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Category: Conferences & Workshops

 

Today, we would like to introduce you to conference workshop leader, Ben Wolf, founder of Splickety Publishing Group (SPG). He will be teaching three workshops at our 5th annual Wordsowers Christian Writers Conference, April 28-29, 2017.

Ben says his writing career started in the 7th grade after he saw the movie Congo on TV. It was so bad that he wrote a parody of it set in Australia and featured murderous kangaroos instead of gorillas. You don’t want to miss his workshops. The Wordsowers Christian Writers (WCW) Leadership Team had the opportunity to interview Ben and share a bit with you about this award-winning author on the Splicity—fast—writing track.

Ben founded Splickety Publishing Group (SPG) to meet the needs of busy folks like him: people who appreciate great fiction but lack the time to read. SPG offers three quarterly flash fiction magazines: Splickety (multi-genre), Havok (speculative), and Splickety Love (romance).

What piece of advice helped you or made a difference in your writing? I’ve always been a fan of Mickey Spillane’s quote, “The first chapter sells the book; the last chapter sells the next book.”

A quote I saw recently said every story is built with the use of the same alphabet—26 letters? How do you glean ideas for a new story line, something different? My ideas come from a bunch of random sources. It could be anything from a dream or a daydream to an observation to a mashup of ideas or concepts that wouldn’t ordinarily go together without serious thought and creativity. It has been a ton of fun to play with my ideas and craft something new and weird and exciting.

When beginning a new novel, how do you piece together your protagonist—find a photo, have a file on hand filled with ideas, or do you fill out a form with all the details? I’m actually really bad at this. Usually I’m a plot first guy, so my characters have to get developed later on. I take notes on the basics (hair color, eye color, height, weight, build, personality traits), but in general I try to let the characters reveal who they are to me as I write the story.

Do you have any amusing story that happened to you while marketing your books? Nothing too unusual has happened to me while marketing my work… yet. This is quite peripheral, but I met Jeff Goldblum at the Oregon Christian Writers Conference a couple of years ago. He was filming an episode for Portlandia, and he proceeded to serenade me in the hotel lobby with piano jazz tunes. It was surreal and amazing. I had books to sell at the conference. Does that count?

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Ben has written six action/adventure novels (five of which are good) and has multiple other projects in the works. His first novel, Blood for Blood won the 2015 Cascade Award for Best Speculative Fiction Novel and has been characterized as “bold…with nonstop tension” and “hard to put down.” It examines the question of whether or not God can redeem anyone—even a vampire. His debut children’s book, I’d Punch a Lion in His Eye for You, is a 2016 Cascade Award finalist and is beloved by children nationwide.

In addition to his writing career, Ben offers a variety of professional services to aspiring writers including: Editing and Proofreading, Ghostwriting, Strategic Novel Planning, Coaching, and Marketing/Branding Consulting, Public Speaking and Teaching on Writing, Publishing, and Flash Fiction, One-on-One Mentoring and Encouragement.

For more information about his writing and his professional services, please visit his website, www.benwolf.com. You can also friend Ben Wolf on Facebook and follow him on Twitter (@1BenWolf).

 

Click HERE to get more information about our 2017 conference and to register now.

Ben will also be available for paid critiques at the conference.

critique submissions
To order your paid critique, click HERE.

 

 

Today, Janet Sobczyk joins us again and shares her anticipation for this year’s writers conference!

2017 Conference

It’s been almost a year since my first Wordsowers Christian Writers Conference. I’ve made great strides (okay, baby steps) with my writing. It feels terrific!

Right away I joined Wordsowers and began to attend their monthly meetings at the Swanson Library in Omaha. I can’t always make it (the last Thursday of each month, 6:00 to 7:45) but when I do, I leave inspired and happy.

At the meetings I heard about the critique group that meets once a month. I’ve only been able to go once so far, but in that session I learned so much! They showed me how to format manuscripts to be taken seriously by editors. They showed me how awesome it feels to be surrounded by successful people who want to help you succeed.

