Late Night Chats will be offered Thursday and Friday nights beginning at 8:30 p.m. or 9:00 p.m. These sessions are open to all Conference attendees and offer a wide variety of subjects in a casual and interactive environment. In order to help us gauge room sizes, you will be asked to indicate on your registration form, which Late Night Chats you'll be attending.
Thursday - Late Night Chats - (you may choose one of the following) Thursday: 8:30-9:30pm
WORKSHOPS TEMPLATE
Zondervan: Inspirational Market Trends
LNC1 Level: A-E Hosted By: Sue Brower & Andy Meisenheimer Description:
Zondervan editors will provide insights into core Inspirational genres as well as mainstream genres. What’s selling and where is it selling? After reviewing these areas, they will open the chat up for dialog with participants
Out of the Slush Pile: How to Sell to Steeple Hill
How to go from slush submissions to contracted author for Steeple Hill: One Steeple Hill editor and two or three newly-minted Steeple Hill authors share their stories and take questions.
From Bleak to Chic: Dress for Success
LNC3 Level: A-E Hosted By: Kelly Mortimer Description:
You’ll exude confidence while pitching, public speaking, signing books, etc., when dapper dresser Kelly Mortimer helps you discover the appropriate clothing to dress your body for success whether you’re short, tall, thin, curvy, or ... unmentionable!
Pitching Your Proposal Agent Panel
LNC4 Level: A-E Hosted By: Chip MacGregor, Steve Laube Description:
Authors will bring their one-sheets into the session, where three agents will review them and offer immediate feedback.
Whether you've just finished that first book, you're a veteran writer who's going it alone and wonders what to expect from an agent, or somewhere in between, this is the late night chat for you. Hartline Literary agents will share their personal perspectives. Joyce's background in sales and marketing gives her a unique knowledge of the book industry. Tamela and Terry are both award winning authors. Tamela is well-published in romance and nonfiction, while Terry has keys to that impossible-to-crack young adult market. Learn about the agent/author/publisher relationship in this lively discussion. We look forward to your questions!
The Big Questions That Authors Never Ask...But Should
LNC7 Level: A-E Hosted By: Allen Arnold - Thomas Nelson Description:
A lively discussion on the big questions that authors never ask publishing houses…but should. AND the often-asked questions savvy authors would be best served to try and avoid. Think you know which are which? Don’t be so sure!
Tyndale: A Publisher's Perspective: from Manuscript to Book
Completing your manuscript and getting a contract may be two of the most difficult steps on the path to publication, but some of the most important steps happen between turning your manuscript in and when it appears on shelves. We'll talk candidly about covers, format, endorsements, back cover copy, marketing and public relations. We'll also talk briefly about how your book is sold into stores and how to gauge whether or not it was successful.
Friday - Late Night Chats - (you may choose one of the following) Friday: 9:00-10:00pm
In this panel discussion, published authors in a variety of mystery sub-genres--from humorous whodunits to breath-catching suspense--will reveal the clues you need to craft a killer mystery. (Note: Jill Elizabeth Nelson is also on the list of panelists, since attendance by all of the above is not certain)
Brainstorming Blitz
LNC10 Level: A-E Hosted By: Susan May Warren & Rachel Hauck Description:
Are you stuck in your plotting? Is your character flat and lifeless? Do your spiritual issues seem too shallow? This informal, fun and interactive late night chat with award-winning authors Susan May Warren and Rachel Hauck will give you tools and questions to ask to jumpstart your brainstorming process, as well as help participants with their current story dilemmas. An expanded chat from last years popular event – Brainstorming Blitz, second Down will build on last year’s techniques, offer more brainstorming strategies, and once again tackle story problems in a live brainstorming event. Students should come prepared not only with their story question, but with a mind and heart open to helping your fellow writers.
An expanded chat from last year’s popular event – Brainstorming Blitz, second down will build on last year’s techniques, offer more brainstorming strategies, and once again tackle story problems in a live brainstorming event.
Through a variety of “Top Chef” inspired demonstrations, (complete with kitchen utensils and décor), multi-published authors Janice Thompson and Kathleen Y’Barbo will teach students how to “stir up” an appetizing novel, sure to tempt the taste buds of any editor.
Speculative Fiction
LNC12 Level: A-E Hosted By: Jeff Gerke Description:
An opportunity for the sci fi writers to get together and talk shop.
Writing Buddies
LNC13 Level: A-E Hosted By: Cara Putman and Gina Conroy Description:
Writing Buddies are the people who can carry you through dark valleys, keep you moving, and celebrate the victories with you. Come learn strategies for finding and keeping them.
Design & Marketing Demystified
LNC14 Level: A-E Hosted By: Dineen Miller Description:
Whether you are published or unpublished, marketing is a vital part of your publishing process. Many writers and authors are inexperienced or uncomfortable with designing and/or choosing marketing materials that are both consistent with their brand or image and effective in selling the product. But marketing doesn’t have to be the raging beast we sometimes fear is out to devour us, as well as our wallets.
From targeting your market to understanding consistency in your online and printed promotions, this course will arm you with design basics to help you make wise decisions and choices.
Author Allie Pleiter—who’s had to work on as many as four books simultaneously--shares the nuts and bolts of how to manage your muse, set goals and deadlines, and successfully command the process of professional creativity.
A big thanks goes out to the 2008 ACFW Conference Sponsors!
Click on the logos to visit our sponsors' sites and learn more about their businesses and services.
