"Five P's for Dealing with Life's Challenges" by Dara Lehner

Having recently returned to college to complete a yet unrealized goal, a professor called me a “Renaissance woman.” I laughed and commented I often feel like I am the king’s court jester juggling so many balls if I stop I’ll bounce one off of my head. He replied how easy I made it look. If he only knew how hard I work at it.

We often stand back watching fellow writers, envious of how they have it all… the time for family, friends, work, and most of all God. How can we juggle it all? My friends, family and professors at times have looked at me in that light. I caution them what they see is not always the true picture, and I too have to guard myself against the ugly envy monster. Don’t fall into that trap.

I hope to share some of my tried and true tips which have worked for me. Each of us must find what works best for us. There is no magic formula, we all juggle. With my many interests and responsibilities, I found I have to stay organized. My friends call me the “queen of time management.”

As a retired marathoner, I still have days where I feel as if I am running a new marathon, my running times are off pace, and in marathoner’s speak have “hit the wall.” I can’t see the end of the race. I can’t see any way to juggle, church, family, my day jobs, school, and writing. How does everyone else manage?

First, we can’t compare ourselves to others or put them on a pedestal. They will fall and shatter our romanticized illusions of a writer’s life. Writing is hard work. Rarely, does it come in the “overnight success” package. We are each God’s unique creation. We have talents and skills no one else has, share yours and learn from others.

Writing, as with any of my marathons, requires discipline, sacrifice and planning. Friends ask how I do it all. I don’t. I can’t. No one can do it all. I don’t try to be perfect, because I know how imperfect I am, and it is a waste of time to keep up that facade.

So how does one wade through life’s marathons? I call it the Five P’s …Planning, Patience, Persistence, Play and Prayer. I think these five things will get us through most of life’s challenges. Writing is a challenge.

Planning for me is key. I am a list maker. Whenever I start my day, I have a plan listed. I prioritize and organize all of my goals; some may have to slide to another list. The unexpected has a way of creeping into our lives. Take a deep breath.

Modify, adapt, and overcome is another mantra I have incorporated into my marathon life. Plan each segment of your life. I have plans for my day, my week, my month, my year, and my five and ten year goals. Dream big, and then work out an organized plan to achieve your goals.

Patience is truly a virtue. My patience, or lack of it, for myself continues to be on my list for improvement. I am very patient with others, but could kick myself at times for not accomplishing a goal in the manner I envisioned. We need to give ourselves a break. If no one is around to give a pep talk, do it yourself. Remember, we are not perfect and must be patient. No procrastinating, we must work our plan patiently and we will succeed.

Persistence. If we are patiently and consistently working our plans we will reach our goals. There are times when detours will arise. We may have to modify our plan when the unexpected threatens to derail that plan. Our persistence will pay off.

I have a friend who believed in her book and revised and shopped it for 13 years. It found its home with a large regional publisher and is being released this June. She now also has a multiple book contract. If she had listened to all the naysayers she would not be off on a book tour. I can’t celebrate enough for her because I know how hard she has worked to accomplish this goal. Don’t give up. If we don’t try, we are certain to fail. If we don’t persevere, we can never taste the sweet rewards of our persistence.

Play. Allow oneself some down time. Be spontaneous, go dance in the rain or a sprinkler for ten minutes. Jump on a trampoline, roller blade, or skateboard. Do something that will make your family and friends think you are a bit crazy; or we can incorporate something a little more sedate, like walks in the park or a picnic. We must give ourselves permission to do NOTHING. Sit quietly under a tree; but watch out for the irate squirrels hurling nuts, and the blue jays dive bombing your appearance in their serene world.

Prayer. Meditate and ask God for guidance and wisdom. There is nothing wrong with a failure or with being mistaken. We must learn from these trials, the unexpected that creeps into our marathon life. God provides these times as opportunities to learn, to modify, to breathe and yes, to even laugh at ourselves. Take your concerns to God in prayer, but also don’t forget to take your praise and thanksgiving celebrations to Him as well.

