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Archive for the ‘Publishing journey’ Category

New Book by GPCWC Conferee

Posted in Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Our Christian witness, Publishing journey on October 18, 2012| Leave a Comment »

It was an unforgettable experience. We had just recently started attending Covenant Community Fellowship after moving to Lansdale. Ken Rutt, one of the elders, invited me to go with him to 252 Underground, a ministry run by his friend, Rob Cook. The storefront was packed with teens – tough teens in black heavy metal t-shirts. I should have felt uncomfortable and nervous, but because of their obvious respect for Rob I felt accepted and welcomed.

We sat down and I began reading Rob’s writing. “Wow! This needs to be published,” I told him. “You’ve got a real gift with words.”

An hour later, when Rob turned off the music that had been blaring, it was immediately evident that he knew how to communicate verbally as well as in writing. The teens quieted down and listened intently. He knew his “audience.” He spoke to their needs without judging or condemning them. He powerfully presented biblical truth without turning them off.

Two and a half years and three GPCWC’s later, Rob’s first book, Regener8: Straight Talk to Street Smart Teens, is in print thanks to Eddie Jones of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas who he met at GPCWC.

In the Introduction Rob writes:

Although this book is for young people from all walks of life, my heart resonates with young people from broken homes and dysfunctional families.

If you live in either group, or both of them, my heart goes out to you. I came from a broken home and lived with a physically abusive, alcoholic father.

I didn’t fit in with the “in” crowd. My friends and I hid on the fringes of society. We were labeled outcasts, troubled kids, and my personal favorite, juvenile delinquents.

We were not jocks. We were not popular. The streets felt like home.

Adults disapproved of everything we loved: the way we dressed, the way we talked, the music we listened to. The list was endless. They wrote us off, and we didn’t care. Or at least we acted like we didn’t care. We felt unloved and unwanted.

We did what we wanted, when we wanted. Unfortunately, when you live life by your own rules, you tend to break others.

This led to multiple run-ins with authoritative types who usually wore blue uniforms and had pretty shiny matching bracelets that they were all too happy to let us wear.

Some of my friends were not as lucky as I was. Their stories ended in long prison sentences, death from drug or alcohol overdoses, shootings, or suicide.

It’s only by the grace of God I sit here and write to you. God had a purpose for me, although I didn’t know it or care about it back then. I had my reasons.

My mom forced me to go to church, and I heard all about how God loved me and how we need to love each other and not judge people. But those same people at that church did not seem to love me. And they judged me. I didn’t fit into the mold of what they thought a “Christian” should look like.

I figured if that was the God they served, they could keep Him to themselves.

They had too many rules anyway. And their rules and my rules didn’t get along.

I was shocked when, years later, I found out that God was nothing like they made him out to be. God called people like them hypocrites. He wasn’t pleased with them or their self-righteous attitudes.

What I learned about the real God of the Bible radically changed my life.

That life-changing discovery is the foundation of this book.*

As I’ve gotten to know Rob over the past two and a half years, I have been impressed with the genuineness of his faith in Jesus Christ and his passion to invest himself in the lives of teens who, sadly, most churches would not welcome.    

I’ve read almost half of Rob’s Regener8, and I am convinced that God is going to use this book and the ministry of 252 Underground to, literally, save lives.

From Facebook:

At 252 we reach out to young people
from broken homes and broken pasts.
They come hopeless – We give them hope
They come angry – We give them peace
They come scared – We give them courage
They feel unwanted – We show them love
They feel alone – We become family
They feel ignored – We listen
They feel like giving up – We help them go on
We show them a life without drugs, and alcohol
We give them hope in a future – Hope in Jesus

I’m praying that you will want to join me in expanding Rob’s ministry to hurting teens. 252 Underground has outgrown the storefront they were renting. A church has agreed to let Rob use their social hall on Saturday nights, but 252 Underground needs a building of their own where teens can come in off the streets and encounter the love of Jesus Christ.

How can you help?

~  Click here for a news release with more info about Regener8. Pass it and this email on to your church, family, and friends.

~  Invite Rob to speak. You’ll find a contact form and more info at http://robcookunderground.com.

~  Provide financial support. In addition to the needs of 252 Underground, Rob is unable to work (he’s a painter – of houses inside and out) for the next three months he injured his back running wiht a fire extinguisher to put out a car fire.

