OC Christian Writers Conference 2012 Memoir Contest Winners

June 14th, 2012 Lynne.Leite

Dani Nichols, Suzanne Makshanoff, Jey Samuel

The OC Christian Writers Conference sponsored its second Memoir Contest at the 2012 conference.  Writers attending the conference had an opportunity to submit 15 pages of their memoir to compete for cash prizes of $250 for first place, $150 for second place and $75 for third.  Winners were recognized at the conference during Saturday evening’s award ceremony.  The winners for this year’s memoir contest were:

1st place: Jey Samuel for Feel Awesome

Feel Awesome is an account of my journey starting as a young boy growing up in India, and how God’s faithfulness guided me through challenges as He took me to London, Calgary, Vancouver, New York and Los Angeles.

2nd place: Suzanne Makshanoff for Walking With God During Infertility

Walking With God During Infertility addresses the hopelessness, resentment, confusion, guilt, frustration, depression, inadequacy, and anger that accompanies a failure to conceive and tests marriages to their limits. Walking With God During Infertility addresses these topics and others, using biblical Scripture to heal the soul of the reader. Read more about Suzanne’s writing at www.mybutterflytestimony.com.

3rd place: Dani Nichols for Grace, Courage and Horsehair

To learn more about Dani and her writing projects, visit www.wranglerdani.com/blog.

Congratulations to ALL of this year’s Memoir Contest winners!

If you would like to learn more about the OC Christian Writers Conference, visit www.occwf.org.

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Beverly Bush Smith Contest Award Winners

June 11th, 2012 Lynne.Leite

 

The Beverly Bush Smith Contest

Since 2011, attendees of the OC Christian Writers Conference have had the opportunity to enter a very special contest that honors a very special lady – Beverly Bush Smith.

As a way to memorialize her spirit and her willingness to help new writers, The Beverly Bush Smith Aspiring Writer Award was inaugarated. This award will consist of an annual scholarship, or scholarships as funds allow, in Beverly’s name acknowledging a new writer that Bev would have singled out to help and encourage.

The contest was open to all attendees who had never been published in their genre.  All genres were considered and judging was based on five pages of the writer’s work.  The first place winner won a prize of  $200, second place, $100 and third place $50.  It was a difficult contest to judge – the submissions were top notch – and so we have also included the honorary mentions to the winners list below.  Congratulations one and all for taking a step of faith and submitting your work – what a talented group of writers! Bev would be proud!

And the winners were:

1st Place–Susan McFarland for Mended Hearts

2nd Place—Diana Mae Kightlinger for Little Girl Lost

3rd Place—Michelle Arch for Time of Death

Honorary Mentions:

Natalie Sharpston for The Rocks Cry Out

Rita Turner for Wings of Joy

Karen Ellison for Diary of a Cowry Shell

Heather Zuber-Harshman for Deceived by a Name

About Beverly Bush Smith

In 2009, our beloved Co-Director Emeritus, Beverly Bush Smith, went home to be with the Lord. To everyone who knew her, Beverly exuded class, spirituality, and passion in all of her efforts–as a Christian woman, a mother, a friend, a writer, and a board member of OCCWF. We all miss her.

Beverly was a noted journalist with the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, and Orange County Register. A resident of Lake Forest, CA, Beverly was celebrated for her cooking and restaurant reviews. In addition, she was a beloved Bible teacher and women’s speaker, avid skier, hiker, and swimmer–plus an award-winning sailor. Her family cherished her as a loving wife, mother, and grandmother.

In addition to newspaper writing, Beverly was an author of books. Her titles include Uniquely You, Change for the Better, Caught in the Middle, Wings of a Dove (from her Zoe Journal series), and Evidence of Things Unseen.

No matter how successful she was in her own writing career, Bev never lost her great compassion for other writers, especially new, aspiring ones, and her desire to help them find their own voice, market, and ministry. That’s why she spent years actively helping Orange County writers and leading our organization. Indeed, until her death, she continued to help OCCWF as an official adviser, encouraging and inspiring us with her passion for the Lord, for people, and for writing.

 

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Congratulations to the 2012 Fiction Writers Contest Winners

June 5th, 2012 Lynne.Leite

It was an exciting time at the OC Christian Writers Conference this year.  There were thought-provoking key note speeches from all of our speakers and rogue critiques that benefited not only the writers of the pieces being critiqued but everyone who had the chance to sit in on the evaluations.  And, of course, there were writing contests.  This year’s fiction writing contest was sponsored by The Editorial Department, an industry leader in book editing and manuscript development services including editing, coaching, manuscript consultation, and author services.  Each winner won an editing package from The Editorial Department, details follow the winners below.  Want to see your name in the winner’s list at next year’s conference?  Start writing now!  Get connected here and get connected to a writer’s critique group.  We want to see you at the OC Christian Writers Conference with your work in hand in 2013 – no excuses!