I hope these few nuggets helped someone. I’ll be sharing more in our three different workshops:

1. Hurried, Hassled, and Hopeless No More: Time Management for Writers,
2. Keys to Using Photography to Increase Your Writing Income, and
   
3. Writing for Children’s Magazines.
   

I hope to see you in one of them, if not please stop by and introduce yourself. You can’t miss me; I think I’ll be the only skate-boarding juggler bouncing balls off my head in attendance.

Visit our website for Dara's bio and more information on her workshops. Go to Dara's website for more on her writing and photography. Register by June 10th for meals guarantee. Details on the registration page.

____________________________________________________________________

A WHALIN of a tale . . .

If you know Christian publishing, you've heard the name Terry Whalin--he's been a writer, editor, agent, publisher. You name it, he's done it in Christian publishing. So the question is . . . how did KCWC snag him as keynote speaker this year?

It all started back in March of last year, when the KCWC committee brainstormed for a speaker. Time was of the essence, as someone needed to be identified in time to be announced at the 2008 conference.

The requirements for a speaker were quite specific and quite unusual. If they had run a classified ad for a keynote, it would have sounded something like this:

KEYNOTE SPEAKER NEEDED FOR CHRISTIAN WRITING CONFERENCE. Must be male (we're not chauvinist pigs--'08 speaker was a woman, and we like to alternate); looking for a "big name" to draw people in; must have strong roots in Christian publishing; Kentucky connection a major plus.

Usually a person with such characteristics doesn't magically appear at your door, but we at KCWC are praying people. In late March, KCWC committee member Emily Akin posted an announcement promoting KCWC and the conference website on Christian Writers Fellowship International's Yahoo group. The next morning she opened her email and found a message from one Terry Whalin.

Once she picked her jaw up from the floor, she opened the message, in which Whalin expressed interest in being on faculty for 2009 conference. He mentioned his "deep family roots" in Kentucky, included several topics on which he could speak, and added that he would have a new book out in time for KCWC '09.

Akin passed the information on to '09 conference chair Judy Sliger, who pitched Whalin to the overall committee. By the first week of June '08, days before the conference, he was onboard as the '09 keynote.

Akin says that the whole process was a "God thing," as she had no intention of getting a keynote speaker through her posting to the Yahoo group. She never thought Whalin would be interested in KCWC, because he is in so much demand in larger venues. Akin also wasn't aware of Whalin's Kentucky connections and figured the fact that he now lives in Arizona would be a stumbling block.

God knows our needs, and He cares about every detail, from the largest to the smallest. Sit back and see how He meets YOUR needs and moves in YOUR details at KCWC '09.

Visit our website for conference details and registration information, http://www.kychristianwriters.com.

Preparing for a Writers' Conference

Have you registered for KCWC 2009 yet? Time is getting short. The early discount deadline has passed, but there is another deadline coming up June 1st. After that date, we may not be able to guarantee meals, so please try to register by then. Details are on the registration page of the website.

Whether you are a first-time conference attendee or a seasoned veteran, there are some great tips for conference preparation in this article on the Christian Writing Examiner website. Check it out here.

"I'm Counting the Days!" by Virginia Smith

I was down at the Southern Kentucky Book Fest the other day, and ran into a familiar face - Barbara Wells! I love running into writing friends at book events. Seeing her reminded me to look at my calendar and count the days until this year's conference. It's almost here!

I first attended Kentucky Christian Writers Conference three years ago, when I was invited to co-present a fiction workshop with Kathy Carlton Willis. What a great time we had! I'd been to some of the national Christian writers conferences before then, but KCWC was my first exposure to a local conference. I have to tell you, I was impressed. The number of attendees, the caliber of the speakers, the variety of offerings on the program, the smooth execution -- we in the Kentucky area are so lucky to have such a terrific conference within driving distance!

