Workshops are first-come-first-serve the day of the Conference.
BREAKOUT SESSION I
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The Elements of a Great Book ProposalWe will explore the 10 major elements that make up a book proposal that will gain the attention of an agent and an editor.
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Writing Your Story: Getting to the Heart of Narrative
People are drawn to personal stories, and when written well, they can be powerful and transformative. This workshop will cover practical aspects of writing our stories, including the arc of a narrative, detail, and tension. We also will dive into the deeper concerns of personal narrative, touching on issues such as how we know a story is ready to be told, our motives for telling it, and the spiritual journey of sharing ourselves in writing.
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Build a Platform Publishers will Love in 30 Minutes a DayIf you want to get past the slush pile of any publisher, the sure-fire way to do that is to have a platform that acquisition editors can’t ignore. Kathi will share her daily routine to not just creating, but growing a platform that is so winsome that publishers will take a second look at your proposal. In this workshop, you will leave with a step-by-step daily plan to build your platform in three key areas:
• Speaking • Writing • Social Media Learn how to create great content that your audience will love, as well at the strategy to sharing it well In addition to this plan, you will learn the social media platforms that are best for you to shine in, and the ones that you can ignore, guilt-free. A great platform isn’t built by accident, and it’s not built overnight, but it can be built. |
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How to Create Unique Ideas with Spiritual ImpactDo you want to create unique stories that agents and editors are immediately captivated by? That goal isn’t a desire, it’s a must if you want to get published and have readers rave about your books. During this workshop, bestselling, Christy Book of the Year, Carol, and RT Book Reviews award winning author James L. Rubart will share the techniques he uses to create his own novels, and teach you how to discover the unique ideas buried deep inside you.
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Developing a Streamlined Social Media Strategy
This session is for growing writers and published authors who want to build their platform by reaching and ministering to readers online. Using the process I developed to take my "A Confident Heart” Facebook author page from 6K to over 225K engaged followers today, I will break down the overwhelm of social media, help you simplify your why, what, where, and when and show you how to:
- Narrow your focus to “3 things” guaranteed to grow your social media reach - Write short-form content that connects and is most likely to be shared - Develop 4 types of impactful posts using words you’ve already written - Create a schedule and content cue to pull from and build on over time |
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Manuscript CPR+
Become a certified manuscript resuscitation expert! If your book is not working, for whatever reason, diagnosing and responding with the book-saving skills needed is job number one. Get readers' hearts pumping again with this hands-on, very practical class.
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How a Small Platform Writer Can Get a Book DealIt was 2012. Jennifer didn’t have a big platform or a large blog following. Her speaking gigs were mostly MOPS groups and small Christmas luncheons. The experts would have told you that, on paper, Jennifer would probably not get a book contract from a major publisher. The experts would have been wrong. A major publisher released Jennifer’s first book in 2014, and then re-signed her for a second book in 2016.
Jennifer isn’t the only one. She will share how she and many other small-platform writers have managed to bring their big ideas into print. In this practical session, you’ll learn how to: - Put together a book proposal that agents and publishers can’t ignore. - Create a movement that is built around the community you already have. - Show publishers that you are willing to do the hard work of marketing. - Make the most of what you’ve already built in your ministry. - Hold onto hope when rejection inevitably comes. |
BREAKOUT SESSION II
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Using Your Life Themes to Write Powerful FictionCompelling novels are filled with emotion. Not melodrama, but pain and triumph mined from the deep places of your heart. Discover the deep wells, and your story will take on new life and will touch the deep places of readers’ hearts too. (All levels)
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Research for Fiction Writers - Where to Find It, How Much is Enough, and Avoiding Common MistakesIf you want to write good fiction, there’s no getting around it: you have to do research. If you don’t do enough, readers (and reviewers) will let you know it. If you do too much, you’ll bury your plot and never finish your book. Julie Klassen will share lessons learned as an author of twelve novels, and from her twelve years as an editor for Bethany House Publishers, to help you avoid research pitfalls and bring your story to vivid life.
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Social Media for Writers: How to Grow Your AudienceSocial media is effective when posts, entries and responses are guided by a larger purpose. The workshop “Social Media for Writers: How to Grow Your Audience” will look at attitudes, priorities, and tools for reaching and collecting an audience with the intent to grow a platform. We’ll work through what we want to accomplish and be able to state it succinctly. We’ll design our social media presence by defining our target audience, we’ll identify the social media channels where those audiences show up, with practical recommendations on tools, editorial calendars and how to stay sane as a writer.
