My Christian Writers Conferences

Interview with Beth K. Vogt

Beth K. Vogt is new to the BRMCWC faculty this year and will be bringing and interesting continuing class based on the Princes Bride. I've heard great things about it. Beth has a journalism background but now writes novels. Her first novel will be out in May and she's hard at work on the next one. She was kind enough to do this interview.

Now a word of apology. In recording this interview, we experienced a couple of technical difficulties, the most noticiable of which is Alton Gansky's frozen image. For reasons yet to be determined his video became a still shot. He's not in a coma. He didn't doze off. His face is just stuck. Fortunately, Beth's video continued to record just fine. Apologies to all.

 

<

 

To make reservations for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference, call 1.800.588.7222.

To register online click here.

 

Contests (What Are They About … Really?)

by Eva Marie Everson

In case you haven’t noticed, we have some terrific contests for conferees (and nonconferee/published book authors) at BRMCWC! If you haven’t made yourself aware of them before now, well … here’s your chance.

1. The BRMCWC Contest for Unpublished Writers: If you are planning to attend BRMCWC 2012, and you have not been published, this is your opportunity to shine. Your chance to show your fellow writers, the publishers, agents, editors, etc. in attendance what your writing is made of. There are 20 (count ‘em, 20!) categories for you to submit your work to.
2. The Director’s Choice Award: If you have attended BRMCWC in the past, have had a book published, and wouldn’t mind a little praise from our director, Sir Alton, this is where it’s happening!
3. The Selah Award: For the second year, BRMCWC is offering The Selah Award to those writers who published work in 2011, whether they attend the conference or not. The leadership of the BRMCWC take special pride in recognizing the hard work of our fellow authors; this is our time to place the spotlight on them.

(For more information on these contests, go to BRMCWC website, click on #6 in the lineup of information on the right side of the page.)

Before I give you the website link so you can be a part of all this, I want to introduce a new contest, just to get your competitive juices flowing. Have you ever wondered about faculty and leadership workplaces? Do they keep their desks neat? Cluttered? Do they have lots of books around them? Technology? Pictures of family and friends or captured moments of hobnob experiences?

If so, this contest is for you. Below we’re showing you a list of 15 workplaces for our faculty as well as the names of the faculty who chose to play along. Can you match location with faculty? (Sometimes, all you have to do is look closely to know the answer!) 

Submit your answers to me (Eva Marie Everson) at: PenNHnd@gmail.com with “BRMCWC Workplace Contest” in the subject line. Do NOT attach photos. Simply number 1-15 and type the corresponding name to the number.

The first person to send the correct answers is our official winner. Now, this won’t be easy, so even if you take a minute to think about it, go ahead and try. 

Winner will be announced at BRMCWC and will receive the honor of sitting at the Faculty Table of your choice during the Wednesday Night Awards Banquet. 

Game on!

 1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

10. 

11. 

12. 

13. 

14. 

15.

16.

  

List of Faculty to Choose From (first name alphabetical order):

1. Alton Gansky
2. Andrea Gutierrez
3. Angela Hunt
4. Ann Tatlock
5. Caleb Breakey
6. Diann Mills
7. Edie Melson
8. Eva Marie Everson
9. Gina Holmes
10. James Rubart
11. Dr. Joseph Bentz
12. Kim Moore
13. Lynette Eason
14. Michelle Cox
15. Ramona Richards
16. Susan King

 

Writing on the Run

by Joseph Bentz, PhD

Not long ago I had to wait alone for several hours in a pre-surgery waiting room, wearing nothing but a paper robe, paper booties, and a hairnet. I was waiting to undergo an inconvenient but relatively minor outpatient surgery that should have taken about half an hour under a local anesthetic. 

Unfortunately, the patient in the surgery room ahead of me suffered a dangerous complication that required the doctor to carefully monitor her and to postpone my surgery. The nurse came in to tell me my procedure would be put off for an hour. A little later she came back in to say the delay would be closer to two hours. In fact, I sat there in my paper clothes for three hours before I finally went under the knife.

