2016 Wordsowers Christian Writers Conference

We've created an exciting new webpage for the 2016 Wordsowers Christian Writers conference!

Click here for workshop information and to register.

Our 2016 Annual Conference Sponsors include:

            

Half price special coming soon

Due to popular demand Wordsowers will again offer

our half-price writers conference special. 

Photo courtesy gualberto @freedigitalphotos.net

 
We'll release the information soon, so watch our website and Facebook page to grab this super bargain!


Lifespring Church in Bellevue, Ne is the new location for the 2016 Wordsowers writers conference, April 29-30th.

Wordsowers 2016 Writers Conference

Mark your calendars for the 2016 Wordsowers Christian Writers Conference.

We're honored to welcome Focus on the Family's

Troy Griepentrog as this year's keynote speaker.

Troy is an editor at Focus on the Family’s Thriving Family magazine and FocusOnTheFamily.com.

 
Join us April 29-30 at LifeSpring Church in Bellevue, Nebraska.

Watch our website and Facebook page for more details.

The 2015 Conference line-up!

The Wordsowers 2015 Christian Writers Conference Keynote Speaker

Stephanie Grace Whitson Presents:

Precious Stones and Living Words  

 

Don't want the whole conference, but want to meet Stephanie Grace Whitson? 

Our at the door single workshop special is for you!

Hear Stephanie's presentation on Saturday April 25th from 8:45-9:45 AM. Plus, meet her at the book signing immediately following for the single workshop price of only $20.

Want to know about the presenters you'll meet at the 2015 Wordsowers Christian Writers Conference?   

Click on the names below for interviews, insights, workshops, and websites.
 

Workshops

Author Cheryl St.John: A Story is Feelings: Trigger Emotion in Your Reader

CWHAM founder Jill Hart:  Writing as a Business - Creating a Plan for Success.

Author Rose Zediker: Breaking into the Christian Children's Magazine Market.

Singer/Speaker/Writer Phil Morgan: The Art of Songcrafting

Singer/Speaker/Author Pam Morgan: The Complete Communicator

Author/Poet Sally Jadlow: How to Use Create Space for Your E-book

Author/Webmaster Angela D. Meyer: DIY Techie-Social Media basics on a budget

Standard editor Duane Brush:Article Writing 101- What Your Editor Wants to See 

Author/editor Lee Warren: Friday night: On-Ramp: Industry, craft and conference helps, like how to pitch your ideas to editors. 
Saturday: Using Fiction Techniques in Non-Fiction Writing.

Author Mary Connealy: Where do I begin--The five things you need to do to start your story.

Publisher Tamara Clymer: Marketing Outside the Box

Susan King, Associate Editor: Turning Personal Experience into a Devotional Message

Skype

Susan King, editor for Upper Room magazine

Jim Watkins, associate acquisitions editor at Wesleyan Publishing 

House

Shari Langton, associate editor of the Bible Advocate magazine and Now What? e-zine

Rowena Kuo, Managing Editor Brimstone Fiction/ Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas

Gloria Penwell, AMG Publishers

Editor Troy Gripentrog, Focus on the Family's Thriving Family magazine

Specialties

Laree Lindburg: EMoon Publishing

Pat Mingarelli: Professional photo shoots. Conference discount packages from $25 

R.J. Thesman: Certified life coach. Writing one-on-ones. Conference discount price-$25

Author/Webmaster Angela D. Meyer: One-on-one social media and tech help. Conference discount-$25

 Want more?

 Click here for the conference schedule

Click here for the conference brochure

Click here to register for the conference

CrossRiver founder Tamara Clymer

Publisher Tamara Clymer spent 15 years in the television and newspaper industry before founding the Christian publishing company, CrossRiver Media Group. 


Join us at the Wordsowers Christian Writers Conference for her presentation: Marketing Outside the Box – Ideas for marketing that takes you outside of the traditional and social media marketing box.

Jeanie: Tamara, you worked in the television and newspaper industries for years prior to founding CrossRiver Media Group. What prompted you to make that move?

Tamara: I loved working in the television and newspaper industry, but after fifteen years I felt like I needed to do something  different...something that would use my writing abilities to glorify God. 

A writer/speaker friend of mine sat down with me one evening over hot chocolate and talked about how difficult it was to get her writing published. I knew her work... it wasn't a matter of poor writing or editing. 

It was a limited marketplace that wasn't willing to take a risk on a unproven writer. Over the next few weeks, as she talked, I listened... and I began to believe that God may be calling me to help my friend and writers just like her. A few months later CrossRiver was born.


Jeanie: I'm looking forward to your "Marketing Outside the Box" workshop at theWordsowers Writers Conference in April. Can you share a bit about what you'll cover?

Tamara: We will be talking about specific ways writers can use social media to market their books. It takes more than just sharing blog links and favorite recipes... find out what your fans are needing from you.


Jeanie: In your opinion, when should an author begin marketing their book?

Tamara: Authors really should start their marketing before they have even finished their book. A good solid platform takes time to develop, so it isn't something you want to wait to start when the book is about to be published. Working on your platform before your first book comes out is also a good way to build anticipation of its release. 

