As part of your conference registration options, you will be given the choice of one workshop from each of the following sessions, for a total of three Elective Workshop choices. Please review the options below and have your selections in mind prior to completing the Conference Registration Form.
As you review the agenda you will see that each class is marked with a Level. These Levels are a tool to help you determine which classes will be most beneficial FOR YOU. So read the definitions below, and then grab your highlighter to mark the workshops and sessions you most want to attend. Also notice that Level E classes have requirements the presenters have set for attending those classes. All other classes are open to anyone; the tracks are merely to help you determine the type of instruction to expect.
Level Definitions
Level A: Writers who are starting out, who have attended 1-3 conferences, have completed 0-3 manuscripts, and are getting a handle on the publishing industry would benefit most from these classes. Classes will cover the basics elements of novel and proposal writing as well as how to submit finished manuscripts, and meet agents and editors.
Level B: Writers who have been studying the craft for a while and have become strong writers, are receiving some requests for full manuscripts, but are getting rejected and haven't acquired an agent will benefit from this track. Classes will delve deeper into strengthening the elements of a good manuscript and proposal as well as help identify the areas a writer needs to improve to help advance his/her career.
Level C: Writers who have gotten requests for complete manuscripts with revisions from agents and editors, and have possibly made it to committee but are still receiving rejections will benefit from these classes. Your writing is strong, you're ready for publication, editors and agents are watching you, but that elusive contract has not yet been offered. In these classes you will learn the next step to publication as well as continue to strengthen your prose and publishing knowledge.
Level D: Writers who are published or recently contracted will get the most from these classes. You're still struggling with balancing your life with your new writing career and trying not to be stressed while meeting deadlines. Classes will also cover organization, marketing, public relations and speaking, and the business side of writing.
Level E: Published authors with several books will benefit most from the community of writers gathered in these classes. While the main goal of these workshops is to learn about craft or marketing in a new or improved way, it will also be a gathering place for published writers to exchange ideas.
Friday - Elective Workshops - 2:15 pm – 3:15 pm - Track A - (you may choose one of the following)
Using examples from mainstream and Christian fiction, Sharon defines five different methods for ending a chapter while addressing issues of scene intensity and rhythm.
Workshop Title: Elves, Demons, and Space Marines (WS2)
Level: A Hosted By: Jeff Gerke Description:
Jeff will explore the joys and hazards of writing Christian science fiction, fantasy, and other “weird” fiction.
Workshop Title: Those Pesky Motivations and Reactions (WS3)
Level: B Hosted By: Randy Ingermanson Description:
You’ve heard him talk about those pesky MRUs. Now come learn from the pro how to utilize MRUs to propel your writing and story forward.
Workshop Title: Make Your Point Without Preaching (WS4)
Level: B Hosted By: Virginia Smith Description:
In this workshop, Ginny will help you learn how to tell your story—and make your point—without crossing the line between storytelling and sermonizing.
Workshop Title: Up All Night Suspense (WS5)
Level: B Hosted By: Terri Blackstock Description:
Ready to learn how to keep your readers up all night, begging for more from your suspesne. Then join the author of up-all-night fiction, best-selling suspense author Terri Blackstock as she shares her secrets to writing page-turners.
Workshop Title: Climbing Higher – the next Step on Your Writing Journey (WS6)
Level: C-D Hosted By: Sharon Hinck Description:
For writers who feel like they are going in circles, this class provides trail markers to get you back on track by evaluating where you are on the trail toward publishing your novels, discovering gear you might want to add to your pack, and learning where to find your footing for the next steep part of the climb.
Workshop Title: The Ensemble Cast (WS7)
Level: C Hosted By: Rene Gutteridge Description:
This workshop will explore techniques for effectively using an ensemble cast in a full-length novel. If you’ve read any of Rene’s books, you know she’s a master at this, so come learn her tips.
Friday - Elective Workshops - 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm - Track B - (you may choose one of the following)
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Workshop Title: Story Structure (WS8)
Level: A Hosted By: Camy Tang Description:
Whether you’re a pantser or plotter, this class will help you learn the different types of story structures that can help you plot your new storyline or revise your finished manuscript.
Workshop Title: Lost in Novel Land (WS9)
Level: A Hosted By: Susan May Warren Description:
How do you engage your reader into a story, capture their imagination from the first page, and immerse them in a fictional world? It’s more than setting, fashion and time period. Creating StoryWorld is a technique used by classic authors like CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, even Jane Austin, an element of storytelling that is often overlooked, but which can take a mediocre novel to award-winning. This class will look at examples from best-selling books, and dissect the elements of StoryWorld. Then, class participants will utilize hands-on activities to learn to develop their own StoryWorld, and apply them to their novel.
