Write His Answer

Do you dream of writing for Hollywood?

April 27, 2012 by Marlene Bagnull

Do you dream of one day writing a movie script? If you do, you’re not alone or unusual. Many writers have tucked that dream away deep in their heart. The challenge is to make it happen.

Check out the ASSIST NEWS article by CCWC keynoter, Dan Wooding. “Opening the Doors to Hollywood,” announces the 8^th Annual Kairos Prizes for spiritually uplifting screenplays by first-time and beginning screenwriters sponsored by the Christian Film & Television Commission (CFTVC) and supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. Dr. Ted Baehr, founder and chairman of CFTVC, also will be keynoting at CCWC and teaching a continuing session on Breakthrough Scriptwriting. With entries for the Kairos prizes accepted until September 24, Dr. Baehr’s continuing session at the May 16-19 Colorado Christian Writers Conference is a great way for aspiring screenwriters to prepare.

Eric Cameron, who attended his continuing session two years ago, says: “Dr. Baehr knows the ins and outs of both Hollywood and visual storytelling. This is a rare and valuable combination, allowing him to impart wisdom on the craft of screenwriting as well as the equally important craft of infiltrating an industry often hostile to the Church and Christian morals. To me he is an embodiment of Matthew 10:16 ‘be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves.’

“Students will take away an incredibly solid foundation for writing screenplays, and an insider’s insight into how ‘he Industry’ works. Film and television are the most influential mediums for influencing our culture, and Dr. Baehr is on mission to equip Christians with the skills and wisdom to take Hollywood for Christ.”

If this is your dream, now is the time to pursue it. Or perhaps you know another writer with this dream. Please pass this on to them.

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference | Leave a Comment »

Getting Published

April 24, 2012 by Marlene Bagnull

Hungry to publish your writing?
Go about it in the right way and you won’t get stuck!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I couldn’t resist sharing these two pictures. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

But Donna Brennan’s words below on how to prepare for appointments at a writers conference are worth a great deal and will help you not get stuck in an awkward situation because you’re unprepared.

Father, thank You for the editors and agents who are taking time from busy schedules to meet with conferees. May the appointments be fruitful for them and for our conferees.

How to Prepare for That Editor or Agent Appointment

by Donna Brennan

When you go to a conference you often have the opportunity to meet with an agent or editor and pitch your work. Depending on the conference, you may get one appointment or may get several. And the duration of the appointment varies too, typically ranging from five to fifteen minutes.

(Note: The Colorado Christian Writers Conference and the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference both give you four 15-minute long appointment opportunities if you attend for all three days!)

But how do you select which agent or editor would be the best one(s) for you to meet with? And how do you prepare for that meeting? And what if you don’t get an appointment with your first choice? Here’s some advice addressing those questions.

How to Select Which Agent or Editor to Meet With

The longer the list of available agents and editors, the more daunting the task may appear. But look at it as an opportunity to find the best fit for you and your work.

First, read the bios listed on the conference website, paying special attention to what their current needs are. Don’t pitch a fantasy to someone who is only interested in contemporary romance. Then, go to their websites (usually listed in the bio) for more information about them and their agency or publishing house, including titles of books they represent or publish. Read reviews and summaries of those books online. If you can, read the first few pages online, too.

Do they have a blog? Read that, too. That often helps you to get a feel for what kind of person they are.

Next, pray. Always pray. In fact, it wouldn’t hurt to pray while reading their bios or visiting their websites or blogs.

Pick your top choices, but also have some back-up choices. Appointment slots usually fill up quickly, with folks who register for the conference early getting first dibs on who they meet with. So register as soon as you’re sure you’ll be attending.

How to Prepare for Your Appointment

If pitching an article or short story, you should bring that with you. If you’re pitching a longer length article that isn’t written yet, bring a summary and outline of the article along with any other articles you have already written (to provide a sample of how you write).

For pitching a fiction book you typically want to have a one-sheet (described below) and the first chapter (in case the person you’re meeting with wants to look that over while you talk). It’s a good idea to bring along a one-page synopsis and a bullet list of critical points in your story. For pitching a nonfiction book you should bring a one-sheet, a synopsis, and an outline. A chapter by chapter summary is a good thing to have with you, as well as a bullet-list of important topics covered in your book. Your book does not have to be finished, but it does have to have a solid outline and be well thought out.