~ And most important of all, please pray, fervently. Rob has other books in progress including Going Underground, the story of 252 Underground Youth Ministry and a how-to guide for reaching the teens in your community that his agent, Diana Flegal (who he also met at GPCWC) is shopping. I’m praying and believing that Father will use Rob’s books and work with teens as a prototype to reach hurting teens throughout America with the love of Jesus Christ.

*Regener8: Straight Talk for Street Smart Teens by Robert Cook, published by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Used by permission.

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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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Exciting GPCWC Updates

Posted in Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Publishing journey on July 18, 2012| Leave a Comment »

It’s not too late to register for the August 1-4 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference although the price increases July 22. If your time and household budget prohibit coming to the entire conference, you can register for one or two days. If needed, some scholarship help is available.

Some Important Updates:

Barbara Scott, agent with WordServe Literary has revised her list of what she is interested in representing. You’ll find this updated information at www.writehisanswer.com/Philadelphia/News_&_Updates.htm.

New Faculty Members

We’ve added four editors to the faculty! See News &Updates

New Workshops

Craig von Buseck, Ministries Director, CBN News, will be teaching a 2-part workshop, Narrative Nonfiction, Changing Culture through the Power of True Stories, Thursday and Friday from 1:00 – 2:00 pm opposite the Ask the Agents panel (Thursday) and Writer’s Helps (Friday). A new and exciting genre, Narrative Nonfiction is a literary style that presents a true story written in a style more closely associated with fiction. Learn how to develop your plot, structure, characters, and themes to make your true story read like a novel. Learn how to turn your true stories into true art.

Suzanne Kuhn, Founder of SuzyQ, a full-service author promotion firm, will teach her popular Getting the Social Back in Social Media workshop as a substitute for Mike Delloso’s E18 workshop from 5:00 – 6:00 on Wednesday, August 1. Suzanne’s workshop focuses on engagement, building true fans and readers through the process and becoming relevant to your audience. (This is not a mechanics workshop.) Wednesday earlybird workshops are only $25 for one, $40 for two, $55 for all three.

Mike’s workshop, More than a Tale has been moved to Thursday afternoon. Mike says, “Every story has a theme. We’ll not only discuss some of the most popular themes but you’ll also learn to develop your own theme and weave it seamlessly into your story. Do you want readers to walk away from your stories feeling challenged or encouraged or in some way changed? In this workshop you’ll learn how to do that.”

Maurice M. Gray II, a new faculty member, will be teaching a Wednesday earlybird at 1:30 In Hope Flinchbaugh’s E3 slot. Hope’s workshop, Common Mistakes that Make Fiction Editors Cringe, has been moved to 5:00 pm. The blurb for Maurice’s workshop, Why Do I Need an Editor? reads: There are thousands of authors out there, and with the advent of e-publishing, more and more join the ranks daily. For many of these authors, the editing process is a mystery they aren’t willing to explore. Those who are accepted for traditional publishing believe that their publisher will take care of that for them, and those who intend to self-publish often skip over professional editing in their rush to get their work into print because they believe they don’t need it or can’t afford it. In this hour long session, Maurice (an editor and an author) addresses both of those fallacies and more. He walks participants through the editing process, and explains from both points of view why professional editing is vital for every author, the different tiers of editing, and how to find the best editor for your particular project.

As Rob Cook, a newly published author as a result of meeting his agent and publisher at GPCWC, says:

Before I attended the conference in Philly I had not ever considered that my work would be published. Now, after two of your conferences, I have a book deal through a publisher I met at the Philly conference. My first book releases this summer. I signed with an agent I met at your conference and she is shopping my current book around and representing four more. Am I a believer in the effectiveness of your conferences? That’s like asking me if I love my wife . . . ABSOLUTELY. Thanks a million.

Ask Father if He wants you to come to GPCWC 2012, and trust Him to make the way possible if He says yes!

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Preparing Teens for “The Publishing Games”

Posted in Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Publishing journey, Uncategorized, Writing Fiction on July 18, 2012| Leave a Comment »

“A picture,” it’s been said, “is worth a thousand words.” Then are these ten pictures worth 10,000 words? For teens who love to write and dream of one day becoming an author, yes!

Teens Write, Thursday, August 2, at the Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference offers a team of ten professionals who will train teens to participate in The Publishing Games. This year’s workshops all receive a TEN in helping young writers win a Gold Medal.

