BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS CHRISTIAN WRITERS CONFERENCE

It Was a Dark and Stormy Blog

THIS PAST SATURDAY, my wife and I had a special pleasure: we drove to Los Angeles to listen to my son teach his fellow graduate students. This weekend, Antioch University will grant Aaron an MFA in Creative Writing. As part of his two-year academic journey, he is required to deliver a classroom lesson based on one of his critical papers. He chose to teach about first lines. It was a fabulous lesson and Aaron’s interaction with the class made his papa proud.

Being there reminded me of two things. First, how much I enjoy being around other writers (even very secular writers like these grad students), and second, how powerful first lines can be.

Some time back, the American Book Review published its list of the “100 Best First Lines from Novels.” The list was the basis of my son’s lecture. Take a look at the lines. There are many things to notice. Some are short. Some seem entirely too long. All are memorable.

Let’s have a discussion this week. I’ll start it off with three questions.

1. What is one of your favorite first lines (from the list or elsewhere)? Feel free to use first lines from works other than novels.

2. What is the best first line you’ve written?

3. What do you learn from the ABR list?

 

Al Gansky

To Blog or not to Blog, That is the Question

I need your opinion. Blogs associated with writers conferences often go dormant once the conference has ended and resurrect a few months before the next conference. So let me ask two questions:

1. Would you like to see this blog continue on through the year?

2. If so, then what would you like to see on the blog? In other words, how can the blog best help you?

Your opinion matters, so please take a moment to think about the questions and let me know what you thing by posting a response.

I hope you went home revived and inspired. Who knows, this time next year we may be talking about your recent publications.

Thanks.

Alton Gansky

Director

Home again, home again

The 2009 Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference is now history, but the effects of it linger in our minds. For me it was a learning experience. The conference went off without a hitch, drawing 350 people together to worship and learn about the craft of writing. For a few days, novelists and poets mixed, nonfiction book writers fellowshipped with freelancers. Writers from across the country (we had one conferee from Russia) came with the same goal: to be better writers for God.

The faculty did their work magnificently and the keynote speakers were inspirational. Around the Ridgecrest campus I saw writers huddled with other writers discussing ideas, concepts, technique and more. New friendship were forged.

Over time, I hope to share photos from the events. In fact, if you have photos you'd like to share, then please send them to me at alton@altongansky.com.

If the conference was especially meaningful to you, then please feel free to send your comments to the same email and I'll post them.

Looking back, I can see several things I overlooked (a couple I'm working on now) and a few things that I could have done better. Of course, it will always be that way. I'm indebted to an exquisitefaculty and the very professional staff of LifeWay and Ridgecrest. Had it not been for the help of Ron Pratt, the conference might have floundered. He does an amazing behind the scenes job and doesn't receive enough praise. He kept me on track.

Thank you to everyone involved. The conference will remain one of my fondest memories. I'm already planning 2010 and hope to make it better than ever.

All the best.

Alton Gansky

Writers Conferences--The First Step on Your Writing Journey

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.

Within minutes, the table full of eager writers attacked him with questions regarding guidelines, submissions, and editorial needs. And even though I felt sorry for Jesse, I added my own din to the I-want-to-be-a-writer clamor. He stopped, took the proffered article from my hand, and read. He smiled. I thought I was going to throw up.

"This sounds like something we could use," he announced.

"It does?"

"Yeah. Send it to me when you get back home."

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah, I'm serious," he answered. "Your writing's good. And I know just where this would fit."

"You do?" (Can't you just hear the confidence oozing from my voice?)

He reached in his pocket and handed me his card. "Here's the address. I look forward to getting your article."

And with that, he was off. Just walked away, backpack slung over his shoulder, breakfast tray in hand. Totally unaware that he had at that very moment been part of a miracle: After 63 rejections, I had finally sold an article.

Instead of throwing up, I cried.