A one-sheet can be thought of as an at-a-glance overview of your story and you. Different people like to put different things into their one-sheets. (Be sure to check the agent or editor’s website to see if they have certain expectations as to what belongs in a one-sheet.) Basically it contains both an elevator pitch and a one-paragraph summary, along with your story’s genre, target audience, and word count. It also contains your bio, told in the third person. There are lots of examples of one-sheets online you can look at before creating your own including Marlene Bagnull’s sample one sheet (click here).

An elevator pitch is one or two sentences that sum up your story. It needs to be short enough that you can share it quickly if you happen to find yourself riding on an elevator with an agent or editor who represents your type of writing.

Sometimes it’s hard to condense your book into a one-page synopsis, let alone a one-paragraph summary or two-sentence elevator pitch. Here’s one way to get that done.

First, write the synopsis in however many words you need to tell what you feel is important about your book. And then you start cutting out all the non-crucial elements and all those extra words we writers like to sneak into our prose. Keep cutting until you get it down to one single-spaced page.

Once you have your synopsis done, start cutting some more until you can get down to a single paragraph. Then cut some more until you get it down to two sentences.

To put together a bullet list, go back to your synopsis and pull out any items crucial to what happens in your story or any main items you want to mention about your nonfiction book. Put them in the order you want to talk about them.

This list is for you while you’re talking so you don’t forget important points. Therefore, keep the descriptions of each item brief so you can glance down at your paper and remember the topic, but let it make enough sense so the agent or editor can understand if they ask to look at the paper.

If you’re having multiple appointments, bring several copies of the one-sheet, outline, and first chapter. Agents and editors don’t usually ask for hard copies of things at conferences (because they’re seeing lots of folks and that’s a lot of stuff to carry back home). But sometimes they do. And if you give away your only copy at your first appointment, you’ll have nothing to show at your other appointments.

When it’s time for your appointment, review your synopsis and bullet list before you walk in. Relax and know that the agent you’re meeting with wants to find clients to represent and the editors want to find work to publish.

What to Do if You Don’t Get an Appointment with Your First Choice(s)

If you don’t get the appointment you wanted, don’t despair. Sometimes God gives us what we need instead of what we ask for. You may learn something at the conference to let you know your manuscript is not ready yet. Or you may wind up in a chance meeting with this person at the conference that works out better than an appointment would have. Or you might have a surprise elevator ride with an agent or editor who wasn’t even on your radar.

So first pray, then prepare. Have your elevator pitch memorized and have your one-page with you all during the conference. If you’re already carrying a bag or notebook, stick your synopsis and first chapter in there-just in case. If you run into an agent or editor you were interested in but didn’t get an appointment with, ask if you can give them your elevator pitch (but please, don’t be pushy). If they say yes and they like it, ask if you can show them your one-page or send them a query letter. If you send a query, be sure to mention that you met them at the conference.

After the conference, if you didn’t get an opportunity to talk with a particular agent or editor, you can still send them a query letter. Say in your letter that you were at the conference but didn’t get a chance to meet with them. But . . . if you learned at the conference that your manuscript wasn’t quite ready, be sure to make those changes before sending out that query letter.

And did I mention pray? Always pray. If God put the desire to write in your heart, He will provide a way for your writing to be read by His intended audience.

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Publishing journey, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Seven more reasons not to miss the Colorado Christian Writers Conference May 16-19

April 21, 2012 by Marlene Bagnull

1. New YA imprint – Watershed Books – Nicola Martinez, Editor-in-Chief, Pelican Book Group emailed 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.

2. Another agent! Sarah Joy Freese is an associate literary agent with WordServe Literary. She loves reading through queries and attending writing conferences to meet new excellent writers. Sarah especially enjoys working with authors to make their manuscripts even stronger. Sarah received her bachelor’s degree in English and communications from Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She also has an MA (emphasis in creative writing) and an MLIS degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Sarah is newly married and is enjoying life with her husband and two birds, Brewster and Simon. When she is not working, Sarah enjoys crocheting, watching NCIS and Grey’s Anatomy, and playing Euchre.

