Blog Entries for: Writing Opportunities

Need Writing Opportunities? Take a Look at the Smaller Picture

I received an email last week from a precious writer I've had the joy of encouraging. She's doing everything she needs to do to make the transition from new writer to published writer.

Of course, the first step is that she's following The Christian Writer's Den! (Okay, okay, maybe it's not high on everyone's list, but could I have a little grace here? :-) She's also looking into attending a writer's conference in the fall, is seeking opportunities to take other classes and meet with other writers. She's started a blog and purchased a 2010 Christian Writer's Market Guide.

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August 16, 2010 | 6 Comments | View or add comments

Last-Minute Writing Opportunity from Focus on the Family!

I hope you don't mind me sending an extra entry in order to share this last-minute need from Focus on the Family. Editor Andrea Guitierrez is looking for a personal story on how you taught your child to respect and appreciate an elder relative, and she needs it by this Friday, July 30!

You can read her request here. Guidelines are very specific, so be sure to follow closely. And please don't submit something that doesn't fit. It won't help you or Andrea. :-)

Be blessed, my friends!

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July 28, 2010 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

Filters, Elvis, and a Sequined Jumpsuit: The Subtleties of Good Writing

 

I had the joy and honor of hosting Cec Murphey at my home for several events this past weekend, and what a weekend it was! I watched as he ministered to Christians at my church, to people struggling with drug addiction, alcoholism, and homelessness at a Celebrate Recovery meeting, and to writers who feel they may eventually be driven to alcoholism and drug addiction by the frustrations associated with writing!

Seriously, it was a weekend of encouragement and challenge. Encouragement to stay the course when things aren't going as planned, and challenge to create the best work we can with the gifts we've been given.

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July 20, 2010 | 3 Comments | View or add comments

Hands for Soldiers and New DVD!

Since this is July 4^th week, it's only fitting that we talk about our military. But instead of talking generalities, I want to tell you about my young friend, Janey Turner and her Hands for Soldiers ministry. Janey does more than talk.

Janey has always had a heart for helping others, so when the eight-year-old wanted to send care packages to soldiers in foreign lands, her parents weren't surprised. She stood in the middle of her kitchen, holding a list of names. "I can only pick one soldier? But what about the rest of them?"

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July 5, 2010 | 6 Comments | View or add comments

Interview and Book Give Away with Author/Speaker Pat Ennis

Many of you have heard me say that homemaking is not one of my spiritual gifts. And if you have any doubt about the truth of that statement, just ask my family. Well, today I'm talking with someone who truly knows what hospitality and homemaking is all about. And yes...I have a lot to learn!

It is a joy to introduce to you my friend, Pat Ennis. Pat is the author of Precious in the Sight of God, the Fine Art of Becoming a Godly Woman; co-author, along with Lisa Tatlock, of Becoming a Woman Who Pleases God, A Guide to Your Biblical Potential (Moody Publishers);Designing a Lifestyle that Pleases God (Moody); and Practicing Hospitality, the Joy of Serving Others (Crossway Publishers). She has also contributed to several anthologies. Becoming a Young Woman Who Pleases God (New Hope Publishers) will be released this fall. Pat taught Home Economics for the San Diego Unified School District before developing and establishing the Home Economics Department at Christian Heritage College located in El Cajon, California at the request of Dr. Tim LaHaye. She moved to The Master's College in 1987, at the invitation of Dr. John MacArthur, to establish the Home Economics-Family and Consumer Science Department that she currently chairs. She is the co-founder of the Royal Ladies' Tea Society, whose motto is, "Serving the world through Biblical hospitality one person at a time." And for more information about hospitality, be sure to visit Pat's blog Unfading Beauty.

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June 22, 2010 | 14 Comments | View or add comments

The Non-Fiction Book: Concept to Contract

Although the technique of good writing is a necessary craft that crosses genre lines, there are considerable differences in the planning, writing, and submitting of the fiction vs the non-fiction book. Today we'll focus on the steps you'll need to take in order to see your non-fiction book in print.