Now for the winners:

Grand Prize: Free Self-Editing Memo

Andrea Louise Jones for The Peace Child

First Place: Free Query and Submission Package:

Michelle Arch for Time of Death

Second place winners: 10-page critique

Natalie Sharpston for The Rocks Cry Out

Veola Vazquez for Convinced

Chris Vezina for Conceivable Graces

Laurel Basbas for Broken to Golden Hinges

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Christian Manuscript Submission Award Winners

May 30th, 2012 Lynne.Leite

The 2012 OC Christian Writers Conference featured a writing contest sponsored by the Evalengical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA).  A Christian Manuscript Submission award valued at $98 each was awarded to two winners.

And the winners are…drum roll please…

Nicole Blean, The Single Mom Opportunity: Allowing God to Turn Your Life Around. This book offers h to hope to single moms, who face dramatic issues such as divorce, death of their spouse, and/or raising a child with no support. It encourages single moms to view single parenthood as an opportunity to be completely dependent upon the Lord as He transforms their lives.

Karen Ellison, Diary of a Cowry Shell: This one-month devotional book is filled with inspiration, art, poetry, and fun facts about cowry shells. It is geared towards the 7 million Hawaii tourists, searching for a special souvenir, and hopefully finding God through His creation in this beautiful coffee table book.

Congratulations to Nicole Blean and Karen Ellison and many blessings as you continue on your writing journey!

To learn more about the OC Christian Writers Conference go to www.occwf.org.

To learn more about Christian Manuscript Submission Services go to www.christianmanuscriptsubmissions.com.

 

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2012 OC Christian Conference Westbow Press Contest Winners

May 29th, 2012 Lynne.Leite

This year’s conference offered several exciting writing contests for attendees.  Westbow Press is not only a conference sponsor but also sponsors a writing contest as well.  And now, drum roll please…

The 2012 OC Christian Writers Conference Westbow Press Contest Winners are:

First place: Dr. Laurel A. Basbas for Broken to Golden Hinges:

“Broken to Golden Hinges describes a vital spiritual awakening to the terrible yet wonderful truth that all humanity is broken beyond human repair, enslaved by addictive human nature…until the Truth Himself appears with a glorious, Golden cure.”

Second place: Michelle Arch for Time of Death:

“This fiction narrative tells the story of Fawn Evans from her youth through womanhood and the sometimes subtle but often overt spiritual battle for her soul.”

Third place: Shirley Gilbert for Sanctuary:

“As Rachel and Vince learn to trust again, an entire village finds that love comes with a cost.”

Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to Westbow for making the contest possible!

For more information on the OC Christian Writers Conference go to www.occwf.org .

For more information on Westbow Press go to www.WestbowPress.com.

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How to Become a Magazine Columnist with Publisher Marilyn White

May 15th, 2012 Lynne.Leite

Marilyn White, Publisher of Precious Times Magazine

Have you dreamed of being a columnist, like the beloved Erma Bombeck, but have no idea how to start?  Marilyn White, publisher of Precious Times Magazine, will be presenting a session at the OC Christian Writers Conference this Saturday teaching writers how to do just that – become a magazine columnist.  In another session, Marilyn shares tips with writers on how to get their articles published, and as a magazine publisher, she would know what it takes!

Marilyn White is publisher of Precious Times Magazine, a periodical whose audience reaches women and families living a modern lifestyle in faith. The magazine offers a contemporary spiritual perspective that empowers readers in marriage, single living, work, health, parenting, friendship, and self-improvement.  Marilyn is also available to conference attendees for a free 15 minute consultation, so this is a great opportunity to meet face to face with a magazine publisher and learn what it takes to get your articles or columns published.

Marilyn is one of the many talented faculty serving at this year’s OC Christian Writers Conference.  The conference starts this Friday night, so if you are at all interested in taking your writing to the next level, then take some time to attend.  You will have an opportunity to hone your writing craft, whether you write fiction or non-fiction, and network with other writers, agents, and publishers.

To learn more about Marilyn White and Precious Times Magazine, go to www.PreciousTimesMag.com.

To learn more about the OC Christian Writers Conference held in Newport Beach, CA May 18-20th go to www.occwf.org.