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.

3. Another periodical editor with a long list of editorial needs – Jeff McDonald, Managing Editor, Salvation Army National Publications – www.salvationarmypublications.org

*We are looking for fresh presentation of the truth of the gospel.

*Need professional, well thought out and well researched articles and features on the difference faith makes and on faith in action.

*Articles that include a connection with the Salvation Army are well received. Including photos where applicable adds value.

*We also consider articles that present a biblical perspectives on current events.

*Avoid submitting articles that list how to accomplish something (10 ways to Keep Satan at Bay, 5 Ways to Pray, etc.)

*Interviews in Question and Answer format. Query first.

*Avoid cliched pieces and reliance on standard jargon related to Christian religion.

*Articles related to seasonal holidays, civic, religious holidays.

*We accept a very limited number of poems.

*We are open to considering fiction, but have not published any in over a decade. Submissions would need to be superb and conform to our format (length).

4. One more earlybird workshop. Marti Pieper will teach “Master the Memoir ” Wednesday, 1:00 – 2:00. Do you have a life story the world needs to hear? Do you want to leave a legacy in print for family and friends? In this workshop, Marti discusses the do’s and don’ts of this popular genre, including the importance of a narrative thread, how thinking small makes a big difference, and the mystery of marketability.

5. Another book editor added after our brochure went to print – Kim Bangs, Author Relations and Contracts Manager, Acquisitions, Regal Books. Greatest Editorial Needs: Regal Books is looking for materials that engage culture – outside and inside the church – in meaningful, relevant dialogue. We currently do NOT publish fiction or children’s books. However, we are looking for books that strongly apply the Bible to life, encourage a deeper Christian life and move toward justice for all life. Kim will teach workshop 2A, “Author/Editor Relationship,” in place of Robyn Burwell who is unable to come. Kim’s description of this important workshop: Why this relationship is as critical to the writing process as a good manuscript. Trust, respect and open communication are three of the key elements to be discussed.

6. And one more magazine editor who also did not make the brochure.Amber Weigand-Buckley, Managing Editor, ONCOURSE magazine, also will be representing four other periodicals: Enrichment – A Journal for Pentecostal Ministry, God’s Word for Today, Live,and Take Five Plus Youth Devotional Guide. Check out her bio and editorial needs on the Periodical Editors page. Amber will be teaching “Writing for Teens: Helping a Generation Connect with Jesus and Filter the World” in place of Workshop 2G, “Writing Fiction Children Want to Read” that Tony Bonds, who is unable to come, was going to teach.

7. One-on-one appointments. CCWC offers Thursday through Saturday conferees the opportunity to meet one-on-one for 15-minutes with FOUR agents, editors, or authors with the opportunity to sign up for additional appointments Thursday after lunch.

It’s not too late to register or, if necessary, to request a partial scholarship and/or time payments.

Father, thank You in advance for all You will do through this year’s CCWC. I know lives will be changed for eternity through the words our conferees will write and publish

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference | Leave a Comment »

Making the impossible – possible!

April 17, 2012 by Marlene Bagnull

I knew God had called me to write a book. What I didn’t know was if I could do it. As my friend, Gayle Roper, once said, “There’s a big difference between a book and a magazine article – like 250 pages difference.”

To be honest, there were days the last thing I wanted to do was work on the book. The evil one’s lies grew louder and more insistent. “What makes you think anyone would want to read what you’ve written?” My self-doubts intensified. I wanted to run from what I still knew God was calling me to do.

“He who believes need never run away again,” I read in Isaiah 28:16 (TLB).

Exactly 365 days after I had committed to finish the book in a year, I completed the manuscript. And then the waiting began. Some of you know that the manuscript was rejected by 42 publishers over a five year period. Finally, the 43^rd editor to see the manuscript accepted it for publication.

Looking back I’m amazed that I didn’t give up. I certainly wanted to give up. But God wouldn’t let me, and I’m so glad I didn’t. Had I given up, eight other books would never have been published. I wouldn’t have known the joy of serving on the faculty of over 70 Christian writers’ conferences and giving my one and two day writing seminars over 50 times around the nation. The Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference would not have been birthed 30 years ago, and the awesome privilege of directing the Colorado Christian Writers Conference for 17 years would never have happened.