I’ve used what I learned at the conference to submit poetry and articles to magazines, with a few successes. It’s nice to have some of the poems in my binder collection be seen by readers beyond my own family.

I’ve discovered how to be patient through the long wait for responses to submissions. A writer just keeps working and submitting. “You can’t sell what you don’t submit” is true! And rejection letters truly are just one submission closer to success.

Now I have new ideas and questions (and business cards!) to take to the 2017 Conference. I can’t wait to hear the new speakers and meet more writers. I know the 2017 Wordsowers Christian Writers Conference will inspire me to take the next steps in my writing.

If you have signed up for our conference, what are you most looking forward to?

 

Look for more next week from Janet about her first conference experience.

Janet Sobczyk (pronounced Sub-check) is a new member of Wordsowers Christian Writers Group and is looking forward to the April 2017 Conference. She is a writer/poet in Omaha, NE as well as a substitute teacher, and a trainer for Boys Town’s “Common Sense Parenting.” Connect with Janet on her BLOG filled with poems, stories, and photos about motherhood, pets, faith, and more.

 

critique submissionsWhen you read your manuscript, you read what you think you wrote, not what’s actually there. It’s nearly impossible to read your own work! What if you could have a professional writer read it and tell you what they thought? They might have just the right suggestions to make it really shine! Oh, but that would be expensive. That would clean you out, right? Wrong!

When you attend the Wordsowers Christian Writer’s Conference, you get a workshop leader manuscript critique for $25! There are so many things you get from that, like…

One-on-one guidance: You get to meet with the writing professional who reviewed your work. They will tell you what they think face to face. Don’t worry, they’ll be kind! They’ll point out ways to make your work better. They might show you something you hadn’t seen before. In the end, your writing will be better for it.

Help with errors: Every writer makes errors, but it’s hard to see where you’ve gone wrong. The workshop leader will spot things that got past you, spell check, and the friends you’ve had read it. When you correct errors, your work is much more ready for editors and agents.

Encouragement: The workshop leaders have been in your seat. It’s taken all of them time, effort, blood, sweat, and tears to become professional writers. They know what it’s like to be starting out. Hearing from them, including where they’ve been and what they’ve been through, can help you realize that your dream can be reached as well. You’ll leave the session with ideas for your piece and excitement for your writing future.

Submit something you’re really excited about, then sit down for a one-on-one and find out how to make it better! $25 is a small price to pay for one critique. You get so much more than red ink on a page! Click HERE for details. Order and send in your manuscript asap to make the most of this opportunity!

Click HERE to get more information about our 2017 conference and to register now.

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Brooke Williams

Meet Brooke Williams, one of our conference workshop leaders.  We asked her a few questions so you could get to know her ahead of time. 

What would you like conference attendees to know about you? Maybe something that would help them feel comfortable approaching you.

I’m a stereotypical writer…an introvert at heart. The fact that I survived in radio is amazing to me today. If I can do it you can and I’ll show you how! I’m primarily a stay at home mom to two young girls. Ask to see pictures. I’ll drag them out! Haha. When my youngest naps…I write! I’m primarily a freelance writer but I dabble in the author world when I can. I find it a great escape to everyday life and stress!

Feel free to contact me anytime! I write romantic comedy to give you some laughs. My next release Called “The Leftover” drops in September and I’m super excited about it! Check out my website. You can also contact me on Twitter and Facebook.

What do you see as the greatest take away/who will get the most out of your workshop?

I’m presenting the workshop on how to get and give radio and tv interviews. If you want to promote your book, your devotional, a certain topic you cover or whatever, you might want media attention. How do you get it?! I spent over a decade in the radio industry so I have lots of tips on how to get the interviews and then how to conduct them so you don’t feel like you made a mistake getting it in the first place. I also spent five months on the local news so I picked up some helpful tricks there as well. Mostly what not to do. Haha. I’ll pass them along to you! As writers we can love what we do passionately but unless we get it out there for others, it stays in a box. It’s fun to hear about ways to get the word out!