Of course, I know now that the article hadn't really sold at that moment. There was still much to do to seal the relationship. But on that day, over grits and bacon, Jesse Florea said I was a good writer and that he would like to use what I had written. Wow.

I've gone on to write many articles for Focus on the Family publications, as well as articles, books, and scripts for many other publications. So you can see why I'm a firm believer in writer's conferences. I mean, where else can you find such a varied collection of writing classes to choose from? Where else can you mingle with editors, agents, and publishers? Where else can you meet other writers who understand your pain? When I look back, I realize I was introduced to most of my writer-friends and contacts in this industry by attending writer's conferences.

But here’s Lesson #1: Don’t expect that your first attendance will necessarily assure publication. My Focus on the Family acceptance experience took place during my second year at Blue Ridge, after attending several other conferences. By that time, I had taken many writing classes and read a library of books on writing. (And I had already gotten 63 rejections—that proved I was serious!)

Lesson #2: There is much to learn about the craft of writing. It’s a process. You have to be willing to put in your hard work, time, and money. There are no shortcuts.

So if you’re serious about writing, you’ll be serious about attending a conference. I considered writers conferences my “education” in my career choice. In the same way that I had to pay for my education in nursing before I became an RN, I needed to pay for my education in writing before I became a writer. (See Lesson #2: There are no shortcuts.)

So come on! What are you waiting for? You could be sitting at the table, eating your grits . . . and making the writing connection that could change your life!

Vonda Skelton is a speaker and the author of fiction, non-fiction, and plays. She has two new books out this year--Seeing Through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe, a book appropriate for either small groups or as a read alone; and her third children's mystery, Bitsy and the Mystery at Hilton Head Island. Vonda's articles have appeared in HomeLife, Clubhouse, Focus on Your Child, Christian Single, New Man Magazine, Family Doctor Magazine, and many others. A frequent instructor at writers conferences, she is an award-winning playwright and lyricist, and enjoys performing in church and community theater. Vonda and her husband, Gary, have been married all their lives, and are still happy about it! www.vondaskelton.com

Jumpstart Your Conference Experience

In a few days, I’m traveling to Asheville and the glorious Ridgecrest Conference center. I love the crisp clean air of the North Carolina Mountains and look forward to it. I’ve been preparing to teach my continuing workshop, Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. I’ve been sorting through my 20+ years in publishing and preparing which stories to tell during my classes.

 I love writers’ conferences. It’s a grand idea haven to talk shop and learn from other writers. If you want to succeed in the writing business, I’ve got four keys to Jumpstart your Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference experience:

1.      Take daily time to pray about the various people you will meet and the ideas you will discuss. Ask the Lord to guide you through each detail of the conference such as who you will sit with at the opening meeting or where you will sit at each meal and what will be discussed. Ask for God to give you divine appointments. These encounters will be far beyond anything that you could have orchestrated or planned. Be looking for the Lord’s handiwork at the conference.

Some people call those divine appointments or “a pack your bags experience.” That means if you had to leave the conference early for some reason, then you would have had such a great experience with the greatest personal benefit. Through prayer you will come to the conference full of expectation and a spiritual sensitivity that God will work while you are on the conference grounds.

2.      The second way to Jumpstart Your Conference Experience is to come prepared to meet others and start new relationships. Prepare some business cards and be prepared to give them out to everyone you meet—but don’t make it a one way exchange. When you give a business card, make sure you receive a business card. Writing is a solitary occupation and we need each other. You will form new and lasting friendships at the conference if you come prepared for it.

3.      The third way to Jumpstart Your Conference Experience is to study the background for the various faculty members and get familiar with their different roles. Publishing is constantly changing. I’m in a different role as a publisher than my last time I came to Blue Ridge as a literary agent or when I’ve been as an acquisitions editor. Your familiarity with the different faculty will help you form deeper relationships during the conference. I believe your time in preparation will be rewarded.

