Go to CLASS Writers Conference and Become a Published Author

Add a Publishing Credit Before Year's End

Have you met your publishing goals this year? Are you wondering how you can get published or add another publishing credit before the year ends?

Attend the 2010 CLASS Christian Writers Conference, November 10 - 14, in Abiquiu, NM.

Attendees will bring a story they would like to include in the conference book project, and work with another attendee and faculty member for an intense hour each day to hone and polish the work. If possible, plan to bring your laptop to revise and complete your entry.
Theme: Out of the Overflow

Gain your first, or add another, publishing credit
Be published with other top writers like Bruce Wilkinson, Florence Littauer, and more
Be able to order a quality book that YOU contributed to. Sell it on your book table.

Writer's Guidelines for the conference book are found at www.classeminars.org

Register Now - Don't Delay - Only a few spots left! 

2010 Scholarship Awards Announced!

Congratulations to the following scholarship recipients for the
2010 CLASS Christian Writers conference.

CLASSEMINARS Scholarship in Memory of Dan Penwell

Judy Parker

DiAnn Mills Scholarship

Billie Bundshuh

Cec Murphey Scholarships

Linda Boyd
Christine Callaway
Rosalie Schwarm
Sherry Cullison
Charlotte Riegel
Sandra Scott
Sofia Simpson

Dan Penwell Scholarships

Matt Andrews
Carole Klock
Toni Woolever
Delores Liesner
Melissa Mashburn
Thurston Faulkner

My Greatest Fear at My First Writers Conference

               My greatest fear at my first conference (other than leaving the children, flying alone on an airplane, wondering if my hubby would be okay, hoping the food I left in the frig wouldn’t run out…) was meeting an editor face to face. I had never seen one up close! And editors would decide if my writing dream would ever be realized.

            At that first conference the greatest thing I learned was what wonderful people editors are. They are kind, supportive, encouraging, and full of super ideas to make my writing stronger.

            The 2010 CLASS Christian Writers Conference has wonderful editors eager to help you along your writing journey.

            Jesse Florea from Focus on the Family can help you learn more about writing for children. Although editor of Clubhouse Jr., he can familiarize you with the other publications in the Focus family.

            Rick Steele with AMG Publishing will acquaint you with the many areas in both fiction and nonfiction AMG will consider.

            Want to write for the web? Craig von Buseck  with CBN.com will be on hand to give you pointers as to how your work can make its mark worldwide.

            John Van Diest with Tyndale Publishers will be back with us this year. As you know Tyndale publishes a wide range of fiction and nonfiction so opportunities abound.

            Write devotionals? Eddie Jones of Christian Devotions.us is looking for you! His website needs daily devotions.

            Don’t think traditional publishing is for you? Joshua Williams will be there from WinePress Publishing with lots of ideas and options to custom publish your book.

            Jennifer Dion joins us this year from Outreach Publications. Not only do they publish books but also offer options such as booklets, brochures, and bulletins.

            Getting excited yet? Wait ‘til you hear the rest of the list! Agents, coaches, and professional writers galore are just waiting to help you take another giant step on your writing journey! Join us, November 10-14 at the Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, NM

Linda Gilden is an experienced writer, speaker, editor, writing coach, CLASS staff and board member, and Certified Personality  Trainer. Author of the popular Love Notes series, she is also the author of Mommy Pick-Me-Ups and many ghostwritten books. With hundreds of magazine articles to her credit, Linda Gilden is a prolific writer who loves to share a great story. As a freelance editor and writing coach working with publishers and individuals she encourages others to make their writing the best it can be. She speaks nationally many times throughout the year, is a frequent radio and television guest, and welcomes the opportunity to help others become better communicators. She is Director of CLASS Christian Writers Conference and Director of Writing Programs for CLASSeminars.

     Linda Gilden is a wife, mother of three, mother-in-law of one, and grandmother of three children and two dogs so she has many wonderful sources for writing and speaking material. Her greatest joy is spending time with her family.