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Discover Your Writer's VoiceWondering how to develop your unique writing voice? It’s not as elusive as you may think! In this workshop, we’ll explore what voice means and do some exercises to help you discover your own unique expression that will help you stand out as an author—and may also help build your platform! Bring paper and pen and/or your laptop.
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Writing in the Wilderness
You’ve worked hard on your book, you persevered, and you’ve sought God’s favor but still it seems your writing career is going nowhere. What to do then? This workshop will focus on how to stay centered and remain faithful, what to do when your book fails to attract an agent or editor or gets published but doesn’t sell well, and how to hold on to your purpose and peace of mind when it seems like you’re wandering aimlessly in the writing wilderness.
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Topics in Young Adult Literature: Writing for the Secular YA Market as a Christian AuthorHow does a Christian author write for a secular YA market? What is a gospel-centric perspective on writing about hard topics (sex, profanity, etc.) for teenagers? How much can a writer focus on faith in a book meant for readers from all backgrounds? Jackie Lea Sommers explores how she has answered these questions in her fiction for young adult readers.
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The Spiritual Thread: Bondage or Blessing?What is inspirational fiction? Is it a story that only contains good morals? Must it include prayers, a sermon and Scripture? How does an author incorporate their faith without being “preachy?” Learn how to create an inspirational story that includes a riveting plot, a full-bodied character and deep spiritual issues without being “preachy.” After looking at the different ways of building a story’s spiritual foundation, you’ll then learn how to get at the core of your character’s spiritual journey and weave it seamlessly onto the page. Discover tips and warnings as well as techniques that can change your story from one with “religious” overtones, to a story that touches souls.
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BREAKOUT SESSION III
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By Hook or By Crook: How to Engage Young ReadersStudies show you have less than 15 seconds to grab a young reader’s attention. A creative lead could also be the difference between publication and rejection. This workshop will discuss different ways to begin a story . . . and then how to keep a reader's attention.
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The Verses That Keep Me Up at Night: The Risks and Responsibilities of the Christian WriterThe book of James includes a chilling reminder for those in ministry. Teachers, Scripture warns, will be judged more strictly. We’ve got to face facts: Writing is risky. Sharing God’s message of truth and hope is an enormous responsibility, and not one we should take lightly.
In this session, we’ll… - Wrestle with the big questions of your calling and mission - Discuss the necessity of being grounded in sound doctrine - Uncover the subtle lies that can affect your ministry - Dive into Scripture to see what Jesus really has to say |
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The ABCs of Concept and CraftAs an acquisitions editor, Jessica Wong looks for three elements in every proposal: platform, concept, and craft. In this workshop, you’ll be diving into the editorial side of things and learn some of the basic building blocks of concept and craft. Some questions we’ll cover:
What elements should I have in the back of my mind as I put together my book concept? What are felt needs, and how do they differ from reader benefits? What is “voice”? How do I maintain focus throughout my manuscript? What are some steps I can take to work on my craft? |
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The Writer's Toolbox: Techniques for Powerful Prose
What makes your written voice distinct? How can you adapt that voice to best fit a particular project? How do you catch--and keep--readers' attention? From novels to tweets, memoirs to magazine articles--each avenue asks something new of you as an author. In this workshop, you will learn how to tailor your voice to a variety of writing situations, as well as innovative ways to lend clarity, control emphasis, invigorate vocabulary, establish character, and enhance overall impact.
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Creating and Submitting a Winning Book Proposal
You’ve written a book and now you want your “baby” to find a home that will help it grow and flourish. How do you create a book proposal that will attract the attention of an acquisitions team? There are many publishers out there today producing thousands of books per year, and the titles printed represent just a fraction of the proposals received. What are some ways you can make your book stand out? Just as important, how can you tell which publisher is right for your book? Which organization shares your values and message? And once you know who you would like to work with, what is the best way to approach your chosen partner? Join me to get tips for creating a winning proposal and learn how you can make sure you are submitting your work to the right team.
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Can I Be a Christian Writer Without Being a "Christian Writer"?
Do you worry that you're wasting your career in God's eyes if you can't find a way to sneak the Gospel into every article, poem or book you produce? Welcome to the club. Most writers who try to maintain an eternal focus battle guilt when they write often--or perhaps exclusively--on secular topics. In this real-world conversation, Trevor Meers, who has climbed the ranks at one of the nation's largest magazine publishers, discusses how faith and career overlap, complement one another and occasionally collide.
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