This year I'm excited about the two fiction workshops I'll present. In "Make Your Point Without Preaching," we'll discuss ways to effectively relay the spiritual message that means so much to us, without lapsing into a preachy tone. I've talked to some of the top Christian fiction writers in the industry to find out how they get their point across in their stories, and I'll share advice from many of them. We'll look at examples, and figure out together why they work.

My second workshop is, "Tickling Those Elusive Funny Bones." Here's the deal, folks: humor in writing is so much more than just telling jokes! Since six of my ten novels (so far!) have been humorous, I've picked up a few tricks along the way. We'll discuss different techniques for making your readers chuckle, how to use each one effectively, and again, we'll look at examples. So bring your sense of humor, and come prepared to laugh.

Still can't decide if you want to attend my workshops? Okay, here's a blatant bribe: in each one, I'll conduct drawings for free books. And, I'll have chocolate!

See you in E-town!

Virginia Smith

http://www.virginiasmith.org/

"How to Build a Selling Article" by Michael Brewer

Like most of you, I’ve done a little bit of everything over the years: short-order cook, parking attendant, library shelver, apartment cleaner… Oh, yeah, and I was a drug runner for a while. (I delivered prescriptions for Davis Drugstore in a powder-blue VW Beetle. Drug dealing didn’t pay as well as you might think.)

Nowadays, I preach and write and teach, but my first paying work was helping my dad on construction sites. Dad built houses for a living, and I often worked with him on weekends and during the summer break from school. I’m not particularly gifted with hammer and saw, but I guess all that framing and trimming influenced the way I see things. My book Lessons from the Carpenter from WaterBrook is a loving look at Jesus and how his years as a carpenter might have shaped his preaching and ministry.

One of the workshops I’m leading at the KCW Conference starts from a similar place. If a magazine article were a building project, how would we go about it? What floor plan would work best for the material we want to include? Like houses, most magazine articles follow a carefully selected blueprint. For instance, there’s the Chronology approach and the Inverted Pyramid and the Motivated Sequence. The names may sound odd, but mastering these blueprints is easy. As we review them, you’ll have Aha! moments when you say to yourself, “Oh, sure, I’ve seen that in print.”

You’ll also need an inviting front door for your article—an engaging hook that makes the reader want to enter into your ideas and information. The writer can choose from among a number of standard front door styles such as the Question, the Multi-Example, the Startler, the Quotation, or Personal Involvement. Which opening will best suit your style as a writer and fit well with the floor-plan of your article?

On the other end, you’ll also want to install a back door to send your reader happily on his/her way. What is your goal? To remind the reader of what you’ve covered? To leave him inspired or comforted? To motivate her to action? To bring a smile? Your back door will guarantee that you achieve the desired effect.

Whew! Are we finished yet? Not quite.

We still need to personalize our house— Uh, I mean our article. The voice or style we adopt will be crucial in touching the thoughts and feelings of our reader. Even more important is slant—deciding what to tell and what to leave out, determining what to emphasize, and cultivating ideas for future articles that will emerge from our original research and thinking.

Is that it? Nah, that’s just the teaser.

To get the hands-on, practical, down-and-dirty stuff, you’ll need to join me in my workshop in Elizabethtown.

I’ll save you a seat in the front.

Brewer is author of four books. He is a full-time pastor in the Presbyterian Church and adjunct professor of religious studies at Northern Kentucky University. See a review of Brewer's book here. Visit his website for more on his other books.

Early Registration/Senior Discount Deadline Extended!

The KCWC committee has decided to change the early registration and senior discount deadline from Sunday, May 10, to Monday, May 18. For those who mail their registration/payment, the postmark will determine whether you met the deadline or not.

Our postcards announcing this year's conference was a bit late getting out, so we felt that it is only fair to extend the deadline.

Why not register now? The sooner you register, the better your chance to get the faculty appointment you want. Link to the registration page here.

If you have questions, e-mail Judy Sliger, coordinator, at jvsliger(a)gmail.com or Patricia Vansant, registrar, at kcwcregistrar(a)gmail.com.