Workshop Title: Is it a Ministry or a Profession? The Real Life of a Christian Writer (WS10)
Level: B Hosted By: Rene Gutteridge Description:
In this workshop Rene explores what it means to be a Christian writer in the context of a profession. We’ll talk about what makes it a ministry and what doesn’t, and how to balance the spirituality of the craft with the knowledge of good business practices. We will also discuss such things as money and competition.
Workshop Title: How to Plot a Character-Driven Story (WS11)
Level: B Hosted By: Roxanne Henke Description:
Roxanne will teach an in-depth plotting method that will infuse a novel with plot AND deep emotion.
Workshop Title: Top 10 Strategies for Becoming More Productive (WS12)
Level: C-D Hosted By: Joseph Bentz Description:
For writers who feel frustrated at how little they get accomplished during their writing day, this session offers tips and techniques from successful writers on how to improve productivity.
Workshop Title: Optimizing the Author / Editor Relationship (WS13)
Level: D Hosted By: Allen Arnold Description:
Discover the primary signs of an optimal Author / Editor or Author / Publisher relationship - many of which are counter-intuitive. Session led by Allen Arnold (Fiction Publisher at Thomas Nelson) and a best-selling Christian Fiction author.
Veteran authors who’ve been publishing for over twenty years will discuss the things they’ve learned to survive and succeed in this competitive field.
Friday - Elective Workshops - 4:45 pm – 5:45 pm - Track C - (you may choose one of the following)
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Workshop Title: No Cookie Cutters! (WS15)
Level: A Hosted By: Kim Sawyer Description:
In this class participants will explore the elements needed to make characters three-dimensional rather than flat using their own works-in-progress as the basis for study.
Workshop Title: Synopsis - Writing for the Summary Impaired (WS16)
Level: B Hosted By: Jeff Gerke Description:
Do you struggle with boiling down your 200+ page novel into a couple pages? You’re not alone. You can be a great novelist and still not know how to write a decent 1-page synopsis--come to this class to learn how.
Workshop Title: Anatomy of a Great Story (WS17)
Level: B Hosted By: Susan Meissner Description:
There are thousands of ideas and processes for creating a great story but just one basic five-point framework for fleshing it out. Susan will share her techniques in this class.
Workshop Title: You Write Like a Girl - Handling the Male POV (WS18)
Level: C Hosted By: Rachel Hauck Description:
We’ve all read them. Books where the guy just didn’t sound like a guy. In this workshop Rachel will explore how to sound like a guy if writing in his point of view.
Workshop Title: Writing in Living Color (WS19)
Level: C Hosted By: Sharon Ewell Foster Description:
You’ve learned to build a scene, to tackle a chapter; you can learn to read and write multiculturally. Sharon will show you how to add richness to your characters as you write in living color.
Workshop Title: Tips from a Publicist: How to Get Ink, Airtime and Other Coverage for Your Books (WS20)
Level: D-E Hosted By: Rusty Shelton Description:
Requirement: At least one contracted or published book in the prior three years.
This discussion will cover a number of topics, including why publicity is important, how the process works (from the perspective of the author, publicist and media), how to set goals for your promotional campaign, tips for effectively working with a publicity firm (and red flags to watch out for) and how to get the most out of the coverage you acquire.
Workshop Title: Multiple Deadlines: Blessing or Bane (WS21)
Level: D-E Hosted By: Susan Page Davis Description:
Requirement: At least two contracted books in the prior two years.
You were so excited to get that first contract. And then the second and third. But now you’re confronted with colliding deadlines that leave you wanting to pull your hair out. You’ve strived to reach multi-published status, and now your deadlines are making you frantic. Come to this class to learn tips and strategies for how to juggle it all.
Saturday - Elective Workshops - 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm - Track D - (you may choose one of the following)
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Workshop Title: Publishing 101 (WS22)
Level: A Hosted By: Sue Brower Description:
How does a publisher acquire books? Once acquired, what are the steps that will take the book from manuscript to printed page? What is expected from you the author? What should you expect from your publisher? These and many more qeustions will be answered in this workship for the beginning writing professional. Learn how to present your novel to an editor--how can you be more professional and make an impression? We will also talk about the different resource that are available to help you manage your career.