The training schedule is at www.writehisanswer.com/Philadelphia/Teens_Write.htm. It’s not too late to register, but the price increases after July 21 so don’t delay! Scholarship help is available if needed.

Teens Write is a full day workshop, running from 10am – 6pm, and includes lunch and snacks. It will be held on the campus of Philadelphia Biblical University in Langhorne, PA.

Bring a notebook and pen, the first page of your manuscript, and get ready to work out.

Pam Halter, head coach of Teens Write

P.S. Parents, teachers, and pastors are encouraged to attend the writers’ conference or our Thursday Specials for concered Christians during Teens Write.

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So what’s the big deal about writers’ conferences?

Posted in Called to write, Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Publishing journey on July 12, 2012| 2 Comments »

 Guest blogger – Margie Vawter

So what’s the big deal about writers’ conferences? They’re a big investment of my time and money. Are they worth it? And aren’t they all the same? What’s in it . . . for me?

Ever asked these questions? I hear them (or some similar) over and over on various writers loops and forums I’m a part of . . . or I get them by e-mail, on my Facebook page, or in person.

I’ve been attending writers’ conferences nearly twenty years now, and I’ve made a few observations during that time.

First, not all conferences are created equal. For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of being a published author. After my daughter was born, I felt the Lord’s nudging to do something about it. I applied for and was accepted into the classes from The Institute of Children’s Literature where I got my first glimpse into the world of writing conferences. But those were secular, and some of the reports of the competitiveness and backbiting that came from those were discouraging.

Then I heard of an ACW (American Christian Writers) conference only three hours from our home in central Illinois. Trusting the Lord, hubby and I cut some more corners on our already tight budget and I was able to go.

At that first conference, God solidified His calling on me to write—something that is reaffirmed every time I attend a conference.  In addition to receiving confirmation of the Lord’s calling, I’ve found great encouragement and support at the conferences I’ve attended. Writers are a unique group of people with unique ways of looking at our world. Even those closest to us—our spouses, children, friends—don’t always “get” us. So I find a great deal of encouragement when I’m around other writers.

It was when we moved to Colorado that the Lord expanded my conference horizons and I attended the first Colorado Christian Writers Conference (CCWC) Marlene directed. And later, when hubby was working on the East Coast, I was able to attend the Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference (GPCWC).

For me, I’ve found the spiritual emphasis and encouragement I get at GPCWC is absolutely invaluable. As part of the conference prayer team of over 100 pray-ers, I know this conference is covered in prayer. Writing aside, I could attend this conference for the spiritual value alone.

Many of my best friends today are those I’ve met at writers’ conferences. And with today’s technology none are ever very far away, even though they are spread across the country. Whenever I’m in need of encouragement, I know I can call on them to pray. That connection with other Christian writers means a lot to me as do the connections I’ve made with editors, publishers, and agents.

One of the major strengths of GPCWC is the number of free one-on-one appointments offered to every conferee. In today’s market, these appointments can be the “foot-in-the-door” opportunity we need since many editors and agents no longer accept unsolicited proposals or manuscripts.

Another reason I invest my time with GPCWC is to stay on the growing edge as a writer and freelance editor. The workshops are specifically designed to teach the nuts and bolts of the writing craft as well as keep us up-to-date with what’s happening in the publishing world. It’s changing daily with all the new technology and outlets for the written and spoken word. We need to be aware of those changes and how we can best use them to “write His answer.”

These days it’s my privilege to serve CCWC and GPCWC as a faculty member and Marlene’s assistant. The Lord has brought me a long way from that first ACW conference I attended. The time and money invested in the conferences has been returned to me ten-fold over the years in so many unexpected ways. So whenever someone asks me, “What’s the big deal about writers’ conferences?” I’m more than happy to tell them.

My able assistant and good friend, Margie Vawter, was offered her first book contract this year at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference. Visit her at The Writer’s Tool blog for thoughts on “self-editing, writing, and reviewing Christian fiction . . . with a little bit of life thrown in.” Margie offers proofreading, editing, and critiquing through her Shevet Writing Services.