When God Plants a Dream

I had not planned a post today, but I ran across a story on WritingtoServe.net that I just had to share with KCWC subscribers. If you're at stage in your writing life where you don't know whether to persist or give it up, read this story immediately by clicking here.

Even if you're fairly confident about your writing career, it's a great story. It's about Dianne Neal Matthews' writing journey, and it is truly inspirational.

Part of Dianne's writing life has been regular conference attendance. She attends the same conference each year whether she feels she gets immediate results or not. If you're still on the fence about whether to attend KCWC this year, please remember that the deadline for early registration deadline is coming up May 10th. See registration page for details.

If God has planted a dream in you, perhaps your colleagues at KCWC can help you find a direction for it.

Faculty Book Reviews on Blog

I meant to post this message sometime in May, but I made a mistake today that makes it necessary for me to go ahead and post it now.

You may have just received a blog post containing a book review that seemed to have nothing to to with KCWC. Well, you're right. It didn't! Somehow, I managed to select the wrong blog from my Blogger dashboard when I posted that one. I did delete the post from the KCWC blog, but I couldn't stop it from sending the feed to subscribers.

Now, let me tell you about my book review blog. Earlier this year, I decided I wanted to post reviews of books by our 2009 KCWC faculty so that potential conferees could become familiar with some of these writers' work. I may add some more during May, so you might want to bookmark the blog or subscribe. For now, here are the direct links to faculty reviews:

Terry Whalin: Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams

Virginia Smith: Just as I Am

Lettie Kirkpatrick Burress: Glimpses of Grace: Stories of Hope

James Watkins: Squeezing the Good Out of Bad

Michael Brewer: Lessons from the Carpenter

If new reviews are posted, I will try to remember to announce it on the KCWC blog.

And again, my apologies for the "blog post from outer space."

PS---May 10th is the deadline for early registration and senior discounts. Visit the website now: http://www.kychristianwriters.com.

Educated, Motivated, and Celebrated

We invite former attendees and committee members to submit their stories about KCWC for the blog. This post was submitted by Barbara Wells, KCWC 2007-08 faculty chairperson and 2009 emcee. If you have a story you'd like to share, send it to akinemily(a)gmail.com.

In 2003, I was just beginning to write and didn’t know what to do with all the ideas coming to me. I saw an ad in our local newspaper and attended my very first Kentucky Christian Writers Conference at Rough River State Park. I didn’t know anyone at the conference; however, everyone was so friendly and encouraging. Sally Stuart---yes, THE Sally Stuart who publishes THE Christian Writers’ Market Guide---was the keynote speaker that year. She gave me the idea that would develop into my first book, A Giftbook for Pastors Wives, which I am now publishing through McDowell Publishers.

In 2007-2008, I served as Faculty chairperson for KCWC, and, I’m honored and excited to be emceeing the 2009 conference. For those writers already published, one of your benefits will be great networking opportunities. Beginning writers like me will learn about the writing/publishing industry up close and personal! In addition, we will meet some outstanding writers and editors in Christian publishing industry like keynote speaker, Terry Whalin. I can hardly wait!

As a member of the the KCWC Planning Committee, I can assure you that members work devotedly all year to bring together accomplished editors, publishers and, writers. You will be educated, motivated, and celebrated as you learn to connect your work for getting published and meet other writers just like you. Looking forward to meeting all of you in June.

Barbara Wells, a happy fellow-writer
E-mail: barbara5122(a)msn.com
Check out all of my books on my website at: http://www.freewebs.com/barbarawells/ .

"Get Your Message Published" by Jim Watkins

Here's an email I regularly receive:

"I am a Christian with an incredible story. I feel God wants me to publish it in a book, but I don't where to start. How can you help me get it published?"

First, I understand that feeling, as Jeremiah described, of having a message burning on your heart, and if you don't get it out, there's going to be a documented case of spontaneous human combustion. (Been there, done that, bought the Maalox!)

