and provide the guidance you need to improve your writing significantly.

To be considered for this clinic you must have previous publication of some type, either traditionally or independently. Local, regional, or online publication okay. Your application (click here) and no more than 25 pages of your work-in-progress, either novel or short stories, must be submitted by April 20.

Thank You, Father, for how I KNOW You will use Dave’s Fiction Intensive to equip the six participants to write fiction that will change lives!