The price for the August 1-4 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference increases July 13. But if you mention this blog, I’ll be glad to extend that date through July 21. You can still register after July 21 but it will cost you a little more. Walk-ins are welcome, but we’ll need to add on our $15 “procrastinator’s fee.” 🙂

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When Your Best Isn’t Good Enough – Overcoming the Accuser

Posted in Called to write, God's promises, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Overcoming self-doubts, Pondering Biblical Truth, Publishing journey on July 1, 2012| 9 Comments »

Have you ever been ready to give up? Have you tried everything you know but feel like you’re banging your head against a brick wall?  What do you do when the accuser tells you that your best isn’t good enough – that it never has been and never will be?

Perhaps it’s a manuscript you’ve been working on for years. You’ve rewritten it not just once or twice but many times. Still you’ve been unsuccessful in finding anyone interested in publishing it. And it makes no sense because you know it’s something God has called you to write. You’ve studied the craft. You’ve  gone to critique groups and conferences  trying to find that missing something.  And now . . . now you’re not sure you can keep on keeping on.

That was my experience with my first book that some of you know was rejected by 42 publishers over a six year period . If I had given up (and believe me, there were many times I wanted to), it and the six books that followed would never have been published. I would not have founded the Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference in 1983 or said yes in 1997 to directing the Colorado Christian Writers Conference.

Yes, there have been many times when I’ve doubted and when, as my writing mentor Lee Roddy said years ago, I’ve “listened to the wrong voices.” For the past five months it’s been the voice of the accuser telling me that my best isn’t good enough as I’ve struggled with the websites for the Colorado & Philly Christian Writers Conference and the transition from FrontPage 2002 to Expression Web. The tapes from my childhood have started to play again. “You’re not smart enough. No matter how hard you try, you’re going to fail.”

Many days I’ve sat in my office and wept. Frustrated and discouraged I’ve told the Lord, “I can’t.” And I know that’s true. Without His help I can’t learn Expression Web or pull together the countless details that go with directing two conferences.  

But what can I do, can you do, when He doesn’t seem to be listening? Has He abandoned us? Or is He using the problem(s) we’re facing to strengthen our faith muscles so that when the stakes are even bigger we won’t get discouraged and give up?

I’m learning that there are lots of lessons I thought I’d learned (that I’ve even written about in my book, Write His Answer – A Bible Study for Christian Writers) that I need to relearn!

Keep your eyes on the Lord, on how far you’ve come, and on the prize.  It’s easy to allow problems and challenges to consume us and to blind us to the Lord’s presence, to how far we’ve come, and to the prize.  “I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us” (Philippians 3:14 TLB) Paul wrote from prison in Rome. He had reason to be greatly frustrated and discouraged by the loss of his freedom. He could have questioned the Lord and concluded that his ministry was over. Instead he focused on the needs of the churches and wrote letters that continue to encourage Christ-followers almost 2,000 years later.

Cut the tapes from your past. Although Paul never forgot the person he was before he encountered the Lord on the Damascus Road, he did not wallow in the past or dwell on what others thought or said about him. Instead he embraced the truth of Zephaniah 3:17: “He is a mighty Savior. He will give you victory. He will rejoice over you with great gladness; he will love you and not accuse you” (TLB). Paul was able to preach and write about the message of salvation because he had experienced firsthand God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness.

Don’t grieve the Lord by your lack of faith. Although sometimes it does seem that He’s not listening, we need to trust that He will equip us with all we need for doing his will (see Hebrews 13:20). It’s not easy to wait on the Lord and to have Hebrews 11:1 faith in what we can’t yet see, but “God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn; he will never go back on his promises” (Romans 11:29 TLB).

Do your best and trust God for the rest. The fear of failure can paralyze us if we let it, and that’s exactly what our adversary wants. I grieve for the books that have not been published and the ministries that have been abandoned because of the evil one’s accusations that our best will never be good enough.

Sitting beside me are the “pictures” my almost four-year-old granddaughter drew in Sunday school this morning. I have absolutely no idea what she drew, and she can’t tell me because she has apraxia and is unable to speak more than a few words. But, of course, I told her that her pictures are beautiful. She did her best and that’s all that matters. And that’s all the Lord expects. When we give our best to Him, He is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20 NIV).

Father, help us to believe You and not the accuser. Thank You for loving us and for being bigger than our perceived failures. Thank You for encouraging us not to give up. We will keep on expecting you to help us. We will praise you more and more. We will walk in the strength of the Lord our God (Psalm 71:14, 16 TLB).