Second, the avenue for getting that message out is probably not a book. You will actually reach a thousand times more people with your message in a magazine article or Web posting. Here are the harsh realities of book publishing.

1. According to Publishers Weekly the average book sells 500 copies. The chance that your book will sell a million copies is a million-to-one. However, a magazine article can reach that number of readers! Plus, there's a potential audience of three billion Internet users.

2. It's very difficult for new authors to be published by a royalty publisher today. There are fewer and fewer publishers producing fewer and fewer titles by fewer and fewer authors. (Only one in 100 book proposals is published.) Magazines can afford to take risks with unpublished authors since it is only one article in many.

3. While self-publishing is becoming more affordable, there's no guarantee it will sell unless you have a strong speaking ministry. Magazines pay the author.

4. While book sales are being hurt by the current economy, other avenues such as Web sites and blogging can reach potentially billions of readers.

I would encourage you to do two things to get out the message you feel God has given you.

1. If you feel you're a writer, the Kentucky Christian Writers' Conference is the perfect place to learn the ins and outs of publishing. Also, check out my writing resources at http://www.jameswatkins.com/manu.htm.

2. Then submit it to magazines. I'll be looking for nonfiction articles (500-550 words) and humor pieces (250-300) for Vista, the magazine I edit for Wesleyan Publishing House. Or set up your own Web site or blog. See my online helps at http://www.jameswatkins.com/wired3.htm.

I'm afraid a book is probably not the avenue God will use to market your message, but there are plenty of alternate routes! Learn about them June 19-20, 2009.

Jim wears more hats than his Aunt Luella. He's the author of fourteen books and two thousand articles, editor with Wesleyan Publishing House, advisor for ACW Press, instructor at Taylor University, and most important "Papaw" of four adorable grandchildren.

He will be wearing some of these hats at KCWC 2009. His workshops are "Self-Publishing: How-to, When-to" and "Writing for Goldfish" (Writing for the Web). He will serve on the editor panel and meet with a limited number of attendees book proposals or magazine articles to share.

Deadline for early registration discount and senior discount is May 10th. See details on KCWC site registration page. Early registrants also get priority in editor appointments.

Help Us Promote KCWC 2009

Registration for 2009 conference is open, and we hope that everyone is getting the word about what a wonderful conference we have planned for this year. We have sent e-mails and postcards, but we can always use some help with our promotion.

We have posted a flyer in PDF format on the website. If you like to help get the word out, please go to the About/Contact page and download the flyer file. Bulletin boards in churches and libraries are good places to post flyers, with permission, of course.

Remind everyone that there is an advantage in registering early this year. See details on the registration page.

Prayer Request for KCWC Committee Meeting

Time is getting short! KCWC 2009 kicks off exactly two months from now. The steering committee meets once a month in Elizabethtown. Each meeting begins with a 30-minute prayer time followed by the business meeting. Please be in prayer for the committee on Saturday morning as we put the finishing touches on Conference 2009.

We ask for prayer for our faculty, ten fine Christian people who just happen to be involved in writing and publishing. We invite you to visit the faculty page on our website to pray for each of them individually.

Pray also for potential attendees who may be struggling with the decision whether to join us in June. Some may have confidence issues, while others may have financial challenges.

And, we request prayer for founder Kate Thomas whose husband passed away a few weeks ago.

Finally, pray that KCWC 2009 will fulfill the vision of its founders: "Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does" Psalm 96:3 (NLT).

"Writing for Him" by Lettie Kirkpatrick Burress

In Spring of 1994, I attended a writing workshop at Lee University in Cleveland, TN. After being encouraged by the instructor, Cliff Schimmels, to pursue writing for publication, I told God, "I will give this one year of my very best effort. If it's what you have for me, I hope to know it by then." I then became a student of the writing and publication process. Six months later, after lots of rejections, I sold one small piece to ParentLife magazine for $20 --- and (instead of framing it) took my family to Captain D's to celebrate!

