Dialogue/Conferences/ISIS/Devotional/Home Decor

1.  Okay, I admit it. I'm a total dialogue nerd. Zoe McCarthy delighted me with this post. I hope you have as much fun with it as I did.

2.  Ah, Conference Season - you have to love it. Agent Linda Glaz interviews author Jodie Wolfe about how she prepares for a writers conference. Even though I've gone to many of these events, I could use a refresher course.

3.  WND reports that the Pentagon has confirmed ISIS has enough radioactive materials to produce dirty bombs.

4.  Devotional thoughts from MaryAnn Diorio on Why Worry?

5.  Does your heart go pitter patter when you see decorating blogs? You might enjoy My Romantic Home. I've linked to her Show and Tell Friday post, but take a few moments to explore the site.

Writers: One of the reasons I enjoy dialogue is that I can talk like real people talk and toss the grammar rules. Please share your thoughts on creating natural interactions between characters.

Readers:  What type of blog links would you like to see here on Christian Writer/Reader Connection? I try to give a variety of topics, but your input would help me a great deal.

Conference Pictures and Report

Left to Right:  Jeanette Levellie, Susan Panzica, and yours truly. This picture was taken in the cafeteria during our lunch break on Saturday. The Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference has trained, encouraged, and given opportunities to writers for over 25 years.

Susan Panzica is a non-fiction writer/speaker. She's been published in a Chicken Soup Anthology, is co-founder of The Justice Network, and blogs at Eternity Cafe. She's also written a book, and I can't wait until some smart editor snatches it up and gets it published.

Jeanette Levellie is my favorite funny lady. She presented two workshops at the conference - one on time management and the other on humor. Check out her book: Two Scoops of Grace with Chuckles on Top. 

Here's Jeanette again during her humor workshop. She's a sought after speaker, vocalist, and writer. She blogs at Wings of Mirth and Worth.

Lisa Crayton, Freelance Writer/Author/Teacher, and I met at the Philly Conference years ago and have stayed in touch. She taught a Continuing Session (5 1-Hour Classes) this year on You CAN Write Magazine Articles. This talented friend loves pouring into aspiring and published writers alike.

My own conference experience involved re-connecting with friends, meeting new ones, and getting some excellent advice on marketing and promotion. This year's theme centered around Write His Answer. The keynote speakers challenged and gave conferees ideas on how to communicate the love of Jesus Christ in today's culture. I came home rejuvenated, encouraged, and ready to press forward.

Writers: Have you ever attended a writers conference? If you have, please share your most memorable moment.

Readers: What book is on your nightstand this week?

Pictures: Susan J. Reinhardt @Copyright 2014

What I Learned On My Summer Vacation

I spent summer immersed in preparation for the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference, which took place August 10-13. Below are a few points I gleaned from this year's workshops:

1) From Cec Murphey's Continuing Session, "Dancing With Dialogue" - Good dialogue should be 30% of a book. Tease, hint, but don't tell the whole story. Don't tell readers what they already know. When you read dialogue that's good, write it down. It will help you recognize and learn how to write it.

2) Nicole Resciniti, from the Seymour Agency - Conflict is the core of a novel. It's about eliciting emotion. Without conflict, there is no emotion. Without emotion, there is no story.

3) Kathi Macias (During an editor panel) - Social Media is essential to being a successful writer. When her books stalled years ago, her editor told her if she wanted to continue writing and selling books, she had to use Social Media. She took his advice, and her career moved forward.

4) I can't recall where I heard this, but in one workshop we were told that contractions (don't, can't, etc.) did not appear in writing until the 1800's. So, if you're writing a historical prior to that time, don't use them.

5) Kathy Macias' workshop on The Train of Thought method of writing - If you're on topic and on target, you'll be on time. Decide who you're writing to and what you want to write. I loved this class and plan to invest in her book.

These points are mere snippets of what I learned. I loved this conference and encourage you to look into attending it next year.

What are some of the writing tips or advice you've garnered from attending a conference? Readers: Do you like getting a behind-the-scenes look at what writers go through to get published?