Sounds miserable, but the truth is, I didn’t really mind. Why? Because I’m a writer, and no matter where I go, I almost always bring some portion of a writing project that I can do just in case I have to wait. That day I had a book review to write for a magazine, with a deadline fast approaching. I brought the book with me, with some blank sheets of paper stuffed inside, hoping I might get a few minutes to read and take notes before they wheeled me away. 

I hadn’t quite finished reading the book when I arrived, but with all that extra time, I was able to finish it and write most of a draft of the review. When the nurse finally poked her head in the room to say, “It’s time,” I was a little disappointed that I wouldn’t have a chance to finish the paragraph I was working on.

Like most writers I know, I don’t really have time to write the books and articles I feel compelled to write. Other demands pull me in every direction—family responsibilities, work duties, church obligations, household chores, and the list goes on. But even though it seems like I have little free time for writing, I still find myself spending hours each week in situations where I’m stuck waiting. I have learned to use those hours as prime writing time. 

Take the book review I mentioned. I write one review a month for a magazine, but I do almost all the work away from my writing desk, during times that would otherwise be wasted. I have a son and daughter in middle school, and both of them are athletes. Over the years, they have played baseball, softball, basketball, flag football, tackle football, soccer, and Brazilian jiu jitsu. During their games, I am right there cheering them on, but during practices, as they do drill after drill, I’m usually in the bleachers or in my car writing. 

I write while I wait to get a haircut, while I wait to have the oil changed in my car, and while I wait to pick up my kids from school. Some people find airports and long flights frustrating, but for me, an airplane seat is the perfect writing venue. Being crammed into that tiny space with not much else to do for several hours helps me focus on the task at hand, and I get more work done in that spot than I would in twice the time sitting at my distraction-filled, Internet-soaked writing area at home. 

Until the last few years, I often felt  a little self-conscious writing in public places, hunched over a notebook or tapping away on a laptop. But these days, almost everywhere I go I see people poking their fingers at some electronic device or other. Why not get some actual writing done while others are checking Facebook posts or writing emails or playing games? I do still leave time for quiet reflection, conversation, and simply enjoying the view. But if I have to spend hours in a doctor’s waiting room or at Jiffy Lube, I would at least like to come home with a few finished paragraphs to show for it.  

 

Joseph Bentz will teach a practicum on writing the Nonfiction Book at this year’s Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference. He is the author of four novels and three nonfiction books on Christian living. His newest book, Pieces of Heaven: Recognizing the Presence of God, will be published by Beacon Hill Press in September, 2012. More information about his writing and speaking can be found at www.josephbentz.com.  

 

 

To make reservations for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference, call 1.800.588.7222.

To register online click here.

 

A Newbie, an Agent, and a Great Big God

A Guest Post by Marcia Moston

Blue Ridge 2010. My first big writers’ conference and I was ready. Armed with my Edie Melson designer three-ring binder, my honed one-sheet, and my perfect pitch, I zeroed in on my primary goal: secure an agent.

After studying the faculty bios, I made my selections. Rumor had it there was a bit of a free-for-all getting to the sign-up tables after the opening meeting, so I made a back-up plan, numbering my choices in order of importance.

My first break came while in scoping out the lay of the land, I saw the open door to the conference room.  Sign-up tables in tidy alphabetical order lined the perimeter. I noted my targeted agent’s table and went to dinner.

The next day, everything went as planned. I met with all the people I had hoped to; the agent agreed to look at my proposal. Smug with success, I returned home and waited for the good news.

And waited. And waited. Most Wanted Agent never responded.

Still, an irritant in an oyster, coated with layers of nacre, becomes a pearl, and when God plants a grain in your heart, even discouragement can be used to advantage. So for the next months I continued to grow my manuscript, producing, in the end, a little pearl that won a big contest.

Shortly thereafter, at another conference, I ran into Most Wanted Agent. He apologized for not getting back to me. Because I had just won a self-publishing package, I wasn’t in the market for his services, so we were able to enjoy getting to know each other with no other agenda.

Except God always has an agenda. A month after my book released, I received a note in my inbox from a publisher with Thomas Nelson, offering me a contract. Three minutes worth of being stunned silly gave way to panic. Not having an agent and not knowing how to respond, I simply didn’t.

