Workshops

Click here for a schedule of the workshops.

Brand You—Called to Be a Writer presented by Holley Gerth. The publishing world is no longer about individual projects but instead personal brands. Understanding what that means and how to create your brand is an essential piece of moving forward as a writer. Holley walks you through a process that will help you use your gifts to the fullest.

Connecting with Culture in Print and Pixels presented by Jim Watkins. Paul's ministry in Athens (Acts 17) provides a model for effectively understanding and communicating to today's culture. Jim will share biblical and behavioral principles from his book, Communicate to Change Lives.

Discovering Creative Nonfiction presented by Shannon Marchese. Nonfiction can engage and inform the reader with structure and storytelling techniques that pack the same wallop as great novels do. Learn the difference between memoir and biography, and discover your voice in your nonfiction work.

Essentials of the NonFiction Book presented by Steve Laube. What are the basic elements of the great nonfiction book? What essentials are publishers looking for that make or break the quality and the effectiveness of a book? Learn from the perspective of a long-time pro in the industry just what is the foundation for a quality manuscript that will reach today’s audiences.

Expanding Ministry through Writing presented by Les Stobbe. You can be published widely! This workshop will explore the many opportunities to turn writing skills into evangelizing and discipling not only your world but that of the nation. We’ll examine the skills foundational to this expanded role as a writer.

Is Your Manuscript Ready to Edit? presented by Andy Scheer. Copy-editing is vital, but that’s your final step. First comes a ruthless checking of what the piece seeks to accomplish, that the presentation suits the purpose, and that no key ingredients are absent, then comes the polishing.

Nonfiction for Real-life Women presented by Kelli Trujillo. How do you connect with female audiences—with their struggles, their dreams? How can you help them connect with God? Drawing from her experience at Kyria.com (Christianity Today's women's resource), Kelli helps you be relevant to the largest audience in the CBA.

Periodical Power—The Successful Article presented by Andy Scheer. Learn principles and practices for writing two of the most common—and publishable—types of articles for websites, newspapers, and magazine: how tos and reviews. No matter your level of skill and expertise, these types of articles offer abundant opportunities.

Pet Peeves in Fiction Writing presented by Shannon Marchese. Wondering what turns a fiction editor off when he or she looks at your first pages? Find out what editors really think about head-hopping, purple prose, clichéd dialogue, and recycled plots. Learn how to avoid editorial landmines on the road toward publication.

Psst! Wanna Be a Journalist? presented by Alan Miller. Staff cutbacks at the nation’s newspapers have created new opportunities for freelance writers. All you need is a pencil, a tape recorder, and an understanding of the English language. Alan Miller, a veteran print journalist, will give you a 45-minute crash course on how to get your foot inside the newsroom door—and your byline on page 1.

Small Words, Big Difference presented by Holley Gerth. In today’s world it doesn’t always take a lot of words to make an impact. Sometimes, less truly is more. Holley will share how you can expand your ministry and writing career through greeting cards, devotional books, blog posts and other short content.

The Essential Community of Writing presented by Keith Drury. No authentic writer is an island—Christians especially must write not only to a community, but from one. Dr. Keith Drury will challenge you to go deeper into this important stage of maturity, and discover the personal growth, skills, and joy that come only by helping others write.

The Plot Skeleton presented by Angela Hunt. Angela teaches us how to lay down the "bones" of a story (or the nonfiction account of a person's life) so that it will resonate with readers. The plot skeleton works with every sort of storytelling, from picture books to screenplays to epic novels. 

The Power of Independent Publishing presented by Terry Whalin. Discover five terrible reasons to use an Independent Publisher, ten reasons to work with an Independent Publisher, and finally seven keys to success with an Independent Publisher. This workshop is practical and crammed with insight and resources.

The Power to Evoke Emotions presented by Angela Hunt. Whether you're writing fiction or nonfiction, your writing will be more effective and powerful if you can affect the emotions of your reader. Angela will demonstrate and teach techniques about how to leave your audience emotionally moved.

The Winning Proposal—Find Your Champion presented by Terry Whalin. Editors read book proposals, not manuscripts. Terry knows exactly what is needed to secure a book contract; he knows that proposals often don’t include the critical elements. This session includes practical how-to information about proposal writing from the editor’s perspective.

To Be Published (Session 1/3):  Right Idea and Audience presented by Lin Johnson. Learn how every manuscript begins with an idea, but that idea needs to be focused for a specific audience.

To Be Published (Session 2/3):  Structure for Impact presented by Lin Johnson. Learn how to grab your audience’s attention from the start, develop your content, and satisfyingly conclude.

To Be Published (Session 3/3):  What Editors Want presented by Lin Johnson. Learn how to format your manuscript, understand the rights you're selling, and write queries or proposals.

Trend-spotting—If It’s Hot, You're Too Late! presented by Steve Laube. If it’s hot now, you are too late! Editors and agents have to act like advance scouts looking for the next “ambush” or “oasis.” What does this mean for you as a writer? Steve takes a hard look at the crucial influences in publishing and the market, while engaging the difficult question, "How do you anticipate the trends to lead the way, instead of follow?" Explore just how an eye to the future should affect your writing today.

Will an Agent Get You Published? presented by Les Stobbe. A publishing industry veteran and agent answers tough questions: When do you need an agent? What kind of agent do you need? What can and cannot an agent do for you? How do you find a trustworthy agent? Learn how to break through the publisher’s “picket fence.”

Write From the Heart presented by Lawrence Wilson. Finding your voice, refining your message, and moving others to accept truth: God has given you a unique voice. But for the world to hear it, you must develop the writer within you. This inspirational workshop will give you the practical advice and confidence you need.

Writing for Children—Nuts & Bolts presented by Peggy Schafer. Peggy pulls out the basic essential tools you need in order to pursue children's publishing, especially for 2- to 8-year-olds. Lean about different format options, proper word counts, submission strategies, and how to present yourself and your proposal in the best light.

Writing for Life Change presented by Lawrence Wilson. We do not write merely to entertain or persuade—we aim to change lives. Whether you are writing a devotional, a Bible study, or a nonfiction book, you can strengthen your writing by learning how to lead others to the point of making life-changing decisions.

Writing with Banana Peels (with Humorous Appeal) presented by Jim Watkins. Studies have shown that humor seriously increases attention, comprehension, and retention in communication. An author, college instructor, and practitioner of the subject, Jim will share twenty strategies for increasing the effectiveness of one's writing using humor.

Your Writing, His Word—Crafting Bible Studies presented by Kelli Trujillo. How is it that some Bible study resources invigorate our spiritual life while others… well, simply bore us to death? Kelli will unpack her “editor’s checklist” to help you understand and apply the best practices for crafting top-notch Bible studies and devotionals.

*Workshops are subject to change.