Photo Credit: absolutlil

Conference Pictures

My dear friend, Jeanette Levellie, and I finally met in person. Here she is at our regular "catch you after a workshop" spot at the base of the Learning Center stairs. Isn't this picture stunning? She's a beautiful lady--inside and out. :)

The figures you see in the background are part of a nativity scene.

It must have been near the end of the day. I look tired (but definitely happy).

From Left to Right: Barbara Higby, Jeanette Levellie, and Susan Panzica

Barbara is a new friend. We hit it off right away.

She and Susan came to the conference together.

Susan and I met here two years ago.

From Left to Right: Susan J. Reinhardt, Jeanette Levellie, and Elaine W. Miller.

Elaine is an author and speaker. She taught a workshop at the conference. We met on the

Internet through our friend, Diane Estrella.  Hi, Diane! Sorry you couldn't join us.

Here's Jen going over her notes for the next editor meeting. Isn't the setting gorgeous?

To the left of the picture is a small lake with ducks and geese. We

enjoyed getting some refreshment for the soul.

If you ever get an opportunity to attend the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference, jump at it. We had a fabulous time!

What is your favorite part of a writers' conference? The workshops, the editor/agent/author meetings, or networking with other writers?



Quotes & Tips on Memoir Writing - Dr. John Perkins

Dr. John Perkins, a keynote speaker at the Philly Conference, made some memorable statements both in the general session and in his workshop with Steve Lawson on Memoir Writing. At 80 years old, he shared from both wisdom and experience. Below is a sampling for your enjoyment:

1) "You've got to be the change you want to see. Reflect His image."

2) Dr. Perkins prayed until 4:00 A.M., waiting on the Lord for his message and the purpose of his being at the conference. "I'm here to rally you, confirming the importance of what you do."

3) Dr. Perkins and Steve Lawson are collaborating on a memoir of his life. "Memoir is a lot about reflecting on how other people affected your life."

4) "If you are practicing religion, you are serving self."

5) "God brings us to Himself individually, so we can serve Him corporately."

Here are some tips Steve Lawson gave about Memoir Writing:

1) It's slices and threads from your life with an overarching theme (forgiveness, a life transformed, etc.).

2) Know where you want to go and select the incidents.

3) Know your audience. What's important to them? Write to them.

4) What can you do in memoir? You're able to reflect on contemporary history. It's an eyewitness account. It's also a chance to look back.

I love the #5, which expresses God's care for us as individuals and as the Body of Christ. Do you see yourself only as an individual or as part of something bigger? Feel free to discuss any of the points above.

Philly Conference Report - Part III

The Agents' Panel yielded some interesting facts.
1. Their lives impact what they represent. If they're dealing with a serious issue in their families, the last thing they want is a book on that subject.
2. On choosing an agent - look at the agent's bio, what they've sold, who they represent.
3. Send out to many agents. Pray over what you're doing.
4. Comparative analysis is VERY important for non-fiction, but not so much for fiction.
5. Comparative analysis should include: How is it similar? How is it different? Compare to something well known. Give the date published, book name, info about it.
6. Most publishing houses automatically cut the agent/author checks.
I could probably write posts for the next year about all I learned at this conference. I'll have a smattering of information throughout the coming weeks, including some profound quotes.
What have you learned at conferences or from sending queries/proposals to agents and editors?

Philly Writers Conference - Part II

Marlene Bagnull's mission is to "Write His Answer." For 27 years, she's directed the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference. Her passion, dedication, and encouragement inspires countless writers to improve their craft and serve the Lord with their talents.

I selected Jeanette Windle's Continuing Session, "Focus on Fiction." Wow! If you ever get an opportunity to hear her teach, grab it. She writes political fiction, and her last novel, "Veiled Freedom," was nominated for a Christy Award.

Workshops I attended:

1) Rick Steele, from AMG, taught on Writing Tight and how to trim flabby writing.

2) Wanda Dyson's workshop on How to Write Gripping Suspense. I missed a chunk of this one because of an appointment.

3) Dr. John Perkins and Steve Lawson taught on Memoir Writing. I still have an interest in non-fiction and appreciated this class.