Fifteen years, hundreds of published articles, two books, seven book compilations, and many writers conferences later, I still get lots of rejections---and I still attend writers conferences. I can't afford not to.

But, the truth is, you don't ever need to attend a writers conference unless:

• You plan to actively pursue publication of your work,
• You seek to develop your skills and your knowledge level in pursuit of excellence as a Christian writer,
• You need to take home practical tips to better service editors,
• You hope to increase your marketing skills and become aware of additional publications that need your work,
• You want to be encouraged and energized through mingling with fellow writers at all levels of "success,"
• You need additional ideas for articles or books,
• You choose to be challenged to go deeper, trust God, and chase the dream He's given you,
• You seek specific direction for a specific project,
• You understand in today's climate, conferences are crucial for networking, and advancing in the writer's world.

Pray through the doubts and the roadblocks, let God make provision for you and come with expectancy. Come see me in Kentucky!

Lettie Kirkpatrick Burress
www.writingforhim.com

At our June conference, Lettie will be teaching a two-part workshop for beginners and a workshop entitled "When Your Writing Leads to Speaking." See the details on the KCWC site. She will also be available for private appointments. Register early! It's your best chance to get the private appointment you want.

"A Runner or a Writer?" by Wendy Brown

Running is my favorite sport. Over many years, I have trained and developed the muscles required to run—without ever lacing on the track shoes. Just the thought of pounding all the weight of my 5’10” body onto my knees and feet sends my entire desire for exercise into a tailspin. Real running, as in shoes, shorts and forward motion, exhausts me. But running from being a writer? Oh yes. I am skilled and advanced in technique.

My undergraduate degree is in Creative Writing. I’ve written professionally for radio, and freelanced for magazines, dramas and personal pleasure. Writing seems to be in my blood, but somehow I have always struggled with the concept of writing being a useful ministry. Results are hard to measure and the hours way too long.

Circumstances over the past several years have chipped away at that idea. As I sit in my dining room office this morning and look around at all the books I have collected through my lifetime, I can see the wisdom great authors have contributed to my life. Authors such as C.S. Lewis, Dallas Willard, A.W. Tozer, and John Piper have, with pen and paper—or keyboard and printer—changed my life.

All that energy I poured into avoiding the writing life, I now turn into the discipline of running the marathon set before me. I am a writer, employed by God. My gifts and calling should bring glory to God. So now I run the race set before me and strain forward to run with endurance and purpose.

At this year’s Kentucky Christian Writers Conference I’ll be leading a workshop on The Writer’s Ministry: Employed By God. If you’ve ever wondered why God wants you to write and how your words can further His kingdom, join us. This is a workshop to energize us as writers and boost our passion to press on. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to connect with fellow writers who share the day-to-day marathon of employment in God’s communications department.

Another workshop I’ll be leading is Writing With Integrity: A Walk Through Legoland. I have a plastic tub full of Legos to bring along so we can build an arsenal of tools and information to write legally and with integrity. We’ll look in-depth at the questions of copyright, fair use, Internet sources, quotations and other sticky topics.

All this excitement has me running---to my laptop, to reference books, interviews and brainstorming sessions. In June, I’ll be running to Kentucky so I don’t miss the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference 2009. See you there.

To learn more about Wendy, visit her website. If you're planning to attend KCWC 2009, now is the time to register. For details, see KCWC site. Also, subscribe to this blog for updates and additional blog posts by 2009 faculty.

Conference Hotel Arrangements Set

The Elizabethtown Fairfield Inn is offering a conference rate of $105.00 plus tax for up to 4 persons per room. State and local taxes currently are 10.18% (subject to change without notice). Conference attendees must call the local phone number and not the corporate 800 number (270-769-1440 or 1-800-321-2211), and ask for KY Christian Writers rate when making their reservations.