If you could share only one piece of information/tip/encouragement with a writer, what would it be?

Don’t give up on your dreams! Write first and foremost because you love it. Then don’t stop until you reach your goals. No…don’t even stop then! If you stop trying you’ll for sure never reach those goals right?! Don’t let anything deter you. Got it?

Click HERE to get more information about our 2017 conference and to register now.

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Today, new Wordsower, Janet Sobczyk shares about her experience meeting with speakers. 

Conference attendee in a one-on-one meeting with author Cheryl St. John.

At the 2016 Wordsowers Christian Writers Conference I met three of the speakers. Each made a lasting impression.

First, Lee Warren at his book table. He’s a journalist, author, editor, and member of Wordsowers Christian Writers. I attended his workshop, and purchased his instructional materials for writers. But the time spent at his table wasn’t about his experiences. He asked about my projects and advised what to do next. He suggested I sign up for a one-on-one session with the keynote speaker, which I wouldn’t have dreamt of doing. He told me exactly how to prepare for that meeting. So I did!

The keynote speaker was Troy Griepentrog, a senior associate editor for Focus on the Family. I approached the meeting just the way Lee directed me, and we had a wonderful conversation. He assured me there is a need for articles about the topics I suggested. He encouraged me to send a query email, and promised to forward it to the proper editor.

The third speaker I met was Sally Jadlow, a published author and poet who teaches creative writing.  She edited (and praised!) a poem I brought, and asked what other writing I’ve done. I admitted I’ve only had a few published articles, but two poems and a creative non-fiction piece had won writing contests. She exclaimed, “You’re an award-winning writer! You need to say that whenever you write a bio for submissions.”

I walked away from each meeting with more confidence and knowledge. Thank you, Wordsowers Christian Writers, for inviting such awesome speakers!

What apprehensions (or advice) do you have about meeting with conference speakers?

Click HERE to get more information about our 2017 conference and to register now.

 

 

 

Next week, Janet shares about her anticipation for this year’s conference. 

Janet Sobczyk (pronounced Sub-check) is a new member of Wordsowers Christian Writers Group and is looking forward to the April 2017 Conference. She is a writer/poet in Omaha, NE as well as a substitute teacher, and a trainer for Boys Town’s “Common Sense Parenting.” Connect with Janet on her BLOG filled with poems, stories, and photos about motherhood, pets, faith, and more.

 

This year we welcome Susan King back to our conference. She will be presenting two workshops. Style: The Key to Excellence in Writing and Turning Personal Experience into a Devotional Message

Susan and husband, Joe, have three grown children and two young grandchildren.  While Joe and their children are whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River, Susan can be found with her daughter-in-law and the grandchildren at a children’s museum or aquarium.

How did you get into writing/publishing/editing? As an English major in college, of course I was always intending to write “The Great American Novel.”  When a stay-at-home mom and pregnant with my third child, I started writing that novel as a catharsis while going through a major crisis with my parents’ marriage.  When the crisis abated, my motivation to finish that novel ebbed as well.  At the same time, I discovered magazine-feature writing as a way to help bring in money to support our family.  A year later, due to rumors that the company my husband was working for was closing down, I sought and secured a position as a writer and editor for a Christian psychological institute and later began teaching English full-time at Biola University.  Soon after my husband’s job took us to Nashville (and a teaching position at Lipscomb University), the sale of our house in California fell through and I had to seek a second full-time position—this time as an editorial assistant for The Upper Room.  (When I answered the ad, all I knew was that it was a part-time secretarial position at The United Methodist Board of Discipleship.)  Before long, I was Assistant Editor and then Associate Editor (all the while continuing to teach full time).

