My Christian Writers Conferences

One Man, Making a Difference

                                                                                                Alton Gansky with daughter, Crystal Fretz

Introducing Dr. Alton Gansky

by Edie Melson

Anyone familiar with the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference knows Alton Gansky. He inherited the directorship from Yvonne Lehman and has continued to make this one of the premier conferences in the country. 

For me personally, he’s had an incredible impact on my life. In 2009 he gave me my first opportunity to be a part of the Blue Ridge faculty and has since allowed me to serve as his assistant director. Through this position I’ve been able to witness, first hand, his drive to help others find the courage to seek God’s path in their own lives. 

This past weekend, his Alma Mater, Southern California Seminary, honored him for that commitment when he was awarded an honorary doctorate.

Many of us have first gotten to know Alton Gansky through his books—his award winning fiction as well as non-fiction. He sets a high standard of excellence when it comes to the written word, and his prodigious output is...well...off-putting in its volume, to say the least. But more than that, Al has a heart dedicated to encouraging others in this challenging industry.

His advice never appears unsolicited, but he always has time to answer an email, encourage a conferee and offer suggestions. He’s open and honest about his own journey, unafraid to share his personal triumphs and trials. And all is given without expectation of gain or even thanks. 

Truly, his generosity with other writers is best expressed through the tagline he’s given the conference, changing the world...one writer at a time.

I encourage those of you who wish to use this opportunity to share how Al has impacted your life.

 

One-Sheets for Christian Speakers: Your Virtual First Impression

An event planner has found his or her way to your website, and is trying to decide whether to contact you about speaking at the next event. What’s most likely the first thing the event planner will do: 

• Ask for a demo CD of your speaking?  
• Contact your references?
• Read your books?
• Email you for a copy of your one-sheet?

The answer: None of the above.  

These days the first thing he or she usually looks for is a downloadable copy of your one-sheet, that front-and-back summary about you, who you are, what you look like, what you’ve done, what you talk about, where you’ve been, and how to reach you.  

And that one little sheet could be the difference between getting the call…or not.

In this two-day practicum, we’ll look at one-sheets and what makes them excellent, acceptable or a liability.

Email your one-sheet to me at vondaskelton@gmail.com before the conference and we’ll share it with the class for review. Or, if you prefer, simply bring it to class in hardcopy or on your computer and you’ll be able to make changes as you learn.  

Ideally, bring your one-sheet in both a PDF file and as a Word document. PDF files are preferable for sharing onscreen, but sometimes it’s easier to make changes in the Word document format. 

But whether you want to share with the group or not, I hope you’ll come and learn how to create a one-sheet that will give event planners a great first impression of you!

Vonda Skelton is a national speaker, author of four books, and founder and co-director of www.ChristianCommunicators.com, an organization created to educate, validate and launch women in their speaking ministries. She is a frequent instructor at writer’s conferences around the country and has a vibrant writer’s instructional blog, The Christian Writer’s Den. www.VondaSkelton.com 

Classes:

How to Develop a Speaking Ministry to Women (continuing class)

Do you have a desire to share your experiences of life with other women? Do you have a message that will encourage, edify, or exhort? If so, perhaps God is calling you to start a speaking ministry to women. Come and explore the possibility of sharing your message of hope and healing through the spoken word. If desired, you may present a three-five minute program to the class on the last day.

One-Sheets For Christian Speakers: Your Virtual First Impression (2-day Practicum; Limited to 10 participants)

Why the Bible Writers Would Have a Hard Time Finding a Publisher Today

It is often said that the Bible is the all-time bestselling book, but it achieved that status in a much earlier publishing era. What would happen if the Bible were submitted as a new book to a publisher today? I imagined how an editor trained in today’s publishing realities might respond to it: 

Dear Writer: 

I have read your manuscript that you are calling “The Bible,” and I wanted to offer you a little feedback before I inform you of our decision about whether to publish. I admit that I didn’t read all of it, and I frankly doubt that most of your readers would either. I mean, it’s looong. Do you know the attention span of the average reader today? Will anyone have the patience for this book?

Not only is it long, but the subject matter is rather diffuse, to say the least. This book has poetry, history, biography, theology, prophecy, parables, hymns, proverbs, and probably a few other genres I’m forgetting. Doesn’t that seem a bit—overwhelming? Who is your audience? 

