Michelle Medlock Adams is an Indiana University Journalism School graduate, an award-winning newspaper and magazine writer and the author of 43 books, earning first-place merits from the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Hoosier State Press Association to name a few. Michelle’s Christian Living book, “Living the Love Chapter” earned her the title of “Writer of the Year” at the 2001 Write-to-Publish Conference in Wheaton, Illinois. And, her picture book, “Conversations On the Ark” earned her the “Barnes & Noble Texas Author of the Month” honor in May 2003. Last year, her picture book manuscript, "Mama's Belly" was selected as a Top 12 finalist in the ABC Children's Picture Book Competition. This year, Michelle celebrates the release of four children’s titles: “Hooray for Easter!” “Counting Cows” "How Much Does God Love You?" and "The Shepherds Shook in their Shoes." When not working on her own assignments, Michelle ghostwrites books, articles and web copy for some of today’s most effective and popular ministers. In fact, she helped ghostwrite an inspirational non-fiction book that climbed to number 2 on the New York Times Bestseller list in October 2008. Michelle is also a much sought after teacher at writers’ conferences and universities around the nation, and she loves speaking to women’s groups, youth groups, and congregations, encouraging others to follow God and discover their destiny in Him. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Jeff, and they have two teenage daughters, Abby and Ally, and three miniature long-haired dachshunds. The Adams family resides in Bedford, IN., where they cheer on the Bedford North Lawrence Stars, the Indiana University Hoosiers and the Indianapolis Colts with great enthusiasm. Making It As a Freelancer: Michelle, owner of Michelle Medlock Adams, LLC, has been full-time freelance since 2000, so she knows how to make consistent cash as a freelance writer--no matter the economy. In this comprehensive class, she’ll explore ways to come up with great ideas and how to turn those ideas into sellable articles and books. Then, she’ll discuss various places to send your work: newspapers, magazines, trade journals, regional publications, the Internet, publishing houses, etc; how to find those publishers; and how to approach them. Next, she’ll talk about the importance of specializing in order to maximize your earning and ministry potential. Then, she’ll address the importance of research and how to find credible, wonderful sources; what to do with that extra information you gathered but didn’t use in your main piece; as well as discuss the “red flags” to watch for when doing research. She will also discuss how to organize your time to maximize your earning and ministry potential, as well as how to dive into various types of writing such as non-fiction for children, devotional writing and ghostwriting. Finally, she'll reveal those "tricks of the trade," that will increase your chances of selling your work on a consistent basis. Join Michelle for a practical, fast-moving, hands-on, ever-so-fun and way-too-many-handouts kind of comprehensive class. She's saving your seat! Edie Melson is a freelance writer and editor with a passion for life’s stories. She loves to share her 16+ years experience in the field of writing through mentoring and teaching others. She began as a technical writer in the 80’s and quickly moved into freelance writing, a perfect fit for someone who loves new challenges. Hundreds of articles and devotions, including those for Focus on the Family, CBN.com, Crosswalk.com and Christiandevotions.us, have flowed from her pen to her audience. She also has a thriving copy writing business and teaches others how to write for the internet with an emphasis on SEO/keyword formatting. She began sharing her knowledge of the writing industry with other writers in 2001, by helping start a local writers group. She has also co-directed and taught an annual writer’s retreat since 2002 and is a member of a weekly critique group. From March of 2009 through March 2010 she worked as Managing Editor for Centered Magazine. She has a popular writing blog, www.thewriteconversation.blogspot.com and is a contributing editor with www.thebookdoctorbd.blogspot.com. She’s a member of several professional writing organizations, including The Christian Pen, The Christian Writer’s View I and ACFW, where she serves as the Editor for the Southeast Zone Newsletter and staff reviewer for Afictionado Magazine. Married 29 years to husband, Kirk, they have raised three sons.MICHELLE ADAMS
Making it as a Freelancer
EDIE MELSON
Writing Articles for Print and the Internet
Writing Articles for Print and the Internet
Writing for print and the Internet can give you the opportunity to reach millions of readers. But in this day and time, it can be intimidating. The skills needed to tap into these markets seem to change almost hourly and it sometimes seems writers need an IT degree to understand today’s technology. Not true, good writing is still the standard and the rest is easy to learn. Edie will help you develop the skills to showcase your writing for markets today—from the Internet to print, devotions to personal essays. She knows, firsthand, what editors are looking for and can help you deliver a professional product every time. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just beginning, Edie will break down the process and give you the tools to move to the next level
CECIL STOKES
Writing for Visual Media
Cecil Stokes founded Tentmakers Entertainment in 1999. He has executive produced and/or produced more than 1250 television shows for the networks such as A&E, Court TV, DIY Network, ESPN, Fine Living, Food Network, HGTV, History Channel, the Travel Channel and Turner South. For his Television programming, Cecil has won Cable Ace, Communicator, New York Film Festival, and TElly awards. He also won an Emmy for his work on the show "Blue Ribbon." Cecil executive produced two award winning documentaries A MAN NAMED PEARL and CHILDREN OF ALL AGES. He has created commercials for BMW, Cadillac, Hyundai, the State of California, Sara Lee, and Kohler.