Conference rate is good for Thursday and Friday nights, June 18-19, subject to availability. Any change in reservations must be made before June 1, 2009. Room reservations will be held until 6:00 pm on day of arrival unless guaranteed by an advance deposit or major credit card.

There will be a Meet and Greet at the Fairfield on Thursday evening, June 18th. Details to be announced later.

Make your reservations and register for conference ASAP. Registering early gives you a better chance of getting the faculty appointment you want.

Worth The Cost

If you are anything like me (and I suspect you are), you are counting the cost when you consider coming to a writers' conference. There is no doubt that you will be investing in your own writing career and future when you take the time, energy and money to attend the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference.

In the next few minutes, I want to give you four reasons to attend. From my perspective, there are many more than four reasons and I've been attending writers' conferences on a regular basis since the early 80s (over 20 years).

1. Come to grow and learn. You may think you are coming to the conference to meet a particular editor and show them some of your writing. There is nothing wrong with that reason but I recommend you come to the conference with an open attitude to learn and grow as a writer. I always learn something at each conference. After all of the books and magazine articles, I continually learn new skills and insights into the Christian and general marketplace. I do not have it all figured out. I'm coming to the KCWC to learn and grow. Join me.

2. Come to be inspired and renewed. Writing is a solitary profession. Each of us sit at our keyboard or with our pens and paper to write words which we hope others will want to read. I attend conferences to gain that shot of encouragement and renewal. You will find it at KCWC. Join me.

3. Come to make some new relationships. Often within the publishing community, it is who you know as much as what you know. And you never know who will suddenly change positions and become a key player in the community. I encourage you to attend the conference to meet as many people at the conference that you can meet--whether a fellow conference attendee or on the faculty. Everyone has a story and you can make lifelong friends at KCWC. Join me.

4. Come for the unpredictable God moments. The surprising and unexpected also happens at every conference. As Christians, we understand that God orders our steps and plans out surprise encounters. It will happen at KCWC. Some people call these "pack your bag moments" or even if it is in the first few minutes of the conference you can pack your bags and go home and you will have received what you needed at that event. Those moments will be happening at KCWC. Join me.

I've got some other reasons and tips to prepare for a writer's conference at this link.

Many years ago, I was one of the few journalists who have interviewed bestselling author Chuck Swindoll. Dr. Swindoll is a gracious individual in person and his personality comes through his books or on the radio or in the pulpit. Chuck told me, "Terry, there are no heroes in the body of Christ. We are all like a bunch of guys in the back of a pick-up truck trying to get our stuff together." Each of us have our place and I believe you can gain insight and perspective while at KCWC. Join me.

I look forward to meeting you in June. I'm anticipating each of these four reasons and much more during our time together at the conference.

-- Terry Whalin

2009 Registration Now Open - Don't Wait!

Just a quick post to let you know that we are now ready to take registrations for KCWC 2009. If you've been following this blog, you know we have a great conference planned with Terry Whalin as our featured speaker.

On our website, there is a quick-reference list on the home page, so take a minute to visit the site and take the tour.

Responding to evaluations from past conferences, we're doing some things differently this year. Most notable is the new procedure for faculty appointment sign-up. It's described in detail on the registration page on the website. Primarily, you will want to know that you will request your appointment at registration and not on the first day of conference. More about this on subsequent posts, but, for now, please take the full tour of the website.

If you have questions, e-mail me. Subscribe to this blog if you haven't already.

Website Is Up!

I've been excited about conference 2009 since conference 2008 ended, but my excitement level is building daily! Just a quick note to tell you that conference details are up on the KCWC website. Registration is not open yet, but here is a quick guide to basic information.

Schedule: Three keynotes by Terry Whalin, editor panel, writer panel, workshops, private appointments, networking opportunities! Check it out.

Workshop Descriptions and Faculty Bios: God has blessed us with a fantastic faculty for 2009! Beginners, there's a two-part workshop for beginning writers. For the more experienced, there's a wide variety of topics for your information and inspiration.