Not to nitpick, but I also have a little trouble understanding your organizational structure. For instance, do you really want to put that hymn book right there in the middle? 150 songs? And those sections you call Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Aren’t those a little repetitive? Have you thought of just combining those into one? 

I don’t mean to discourage you, but I wouldn’t be surprised if quite a few readers are offended by this book. It can be a little polarizing. It’s so violent, for one thing. Stonings, crucifixions, wars, a flood, a woman turned into a pillar of salt. For goodness sake, children may read this! And what about that story where the woman drives the tent peg through the man’s temple while he’s sleeping? I mean, come on! 

I haven’t even mentioned all the details about the animal sacrifices. And what’s with all those lists of rules in some of those beginning sections? That part you call Leviticus has more information about skin diseases than I ever wanted to know. And while I’m at it, those genealogies slow down the pace of the manuscript a bit, don’t they? What’s your strategy there?

I’m not denying that your book contains inspiring stories. It is filled with timeless truths. It presents a vast overview of God’s plan of salvation for humanity. It holds the key to eternal life. It contains passages that continue to preoccupy me long after I set them aside. I continue to be moved by the words and actions of Jesus. I am inspired by the stories of Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah, Jonah, Ruth, Mary, Paul, and others. 

But I don’t know. Our readers today might have a tough time with it. I’m afraid I’m going to have to turn it down. It does not fit our publishing needs at this time.

Sincerely,

The Editor

 Joseph Bentz will teach a practicum on writing the Nonfiction Book at this year’s Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference. Bentz 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. He has just launched a new blog, called “Life of the Mind and Soul,” which can be found at http://josephbentz.com/blog/.

 

Motivation Malaise

by Edie Melson

Dictionary.com gives this definition for malaise, a vague or unfocused feeling of mental uneasiness, lethargy or discomfort.

Many of us go through periods when we just can’t get motivated. The reasons are myriad, ranging from busy schedules to fear for failure to fear of success. Sometimes it happens when you’re so overloaded you just don’t know where to begin. 

Now I pride myself on being a go-getter when it comes to my writing/work schedule, so when I experienced this the first time it caught me by surprise. I couldn’t resist trying to find the basis for my lethargy and the results surprised me. 

I found three issues that seem to be the basis of my malaise.

•  Mental Fatigue: Some times life just makes us tired. Deadlines, family issues and even a series of set-backs can cause this.

• Disrupted Routine: I’ve discovered writing takes a certain set of mental muscles—and can easily get out of shape.

• Insecurity: yep, you read that right. I’m the poster child for low self-confidence when it comes to writing. I find myself fighting against that voice in my head which insists everything up to now was blind luck, and I’ll never write another publishable word again.

Having ferreted out what I think are the root problems, I immediately set about devising a plan. Here’s what I came up with.

• Mental Fatigue: I’ll be watching the clock and taking frequent breaks during my workday to stretch and walk around my house or neighborhood. Experience has taught me that exercise is the key to breaking through this roadblock. 

• Disrupted Routine: for this, I’ll be very dogmatic with my schedule. I’ll be watching the time I spend on specific tasks to help me make up lost ground in the quickest way possible. This kind of discipline will also help rebuild my writing muscles.

• Insecurity: this one is a little trickier. I’ll be adding in rewards for accomplishments—like lunch or coffee with a writing buddy or a trip to the local bookstore. This will help me begin looking for my successes, as well as easing me back into a regular routine. 

So how well does this work? It’s proven successful for me, but only when I work at it.  And that’s the key. We have to keep going even when we stumble.

What about you? Have you ever dealt with a similar issue? If so, how did you ease back into the real world? Any advice . . . warnings? I’d love to hear from you.

Edie Melson is a freelance writer and editor with years of experience in the publishing industry. She’s a prolific writer, and has a popular writing blog,The Write Conversation. She’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, as well as a popular faculty member at numerous others. She currently has two books available, the best selling eBook, Social Media Marketing for Writers, and her latest project, a devotional for those with family members in the military, Fighting Fear: Winning the War at Home When Your Soldier Leaves for Battle.Married 30 years to her high school sweetheart, Kirk, they have raised three sons.

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

To register online click here.