4) Bonnie Calhoun laced her class on Blogging, Facebook, and Twitter with a generous dose of humor.

5) Mike Dellosso, writer of supernatural suspense, talked about Creating Mood in Your Writing. I get goosebumps thinking about some of his examples.

6) Last, but not least, I signed up for Jesse Florea's (Focus on the Family) workshop on Begin & End With a Bang! He explored various types of leads and their effectiveness.

One thing I like about this conference is the availability of author/editor appointments. Depending on when you register and how many days you attend, you can get up to five 15-minute slots.

We all know how subjective writing evaluations and marketability assessments are, and this year was no exception. I got feedback ranging from: 1) Put this novel aside to 2) Send me the full manuscript. Of course, the last request came during my final appointment. I almost cancelled my meeting, but Clare convinced me to discuss the conflicting advice with the agent. I'm so glad I listened to her. Snoopy dance time!

I learned many lessons at this conference about perseverance and listening with my heart rather than my head. Ah, but that's a post for another day. What spiritual lessons have you learned at a conference?

Next Monday, I'll share some nuggets from the various keynote speakers and workshops.

Philly Writers Conference - Part 1

Left to right: Clare C., Me, and Kathy L.

Blogging friend, Susan Panzica, of Eternity Cafe, introduced me to Clare via email prior to the conference. Kathy and I met at one of my first conferences. She critiqued an early version of my book, and taught me where a story should start.

Here's a picture of Clare. We hit it off immediately. She also writes futuristic suspense. Currently, she's working on a book with a medical theme. Think Andromeda Strain here. Clare is not only a writer, but also a wife, mom, manager of a laboratory, and a sweet, thoughtful person.

Here's Kathy with her husband, Michael. While Kathy is working on a mystery, Michael is exploring various genres. He left the conference all fired up and ready to write. I thought it was so neat they shared a mutual love of writing.

Yay! These pictures came from my new-to-me digital camera. It only took me an hour to install the software and download the pictures. Don't laugh - that's a major accomplishment for me. This is the gal, whose MP3 player is still sitting in the packaging on her desk. Maybe I'll get brave and figure out how to set it up after my success with the camera.

Next Monday, I'll post Part II of the Conference. Oh, and did I mention that an agent requested my full manuscript? Stay tuned...

Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference - Part II

Even though the appointments were in the same building as the classes this year, I missed a couple of workshops. This gave me time to peruse the book, freebie, and ministry tables.

Six appointments were spread over the three days. I'll give you a list with a brief description of each one:

Sue Brower, Zondervan, wasn't looking for clients. She labeled my book Futuristic Fiction, which I liked.

Diana Flegal, an agent with Hartline, said she didn't handle my genre, but suggested several other possibilities. At the end of the appointment, she prayed with me.

Mike Dellosso, a blogging friend and multi-published author of Supernatural Suspense, checked out my first chapter and liked what he saw. He pointed out that I needed to get the year of my story into my one-sheet.

Cindy Sproles, of Devotions US, liked the content of my devotional. I need to tweak the format to match their guidelines and send it to her.

Kathy Mackel, multi-published author and screenwriter, caught a cliche and made several other suggestions to tighten my writing.

Jeanette Windle, multi-published author of Political Suspense and a representative of Kregel Publications, felt I should set my novel in the present rather than the future. She also said, "I needed to make it a meaner world," to make it more believable.

The remaining workshops I attended were, "Writing the Series," taught by Lindsay Guzzardo, of Guideposts, and "From Platform to Print," taught by Jeanette Windle. Lindsay covered subjects like how to know whether or not there's enough material to sustain a series, carrying the theme throughout the books, and the keynote statement or pitch.

Jeanette gave a wonderful lesson on structuring a non-fiction book and the two different kinds of writers: A Writer Who Speaks (someone more comfortable in their writing cave than in front of an audience) and A Speaker Who Writes (someone who's great on the speaker's platform, but struggles to get it all on paper).

So, my friends, what kind of writer are you? Are you more comfortable writing or speaking?

Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference - Part I

On Thursday morning, at 6:00 A.M. sharp, my friends, Eva and Leslie, arrived at my house. With all the girl talk, the one-hour drive seemed like ten minutes. After breakfast and the opening session, we split up to attend our classes.

The first Continuing Session began at 10:15 A.M. I chose, "Write From The Start," taught by Larry Leech, II. His relaxed, interactive teaching style put me at ease.

My favorite session centered on the fine art of interviewing. After teaching the principles of how to obtain and conduct an interview, he asked two classmates to demonstrate. We learned a lot about the interviewee and were impressed by the interviewer's skills. Larry then selected yours truly to interview the tough cookie (him), who wouldn't part with more than a basic answer. I surprised him with a tough question halfway through the interview, and got a "gold star" for my efforts. Such fun!

Majoring in the Minors, taught by Christa Parrish, focused on how to flesh out secondary characters and weed out those, who did not add to the story. She mentioned a manuscript that had several characters with names starting with "J." Something in my brain clicked, and I began a list of my characters. Oops, six of them started with that letter...a little confusing and weird for the reader.

Have you interviewed anyone over the phone or in person? What was the experience like for you?

Are all of you mentally checking your manuscript for names beginning with the same letter? I found it surprising that my mind gravitated to so many "J" names.

Tomorrow, I'll do an extra post to finish up my report on the Philly Conference. Have a great day!

Off to the Philly Conference

I'll do my best to moderate comments when I get home at night. The blog posts are scheduled, so I hope you'll stop by and comment as usual.

Have a great week!

How To Beat The Post-Conference Blues

So, you did it. You poured over the conference brochure, registered, made travel and hotel reservations, and emptied your piggy bank to pay for it all. God spoke to your heart through te speakers and other conferees. The whirlwind days are behind you, and you're home again. Now what?

The initial excitement has been replaced by re-entry into everyday life. Work, family, home, church, and other responsibilities pull you in a hundred directions. How are you going to accomplish all your writing goals? Your conference balloon bursts with a bang. What have you gotten yourself into?

Editor A wants your article with the necessary changes ASAP, while Editor B needs 3 devotionals within a month. Several bloggers want to meet for lunch, while 2 newspaper editors are clamoring for testimonies. How do you sort everything out and fit them into your already impossible-to-handle schedule?

Calm down. Take a deep breath. Maybe several deep breaths. Spend some quality time with the Lord and your family. Slow the pace. There's an old Pennsylvania Dutch saying: "The hurrieder I go, the behinder I get." Trying to rush through tasks often causes more problems than it solves.

After the initial flurry of activity subsides, pull out your conference notes, and list your tasks in order of deadline and importance. The bloggers' lunch can go to the bottom of the priority list, while Editor A gets top billing. What items get your creative juices flowing? While all those freebies you picked up at the conference are tantalizing, they can wait until your life settles back into a more normal routine. When you're watching TV, you can pull one or two out and decide whether or not you want to submit to those markets.

Perhaps you received a critique at the conference. Your work-in-progress needs some polishing. Be sure to carve out some time to put what you've learned into practice. Oh, and don't forget to unpack all those craft books you stuffed into your suitcase and almost got a hernia lugging around. They'll refresh your memory.

There. You now have a plan. You're ready to sit down at your computer. With all your ideas, at least you won't be wondering what on earth to write.

He Watches Over Me - Part I

When I was growing up, "My Heavenly Father Watches Over Me," was a popular Christian song. During the Philadelphia conference, I witnessed my Heavenly Father take care of me down to the last detail.

My prayers concerning the conference included that all transportation matters would be resolved, that I'd find favor with God and man, and that the Lord would bring about divine connections with other people. Below is a sampling of the magnificent way He orchestrated the answers to my petitions.

Transportation - No problem -- or so I thought. I planned to commute via my car. A friend asked if she could ride along with me because she wasn't sure how to get there. I looked forward to spending time with her.

A problem with her leg caused her to re-think her plans. She would follow me in her car. This way, she could leave early or rest in the car if necessary.