4.      The final way to Jumpstart Your Conference Experience is to come with the right heart attitude. Many writers come to their first conference expecting to sell their book manuscript or magazine article. Yes, there will be some of those exchanges at the conference. A much more central part of every writer’s conference is where individuals learn new aspects of publishing and take great strides of personal growth. Come with expectations and a willingness to learn and grow. With the right heart attitude, I’m convinced that you will not be disappointed but your expectations will actually be exceeded.

How can I say that expectations will be exceeded? Because I know each member of the faculty is a Christian and a person who is filled with the Spirit of the Living God. I love the verse in Ephesians 3:20 which says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

Today God is preparing for you the people and lives that will be touched during the time we are together in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I will be coming with high expectations and anticipations. I’ve not ever been disappointed in the past. 

See you soon in the mountains!

W. Terry Whalin understands both sides of the editorial desk--as an editor and a writer. He worked as a magazine editor and his magazine work has appeared in more than 50 publications. A former book acquisitions editor for several publishers and a former literary agent, Terry is a Vice President and Publisher at Intermedia Publishing Group. Whether you are unsure how to start on the path to publication or want to take your publishing career to the next level, Terry’s newest book, JUMPSTART YOUR PUBLISHING DREAMS, INSIDER SECRETS TO SKYROCKET YOUR SUCCESS is packed with insight. At Blue Ridge, he will be teaching a continuing class in the afternoon called Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams.

Writing Book Reviews for Fun and Profit

Writing book reviews can be a great way to break into print. (My first byline was a book review!) Book reviews are found in newspapers, magazines, trade journals, Websites and newsletters.

To find potential markets for your book reviews, grab a copy of Literary Marketplace, a reference volume available at your local library. There are several sections that list newspapers and magazines that publish book reviews. You will find the name of the book review editor for each publication, but before you send a query letter asking if they need any additional book reviewers, visit their Website and make sure the name is still correct.

You can also look through Writers Market and Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers’ Market Guide to find additional publications that feature freelance book reviews. Another good way to find publications and Websites that need book reviews is to use your favorite search engine online. Also, spend time at a large bookstore, such as Borders or Barnes and Nobles, and browse through the many publications they have for sale. Before you know it, you will have compiled a rather large prospect list of book review editors to contact.

If you are just getting started as a freelance writer you should contact your local newspaper and see if they need any additional book reviewers. Some newspapers use freelance writers for book reviews, author interviews and even feature articles. If your local newspaper does not have a book review section, offer to write a weekly book review for a few weeks at no charge. This will help you build up your “clips” (what you have published) and give you the confidence to move on to paying projects.

The best place to find new books that will be in the bookstores over the next few months is by looking at a copy of Publishers Weekly magazine. (You can learn more by visiting www.publishersweekly.com.) That magazine has tons of information about the book world and mini reviews of forthcoming books.

When you see a review of a book you would like to obtain, jot down the name of the book and the name of the publishing company. Then visit the publishers’ Website and look for an e-mail address for their publicity department.

Send an e-mail to the publicity director:

Dear Publicity Director:

            I would like to obtain a review copy of (insert the name of the book). Two copies of each tearsheet will be forwarded upon publication. Please send the review book and media kit to: (add your name & mailing address).

By the way, a “tearsheet” is simply a photocopy of the book review when it is published.

Before you know it you will be receiving free review copies of new books in the mail.

Next, you’ll need to send an e-mail to a book review editor. Here’s what the e-mail should say:

Dear Book Review Editor:

            I am a freelance book reviewer and would like to submit a review of (name of book). The publishing company will be sending a review copy to me. The book is scheduled to be released in bookstores on (insert date), and I will have the review to you before the release date.

See how easy that can be? Once you obtain the review copy of the book and find a place to sell your book review, you are on your way to a new chapter in your freelance writing life. I have reviewed books for almost 25 years for a variety of newspapers, magazines, trade journals, newsletters and Websites. Some book reviews have paid $25 while others have paid as much as $300 (and higher).