What about you? Is God calling you to write an article or story, a book or even a screenplay? Does it seem impossible? Do you feel you lack the writing skills to make it happen? Are you stuck and the words aren’t flowing? Do you have a completed manuscript that you’ve not been able to sell? Are you discouraged and ready to run from God’s call?

I know the Colorado or Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference can be a turning point for you and your writing ministry. It’s not too late to register for the May 15-18 Colorado conference and to schedule one-on-one appointments with FOUR editors, agents, or authors if you attend Thursday through Saturday. Secure online registration for the July 31 – August 3 Greater Philly conference will open April 15.

Trust Father to make a way –

Logistically – Friends babysat my three children so I could attend the St. Davids Christian Writers Conference for a number of years.
Financially – We often “have not because we ask not.” I want to encourage you to approach your church family and your friends if you need help. They may welcome the opportunity to invest in your writing ministry. My pastor paid for my first writers conference and provided the accountability I needed afterwards to not waste what he invested in me. The conferences do not have any full scholarships to offer this year, but partial scholarships up to 50% of the cost of registration are possible. The scholarship application is not yet posted for the Philly conference. For Colorado’s application click here. Time payments can be arranged if necessary.

Lord, I believe. Please help my unbelief. Help me to have faith in You knowing that You can make all things possible.

Posted in Called to write, Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Overcoming self-doubts, Publishing journey, Writing Nonfiction Books | Leave a Comment »

CCWC & GPCWC Keynoter – Praying the News

April 11, 2012 by Marlene Bagnull

Impacting Our World Through the Power of Prayer

Donna Brennan interviews CCWC & GPCWC faculty member
Craig von Buseck

It’s easy to become fearful, angry, or cynical when watching the news. It can make us want to retreat from the larger world or to stop watching the news altogether. But Craig von Buseck, Director of Ministry for CBN.com and one of the Keynoters at the May 16-19 Colorado Christian Writers Conference and August 1-4 Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference, offers us another option: intercessory prayer.

Important conference updates: The price increases for the Colorado conference April 15, the same day online registration opens for the Philly conference.

As he shows in his new book Praying the News: Your Prayers are More Powerful Than You Know, co-authored with Wendy Girffith of CBN News, prayer can change people, transform communities, and solve problems facing our world. By praying to impact headlines, we impact more than just the way the news is reported -we impact the actual events that make up those headlines.

I contacted Craig to ask him questions about his book and his Keynote Address, “Praying the News.” Here are his answers.

Question: What do you mean by “praying the news”?

We live at a time in history when it is critical for the Church to learn to be led by the Spirit in prayer. God wants to raise up a company of intercessors to pray the news – which is to watch, read, or listen to the news, then to intercede for God’s will to be done in the issues we face today. God desires for His people to be so in tune with His Spirit that we are actually praying His will in advance of world events. By cooperating with God in prayer, we are actually helping to shape those events in the spirit realm. God is seeking prayer warriors who will agree with Him in faith to make an impact on the course of history through their intercession by walking in the Spirit. The apostle Paul wrote of the privilege and importance of the believer to live in the Spirit in Romans 8: “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14, NASB)

Far too often, the Church has been reactionary in our prayers. A tragedy or a disaster happens and believers react with ‘catch-up prayers.’ But we serve the God who sees the end from the beginning. He desires for us to become so in-tune with His Spirit that we are praying His perfect will in a circumstance before it ever occurs in the natural. But this sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit only comes by maintaining a daily, intimate relationship with our Father and our Lord.

Question: I’m just one person. Can my prayers really make that much of a difference in political decisions, crime levels, and major weather events?

Yes, they can! As we say in the subtitle of the book, “your prayers are more powerful than you know.” Scripture says, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16, NLT.) Throughout the book we give numerous examples, both from Scripture and from modern times, where individuals prayed fervently in faith and they saw the headlines change as a result.

Question: If I pray for one kind of result and my neighbor across the street prays for a different result, aren’t our prayers just canceling each other out?

All prayer comes under the sovereignty of God. We don’t dictate to God. Instead, we pray as Jesus taught us: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done.” When we take an issue to God in prayer we leave it in His hands and He decides to answer that prayer in His way and in His timing.