TEN QUESTIONS FOR EVERY WRITER

Knowing the answers to the questions before arriving at CLASS Christian Writers Conference will help you navigate the interviews with editors with confidence.

If you think you have a book in you, here are ten questions to answer:

1.    What is the one thing you most want to say?

2.     Who is your target audience?

3.     What is the felt need your message addresses?

4.     What impact will your message have on the reader?

5.     What will you say that’s not been said before?

6.     What life experience authenticates your message?

7.     How would you summarize your message in 50 words?

8.     How will you hook your reader’s attention?

9.     What is your sphere of influence for selling the book?

   10.   How will writing and marketing this book impact your life?

So You Want To Write for Magazines!

Magazine articles are a great way to start your publishing career.  An article in a magazine gives you credentials and clips for future publishing opportunities. Articles give you the experience you need. You’ll learn to write on deadlines and within the limitations of guidelines.  You’ll get the experience of working with editors.  You’ll build a platform.  If you write articles on the same subject for a long period of time, the articles can become the basis for chapters in your non-fiction book.

Study the Magazine

Magazine editors are swamped.  They have too much work to do and too little time to do it.  They don’t want your inappropriate manuscript.  Study the magazine.  Figure out what the subject matter is.  Count the words in articles.  Look for sub titles and paragraph breaks.  Does the magazine have side bars with additional information?  Does your subject fit into the context of the magazine? Write an article that fits the magazine.

Write a Query Letter

A query letter is a one-page letter to the editor. Send this before your write your article and after you have studied the magazine.

A query letter tells your idea, how you will write it, why readers would like it, why it fits in that magazine, and why you should be the one to write it.

After reading your query letter, the editor may say, “I love this idea and I’m ready to use it” or “I like it but let’s change the focus to…… “  I once submitted a query to a national magazine that offered help for overworked, tired executives using a story about running out of gas.  The editor loved the idea but asked if I could write it about marriage instead.  I did and he published it.  

If you write a great query letter, it benefits both the editor and you as the writer.

Benefits for the Editor:

Has a simple one page summary which is easy to respond to
          Can see if you write well and are coherent
          Can see if your idea is well thought out and fits the publication
          Tells if you have a basic grasp of grammar and spelling
          Knows whether have read the magazine or not
          Answers whether you have expertise to write the article
          Sees if you are professional

Benefits for You:

Helps you focus on the subject matter and put it into succinct words

Saves time (you don’t write an article they don’t want)
Gets immediate feedback from the editor about the focus, length, approach, etc.

A well-written query can also result in assignments you didn't expect. If the editor is impressed by your style and credentials, he or she may offer you some other assignment, even if your original idea isn't usable. This introduction can often be the beginning of a long, rewarding relationship.

Query Letter Essentials

• The hook
• The pitch
• The body
• The credentials
• The close

The Hook

The first line must grab the editor's attention. Use a question or unusual facts or statistics.

The Pitch

Once you have an editor's attention, move on to the pitch.  Usually, the pitch is your second paragraph. Explain exactly what you’re offering. Include a working title, a word count, and a brief summary of the content.

The Body

Write two to three paragraphs telling what the article is about.

The Credentials

Editors want to know why you are the best person to write the article you've proposed.

Include your credentials such as: Professional experience (some publications accept material only from qualified experts), academic degrees or training, teaching experience in the subject area, personal experience (especially if the article relates to personal issues/problems), writing experience, interviews with experts.

The Close

Thank the editor for reviewing your query letter and encourage the editor to respond.

About Karen Porter

 Karen Porter is a national retreat and seminar speaker, the author/co-author of six books, and a successful businesswoman.Karen served as Vice President of International Marketing of a major food company in Texas for more than 30 years. In that position she traveled around the world and her varied experiences (including dinner with Fidel Castro) contribute to the richness and depth of her writing and speaking. Karen founded kae creative solutions a communications consulting firm.

Karen says her marriage to George is her greatest achievement. Karen’s favorite activity is continuing her life-long quest for the perfect purse. 

