Highly interactive, virtually amazing!
Everything is LIVE via Zoom Meetings
The schedule below is for your info pre-conference.
It is subject to minor changes.
During the conference you will access the sessions through the dashboard.
You will receive the link to the dashboard
when you check-in online Tuesday, August 6,
Registered conferees may view keynotes, learning labs,
continuing sessions, workshops, and panels
through December 31, 2024
so you do not need to attend everything.
Round tables, small group breakouts,
and critique groups are not recorded.
All times are EASTERN TIME
Tuesday, August 6, 2024
10:00 am – 3:30 pm Online check-in, sign waiver, tech check
You will receive an email with the link you need to check in. You MUST check in to be able to access the conference dashboard.
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
1:45 – 2:10 Welcome, Worship, Prayer
Orders from Beatrice Bruno, Drill Sergeant of Life
2:10 – 2:25 Interest Groups
2:30 – 4:30 Learning Labs (Click here for descriptions)
LL1 – A Working Writer – Twila Belk
LL2 – Book Proposals Publishers Love – Karen Neumair
LL3 – Honest Fiction that Honors the Father – Terry Brennan
LL4 – Indie Formatting & Covers – Ken Raney
LL5 – Legacy Writing – Robin Grunder
LL6 – Marketing for Writers and Speakers – Karen Porter
LL7 – Ten P’s to Your Writing success – Dr. Sharon Norris Elliott
LL8 – Unlocking the Mystery of Keywords – Rhonda Robinson (unable to be with us)
LL9 – Why & How of Website Creation – Jonathan Shank
4:35 – 4:45 Main Stage – Announcements
4:45 – 4:55 Small Group Breakouts
5:00 – 5:50 Workshops (Click here for descriptions)
W1 – 7 Steps to Support Your God-Given Calling – Ava Pennington
W2 – Sensitivity and Diversity in Manuscripts – Edwina Perkins
W3 – Writing Women’s Fiction – Deborah Raney (until 6:00)
W4 – What Are You Soaking In? – Cathy Lawton
W5 – Still Climbing: Not Over the Hill – Louise Looney
W6 – The ABC’s of Podcasting: Acsoustics, Broadcasting, Connection – Patti Shene
W7 – Hybrid, Cooperative, Subsidy – Indie Publishers at the Conference (under 6:00 pm)
W8 – Book Reviews Roadmap – Tamara Clymer
W9 – Newsletter Newbie – Debbie Maxwell Allen
5:55 – 6:10 Main Stage
6:15 – 6:40 Dinner Round Tables
6:45 – 7:00 Main Stage
7:00 – 8:25 Evening Program
Worship, Prayer
Keynote, Cry Mercy – Michael Gantt
8:30 – 9:30 Impact Our Culture Panel
9:45 Prayer Fellowship
Thursday, August 8, 2024
9:45 – 11:00 Worship, Prayer
Orders from Beatrice Bruno, Drill Sergeant of Life
Keynote, What is the Role of Christian Writers in Our Culture? – Kara Bettis Carvalho
11:00 – 11:10 Small Group Breakouts
11:15 – 12:15 Continuing Sessions, Part 1 (Click here for descriptions)
CS1 – Deep POV – Linda Glaz
CS2 – Going Indie: What Makes a Book Look Self-Published – Cheri Cowell
CS3 – Grow Your Speaking Ministry: Getting Started as a Speaker – Twila Belk
CS4 – Narrative Nonfiction: The Power of Story – Marti Pieper
CS5 – Nonfiction Books that Change Lives – Jim Watkins
CS6 – Novelist’s Toolbox – Terry Brennan
CS7 – Fundamentals of Screenwriting – Victoria Dorshorn
CS8 – Style: Make It Subtle . . . and Memorable – Tim Riter
CS9 – Writer, Thou Art Loosed! – Beatrice Bruno
12:20 – 12:30 Main Stage
12:30 – 12:55 Lunch Round Tables
1:00 – 1:10 Main Stage
1:10 – 1:55 Panels: Agents, Indie Publishers
2:00 – 2:10 Small Group Breakouts
2:15 – 3:05 Workshop 1 (Click here for descriptions)
1A – Writing to Shape Culture – Michelle Lazurek
2A – Using Research to Strengthen Your Writing – Kara Bettis Carvalho
3A – Assemble Your Tools, Control Your Time, and Beat Writer’s Block – Amy Deardon (Part 1 of 6)
4A – Pulling Together the Nonfiction Book – Karen Whiting (Part 1 of 6)
5A – From Facts to Fascinating: Tips for Writing Nonfiction for Kids – Rachel Pfeiffer
6A – Devotional Writing – David Sluka
7A – How to Crowdfund Your Next Book – Thomas Umstattd Jr.
