To promote Christian Fiction through developing the skills of its authors, educating them in the market, and serving as an advocate in the industry.
From airport newsstands to Newsweek, Christian fiction continues to grow in popularity, resonating with readers looking for both faith and fiction. The growth of the genre has birthed many new writers, as evidenced by the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).
ACFW has nearly 2000 members worldwide, consisting of authors, editors, agents, publicists
and aspiring writers and was organized
in 2000 under the name of American Christian Romance Writers (ACRW).
In 2004, the group changed the name to American Christian Fiction
Writers (ACFW) in response to the diverse needs of its membership,
who write across many genres.
The
group offers a variety of services and benefits to members in
an effort to fulfill its mission to encourage writers of Christian
fiction, develop their skills, educate them in the market, and
be a fellowship for writers of like interests. Members are invited
to join an e-mail loop and participate in the forums, both of
which provide venues for discussions about writing and the business
of publishing. Mentor groups, critique groups, and monthly online
workshops offer aspiring authors the training and interaction
they need to develop their craft to a publishable level. Further,
members can join regional and local groups and develop relationships
with other writers in their area.
Published authors enjoy the promotional benefits provided by the group which include announcing new book releases, the opportunity to have a book featured in the ACFW Book Club, and the Featured Author interviews published on the web site, which attracts thousands of visitors each month.
In addition, ACFW hosts an annual national conference that has become the
premier event among Christian fiction writers and other industry
professionals for the quality classes and networking opportunities provided
there. The first national conference, held in Kansas City, Missouri, in 2002
attracted 100 attendees. In September 2010 ACFW expects over 500 conferees
to come to Indianapolis, where Tim Downs (shown left) will serve as keynote
speaker. Past conference keynote speakers include Francine Rivers, Robin Lee
Hatcher, Karen Kingsbury, Karen Ball, James Scott Bell, and Angela Hunt, all popular,
best-selling authors in the inspirational market.
Download a printable information
sheet about ACFW to take to your writer's group.