After you have written a few book reviews you might be interested in writing for the “book summary” companies. They hire freelance book reviewers to write “summary reviews” of books. They usually pay about $1,000 for a summary that runs from 5 to 15 pages.

Visit www.ilovetowriteday.org and learn about I Love To Write Day, which is celebrated every November 15. Please help spread the word! Thank you!

John Riddle

Founder

I Love To Write Day

www.ilovetowriteday.org

johnriddle@sprintmail.com

John Riddle is a freelance writer and author from Bear, Delaware.His byline has appeared in major newspapers, magazines, Web sites and trade journals all across the country.  He is the author of 34 books and has worked as a ghostwriter on numerous projects.  John is also the Founder of I Love To Write Day, a grassroots campaign he launched in 2002 to have people of all ages practice writing every November 15.  Last year over 20,000 schools all across the United States held special I Love To Write Day events and activities.  He is a frequent speaker at both Christian and secular writing conferences, and recently appeared at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. 

 

Ten Reason Why You Should Attend the Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference

[Editor's note: Eddie Jones is a writer and seriel BRMCWC attender. He's sharp, dedicated and totally whacked as you will learn while reading the following material. I've provided a picture so conferees and facutly can chase him down.]

10) You won’t sign a contract at the conference. That’s right. Odds are you won’t land an agent, sign a book contract or be asked to sing a duet with Eva Maria Everson. But you will learn how to become a better writer, so come. And if Eva Maria asks you to sing with her, say no.

9) Steven James will be teaching. Skip lunch, skip appointments with editors, but don’t skip Steven’s classes on crafting scenes and building tension in your story. If you do attend his classes, though, wear a helmet. Steven has an unorthodox way of distributing hand-out materials.

8) Because God told you to come. Come on, admit it. You know He did. Why else would you still be waffling, wondering and waiting for God to provide some supernatural financial blessing? Of course you’re supposed to be at the conference, so come.

7) Ron Benrey is teaching his course on plotting… again. At some point this wise man is going to stop so you better come and learn this plotting stuff before Ron gets really old and starts talking like Yoda

6) You might be a writer. I know what your spouse said. I know what the editors and agents said. But what do they know? Only you understand the ache in your heart and the joy that comes from a well-written phrase. (By the way, that weren’t one.) Plus, you’re a bit weird and all writers are a little whacked—Steven James more so than others. So join us as we whack words with other weird people.

5) Because Ann Tatlock, Yvonne Lehman and Vonda Skelton are teaching about truth, love and how to develop a speaking ministry and if you don’t come they’ll track you down and beat you up.

4) The attendees. That’s right, come for the person sitting next to you. Year-after-year conference attendees return to encourage each other. We skip classes, appointments, and even naps to pray for one another. This is the Blue Ridge CHRISTIAN Writers Conference, so come.

3) Al Gansky got a promotion. This year the conference is on his broad shoulders and since everything Al does is top-shelf you’re guaranteed to get the best conference ever. Plus, Al’s still teaching stuff. Stuff like, how to write a non-fiction book. (Hint: these kinds of books still sell and make money, something you’ll find useful if you’ve already quit your day job.)

2) The mountains. Okay, I know that sounds lame. Like maybe it’s a filler and we’re scrambling to find 10 great things to say. But really, there’s nothing like standing at the top of the mountain as the sun sets and knowing that God created all this for you. Create… did you catch that? God’s in the creation business. So come and create. 

1) Because the world needs you. Seriously. Look at what’s published these days. The world needs great writers. Writers with God’s Spirit inside and His Words in their heart. Today’s readers need you, so come. The world is waiting. God is waiting. Agents, editors and book sellers are waiting, so come. Call today. Make your reservation. Operators are standing by to take your call. 

