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GPCWC Earlybird Workshops

Posted in Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Marketing, Publishing journey, Writing Fiction on July 29, 2012| Leave a Comment »

How long has it been since you checked out the earlybird workshops we’re offering this year at GPCWC? Maybe you haven’t even looked, thinking they were an extra expense and it wouldn’t be worth trying to arrive in time for the classes.  

I’m excited about the earlybird workshops we’re offering this year. There have been several changes since the brochure went out so check them out at http://www.writehisanswer.com/Philadelphia/earlybirds.htm   Let me highlight a few of the changes.

The first one is Hope Flinchbaugh’s class on “Common Mistakes that Make Fiction Editors Cringe.” She is unable to make the 1:30 time slot where we originally had her scheduled so we moved her workshop to the 5:00 slot. Hope writes and edits award-winning fiction, so if you’re a fiction writer, this is a class you don’t want to miss.  

To replace Hope’s time slot, we have Maurice M. Gray Jr. teaching “Why Do I Need an Editor?” The short answer to that is we all need editors—even editors. J As a freelance editor myself—as are several others on the faculty—I strongly recommend this class. If you’re having problems interesting a publisher with your book, I’m sure you would benefit from taking this class to learn how to make your work even stronger and more appealing in content. If you’re planning to self-publish, this class is a must.  

Another change in the lineup is the original E18, “More Than a Tale” taught by Mike Dellosso, that has been moved into the Thursday workshop schedule. Suzanne Kuhn is now teaching the E18 class entitled “Getting Social Back in Social Media”—a must for writers of any genre as social media is one of the best ways to market your work. Come and learn from a pro in the industry about how to effectively use social media. Suzanne assures that it is not a mechanics workshop. Instead, this workshop focuses on engagement, building true fans and readers through the process and becoming relevant to your audience.

Finally, are you ready with your pitch for the books, articles, or short stories you’re planning to present to editors or agents in the 15-minute appointments? Karen Whiting is teaching a class on “Practicing Your Pitch.” I’m amazed at her ability to get to the heart of someone’s project and pull out the important things you need to focus on during your appointments.  

Here’s what Janet Perez Eckles says: Karen is the queen of creativity, the master at innovative ideas, and an expert in transforming an insight into a tangible and powerful marketing tool. During a recent writer’s conference, I attended her marketing sessions. As we sat in a circle, she took the focus of each book, gave each author ideas, examples, and practical steps to market each book. They all evoked an  “Ah!” from the participants. The skill Karen has to craft a powerful marketing tool from a mere concept is a gift few possess.

It’s not too late to sign up for an earlybird (or two or three!), either in addition to the conference or as an earlybird only. Go to the website—http://www.writehisanswer.com/Philadelphia/earlybirds.htm—and check out the 19 classes we are offering Wednesday afternoon, August 1. And consider joining us for an early start to the conference.  

In Christ –

Marjorie Vawter
CCWC & GPCWC Assistant to the Director (www.writehisanswer.com)
Freelance Editor (www.shevetwritingservices.com)
The Writer’s Tool blog (www.marjorievawter.blogspot.com)

P.S. If you’ve already registered for an earlybird and need to make a change because of the changes we’ve had to make, please email me at shevetwrite@pcisys.net. We are waiving the price increase for Wednesday-only conference attendance. One workshop is $25, two workshops $40, and three workshops $55.

 

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GPCWC – Editorial needs and advice for “nervous Nellies”

Posted in Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Marketing, Publishing journey on June 30, 2012| 2 Comments »

It’s taken longer than I hoped and planned, but I trust you’ll agree it’s worth waiting for good things and that you’ll overlook the formatting errors. Expression Web is the most challenging software I’ve ever tried to learn.

Editorial needs and bios are now posted for everyone on faculty at the August 1-4 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference. That includes:

Diana Flegal, Hartline Literary – Diana has “a passion for getting great writers published.”

Bill Jensen, William K. Jensen Literary Agency – Bill has worked in book publishing for over 35 years.

 Amanda Luedeke, MacGregor Literary – Amanda is interested in representing African American fiction, women’s fiction,  fantasy, and more.

 Barbara Scott, WordServe Literary – Barbara provided a long list of specific interests from children through adult.

Rob Eagar, author of June 2012 Writer’s Digest Book, Sell Your Book Like Wildfire, who is teaching the continuing session, “Marketing for the Promotionally Challenged Author.”

Suzanne Kuhn – founder of SuzyQ, a full-service author promotion firm. We’ve added an additional workshop for her on Wednesday at 5:00 pm, “Getting the Social Back in Social Media,” where you’ll learn how to build true fans and readers.

