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Creating an Audience with Steve Lawson

April 17th, 2012 Lynne.Leite
Senior Editor, Steve Lawson

There are computer platforms, platform beds and of course, platform shoes – but what about an author platform? Do you have one? Do you even know what one is?

If not, then you need attend Steve Lawson’s session, “Creating an Audience”, at the OC Christian Writers Conference.

The buzz in the publishing industry is platform and if your intention is to get your writing published, then you need to understand what it means to have one.  Whether you write books, articles, screenplays or blogs, you need an audience and a good platform will help you create a wider audience for your work. Steve will be covering these topics and more during his session on Saturday, May 19th.

During Steve’s session you will learn how to identify your existing and potential audience, and you will learn traditional and new ways to build and expand your audience. We will also look at the importance of knowing your audience before you write. This workshop is for everyone, but especially for those who have been discouraged when publishers talk about the need for a platform. Today you can build a platform from scratch!

Steve Lawson is a 30 year veteran of the publishing industry and currently acts as the Senior Editor for Regal Books.  He has ghostwritten, edited, developed and/or acquired more than 250 non-fiction books, working with both established and first-time authors. He has been a professional newspaper, book, magazine, television, radio and Internet writer and editor and he will be available for one-to-one consultations with conference attendees.  Steve will talk with published writers, new writers with proposals (a one-paragraph summary is fine) and authors with a platform, unique experience or engaging story to tell. He will talk with writers about their non-fiction book and curriculum ideas (no fiction, poetry or children’s books), and the best way to proceed with their project.

You must be a registered attendee to benefit from a consultation and Steve’s workshop, in addition to the many other workshops offered at this year’s OC Christian Writers conference held on May 18-20th in Newport Beach.

To learn more and register, go to www.occwf.org.

To learn more about Regal Books, go to www.gospellight.com.

 

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Point of View with Julie Brickman

April 12th, 2012 Lynne.Leite

Author/Teacher Julie Brickman

Narrative first person. Expansive first person. Narrative third person. Third person omniscient. Third person limited.  What’s a writer to do with so many points of view?

While story is what you tell, point of view is how you tell it. If you are having trouble determining the right point of view for your story or the merits of one point of view over another, than you need to join Julie Brickman at this year’s OC Christian Writers Conference.  Julie will be teaching a class on point of view that new and experienced writers alike will find beneficial.

Julie Brickman is author of the novel What Birds Can Only Whisper published by Turnstone Press in 1997. She teaches fiction on the faculty of the brief-residency Master of Fine Arts in Writing Program at Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky and reviews books for the Sunday Books supplement of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Her fiction and nonfiction has appeared in Fireweed, The Louisville Review, International Journal of Women’s Studies, Kinesis, Canadian Psychology and the anthology High Horse. Her second novel, An Empty Quarter, is the tale of one woman’s journey into the heart of Arabia; her story “An Empty Quarter” received a nomination for a Pushcart prize. For three months, Julie was writer-in-residence at the Berton House in the gold rush town of Dawson City; her third novel is set in the Canadian Yukon. Julie holds an MFA in Writing from Vermont College and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Manitoba. She has been a guest editor in fiction and creative nonfiction for The Louisville Review and reviews books for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Together with her mother, Molly, Julie runs a writers group for residents of a senior care facility. She lives in Laguna Beach, California with her husband, writer and psychologist, Bob Hoyk.

In addition to taking the session on point of view, attendees can have the opportunity to have a one to one consultation with Julie. Point of view, character, structure, style, voice, theme, empathy, significance: you name the craft issue or bring a paragraph or page of your writing and Julie Brickman will talk about it with you. Also bring any questions you might have about what you might get from an MFA program in writing, since she’s taught fiction at the Spalding University brief-res one for the last decade.  Remember, though, that in order to benefit from this opportunity, you must be a registered attendee of the conference, so don’t wait, sign up now.

To register for the OC Christian Writers Conference held May 18-20 in Newport Beach, go to www.occwf.com.

To learn more about Julie Brickman, go to www.juliebrickman.com.

 

 

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Creating Believable Characters with Kathi Macias

April 12th, 2012 Lynne.Leite

How Memorable Are YOUR Characters?

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Romans 12:6-8

Sherlock Holmes. Gandalf. Emma.   It’s hard to have a good story, let alone a classic, without memorable characters.  Are your characters believable?  Are they doing justice to your plot? How deeply are your characters drawn?

Every writer wants to create characters that have depth and are believable.  This year, Kathi Macias, award-winning author, will teach a session at the OC Christian Writers Conference on character development.  Kathi will draw from Romans 12 to show writers how to define their characters in a three dimensional way that makes them unforgettable.   If you are ready to take your character development to the next level, then be sure to sign up for the conference and sit in on Kathi’s session on Saturday.

Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored nearly 40 books and ghostwritten several others. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats, and writers’ conferences. She won the 2008 Member of the Year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) and was the 2011 Author of the Year from BooksandAuthors.net. Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband.