* * *

I’m so grateful for what Father has taught me spiritually through my struggles with Expression Web and for His patience with my learning curve. Although the formatting of the website for the August 1-4 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference is not perfect, I’m not going to give up or to believe the accuser’s lies that I’ve failed. I know that Father knows it is the best I can do. And He is faithful! He has heard my prayers and led me to SKWD Ministries. I’m very excited about the work they are doing on my main website, www.writehisanswer.com, which right now appears to be only one very unprofessional looking page. In the transition to Web Expression I lost the page banner and footer and all the navigation buttons. They are rebuilding it using their EZ-CMS (Content Management System) that will allow me to add, move, and delete web pages from one central screen and to edit them as I would do in a word processor. I won’t have to use HTML and CSS and style sheets! I’ll let you know when it’s uploaded and send you info on a special they are offering GPCWC conferees and those on my mailing list.

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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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Breaththrough!

Posted in Called to write, God's promises, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Overcoming self-doubts, Publishing journey on June 9, 2012| 1 Comment »

A paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 7:5-6 (TLB):

When we arrived in Macedonia there was no rest for us;

     When I got home at 2:30 am May 23 from directing the Colorado Christian Writers Conference, there was no time to rest.

Outside, trouble was on every hand and all around us;

     Problems with the website for the Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference on top of an overwhelming to-do list, bills to pay, and over 1,500 emails pressed in on me.

Within us, our hearts were full of dread and fear

     I was filled with dread and fear that I’d not be able to fix the Philly website and manage everything I needed to get done.

Then God who cheers those who are discouraged

     I was not just discouraged; I was near despair.

Refreshed us by the arrival of Titus.

     The prayers of others and encouraging notes helped me to keep on keeping on to the needed breakthrough:

     Online registration for the Greater Philly Christian Writer Conference is again open!

Father, thank You for helping me not to give up but to persevere. You know it wasn’t easy for me to keep exercising my faith muscles. It would have been so much easier to believe the lies of the evil one and to give up. But You’ve promised that when You call us to do something You also equip us. Especially when I cannot see Your answer or feel Your presence I need to keep trusting You and to press on.

And Father, these hard lessons You’re teaching me are certainly applicable to all those You’ve called to “write Your answer.” Please encourage each one reading this. Thank You that “even when we are too weak to have any faith left, [you remain] faithful to us and will help us” (2 Timothy 2:13 TLB). “Thank You that Your “gifts and [your] call can never be withdrawn; [you] will never go back on [your] promises” (Romans 11:29 TLB).

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Don’t Give Up!

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Overcoming self-doubts, Publishing journey on June 2, 2012| 5 Comments »

No matter how hard you try – and you pray – do you ever feel like you’re up against a brick wall? Is the breakthrough you need, whether it be in your finances, relationships, or writing, alluding you?

A week and a half ago I got home at 2:30 am from the Colorado Christian Writers Conference exhausted but praising God. He did meet us on the mountain and enabled us to overcome the obstacles we encountered. From a squirrel chewing through an electric line that left a major portion of the YMCA campus without power the first day of the conference, to a printer that was delivered but lost, to the intense behind-the-scene challenges and time pressures, He was with us.

Now I’m facing more challenges for the August 1-4 Philly conference. Again the greatest challenge is the conference website. I get a runtime error that crashes Expression Web whenever I try to make a change and save a page. Online registration is not working, but I am unable to add a note to say early registration will be extended until June 15 and to please try again. I’m exasperated, frustrated, discouraged, and disheartened.

I can identify with the Apostle Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 4:8. I do feel “pressed on every side by troubles” and “perplexed because [I] don’t know why things happen as they do.” Yet I’m reminded of Peter’s words that “These trials are only to test [my] faith to see whether or not it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it – and [my] faith is far more precious to God than mere gold” (1 Peter 1:7 TLB).

The bottom line is that you and I have an adversary who “prowls around like a hungry, roaring lion, looking for some victim to tear apart” (1 Peter 5:8 TLB). The more we seek to serve the Lord, the more fiercely he will attack us.

Father, please help me and everyone reading this to “stand firm when he attacks” (1 Peter 1:8 TLB) and to trust You. Thank You that we do not need to be “crushed and broken” or to “give up and quit” (2 Cor. 4:8 TLB). Thank You that Jesus already won the victory on the cross. Thank You for Your power that is incredibly great to help those who believe in You (Eph. 1:19).  Build our faith muscles, and in Your strength help us to scale every wall (Psalm 18:29) and to offer You our sacrifice of praise by telling others of the glory of Your name (Heb. 13:15) not just after, but before the needed breakthrough.

