My Christian Writers Conferences

2013 Awards Live Webcast

Join us for our first ever live webcast. Thanks to the good people of Crossbooks and LifeWay, we will be making awards ceremony available for viewing over the Internet. It's something new for and we're honored to be able to share the festivities with people around the country--around the world. The awards ceremony includes our three contests: Unpublished Authors; Director's Choice, and the industry wide Selah Awards.

The BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS CHRISTIAN WRITERS CONFERENCE

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2013 AWARDS CEREMONY WEBCAST

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013 -- 8:00 PM EASTERN TIME

Click this link on Wednesday

 http://ridgecrestconferencecenter.org/christian-writers-live

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LIKE our Facebook Page!

Many of you have asked about official Facebook page of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. Well here it is!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blue-Ridge-Mountains-Christian-Writers-Conference/283339519059?fref=ts

Be sure to click Like!

Conference Talk Radio #7: Computers, Recording, Class Notes

Over the next few days, people from around the country will gather at beautiful Ridgecrest in North Carolina to attend the 2013 Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. It are praying that it will be a wonderful time for everyone. My wife and I will leave early Friday morning (we'll probably be in the air when you read this) for our annual trek across the country. Prayers are always appreciated, not just for us, but for all the faculty and conferees who are traveling.

For our next podcast, Edie and I chatted about:

1. Ways to use your computer at the conference.

2. How to get class recordings.

3. How to download class notes.

We hope the podcasts have been useful to you. 

Download Writer's Talk Radio #7

Conference Talk Radio Podcast #6: Food and Fun

Vonda Skelton, long time faculty and keynoter at Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference, is our guest today as Edie and I talk about:

1. What to expect at the conference.

2. How facutly tables work at mealtime.

3. How to have fun.

4. And more.

Since we're so close to the conference we're doing two podcasts this week. The next podcast will run on Friday and Edie and I will be chatting about downloading notes, class recordings, and things you can do with your computer at the conference. Don't miss it.

Download Writer's Talk Radio #6

 

 

It's not too late!

You can still make reservations for the

Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference

by calling 1.800.588.7222.

To register online click here.

Help! I’m Buried and Can’t Breathe! 5 Things to Do When You Have Too Much to Do

by Alycia Morales

My to-do list is five miles long:

I want to finish the first draft of my novel (which is more like the tenth draft of the first half and the first draft of the second, since my internal editor won’t leave me alone and my characters keep whispering they want to do something differently than I want them to).

I want to finish the second round of edits on one book and the first round of edits on another.

I want to set up my blog posts, because God knows I won’t have time to post from conference.

I need to keep up with the questions surfacing on the Yahoo! Group.

I want to write a few devotions and edit a couple of articles I’ve written and print them off so I can share them with editors at the conference in hopes of selling them.

I want to continue working on scanning paperwork into my computer so I don’t have to move 50-pound boxes of memorabilia and files the next time my husband’s company decides to send us to yet another job site (which could very well be next month).

I’ve got to cook dinner. Do laundry. Clean the bathrooms that have been neglected for a week as I’ve worked on everything else. Spend time with the kids and scratch my hubby’s head so he can fall asleep in peace at the end of his hard day of work.

And the list goes on…

Let’s not forget packing, making sure my organizational binder is complete, making sure I don’t forget my cell phone (I’ve done that.), and finding the ever-elusive cocktail dress for the Awards Banquet.

What is a girl (or guy) to do when the deadline looms and there’s so much left on the list?

1)    Pray. Take a tithe of your time and dedicate it to the Lord. Ask Him what He wants you to focus on the most. When we walk in His will and not our own, we have far more successes.

Last year I went to conference completely unprepared in the physical. I didn’t have much to pitch. I hadn’t written anything recently. I didn’t know what classes I should take. I wasn’t ready in my mind. BUT GOD had other plans for me. I walked away from conference as the senior editor of Inspire a Fire and the newest member of the Christian Devotions team. I also joined the staff of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas as an associate editor. Only God could set that up.

2)    Prioritize. Consider your career. Where are you on the path? What is it you want to do with your writing or speaking? What’s the next step? Have you written a few articles and want to try writing a book? Have you written the novel and now need to create a proposal? Have you sold your manuscript and now it’s time to focus on marketing? Do you need to build a speaking platform to promote your non-fiction book? Once you can answer questions like these, your priorities should come into focus.

3)    Relax. Take a Sabbath rest. I always remind myself that I need sleep so my brain can take a break. I’ve noticed that if I stop my work on Sundays (as God instructs us to) and take that Sabbath rest, I have more energy to spend during the week, my brain is clear, and I get so much more accomplished.