Instead, I shot off an email to someone who had previously offered to review my self-pub contract. I waited all the next day for her reply. Meanwhile, the publisher re-sent his offer. Clearly I needed to answer.

 “Please, Lord, what should I do?” I prayed.

At THAT moment, a tweet from Most Wanted Agent appeared in the corner of my computer. I had never seen a tweet from him before, and seldom since.  A click and a call later, I not only had the agent I had so plotted and planned for two years earlier, but the contract I had not dared to imagine.

Why do I marvel? Seems this process was addressed long ago: Man plans his way, but the Lord directs the steps—Proverbs 16:9. A good reminder as I prepare for this conference.

The rest of the story: Turns out the content part of the email I sent to the other agent arrived blank. 

 

I am an award-winning writer who loves God, my husband, kids, and grandkids. Love learning--have often done it the hard way. Have lived in tepees, adobe houses, and classy colonials along my life journey, and have done everything from delivering Yellowbooks to delivering speeches.

You can learn more about Marcia on her website, On a Write Journey Following God.

 

 

 

To make reservations for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference, call 1.800.588.7222.

To register online click here.

Interview with David Van Diest

Literary agent David Van Diest returns to BRMCWC this year, bring his expertise in the Christian Publishing industry to our conferees. I had opportunity to chat with this week. David's bio and class description is below the video window. Enjoy.

Alton Gansky

David Van Diest, is an agent with D.C. Jacobson and Associates. He believes that the best books are yet to be published. His path to becoming a literary agent was both surprising and inevitable. David describes himself as a late bloomer, languishing in the lower echelons of his literary courses through school, and not becoming much of a reader until he was nearly thirty. But publishing is in David’s blood, it seems: his father, John Van Diest was the original publisher at Multnomah Press and is now associate publisher of Tyndale; both sisters worked in publishing; Don Jacobson, his brother-in-law, was publisher/owner of Multnomah Publishers for nearly 20 years; David’s wife, Sarah, has been a literary agent for a number of authors; and even his wife’s brother, Jeff Gerke, is an author and publisher. Since starting in publishing in 1988 David has worked directly with many leading Christian publishers, ministries, and bestselling authors Max Lucado, Karen Kingsbury, and Chuck Swindoll. He’s worn a variety of hats in the past 20+ years, including marketing director, vice president of sales and literary agent. While in marketing at Multnomah, David wrote the marketing plan for a little book called The Prayer of Jabez, which surprised everyone by selling over 10 million copies. Today, David continues in the publishing industry because of his passion to help everyone understand the un-surpassing greatness of God’s love expressed through His Son Jesus’ free gift of grace, and to help Christians mature in Him through continued growth.

Classes: A View from the Inside (workshop) In this workshop, David details what goes on in the pub-committees, how to position a proposal to get maximum attention, and then breaks the group up into 3-4 publishing boards and has them decide whether or not to publish a few proposals he's brought as examples.

To make reservations for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference, call 1.800.588.7222.

To register online click here.

 

Opportunity and Busses

by Alton Gansky

My first "real" job--one that paid an hourly wage--was with McDonalds. A friend helped me get on the crew of, what was then, a high production, experimental store in Pacific Beach, a community of San Diego. The store was experimental in design, utilizing a different work-flow for employees so we could crank out the goodies faster.

I learned many things working at that store. I learned the grill was hot and not to slip and fall on it. (I only had to learn that once); that frozen fries pop and crackle when dropped in hot grease; and that some people can be really picky about their hamburgers.

I learned something else. I learned that opportunity is a lot like a bus, easy to miss.

We were getting close to closing. Some of my fellow employees had already started the nightly cleaning duties. I was wiping down the stainless steel counter that separated the customer area from the work area. A pair of headlights pierced the dark and pulled onto the lot. Someone was looking for a late night burger and fries. Or so I thought. As the car moved into the lights of the store, I could see that it wasn't the usual kind of  vehicle one sees in the parking lot of a burger joint. It was a small limo. This proved more interesting than cleaning finger prints off the counter.

A man exited the rear passenger area and walked into the store. "May I help you?" I was well trained.

He didn't speak. He stood in the center of the customer area and looked around. At first, I assumed he was reading the overhead menu. Then I saw it: a tear on his cheek.