Planning:

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June 15, 2010 | 3 Comments | View or add comments

The Truth about Publishing and Writing Opportunities for YOU!

Hello, writers! Well, as you read this, I'm having a ball at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in beautiful Ridgecrest, NC! And lots of Christian Writer's Den friends are here, too. Hoo-wee!

If you're at home wishing you were here with us, I encourage you to start making plans now for 2011. This is a conference you don't want to miss! I think I've told you that in the early years, I asked my family to contribute to my conference fund instead of giving me gifts for Valentine's Day, birthday, Mother's Day, anniversary, and Christmas. It worked! By the time Blue Ridge would roll around, I'd have most of the money saved up! So, you have about 365 days to get ready. What are you waiting for? :-)

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May 18, 2010 | 4 Comments | View or add comments

Said is NOT a Four-Letter Word! (Well...)

Last week we studied the wisdom of the writer's mantra, "Show, Don't Tell." No matter how compelling your conflict or how intricately you've woven your plot, telling instead of showing can result in a knee-jerk rejection from editors.

This week we'll look at another easy reason for editors to say no: The use of inappropriate speaker tags.

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April 20, 2010 | 5 Comments | View or add comments

Questions About Agents and Publishing by Chip MacGregor

You have questions. Chip has answers.

He knows a whole lot more about the publishing industry than I'll ever know, so I'll be quiet and let him do the talking today! Be sure to check out his blog post about agents. You can find it here.

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March 16, 2010 | 4 Comments | View or add comments

Grits, Bacon, and Writers' Conferences

Last week I talked about the need to see the writing journey as an investment. And since this is the time to gear up for the writer's conference season, I decided to share one of my favorite conference stories. Some of you have heard it, but many of you haven't. Either way, I hope it will encourage you to take the leap and register for an upcoming conference. 

I sold my first article over grits and bacon at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. I arrived early for breakfast and claimed my spot at Jesse Florea's table. As an editor at Focus on the Family, Jesse was sure to see that my article, Catch Your Child in the Act...of Being Good, was a perfect match for Focus' parenting newsletters. I was the first one at his table that morning and claimed two places--one for him and one for me. My heart pounded as I watched Jesse enter the dining room and head for his spot.

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February 16, 2010 | 10 Comments | View or add comments

Is Your Doing of the Calling Getting Lost in the Doing of the Stuff?

The past few weeks we've been talking about starting again, whether that means starting over, pressing forward, or completely changing gears. But, as we've already discussed, the most critical thing to do is to Start.

Start something.

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January 19, 2010 | 6 Comments | View or add comments

The Sin That Hinders in 2010

My dear friend, Linda Shepherd, author, speaker, and founder of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, recently shared some words of wisdom with me. She has given me permission to share them with you.

"After a word from the Lord, [a friend] and I have been working hard to ‘remove the sin that hinders.' It's a good word, a word that requires a thorough search of one's heart. I've searched and I continue to do so. And as I've confessed revealed sins, I've seen God show up.

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January 5, 2010 | 14 Comments | View or add comments

Interview and Book Give Away with Kathleen Y'Barbo

What an incredible joy to welcome Kathleen Y'Barbo to the Christian Writer's Den! As the best-selling author of more than thirty books, Kathleen is one of the most prolific authors we've had here at CWD. Her numbers would make any of us writers drool! In all, over 850,000 copies of her books are currently in print in the US and abroad. She has been named as a finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year contest every year since its inception in 2003, often for more than one book.

In addition to her amazing writing career, Kathleen is also a publicist at Books & Such Literary Agency. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America, American Christian Fiction Writers, the Public Relations Society of America, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and Authors Guild and is also a degreed paralegal specializing in criminal and family law. A native Texan, Kathleen has three grown sons and a teenage daughter.