  •  Book editors – 16 editors representing 23 publishers offering exciting break-in opportunities in a wide variety of genres.
  • Periodical editors – 13 editors representing 22 periodicals. (My first sale was to a Christian periodical. It led to over 1,000 more sales plus 8 books.  Father, please open the door for many first sales through this year’s GPCWC.)
  • Authors – 19 authors available to meet with you one-on-one.

Although this is my 29th year directing GPCWC, I never cease to be amazed at the faculty Father provides and how He connects His people. “God-incidents” abound!

With the 4th of July falling mid-week this year, I know some of you will turn either this weekend or next into a holiday weekend. As a result, I’m extending the July 7 registration price through July 12, the same date applications are due for GPCWC’s clinics. I encourage you to register ASAP to give yourself the best opportunity to receive your top appointment picks. And for those who are nervous about meeting with an editor, here’s more encouragement from faculty member, Patti Shene, vice president and editor with Written World communications.

Part 3 of Donna Brennan’s Interview
with Patti Shene

Question: New writers (and some not-so-new writers) are often nervous about meeting an editor face-to-face. Do you have anything you want to say to the nervous Nellies among us?

I came up with an acronym for a simple approach to conference appointments that may prove helpful.

Smile! Don’t approach your appointment as though you are headed to the dentist’s chair! Editors are human too. A smile exudes confidence and puts both of you at ease.

Introduce yourself. Even though a list is available to the editor, appointments are sometimes shifted. Be sure the editor knows who he is speaking with from the start of the meeting.

Make known your intentions. Explain why you chose to speak to that particular editor. Have questions prepared and easily accessible. Are you pitching a manuscript for a specific book imprint or simply seeking general information about the publishing house?

Provide paper. Present the editor with something visual, such as a one-sheet that contains the maximum information attractively arranged in a minimum amount of space. Don’t expect her to keep it. Paper adds weight to luggage and can be cumbersome to manage. Email is more convenient, but visual works for initial contact.

Listen! Pay attention to what the editor tells you. Has he expressed an interest in your work or referred you to someone else who can better meet your needs? Have you been asked to provide further information? Make notes to ensure follow through. File business cards where they can be easily found after the conference.

Express your appreciation Thank the editor for her time, even if she is unable to use the work you presented. Recognition of her efforts builds a positive relationship for future contact.

Thanks, Patti, for this helpful advice, and thank You, Father, for the opportunities at this year’s conference. Help us to look to You and to trust You to do exceedingly, abundantly beyond.

 

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Publishing News You Can Use

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Marketing on May 14, 2012| 1 Comment »

One of the many exciting aspects of directing a writers’ conference is learning of new editors and new opportunities often before that information is widely known.

The May 16-19 CCWC is blessed to be at the right place at the right time for these new opportunities:

New York Publisher – Terry Whalin has left Intermedia Publishing and is very excited about his new position as Acquisitions Editor at Morgan James Publishing. He is acquiring nonfiction and fiction – traditional – and is looking for excellent book proposals and manuscripts. There’s a link to his one sheet at www.writehisanswer.com/Colorado/updates.htm. He is eager to meet with as many writers as possible.

Children’s Books – Standard Publishing. Karen Moore, another faculty member who is teaching our continuing class on “Gift books and Devotional Writing,” is doing some consulting with Standard Publishing for children’s books and is happy to look at those manuscripts at the conference.

New YA imprint – Watershed Books. Nicola Martinez, Editor-in-Chief, Pelican Book Group, emailed me the following: “We’re preparing to launch a new imprint, Watershed Books, which will debut in the fall of 2013. This is a YA line, and we’re actively seeking submissions. Specific guidelines are on our website along with the GLs for White Rose & Harbourlight: http://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/write-for-us but we’re looking for any subgenre. Word count ranges: 25,000 – 65,000. Protagonists must be teenagers who are three-dimensional characters dealing with age-appropriate conflicts. All stories must hold a Christian message or lesson. Target audience is teens, but books should have a transcendent quality that would appeal to adult readers, as well.”

Another agent added to faculty – Sarah Joy Freese is an associate literary agent with WordServe Literary. She says: “Currently, I am representing Christian romance, Christian historical romance, Christian suspense, and paranormal romance. In non-fiction I am representing Christian apologetics. I am looking for full-length fiction, 65,000-100,000 words in either the general or Christian market. I prefer women’s fiction, romance, suspense/thriller, romantic suspense, historical, Amish, Biblical, Americana, Regencies, and mainstream. Occasionally, I consider literary manuscripts if they can sell in a traditional CBA or ABA market. I will also accept shorter fiction that fits the requirements of Love Inspired, Love Finds You, and Avon Inspire. In non-fiction I will accept authors with a strong platform. Specific genres in which I am interested include current affairs, political, home life, marriage, crafts, parenting, health and diet, how-to, popular culture, psychology, narrative non-fiction, science, self-help, women’s issues, devotionals, and memoir. I especially like receiving manuscripts from Moms (or Dads) who are writing relevant, well-received, and popular parenting blogs.”