"Sir, are you all right?"

He lowered his gaze. "I could have bought stock in McDonalds for less than a dollar a share." Then he turned and left.

I don't remember what a share of McDonalds went for back in 1970 but I do know it's about $100 now. The man was grieving over a missed opportunity. To my eye, he already looked wealthy, but he could have had much more money had he seized the opportunity before him.

The problem with opportunity is that it's like a bus. It comes, waits a few moments for those who want to to board, then drives off. When it came to investing in McDonalds, this man's bus had turned the corner.

The Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference is pulling up to the bus stop bringing with it a load of opportunities. Opportunities to meet with editors, agents, and writers; an opportunity to learn from an experienced, award winning faculty; an opportunity to network with other writers; an opportunity to multiply your ministry by writing; an opportunity to discover the world of writing and publishing; an opportunity to grow in your craft; and an opportunity to make friends and have fun. There's even an opportunity to help others through our scholarship program.

In short, BRMCWC gives you the opportunity to make a difference in the world--one page at a time.

I'm hoping you'll step on board.

To make reservations for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference, call 1.800.588.7222.

To register online click here.

 

Classes are up, dude

We are happy to present the BR2012 faculty and classes list. We have a list of our 50 plus faculty and the classes they plan to teach. In the right hand column below the videos is a link to the 2012 Faculty and Classes. (Or click here.) As in all such endeavors, it takes a great deal of juggling to pull together a well-rounded, top-notch set of classes. We are blessed to have such an experienced and professional faculty teaching everything from poetry to writing book-length work to photography for writers, and public speaking.

We have classes for beginners to professionals.

Classes fall into categories called tracks. Our tracks this year are:

1. Fiction
2. Nonfiction books
3. Articles
4. Devotions
5. Children's
6. Young Adult (writing for young adults)
7. Writing for Film
8. Writing for Visual Media
9. Poetry
10. The Biz (classes about publishing and working as a writer)
11. Public Speaking for Writers
12. Photography for Writers
13. Pastor's Track (Multiply Your Ministry)
14. Social Media
15. Blogging
16. Freelance Writing

Class designations:

We have different styles and lengths of classes. Following each class is a descriptor such as "workshop." You'll need to know what these mean. 

Workshop refers to a class that covers all the intended material in a 1 hour, 15 minute sessions. Many of these will repeat through the week so if you miss one session, you can catch another. 

Continuing Class means the subject matter is taught over 3 or 4 sessions. These deal with material that can't be covered in a single workshop session. 

Next.Level are classes for the experienced conferee. If you've attended a few conferences, then some of these classes may be for you. Next.Level classes can be workshops, continuing classes, or practicums. Speaking of practicums . . .

Our Practicums are hands-on clinics. Students share their material, or work on material in classes. Some practicums have limited enrollment and other requirements. Be sure to review guidelines provided by the instructor. Practicums vary in number of sessions and length. These elements are determined by the faculty member teaching the Practicum.

Changes are sure to arise. Sometimes we lose a faculty member; sometimes we add new ones. Occasionally a change is made in a class. These changes will be marked by the date when the alteration was made. Check back from time to time.

What should you be doing now? Review the classes and identify what interests you, or what will help you along your writing journey. You have time. Let the possibilities marinate in your mind. If you know the track you want to focus on, then you can easily narrow your choices.

What if you're new to writers conferences? What if you're not sure what you want to focus on? I suggest sampling. You are free to take the classes you want. You do not have to confine yourself to one track. If you want to learn poetry and the elements of screenplay writing, then have at it. If you want to write articles and nonfiction books, then take classes in both areas. It's up to you. Writers are creative people and usually have a wide range of interests.

We are looking forward to BR2012. It's gonna be great.

Alton Gansky

To make reservations for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference, call 1.800.588.7222.

To register online click here.

 

Why Blog?

By Edie Melson

For several years, blogging has been touted as the end all way of reaching an audience—especially for writers of all types. Now, enough time has passed that it’s possible to get a good statistical foundation of whether or not blogging really is a good use of a writer’s time. 

And the answer is . . . 
it depends.

