Recently a writer friend compared birthing a book to birthing a baby. Indeed, when I first started writing, it would take me at least nine months to write a book from “once upon a time” to “happily ever after,” not counting some major rewriting after my editors got hold of it. So I was shocked the first time I realized …
2nd Annual Peak Writing Conference
Second Annual Peak Writing Conference here in Colorado. Last year’s was a huge success and help to many. Below are the descriptions of the three workshops as well as the bios on our incredible speakers this year – Erin Healy, Rachelle Gardener, and Colleen Coble. The conference is an all-day event and will be held on Feb. 27 in North …
How to Create a Marketing Plan
ACFW Publicity Officer, Angie Breidenbach: Please welcome Chip MacGregor, my guest today 🙂 I’ve asked him to share how to help writers reach their goals and dreams in publication… Chip MacGregor: I had a chance to sit down with a marketing specialist the recent ACFW conference. This wasn’t just a publicist who knows a bit about the industry, but a …
Denver Dining Options #3 During ACFW Conference
Submitted by Megan DiMaria I had previously listed restaurants located in the dining hall AKA food court of Park Meadows Mall. The following restaurants are located at Park Meadows Mall but are not in the dining hall AKA food court. Some of them are inside the mall, the others are located in the parking lot surrounding the mall. For more …
Calming First Time Nerves
by Cara Putman Attending a conference is nerve-wracking. Let’s face it, you’re taking huge risks by going. You’ve invested a lot of money: registration, hotel, airfare, some meals, and other incidentals. You’ve invested who you are – by attending you’re joining the ranks of those who have moved from wanting to write, to those who have taken steps to actively …
The Redeemer of Disappointments
by Cynthia Ruchti What do writers do if they don’t have confidence in the God of All and instead think everything’s up to them? It’s up to them to figure out how to catch the ear of an agent and editor. It’s up to them to decide which editors and agents are the right match for their project. It’s up to them to make their …
The Benefits of Volunteering at Conference
by Jennifer Hudson-Taylor Most of us think of church or local ministries when we consider volunteering, but there are plenty of volunteer opportunities at the ACFW Conference. It isn’t only about writing workshops and meetings with agents and editors, although those are wonderful assets to the conference. More importantly, God is at work during prayer time, praise and worship, devotions, …
Connecting With Publishers
by Lena Nelson-Dooley When I wrote and sold my first two books, I didn’t know much about publishers or agents or anything. We didn’t have an organization like ACFW. After the organization started having national conferences, that changed in my writing life. I was able to actually meet editors face-to-face. I ate meals with them, and many of them have …
NOVEL IDEAS—CONNECTING AT THE TABLE
by Cynthia Ruchti “Can we talk?” Among the things that surprise ACFW conference attendees are these: · It’s amazing how many writers consider themselves introverted. · It’s amazing how noisy introverts can get when set loose at a writers’ conference. Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk! We talk in the elevators, in the hallways, in the lobbies, in the classrooms, in …
Conquering an Introvert’s Fear of Conference
by Missy Tippens By Missy Tippens The ACFW conference is fast approaching, and I know some may be first time attendees. And others may be looking forward to it but are worried or nervous. I suspect a lot of writers are introverts, and I know quite a few who are. And then we go to conferences to network and force …