4)    Don’t try to do it all. Do only what you can. It’s a relief to know that you don’t have to do it all. When I recognize that I’m only one person and can only do so much in the 24 hours God has allotted me in a day, my stress levels go down. I’m not Superwoman, and I can admit that. Say no to some of the items on your to-do list or the PTO woman who calls to ask you to assist with the end-of-the-year activities next week. Conference is once a year. I’ve participated in school activities for the past ten months. It’s time to do conference and forgo doing the rest.

5)    Delegate. One thing that makes leaders great is their ability to delegate. The dishes are piled high and so are the papers on my desk. I have a ten-year-old who is fully capable of loading the dishwasher so I can focus on organizing my desk. Again, don’t try to do it all. Find things others can help with and allow them the opportunity to serve.

Alycia Morales is the Senior Editor of Inspire a Fire. She also runs a freelance editing business, writes, and is a wife and mother. Her to-do list looks like most email inboxes—full and overflowing. By the grace of God and with adequate amounts of rest she is able to check things off and keep up with her blog, The Thoughtful Spot.

Selah Award Finalists

Press Release

May 11, 2013

RIDGECREST, NC—Alton Gansky, Director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, and Eva Marie Everson, BRMCWC Contest Director, announce the finalists in the 2013 SELAH AWARDS, awarded each year during the “Blue Ridge” conference.

This year, three finalists have been named in eleven categories. They are:

Children

Crystal Bowman

“My Grandma & Me”

Tyndale Publishers

 

Debi Toporoff

“Who Parked the Ark?”

Tate Publishers

 

Jan Price Ward

“Smokey and the Great Escape”

Tate Publishers

 

Inspiration & Gift

Debora M. Coty

“More Beauty, Less Beast”

Barbour Publishing

 

Dianne Neal Matthews

“Designed for Devotion”

Baker Books

 

Cindy Sproules

“New Sheets; 30 Days to Refine You Into the Woman You Can Be”

Lighthouse of the Carolinas

 

Christian Life

(Double First Place)

Allison Bottke

“Setting Boundaries with Food”

Harvest House

 

Anita Higman

“Where God Finds You”

Standard Publishing

 

Kim Ketola

“Cradle My Heart—Finding God’s Love After Abortion”

Kregel  Publications

 

Linda Evans Shepherd

“When You Need a Miracle”

Revell

 

Bible Studies

Cheri Cowell

“Parables And Word Pictures”

AMG Publishers

 

Pastor Jayamon Jacob

“The Depth of Faith”

Westbow Press

 

YA Fiction

Eddie Jones

“Dead Man’s Hand”

Zonderkidz

 

Diana Klingel

“Cracks in the Ice”

Write Integrity Press

 

Lorilyn Roberts

“Seventh Demension”

Create Space

 

Novella

Marianne Evans

“Finding Home”

Pelican/White Rose

 

Anita Higman

“A Merry Little Christmas”

Summerside Press

 

Fiction—First Novel

Dani Pettrey

“Submerged”

Bethany House

 

C. Kevin Thompson

“The Serpeant’s Grasp”

Oak Tara

 

Carole Towriss

“In The Shadow of Sinai”

DeWard Publishing

 

Fiction—Contemporary

Ann Tatlock

“Traveler’s Rest”

Bethany House Publishers

 

Dan Walsh

“The Reunion”

Revell

 

Susan Mae Warren

“You Don’t Know Me”

Tyndale Publishers

 

Fiction—Historical

Stephen Bly

“Stuart Brannen’s Final Shot”

Greenbriar Book Company

 

Dan Walsh

“The Discovery”

Revell

 

Susan May Warren

“Baroness”

Summerside Press

 

Fiction—Romance

Lena Nelson Dooley

“Mary’s Blessing”

Realms

 

Rachel Hauck

“The Wedding Dress”

Thomas Nelson

 

Jillian Kent

“Chameleon”

Realms

 

Fiction—Suspense

Lynette Eason

“When a Heart Stops”

Revell

 

Ronie Kendig

“Firethorn”

Barbour Publishing

 

Lorena McCourtney

“Dying to Read”

Revell

 

The SELAH AWARDS are open industry wide to authors published by traditional and nontraditional publishing houses within the previous year. The awards will be given during the awards banquet held on Wednesday evening, May 22, 2013 at 8:00 pm Eastern Time. 

Thanks to the generous support of Crossbooks and LifeWay/Ridgecrest the banquet will be telecast live over the Internet. To access the live stream during the awards banquet, click on http://ridgecrestconferencecenter.org/christian-writers-live. For more information, e-mail Eva Marie Everson at BlueRidgeCWC (at) aol (dot) com.

Conference Talk Radio #5: The Selah Award Finalists and News You Can Use

Our intrepid contest director, Eva Marie Everson joined us on Conference Talk Radio to reveal the finalists in this years Selah Awards and the list includes some big names and publishing houses. We also talked about what to wear at the award's ceremony (you might be surprised how often we get asked about that).