8A – From God, Through You – Dr. Sharon Norris Elliott
9A – Writing Marketing Copy for Your Book – Blythe Daniel
3:10 – 3:15 Main Stage
3:15 – 4:15 Continuing Sessions, Part 2 (Click here for descriptions)
CS1 – Deep POV – Linda Glaz
CS2 – Going Indie: How to Publish Your Book and eBook on Amazon – Amy Deardon
CS3 – Grow Your Speaking Ministry: Stage Presence – Karen Porter
CS4 – Narrative Nonfiction: The Power of Story – Marti Pieper
CS5 – Nonfiction Books that Change Lives – Jim Watkins
CS6 – Novelist’s Toolbox – Terry Brennan
CS7 – Fundamentals of Screenwriting – Victoria Dorshorn
CS8 – Style: Make It Subtle . . . and Memorable – Tim Riter
CS9 – Writer, Thou Art Loosed! – Beatrice Bruno
4:20 – 4:30 Main Stage
4:30 – 5:10 Critique Groups
5:15 – 6:05 Workshop 2 (Click here for descriptions)
1B – Writing Through a Hard Season – Evelyn Johnson-Taylor
2B – Unleash the Writer Within – Twila Belk
3B – Kickstart Your Novel 1: Find Your Story Idea and Write a Logline – Amy Deardon
4B – Putting Together the Nonfiction Book (clinic), Part 2 – Karen Whiting
5B – How to Write for Focus on the Family Clubhouse & Clubhouse Jr. – Grace Kelley
6B – Writing Clean YA Fiction – Krysten Lindsay Hager
7B – Book Proposals: The Front End Method – David Fessenden
8B – Format Your Own Book – Debbie Maxwell Allen
9B – Marketing into Ministry – Cheri Cowell
6:10 – 6:30 Main Stage
6:30 – 6:55 Dinner Round Tables
7:00 – 8:25 Evening Program
Worship, Prayer
Keynote, The Truth, the Whole Truth, Nothing But the Truth – Tim Riter
8:30- 9:30 Impact Our Culture Panel
9:45 Prayer Fellowship
Friday, August 9, 2024
9:45 – 11:00 Worship, Prayer
Orders from Beatrice Bruno, Drill Sergeant of Life
Keynote, Mermaids, Unicorns, and Christian Writers – Jim Watkins
11:00 – 11:10 Small Group Breakouts
11:15 – 12:15 Continuing Sessions, Part 3 (Click here for descriptions)
CS1 – Deep POV – Linda Glaz
CS2 – Going Indie: Going Wide as an Indie – Debbie Maxwell Allen
CS3 – Grow Your Speaking Ministry: Using Media in Speaking – Karen Porter
CS4 – Narrative Nonfiction: The Power of Story – Marti Pieper
CS5 – Nonfiction Books that Change Lives – Jim Watkins
CS6 – Novelist’s Toolbox – Terry Brennan
CS7 – Fundamentals of Screenwriting – Victoria Dorshorn
CS8 – Style: Make It Subtle . . . and Memorable – Tim Riter
CS9 – Writer, Thou Art Loosed! – Beatrice Bruno
12:20 – 12:30 Main Stage
12:30 – 12:55 Lunch Round Tables
1:00 – 1:10 Main Stage
1:10 – 1:55 Panels: Magazine Editors, Book Editors
2:00 – 2:10 Small Group Breakouts
2:15 – 3:05 Workshop 3 (Click here for descriptions)
1C – Partnering with God as You Write – Cheryl Ricker NEW
2C – What’s Your Voice? – Edwina Perkins
3C – Kickstart Your Novel 2: Build Your Story Foundation with the Four Story Pillars, Part 1 – Amy Deardon
4C – Putting Together the Nonfiction Book (clinic), Part 3 – Karen Whiting
5C – How to Write a Guideposts Story – Evan Miller
6C – So You Want to Write a Children’s Book – Karen Neumair
7C – New to Writing: Here’s a Roadmap – Debbie Hardy
8C – Self-Edit Before You Send It – Karen Porter
9C – Six Beliefs of the Platform-Building Mindset – Michael Klassen
3:10 – 3:15 Main Stage
3:15 – 4:15 Continuing Sessions, Part 4 (Click here for descriptions)
CS1 – Deep POV – Linda Glaz
CS2 – Going Indie: Effective and Economical Ways to Market Your Book – Larry Carpenter & Shane Crabtree
CS3 – Grow Your Speaking Ministry: Speakerrs Sell More Books! – Michele Chynoweth
CS4 – Narrative Nonfiction: The Power of Story – Marti Pieper
CS5 – Nonfiction Books that Change Lives – Jim Watkins
CS6 – Novelist’s Toolbox – Terry Brennan
CS7 – Fundamentals of Screenwriting – Victoria Dorshorn
CS8 – Style: Make It Subtle . . . and Memorable – Tim Riter
CS9 – Writer, Thou Art Loosed! – Beatrice Bruno
4:20 – 4:30 Main Stage
4:30 – 5:10 Critique Groups
5:15 – 6:05 Workshop 4 (Click here for descriptions)
1D – Overcoming Imposter Syndrome – Evelyn Johnson-Taylor
2D – Brick by Brick: How to Buld Your Story – Melanie Dobson
3D – Kickstart Your Novel 3: Build Your Story Foundation with the Four Story Pillars PART TWO — Amy Deardon
4D – Putting Together the Nonfiction Book (clinic), Part 4 – Karen Whiting
5D – Three Puzzles of Periodicals – Sherri Langton
6D – Writing for Early Readers – Michelle Lazurek
7D – Making It into a Movie – Michele Chynoweth
8D – Canva for Authors – Catherine Jacobs
9D – How to Create a Marketing Strategy for Your Book – Thomas Umstattd Jr.