It’s not too late to register for one or more days of the conference. Scholarship help and/or time payments are available if needed. Walk-ins are welcome, but if you register online by May 16, I’ll waive the $15 walk-in fee.

If you’re not able to come, keep in mind that CDs will be available through the conference website. And please pray for all who will be gathering on the mountain that Father will work do Ephesians 3:20 things.

 

 

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The Doctor Is In: Help For Your Nonfiction Book Proposal

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Marketing, Publishing journey, Writing Nonfiction Book Proposals, Writing Nonfiction Books on April 9, 2012| 1 Comment »

 

How can you make your book proposal stand out—in a positive way—from the many that agents and editors receive on a daily basis? What makes your book unique? Who’s your target audience, and how do you plan to reach it?

Marti Pieper, a professional writer, editor, and book doctor, can help you increase your nonfiction book proposal’s appeal to agents and editors along with its chances of finding a publishing home. Marti uses her years of writing and editing experience to help you discover common errors and suggests practical ways to improve them. She’ll also help you identify your book’s unique selling point and target audience, enabling you to enhance your book proposal by positioning your book in the marketplace.

May 17-19 Marti will share this information at the Colorado Christian Writer’s Conference, where she’ll present one of the three clinics offered. I caught up with Marti and asked her a few questions about herself and her nonfiction book proposal clinic, “Book Doctor: Take Your Nonfiction From Good to Great.”

Question: You call yourself a book doctor. What exactly does a book doctor do?

The book doctor title came my way after more than one experience where an author or agent asked me to apply my writing and editing skills to a manuscript or proposal and move it toward publication. A book doctor, like a medical doctor, assesses the patient (manuscript and/or proposal), formulates appropriate treatment based on the diagnosis, and carries out that treatment until the patient no longer requires care. In my case, this has included everything from complete or partial reorganization to ghostwriting to content editing. I like to say I take proposals and manuscripts from good to great. That’s what I hope our Book Doctor Clinic achieves as well.

Question:  At what point in writing a nonfiction book should we start writing the proposal?

Writing a great proposal helps you write a fantastic book. That explains why I think authors should write the proposal early in their writing process, perhaps before they have written a word of the manuscript. The effort and organization required to complete the proposal-writing process gives authors the deep knowledge of their material required to produce a great book.

Question: When should we contact an agent or editor?

First-time authors will want to have their proposals finished before they contact these professionals. However, a writer’s conference affords the unique opportunity to meet with agents or editors at an earlier point. If you can bring a finished proposal to the conference, do so. Whether or not the agent or editor has time to read it, you’ll know your material better and speak more confidently about it if you’ve submitted to the discipline of completing your proposal. If you can’t complete your proposal before the conference, bring a pitch sheet (summary sheet that contains basic information about the proposed manuscript and its author) to refer to during conference appointments. And of course, sign up for the Book Doctor clinic where we’ll work together to help your proposal shine.

Question:  How important is it that we know our target audience before we write the proposal? What about before we write the book?

Knowing our target audience is key to developing both the proposal and the book. We write to meet the felt needs of our readers, and if we don’t know who our readers are, we’ll have a tough time meeting those needs.

Question:  The clinic description says we’ll learn ways to identify our unique selling point. Will the clinic also show us how to present that selling point in our proposal?

Yes, we’ll cover that as we go through the various elements of a nonfiction proposal. The clinic outline will flex somewhat depending on the needs of the individuals and manuscripts submitted, but the basic elements should remain the same.

Question:  Will the clinic help us come up with a marketing plan to include in our book proposal?

We’ll discuss marketing but I doubt we’ll have time to develop specific plans. I’m glad the conference offers great teaching by Rob Eagar and others who can help us improve our marketing efforts. Again, the clinic will flex depending on the number, needs, and interests of those who attend.  (NOTE: Those chosen to participate in the clinic will still attend the six hour continuing session of their choice including Rob Eagar’s “Marketing for the Promotionally Challenged Author,” “Narrative Nonfiction” with Craig von Buseck who is Ministries Director at CBN.com, “Gift Books and Devotional Writing” with Karen Moore, “Please NO Pat Answers” with a team of three authors, or “Changing Paradigms of Publishing” with Dave Lambert. Those who do not choose to apply for the clinic or who are not accepted can choose six workshops from the 42 offered including six workshops in each of the following tracks: Nonfiction, Writer’s Life, Craft, Get Publishing, Marketing, and Specialty.)

Question:  Can you give a few examples of common errors you’ve seen in nonfiction book manuscripts and proposals?