Download Conference Talk Radio #5

 

News You Can Use for the Upcoming Conference

by Edie Melson

As the 2013 Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference draws near, the excitement grows. We’re all working at a feverish pitch to get everything ready.

The preparation isn’t only with those attending. Al and I, LifeWay, and Ridgcrest are hard at work to ensure your conference experience is a highlight of your writing year.  But with that, come some things we need to let you know about.

CHECK IN TIMES: The first is that Ridgecrest Conference Center is packed with many different conferences throughout the year. This year there will be a large group checking out on the same Sunday we’re checking in. Because of this, there is NO early registration. Registration begins at 3:00 pm. This is the normal time but in past years early check in was allowed. This year the Ridgecrest staff needs the full amount of time to make things ready for us.

BOOK SIGNING: The second is that we are doing the book signing differently this year. We are moving the book signing to TUESDAY night, after Todd Starnes’ keynote.  This means you’ll need to have the books you want to get signed with you at the Tuesday evening meeting. The signing will take place in the room where we have our large group meeting.

AWARDS BANQUET: The third is a reminder that our awards banquet on Wednesday night will be streamed live over the Internet. This is provided by CROSSBOOKS and LifeWay. Here is the link where the event can be viewed: 

http://ridgecrestconferencecenter.org/christian-writers-live

Be sure to share this link with your friends and family, as well as on all your social media outlets.

 

Stay tuned to the blog and we’ll continue to update you on things as they happen.

It's not too late!

You can still make reservations for the

Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference

by calling 1.800.588.7222.

To register online click here.

 

Use Your Smart Phone to Get More Out of the Blue Ridge Conference

by Edie Melson

Lots of folks carry a smart phone these days and while most know a lot of what it can do, here’s some things you may not have thought of to help while you’re at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.

You’ll need to download some free apps, but a smart phone can make you feel brilliant when you’re plugged in and able to stay up-to-date with everything that’s happening. 

1. Get the Conference App. It’s available for iPhone as well as Android models. Just look for LifeWay Creative Events. This little app packs a lot in a little space—and it’s free.

• There’s the schedule
• Faculty Bios
• A place for you to fill in your own schedule
• Campus Info
• Maps
• Even Area Info

*SPECIAL NOTE: The dates are correct on the app, but the info is still being updated. We are working with LifeWay on this right now. We'll let you know as soon as the app is fully updated.

2. Get the Facebook App. You can use this to friend those people you’ve just met, as well as let folks back home know the latest happenings.

3. Get the Twitter App. Just like the FB app, here you can connect with your newest friends. And beyond that, you can do a search for the conference hashtag #BRMCWC and be a part of the ongoing Blue Ridge conversation.

You can even generate some new Twitter followers by hosting an impromptu Twitterview. This is a short interview, entirely on Twitter. Just post a question directly to the person you’re interviewing using their Twitter handle and reply back and forth several times, and you have a Twitterview. If you use the Blue Ridge Hashtag or #Write hashtag, you may even get some other people who jump in to ask questions. It’s a fun way to utilize Twitter. 

4. Get the Hootsuite App. I use Hootsuite to schedule all my social media for an entire day. But it’s much more than that. You can designate specific streams, like the #BRMCWC (conference hashtag) and follow everything that’s going on. You can also post updates to several of your social media platforms from this one program. I use the free version and can post to Twitter, Facebook, and Google + with one click.

5. Get the Moleskin Notebook App. This is a GREAT note taking app. It takes about 5 minutes to figure it out and get it customized the way you want it. I use a stylus with it and absolutely LOVE it. It’s an app that Michael Hyatt highly recommends.

6. Get the CardMunch – Business Card Reader by LinkedIn App. You can snap a picture of someone’s business card and have his/her contact information right at your fingertips. Helps circumvent lost cards! 

7. Get CaptureNGo – Organize Receipt App. This free app lets you keep track of all your business expenses, right on your phone. No more digging for lost receipts, everything is right at your fingertips. 

8. Utilize your phone’s camera. Share pictures on all your favorite social networks, as well as email them to your friends and fellow conferees. Get snaps of you with new friends, favorite authors, as well as industry professionals.

Don't worry about using up valuable data either. The entire Ridgecrest campus has excellent wifi, so you can use that and not even have touch your data limit for the month!

Now it's your turn, what apps do you use to stay plugged in at an event? Share your suggestions in the comments section below.

It's not too Late!

You can still make reservations for the

Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference

by calling 1.800.588.7222.

To register online click here.