Question: What are some important components of intercessory prayer? Does your book suggest concrete ways to do this?

As we put the First Commandment first; to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength – He then empowers us by His Spirit to fulfill the Second Commandment; to love our neighbor (and our city, our nation, and this world) by being led by the Spirit in intercession.

Judson Cornwall writes of the importance of Spirit-led intercession that flows from us as a result of abiding in God. “There are times when we desperately need to know more than what God is doing and saying. We need to know God, for He works according to His nature and will, and only an understanding of that nature and will enables us to be involved with Him before His actions are demonstrated. We do not need to have great knowledge of God to know what God is saying if He is saying it publicly, but if God chooses to withhold communicated knowledge and yet we know the heart of God, there will be an intuitive or spiritual understanding that gives us knowledge out of relationship with God, not too unlike the understanding that develops between a husband and wife who have lived in a loving relationship for many years.”

It is this kind of heart that God is seeking in His people today – a heart that cries, “I want to know You, God. And I want to serve You, my Lord.” By walking in this type of love relationship with God, we position ourselves to be used by God on the earth. This is especially true in the realm of intercessory prayer.

Question: If I’m not a pastor or a prophet, what authority or right do I have to pray these intercessory prayers and expect results?

God has chosen to use every individual in the Church as His tool to communicate His love to the world. The apostle Paul speaks of our role as individual ministers of reconciliation and God’s ambassadors: “…who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20, NASB).

That is why we pray, “Thy kingdom come.” By doing so, we are placing ourselves in agreement with God’s plan for the earth. By praying the news, we stand up in the Spirit and declare, “thy will be done” in every issue that we face. C. S. Lewis referred to this kind of intercessory prayer as being “God’s fellow-worker” in the world. When we enter into the ministry of praying the news, we become “God’s fellow-worker” in this ministry of reconciliation. Lewis explains that to enter into intercession is to go from being a suitor – one who prays on his own behalf – to being a true servant of the Lord. “…the vast majority of the time, Jesus, who is our example, plays the part of the servant, interceding for others.”

This intercession is part of the Priesthood ministry of Jesus that continues to this day: “But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them”(Hebrews 7:24-25, NKJV). God invites us to join with him in this ministry of reconciliation. And we too have a role to play as priests before God – standing as representatives of fallen man, crying out to heaven for mercy.

Question: Can I “Pray the News” from the privacy of my own home? Or does it sometimes require something more?

Scripture directs us to “…pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17, NASB). Does this mean that we have to stop all human activity and just pray all the time? No, the Apostle Paul is encouraging us to always be ready to pray when the Holy Spirit moves on our heart to do so. The Bible says, “Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left” (Isaiah 30:21, NASB). That is how the Holy Spirit leads us in prayer. So it doesn’t matter where you pray – just be obedient to intercede as the Holy Spirit directs you, and you will see God move as a result.

Question: In your recent book, Netcasters: Using the Internet to Make Fishers of Men, you talk about ways to reach others for Christ through the internet. Can some of these same methods be used to find fellow prayer warriors to join together in prayer?

Absolutely. The Internet has become a 21st century Roman road. But it is also a worldwide marketplace, a theater, front porch and backyard fence, and an office water cooler. The World Wide Web can be like an electronic train terminal connecting you to intercessors around the world and providing the crucial means for people to agree together in prayer.

One of the most powerful aspects of praying the news is the power of agreement in intercession. Jesus declared, “If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you” (Matt. 18:19, NLT). As people watch or read the same news story around the world, then pray for God’s will to be done in that situation, tremendous spiritual power is released. The Internet can aid in this process, first by bringing awareness to news stories, both through traditional news outlets and through person-to-person contact, then as a communication platform allowing people to agree in prayer.

Question: Of course we all know stories of how prayer impacted events in Biblical times, but what are some examples of ways prayer has made a difference in newsworthy events in recent years?