Two days before the conference, my car was making noises. I don't like noises. A quick trip to the mechanic confirmed my brakes were on their way out. It was too close to the conference to have the repairs done, so an appointment was made for the following Tuesday (tomorrow). I prayed about the matter, and told the Lord I trusted Him to get me to the conference safely.

My friend arrived Thursday morning. My car was already packed and ready to go. When I greeted her, she asked me if I'd like to ride with her. She had no prior knowledge of my predicament. She had a navigator and I didn't have to drive my brake-challenged car.

Another benefit of this arrangement was unexpected. While I feel strong day-to-day, the conference is fast-paced. I was ready to drop by Thursday night. The drive would have taxed my strength even further.

Since my friend lives in Delaware, it made sense for her to go straight home from the conference. This meant I'd have to drive on Saturday. Friday at lunch, a woman sat at our table. We discovered she lives close to me. Arrangements were made, and I soon had a ride home for Saturday.

I'd like to tell you more about how the Lord blessed me during the conference, but this post is getting too long. Check out Part II on Wednesday.

One-Sheets

In my travels on the Internet, I've seen repeated references to one-sheets. Unable to locate an example that was not in pdf form (Adobe Reader), I contacted Randy Ingermanson, at Advanced Fiction Writing. He generously agreed to do a blog post on the subject. (Note: My Adobe Reader isn't functional.)

Two main questions nagged at me. What is a one-sheet, and is it optional or required? Randy's post and the comments of other writers gave me the answers I needed. To summarize, a one-sheet contains your name, contact information, a professional-quality photo, some details about your publishing credits, and information about your book. It is not a requirement, but editors and agents occasionally ask if you have one available.

While a one-sheet is not mandatory, there are advantages. This is Conference season, which means editor/agent appointments. Since I get nervous and tend to stumble through a meeting, a one sheet could provide a safety net. In the same way a writing prompt triggers creativity, a one-sheet gets the conversation rolling.

I'm glad the one-sheet isn't a required element, but I can see how it's a useful tool. Last night, I drafted mine. Anything that helps my confidence level is worth the effort.

A big "thank you" to Randy and all those who commented. A link to his blog is located on my blogroll.

Conference Survival Tips

One year I waited until the last minute to gather all I needed for a writers' conference. This resulted in a less than stellar and somewhat nerve-wracking experience. So rather than focus on the externals of conference preparation, I thought a post on how I'm getting ready spiritually, mentally, and emotionally might encourage you.

This year:

1. I'm giving myself the gift of time. No, of course I can't add days to my life. However, I can prioritize so I'm not tearing my hair out at the last minute. When I've had adequate preparation time in the past, my confidence level soared, and I felt better physically. No conference-cramming for me this year.

2. I'm paying attention to the details. Learning from past bumps and bruises, as well as other people's experience, saves a lot of grief.

Watching countless ice-skating competitions has driven home one simple fact. A fraction of a point can spell the difference between success or coming in second. After getting the basics down, the skaters perfect their artistry and work on the finer points of their performances. As a writer, I need to get the big-picture stuff to the place where it's automatic and then work on those special touches that make my writing unique.

3. I'm praying and asking others to pray for me. This sounds like a given, but it's easy for me to get wrapped up in the mechanics and forget the obvious.

The best stress buster of all involves sitting at the Master's feet. Jesus said to ask and we'd receive that our joy may be full. James urged us to ask God for wisdom if we were lacking in that area, and He would give it liberally. Not long ago, I was obsessing about a knotty situation. It finally dawned on me that I hadn't brought my concerns to the Lord and asked for His wisdom. The moment I asked, a Scripture surfaced in my memory, giving me the direction I needed. I could have saved myself a lot of turmoil if I'd asked sooner.

So, a major part of my conference preparation is prayer. I'm asking for wisdom, direction, and God's favor. I've also requested friends and family to agree with me in prayer.

Father, I ask You to give each writer attending a conference a new perspective. May they walk with you each step of the way, depending on Your loving care and grace. May they experience Your peace through every moment of the day and receive all You have in store for them. In Jesus' name, amen.