1A – Feeling Green
The Kandel Sisters
From being green, to turning green, to earning green (well a little) . . . What do you do when you are so green to the publishing process that you feel like you know nothing? How do you handle it, when you discover that some of what you thought you knew was so wrong that it makes you feel queasy? These four sisters will walk you through their journey of going from being novices in the world of publishing to a book contract.
1B – Writing His Answer for Seekers & Believers
Lynn Eib
Learn to think like your readers think, choose an appropriate title and cover, avoid Christian terminology, and use Scripture powerfully yet wisely.
1C – Using Your Past in Your Fiction
Susan Baganz
Looks at how we can and do use our past experiences, pain, and unresolved emotional issues in our writing to provide healing and hope as well as a cathartic outlet.
1D – Nonfiction Book Creation from the Ground Up
W. Terry Whalin
How do you determine the big picture for a book project? This workshop details the essence of storyboarding techniques, then the pragmatic step-by-step instruction to write a complete book manuscript. Terry has accomplished these steps many times and can guide participants in the process.
1E – Beyond Books
Rick Marschall
Many aspiring Christian writers focus on the book market. But beyond books are activities that can affect your impact and your income! Magazine articles and blogs are two vital areas these days. Rick Marschall has founded five, and edited seven, magazines. And he has written a blog for almost a decade. He will share tips and the special skills needed to write His answer in these formats.
1F – Building Your Author Platform
Dan Balow
A step-by-step approach to building an effective author platform.
1G – Reaching Today’s Youth
Robert Cook
Make your writing relevant to today’s youth. How to write to be received. Is your writing worth reading? Are you using the right bait to catch your reader?
2A – Emotional Healing and the Writer
Peter Lundell
Critical insights for identifying and recovering from the effects of a wounded heart and then writing about it or getting past it to write with freedom.
2B – Self-Editing
Lt. Col. Allen Satterlee
The most important editing done on any manuscript is by the author. We’ll discuss the importance of self-editing as well as steps and proven methods to help the writer present the best possible manuscript to a potential publisher.
2C – Ten Tests for Your Novel
Andy Scheer
Fiction demands a seamless blend of many techniques that remain in the background unless they go wrong. We’ll examine ten critical aspects: Hook, Characterization, Plot, Conflict, Dialogue, Scenes, Setting, Mechanics, Showing vs. Telling, and Writing Quality.
2D – Sharing Your Faith Story
Carol Round
God has called us to be ambassadors for Christ. How can we share our faith story without beating someone over the head with the Bible? “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’” 2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT
2E – Before Submitting Your Proposal
Tamara Clymer
You’ve poured your heart and soul into your latest writing project. The next best-seller may very well be sitting in your computer, but have you done everything you can to convince an editor? Tamara will walk you through the proposal process and show you what you need to do to make sure your manuscript makes it past the proposal stage and into production.
2F – Yes, You Can Ace Your Interview
Linda Evans Shepherd
What if there was a secret formula to doing a great interview? There is! Let Linda Evans Shepherd teach this and other interview secrets to you so you can exponentially expand your ministry, from your writing, to awaiting radio, TV, and Internet-live audiences everywhere. You can make a greater impact than you’ve ever made before.
2G – The Picture Book
Abby Rodriguez
Picture books: simple in theory, complex in practice. But don’t let the idea of complexity scare you. Get the scoop on different types of picture
books and industry expectations for picture book authors. Most importantly, learn to eagerly take on the challenge of writing exceptional
picture books.
3A - The Heart of the Writer
Susan Baganz
How can we nurture our relationship with God as we write? The importance of accountability, not only for the quality of our writing, but more importantly for our faith walk.
3B – Unnecessary Things for Writers
Dan Balow
Unnecessary words, work, and worry – three that get in the way of an enjoyable writing life.
3C – Fantasy Genres . . . Where Do I Fit?
Rowena Kuo
How many fantasy genres are there, and where does your manuscript fit in? Can Science Fiction and Fantasy integrate in a successful novel? Discover the genres and subgenres of fantasy, where your novel would fall, your target audience, and ways to help your story find its niche.
3D – Using Fiction Techniques in Your Nonfiction
Catherine Lawton
Bring your nonfiction writing alive and hold interest by using fiction techniques. Whether you write blogs, personal memoirs, or articles, your writing can have more appeal, and be more convincing, when you learn to incorporate descriptive detail, use dialogue, paint the scene, set a mood, add dramatic tension, and provide a resolution.
3E – Understand and Negotiate Contracts
W. Terry Whalin
Learn the inside scoop from an acquisitions editor and former literary agent about what you can expect on your contract. I’ve been on both sides of this table for many years.
3F – Meticulous & Mindful Marketing
Blythe Daniel & Stephanie Alton
Many authors are surprised by how much publishers are relying on them to market their own book. In this workshop, we will talk about what kind of marketing responsibility is falling on the shoulders of authors, when you should start, and how to engage your audience. We’ll also look at some mindful ways to develop the content of your book as you write so that you can market it, when to get endorsements, strategic timing for launch teams and reviews, and timeless and trending marketing techniques.
3G – Children’s Book Trends
Jesse Doogan
We all know it’s important to know the trends in our market, but we never talk about how to know them. Jesse Doogan, acquisitions editor for kids and youth at Tyndale House Publishers, will break down what the current and emerging children’s and YA book trends are, teach you how to track trends, and help you fit your book into the current market.
4A – Has Publication Become an Idol?
Debbie Maxwell Allen
God has given you the gift of words, but does that gift come with the sure promise of traditional publication? Join us as we discuss a host of unusual, yet effective techniques to write His answer in ways that reach farther than a physical book.
4B – Writing Articles that Teach
Sherri Langton
In these of days increasing Bible ignorance, help point readers to truths in the Word of God through a teaching article. What is a teaching article — and what isn’t it? This class will answer these questions and show you how to rightly divide the Word for your writing. It will also show you how to engage readers to grow in knowledge and understanding of biblical truths.
4C – Creating Page-Turning Fiction
Jennifer Slattery
This class discusses the components to great, satisfying, and page-turning fiction: high stakes, creating a sense of urgency, maintaining a sensitivity to the emotions of the reader (balancing emotive sections with comic relief), a strong and consistent moral premise (not to be confused with spiritual theme), and a consistent and believable plot and subplots that work together.
4D – Being Real in Your Writing
Peter Lundell
Principles and examples of becoming authentic and open in your writing along with probing questions and guided practice.
4E - When You Don’t Have a Platform
Nick Harrison
Ideas for how to compensate for not having a platform, both in your proposal and when the book is published.
4F – Social Media for the Reluctant: Connecting to Your Readers
Cheri Cowell
You’ve heard you need to be on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and all kinds of other social media, and you need 10,000 “friends” if you want to be taken seriously as an author. Who has time for all of this and still find time to write? And what if you don’t know a Tweet from a Hoot and your Friends are on your Christmas Card list? This workshop will not only show the reluctant how to fit it all into your schedule, but you’ll walk away with a plan that even the most reluctant can implement.
4G – Creating a Believable Voice for MG/YA Novels
Abby Rodriguez
Kids might be the most brutally honest novel critics on the planet. And they can see through adult sentiment and sensibility with laser-like
precision. In this workshop, we’ll explore how to develop an authentic voice for a middle grade and young adult audience. Get ready to
embrace your inner child.
5A – Journaling with Jesus
Carol Round
Do you find it difficult in your busy day to spend time with God? Do you find yourself falling asleep when you spend time alone in prayer? Do you find that your prayer life has become stale? Maybe you need to try Journaling with Jesus. “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22 NIV).
5B – Everyday Writing - How to Use Your Gifts in Unexpected Ways to Change the World
David Rupert
Does your writing ”success” depend on a published book, a contract, or a growing platform? In this session you’ll learn the power of using your gift in unexpected ways. Your words were meant to be used to bless the world.
5C – Mastering Realistic Dialogue
Rowena Kuo
From books to screenplays, effective dialogue factors into the success of each scene, delivers the message you want portrayed, and guides the overall tone as your story unfolds. What are the vital components to writing engaging dialogue between your characters? We’ll discuss the methods, vernacular, and culture behind the motives of your characters and how these impact the relationship between your characters and your reader. Utilize the top 10 traits that can captivate your audience through the emotions embedded within dialogue exchange and distinguish your writing from what is ordinary to what can be considered profound.
5D – Writing to Men
Dan Balow
How they are the same or different.
5E – Back Cover Copy
Shelley Ring
Some writers have a natural knack to write sell copy. Others don’t know how or where to start. Shelley Ring has written back cover copy for traditional publishers, as well as for indie authors. She breaks down how to write a short, sweet package to woo readers to buy your book. This practical, how-to workshop:
Bring your synopsis or current WIP (work in progress) and be prepared to write.
5F – Creative Marketing Plans
Tamara Clymer
When publishers look at your proposal, they want to know what you plan to do to market your book. They aren’t so much interested in your 500 Facebook friends or the 800 members of your local church. They need to know what you will do to keep your book moving after you work through those lists. Tamara will offer some specific ideas to move you outside of your marketing box and get your book noticed.
5G – Reach Kids with the Gospel
Terrence Clark
Only the Holy Spirit can reveal Jesus. We’ll explore our need to tap into the power, person, and presence of the Parakletos Himself in ministering to kids of all ages.
6A – Pursue His Purpose
Judy Dunagan
Discover how your passion for writing can become an act of worship. We will dive into Hebrews 12 and focus on the importance of pursuing HIS purpose for your writing. We will also look at what it means to surrender the dream to get published, while still pursuing that dream.
6B – Being Relevant to Contemporary Readers
Rick Marschall
Modernism; post-modernism; reaching Millennials; Generation X, Y, and... Z? How can you reach today’s new audiences? How can you win souls when you can’t speak their language? And, how can you be relevant without wading into popular-culture trash? Rick Marschall, who has been Editor of Marvel Comics and a writer for Disney, will help you navigate these treacherous waters..
6C – Creating Characters that Grab Your Reader
Jennifer Slattery
Some characters entertain us; others grab hold of us and don’t let go. A well-crafted character grabs the reader at their deepest heart level, causing them to see themselves in the character’s struggles and victories. In this discussion on abstract and concrete goals, inner lies, black moments, and character arcs, writers will learn how to take their readers from merely enjoying their stories to living them.
6D – Master the Memoir
Marti Pieper
Do you have a life story the world needs to hear? Do you want to leave a legacy in print for family, friends, and beyond? In this workshop, Marti discusses the dos and don’ts of this popular genre, including the importance of a narrative thread, how thinking small makes a big difference, and the mystery of marketability.
6E – Matchmaker, Matchmaker
Sherri Langton
Have you poured your heart and soul into an article and submitted it to a magazine, only to have it crash land in the rejection pile? Often the problem isn’t poor writing but a poor match: You really don’t know what the magazine is about. Though editors urge you to familiarize yourself with their publications, how exactly do you study a magazine? In this workshop, we will learn tools of analyzing a magazine and how to shape your writing for different markets. Bring an article you haven’t submitted yet, a reprint of a published article, or an idea, and we’ll spend time finding the right match.
6F –Branding for People Who Are Not Cows
Petr Lundell
A step-by-step approach to building a marketing identity that focuses on an author’s uniqueness.
6G – Writing for CBN.com
Beth Patch
Each week over 2 million pages are opened on the site. Learn what types of content CBN.com accepts for each section of the online magazine and your rights regarding content shared with CBN.