MY TOP TEN LIST FOR BRMCWC

by Julie Webb Kelley

One of the largest Christian writer's conferences in America, the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference is awesome! Recently, I was reflecting on my previous trips to BRMCWC when the joy of the past experiences collided with the excitement of the upcoming trip and the combustion created words . . . imagine that.

Here is my personal Top Ten list of why I thrill at going to BRMCWC each year:

10. No Top Ten Lists. There will be lists of classes, lists of faculty members, editors and agents, and lists of times when the coffee shop is open but there is no splitting of better, best, bestest when it comes to classes or faculty or beverages. So there's no need to figure out the best classes or the best teachers....like a quality cup of java, it's all great!

9. No virtual learning. Although I adore Einstein's Theory of Relativity, the fact that there is no simulated geometrical distortions of space and time at this conference is a plus on many levels! Real people with real words in real classrooms! Pow!

8. The faculty reeks . . . of attention and usefulness as if they really, truly desire writers to succeed. Hmmmm....no need for me analyze the faculty members as if they were my protagonist. Where do you live? What's your motive? Why are you really saying that?

7. "Shoot. They found the body." BRMCWC is a place where clichés, tired phrases and stale sayings are placed to rest with dignity and peace. Make sure you pack your funeral clothes, because if the faculty are doing their jobs right, you'll be burying your darlings. Bring tissues too.

6. The vegetarian meatloaf never comes with a chainsaw. I'm not sure Ridgecrest has ever served vegetarian meatloaf, but if they did I'm positive it would be outstanding. As a vegetarian, I appreciate that they serve quality vegetarian options at every meal! I can't say that's the case everywhere I go, so I do carry my own chainsaw.

5. "That's a great outfit, honey. But Halloween was seven months ago." What I wear is never a deal maker or breaker. Sure there are suggestions for what to wear, how to behave at lunch, and when to swoon over editors and agents, but being myself is what they're most interested in seeing. It's my time to shine, baby!

4. What happens at Blue Ridge, never stays at Blue Ridge. Experiencing the repercussions of this conference is vital. I've been living in the waves of friendships and writing knowledge since my first day at BRMCWC and I wouldn't have it any other way! Even if I didn't get to go elevator surfing last year.

3. "There go the lights again." I can count on having several "ah-ha" moments! The first one is always while climbing the stairs at Ridgecrest and discovering I'm not as fit as I think I am. The rest of my light bulb moments come as a result of being deeply immersed in a quality writing environment and feeling like my head is being held under waves of massive information and I can't breathe. It doesn't sound like a good thing now that I write about it, but it is.

2. No Extra Charge. We can thank our parents for all the gifts they've given us, including the need for costly therapy. But at BRMCWC there is no extra charge for the therapy you receive from the fresh mountain air and the comfort of fellow writers. (Definition of fellow writer: a person who knows how deeply disturbed you really are and loves you anyway.)

1. Free Double-Sided Playing Cards for all! For me, the best thing about BRMCWC is how we're all playing the same game and seeing the same thing. There are no double-standards. Everyone has the same deck of cards . . . working toward creating quality, publishable Christian writing that will glorify God.

See you all on the mountain!

Julie

P.S. If at any point during the conference you're not sure why you haven't receive you're free deck of double-sided playing cards, DON'T ASK AL! Come and find me and I'll go over your options with you.

Julie is a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications. In the last 23 years she has written for newspapers, hospitals and websites. As a breast cancer conqueror, Julie's passion is writing about women's health and wellness, children's health, and alternative approaches to medicine. She is currently completing her first novel. Visit Julie at her blog, Anti-writing: Words to Satisfy the Uncommon Soul.

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

To register online click here.

I'm Eating Dinner with Chip MacGregor!

                                                                                                                        Photo courtesy of Mary Denman

The Fine Art of Conference Dining Etiquette

by Alycia Morales 

You’ve waited for this moment since you discovered the faculty list was live on the My-CWC site. You’re standing in line at the cafeteria, the delicious odor of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and collard greens wafts through the air, and you’re praying the table of your favorite author/editor/agent isn’t full by the time you make your way to the dining room. Suddenly, you get the jitters and find yourself worrying about having collards stuck in your teeth. What is one to do when dining with such writing celebrities?