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December 22, 2009 | 16 Comments | View or add comments

Be a Writing Groupie

Several years ago, Edie Melson, Debbie Webster, and I met at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference and were thrilled to discover we lived only a few miles from each other. All three of us were new writers with perhaps one published article each. We'd heard about writer's critique groups and knew we needed to be part of one. We didn't know of such a group in our area, so we did what we needed to do. We started one ourselves.

That was eight or nine years ago. Today the three of us have been blessed with multiple writing credits and are actively working in the field of writing. Debbie, although no longer part of this group, continues to write magazine articles and run her ministry from Whispering Pines Stables. Edie is a novelist, freelance writer, and the managing editor of Centered Magazine. And I speak at women's events and writer's conferences and continue to write books and articles. I fully believe the writer's group was a huge part of our growth.

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December 14, 2009 | 3 Comments | View or add comments

'Tis the Season of Joy?

It's no surprise that many are struggling this December. The economy has taken a hit, resulting in joblessness, foreclosures, and financial ruin. In such an environment, it can be hard to be joyful this Christmas season. After all, what do we have to be joyful about?

I admit, when things are hard (like they've been for me this past year), it's easy to get focused on the hardship and be blinded to the joy God makes available to us. And to be totally honest, when things are really bad, I'm likely to be more comfortable resting in the hardship than finding the joy. 

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December 1, 2009 | 6 Comments | View or add comments

Why Don't Agents and Editors Respond?

Several readers have emailed me recently, asking why agents and editors haven't responded to their emails. Here's an article on this very subject, written by author and mentor extraordinaire, Mary DeMuth. I couldn't have said it any better...so I won't even try!

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November 17, 2009 | 5 Comments | View or add comments

The Journey to Becoming a Master Writer

My journey to publication was like that of many writers...filled with unexpected (and of course, undeserved) detours of rejection and denial. What were those editors thinking? Didn't my years as a high school newspaper reporter and editor of the literary journal count for anything? And what about all those A's I made in college English Comp class?

Yes, the day I placed my fingers on the keys of the blue and silver Selectric, I was confident I was embarking on a short trip to bestseller lists and six-figure royalties. Little did I know the long and winding road that lay ahead.

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October 19, 2009 | 10 Comments | View or add comments

Writing Opportunities for YOU!

Since I'm on the road this week in the great state of Texas, today's entry will get right to the point: Writing Opportunities.

Regardless of the economy, editors are looking for writers. They're looking for writers who can create well-written, professional material that is in the correct format, falls within the word count, and meets the deadline. Your ability to meet and exceed those expectations raises you above the masses and increases your chances of publication. 

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September 14, 2009 | 3 Comments | View or add comments

Author Interview and Book Give Away with Sharon Fawcett

Have you ever struggled with depression? Does someone you love suffer with it? If you answered yes to either of those questions, you won't want to miss today's interview with author and speaker, Sharon Fawcett. Sharon and I met in the cafeteria line years ago when I was teaching at the Glorieta Christian Writers Conference (Now CLASS Christian Writers Conference) in New Mexico. Although Sharon is multi-published in magazines and anthologies, today we're going to discuss her first book, Hope for Wholeness: The Spiritual Path to Freedom from Depression (NavPress). And as you'll soon see, it's been quite a journey.

Vonda: Welcome to The Christian Writer's Den, Sharon. Thanks for joining us and sharing your message of hope. As a matter of fact, in HOPE FOR WHOLENESS, you combine your own story with solid advice for helping others find freedom from depression. What was your experience with depression like?

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August 24, 2009 | 19 Comments | View or add comments

Author Interview and Book Give Away with Cec Murphey

In the past few months, my sister has died of cancer, my mother has been diagnosed with cancer, and now this is the third author we're interviewing with a book on cancer. I never planned any of it. But I couldn't resist the opportunity to tell you about Cecil Murphey's new book and give you a chance to win a not only a free copy, but possibly a grand prize gift basket valued at $300! Check below for more details.