Writing for Visual Media:
The first part of the class we'll compare reality based versus scripted television series. We'll lay out two shows, one from each category and discuss what a network requires during a tv show pitch. We'll talk budgets, production timelines, interviewing and casting.
Basically, we'll take a show from A to Z and discuss all areas of production.
Then, as a class, we'll list our favorite TV series and what made them work. Best season finales and series finales will be addressed.
We'll talk about current needs in television and create a show as a group based on the needs we list.
Finally, we'll cover shows that were classified as religious in nature and how they rated. We'll discuss the pros and cons of being a "Christian" in the entertainment world and then open up the class for Q&A time.
ALTON GANSKY
Writing an Unforgettable Nonfiction Book
Alton Gansky is a full time writer, director of Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in North Carolina, director of Southwest Christian Writers Studio in Glorieta, New Mexico, and founder of Gansky Communications. He is the award winning author of over 30 books and a much sought after co-author. In addition to his own writing, he consults with publishers and writers. Through Gansky Communications he aids nonprofits, business, publishers, agents, and authors in producing the best in written communications. He has also written scores of videos, radio and television ads, and other business productions. Prior to turning to fulltime writing, he served as senior pastor to three Southern Baptist church. A professional used-to-be, Al has been a firefighter, worked in banking, spent a decade in architecture, and published his own magazine. In addition to his writing, he speaks to writers groups and church organizations.
Writing the Unforgettable Nonfiction Book:
The Power of the Nonfiction Book:
The nonfiction book remains the foundation of publishing. In the right hands, a book can long out live the author, continuing to change lives. What gives a book power to touch a mind and change a life?
The Bones of the Book: Determine Your Audience; Determine Your Approach:
Nonfiction books come in different forms and have different purposes. Learn how to determine your audience and then how to determine your approach. The bones of a book can make or break it. Discover how to shape your material so that it communicates to the reader.
Prose that Inspire as Well as Inform:
Powerful prose is not the sole property of fiction. Some of the best writing is found in the nonfiction book. Learn how to make your prose exceptional and never distracting.
How to Start a Chapter; How to End a Chapter:
The basic unit of the nonfiction book is the chapter. Strong chapters make a strong book. Discover how the first few sentences will make or break a chapter, then learn how to end on a strong note.
Illustrations, Anecdotes, and Other Ways to Rivet the Reader’s Attention:
Readers remember illustrations, stories, and anecdotes long after the facts are forgotten. Creative use of illustrations will help you get your idea across and help your reader grasp your message.
Jack Cavanaugh
Writing the Novel and A Novelist Talks Screenplays
Jack Cavanaugh is an award-winning, full-time freelance author with twenty-five published novels to his credit. His nine-volume American Family Portrait series spans the history of a nation from 1630 to the present and is still in print nearly fifteen years following its release.
