FRIDAY, MAY 18
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Registration. Overlake Christian Church, 9900 Willow Road NE, Redmond, WA 98052.
11:00 a.m. – to 12:30 p.m. – Orientation and Special Session: How to Pitch Your Ideas to an Editor or Agent / Jim Rubart. To best prepare you for your afternoon editorial appointments, you’ll want to learn from best selling author Jim Rubart how to talk to editors and agents, what to avoid, and what will make you and your idea stand out. Come with your questions!
1:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Group Editorial Appointments (Friday only.) Request an appointment on the registration form to have your appointment time waiting for you when you arrive. Or, sign up at registration – first come, first served (Bishop, Glaspey, Kent, Kuykendall, McCready, Mullins, Silva, Watkins, and Yoars), but be advised that early editor/agent appointments will be cut off Wednesday, May 16. We strongly advise you to preregister as appointment times fill quickly.
1:00 – 2:15 p.m. and 2:45 – 4:00 p.m. – The Idea Exchange. Informal discussion groups on topics of broad interest. Join with other writers and knowledgeable facilitators for a free and open discussion. The Idea Exchange presenters are: Melissa K. Norris - Define Your Target Audience for Effective Social Media Growth (www.melissaknorris.com); Amy Letinsky - Self-Editing: How to be Your First and Best Editor (www.amyletinsky.wordpress.com); and Connie Mace - Basic-Bare-Bones Blogging and Networking (www.conniemace.com). Carolyn Meagher - You Could Win: Contests for Writers and how to Win Them
1:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Critique Sessions (Friday only). 15-minute critique session with a published author or critique group leader. Bring a query letter, a chapter, or article. Sign up on-site.
5:30 – 7:00 p.m. – Dinner on Your Own or Asian Dinner. Several restaurants are located within five miles of the conference, or optional Asian style dinner may be purchased (see registration form on back or online at nwchristianwriters.org). List of restaurants is mailed with registration confirmations.
7:00 – 9:00 p.m. – An Evening with Marshal Younger
“Story Writing to Reach a Lost World.” Don’t miss this chance to get to know Marshall Younger and his multiple storytelling gifts. Q and A, introduction of workshop leaders, gourmet dessert, and book signing. The book signing is for Marshal and all authors with books on consignment in the Conference Bookstore. Guests are welcome (see registration form).
SATURDAY, MAY 19
8:00 a.m. -- Registration/Continental Breakfast
8:30 – 9:00 a.m. – Welcome. Singing. Devotions. Orientation. Announcements.
9:15 – 10:30 a.m. Continuing Workshop and Elective Workshops Session #1
Build a Successful Writing Ministry/Career: Break into Publishing (continuing two-part workshop for the newer writer – continues at 10:45 a.m.) / Grace Fox. Most writers can only dream of instant success. Truth is, building a strong writing career takes time and effort. Get a head start by discovering and implementing several practical strategies vital to those new to the publishing industry. A fine workshop choice for newer writers.
Or choose from one of these five electives:
Whose Point of View Is It Anyway? / Lynette Bonner / Lesley McDaniel. Understanding point of view is crucial to creating a good story. Come laugh and learn as we discuss the various points of view, practice how to write in them, and take a long hard look at deep 3rd person and its greatest strengths.
How to Make an Idea into a Book / Terry Glaspey. A highly practical approach for taking a book idea through the process of creative brainstorming, considering the market and marketability of the idea, finding the best method of organizing and structuring the material, and creating a book proposal that will catch the attention of an editor.
What Do I Have to Say? Writing with Your Voice / Alexandra Kuykendall. Your unique personality, circumstances and audience give you a distinct voice of hope in a hurting world. From childhood experiences to today’s seemingly forgettable moments, God gives you ample material from which to draw. Learn how to move from life to paper for his purposes.
Heavenly Help Hastens His Story / Bill Wipple. We desire God's mercy and grace. We want His wisdom to carry out His work. God can open doors to ideas, concepts, publishers and rewards. We will explore examples of how God answers prayer and provides his encouragement.
How to Effectively Communicate an Uplifting Message in an Artistic Way / Marshal Younger. A workshop on how to be subtle with dialogue, intentional with Christian characters, and clear with message. There will be team exercises to challenge writers in all of these areas.
10:45 a.m. – 12 Noon Continuing Workshop and Elective Workshops Session #2
Build a Successful Writing Ministry/Career: How to Market (continuing two-part workshop for the newer writer – conclusion) / Grace Fox. Publicity and marketing are integral to building a successful writing ministry or career, but this aspect of our calling sometimes feels like a maze. Examine a variety of options so you can select what works best to reach your intended audience. A fine workshop choice for newer writers.
Or choose from one of these five electives:
A Journeyman’s Year at the Writing Craft / Mike Howerton. Mike’s no expert in the writing/publishing world, but simply a journeyman, and this year he put into practice all of the things he learned at last year’s conference. His book, Glorious Mess, published by Baker, is a February 2012 release, so hopefully he’ll be able to report that it’s a bestseller. But even if he can’t, he’ll share on the creative process, the contacts he made, the promotional plan he followed, and his firm belief in writing books that need to be written.