 

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Last Chance To Register for the 2012 OC Christian Writers Conference

May 14th, 2012 Lynne.Leite
Are You On Track With Your Writing Goals?

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
Henry David Thoreau

If you are like me, you set some writing goals at the beginning of the year. You have a dream that involves writing, storytelling, inspiring.  You have imagined your life as a writer – maybe you have even realized some of those dreams and are ready for some new ones.

As we approach the halfway point in 2012, are you where you want to be in your writing life?  Are you on track or do you need to make some adjustments?

Do you need…

  • Inspiration?
  • Correction?
  • Publication?

What better time than now to jump start your enthusiasm for your writing goals?  Join other writers at all skill levels, from beginner to published author, at the OC Christian Writers Conference – but don’t wait! Registration closes Tuesday, May 15 at 5pm.

This year’s conference includes over 20 different sessions addressing many areas of the writing life – from the basics to publication, from finding your voice to writing and the spirit.  There is bound to be a session designed to get you back on track to achieving your writing goals for 2012.

Be sure to read over some prior posts to learn more about the conference faculty.

To get more details about individual sessions and to ensure your spot at the conference, go to www.occwf.org.

So, writer, go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Prepare yourself to meet success – join us at this year’s conference. And remember, registration will close tomorrow, Tuesday, May 15th.

 

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From Rejection to Fresh with Amy Nappa

May 9th, 2012 Lynne.Leite
Executive Editor Amy Nappa

Ever wonder why your work never makes it past the editor’s desk? Would you like to increase your chances of acceptance, or said another way, decrease your rejections? One way is to be sure your work is fresh ~ but how do we know what that means or, better yet, how to achieve it?

You can learn the ten most common mistakes writers make and how to avoid them from Executive Editor, Amy Nappa in her Rejected! session at this year’s OC Christian Writers Conference.

Amy will also be leading a session entitled What’s Fresh? where she will dig into the topic of what is fresh, and what is not.  Attendees will work through exercises that will help them rework their pieces to give their writing a fresh perspective, in addition to coming up with crisp new ideas.

If you want to give your writing the boost it needs to get noticed by an editor, then you should plan to attend Amy’s sessions.  She has over 20 years in the publishing industry where she has worked as an editor of hundreds of resources.  But Amy is also a writer herself, authoring numerous bestselling books. She is currently an Executive Editor with Group Publishing and will be available for writer consultations at the conference.  If you have proposals for resources to be used with Christian women’s groups, men’s groups, and adult small groups, as well as resources to equip church leaders (such as topics related to managing or training volunteers) then you will want to make sure you attend the conference and sign up for a consultation with Amy.

For more information on Amy Nappa, go to www.nappaland.com.

For more information on Group Publishing, go to http://group.com.

For more information on the OC Christian Writers Conference held on May 18-20, 2012 in Newport Beach, CA go to www.occwf.org.

 

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Book Pitching Workshops with Kathie Fong Yoneda

May 8th, 2012 Lynne.Leite

 

Book Pitching Workshops with Kathie Fong Yoneda

 

Your book is written. Your script is dynamic. Your novel is outlined. Now what? How do you effectively get publishers and producers interested in your work? If this is your question, then Kathie Fong Yoneda is your answer.

Kathie Yoneda has over 30 years of experience in film and television, and has worked as a story analyst/development exec for Paramount Television, Universal, 20th Century Fox, Disney TV Animation, Island Pictures, and Walt Disney Pictures, on live action and animated projects. She is a story consultant and author of The Script-Selling Game: A Hollywood Insider’s Look at Getting Your Script Sold and Produced, and has conducted workshops all over North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Kathie is also a member of the core faculty of Writers University where she teaches the popular on-line class, Pitch & Presentation.

OC Christian Writers Conference attendees can choose from three different sessions being led by Kathie, all designed to equip writers with the tools to prepare and present an outstanding book or script pitch.

LOGLINE: A Writer’s Most Valuable Marketing Tool is one of the workshops that provides writers with information and examples (including a class exercise) on crafting a logline – an exciting one or two sentence selling summation of your book or script.

WRITTEN PITCHING TOOLS: Crafting Synopses and Outlines for Pitching Your Project provides novelists and screenwriters with the information and advice on putting together two important written pitching tools – a winning synopsis and pitch outline.

HOW TO DELIVER A HOME-RUN PITCH: 15-Point Checklist for Your Verbal Pitch. In this workshop writers will be given a 15-point checklist to help even the most tongue-tied scribe perfect a verbal pitch suitable for marketing their book or screenplay.