Minoring in magazine production in college, all I really wanted to be was an editor, but I didn’t know how to become one.  I knew how to become a college professor (since both my parents were).  Yet, for over 20 years now, I have worked as an editor.  Long after I had put that dream aside, God gave me the desires of my heart. (See Psalm 37:4.)

What do you see as the greatest take away from your workshop? The motivation and skills to write an excellent devotional and to improve a conferee’s writing in every genre.

Who will get the most out of your workshop? Anyone who wants to write excellently and to reach an audience of millions all over the world.

What book are you currently reading? The Language of Bees by Laurie R. King.

If you could share only one piece of information with a writer, what would it be? While writing and publishing a book sounds very appealing, don’t forget the many advantages to writing for magazines before, during, and after the book writing.

Thank you, Susan.

We look forward to seeing you again at the Wordsowers Christian Writers Conference April 28-29!

To find out more about our conference and to register click HERE.

 

 

 

Today, Janet Sobczyk joins us again to share about her first experience at a Wordsowers Writers Conference.

Wordsowers Writers Conference 2016

The 2016 WCW Conference changed my entire outlook on writing. Over the span of two days last April I was transformed, in my own mind, from “someone who likes to write” into a Writer and a Poet.  I grew to understand that’s who I am,  even if it’s not what I do full-time.

I was surprised to find that people I met at the conference were actually interested in my ideas and took them seriously. They convinced me to take myself seriously, and to pursue those ideas.

One of the speakers pointed out that many people feel they cannot call themselves writers until they have published a book or are writing full time. But really, it’s not just about being published. It’s about having the interest, ability, ideas, and calling to write. Getting published is the icing on the cake!

The speakers all presented very effectively; it was a joy to learn from them. They also were available not only at their book tables, but for one-on-one sessions with attendees.  Agents and editors were available to critique manuscripts (some for a fee, others for free). They told me what next steps I should take toward making my writing marketable.

The experience left me with solid goals and a clearer vision for my writing. The Wordsowers Christian Writers Conference truly opened new paths for me.

If you like to write, even if you’re not yet a “published author,” make plans to come. You’ll be glad you did!

What perspectives would you like to change about your writing?

 

Next week, Janet shares her experience talking with conference speakers. 

Janet Sobczyk (pronounced Sub-check) is a new member of Wordsowers Christian Writers Group and is looking forward to the April 2017 Conference. She is a writer/poet in Omaha, NE as well as a substitute teacher, and a trainer for Boys Town’s “Common Sense Parenting.” Connect with Janet on her BLOG filled with poems, stories, and photos about motherhood, pets, faith, and more.

 

Today, new Wordsower, Janet Sobczyk shares her first experience at a Wordsowers Writers Conference.

A close friend of mine heard an ad for the 2016 Wordsowers Writers Conference on KGBI Radio, and texted me about it. I looked into the details, but hesitated. There were two strikes against my going:2016 Annual Conference

  • It fell on a busy weekend.
  • It seemed a stretch to my slim budget.

 

However, my friend insisted that I go. She said it was a God thing, a nudge from the Holy Spirit kind of thing. So I registered and went.

It felt awkward going to a conference without knowing anyone there. But at least I live nearby. I met a writer who drove across 2 states just to attend. She felt uncomfortable at first, too, so we visited and sat together at each meal break (the food was fantastic!)

At every workshop I sat enthralled, but managed to take notes. Each one had such wonderful information and helpful Q&A time. Questions were brought up that I didn’t even know to ask, and I learned from them all.

At the book tables I chatted with published authors. They freely gave advice, encouragement, and solid answers to my writing problems.

The core team of Wordsowers Christian Writers worked tirelessly to make the conference run smoothly. I grew to admire and appreciate their experiences, and their selfless motivation to help other writers.

When I left, I promised myself to return the next year. Well, it is now next year. I am registered and ready to go. Won’t you join me?

What is your biggest obstacle to attending a writers conference?

