by Rachelle Gardner Books & Such Literary Agency One thing I’ve noticed lately in fiction pitches – verbal pitches or queries – is that some writers want to tell all about the theme or the emotional journey of the story, but they have a hard time conveying the actual story. Every novel has a theme. There’s a character arc, in …
The Writers Conference – Make it a Life-Changing Event!
by Sue Brower Zondervan, Inc. I have just returned from a great week at Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference. Alton Gansky and his team provided an experience that I know changed the lives of many writers. We had writers from beginners to bestsellers, those that write 500 word blogs to those that write 100,000 word novels. What we all had …
ACFW Rewind: Becoming a More Productive Writer
Editor’s Note: Welcome to ACFW Rewind! ACFW strives to bring you interesting, varied, and helpful posts on the craft of writing and the writing industry. And every once in a while, a previous post deserves to be re-published so the information is fresh all over again. With that in mind, welcome to the first post of ACFW Rewind. The following …
The Ten Words You Need to Hear
by Chip MacGregor, President MacGregor Literary Inc. As you begin preparing for this year’s ACFW conference, I’d like to suggest you keep ten words in mind… 1. READ. Don’t just show up and wonder who the speakers are. Read the blog of keynoter Michael Hyatt. Read the books of teachers such as Davis Bunn and Susan May Warren. That way, …
The Power of Casual Conversation at Conference
by S. Dionne Moore In preparation for conference season, let’s remember a very important factor. Round table talk. It’s like a tonic to those of us who are not extroverts by nature. Round table talk at conference meals is the best way to get to know an agent or editor that you hope to target. For one, the weight of …
Down in the Valley, Valley so Low
For those of you unable to attend the recent ACFW conference, there’s an understandable tendency to be down because you’d like to have been there. But right about now those who did attend may also be feeling a bit low. And that’s understandable, as well. One of my first writer’s conferences (before I was ever a member of ACFW) got …
Forty Days of Prayer: Day One
Day 1 That God’s will be accomplished at the conference Ephesians 6:8–With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. Heavenly Father, Thank you for being a God who is in control of all, who doesn’t leave us to …
Forty Days of Prayer: Day Two
Day 2 Good weather for travel Luke 8:24b–And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. Lord God, Master of all creation, many of Your children will be traveling over the coming days to this conference. We ask Your blessing for good weather — for calm winds, fair skies, and …
Forty Days of Prayer: Day Three
Please join us in today’s prayer, written by a member of ACFW’s Forty Days of Prayer team. Stanley Williams and the Early Bird Session Proverbs 2:2–Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding. Lord, we pray that as Stanley Williams prepares for the Early Bird Session, you give him the wisdom and guidance he needs. We pray …
Forty Days of Prayer: Day Four
Please join us in today’s prayer, written by a member of ACFW’s Forty Days of Prayer team. Wisdom in decision making for the Operating and Advisory Board as they meet before the conference. I Thessalonians 1:2-3–We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers. Father God, we thank you for those individuals …