Colorado Christian Writers Conference Update

Early registration for the upcoming Colorado Christian Writers Conference, May 12–15 is building. We now have about 105 conferees, two ahead of last year at this time. So we now have some preliminary counts for the various continuing sessions, workshops, and earlybird workshops. And clinic applications are coming in as well.

I’m really excited at the lineup we have for this year’s CCWC. It is one of the strongest all around writing conferences I’ve seen.

If you’re thinking about coming, please check out the Web site. However, I’d like to highlight a few clinics and continuing sessions and workshops that have piqued my interest.

Starting with the earlybird workshops on Wednesday, May 12, there’s something in that list for everyone. Already some of these workshops have a healthy count, but a couple need some extra promotion. So . . . If you write for kids, fiction or nonfiction, check out the two workshops Mona Hodgson is leading:

E5 - Story Building Blocks for Children's Writers: This class provides a hands-on exercise in creating characters and story problems that appeal to the intended audience.

E13 - Writing Books for Young Children: Come to this workshop for an overview of how to write and sell board books and picture books.

If you’ve ever struggled with Microsoft Office (and who hasn’t?), David Rhoades is doing a workshop to help us less computer savvy people learn to use these programs effectively with less frustration.

Or if you need help brainstorming possible article ideas, join Julie Dearyan to gain some help and walk away with more ideas you can work up into that next best-selling article.

As I look at the preliminary counts for the workshops, I’m noticing an interesting trend. Interest seems high in the A – F workshops, but when it comes to the specialty/niche workshops, there’s a drastic drop. I’ve found that these markets can be very lucrative and rewarding because few people want to commit time to something that may not be a high profile as fiction writing or the latest trend in article topics. Don’t ignore these special markets, and definitely pray about your choices as you make decisions. Remember that you are not locked into your preliminary choices. So even if you’ve made your choices, you can change your mind and explore what the Lord may have for you in these specialty markets.

The continuing sessions are always a highlight of CCWC for me. These sessions focus on specific areas of the writing experience. And they are always chock-full of great information. Do consider each session before making a decision. Again, if you get to the class and feel that it isn’t for you, you are not locked into that class. And you can change your mind beforehand, too.

Right now, the numbers for a couple of the continuing sessions has me a little surprised. Ted Baehr’s Breakthrough Scriptwriting class got rave reviews at Philly last year. For the fiction writer, studying the craft of scriptwriting is a must in learning story structure. And Ted is an excellent teacher, someone who knows his craft well and can communicate that knowledge to others.

Another continuing session that has caught my attention is new this year: The Lightbox Method. Have you ever struggled with including a spiritual thread in your fiction? How much does our spiritual walk with the Lord have to do with our writing? Well, lots, actually. If you have ever struggled with this, check out this continuing session. I’m hoping to have some time to slip into a couple of the sessions and glean what I can.

Finally, I would encourage you to consider applying for a clinic. We have a wonderful lineup of clinics again this year. I’d like to put in a plug for a couple of the clinics I’ve had the privilege of being a part of in previous years.

Last year I did The Joy of Unblocked Creativity with Liz Babbs and Sue Cameron. Going into the clinic I wasn’t sure what to expect, but since my writing was practically nonexistent mostly because I felt wrung out by life and work. God met me in some unexpected ways in that clinic. In exploring various avenues of writing that took me out of my rut, I discovered that I could write poetry! Not that I’ll write a lot of it. But it was an eye-opener for me. One other really cool thing that happened is God’s confirmation of His purpose for me. If you're feeling that you're not living up to the potential that you know you have in God's plan, I'd encourage you to take this clinic.

Jim and Tracie Peterson are not new to CCWC, and I’ve taken a couple of clinics over the last few years with. In fact, the very first clinic I took at CCWC was their clinic for the beginning novelist. Both Jim and Tracie have a heart for writers, especially in encouraging and building up new writers. I’ve gone away from those clinics totally excited about the projects I’m working on. Their combined knowledge of the Christian publishing world is wonderful, and they create an atmosphere that puts to rest the anxieties we all have when starting out in this “new world.”