Click HERE to get more information about our 2017 conference and to register now.

 

Look for more next week from Janet about her first conference experience.

Janet Sobczyk (pronounced Sub-check) is a new member of Wordsowers Christian Writers Group and is looking forward to the April 2017 Conference. She is a writer/poet in Omaha, NE as well as a substitute teacher, and a trainer for Boys Town’s “Common Sense Parenting.” Connect with Janet on her BLOG filled with poems, stories, and photos about motherhood, pets, faith, and more.

 

 

Debra Butterfield

Debra ButterfielDebra is the author of Carried by Grace: a Guide for Mothers of Victims of Sexual Abuse. She has contributed to numerous anthologies as well as magazines that include CBN.com, Susie, Live, The Vision, and On Course online. She is a freelance editor and the editor for CrossRiver Media Group publishing. She lives in Missouri.

At the 2016 conference Debra will be leading the Making Scrivener Work for You workshop. This is a workshop for the beginning and intermediate Scrivener user. Attendees will learn the basics of importing files and creating documents as well as how to personalize the Binder and labels, use the Inspector, take snapshots to preserve their work, and more.

Our recent interview with Debra.

KAT:  How did you get into writing?

DEBRA:  I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was a preteen. As an adult I tried to do a correspondence about writing for children, but life got in the way. It wasn’t until I was 45 years old that I began to pursue a career in writing by applying for and gaining a junior copywriter position with Focus on the Family.

KAT:  What do you see as the greatest take away from your workshop and why?

DEBRA:  Realizing the great flexibility of Scrivener and how you can mold it into the best platform for all your writing projects.

KAT:  Who will get the most out of your workshop?

DEBRA:  Beginning to intermediate users of Scrivener.

KAT:  If you could share only one piece of information with a writer, what would it be?

DEBRA:  Write, write, write, because that is how you’ll discover your voice.

KAT:  What are you working on now?

DEBRA:  I’m working on a novella about an unassuming little country church, the people who find refuge there during a blizzard, and the miracle of faith that God provides for the weary travelers.

 

In case you’re not registered for the conference yet secure your seat today!

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Rose Zediker

Rose ZedikerMulti-published author and RITA finalist, Rose Ross Zediker, writes contemporary and historical inspirational romances and has over one hundred publishing credits in the Christian magazine genre for children and adults. Her titles have appeared on ECPA bestseller lists and been finalists for the RITA, National Reader’s Choice, Booksellers Best and Book Buyers Best award contests.

At the 2016 conference Rose will be leading the Writing on Assignment for Christian Children’s Market workshop. Children’s stories run through your head, but where do you submit them. Learn the basics of how to find work-for-hire markets in the Christian children’s genre and how to put together an audition package for your target market.

Our recent interview with Rose.

KAT:  What do you see as the greatest take away from your workshop and why?

ROSE:  My workshop is about work for hire publishing. Sometimes authors neglect to try this publishing avenue because they don’t understand it. I hope to debunk the myths surrounding work for hire publishing and expose the attendees to another avenue that may lead to publication.

KAT:  What book are you currently reading?

ROSE:  I am reading A Mountain of Mystery published by Guideposts. BTW – the mystery series books that Guideposts publishes are work for hire!

KAT:  If you could share only one piece of information with a writer, what would it be?

ROSE:  Although it is okay to aspire to have a career like your favorite author, absolutely, do not compare yourself and your work to others writers. Why? It can debilitate your writing and your self-esteem. And most of the time you aren’t comparing apples to apples. It’s doubtful that you’ll have the same education, the same type of family life, the same number of children, live in the same location, have the same sleeping habits, etc. All of those things (and more!) affects your writing and your writing time.

KAT:  What are your goals for 2016?

ROSE:  I am such a firm believer in goal setting! I set several goals each year. This year my main focus is writing a cozy mystery and preparing the proposal package so my agent can shop it around.