If you are ready to get your work published or produced, then be sure to attend the OC Christian Writers Conference and take Kathie’s Saturday workshops – writers will walk away equipped to deliver a book or script pitch that is sure to be noticed.

For more information on Kathie Fong Yoneda, go to http://www.kathiefongyoneda.com.

For more information on the OC Christian Writers Conference held May 18-20, 2012 in Newport Beach, CA go to www.OCCWF.org.

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The Many Hats of Pamela Jaye Smith

May 4th, 2012 DebbyAlten7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ever wondered how many hats one woman can wear? Go ahead and think about that one. Pamela Jaye Smith is, amongst other things I’m sure, a writer, mythologist, international speaker and consultant, and award-winning writer-director with over thirty years experience in the entertainment industry. Pamela is a Senior Producer at RGO Media Associates and Consulting Producer for High Tech Media. That would be a couple of hats too many for me.

Moving right along, let’s mention a few of Pamela’s favorite things: MYTHWORKS is Pamela’s consultation and information company featuring “Applied Mythology for more Powerful Reality”. She teaches and consults on story, communication, leadership, and creativity. MYTHWORKS also consults with organizations and individuals redesigning themselves and their images.

Clients and credits include Microsoft, Disney, Paramount, Columbia-Sony, Universal, RAI-TV Rome, UCLA, USC Film School, American Film Institute, Thot Fiction Marseille France, Master Writers Conference Lido-Venice Italy, Natl. Film Institute of Denmark, Creative Screenwriting EXPO, Pepperdine University, Natl. Assoc. of Broadcasters, and various film festivals and story conferences.

Others include the Institute for Global Transformation, the Consciousness Expo, American Assoc. of University Women, Junior ROTC, General Motors, Boeing, Hyundai, Hughes Space & Communi-cations, the FBI, and the U.S. Army. In 2005 she was a Roundtable Speaker at the Future of Consciousness Conference sponsored by the Institute for Global Transformation (www.IFGT.org & http://www.ifgt.org/IGTWEB_UPDATE/FOCcover.html)

Ms. Smith belongs to a Boeing Think Tank on Workforce Development and Birth2Work, an organization dedicated to Redefining Community Leadership with a focus on education. During the 1990s she served on the U.S. Army’s Advanced Warfighting Working Group.

Read more here …

And then … BOOKS!

1. Beyond the Hero’s Journey
Refine and focus your story theme.
Select an appropriate sub-plot to enhance your story.
Use the Plot Points as guidelines for plot drivers, incidences, and scenes in your story.
Use symbols and images to spark audience recognition.
Maintain your originality while tapping into the timeless power of these classic myths.
Take your place in the long line of myth-makers who create moving and memorable stories that engage and entertain your audience.

2. Inner Drivers
From patterns of speech to styles of walking, writers can use Pamela Jaye Smith’s guide to structure character arcs, devise backstories, up the conflict, pair up couples, and form ensembles — all with unique, believable characters.

3. Pitching Tips From Classic Writers
Pitching Tips from Classic Writers gives you seven specific tips for your story and yourself, with examples and worksheets.

Pitching Tips from Classic Writers includes the opening (story pitch) from the Roman poet Virgil’s classic hero’s journey tale, The Aeneid. It is offered as a perfect pitch for the one hundred thirty page story. And by the way, it’s a really good read, with war, love, betrayal, fickle gods, and the founding of Rome.

4. Power of the Dark Side
Who doesn’t love the Dark Side? Darth Vader, Cruella De Vil, Tony Soprano – everybody loves a great villain. And every story needs dramatic conflict – internal and external – to really resonate. This comprehensive, accessible book gives you tools to write the most despicable villains.

Conflict is the very heart and soul of drama, and Smith’s latest work explores character conflict and the various ways to portray it both in scripts and on the stage.

Defining the Dark Side helps you select and clarify the worldview that influences your character’s actions.

5. Symbols, Images, Codes
Words can communicate at one level. But if you want to reach down into a person’s soul or touch an audience in a profound way you need to use Symbols, Images and Codes.

Lots of interesting stuff here. Many things to discuss. Pamela’s schedule is pretty full but she’ll join the OCCW conference this May 18 and 19th, 2012 in beautiful Newport Beach.

There’s so much more to this Lady. And if you would like a consultation, get to the conference early and sign up. Pamela Jaye will help you clarify your theme, protagonist, antagonist, dangers, symbolism, and solution so that you can create a solid, understandable, and engaging pitch to potential buyers, producers, and publishers.

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