I highly recommend both of these clinics. And the entire conference. Not enough can be said about the spiritual impact of the general sessions and the overall atmosphere of the conference. So if you’re still wavering on whether this is the year to attend, do check out the Web site for all the details and latest information on the conference.

I hope to see you there!

Marlene Bagnull about the Colorado Christian Writers Conference in May

Write His Answer
February 2010

Dear Christian called to “write His answer” –

I’m praising God that the brochure for the May 12-15 Colorado Christian Writers Conference is off press and that secure online registration is open at www.writehisanswer.com/Colorado.

Although this is my 14th year directing the conference (27th year directing the August 12-14 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference that I founded), I never cease to be amazed at the ways I see God at work. He brings together a faculty and program that I could never do in my own strength. This year:

CCWC features a faculty of 60 professional authors, editors, agents, and publicists including Jeanette & Mark Littleton
Choose from 13 Wednesday earlybirds, 8 continuing sessions, plus 42 workshops or 4 hands-on clinics! ALSO - 4 (yes, FOUR) one-on-one 15-minute appointments with the faculty of your choice for those who attend the entire conference. BONUS fifth appointment for first 50 registrants.

But CCWC is about so much more than numbers and opportunities to strengthen your writing and marketing skills, to get valuable feedback on your work, to pitch to editors and agents, and to form deep friendships with others who share your passion for words and for the Lord.

CCWC is about connecting with Him and learning to wait on Him for the answers He will give us.

I know God is going to meet us on the mountain in life-changing ways for His promise in Ephesians 3:20 can be relied on. “By His mighty power at work within us [He] is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes” (Eph. 3:20 TLB). Father, thank You in advance for all You will do through this year’s CCWC. Thank You for calling us to write Your answer through personal experience stories and articles, screenplays and poetry, fiction and nonfiction for children and adults and for those who know You and those who do not yet know You. Keep our eyes on You and help us to be faithful to our calling.

In Christ – Marlene

P.S. If you register through midnight March 10, you’ll save $20 off your conference registration fee. Secure online registration is open.

Marlene Bagnull, Litt.D., Director
www.writehisanswer.com/Colorado
Write His Answer Ministries 951 Anders Road Lansdale, PA 19446 Phone & Fax: 484-991-8581 Cell: 610-209-2623 Email: mbagnull@aol.com URL: http://www.writehisanswer.com/Colorado

Ancient Words

As Christian writers we strive to include a spiritual thread in everything we write—or we should. If we don't what makes our articles and books and short stories any different from the secular world's? It certainly doesn't have to be blatant; subtlety works just as well. Look at the stories Jesus told, for example.

Since I was a child, I've always had a fascination for the Word of God. One my parents both nurtured in me. And over the years I've grown in my love for it (though I haven't always nurtured that love and desire as I should have). As a result the Lord has gifted me with the ability to remember and apply scripture when praying and, as He emboldens me, when counseling.

At the recent CCWC the Lord gave me strong confirmation that this indeed is His purpose for me: to encourage others to return to the ancient truths revealed in His Word. These truths are alive and very apropos to our world today.

I was part of the JOY of Rediscovering Creativity clinic. Several weeks in advance we were each given a name of another person in the clinic to pray for, send encouragement to, and then to bring a gift to present to that person during one of the clinic sessions. It was wonderful to sit in on that session and listen to the various stories people told as they gave their gifts—stories of how God had directed their thoughts to give just the perfect gift to someone they didn't know.

Tiffany Shaw got my name. She handed me a gift bag. Then explained how she had gone to my Web site and blog to find out as much as she could about me. Then she had the idea to use her photography skills for my gift. Reading my Web site, she learned that shevet meant a writer’s tool. So she gathered old pens, a couple of ink bottles, and the Bible, arranged them into a lovely still life, and photographed it. When I pulled the framed picture out of the bag, I was amazed. Such a powerful picture of how I view my writing and editing. (It's the picture at the beginning of this post. Tiffany doesn't have a Web site up yet, but if you want more info about her photography, click here.)

Isn't it so neat when God confirms what you suspect He's doing in your life? My prayer is that each of you (whether you're writers or not) would see/hear that confirmation, as well.