 While writing, the author can be working on establishing a blog schedule, finding a following on Twitter and getting their feet wet on Facebook. Not to mention finding speaking engagements and radio
interviews.


Jeanie: Tamara, thanks for taking the time to chat with us.
 
Visit with Tamara and learn from her expertise at the Wordsowers Writers Conference April 24th & 25th.

Pat Mingarelli, Professional Photography on hand at Wordsower Writers Conference

Pasquale“Pat” Mingarelli is a photographer by trade and served 11 years with CampusCrusade for Christ (now called Cru) as a photojournalist with their magazine Worldwide Challenge. He left Cru to celebrate God as Creator through photography. His ministry, The Creation  Speaks, examines how nature reveals the glory of God and His attributes. It exploreswhat creation declares to our heart soul and mind about God. When we see howgreat God is in creation we will better understand how great He is in our lives! He posts on of his photos and a Visual Bible Verse

Daily. He lives in Bellevue with His wife Patti, their daughter Talitha, their son Pasquale andtheir dog Montana. 

Photo by Pat Mingarelli

In the spring of 2011 Pat became my professional photographer. The photos of me in the poka dots and pink jacket are from a day in the park with Pat. I'm looking forward to a new sitting while at our Wordsowers Conference April 25, 2015

Kat: Do you think it's an advantage for writers to know something about photographer and if so, what?

Pat: We have the perfect photo for the cover of their new book! (Sweet answer Pat.)

Kat: What are three good facts to know about you and why?

Pat:  1)  I am passionate about showing what nature can tell us about God. Why do people need to know this: Because we all need to pursue what God has made us passionate about.

          2)  Over the years I have spent plenty of time hiking, camping, swimming, scuba diving, gardening, walking and exploring the outdoors. Why do people need to know this: We all need to be deeply familiar with what is the focus of our writing and speaking.

          3)  God first, family second,  ministry/photography/writing  third. Why do people need to know this: That is the way it has to be. 

Kat: What scripture has spoke to you the most while you write and/or shoot scenery?

 

Pat:  Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.  And Psalm 104 the whole chapter.

Psalm 104.

Kat: What advice would you give to your younger self?

Pat: Focus and believe. A dream is good, but writing it down, making it a goal and pursing it is a whole better. And jobs are for people who want to work for someone else. 

Photo of Kat by Pat Mingarelli 

Note from Kat: Pat will be available for professional photos for writers.

Cost:  $25.00 for writers will have a photo session and their head shot emailed to them. For $40.00 Pat will touch up the head shot and send 4 x 6 prints of the writers choosing. 

Interview by the Lionhearted Kat one of the Wordsowers Leadership Team 

Angela D. Meyer Teaches a Workshop: DYI Techie

Wordsowers Christian Writers is excited about our own Queen of the Media, Platform Building and DIY Techie, Angela Meyer, teaching a workshop for our third writers conference.

Angela joined Wordsowers a number of years ago. In the spring of 2011 she volunteered along with Jon Miller (then 17), Teresa Tierney and Kat Crawford to become one of the Wordsowers exciting new leadership team.

The new team of leaders had a dream, hold our first Wordsowers Christrian Writers Conference by spring of 2013. Angela built our website, set up facebook pages and encouraged the rest of the team to dig into building better websites, too.

Along with building the Wordsowers media world, Angela wrote her first book and taught workshops on platform building at the Wordsowers monthly meetings. In December of 2013 she moved from a Leadership Team roll to being Wordsowers Number One DIY Techi on the Advisory Council.  

Kat: You are working on your second novel. When will it be published?

Angela: The second book in the Applewood Hill series will be released in early 2016. 

Kat: Do you ever get writer’s block? If so, how do you unblock?

Kat: Ideas are always stirring when it comes to fiction, but sometimes I get so tired, its hard figuring out how to get those ideas on paper. 

Kat: You are presenting a workshop on being a DIY Techie. For the last three

DIY photo from Common Domain Pictures 

years you have created Websites, blogs, and facebook pages for Wordsowers. This year you’ve added memes to the mix. How have you accomplished all this technical stuff?

Angela: When I first started, I had no idea what I was doing and attempted to rope my teenage son into helping me. He would say "Google is your friend, Mom." From then on, when I saw something I wanted to do, I Googled it, read a lot of articles and watched tutorials to help me figure it out. 

Kat: There are many authors online these days teaching writers the basics. Is there one author, or one book that helped you?

Angela: When it comes to writing, one of my favorites is The First 50 Pages by Jeff Gerke. That book helped me tremendously. 

Kat:  Is there something in particular you would like the WordSowers to pray about?

Angela: Balance. It is really easy to let the marketing part of writing take over you life. I need to make sure I leave room to breathe! 

Check her website for more info:  Encouragement for Your Faith Journey

If you find Angela with nothing to do at the conference, pick her brain. She is full of information and enjoys helping writers. 

Interview by the Lionhearted Kat – One of the Wordsowers Leadership Team