Session I | 9:15-10:15 a.m.
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Avoiding Common Mistakes on the Road to PublicationA multi-published novelist and former editor shares insights from her past experiences (and mistakes) to help you avoid the most common errors newer writers make, like plot and point-of-view blunders, research woes, gaffes when requesting endorsements and working with editors, as well as advice on how to balance issues, faith, and story, to give yourself the best shot at attracting an agent and publisher.
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How to Apply the Five Most Powerful Methods of Story Creation to Your NovelAre there time honored, proven methods for writing bestselling, award winning fiction? Yes! During this two hour workshop, Christy Hall of Fame author James L. Rubart will teach you the fiver most powerful ways (used by novelists, playwrights, and Hollywood directors) to create breakthrough stories that will captivate your readers.
This workshop will be presented via Zoom. |
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Stand Out & Fit In: Four Key Traits of Bestselling WritersSince you have to reach people who don’t know you or your story, how can you edit down to the one thing you are uniquely gifted to share? As a 20 year veteran of acquisitions and development for multiple houses, Mick has observed four universal characteristics of top-selling writers that may offer the closest thing to a step-by-step guide to selling great books one could hope for.
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Devotional WritingIn this inspirational and practical workshop, David Sluka will discuss how you can write from your heart, stay true to the Word of God, and encourage others through devotional writing.
Topics will also include: • The fastest way to write a devotional entry • Essential devotional content to include and extra elements that are a bonus for readers • The difference between devotional writing and a diary • Recommended length for daily devotions • How to make your devotions timeless and go deeper with your writing content to create greater focus and impact for your reader • Titling to attract more readers • How to organize a daily devotional or a compilation of your devotions into a 21-, 31-, 40-, 90-, or 365-day collection |
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Writing with Empathy and Connection: Part IDo our words really make a difference? And how can we write the things that people really need to hear? We’ll explore answers to these questions and more as we learn, discuss, interact, and practice writing copy that resonates and reflects God’s heart. The first part of the class will focus on the whys and how-tos of writing connected, conscious, relevant, and heartfelt copy for all sorts of formats. (Then we’ll start practicing this with a writing project centered around love and marriage—much like how we write at DaySpring—with background, inspiration, exercises, and interaction, with the opportunity to turn in writing at the end.) Bring a humble heart, an open mind, a notebook (or loose pages, but not a journal), and a pen or pencil.
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Keeping Your Characters from Flat-LiningYour characters may be interesting, but they can fall flat. Join Jaime Jo as she dissects the creation of a layered character, their contribution to the story, and how to keep them from becoming boring, repetitive, or just plain dead. (Unless you write suspense--then death may be necessary).
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Session II | 10:30-11:30 a.m.
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Proposal PropsWhy don’t I hear from agents or publishers after I submit my proposal? Is there something I’m missing? Why do some writers seem to sail by and I’m still waiting for my ship to come in.. This workshop will show you the five key areas of your proposal that either perk up or fall flat to an editor or agent reviewing. What are the areas? Come to this workshop and we’ll show you which ones and how you can rewrite and rework these sections for success!
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Understanding Basic Publishing FinancialsWhat is an advance? How does it affect my royalty? What is my royalty percentage based on? What investment has a publisher made in me by the time my books releases? Learn the answers to these and man more questions in this Publishing Financials 101 class.
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Getting Started Q & ACome hear how one author got started including helpful practical tips, learning to be self-forgetful, and trusting the Lord with your ministry. Also, come ready to ask your questions.
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Novel Writing 101: 14 Steps to Getting Started
Join young adult novelist Jackie Sommers for an interactive discussion about the most important things she wishes she had known as a beginner, including topics like the writing mindset, critique partners, craft, genre wordcounts, terrible first drafts, self-publishing vs. traditional publishing, and more. Attendees are encouraged to submit questions ahead of time and come eager to engage.
Submit questions to ncwc@unwsp.edu with "Novel Writing 101 Questions" in the subject line. |
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Writing with Empathy and Connection: Part IIWe will practice what we learned in Part I by doing a writing project centered around love and marriage—much the way we write at DaySpring—with background, inspiration, exercises, and interaction. There will be opportunity to turn in writing at the end. Bring a humble heart, an open mind, a notebook (or loose pages, but not a journal), and a pen or pencil.
