Hi conferees –
It’s hard to believe that we’ll be in the Colorado Rockies in just a little over a month. Actually I’ll arrive on May 14 with the team. I’d like to say I can’t wait since I love being there, but there’s still so much to do.
Some important updates:
Barb Haley just called to my attention that the link to the appointment request form was not included in the online acknowledgment until March 15. The page you need to go to not just for the link to the form but also other important info is http://colorado.writehisanswer.com/registrationacknowledgment. As long as you get your form to Barb by April 16, your requests will be booked in the order you registered for the conference. After April 16 requests will be filled in the order Barb receives them. So, if you’ve not yet taken care of this, I want to encourage you not to miss the edge your early registration gives you and get your form in by the 16th.
In addition to Barb’s incredible charts of editorial needs, agent interests, and areas of expertise of our authors and other professionals, you’ll find the form each faculty member completed along with their bio by clicking here. Yes, I know it’s a lot to process. The appointments can be one of the most important aspects of the conference, so pray much, study hard, and eat this elephant a bite at a time. ?? And be sure to click on Appointments and the drop-down menu with links to Appointment Procedures, Appointments – Making the Best Choices, and Preparing for Your Appointments. This is also where you’ll find the link to Paid Critiques. Manuscripts are not due until April 30, but if this is something you want to do, it’s important to let Barb know so she can save the 30-minute appointment for you.
I have no doubt that our four clinics will be a turning point for all of the participants. If you’ve not checked out the info on the Fiction Intensive, Speakers’ Clinic, Nonfiction Book Proposal Clinic, and the Build Your Author Platform Clinic, I urge you to do so by clicking here. Applications are due April 16. You’ll be notified whether or not you’ve been accepted by April 21.
I want to encourage you to carefully and prayerfully consider the Wednesday afternoon early bird workshops. They are a great way to ease into the conference and receive valuable teaching at a reasonable price. (Only $25 for one, $40 for two, or $55 for three with the workshops from 1:00 – 4:00 counting as two workshops for $40.)
E3 Nonfiction from Passion to Process with Ava Pennington has been cancelled. Sadly Ava’s husband is again battling cancer. Please pray for them.
New workshop – E4B How to Write a Book AND Get It Published with Debbie Hardy (1:00 – 2:00)
Unlike movies would have us believe, writing and publishing a book involves more than just handing some pages to a publisher. We’ll go through the basic steps, from getting your idea and putting it on paper to seeing your book in print and marketing it. Learn how you can become a published author this year.
An early bird workshop I want to call to your attention that is critically important for those writing from life experience is Cindy Lambert’s:
E5 – Balancing Privacy & Relationships When Writing Real Life Events from 1:00 – 2:00. We’ve renamed it To Tell or Not to Tell. Same material, just better title! We all applaud honestly and transparency in powerful writing, but how do we write of the events in our lives without violating the privacy and trust of others who have played some part in our life stories? Is it possible to find the freedom to tell the truth without destroying relationships, hurting people in our lives, or putting others at risk of public exposure? Yes, it can be done! Discover the defining boundaries, guiding principles, and tested techniques used by successful authors so that your writing can be authentic without damaging the reputations or privacy of the people God has woven into your life story.
If you’re new to CCWC, I hope you’ll make it a priority to arrive by 2:15 for:
Making the Most of Your First CCWC (no charge) 2:15 – 3:15
First time at the CCWC? Congratulations, and if you feel a little overwhelmed, please know that you’re going to feel much more comfortable and knowledgeable over the next few days. But why wait to be a Writer’s Conference expert until the day before you go home? Why not be confident and fully prepared for this amazing event from Day 1? How about sitting down with Eric Sprinkle, a 4-year “veteran,” who can give you a detailed overview and share all the tips and tricks to help you navigate the three big areas you’ll encounter while here – Networking, Craft-Sharpening, and Potentially Selling your Work.
I’ve got more to share, but my critique group is coming tonight and I need to get dinner on. Be watching for another email in the next couple of days.
In Him - Marlene