• Mind your manners. Chew with your mouth closed (no one likes to see your food rolling around in your mouth). Don’t slurp your soda or sweet tea. Turn your head if you think you’re going to sneeze because you used too much pepper on those potatoes. Wipe your mouth every few seconds. And please, please, please—don’t talk while you’re eating. This can be embarrassing. I’ll never forget when my dear hubby (he tells this story all the time, so I’m good) met Ray Comfort of Way of the Master fame. He had a mouth full of chicken when Mr. Comfort made his way to our table to say hello. He spoke. Chicken flew from his mouth to Mr. Comfort’s tie. Red cheeks and multiple apologies. Need I say more?

• Faculty members like to eat, too. These generous people have given us their time all day. Some haven’t had time to stop for lunch, let alone dinner. Give them a moment to eat their meal before bombarding them with your questions, concerns, or comments. They’ll thank you for it and have more energy to make it through the week. You wouldn’t want them to miss your appointment due to a sudden drop in their blood-sugar levels, would you?

• Don’t hog the conversation. The point of these dinners is that multiple people can get to know the various faculty members and enjoy social time with them. This isn’t the time or the place for us to pitch our projects and explain them away. This is the time to consider the other five to seven people sitting beside us and give everyone an opportunity to talk. If you want to have one-on-one focused attention, the appointment room is typically around the corner. Walk over there when you’re finished eating and schedule time to meet with them. Or, politely wait until everyone else has left the table and ask permission to pitch something. I did this my first year of conference, and I landed a sale on the spot. I won’t tell you how much that dinner pitch earned me, but it was worth being polite and allowing the others at my table to enjoy dinner conversation with the editor.

• Don’t cross the conversation line. Learn from my mistake. There is appropriate conversation, and there is inappropriate conversation for a dinner table. Apparently, it’s all right for parents to discuss their childrens’ vomit stories, but please don’t bring up the poopy ones. (I can hear you snickering…) The dinner table is also not the place to bring up your nasty divorce or five ex-husbands, your multiple illnesses, or other such stories of life. Save them for your fictional memoir. Keep the dinner conversation light and fluffy, like whipped cream. Which leads me to my next point.

• Enjoy the treat. Most of us love dessert. Most of us can’t pass up a southern-sized scoop of banana puddin’. Or a chewy gooey chocolate brownie. Or those macaroons I keep hearing about. These things are a treat. They aren’t something we require to thrive. Eating with the faculty parallels. It’s something we are blessed by the conference directors and faculty to have the opportunity to do. Enjoy it. Relax. Sit back and take in your meal, the conversation, and your dessert. Savor it. Have fun.

Alycia Morales started writing as soon as she knew how to hold a pencil, and she’s never stopped. She’s have written poetry, essays, compositions, press releases, blog posts, devotions, articles, and is currently working on writing children's picture books, adult non-fiction books, and fiction novels. She has produced content for an online company, as well as worked with other writers as a freelance editor. As the moderator of the Blue Ridge Yahoo! Group, she helps others take the plunge into the world of writing. You can connect with Alycia through her two blogs, www.AMoralesThinks.blogspot.com, and www.alyciamorales.blogspot.com.

 

Set Reasonable Expectations BEFORE You Get to the Writers Conference

by Edie Melson

You plan for it, budget for it, and pack for it. You spend almost an entire year polishing your writing—and your pitch—so you can make the most of your investment. Anticipation and apprehension begin to fight for superiority. Finally, you buckle your seatbelt and grab the safety bar and leave for Blue Ridge.

Frequently we invest so much into attending a large conference we almost set ourselves up for an emotional letdown. If we’re not careful, we can pin our hopes and dreams on a specific appointment, or a certain set of circumstances and miss out on the joy of the experience. 

I know because I’ve been there.

Here are some tips to setting realistic expectations for Blue Ridge, or any large writing conference.

First, realize the difference between goals and dreams.

A GOAL is something you can attain through your own behavior and/or choices.

A DREAM is something someone else controls.

It’s fine to attend a conference hoping for your dream to come true, but don’t judge the success or failure of your experience by something you can't control.

Second, set some GOALS for what you’d like to accomplish. Here are some you might want to consider:

• Learn a new skill. This can include deepening a skill you already have, or adding to your writing repertoire.
• Find a writing buddy. You may need an accountability partner or just someone who understands the unique challenges of being a writer.
• Make some valuable connections. These could be with industry professionals or other writers. Trust me, both types of connections are worth your investment. 