CCWC Wrap Up

The Colorado Christian Writers Conference was last week at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park. We had beautiful weather every day. So unusual for that, but we're very thankful. As Marlene Bagnull's assistant, I get to be in on the behind-the-scenes work much more than when I first starting attending this conference in 1997.

What a joy it is to serve on the staff. Getting to meet and serve so many authors, editors, and agents is always a highlight. I was blessed by the conferees who requested appointments with me, too. We have some really good writers coming up. One I spoke to had her devotional bought at the conference! How many times does that happen? (Never, for me. *smile* Unless you count devotional writing assignments.) I'm so pleased for my friend Anne Johnson.

The spiritual emphasis of the conference is one of the things I truly love about CCWC. God is so good to bring just the right people to participate in the general sessions. This year, I had a very small role reading scripture in a skit our Rediscovering the JOY of Creativity clinic presented in the general session on Friday evening.

Liz Babbs and Sue Cameron were the leaders of the clinic I attended. We got to "play" with many different mediums in a relaxed atmosphere, as well as being challenged spiritually to deepen our relationships with the Lord and with others. Before the conference, we were assigned a secret partner to pray for. Then we were to bring gifts for that person. It was so neat to see the gifts people brought for their partners that most of us didn't know who they were until we met the first time in the clinic. God truly was in the details there! He is soooo good!

And I wrote my very first poem. Never wanted to before, really, even though my grandmother, mother, and son did/do. In a free-writing session in the clinic time on Saturday, we were challenged to write something outside our genre. We were in the third floor meeting room in Mt. Ypsilon Lodge. The huge windows face Mt. Ypsilon, a snow-capped mountain rising far above treeline. And I wrote about the mountain and why I'm drawn to mountains in general. How this particular aspect of God's creation speaks to me, soothes me, centers me, and focuses my thoughts onto the Creator of this world.

After the conference was over on Saturday, I stayed on through Tuesday morning with the other six members of Marlene's staff. We had a worship service on Sunday then headed for Rocky Mountain National Park for a few hours. That afternoon we relaxed in our rooms, and Sunday evening we had an impromptu meeting, discussing the conference and how we can better help Marlene and each other. Monday was a cleanup day, and we accomplished quite a lot. Tuesday morning we sorted the boxes out, mailed/Fed-Exed/UPSed some; divided the storage items between Bill Moore and I (the resident Colorado staff), and spent time in prayer for the many commitments made in the closing session.

If you've never attended a conference, or you're looking for another conference that will meet your diverse needs, then I highly recommend checking out the Colorado Christian Writers Conference.

CCWC Teens Write!

Yesterday I forgot to talk about a special feature of CCWC—Teens Write! I've always appreciated this long-standing tradition of this conference because I have a child who writes. Both write well, but Randy felt early on God's call on him to preach and to write. His chosen genre is fantasy.

I also had the privilege of teaching him English all through high school. And since I'm a writer, I expected my students to write. Outside of the usual things high school students are expected to write, I tried to have at least one creative writing assignment each year. Some years I got braver and we went through the process of writing a short story. Other years, I limited it more. But every year I taught, I promoted Teens Write! at CCWC.

If I'm remembering correctly, Randy started going to Teens Write! when he was in eighth grade. And he attended every year after that until he went to college. He had a variety of teachers, a variety of emphases, and each year he grew a little more. When he went to college, he majored in Bible (that is his primary call) and minored in Creative Writing. The Christian university he attended has a strong creative writing program. (One of his professors within the program was Jamie Langston Turner, a several time Christy Award winner.) All of his teachers were excellent, and I learned more about writing through Randy giving me tips from his various classes.

So the natural progression from Teens Write! to the full conference went into play at the end of his freshman year. Since "graduating" from Teens Write! he's attended three full conferences with me. Such fun to spend a weekend sharing our writings goals and immersing ourselves in it.

If you have a teen, or know of a teen who would benefit from a Saturday afternoon immersed in writing, please consider Teens Write! Go to the conference Web site and check it out.


Daily Bible reading: Saturday, March 8—Job 5–7; 1 Corinthians 3
Sunday, March 9—Job 8–10; 1 Corinthians 4
Monday, March 10—Job 11–13; 1 Corinthians 5