In When Someone You Love Has Cancer, Cec has written a loving inspirational book for cancer caregivers and family members. Cec is not only the author of 90 Minutes in Heaven and a seasoned ghostwriter of more than 100 books, but he's also a friend, mentor, and teacher to writers all over the world. Many of us here at The Christian Writer's Den have benefitted from his generous heart and it is an honor to have him with us today.

Cec's intimate care for his wife as she fought cancer is evident on the pages of this beautifully illustrated book. Prayers for difficult situations are scattered throughout the book and personal illustrations from cancer caregivers help validate and encourage readers. A gentle question and answer session is included. I know you're going to love hearing from Cec, so let's get started.

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July 20, 2009 | 26 Comments | View or add comments

A Half-Truth is a Whole Lie

A half-truth is a whole lie. It's a recurring theme in a couple of my books.  Not that I've ever had a problem with stretching the truth or anything. No, not me. After all, my daddy WAS in the oil business and we really DID live near Paris--two impressive details for a ten-year-old who had just moved to a new town...in the middle of the school year...without her daddy.

(The facts are that Daddy's involvement with the oil business was limited to a huge hose and a big-bellied heating oil truck with the words "Be Sure With Pure" painted across the back, and our proximity to Paris was a tiny four-room house at the base of Paris Mountain in Greenville, SC--insignificant details that would have simply tarnished the new-kid-on-the-block's much-needed delusions of grandeur.)

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June 8, 2009 | 3 Comments | View or add comments

Conference Etiquette: Mind Your Manners

(Note: I'm posting this on Sunday night instead of Tuesday so those attending Blue Ridge will have an opportunity to apply these suggetions at the conference.)

I'm having a ball at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference this week! Sure wish you were all here with us!

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May 17, 2009 | 2 Comments | View or add comments

Formatting Basics

If you've read The Christian Writer's Den blog for any length of time, you know that I believe in writer's conferences. As a matter of fact, you can read about how I sold my first article at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference over grits and bacon. It's true! Just ask Jesse Florea of Focus on the Family.

The best use of your conference dollars is to take advantage of all the opportunities the events offer, including submitting pieces for critique, entering the contests, and scheduling appointments with professionals.  Last week we discussed the synopsis part of the process. This week I'd like to continue our conversation by talking about how to format your manuscript. Remember, you have one chance to make a good first impression. It's your job to prepare as much as possible for that moment. Here are the basics:

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April 21, 2009 | 3 Comments | View or add comments

Compilations--A Viable Path on the Road to Publication

Not long after my first children's book (Bitsy and the Mystery at Tybee Island ) came out, I had the opportunity to submit to a compilation, Mystery Readers Journal: Religious Mysteries. (And just so you know, the words "Religious" and "Christian" are not synonymous!)

I had no idea what I was doing. All I knew was they were looking for writers of "religious" mysteries to share something of interest with mystery readers. Surely I had something of interest to say! So I wrote a piece, "Teaching Truth through Fiction," and talked about the fact that we can teach Biblical and moral truth without preaching. I was thrilled when they accepted my article. And even though I didn't get paid for it, it was still a good investment. Not only was it an opportunity to introduce mystery readers to my book, but the publication also gave me another writing credit. On top of that, "Teaching Biblical Truth through Secular Fiction" is now one of my most popular classes at writer's conferences. 

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February 16, 2009 | 4 Comments | View or add comments

Is Your Writing Flat as a Pancake?

Do you feel like you're caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to your writing? Are you looking for a way to write outside the box? Are the editors as mean as snakes when it comes to their rejections? Learn to recognize overworked cliches...and soon you'll be whistling a new tune!