Third, be open to something new and unexpected. You may be attending with the hope of selling that book, and end up developing a relationship with a magazine editor. Or you could meet another writer who later becomes an editor and buys your first freelance article. Think that can’t happen? Well it did. I know, I became that editor.

A writing conference can be a wonderful experience, well worth the money and time you’ve invested. It can also be a series of frustrations without the proper advance planning. So take the time to consider all the possibilities before you leave home.

Edie Melson is a freelance writer and editor with years of experience in the publishing industry. She’s a prolific writer, and has a popular writing blog,The Write Conversation. She’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, as well as a popular faculty member at numerous others. She currently has two books available, the best selling eBook, Social Media Marketing for Writers, and her latest project, a devotional for those with family members in the military, Fighting Fear: Winning the War at Home When Your Soldier Leaves for Battle.Married 30 years to her high school sweetheart, Kirk, they have raised three sons.

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

To register online click here.

 

 

Get Organized for a Writers Conference

by Edie Melson

For those who’ve known me for any length of time are aware that organization isn’t my strong suit—at least not in the conventional meaning. My desk is covered in stacks of paper and the walls of my office are papered with rainbow hued sticky notes. It’s a system that works for me—but I quickly discovered it didn’t translate when I went on the road.

So I found another way to keep myself on track when I’m away from the office and my conference notebook was born.

It’s really pretty funny. The moment people see my notebook they immediately assume I’m this ultra-organized whiz. Actually, the opposite is true and my notebook is just a last ditch effort at self-preservation. Another thing I’ve noticed is that this notebook works well no matter what your natural bent toward organization.

The primary idea for this notebook is that it contains everything I need at a writers conference so I don’t have to dig through bags or be constantly returning to my room for something I’ve forgotten.

So let’s get to it!

First, I choose a one and a half inch three ring binder. Mine is green because green is my favorite color. I make sure there’s a sleeve on the front cover to slide a cover into because it hold my contact information if I should lay it down and leave it somewhere.

Next, in the front I have a small zippered pouch with a couple of pens and some paper clips. I can also slide in a small lipstick, some band-aids and tissues.

After that, I have a neat insert that holds several different size and colors of sticky notes.

Then, I add 4 pages of clear business card holders. I use the kind that are the size of a full page, so I have plenty of room to add business cards. I keep the first three empty and use them to store business cards I get from others. The last page is full of my personal business cards, so I always have plenty to hand out. (Don’t know what to include on a business card? I posted a blog on Getting Ready for Blue Ridge, Business Cards.)

The next part is divided into sections with tabs. Each project I’m pitching has a section. Here’s what would go into a section.

• A clear plastic sleeve containing my one sheet for that project. (Don’t know what a one sheet is? Click here for the post on Creating a One Sheet).
• An outline for the project—if it’s non-fiction.
• A synopsis for the project—if it’s fiction.
• A sample of my writing for the project. This can either be a couple of sample devotions (for a devotional book) or the first couple of chapters in a book (fiction or non-fiction).

I have several copies of my one sheet, outline, synopsis and sample—just in case the person I’m showing it to wants to keep it or mark it up with suggestions.

Finally, after the section for projects I stock the back of the notebook with notebook paper and extra clear plastic sleeves and tabs.

Extras, you can include in your notebook might be a sheet, a list of topics if you're a speaker or even a list of articles you might want to pitch. The nice thing about this kind of notebook is you can personalize it to fit your needs.

With this notebook, no matter where I run into an editor or agent, I’m always prepared. I literally have everything at my fingertips. During a conference I NEVER go anywhere without my notebook.

 So what have you found to help keep you on track while at a conference? We’d love to learn from your experiences too.

Edie Melson is a freelance writer and editor with years of experience in the publishing industry. She’s a prolific writer, and has a popular writing blog,The Write Conversation. She’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, as well as a popular faculty member at numerous others. She currently has two books available, the best selling eBook, Social Media Marketing for Writers, and her latest project, a devotional for those with family members in the military, Fighting Fear: Winning the War at Home When Your Soldier Leaves for Battle.Married 30 years to her high school sweetheart, Kirk, they have raised three sons.

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

To register online click here.

 

Conference Mindset

by Alton Gansky

The days are flying by. Soon, a bunch of us will suffer for our craft in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Okay, there won’t be that much suffering. This time is meant to help you feel comfortable with the industry, grow in your craft, and network with other writers, agents, and editors. As you prepare, there’s a few things to keep in mind.