"Strong Language" in Fiction, Drama, and Film

Sooner or later, every writer must decide what kind of words are appropriate for his writing, and this applies particularly to words that are euphemistically described as "strong language"—common "cusswords" and the language of the gutter. As a former Infantry soldier and (worse yet) a graduate student, I guess I've heard them all. And I've put a good bit of thought into their proper place, if any, in my life and writing.

            Consequently, I've come to reject the most commonly accepted justifications of using these words in fiction, drama, and film. These "four-letter words" have certainly burgeoned in today's publications, films, and TV scripts. They assault the ears of channel surfers, and they so dominate fictional conversations that often these words are the dialogue.

            The usual justification is a claim of "realism" in two senses. First, it is said that because people actually talk that way, realistic fiction must accurately report their words. Second, it is claimed that four-letter words bring us into closer contact with “real life” than other words do-- that is, there is less distance between the word and the thing it represents.

            Neither claim can withstand serious examination.

            The first confuses "realism" with literalism. Fiction is not real life. It is an artifice that creates the illusion of real life. So, if the writer must report people's words literally, what excuses him from including all other elements of life literally? Must every fictional day begin with the hero shaving?

            And what about actions often excluded from fiction--praying, for instance? Depending on which poll one reads, 50 to 80 percent of Americans pray every day. By the "realism" criterion, shouldn't the correct percentage of fictional characters pray with appropriate frequency during the narrative?

            My conclusion: if "realism" does not justify literal inclusion of other elements in fiction, it does not justify literal inclusion of specific words.

            Nor can the claim that four-letter words are closer to "reality" withstand questioning. Many uses of those words are, to put it mildly, figurative. There may have been a time when attributing bisexual reproductive capabilities to inanimate objects was amusing. But if so, the idea is now so clichéd that it's no longer humorous.

            And on representing reality, let's consider the so-called "f-word." The early English (probably Anglo-Saxon) from which it descends was a savage language appropriate to the savage times in which it was spoken. Then, perhaps, the word may have accurately described physical relationships between men and women. But many cultural changes have altered that reality.

            One such change was the twelfth-century invention of romantic (courtly) love, popularized by  Eleanor of Aquitaine and Chrétien de Troyes. And in the 1590s, Edmund Spenser synthesized various love traditions into an ideal combining the romance of courtly love with the intellectuality of Platonic love and a dash of physicality from Ovid--all justified by marriage, one of the seven sacraments of the church. Spenser's synthesis held general acceptance until about 1900, when it eroded under the influence of naturalistic philosophy and Freudian psychology.

            The point for "realistic" fiction is this: if the "f-word” today accurately describes the physical relationship between a man and woman, it does so only because the couple is immune to or ignorant of the cultural experience the past millennium.

            My conclusion is that if the customary justifications do not stand up under examination, the real reasons for using "strong language" must lie elsewhere. Some involve today's cultural warfare, but another is more pertinent here. Writers know that conflict is basic to all good fiction. “Strong language” helps lazy writers gain the appearance of conflict without the hard work of creating genuine conflict, which is always generated by a story’s basic narrative structure. In other words, "strong language" substitutes for genuine creativity.

            Profligate use of "strong language" will always be chic, of course. But as the brilliant screenwriter Morrie Ryskind put it, "The chic are always wrong."

Donn Taylor is a poet and novelist who holds a PhD in Renaissance literature and has more than 20 years’ experience teaching poetry. His poetry has appeared in Christianity and Literature, The Lamp-Post (Journal of the California C. S. Lewis Society), and other journals, as well as general audience publications such as the Presbyterian Record (Canada). His poetry collection Dust and Diamond: Poems of Earth and Beyond was published in 2008. His fiction includes a suspense novel, The Lazarus File, and a light-hearted mystery, Rhapsody in Red. He has also published essays on writing, literary criticism, ethical issues, and U. S. foreign policy. In a prior incarnation, he served in two wars with the U. S. Army.

The Future of Self Publishing

 [Ed. note. A short time ago BRMCWC faculty member and agent Chip McGregor made a few prognostications. In this post, BRMCWC faculty member Athena Dean responds.]