Fees and Private Appointment Guidelines: Although registration is not yet open, the fee schedule is on the Registration page. Our private appointment process will work differently this year. You will not wait until first day of conference to sign up for private appointments. In fact, if you wait, you may miss the opportunity altogether. You will indicate your preferences when you pre-register and receive your appointment card when you check in at conference. More private appointments will be available because the entire faculty will be taking appointments. Register early (but not yet), as appointment preferences will be honored on a first-come, first-served basis.

Other: Hotel information is not available yet but coming soon. Driving instructions to Northside Baptist Church are on the home page. Direct your questions to Judy Sliger, conference coordinator. Or better yet---ask questions by commenting on this blog. Then everyone will see your question and the answer.

There will be another blog post announcing when registration is open. Subscribe if you haven't already.

Five W’s for KCWC: Why?

Today’s post is the last in the series of Five W’s for KCWC: Who, What, When, Where, and Why. If you have a question that we have not covered in these posts, don’t hesitate to contact us by commenting on this blog or by e-mailing us.

Why does KCWC offer a conference every year? In the beginning, it was Kate Thomas’ dream that there would be a regular Christian writers conference in Central Kentucky. Since 1995, KCWC has been organized and perpetuated by a volunteer committee, some of whom are published writers. Other committee members are aspiring writers whose “day job” is teaching or working in business. The conference, formerly called seminar, is held annually because of the need for continuity. Many attendees have built lasting relationships with writers and editors they have met at KCWC. I know I look forward to renewing friendships with the people I’ve met at conference. The primary reason we have conference every year is outlined in our mission statement.

“The purpose of the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference is to provide 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."

Why should I consider attending KCWC this year? Judy Sliger, our 2009 coordinator, provided us with a list of ten reasons Christian writers should attend KCWC. Some of those reasons are humorous, but the last one is serious. If God has called you to write, a writers’ conference is a good place to explore the possibilities and learn from others who have answered the same call.

If you’ve never attended a writers conference before, it’s wise to start with a small conference so that you can get your feet wet without being overwhelmed. If you are a published writer who has never attended KCWC, please consider attending this year. We have a marvelous faculty including featured speaker, Terry Whalin, native Kentuckian and current resident of Arizona. Don’t miss this chance to glean from Terry’s extensive experience in the Christian publishing industry. Take a look at our website’s Conference Details page for faculty bios and workshop descriptions. While you’re there, take a look at the schedule and the registration page where fees and appointment procedures are listed.

Why should you subscribe to this blog? Because you will get real-time conference updates as we prepare for this year’s conference. Also, whether you can come this year or not, you can keep up with what we’re doing and keep us in mind for next year.

Five W’s of KCWC: When?

Continuing our series of blog posts covering the classic Five W’s of journalism for KCWC (Who, What, When, Where, Why), we’ll answer some of your “when” questions today.

When is this year’s conference? It’s a two-day event, Friday and Saturday, June 19-20, 2009. Traditionally, the conference is held on the third weekend in June. If you can’t be with us this year, mark your calendar for the third weekend of June, 2010, and check back with us next spring.

When will this year’s schedule and registration information be available? SOON. We are currently polishing up the schedule now, and we expect to have faculty bios and possibly the schedule itself on the website within the next week. In previous posts, we have mentioned some faculty names, but, since then we’ve added others. Now is a good time to subscribe to this blog because we’ll post a special announcement when the schedule goes up on the website. Please pray for the areas in KY still dealing with the aftermath of last week’s ice storm. Many are still without power.

When will you be ready to attend a Christian writers conference? I’ll answer this question with other questions. Is writing part of your regular job, your church activities, or your devotional discipline? Have you felt a call from God to use your writing for his glory? Do you think you might want to publish your writing? If you can answer “yes” to these questions, perhaps this year is the time for you to consider coming to KCWC. Pray for God’s guidance as you make your decision. Our committee prays regularly for our message to reach those needing to hear it.