To register for the OC Christian Writers Conference held on May 18-20 in Newport Beach, go to www.occwf.org.

To learn more about Kathi Macias, go to www.KathiMacias.com.

 

 

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Six Friday Workshops

April 11th, 2012 DebbyAlten7

The Friday workshops are ready to go and look pretty intense. Choosing one class might be a problem as you can only choose one. Classes are held at the Raddison in Newport Beach from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It would be beneficial to sign up early as classes are limited to ten.

So what does one get for the $395 price tag? Quite a lot. For starters, with only ten students, each instructor, no doubt, won’t have much trouble dividing his or her attention equally; written and verbal feedback included. Then each student will be given a 15-minute consult on Saturday with their instructor to review their work. And, of course, lunch and Friday night speakers are on the menu.

Instructors for the Friday workshops include:

Susan Osborn who will focus on the nonfiction book proposal. She will cover query letters, chapter-by-chapter synopses, book summaries, comparative analyses, and opening paragraphs. You are encouraged to bring your laptops since this is an interactive class. Each student will participate in a practice pitch session which will prepare you to speak with editors and publishers at the conference.

B. J. Taylor’s workshop is titled, “Turning Your Personal Experiences Into Short Stories That Sell.” I guess that explains it all. B. J. has sold her stories to Chicken Soup For The Soul” and Guideposts. And she is eager to teach you how to write an awesome beginning, an awesome middle and an awesome ending. Just kidding. How about engaging openings, captivating middle scenes and satisfying endings. Oh yeah. Each conferee is required to submit up to three short stories of approximately 1200 words each. So you better get busy. Submit those a couple of weeks before the conference.

Mick Silva will talk about Memoir Writing. Learn how to tell your story so it resonates with readers? Writers should have a full-length memoir in progress. The class will consist of critiquing presubmitted individual manuscripts of up to ten pages and instruction in the craft of memoir writing.

Alice Crider will answer the question “why does it seem like the publishing odds are against me?” You’ll be sharing your own visions and discussing your potential. Be prepared, I’m just sayin’. She’ll also cover the following:

1. What’s really holding you back from success—and how to break through it
2. How to think and work like a bestselling author
3. Proven techniques that can help you connect powerfully with your audience
4. How to strike a personal balance that delivers outstanding results and lasting fulfillment

Presubmmison Required: A one-page document that includes a brief bio, and a short description of what you write.

Ken Kuhiken will tackle all you fiction writers. Well, he’ll tackle your work. This class is for the intermediate and advanced novelist with a WIP. Send your 10 pages early.

And if you’re a blogger you will want to take Bill Balew’s “Blogging for the Masses.” Bill makes a living from his blogs. That alone should send you running to his class. There’s lots and lots of info in this workshop from the blogger’s personality to SEO. Sounds like a class I can’t miss. Please bring your laptop that is wi-fi enabled and have a WordPress blog that you can work on.

There’s more details on each of these six day-long workshops so please check the OCCWF website.

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OC Christian Writers Conference 2012 Keynote Speaker ~ Rachelle Gardner

April 9th, 2012 Lynne.Leite

Literary Agent Rachelle Gardner

My passion is partnering with authors to bring worthwhile books to publication. Rachelle Gardner

Literary agent Rachelle Gardner will be presenting her keynote speech entitled “Dreaming God-Sized Dreams” during the Saturday session of the OC Christian Writers Conference held May 18-20 in Newport Beach, CA.  Rachelle has been in the publishing industry since 1995 and has worked for two publishing houses before joining Books & Such Literary Agency.  She has a servant’s heart when it comes to helping  authors strategize and build their careers and it also doesn’t hurt that she has edited over 100 books!

Attendees of the conference can schedule a one-to-one consultation with Rachelle.   She is currently looking for authors with long-term publishing potential in the areas of Christian fiction and non-fiction.  Currently her favorite genres are contemporary women’s fiction, historical romance, and romantic suspense.  In the area of non-fiction, she is interested in a variety of topics, but is looking for authors who have significant marketing platforms and understand the importance of self-promotion via the Internet.

Rachelle is no stranger to developing a platform and presence on the web – her blog, where she shares ideas, information and inspiration for writers, receives over 100,000 monthly page views.  To learn more about Rachelle and writing, visit her blog at http://www.rachellegardner.com/.

To learn more about the OC Christian Writers Conference and to register for the event, go to www.occwf.org.

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2011 Westbow Press Writing Contest Winner ~ Larry Forcey

April 7th, 2012 Lynne.Leite

OC Christian Writers Conference attendee, Larry Forcey, talks about winning the 2011 Westbow Press Writing Contest at the conference.  Dreaming of seeing your work in print? Watch as Larry shares his experience of realizing the dream of seeing his book, The Creche, published.

 

To learn more about the 2012 Westbow Press Contest and the OC Christian Writers Conference held May 18-20 in Newport Beach go to www.occwf.org.