6:10 – 6:30 Main Stage
6:30 – 6:55 Dinner Round Tables
7:00 – 8:25 Evening Program
Worship, Prayer
Keynote, Courage for Dry Bones – Terry Brennan
8:30- 9:30 Celebrate with Our Authors
9:45 Prayer Fellowship
Saturday, August 10, 2024
9:45 – 11:00 Main Stage
Welcome, Worship, and Prayer
Orders from Beatrice Bruno, Drill Sergeant of Life
Keynote – Amy Marie Bartlett
11:00 – 11:10 Breakouts
11:15 – 12:15 Continuing Sessions, Part 5 (Click here for descriptions)
CS1 – Deep POV – Linda Glaz
CS2 – Going Indie: The Art of the Hook: Crafting Irresistible Back Cover Copy – Michael J. Klassen
CS3 – Grow Your Speaking Ministry: Advanced Speakers Strategies – Linda Evans Shepherd
CS4 – Narrative Nonfiction: The Power of Story – Marti Pieper
CS5 – Nonfiction Books that Change Lives – Jim Watkins
CS6 – Novelist’s Toolbox – Terry Brennan
CS7 – Fundamentals of Screenwriting – Victoria Dorshorn
CS8 – Style: Make It Subtle . . . and Memorable – Tim Riter
CS9 – Writer, Thou Art Loosed! – Beatrice Bruno
12:20 – 12:30 Main Stage
12:30 – 12:55 Lunch Round Tables
1:00 – 1:10 Main Stage
1:10 – 1:55 Panels – Will They Read On?
2:00 – 2:50 Workshop 5 (Click here for descriptions)
1E – Writing Through the Wall – Jane Daly
2E – Write Better, Faster: Unleash ChatGPT’s Writing Powers – Michael Klassen
3E – Kickstart Your Novel 4: Assemble Your Story Into a Outline – Amy Deardon
4E – Putting Together the Nonfiction Book (clinic, Part 5) – Karen Whiting
5E – Working with a Magazine Editor – David Bennett
6E – A Winning Recipe: Writing for Anthologies – Ava Pennington
7E – The Publishing Contract – Dave Fessenden
8E – Photography Tips for Writers – Darrell Goemaat
9E – Marketing 101 – Michele Chynoweth
2:55 – 3:00 Main Stage
3:00 – 3:40 Critique Groups
3:45 – 4:35 Workshop 6 (Click here for descriptions)
1F — Achieve Your Writing Goals in 100 Difficult Steps (NOT) — Bob Ruesch
2F – Importance of Fiction Techniques in Nonfiction Books – Edwina Perkins
3F – Kickstart Your Novel 5: Writing Techniques to Help Your Scenes Shine – Amy Deardon
4F – Putting Together the Nonfiction Book (clinic, part 6) – Karen Whiting
5F – Writing for Youth Magazines – Steve Bootsma
6F – The 4Ps of Poetry – Cathy Lawton
7F – The Journey to Your Dream – Kathy Green
8F – Verb Power – Scoti Domeij
9F – PR for Authors: Pre, During, and Post Launch – Mytecia R. Myles
4:45 – 6:00 Main Stage
Worship
Awards
Keynote, The Glory of Story – Linda Evans Shepherd
Closing Challenge