Workshop Title: YA Palooza - Writing for Teens (WS23)
Level: A Hosted By: Sarah Anne Sumpolec Description:
Whether you are having angst-ridden dreams of writing a YA novel or are already deep into your plot, there are some pitfalls and questions you should consider as you venture into this YA world - because no, it’s not just a shorter novel - it’s YA, baby.
Workshop Title: Plot Shots (WS24)
Level: B Hosted By: Janice Thompson Description:
In this hands-on class for intermediate writers, multi-published Christian author Janice Thompson will give students a “photographic” approach to plotting their novels (any genre) in twelve easy “photography shots” (or “steps”) and will lead the students through those steps to completely plot a novel together.
Workshop Title: Writing the Inspirational Romance (WS25)
Level: B Hosted By: Margaret Daley Description:
In this workshop, Margaret will look at the different aspects of writing an inspirational romance from the beginning to the end.
Workshop Title: Don't Wear Your Emotions on Your Sleeve: Advanced Techniques for Writing Emotion (WS26)
Level: C Hosted By: Susan May Warren Description:
A reader doesn’t want to be told what to think and feel. They want to discover the story along with the characters -- embrace the lessons, experience the pain, rejoice with the victories. The best stories are the ones that invite the reader into the emotional life of the characters, the ones where the readers are invested into a story they can’t put down. But how does an author write emotions that draw the reader in and allows them to experience the story? In this class, participants will learn the different levels of writing emotions, and how to take their writing from surface deep to the kind that engages the heart and touches the soul of the reader.
Workshop Title: Working with an Agent (WS27)
Level: C Hosted By: Steve Laube Description:
More than a “do I need an agent” class, but an exploration into maximizing that relationship.
Intended for those curious about the agent-author relationship, those in the market for an agent or those seeking ways to work better with their current agent.
The agent-author relationship has its own unique dynamics. We will be discussing communication, expectaion, frustration, and even elimination.
Workshop Title: Marketing to Public Libraries (WS28)
Level: D Hosted By: Judy Gann Description:
Requirement: At least on published or contracted book.
Participants will gain information and tips on promoting Christian fiction in the public library: locating and connecting with libraries, presenting your books in a “library friendly” manner, and partnering with libraries for author events and writing workshops.
Saturday - Elective Workshops - 5:15 pm – 6:15 pm - Track E - (you may choose one of the following)
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Workshop Title: Let's Talk Dialogue (WS29)
Level: A Hosted By: Donita Paul Description:
Dialogue is a key component of any novel. What can you do to make yours sound more realistic and advance the story? Donita will share the ins and outs of making your dialogue sound right.
Workshop Title: Painting Historicals with Accuracy (WS30)
Level: B Hosted By: Lena Nelson Dooley Description:
Historicals may take place in another time and place, but they still need to be realisitc. This class will help you find the needed details to make your novel more authentic.
Workshop Title: Weaving Characters Together (WS31)
Level: B Hosted By: Nancy Moser Description:
Page-turning plots can be created by intersecting the storylines of your characters in amazing ways. This class will help you identify ways to do that in your writing.
Workshop Title: Creating a Publishing Brand (WS32)
Level: C-E Hosted By: Chip MacGregor Description:
It seems like everybody in publishing is talking about "branding" these days -- but few seem to define it and explain to an author how to actually DO it. In this workshop, longtime industry insider Chip MacGregor will help you DEFINE what branding is, explore how to IDENTIFY and RESEARCH it, examine how an author REFINES a brand over time, and help you take steps to DETERMINE and LAUNCH your publishing brand.
Branding is an essential step to take in the new world of publishing. Chip has helped numerous popular novelists define and direct their writing brand. Plan to join us as we explore this important and often misunderstood topic.
Workshop Title: CBA v. ABA (WS33)
Level: C Hosted By: Dave Lambert Description:
Do you wonder where your novels fit? Then come to this class and learn from experienced editor Dave Lambert how to tell exactly the best fit for your books.
Workshop Title: The Power of Premise (WS34)
Level: D-E Hosted By: Natasha Kern Description:
It can be challenging for even published writers to understand how premise drives their novels and how the internal and external story must work together—how EVERYTHING depends on this. When the indwelling story establishes that place where plot and character intersect, then a novel becomes an art form rather than simply accomplished craftsmanship.
Workshop Title: Style Inventory (WS35)
Level: D-E Hosted By: Margie Lawson Description:
Margie Lawson shares tried and true techniques on how to work with your style to improve your books.
A big thanks goes out to the 2008 ACFW Conference Sponsors!
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