During one of the darkest moments during World War Two, in May of 1940, the Nazis had trapped 400,000 British and French troops between the cliffs and the sea at Dunkirk on France’s north coast. If those troops had been killed or captured, Britain would have fallen to the Germans. All of Europe would have been under the iron rule of the Nazis before the United States even entered into World War Two. At this critical time, God raised up a man named Rees Howells of the Bible College of Wales to lead intercession in Britain. Howells took the initiative to organize nightly intercessory prayer meetings with his students. He instructed them: “God will not do a bit more through you than you have faith for. … You are more responsible for this victory today than those men on the battlefield.” He added, “I feel tonight that whatever the Nazis do, they cannot escape the Holy Spirit.” Soon prayer meetings were being held across Great Britain in response to Howells’ leadership.

Howell’s group poured their hearts out to God for hours every day, and soon much of the nation joined in. Parliament recognized the need for God’s intervention and called for a national day of prayer. Suddenly there was a change in the course of the war. Instead of wiping out the troops as he could have, Hitler held his army back, content to bomb Dunkirk instead. During that time, ships, yachts, and even rowboats evacuated 338,000 troops across the English Channel – as the water remained miraculously calm. Hitler’s behavior made no military sense. It was clear that God intervened in response to the prayers of believers.

We also share a more recent story in the book of how God changed the town of Manchester, Kentucky, as a result of united prayer. Community leaders had enough of their city being overrun by drug dealers, so they called for the people of the community to come together to march through town to intercede. On that day, several thousand citizens marched in prayer, singing hymns and praise songs. In what many believe was the key to the success of that march, pastors from every denomination stopped in the city’s park and repented. They asked God to forgive them for being more concerned about their buildings and programs than the Kingdom of God and the people. “Lord,” one minister prayed, “as pastors, as churches, as Christians and citizens, we have too long hid our heads in the sand and not stood up to the evil and the poison of drugs in this county and this community.”

The moment the pastors and people repented, something in the Spirit broke in Manchester, Kentucky that changed that community forever. Drug arrests went up by 300 percent in the first year. Drug dealers started getting saved and coming to church. Corrupt politicians were arrested or voted out of office. The story of Manchester aired on The 700 Club, inspiring other towns with the same problems to hold their own marches. Thousands of people e-mailed, called, or literally showed up at Community Church in Manchester saying, “This is where I heard I can find hope.” Suddenly, the town that had been hopeless was giving hope.

We share many more stories of people who prayed the news like this and literally saw the headlines change.

___________________

Craig will also be teaching a continuing session on Narrative Nonfiction at the Colorado Christian Writers conference. This exciting new genre lets your true story read like a novel. This is the style Craig used when writing his upcoming narrative biography on Holocaust survivor, Nina Morecki.

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Pondering Biblical Truth, Praying for our nation | Leave a Comment »

The Doctor Is In: Help For Your Nonfiction Book Proposal

April 9, 2012 by Marlene Bagnull

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.

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

Choices

April 5, 2012 by Marlene Bagnull

Arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane,
You could have called on heaven’s armies;
yet You allowed them to take You captive.

Falsely accused in a mockery of a trial,
You could have denied who You were;
yet You convicted Yourself.

Physically and emotionally abused,
You could have struck down your tormenters;
yet You remained silent and turned the other cheek.

On the way to the cross,
You could have thought only of Yourself;
yet You spoke with compassion to Jerusalem’s daughters.

Nailed to the cross and spit upon by the crowd,
You could have cursed Your enemies;
yet You prayed, “Father, forgive them.”

Taunted to “Come down from the cross!”
You could have done exactly that; yet
You chose to suffer and die
that I might have the choice to live in You.

Marlene Bagnull
Face-to-Face, Spring 1984

Posted in Pondering Biblical Truth | 5 Comments »

Speaking of Promoting Your Book or Ministry . . .

April 4, 2012 by Marlene Bagnull

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.

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Marketing, Platform building | 3 Comments »

Great Resource for Fiction Writers

April 3, 2012 by Marlene Bagnull

CCWC and GPCWC Appointment Coordinator, Bonnie Calhoun, is a bundle of energy and helpfulness. Monthly she publishes Christian Fiction Online Magazine, an amazing resource. The April issue features an interview with Robert Liparulo who will teach a continuing session on “Writing Suspense and Thrillers” at the May 16-19 Colorado and August 1-4 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference. Robert is the best-selling author of five thrillers for adults and the six-book Dreamhouse Kings series for young adults. Frank Peretti calls Robert’s latest release, The 13^th Tribe, “a great read!”