So what qualifies as a cliché? Dictionary.com says a cliche is:

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February 9, 2009 | 8 Comments | View or add comments

Interview and Book Give Away with Author and Speaker Linda Rooks

Please welcome my friend, author and speaker, Linda W. Rooks. Linda is the author of Broken Heart on Hold, Surviving Separation. Together with her husband, she ministers to those in marital crisis. Linda's credits include Chicken Soup for the Beach Lover's Soul, Focus on the Family, HomeLife, Light and Life, The Lookout and many other national and local publications. She writes regularly for Tapestry, a Walk Thru the Bible devotional magazine and will soon be featured in Today's Christian Woman. Linda is listed in Who's Who and has participated in numerous TV and radio shows across the nation.

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January 28, 2009 | 8 Comments | View or add comments

The Cereal...er...Serial Comma

December 15, 2008

Okay, I know the title is corny, but I'm desperate. Many writers say the serial comma is passé. Well, you tell me if you think a little comma would have clarified this phrase, reportedly taken from a book dedication: "To my parents, Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II." Say what?

Could the writer really be the unclaimed offspring of Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II? I don't think so! Can you see that a serial comma (one placed after Mother Teresa) would have made the writer's intent clear?

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December 15, 2008 | 8 Comments | View or add comments

Putting the Art in Article Writing

November 18, 2008

Once people realize I'm a writer, they'll often ask how I come up with good ideas. I've learned that when they ask, they're usually asking about fiction. After all, what could possibly be creative about writing non-fiction? Everybody knows non-fiction is "Just the facts, ma'am. Just the facts." Right? Wrong!

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November 17, 2008 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

Taking the Question Out of Query Letters, Part 2

October 21, 2008

First of all, we had an incredible time at our 2008 Christian Writer's Den Writing Retreat this past weekend at The Cabin Cove in Todd, NC. Ladies, you need to plan now to be part of the fun in 2009! The date and more information will be announced after the first of the year. Here's a shot of this year's group. Recognize anyone?

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October 20, 2008 | 5 Comments | View or add comments

Bad News/Good News

September 16, 2008

"I've had a hard life," the eager new writer says. "It's an amazing story. All my friends say I need to write a book. I know it would be an encouragement to everybody who reads it."

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September 16, 2008 | 3 Comments | View or add comments

Scams. Shams, and Flim-Flams

August 19, 2008

I'm so excited about all the writing opportunities I have for you this week! But before we get to those, I'd like to take a few minutes to share some warnings.

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August 18, 2008 | 7 Comments | View or add comments

Tap into the Senior Market

Well, I had good intentions. I had sincerely planned to post Birthing Your Baby Part 2, even though I knew I'd be at ICRS this week. But like so many of my good intentions, it just didn't happen.

But have no fear! I am pleased to be able to offer something even better! Please welcome guest blogger, freelance writer Susan Sundwall, as she shares her article on writing for the senior market. You won't want to miss these opportunities!

Thanks, Susan!

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July 14, 2008 | 3 Comments | View or add comments

Hook 'Em!

June 17, 2008

The query letter, written by an eager new writer, was penned with hope and enthusiasm. But hope and enthusiasm were eliminated as soon as the editor read these deadly words: "I know it starts off a little slow, but..."

By the time the editor finished reading those nine little words, the decision had already been made. The rejection letter was on its way. The eager writer might as well have written, "Whatever you do, please don't publish my book."

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June 16, 2008 | 4 Comments | View or add comments

Hello from Blue Ridge!

May 19, 2008 

Hello from the beautiful mountains of North Carolina where the skies are blue, the trees are green, and the hills are alive with music! Okay, maybe that's taking it a little too far, but I can tell you, I could get lost in the joy of writing up here.

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May 19, 2008 | 2 Comments | View or add comments

Who Says?

May 13, 2008 

Back in 1993, before dinosaurs walked the earth, I decided to write my first book. Gary bought an electric typewriter and converted my sewing table into a desk. I ordered erasers and Correct-o-Type. But I knew that to be a real writer, I needed one more thing--a Roget's Thesaurus.