Peace in the Process

by Kenneth Avon White

Outside my window I can see the rain falling lightly. It is quiet throughout the house. So quiet, I can hear drops of water hitting panes of glass. My coffee is almost done—my good intentions running high. The stage is set for what could be a very productive writing session. It could be the day I finish that chapter or that nagging page or cobble together that illusive string of sentences that form my opening paragraph. And then life comes calling.  

I get sidetracked for some very good reasons. Sometimes, I find ways to become sidetracked for not so good reasons. Invariably, anxiety creeps up like a shadow on a partly-cloudy day reminding me I’m behind in my writing and at this pace, I’ll never catch up.  

As May 19 fast approaches, this recurring cycle is my predicament. I’m not where I want to be in my writing. In fact, I am far from where I want to be. If not careful, just the thought of this reality could add another foot to my climb up Memoir Mountain—a befitting name to what sometimes feels like the insurmountable endeavor of documenting my life so far. Specifically to answer the question of how I wound up here after coming to rest at one of the lowest points one can travel in life.

As a novice writer of books, it’s tempting to think I should have tackled a foothill first—before the mountain. But recently a breakthrough in perspective has turned my partly-cloudy day into clear skies. Not many days ago, as I fretted over my feeble progress towards completing draft two, I heard the still small voice of God whisper “You’re not behind. You’re just where you need to be.” At first this didn’t make sense to my mortal mind trained in the worlds of deadline-driven advertising and public relations. It was a nice thought, but unrealistic. Deadlines keep the wheels turning and editors happy. As I pondered that, the still small voice of God spoke again.  

“By dying each day to self...to your way of thinking and doing, totally yielded to My leading, you are right where you need to be.” These days, when I sit down yielded and ready to write, I am at the beginning of something new—not behind in work that’s not necessarily inspired. These thoughts bring me peace in the process. And where there’s peace, there is joy. And where there is joy, mountains become foothills. Anxiety ebbs and words flow. It’s all in your perspective.  

Kenneth Avon White has worked in radio and television advertising (winning the prestigious Achievement in Radio award for Washington, D.C.), book publicity, media relations, and the peripherals of the music industry.  Currently, Ken resides in Nashville, Tennessee and is writing his first book, a soul-searching inspirational memoir titled "20 Autumns."

 

 

 

It's not too Late!

You can still make reservations for the

Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference

by calling 1.800.588.7222.

To register online click here.

 

Almost Time

by Alton Gansky

Soon, we'll be enjoying the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains as we descend upon Ridgecrest Conference Center for a time of learning, dream making, and fellowship. We have people coming from different parts of the country. Our accents might be different, but our love for writing is the same.

As we draw nearer to the day, the leadership team is making final adjustments. As you can imagine, it gets a little harried at times (we've fallen behind on blog posts--sorry). As you know, this is not our full time job. Edie, Eva, Alycia, and I are involved in writing and editing, so we are often juggling deadlines while attempting to pull together the best conference possible. This is made possible by Melissa Inman of LifeWay/Ridgecrest. She coordinates all the details dealing with rooms, equipment, the banquet, and much more. Truth is, we wear her out with e-mails. Elaine Sisk does a great job with the LifeWay Bookstore.

A few updates:

1) We've been making updates to the schedule (mostly fixing things) and the faculty list. So be sure you're working on the current document.

2) This week in our podcast we will be revealing the finalists in the Selah Awards. This contest is industry wide. While our other two contests are tied to conferees, Selah is open to any CBA published writer and this year we've had submissions from some very well known writers. Eva has taken this contest to new heights. Very exciting. The podcast will post this Friday.

3) Thanks to Crossbooks and LifeWay for all the hard work in our first every live streaming of the Awards Banquet. What is live streaming? It is broadcasting over the Internet. People around the world will be able to watch the award ceremony over the Internet. This "grand experiment" is sponsored by Crossbooks and LifeWay is providing all the tech.

So are you excited yet?

BR2013 is shaping up to be one of the best ever. Even so, our overriding goal is to change the world one word at a time and we do that by training writers.

Oh, and it's not to late to register. Jus' saying.

You can make reservations for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference by calling 1.800.588.7222.

To register online click here.

Conference Talk Radio Podcast #4: Appointments

Few things cause as much anticipation and anxiety as the 15-minute appointment with an editor, agent, or writer. Conferees can signup to speak with members of the facutly to get one-on-one advice. How do people use these conferences?

1. To pitch an idea to an agent or editor.

2. To ask questions about a specific project or the writing business in general.

3. To practice a pitch.

4. To ask advice.

There are probably a dozen other reasons. Good as all that is, 15-minutes isn't very long so you want to get the most out of the time. In this podcast, Eddie Jones of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas joins Edie Melson and Alton Gansky to talk about how to have a sucessful appointment time.

Download Conference Talk Radio #4