What Editors Are Looking For – Two Publishing Perspectives / Terry Glaspey / Carolyn McCready. Every publishing house is looking for projects that suit their own unique publishing program. But there are also lots of similarities in what publishers want to see in an author or a potential book project. In this workshop, you'll meet two acquiring editors from two major publishing houses and explore what they’re looking for, how you can get an editor's attention, and common mistakes to avoid in your proposals.
How to Love Your Book/Article Outline / Cindy Scinto. Remember being assigned an outline in schoolundefinedthat stark, white piece of paper reflecting its emptiness? Do you still cringe at the task? Writers often express their dread at outlining, but this essential tool eliminates the chance of gridlock when you’re deep into a writing project. Join Cindy and learn how to love outlining after you discover your very own, personalized technique.
Author Archeology 101 / Jan Cline. Do you hate to research? Think of it as a treasure hunt. There are unimaginable numbers of facts, figures, and history to discover. It’s much more than a means to an end of information. If you want your research to impact your writing, you must learn to not only embrace it, but let yourself love it. These research and organization tips ideal for beginning writers.
Query Quest: What Agents Look for in a Client / Rachel Kent. Do you want the inside scoop on what agents look for when they read your query? This class will cover the qualities that make an author stand out and shine in query letters and correspondence with agents. Rachel will also share and discuss real query letters that either helped or hurt the author’s chance at representation.
12 Noon – 1:00 p.m. – Lunch (included in your registration)
1:00 – 2:15 p.m. – General Session: Reality Panel of Publishing Experts
2:45 – 4:00 p.m. Elective Workshops Session #3
A Box of 64 Crayons: How Storytellers Can Play Without Ceasing / Jeffrey Overstreet. “Once upon a time…” “A box of 64 crayons…” “Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection…” “Pooh was a bear of very little brain…” Bring back memories? Join Jeffrey Overstreet on a journey back through time. Rediscover what we knew in childhood but forgot in adulthoodundefinedideas vital to our storytelling and faith.
Moving from Fear to Freedom for Writers Grace Fox. Many writers struggle with the fear of rejection and failure. If left unchecked, it can prevent them from pursuing their passion and God’s call on their lives. Identify the root of this fear and learn how to move beyond it.
The Ministry of Writing / Jim Watkins. Includes 25 rejection-proof markets that truly do minister to needs!
Content is King, Emperor, and Supreme Commander of the Universe / James Rubart. Learn how to write Facebook posts, blog posts, Web copy, and Tweets that people can’t wait to read, ones that they’ll repost and forward to their friendsundefinedwhich will build your platform whether you’re published or a pre-published author.
How to Write for Those Crazy (and Not-So-Crazy) Charismatics / Marcus Yoars. Despite being a fringe group in the past, charismatics and Pentecostals now comprise almost 40% of the American church. Discover the secrets to engage this massive, passionate audience with writing that transcends the page and connects with the spirit.
Swim Goggles for Jesus: How to Power Your Stories by Thinking Like a Kid / Peggy King Anderson. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll get practical tips for capturing ideas from the kids around you, and the child inside you. You’ll also learn 10 ways thinking like a kid can make your writing process easier and more fun.
4:15 – 5:30 p.m. Elective Workshops Session #4
Romance Is in the Air: Panel Discussion / Lynnette Bonner / Ocieanna Fleiss / Clint Kelly / Carolyn Bravo / Kate Lloyd. Romance, they say, is recession-proof. Join a free-wheeling discussion with four published romance authors. You’ll learn how the most popular genre on the planet might just be yours if you can master the delicate balance between story and passion. Learn the key elements of inspirational romance fiction and what it takes to compete. First question: Is writing it so simple that even a man can do it?
Increasing the Value of Your Book / Andrea Mullins. Today’s Christian readers are looking for great value, not just in price but in other factors as well. Learn what these factors are and explore ways you can increase the value of your book for today’s discriminating audiences.
Christian Market or General Market: What Are My Options? / Sandra Bishop. Sandra will discuss the choices authors can make between writing for the CBA and ABA markets, and debunk some myths about the barriers, benefits, and ways to break in or out of either market. Bring your synopsis and one-line elevator pitch for one or two projects and we’ll talk about market options. Appropriate for fiction and nonfiction and new and published authors.
Beast and the Beauty: What Fairy Tales and Jesus’ Parables Have in Common / Jeffrey Overstreet. Fairy tales are more popular than ever. From Harry Potter to Twilight to TV’s Once Upon a Time, everybody’s talking about princes, princesses, poisoned apples, monsters, and transformations. That’s good, says Jeffrey Overstreet, because it’s a place alive with the Gospel.
6:00 – 7:15 p.m. – Dinner / Sound Off
Enjoy a delicious meal together (included in registration) and a time of community sharing about the writing life and God’s work in us during the conference.
7:30 – 8:30 p.m. – General Session – Marshal Younger Presents “One Writer’s Journey.” Hear his personal testimony, and how he has grown to learn that we should never be content with faith-based art being inferior to what the rest of the world gives us.
8:30 – 8:45 p.m. – Closing and Reflection on the Year Ahead – Conference Leadership