I know, I can hear the groans from here, and I feel your pain. Everyone was promised, “Blog and they will come.” Well, that is only partly true and here’s the nitty-gritty of blogging.

Blogging works for writers under these circumstances:

• The blog/blogger has a clear purpose to blogging.
• The audience is clearly defined. (For example, a novelist is writing for readers—not other writers)
• The blog fits the picture of who the writer is. Or, in other words, it enhances—not contradicts—the author’s brand.
• The rest of your branding makes sense with your blog. 

Blogging DOES NOT work for writers under these circumstances: 

• The point of the blog is vague and undefined.
• The audience isn’t clearly defined.
• The blog leads readers to a different picture of the writer—not a deeper picture—but totally different. 

Over the next few weeks I will address each point and show you how to make your blog work for you, instead of being a time waster for you and your reader. But for now, I’d like to know where you are with blogging.

• Do you have a blog?
• Is your audience for it growing?
• Does it deliver results? 

Chime in with your comments and questions.

To make reservations for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference, call 1.800.588.7222.

To register online click here.

 

Help us help others attend BR2012. Click here for more information.

Questions, Questions, and More Questions

by Chip MacGregor

Some wrote me to say, "You've mentioned on your blog several times that an author should ask a prospective agent some questions in order to get to know him (or her). I'm going to the Blue Ridge conference in a couple months -- what sort of questions should I ask?"

Here are some thoughts to get you started...

• How long have you been doing this?
• How many contracts have you negotiated for authors?
• Who do you represent?
• What publishing houses have you worked with in the past year?
• Which editorial personnel have you done deals with?
• How many deals have you done in the past year? 
• What sort of authors and projects do you represent?
• What do you like to read? (Ask for titles!)
• Can you give me a book title you sold that you loved?
• Can you give me a book idea you sold that you loved?
• Do you offer editorial input to authors? 
• How often will we be in touch? 
• What would you say are your best skills?
• What's unique about your agency?
• What percentage do you earn on a book deal?
• Are there any hidden fees or charges? Any up-front costs?
• Do you charge back all your expenses?
• How do you handle legal or accounting issues?
• In what ways do you get involved in marketing?
• Have you ever worked in publishing or done any editing or writing?
• How do you approach career planning?
• Do you work by yourself?
• Are you full time?
• Are you a member of AAR?
• How long have you been in business? 
• How many people work at your agency?
• How many books do you sell in a year?
• Will you be handling my work, or will someone else? 
• What are your expectations of me as a client?

That will get you going. Again, I think an author needs to consider what he or she needs from an agent before interviewing prospective agents. That way you've got some idea of whether or not this person would meet your needs, rather than simply asking yourself, "Do I like this guy?"

 

 

Dr. Chip MacGregor, MacGregor Literary

Chip MacGregor is the president of MacGregor Literary, Inc., a full-service literary agency that works in both CBA as well as the general market. Chip has been working in the publishing industry for three decades, and made his living as a freelance writer and editor for several years. He is the author of numerous books, including a couple of bestselling nonfiction titles, and formerly served as a publisher with Time-Warner Book Group. He began working as an agent fifteen years ago, and has represented hundreds of titles. The authors he represents have won every major CBA writing award, and their books have been on all the bestseller lists -- New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, LA Times, Amazon, the CBA and ECPA lists, and one title he represented hit #1 on the New York Times list. Six years ago he began his own literary agency, and over the past two years he has consistently been the busiest literary agent in the United States. He works with both fiction and nonfiction titles, but the majority of the business he is currently doing is fiction. Chip has an undergraduate degree from Portland State University, a master's from Biola University, did doctoral work at the University of Oregon, and some post-doc work at Oxford University. A well-known speaker at writing conferences and via online writing sites, he lives on the Oregon coast. 

WHAT HE IS LOOKING FOR: Well-written commercial novels for the Christian or general market. He is open to seeing women's fiction, romance, thrillers, romantic suspense, historical, literary, and Amish fiction. The most important aspect in evaluating a proposal is the writing quality. For MacGregor Literary to seriously consider your work, you'll need to have a completed manuscript.

To make reservations for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference, call 1.800.588.7222.

To register online click here.