I hope you’ll also check out Bonnie’s “Publisher’s Choice” article, “Getting Unstuck,” by yours truly.”n it I highlight some of the opportunities at this year’s CCWC:

A time away
A time to learn
A time to connect with editors and agents (Bonnie will assist full-time conferees in signing up for not one, two, or three appointments with faculty members, but FOUR one-on-one 15-minute appointments!)
A time to fellowship
A time to grow your marketability
A time to go deeper through the Lightbox Method Retreat
And so much more . . .

In appreciation for Bonnie’s ministry to writers I’m offering two 50% off scholarships to readers of her Christian Fiction Online Magazine (CFOM). The deadline for applying is April 14. Click here for more info and an application.

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Writing Fiction | Leave a Comment »

Help for “Promotionally Challenged Authors”

March 29, 2012 by Marlene Bagnull

Help for “Promotionally Challenged Authors”
plus $100 of essential resources when you pre-order
faculty member, Rob Eagar’s new book Sell Your Book Like Wildfire

The days when all you had to do was write a great book and wait for the royalty checks to arrive are long past. Now, an author needs to be not just a great writer (a major challenge in itself) but also a great marketer. Whether we write fiction or nonfiction, we need that allusive “platform” and the ability to sell books – lots of books – if we want a publisher to seriously consider our manuscript. If we choose to self-publish, a viable alternative for many, we still need to be able to sell our book.

It’s a real challenge for most authors. We’re writers not necessarily marketers. That’s certainly true for me. Although I know how to “Spread the Word through Effective Promotion” (a workshop I’ve taught many times that is available on CD), I confess that I quit Girl Scouts because of the stress of having to sell cookies. The bottom line is I HATE sales!

So what can I do – can you do – if your lack of marketing skills is what’s standing in the way of landing a contract or selling the book(s) you’ve chosen to self-publish?

Thanks to my good friend, Cec Murphey, and his recommendation and introduction, both the Colorado and Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference is blessed to have Rob Eagar from Wildfire Marketing teaching a continuing session on “Marketing for the Promotionally Challenged Author.” Rob will challenge us to “get over our insecurities and transform our apprehension about marketing into positive action.” He will cover:

How to build a memorable brand
Grow your author platform
Increase your book sales
Effectively use social networking
Make your message standout from the crowd
Create effective newsletters that produce speaking inquiries
Generate more books
Turn media interviews into book sales
Amplify your author platform, and more!

Through Wildfire Marketing Rob has trained and worked with over 400 authors including New York Times bestsellers Dr. Gary Chapman, Lysa TerKeurst, and Wanda Brunstetter. And you can get a head start on preparing to present your marketing plan to editors at the conference through Rob’s new book, Sell your Book Like Wildfire, releasing June 7 from Writers Digest Books.

More great news! If you pre-order Rob’s new book between now and April 1st, he will include these special bonuses:

You get my book at 33% off the book’s list price of $16.99. Pay only $11.25 and save $5.74!
You get free shipping. I’ll ship the book to you in June at no charge. You save $2.50!
You get my “Marketing Plan Template for Authors” download for free – a $20 value!
You get my “Bestseller Website Tutorial” download for free – a $25 value!
You get my mp3 audio download “O Reader, Where Art Thou?” a 1-hour teaching session, which explains how to find your book’s target audience – for free – a $59 value!

To recap, you pay only $11.25, and you’ll receive Rob’s new 288-page book in June at a 33% discount with free shipping. Plus, you get over $100 of essential teaching resources for authors. All you have to do is pre-order by April 1st at: www.startawildfire.com/books

I intend to take advantage of Rob’s generous offer and hope you will, too.

Father, You know how difficult marketing is for many of us. We believe in You and the message You have entrusted to us but, as Rob says, we “lack confidence to share our book’s message with dignity and excitement.” Thank You for providing the help we need through Rob’s new book and what He will be teaching at CCWC and GPCWC. And thank You for Your mighty power that is at work within us enabling us to do what we could never do in our own strength.

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Platform building, Promotion, Publishing journey | Leave a Comment »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »