"Get Organized" Workshop Resources Available Online

One of the workshops offered at KCWC this year was "Get Organized and Sell Your Work." The workshop was well attended, but it was offered only once. If you missed it, the content of the workshop is available on Emily Akin's website. Follow this link to get to the "Get Organized" page where you can download the handout and read blog posts dealing with the subject matter in the workshop.

Also, forms that might be useful for writers getting organized are available for download in Emily's Google docs. There are two cash log templates for tracking income and expenses. Link to them individually here and here. And, there's a form for tracking submissions here. All three forms were created with Microsoft Excel. They might also work in other spreadsheet programs like Microsoft Works or Open Office. If you aren't proficient with spreadsheets, you could still use them. Download, remove the sample figures and other text that you don't want. Then, print them off and use the hard copies to keep your financial record. You'd just have to do your own math with the hard copies.

PS---mark your calendar for KCWC 2011, June 24-25, with Cecil Murphey as keynote speaker.

2010 Conference Follow-up

During our worship time at KCWC 2010, we sang “The Love of God” by Frederick M. Lehman. Written in 1917, it’s one of the “old” songs that has experienced a comeback.

It begins: “The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell.” Right away, the writer reminds us that preachers and writers over the centuries have attempted to describe the love of God. But, total understanding of that love is really beyond human description because it can’t be measured or contained.

The refrain following each verse continues that thought:

Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.

But, for writers, the third verse brings it home.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

Some of our writers might feel inadequate hearing this. They might think, “If it’s not possible to describe God’s love, why should we even try? There are so many people who can do a better job than me anyway.”

But, I see these words as encouraging. We can all contribute our words to the total picture. A jigsaw puzzle contains many pieces, each needed to reveal the whole image. Individual writers and preachers contribute their words to piece together a picture of God’s love for subsequent generations. Each piece is as unique as the person who contributed it. And, each piece is needed to make the picture complete.

So—writers, preachers, musicians—don’t be discouraged. Keep contributing to the body of work that attempts to describe the love of God.

Listen to "The Love of God" online here . See complete lyrics here. 
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Note: In one of her keynote addresses, Virginia Smith mentioned that she will be teaching an online class entitled Introduction to Writing the Christian Novel. Details available here. Deadline to register is July 7, 2010.

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KCWC 2010: Last-Minute Details

Conference starts this coming Friday morning! Do you need help finding your way to Northside Baptist Church? Go to Mapquest for your directions. Or, see the directions on the website.


Most hotels are off I-65 on exit 94. To get from Exit 94 area to Northside, take Mulberry Street (US-62 W/KY-61 S) toward downtown and away from the Interstate. Pass under railroad overpass and take a right on Ring Rd. at the next light (Walgreen's on corner). Follow Ring Road about 2.7 miles. Turn right at light in Pear Orchard Rd. Intersection is at bottom of hill with no good landmarks. Go 1.7 miles. Church is on left. There will be signs to direct you to registration.

For plenty of information on Elizabethtown, go to Touretown.com .

Tips on making the most of the conference...

• Pray for God to lead you so that you may get everything out of the event that He wants you to receive.
• Study the publications and websites of our visiting publishers and editors so you will know what types of material they are looking for and be prepared with ideas for them.
• Get a buddy to take the workshops you cannot take and compare notes.
• Look for people with similar genre interests to fellowship with during meals and breaks.
• Dress comfortably.

Complete conference information is on the website at www.kychristianwriters.com. To ask questions, e-mail jvsliger@gmail.com or kcwcregistrar@gmail.com.

See you on the 11th!

Meal Guarantee Extended for 2010 Registration

After consulting with our caterer, Coordinator Judy Sliger announced today that the meal guarantee with advance registrations can be extended to Sunday, June 6th at 6:00 p.m. After that time, we can still take your registration, but we can't guarantee that meals will be available.

Don't wait any longer, register now: http://www.kychristianwriters.com/2010_registration.htm.

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to e-mail Judy Sliger at jvsliger@gmail.com.

Conference Bookstore Preview

The 2010 conference bookstore will be run by Word of God Christian Resources again this year. We have arranged to have the following titles available for sale at conference. Be sure to stop in and browse the store. If you have your eye on any particular book, get it as soon as you can because there will be limited quantities on some of them.

• Christian Writers Market Guide, Sally Stuart
• How to Write what you Love and Make a Living at It, Dennis Hensley
• Christian Writing and Speaking, Susan Titus Osborn
• Talking so People Will Listen, Marita Littauer
• You Can Do It! A Guide to Christian Self-publishing, Athena Dean
• You Can Market Your Book, Carmen Leal
• You Can Do It (The Merit Badge Handbook for Grown-Up Girls), Lauren C. Grandcolas
• A Step in the Write Direction:The Complete How-to Book for Christian Writers, Donna C. Goodrich
• Breaking and Mending, Mary Lou Redding
• While We Wait: Living the Questions of Advent, Mary Lou Redding
• The Power of a Focused Heart, Mary Lou Redding
• Meeting God in Scripture: Entering the Old Testament, Mary Lou Redding
• Meeting God in Scripture: Understanding Spiritual Gifts, Mary Lou Redding
• When the World Meets to Pray, Mary Lou Redding

If you're planning on coming and you haven't registered, remember that it's best if you register in advance. Go to the registration page on our site for details.

Why First-timers Should Come to KCWC 2010

Have you considered attending KCWC 2010, but you just haven't made up your mind? Are you new to Christian writing and not sure you want to attend a conference at all? Let us give you some reasons why KCWC is the conference for you.

• KCWC is a small conference. Usually, we have about 100 people in attendance, including faculty and steering committee. At larger conferences, it's easy to be overwhelmed with the sheer size of the crowd and the multitude of choices you have to make.
• The Beginners Basics class was designed just for you. Instructor Lettie K. Burress has taught this class in many venues, including Lifeway conferences.
• The Making Sense of Market Guides workshop will help you find publishers so that you can being submitting your work.
• You can learn how to craft effective articles in Michael Brewer's workshops.
• Wendy Brown's workshops will help you examine God's call on your gift of writing and how to use writing techniques from scripture.
• Tracy Crump's workshop on writing for the Chicken Soup series will help you succeed in submitting your work to that market.
• Mary Lou Redding will give you tips on writing devotionals and encouragement on submitting to The Upper Room, a great place for beginners to submit their work.
• If fiction is your forte, Virginia Smith, Carlton Hughes, Ann Gabhart, and David Pierce, will help you hone your fiction techniques.
• Kim Peterson will fill you in on what it takes to get published in the children's and teens' markets.
• The workshop, Get Organized and Sell Your Work, will provide tips on setting up your writing records and research as well as managing your time.
• Andrea Merrell will meet with you if your interest is writing devotions for online publication.
• You can meet privately with one of the faculty about your work and your aspirations.
• You will meet other writers, some beginners and some very experienced, who will share their journey with you and encourage you in finding your way.

Register today! There are only 16 days until opening session for KCWC 2010. Register and pay by May 28th to get the meal guarantee. If you register after May 28th, in advance or at the door, we may be able to provide meals for you, but we just can't guarantee it. Also, we want to remind you that, the earlier you register, the better your chance of getting the faculty appointment you want.

More encouragement for beginners: See these articles where writers share their conference experience.
Carlton Hughes: Encouragement
Cassandra Wessel: Why Am I Here?
Dianne E. Butts: Writing for Publication---and Servanthood
Londa S. Hayden: Reminder and Testimony
Barbara Wells: Educated, Motivated, and Celebrated

Making Your Conference Choices

Only 23 days to 2010 conference kickoff.

Whether you're a veteran writer or first-timer, KCWC 2010 has something for you. From the beginner class to the workshops on the finer points of writing and publishing, KCWC offers a variety, so much so that it's sometimes hard to choose. That's why this year's schedule is radically different from years past.

This year's schedule has more workshop time slots and fewer choices in each slot. At first glance, you might think that's not a good thing. But, the new schedule means you will be able to attend more workshops and miss fewer! You still have to choose, but it's not quite so hard.

If you have already registered, now's the time to plan your workshop schedule. It's all on the schedule page on the website. There's also a workshop listing by category here. If you need to know more about faculty members, their bios are on the conference details page.

If you haven't registered, there's still time. Go to the registration page for instructions.

As you make your decisions, pray for the conference committee, the faculty, and potential attendees. Also, ask God to guide you as you make your choices concerning conference.

This is my prayer for you today:

Lead me, Lord; lead me in Thy righteousness. Make Thy way plain before my face. For it is Thou, Lord, Thou, Lord only, that makest me dwell in safety. Amen.

Source: Hymnsite.com

Samuel Sebastian Wesley

More Deadline Reminders

Registrations for 2010 conference are coming in at a steady pace. If you haven't registered yet, we want to make everyone aware of two things:

1. Register and pay by May 28th for meal guarantee. We do welcome registrations after that, even at the door, but we cannot guarantee that meals will be available for late registrants.
2. We do take walk-in registrations on both days of the conference. However, for best chance to get preferred faculty appointment, the earlier you register and pay, the better.

First day of conference is only four weeks away! Don't put it off any longer. Go to the registration page of our site and register now: http://www.kychristianwriters.com/2010_registration.htm.

Correcting an Error: Senior/Student Discount Deadline

Up until just a few minutes ago, there was a message on the KCWC site home page stating that senior/student discount deadline was May 1st. That was a mistake. The registration page info has always been correct.

The actual deadline for seniors (age 65+) or students to get discount is May 11th. We apologize if this created any confusion for anyone.

Help Us Promote KCWC 2010

Word of mouth is the best way to promote any good or service. The KCWC committee counts on past and present attendees to help spread the word. If you want to "go the extra mile," please consider downloading our 2010 promotional flyer from the website to distribute in your area.

Download the file from our Updates page.

Another way you can help is to send a link to our website to your contacts who might be interested: www.kychristianwriters.com.

If you haven't registered yet, don't delay. Although the deadline has passed for early registration discount, there's still time for seniors (ages 65+) and students to get a discount if you register by May 11th.

The Clock Is Ticking: Register Soon

The KCWC steering committee met last weekend, and the excitement is building for 2010 conference. For those who have attended in the past, did you notice that we're offering more workshops this year? Virginia Smith, our featured speaker for 2010, has offered fiction workshops at KCWC each year since 2007. For 2010, we've added more fiction workshops to the schedule. Non-fiction writers, don't worry. We offer a great selection of workshops for you, too. If you're still undecided about attending this year, see the Conference Details page and the Schedule page.

Register early. You get a discount and a better chance of getting the faculty appointment you want. The dates you need to know are:

  *Deadline for early registration discount is May 1st.
  *Seniors (age 65 up) or students have until May 11th to get your discount.

Register online or by mail. See details on the registration page. 

KCWC a Positive Experience by Londa S. (Suzy) Hayden

Suzy recommended KCWC on her blog, so we asked her to critique the conference for our blog. See the post on her blog here. Here's what she has to say about KCWC.

I remember meeting Virginia Smith and attending a couple of her workshops, which were very helpful. Virginia was approachable and encouraging. Unlike the non-Christian conferences I have attended, KCWC always begins with prayer and worship which set the tone for the day in a positive light. The conference experience helped me to hone my skills as a writer. Learning about how the business side of publishing works has helped take away the intimidation factor that sometimes comes with meeting published writers, editors or agents. The more I attend such conferences and rub shoulders with the best, the more my writing will benefit.

I don't feel like I have accomplished all that much in my own writing endeavors, and I find myself discouraged from time to time. Sometimes I feel like the turtle in Aesops fable, but then I remember that "slow and steady" wins the race. Last year, the one thing I remembered Terry Whalin saying over and over again was that you have to stay with it if you want to succeed. In other words, “failure is not an option.” Hearing that, I walked away encouraged to persist with my writing endeavors.  

I believe in God's plan for my life and that He will bring about divine encounters in His time. I believe, “...All things work together for those that love the Lord.” I may think my efforts are lame and worthless. I may question if it is God's will for me to be a writer, but, if I'm not called, why would I have a desire to write in the first place? Of course, it's God's will for me to write and to make a difference in the lives of His people. Is it my right to stop trying, to stop preparing so that, when the opportunity arises, I won't be ready to take hold of the blessing?  Yes, but, if I stop, then all my efforts will have been in vain.  I choose to keep trying. I choose to make my efforts count.

If you're still trying to decide whether to attend KCWC this year, maybe you should take a look at the website: www.kychristianwriters.com. If you register by May 1st, you'll get the early discount. If you have questions, e-mail jvsliger@gmail.com or kcwcinfo@gmail.com.

Update: Christian Devotions Ministry at KCWC

KCWC committee is pleased to announce an addition to the faculty lineup for 2010. Andrea Merrell, Staff Writer and Associate Editor for Christian Devotions Ministry, will interview conferees interested in submitting devotions for ChristianDevotions.us or Devokids.com. She will also serve on the faculty panel question-and-answer session. Merrell is a featured writer in Spirit & Heart: A Devotional Journey, and Faith & Finances: In God We Trust. She lives in South Carolina with her husband (and best friend), Charlie. Website: www.andreamerrell.com.

Andrea has been added to the list of faculty members available for private appointments. If you have already registered and need to change your faculty appointment preferences, e-mail jvsliger@gmail.com and give your new preference list.

If you have not yet registered, remember this---the sooner you register, the better your chances of getting the faculty appointment you want. Registration page is here.

Preparing for Conference: First, REGISTER!

Registration for 2010 KCWC is now open. The sooner you register and pay, the better your chance of getting the faculty appointment you want. Register before May 10 for early bird discount. Registration details are on the site here. If you're concerned that something could happen to prevent you from coming to conference after you've registered, we do have a refund policy. See the registration page for details.

Register first. Then make your room reservation. Check out Ramada Inn conference rate. See other Etown hotels here.

Now, get your head in gear for KCWC 2010. Keynote speaker Virginia Smith has posted these articles previously. If you missed them, check them out now:

• The Right Tools for Writing
• Encourage and Be Encouraged

 Take a few minutes to learn more about this year's faculty in this previous post and this one.

 Writer John Vonhof has created a wonderful resource with how-to information on writers' conferences. Go to Writers Conference Guidelines site to browse.

It's only two months away. Are you excited yet?

If you have specific questions about KCWC 2010, e-mail jvsliger@gmail.com or kcwcinfo@gmail.com.

2010 Registration Details Available Now

The website for 2010 conference is now 100% ready for public consumption. If you're a subscriber to this blog, you know we've had the faculty-workshop page and the schedule page out there for some time. Workshop category listing is here.

Maybe you've had questions about when and how to register. Maybe you just needed more information before deciding that this is the year that you want to attend KCWC. Now, all of them should be answered on the Web site: www.kychristianwriters.com.

The registration page contains all the details about fees, faculty appointment sign-up, and how to register. If you still have questions, e-mail jvsliger@gmail.com or kcwcinfo@gmail.com.

If you already know you're attending this year, don't delay your registration past May 1st, the deadline for early bird discount. We look forward to seeing you in Etown on June 11th.

Fourteen Years and Counting

This is the fourteenth year for KCWC, formerly known as Kentucky Christian Writers Seminar. To celebrate, I asked founder, Kate Thomas, to share how it all started and how her vision for KCWC has developed since the beginning. Kate has been a pastor's wife and public school teacher in addition to being a writer and proofreader. Her work has been published in several periodicals and two Guideposts compilation books. She has also published three books herself. Here's what she had to say.

My vision for the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference at the outset was to provide an opportunity for persons who hold in their hearts a desire to write and to receive training to do so. I believed that this was possible because other states around Kentucky were offering writers conferences.

In 1996, after meeting Donna Goodrich at the ACW Conference in Nashville, I felt that there could be such a conference in Kentucky. It seemed the sensible place to establish the conference in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, due to its central location. I asked the trustees of Memorial United Methodist Church to consider our using their facility to host the first conference. They agreed, and the pastor’s wife, Brenda Loy, along with Joyce Joines, the friend who accompanied me to the ACW Conference in Nashville, agreed to meet with me to discuss my dream. We met monthly for a year.

I purchased 500 names of potential attendees from Sally Stuart and mailed the announcement and registration form to them. With little money or expertise and an abundance of faith and determination, our first conference was held in June of 1997. We had seventy-one conferees present for our first conference with Donna Goodrich as our keynote speaker. We had six states represented at our first conference, and a wonderful spirit prevailed.

My present vision is still much the same as the original---to meet the needs of the conferees regardless of where they are in their writing experience. The mission statement that we developed early on was: “To promote an annual event to equip and encourage writers in their quest for publication. The conference will provide a safe environment where writers can discover their gifts and share their work.”

In an effort to meet attendees' needs and comply with Kate's vision, the steering committee uses the conference evaluations to improve the offerings from year to year. For example, last year, attendees said they wanted more workshops. This year, we'll offer more workshop time slots so that attendees can have just what they asked for.

See the website for details: www.kychristianwriters.com.

Registration page will go live by April 1st.

For more on KCWC history, follow this link.

More Updates on Web Site

With 2010 conference less than three months away, we're adding updates to the KCWC site as they become available. Here's a list of what's been added this week.

• Workshop categories listing

• Fee schedule

Registration page will go up on the site soon, and we hope to open registration by April 1st. Details on the faculty appointment procedure will be outlined on the registration page. The committee is working on hotel arrangements, too. Details will be posted on the site as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, take a look at what's being offered this year. Pray for the committee as they continue to prepare. We pray that this year's offerings will be just what you need to enhance your writing career.

2010 Schedule Is UP!

We heard you. The 2009 evaluations told us that you wanted more workshops. In recent years, we offered 9 different workshops in four time slots. That means attendees had tough decisions to make.

For 2010, we are offering 6 workshop time slots with 5 or 6 workshops per slot. That means you get to attend two more workshops than last year. Take a look at the schedule page that just went up on the website this week.

Fee schedule and registration information will be on the site soon. Faculty bios and workshop descriptions are on the site here.

Just three months until KCWC 2010 kick-off! Mark your calendar and subscribe to this blog for updates.

Upper Room Sends Editorial Director

When we announced the KCWC 2010 faculty in December, we did not know which of the Upper Room editors would be teaching for us this year. Jim Stafford, who has been with us for several years, will be attending a class reunion during our 2010 conference weekend.

We are excited to announce that, for the very first time, Mary Lou Redding, Upper Room Editorial Director, will teach devotional writing for us. Mary Lou is recognized as an authority on devotional writing and teaches writing internationally. See the workshop description on our site here.

Faculty bios and workshop descriptions for 2010 are online now on the Conference Details page. The KCWC committee is meeting soon to finalize the schedule and the registration details. We'll post those details on the site as soon as possible. Please pray for the committee as they finalize arrangements.

Mark your calendar for June 11-12, 2010. You won't want to miss KCWC this year. More fiction, more workshops, faculty appointments, and more.

2010 Faculty Taking Shape

If you've been following this blog, you know that Virginia Smith is our featured speaker for 2010. Judy Sliger, KCWC coordinator, says the rest of the faculty is almost complete.

Returning:

Rev. Michael Brewer - sessions on crafting articles.
Wendy Brown - repeating her popular "Employed by God" workshop plus a workshop on using scripture in your writing.
Lettie Kirkpatrick Burress - repeating her beginner sessions, selling reprints.
Tracy Crump - writing for compilations, writing on "tough topics."
Carlton Hughes - writing for children's ministry, plotting (fiction).

New:

Ann H. Gabhart, Christian fiction writer from Lexington, KY will teach fiction workshops on developing characters and revising your work.
David Pierce, writing instructor/mentor, adjunct faculty at Western Kentucky University. He will teach workshops on mystery writing and memoir.
Kim Peterson, writer-at-large for Bethel College (Mishawaka, IN) and a mentor for Christian Writers Guild, will lead sessions on writing for children and young adults.

In the works:

Upper Room will send a representative, but, at this point, we do not know which editor will attend. Jim Stafford will be attending his class reunion in 2010. We anticipate that either Mary Lou Redding or Susan King will represent Upper Room.

By mid-January, we should be ready to announce the workshop titles and any additions to faculty. We do expect to offer more workshop sessions this year, and there will be more fiction. Check back next month to see what develops.

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