A student of the novel for more than a quarter of a century, Jack takes his craft seriously, continuing to study and teach at Christian writers conferences. He is the former pastor of three churches in San Diego County and draws upon his theological background for the spiritual elements of his plots and characters.
His novels have been translated into a dozen foreign languages, largely because of the universal scope of his topics. Jack has not only written about American history, but about South Africa, banned English Bibles, German Christians in the days of Hitler and Communism, revivals in America, and angelic warfare.
Jack’s current writing schedule includes motion picture screenplays and e-book serial fiction with Internet distribution. His novel Death Watch has been optioned to be made into a motion picture by Out Cold Entertainment, Inc.
Jack has three grown children and lives with his wife in Southern California.
Writing the Novel
It’s a page-turner! These three words spell success for writers of fiction. But what are the characteristics of a page-turner? In these comprehensive sessions, Jack will teach you everything you need to know to help you get started writing Christian fiction from preparing yourself to write, to polishing the final draft.
A Novelist Talks Screenplays
Characters. Plot. Dialogue. Theme. These are a few of the similarities between novels and screenplays. It’s where the similarities end that things get interesting. In this workshop you will be introduced to the basics of screenplay writing, a fun and creative format that will challenge and sharpen your storytelling skills.
Fiction Bonus Material
Who would have guessed a few short decades ago that storytelling would take such a momentous leap from bound pages to electronic books? Yet, here we are. Online mega-bookstore Amazon.com reports that they are now selling more e-books than hard covers.
With new technology comes new opportunities. Out of print books can be given new life. Authors can now target online readers directly rather than hope to entice them into a bookstore. Shelf space and printing costs are history. Books can be ordered, paid for, and delivered to readers in seconds.
Having spent the summer exploring this exciting new territory, I’ll share my journey with you and help you determine whether it’s a path you want to take.
Chip MacGregor
The Working Professional in an Ever-Changing Industry
Chip has a comprehensive knowledge of the industry—from book development to writing, acquisition to production, marketing to sales. He has secured more than 1,000 book deals for authors with all of the major publishers in both CBA and ABA, including Zondervan, Thomas Nelson, Integrity, Baker, Tyndale, Broadman & Holman, Crossway, Multnomah, Revell, Harvest House, Waterbrook, NavPress, Cook, Howard, Random House, Ballantine, Crown, Doubleday, Broadway, Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books, Fireside, Warner Book Group, HarperCollins, Avon, Viking, Penguin, Berkley, and Jossey-Bass, among others.
As an editor, he discovered Phillip Gulley, worked with bestselling authors such as Kay Arthur and Neil Anderson, and helped craft books for some of the best names in Christian publishing, including Chuck Swindoll, Bruce Wilkinson, and David Jeremiah.
Chip has written more than two-dozen titles, including two books that hit #1 on the bestseller lists in their category. He has also been the collaborative writer on books with people such as Howard Hendricks, Joe Stowell, Andre Kole, and Bruce Waltke.
During his tenure as a publisher at Time Warner, he helped the company grow into one of the world’s biggest providers of Christian books to the general market, acquiring some of the best known Christian fiction and nonfiction authors on the planet: Greg Laurie, Robin Jones Gunn, Sigmund Brouwer, Tim Clinton . . . the list goes on and on.
Chip earned his BS with High Honors at Portland State University, earned an MA with Honors from Talbot Theological Seminary at Biola University, and did his doctoral work at the University of Oregon in Policy and Management, focusing on organizational development.
The Working Professional in an Ever-Changing Industry:
1. Focusing Your Life as a Writer - On the first day, we'll spend some time exploring our past, considering our priorities, and making plans for the future.
2. How to Create a Career Map that Works for Writers - On the second day, we'll be talking and doing exercises to help each writer establish a clear career map. Some of our time will be spent figuring out what decisions we need to make, what changes we need to see, and what skills we may need to learn.
3. The Future of the Publishing Market - On the third day we'll discuss trends and share information on writing, sales, and marketing. At a time when everyone is declaring print publishing dead, writers need to determine what the future holds and what changes it will demand of them.
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