Two sentences into the first page, I opened the ten-pound book. It was a heady experience. I followed the alphabet to the one word I knew I needed to avoid: said. Everybody knew said was a wimpy word, and I was not going to be a wimpy writer! 

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May 13, 2008 | 4 Comments | View or add comments

Going Fishin' by Guest Blogger Renae Brumbaugh

April 22, 2008

Vonda here: Welcome, friends! As promised, we're pretending today is the 5th Tuesday. After all, we're writers, and writers can make it whatever day they want, right? Next week we'll have a wonderful interview and book give away with author Allison Bottke and we'll pretend it's the 4th Tuesday. Totally confused? Good! That means I'm not alone! ;-)

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April 22, 2008 | 5 Comments | View or add comments

Move Over, Audrey Hepburn!

Hi Gang! As you read this, I'm at the Gideon Media Arts Conference & Film Festival at Ridgecrest Conference Center, NC. I'm having a ball hanging around movie producers, directors, screenwriters, radio personalities, and professional actors. If this sounds like something that interests you, I hope you'll plan to join me next year!

In addition to co-directing the teen program, I'm teaching church drama. But believe me, it's not all work. I'm having a ball participating in The Scene Shop, where a few of us actor wannabes (along with some real live professionals) present scenes from brand new movie and TV scripts!  

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April 15, 2008 | 2 Comments | View or add comments

Teaching Biblical Truth Through Secular Fiction

April 8, 2008

Today's fictional children are invincible. They're smart and calculating and wise beyond their years. They're totally independent and answer to no one. They nab the bad guy and save the planet and solve the world's problems through their ingenuity and insight. And where are today's fictional adults while all this is going on? They're standing in the corner, picking their noses--inept bystanders in the crises of life.

Truth is, real kids need us adults. They need us to listen and understand and offer guidance. Lesson #1: Fictional kids need adults, too.

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April 8, 2008 | 4 Comments | View or add comments

Interview and Book Give Away with Author Virelle Kidder

March 25, 2008

I pray this Easter season has found you encouraged and excited because of the promise we have in Jesus Christ. We serve an awesome God! But what if you're not excited? What if you're weary and tired and ready to call it quits?

Lesson #1: You're not alone.

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March 25, 2008 | 16 Comments | View or add comments

It's All in Your Point of View

March 18, 2008

When I wrote my first book in 1993, I had no idea what I was doing. All I knew was that I loved to write, my high school and college teachers said I was good at it, and my mother assured me the book I had created was a masterpiece. I was confident fame and fortune would soon be mine! There was only one little problem (Well, actually there were many problems with that first book--which might explain why it took so many years for it to be published--but today we'll just talk about one of them).

The problem was, I had never heard of point of view, or POV. I wasn't alone. Lots of new writers have no idea what POV is and how important it is to the publishability of their work. But the problem with point of view isn't limited to new writers. It can trip up even the most experienced among us.

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March 18, 2008 | 13 Comments | View or add comments

John Riddle: Encourager

February 26, 2008

Last week, I told you about my first foray into the writing world--a three line poem I wrote in first grade. The feedback and encouragement I received from my teacher was life-giving. I was hooked! When I was in 9th grade, my English teacher, Mrs. Rabb, read my story, "Requiem," to the class and used it as an example of good writing. That catapulted me on to becoming editor of the high school literary journal and newspaper reporter. English comp classes in college confirmed my calling. There was no question about it--I was going to be a writer one day.

Then the rejections came. I wasn't so sure anymore. I almost gave up.

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February 26, 2008 | 13 Comments | View or add comments

Begin at the Beginning

February 19, 2008

I knew I wanted to be a writer after I wrote my first poem in first grade. In high school I worked on the newspaper and the literary journal and in college I knew that one day I would write a book. The next thing I knew, I was forty.

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February 19, 2008 | 11 Comments | View or add comments

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