1. Relax. The conference is held at a beautiful place, staffed by professionals, taught by knowledgeable faculty (all who have been where you are), and includes time to relax. There will be music and laughter. Creative types like to laugh. Bring your funny bone.
2. Expect variety. With 50 faculty you’ll be rubbing elbows with faculty from different backgrounds and experiences. This is a good thing. As with life, publishing is varied. Sometimes the teaching of one faculty member will contrast with that of another. That’s to be expected. Publishing is not uniform and faculty have had different experiences. My path doesn’t match, say, James Rubart’s. Writing is an art. Editing is an art. Agenting is an art. That means there are different approaches and experiences.
3. Choose your classes wisely. No one can take all the classes. Pick those that match your goals. If you’re not sure what kind of writing you want to pursue, then consider sampling different disciplines. BRMCWC is a smorgasbord and you get to choose what you put on your plate.
4. You’re not alone. There are people to help you. Lot’s of people: faculty, Ridgecrest staff, returning conferees, and volunteers.
5. Decide to enjoy the process. There’s a great deal to enjoy. Often, enjoyment is a choice.
6. Come ready to fellowship. This is a conference for those writing for Christian publishers. Worship is part of the program. You are not only among friends, but brothers and sisters.

Got a question? Let me know.

Alton Gansky is a full time writer, director of BRMCWC, and founder of Gansky.Communications. He is the award winning author of 40 books.  Prior to turning to full time writing, he was the senior pastor to three Southern Baptist churches. In addition to his writing, he speaks to writers groups and church organizations.

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

To register online click here.

 

How to Prepare for your Photo Shoot at Blue Ridge

by Mary Denman

Think about what you're trying to convey through your headshot.  And the answer isn't just to look nice. Yes, that's important. But think about who you are as an author. Your writing and your voice reflect who you are. Let your headshot do the same. Are you a mystery writer? Maybe your photo should be black and white with shadows. That would add intrigue. But if you're an author who writes for children, a brighter, colorful picture might serve you better.

Consider your clothing choice carefully. Unless you want to say you're from the islands, leave the busy Hawaiian shirt in your closet. Pick simple clothing. Solid colors are usually a great choice unless you choose bright red or pink, which dominates the shot. And plaids, paisleys and patterns can distract from the real subject—namely you. Remember the KISS principle.  Keep it simply simple. No, I’m not going to call you stupid. 

Ladies, give great care with your makeup. You don't want to go all out and wear tons of makeup if you normally like the natural look. But make sure you have what you need in your purse when the time comes. Stop by the ladies room, freshen up, and then head to your shoot with confidence!

Talk to me.  Ask questions.  Listen to suggestions.  We’ll come up with a simple game plan for your shoot. So even if you don't get a headshot with me at Blue Ridge, learn to communicate with your photographer. 

RELAX! I know. Going to a photo shoot may be up there with filling cavities, but it doesn't have to be that bad. What's the worst that can happen? You don't like your shots and they get deleted. What's the best that can happen?  You're discovered to be a movie star? Okay, that's for actors. How about causing your readers to see your photo and decide you might have something interesting to say?  

Mary Denman is a writer who also loves photography. Or a photographer who loves writing. As a freelance writer, Mary has had articles published in various forms ranging from Focus on the Family publications to magazines to devotions to op-ed pieces. She has also completed her first novel and started her second. She's a member of several professional writing organizations including ACFW, My Book Therapy, and Word Weavers. 

As a professional photographer, Mary has had photos published in both print literature and online. Her shots have been used by businesses and by fellow authors alike. Her philosophy is to catch a moment that reflects God’s beauty and creativity, whether in nature, in life or in the face of her subjects. And as a writer herself, she understands what authors need in a headshot. Mary blends the two mediums of writing and photography on her blog. www.marydenman.blogspot.com.

Classes:

Photography 101 (workshop)

Come and learn the basics of photography that will instantly improve your pictures.  Learn to frame shots, the rules of thirds and so much more. And there will be chocolate. 

Viewing Life through the Lens of a Camera (continuing class)

Bring your camera for a hands-on class about photography and about how to use your shots for blogging, ministry and more. We will spend time actually walking around the campus taking shots, learning about perspective and how we can use this gift to further our message. 

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

To register online click here.