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Published Author and OC Christian Writers Conference Attendee ~ Larry Forcey

April 7th, 2012 Lynne.Leite

Larry Forcey

Larry Forcey was more than an attendee at the 2011 OC Christian Writers Conference – he was also the winner of the 2011 Westbow Press Writing Contest. We checked in with Larry to see what has transpired with his writing and his book, The Creche, since winning the contest.

I had entered the WestBow contest last year with the same level of optimism as when I had previously submitted proposals to publishers throughout the past decade – little to none.  During the presentation of the award, as the synopsis of the book was being described, I recognized my story.  In the midst of the surprise and excitement I should feel, I began to cringe and shiver, fearing the foreboding task that awaited me, perfecting and tightening the narrative.

From my initial contact with WestBow personnel to receiving the Author Copies on my front doorstep, the WestBow Team has been a blessing.  They have calmed my apprehensions;  guided me through decisions about cover selection, edits, and front matter; offered suggestions regarding marketing strategies; and provided opportunities for on-line courses on a variety of writing topics.  Although I had initially feared that WestBow would not be able to provide the resources of a traditional publisher, the excellence of their service and their relationship with Thomas Nelson Publishers are testaments of their high-level quality.

Even three months after its publication, whenever I see the book out of the corner of my eye, I still react with a moment of disbelief, wondering how all this came to be.  This was something for which I had always dreamed and without the intervention of WestBow, it may have never become reality.

To learn more about the 2012 Westbow Press Writing Contest and the OC Christian Writers conference held May 18-20 in Newport Beach go to www.occwf.org.

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2011 OC Christian Writers Conference Fiction Writing Contest Winner ~ Veola Vazquez

April 6th, 2012 Lynne.Leite
Veola Vazquez

Can you imagine going to a writers conference and winning 3 different writing contests? Well that is exactly what happened to Veola Vazquez at last year’s OC Christian Writers Conference. We asked Veola what she has been up to since last year’s conference and here’s what she shared.

Winning the Fiction Writing contest at last year’s Orange County Christian Writer’s Conference was an amazing experience. The contests I entered last year were the first writing contests I’d ever participated in, so I expected my chance of winning to be minimal. To my surprise, I went home with three different awards. The most exciting was having the manuscript for my middle grade novel, The Penny Predicament, chosen for the Fiction Writing Award. At the time I entered the contest, my book was only 1/4 complete. But, the recognition of my writing put a fire under me and my book was finished within a month! Soon after the contest, I also submitted the manuscript to a contact I was referred to at the conference. Unfortunately, nothing came of it, but it didn’t quench my motivation. I attended weekly critique groups for months to edit and fine tune my work. I’ve recently resubmitted it and I’m currently playing the waiting game. I’m considering entering it in the Westbow contest this year, now that the work is finished. I’m currently working on the second book in the series, The Nickel Nuisance.

Are you looking for a writing contest to enter? A chance to be inspired? Take your writing to the next level? Why not join Veola and other writers at this year’s OC Christian Writers Conference! You’ll find intensive workshops, breakout sessions, rogue critiques, networking opportunities and more.

For more information about Veola Vazquez go to www.veolavazquez.com.

For more information about the OC Christian Writers Conference held May 18-20th in Newport Beach go to www.occwf.org.

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Silver Dove Films Interview with OC Christian Writers Conference Key Note Speaker Bill Myers

April 5th, 2012 Lynne.Leite

We are so excited to have Bill Myers, bestselling Christian author, as a keynote speaker for this year’s OC Christian Writers Conference, May 18-20 in Newport Beach. Check out this Silver Dove Films interview with Bill and don’t miss seeing Bill in person at this year’s conference!

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2011 OC Christian Writers Conference Memoir Contest Winner ~ Dani Nichols

April 4th, 2012 Lynne.Leite

Dani Nichols

Are you writing a memoir? Looking for a place to get some feedback? Maybe even thought of entering it into a contest? Read on as Dani Nichols shares her experience at the OC Christian Writers Conference.

I credit my experience at OCCWF for teaching me a couple of incredible lessons in my writing journey.

First, it taught me that everyone – published, dreamers, scared and confident are all still growing and learning. It’s easy to get intimidated as a young writer starting out, but it’s awesome to meet people who are much farther along on their journey and still willing to be honest about their struggles.

Second, it taught me not to get discouraged too easily. Read my blog from last year for the full story, but suffice it to say that I went from dejection to soaring-over-the-clouds happiness in one day at the conference last year.

Third, it reminded me that staying true to myself and the story I’m called to write is what’s most important. Letting the destructive voices in my head keep me from writing is never helpful.

Writing can be lonely, hard work. I’m a full-time copywriter/blogger and sometimes it’s difficult to make time to write less-profitable stories, but the OCCWF conference already has me excited to come back for another year of inspiration and learning (and maybe even another contest win!)

Dani Nichols

For more information about Dani Nichols go to www.wranglerdani.com.

For more information about the OC Christian Writers conference held May 18-10th in Newport Beach, CA go to www.occwf.org.

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