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Magnify The Lord With Me: How Writing is a Means to Personal and Corporate WorshipWe tend to see worship as isolated to the Sunday morning gathering, but all of life is worship if done unto the Lord. The writing life can sometimes feel mundane and isolating, but even in the ordinary and lonely days of writing, our work can be worship. This workshop will show how our words can be used to bring honor and glory to God—when the words flow freely and when the words are hard to come by.
This workshop will be presented via Zoom. |
Session III | 1:30-2:30 p.m.
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Building Your Newsletter ListA popular marketing quote says, “The money’s in the list.”
That means your book sales can benefit from how long and healthy your email newsletter list is. Engaged readers can help you build a platform and bring you a fortune. And vice versa – your efforts to approach readers will be useless if the contacts you have aren’t relevant, email addresses are inactive, or you don’t have any at all. The best thing about having an email list is nobody can take your list away. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can close your account without notice. It’s not easy to be noticed on LinkedIn or YouTube. And besides, publishers are now recognizing that social media doesn’t always create strong book sales. In this workshop, we'll discuss the leverage you can gain from building your list, plus strategies for growing a subscription base of loyal readers. Fire up your creative juices and be ready to play with new ideas! This workshop will be presented via Zoom. |
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How to Build an Effective Email List with JoySelling books whether you're traditionally or indie published often falls on the back of the author. The most effective way to sell (besides speaking) is through a well curated email distribution list. In this class, you'll learn:
*Why email matters *How to build a list using texting technology, freebies, drip campaigns, and events. *The best practices of engaging with your tribe *How to view list building as an extension of your word ministry. Learn from someone who has organically grown her list over several years and has a wildly engaged readership! |
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Be A Kid to Write for KidsKids are creative, funny and thoughtful little humans. To write for children, your stories should be like them—creative, thoughtful and funny. Kids are child-like, not childish. This workshop will help you think and be like a child. We’ll talk about who kids are, look at cultural trends, and uncover tips to capture a reader’s attention while playing by the rules of writing. By being a child, you’ll have a better chance of creating stories that will catch an editor’s eye and eventually entertain a child.
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Editing Your Own WorkYou're trying to get your writing out quickly, and you need to self-edit. What are the key things to look for--the ones that would cause red or yellow lights for agents and editors? What steps should you take to edit well? Heather will provide you with the knowledge and skill to start you using an eagle's eye.
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Session IV | 3:00-4:00 p.m.
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The Writer's ToolboxWhat makes a great sentence great? Explore some of the techniques writers use to engage readers and maximize impact at the level of the line! Writer's style, rhythm, soundwork and plenty of examples will give you extra tools for your writing--for any genre you pursue.
This workshop will be presented via Zoom. |
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Writing Personal Stories: Getting to the Heart of NarrativeStories matter. We are hard-wired for them, we are drawn to them, and they have the potential to make our writing powerful and compelling. Whether you want to write creative non-fiction pieces or memoir or simply craft effective anecdotes from your life in your prose, this workshop will provide tips and advice for budding or advanced writers, including the arc of the narrative, evocative detail, and tension. In addition, the workshop will touch upon the spiritual journey of sharing ourselves in writing and how to do so with honesty and integrity.
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Famous Plagiarists of History: Will You Avoid Their Fate?The quickest way to show an editor you’re not a professional is to cite your sources incorrectly—or not at all. In recent years, high-profile plagiarism cases have rocked the Christian book industry. Debut and seasoned writers alike too often neglect to attribute the writers and thinkers on whose work they depend. After this engaging, dynamic workshop, you’ll understand the importance of proper attribution, be motivated to keep digging to find original sources, and be equipped to cite your research appropriately
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From Me and Mine to Thee and ThineYou have a life experience, you have a story. Figuring out how your personal story relates to, inspires and moves others is the required work of every author. Making the mental shift from me and mine to thee and thine paves the way for you to write your story in a way that it can be embraced as the story of others. This workshop will equip you to do just that!
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The First Ten PagesAudience members will make a decision about a film in the first ten minutes. In this workshop, we will investigate key components of the first 10 pages of a screenplay and look at how they can be used to hook your audience and keep them reading your script or watching your film.
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