 

In case you’re not registered for the conference yet secure your seat today!

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RJ Thesman

RJ ThesmanRJ Thesman, author of the Life at Cove Creek Series, specializes in communications.With years of experience, RJ is a respected writer, coach and speaker. As a certified Christian life coach, RJ specializes in Communications and Spiritual Formation. RJ’s professional and personal philosophy revolves around the topic of excellence. As a writer, RJ draws from a lifetime of experience and research. As a coach, RJ helps other wordsmiths move toward their writing dreams. These concepts follow through in her speaking venues as RJ shares the best way to Do It Write.

At the 2016 conference RJ will be leading the Fueling Your Nonfiction with Creativity. This workshop will help you as a writer to learn the art of using some fiction techniques to produce nonfiction articles and/or books that sell. Learn some of the best practices for writing nonfiction and move toward publication.

Our recent interview with RJ.

KAT:  Why is your workshop important?

RJ:  My workshop is important because every reader loves a good story. In order to make our nonfiction attractive to editors and readers, we need to use creative techniques. By Fueling Our Nonfiction with Creativity, we have a better chance of selling nonfiction articles and impacting readers.

KAT:  What book are you currently reading?

RJ:  I’m always reading 2-3 books at the same time. Currently, I’m reading “Dakota” by Kathleen Norris, “Ephesians” by the Apostle Paul, “Rising Strong” by Brene Brown and “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elisabeth Gilbert.

KAT:  How did you hear about Wordsowers?

RJ:  Several years ago, my friend Sally Jadlow told me about the Wordsowers Conference. After I attended that first year, I was hooked.

KAT:  How did you hear about Wordsowers?

RJ:  Besides my weekly blog posts at www.RJThesman.net, I write a bimonthly column for the “Johnson’s County Gazette” and a monthly article for www.Trochia.org. I also write two blogs at work – www.GWHope.org and www.StartingOverSingle.com. And … I’m starting on a book of essays titled “Sometimes They Forget” based on my blog posts for caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients.

 

In case you’re not registered for the conference yet secure your seat today!

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Erica Vetsch

Erica VetschErica is a transplanted Kansan now residing in Minnesota. She loves history and reading, and is blessed to be able to combine the two by writing historical fiction set in the American West. Whenever she’s not following flights of fancy in her fictional world, she’s the company bookkeeper for the family lumber business, mother of two terrific teens, wife to a man who is her total opposite and soul-mate, and avid museum patron. For more information visit Erica’s website: http://onthewritepath.blogspot.com/

At the 2016 conference Erica will be leading the Plotting Your Story Using a Plot Board workshop. Writing a novel is an enormous undertaking with complexities. Using a plot board can simplify and distill your story, allowing you to see the big picture without being overwhelmed. We’ll explore story structure, balancing point-of-view scenes and how to get the story from the plot board to the page.

Our recent interview with Erica.

KAT:  Who will get the most out of your workshop?

ERICA:  The Plot Board workshop will benefit new writers who are overwhelmed by the enormity of tackling an entire novel, writers who don’t usually plot but need to create a quick synopsis for a proposal or editor’s request, and experience writers who would like to try something new.

KAT:  Who is your favorite fictional character and why?

ERICA:  I have two current favorites. Sherlock Holmes, because he is fascinating, and because he is so unique, he’s become a trope. And Jack Reacher, who is absolutely relentless, capable, and fearless.

KAT:  How did you hear about Wordsowers?

ERICAMy dear friend Mary Connealy told me about this conference and how many wonderful people she’d met as a result of attending.

KAT:  What are you working on now?

ERICA:  I’m the lead author on a novella collection: 7 Brides for 7 Texans. Seven novellas featuring seven brothers who must marry within the next 12 months or lose their inheritance. My job, in addition to writing one of the novellas, is to oversee the continuity of the series.

 

In case you’re not registered for the conference yet secure your seat today!

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