I have to save some of my secrets for the conference, Donna, but here are a few: limited or lofty appeal, lack of focus, and trying to develop a book when you only have enough material for an article. The clinic environment is a unique setting that allows us to learn from each other and allow God to use us together to produce better proposals and, in the end, better products. I’m excited about the opportunity to mentor writers in this interactive, instructive environment. Thanks for your questions, Donna, and I’ll see you at the CCWC!

Thanks, Donna and Marti, for a great interview. Clinic applications must be received via email no later than April 16. Click here for more info and the application.               

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Speaking of Promoting Your Book or Ministry . . .

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Marketing, Platform building on April 4, 2012| 3 Comments »

Donna Brennan interviews
CCWC faculty member Roy Hanschke

Just writing a great book isn’t enough. You need to promote it, and at the same time promote yourself. One way to do that is with public appearances, presentations, and radio interviews.

Yet where can we learn to not only put together a great presentation, but to deliver it at the right pace, voice, and volume?

Help is on the way in the form of a Speakers’ Clinic at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference this May at the Estes Park Center. Roy Hanschke, a Christian radio personality and speaker, has trained and coached beginning and seasoned speakers for over 15 years.

Roy’s style of teaching is simple, practical, and effective. He can help you focus in on your ministry’s main message and teach you how to present it. He’ll show you how to organize one of your talks to maximize time and effectiveness and how to deliver that talk with power and pizazz.

And you’ll have the opportunity to test what you learn right in class, gathering feedback from Roy and from your peers who will be learning right alongside you.

I asked Roy for more information about the Speakers’ Clinic. Here’s what he had to say.

 

Question:  Why would both fiction and nonfiction authors need to be able to give an effective talk or presentation?

 Whether you’re a fiction or non-fiction author, you have a message. Take every opportunity you can get to communicate that message to others whether it’s through a radio/TV interview or a talk to a group of people.

Question:  What do you mean when you talk about “voice personality?” Why is that important?

 Everyone’s voice has a personality of its own. As we all know, we really can’t change our personality but we can consciously use it to more effectively impact others. The same is true of our voice. You can train it to bring out the best in your personality.

Question:  Can someone really be taught to improve their speaking voice?

Yes. You don’t actually change your voice as much as the way you use it. It’s like learning a musical instrument. A saxophone is always a saxophone but the way you use it can engage your listeners or make them leave the concert early. There are principles, effects and exercises to improve the effectiveness of your vocal delivery.

Question:  If we want our ministry to reach lots of people, why is it important to identify our focus? Can we have more than one focus?

One problem with presentations that falter is that they have more than one main focus. I believe a great presentation has one focus with several supporting points. An audience can leave a well presented talk that contains many great points and say, “That was great, but I don’t remember what she/he was trying to get across.” Furthermore, when you identify your   focus, you have a better chance of deciding whether or not that’s what you want to say and if it’s powerful enough to move your audience.

Question:  Will you be showing us how to give radio interviews? Is that something that’s hard to do?

I have 25 years of experience in conducting interviews, listening to interviews and being interviewed. From that I’ve developed a set of principles that can help you relax, communicate your message and make the listener feel glad he/she listened to you. We’ll make it simple and fun.

Question:  What if we tend to get tongue-tied or choke up when we speak to a group? Will your clinic teach us ways to overcome that and give an effective message despite our fear?

Managing your fear as a speaker is a big part of what we work on. It’s really a result of everything we work on in the clinic. There are, however, a few secrets to “saving the moment” when fear attacks.

Question:  I know I’m sometimes told I should slow down when I’m speaking, even when  I think I’m already doing that. Will your clinic help us to tell if we’re talking too rapidly, or too softly, or doing something else wrong?

More than that, it will help every speaker, no matter what their typical pace and style, to follow effective patterns of success without giving up who they are. We’ll work on becoming aware of our personality styles and our habits and learn to control them rather than be controlled by them.

Question:  Will you show us tips or tricks to prevent us from skipping any parts of our talk or important points we want to make? How do we not lose our place without reading from the page?

If your talk isn’t “rememberable” to you, it certainly won’t be to the listeners. Yes, there are tips and tricks and so much more. It has a lot to do with the way you structure your talk.

Question:  What if we still don’t entirely “get it” by the end of the clinic, or we don’t feel secure enough in our “delivery”? Will we be able to contact you afterward for more help?

Sure. I’m happy to answer questions by email or phone anytime and I am available to coach you personally by phone, SKYPE, email and in person (in the front range of Colorado). My goal is to maximize your improvement while minimizing the expense to you.

Thanks, Donna, for this great interview. And thank you, Roy, for  all you are doing to help writers speak their message. Applications for Roy’s clinic are due April 16. You’ll find more info and a link to the application at www.writehisanswer.com/Colorado/clinics.htm.

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