Photos from CLASS CHRISTIAN WRITERS CONFERENCE

GHOST RANCH - Abiquiu, New Mexico



Spiritual Retreat

 

Beauty



Friendship and Fun



On Ramp
with
Ron Benson
&
Lee Warren

Surprises!
Andrea
Chavalier

James Bryan Smith
Keynoter 2009

Great Presenters
Dwight Bain
2009

Editors
Jesse Florea
2009

The Chapel

The Beautiful Desert

Book Proposal Blitz
Anita Brooks



Southwestern Flavor



Southwestern Flavor

Rustic and Beautiful

CLASS PRESENTER TO BE ON RADIO

TOM DAVIS - FICTION COMPREHENSIVE TRACK PRESENTER AT CLASS CHRISTIAN WRITERS CONFERENCE TO BE ON RADIO!

Author, speaker, and ministry president Tom Davis will be a guest on Chris Fabry Live! on the Moody Radio Network, Tues., Sept. 14, 2-3 p.m. (Central).

Davis will be discussing his book Priceless, a novel focusing on and exposing international sex trafficking and published by David C Cook.

Davis is president of Children’s HopeChest (http://www.hopechest.org ), a Christian child-advocacy organization helping orphans in Eastern Europe, Africa, and India. To find a radio station, or to listen live online, go to http://www.moodyradio.org/.

YOU CAN LEARN FROM TOM DAVIS IN A CONFERENCE-LONG COMPREHENSIVE CLASS AT CLASS CHRISTIAN WRITERS CONFERENCE NOV 10-14, 2010 at ABIQUIU, NEW MEXICO.  Register at www.classeminars.org

THREE-STEP WRITING PROCESS

Step One: Before you begin to write your story or article, decide what your primary purpose is. The first step in the writing process is to state your Theme in one word. Then state it in one sentence. Do this for short pieces and devotionals, for stories and articles, as well as for books. Each point must support the main theme. Do not deviate from your premise. This is the main problem with the majority of articles that are rejected. The writer tries to tell too many stories in one article.
Next, create a Preliminary Outline before you write one word of your story. After your outline is complete, finish the first stage of writing your article, which is to develop your idea into a full page. This is accomplished by using the analytical, or critical, side of your brain.

Step Two: Wait a few days before you begin the second step of the writing process which is to write the First Rough Draft. As you begin, let the theme and supporting ideas form in your mind.

Now, write your story or article. Turn off the critical side of your brain and turn on the creative side. Let the words flow onto the paper. Don't get hung up in spelling, punctuation, or phraseology; just write whatever comes into your mind. Get everything down on paper you can think of regarding your subject. You may end up with enough material for several articles, but don't worry about that when you are writing this first draft.

Step Three: Before you pick up your manuscript, wait a few days for it to cool. Then you are ready to begin the third step of the writing process—Editing Your Own Work. This is the most important step and where you will spend most of your time.

Read through your draft quickly for an overview. Make a mark in the margin where it doesn't flow smoothly. Make sure your outline and theme sentence support what you have written. Ask yourself the twelve evaluation questions. Then do a line-by-line editing, checking grammar, punctuation, and word usage.

What makes a published writer is a willingness to go through this process step-by-step. 

For the past 20 years, Susan Titus Osborn has directed the Christian Communicator Manuscript Critique Service where she leads a staff of 18 editors. Susan has authored 30 books, including Wounded by Words, co-authored by Jeenie Gordon and Karen Kosman. Her latest book, Too Soon to Say Goodbye, also co-authored by Jeenie Gordon and Karen Kosman, was released January, 2010 by New Hope Publishers. Susan is a member of the CLASS staff, the Advanced Christian Writers and Speakers (AWSA), and CAN INC. As an author, she represents New Hope Publishers and B&H Publishing Group. Susan lives in Fullerton, California, with her husband Dick. They have five grown children, 12 grandkids, and one great-grandson. Contact Susan at Susanosb@aol.com Her website is http://www.Christiancommunicator.com