P.S. CDs of the keynotes, workshops, and continuing sessions (except “Please, NO Pat Answers”) are available. An order form will be posted at www.writehisanswer.com/Colorado as soon as the website problems are resolved.

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Writing for Hollywood, young adults and more from Robert Liparulo

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Publishing journey, Uncategorized, Writing Fiction on May 9, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Donna Brennan’s interview with Robert Liparulo continues. It’s not too late to register for the May 16-19 Colorado conference where Robert is teaching a continuing class on Writing Suspense / Thrillers. The price increases slightly on May 11. Walk-ins are welcome.

Donna Brennan’s Interview with Robert Liparulo

Part 3 – Writing for Hollywood, YAs, and More

Question: Your first two books seemed to have been optioned for film right away, and a novel you’re currently working on has garnered the interest of two movie companies before it’s even released. That has to have something to do with the pacing and how your construct your scenes. Will you be sharing some of your “secrets to success” during the continuing session? Can you give us any hints now?

Yes, I’ll talk about the correlations between pacing in novels and pacing in motion pictures, as well as other ways in which writers can “steal” secrets from movies to make their stories more vivid and attractive to readers who have been raised on film- and TV-based storytelling. I was a motion picture production major in college, so I tend to think like a screenwriter. All the tips and tricks center on one thing: Can you see your story on the screen? I mean, really. Act it out, speak the dialog. Who would play the characters? If you have to change too much to make it fit on the screen-and you want readers to experience a similar sense of immersion into your story as they do in movies-then maybe you need to rethink a few scenes.

Question: How different is writing for the Young Adult market from writing for the general market? Did you have to change the storyline or the language of your Dreamhouse Kings series?

I decided that the only two things I would change from my adult stories for my YA stories were that the protagonists would be younger and that the story would be something younger readers would appreciate more than, say, a police procedural (Dreamhouse Kings is about time travel). Other than that, my style, the structure, even the level of violence and scariness are similar to my adult stories. I didn’t want to “write down” to younger readers. I think they are far more intelligent-especially about character and story-than adults give them credit for. I believe that’s the key to its success.

Question: Surely all those years you spent as an investigative journalist must contribute to your writing style and your research skills. You must have had to do a lot of technical research for Germ, and Comes a Horseman must have involved research into how the FBI works and maybe even some biblical research. Exactly how much research is involved in your books? When do you know you’ve done enough? And how do you resist the urge to include all the details you learned that may be intriguing but have nothing to do with moving the story along?

Honestly, I over-research, but I’m okay with that. I’m always looking for that little gem, that nugget of information that will tell readers that I have done my homework without inundating them with trivia. That nugget is the thing that you can’t find by reading articles or limiting your research to the internet. Once I have that, I don’t worry about anything else. The details about an occupation or a weapon or location or scientific breakthrough will come through the characters, or the needs of the plot.

I don’t want to impress readers; I want them only to feel as though they’re spending time with real people in real jobs with real technology. But still, I always ask myself, why am I putting this tidbit in here? How does this move the story along or how will it impact the story later? If I don’t have a good answer, I don’t write it. Of course, that’s subjective, as all writing is. So I may think describing a fishing boat docked in Sesimbra, Portugal, puts me there, and someone else will think it’s meaningless. That’s where your instincts as a writer come in.

Question: Your road to success seems to have been very different than most authors today. What words of advice do you have for someone just starting out?

Read everything and finish whatever you start. The reading will fill your head with viewpoints of the world outside of your own. It’ll introduce you to vocations and philosophies that you’d have no other way of knowing. It teaches you the cadence of dialog.

Finishing things is crucial to learning how to be a writer. Too many new writers shift gears halfway through a story. They think, “This doesn’t interest me anymore,” or “I’ve been writing about vampires and now zombies are hot. I have to go write my zombie story instead.” But by finishing, you learn the entire arc of storytelling. You learn how to wrap things up, which also teaches you how to set things up. And then you have something to show editors and agents when the opportunity arises. Editors and agents need to be confident that you know how to finish a project, even if it’s not something they want to buy. Finishing is what it’s all about.

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