Donna Schlachter is the volunteer we are spotlighting this week. She has served the past four years as treasurer for HIS Writers. During this time she has taken on many duties outside of a traditional treasurer role in both her home chapter and the state organization. She was instrumental in seeing that all four of the ACFW Colorado retreats ran …
Advice for a Nervous Conference-Goer by Deborah Raney
A writer friend, who will be a first-time attendee for September’s ACFW conference, recently asked me for some advice after she started feeling jittery about the conference. I told her that the newbie orientation will be a great way to get her feet wet. That session is not only very helpful, but will no doubt produce some “automatic” friends to …
The Right & Left Way to Plan for Conference: Sarah Sundin
Are you a left-brained, list-making, analyzing, outline-oriented writer? Are you a right-brained, creative, spontaneous, seat-of-the-pants writer? Some combination? If you’re attending a writers’ conference, engage both halves of your brain and plan the right way–and the left way. The American Christian Fiction Writers Conference is scheduled for September 22-25, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri, and registration is now open. ACFW …
ACFW Conference Blog: What to Expect When You’re Expectant
What to Expect When You’re Expectant by Cynthia Ruchti That swelling in your feet? Expected. The waves of nausea? Expected. The wave of resentment that the person next to you has no nausea at all? Expected. The weight gain, imbalance, trouble sleeping, urge to pull out snapshots of your “baby” in embryo stage? Expected. What can a writer expect when …
Taking the High Road: DiAnn Mills
We writers would like to take the easiest and surest path to publication, but those distinctions contradict themselves. The surest path is often not the easiest to a bestseller. Good habits and a conscientious effort to work hard at our craft means commitment and dedication. Whew! But you can do it. Each time we position our fingers on the keyboard, …
ACFW Conference: a Wise Business Investment Plus a Means to Mentor
I think the most common question I’ve been asked since being published has been, “How did you do it?” My answer is always, unequivocally, “With the help of others who were willing to mentor me.” The next question (especially if the asker is also an aspiring author or a closet writer) is usually, “How did you meet them?” When I …
ACFW Volunteer Spotlight
This week we are highlighting Jill Hups. She has been with HIS Writers from the beginning. She served a four-year term as secretary, and when she reached term limit, was willing to serve as vice-president. A visionary, she makes extra work for herself by serving as a driving force behind many of the new endeavors at both the local and …
Do whatever it takes!
With the economy down and being on a fixed income, it looked doubtful that I would make the ACFW conference this year. I haven’t missed one since my first in 2005, and I couldn’t imagine missing this year’s. So what’s a writer to do? There were others in worse financial straits, so I didn’t apply for a scholarship. Then it …
2011 Carol Award Finalists
ACFW announces finalists for Christian Fiction’s prestigious Carol Awards (Atlanta, GA) At ICRS, in a press conference hosted by ACFW and CBA, ACFW proudly announced the finalists in the Carol Awards. The Carol Awards evolved from ACFW’s Book of the Year Awards to honor the highest achievement for published authors of Christian fiction. The 2011 Carol Award winners in each …
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE at ACFW Conference
In just two months, ACFW descends on St. Louis, for the annual conference. This will be my sixth year to attend, and I can’t imagine being a writer in the Christian market and NOT attending. It’s one of the highlights of my year! One of the many things I love about ACFW is how it has grown to meet the …