While I too am no prophet, I have to agree with Chip MacGregor in his prediction #8.

<<8.     A major author is going to make a fortune self-publishing. I think a big author will look at the numbers, figure out how to market herself online, and decide to make more money creating and selling a book on her own. Really.>>

The publishing world is changing and I’ve watched over the last two decades as it has grown harder and harder for first time authors to win a contract from a major publisher. On the other hand, it is easier and easier to get published using print on demand technology, (whether you have something compelling to say or not).

The future of self-publishing is certainly bright. When done with excellence, custom self-publishing can not only be profitable, as Chip suggested in his recent post, but it can also be a quicker way to get your message into print. In today’s fast paced world, some messages just can’t wait two years, and need to reach the market sooner.

It is typically true that a significant platform is required in order to earn a contract from a royalty publisher, yet it’s a misnomer that an existing platform is necessary to be successful at custom publishing. It’s almost the dilemma of which comes first, the chicken or the egg. You need a platform in order to get published, but you need a book in print in order to establish your platform! For some people, self publishing gives the jump start needed to build that ever important platform.

Join Carla Williams and I for our three-part workshop on custom self-publishing at the upcoming Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. We’ll be discussing the top ten pitfalls to avoid when self publishing, but will also help you develop that a power platform so your book reaches hungry readers.

A three-time self-published author, Athena Dean has coached hundreds of authors through the daunting task of book production and promotion. Since 1991 she has helped bring the degree of credibility for self-published works up to the high level of acceptance in the industry it enjoys today. Athena functions as a Solutions Advisor for WinePress Publishing Group and is actively involved on the board of directors of the Northwest Christian Writers’ Association.  

The Wizard of the Wizard

I had the joy of traveling to San Diego with friends to visit the city where I grew up and to take in a stage play. After spending some time in and around La Jolla (one of the most beautiful places on Earth) and Balboa Park (another breathtakingly beautiful spot) we drove to Coronado where the theater is located. After a late lunch we meandered through a small gift shop associated with the history of Coronado.

After a few moments of looking at knickknacks and small toys, I noticed an area filled with books and related materials associated with L. Frank Baum. Yup, that L. Frank Baum. My curiosity got the best of me. I asked one of the attendants, “What’s up with all the L. Frank Baum stuff?” (Yes, I am that smooth.) She replied, “Oh, he used to live down the street. He wrote some of this most famous works there.”

I don’t know how many times I’ve been to Coronado over the years but it’s a lot. Moment’s later, I was dragging my wife and friends on a expedition to find the home of the author of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Here’s what I found.

Lyman Frank Baum (1856-1919) was a newspaperman who wrote 200 poems, scores of plays, 82 short stories, 55 novels (apparently there are four missing novels), and many other works. He endured bankruptcy and setbacks, but he kept producing written work.

I’m not one of those people who get weak in the knees seeing the homes of the famous, but standing there taking photos of the house left an impression. Today, Baum is famous and his work continues to live 90 years after his death. This is true for many writers: Hemingway, Melville, Twain. Perhaps it is one reason we write. To write and publish is too extend one’s reach, not just across world but across time.

Not every article, poem, script, novel, or nonfiction book goes on to the kind of fame of Baum’s Oz series, but some do. Did Baum know the success his books would achieve? Doubtful. He endured many setbacks before his success and serious financial problems after. Still he kept at it.

Many writers are suffering now. The publishing industry is iffy at best. News of layoffs is no longer surprising. It’s still too early to tell how book sales will be affected. Still writers write; editors edit; and readers read.

Standing on the sidewalk in front of what had once been Baum’s house, I wondered how nice it must have been to live part of his year in Coronado, close to the ocean, and beneath an azure sky. It must have been wonderful, but it didn’t mean he didn’t have challenges or failures.

The lesson for us is this: Do what you have to survive, but writers will always make time to write.

 

Alton Gansky