Where Writers Go

Hey all!

Ever wonder where writers go to network and to learn and to catch up on industry stuff? Not to mention plot mayhem with other strange-minded writer friends? LOL!

I recently returned from the annual American Christian Fiction Writers' conference where I had the privilege of meeting Christian Fiction pioneer, Janette Oke (pictured above). During the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award by Carol Johnson, after whom ACFW's Carol Award was this year named, Janette exuded profound gratitude.

I am thankful for her obedience. I wonder, as she looked around the room, could she have imagined 40 years ago that her obedience to God in pressing on toward publication despite obstacles would have opened so many doors for the rest of us?

Have you seen Love Comes Softly, the movie based from her book? Janette joked onstage that it had been previously titled Love Sometimes Comes Softly. That made me laugh.

I felt amazed to just be in the same room with her and the other amazing authors. Every time I attend a conference I'm awed beyond belief at how, without fail, the more experienced writers encourage, mentor, prod and inspire those of us still relatively new on the scene.

I hope you enjoy these conference photos.

Here's my critique buddies, LIS Author Camy Tang and eHarlequin Board Hosty Dream. We are doing what we love best: hanging out, praying first, eating second, then plotting major mayhem during a delicious dinner and probably freaking out the wait staff at St Elmos in Indianapolis. LOL!



This is me and Dream in our five dollar dresses. Are we bargain divas or what?! LOL.




This is me with my author mentor, LI author Margaret Daley. She is an amazing friend with an enormous mentoring heart. I love her to pieces. She encourages and inspires me in so many ways.





I would love to hear which Christian Fiction Author most inspires you and why. Don't be shy! Have a blessed day and comment away!

Warmly,

Cheryl Wyatt

Fall Conferences



L to R:  Debby Giusti, Missy Tippens, Michael Hauge,
and Janet Dean at ACFW



by Debby Giusti

Writing is a solitary business, but each fall two conferences – held only two weeks apart – pull me away from my computer and allow me to interact with others. On September 16, I flew to Indianapolis, Indiana, for the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference. The Friday to Monday event was packed with workshops on craft and technique and provided numerous opportunities to learn how experts create their stories.

Hollywood Screenwriting Guru Michael Hauge gave a two-day class on Plot Structure. Initially he worked with screenwriters to help them enhance their scripts. A few years ago, he began speaking to writers groups and soon realized the same techniques apply to full-length fiction. Using examples from movies, Hauge described the six stages that take a character from his or her ordinary world through a series of escalating complications, which result in changing the hero or heroine, to an exciting climax where the lead character faces his biggest obstacle. In the end, the character is a new and hopefully better person because of what he experienced.

Interestingly, Mr. Hauge is also presenting at the Georgia Romance Writers Moonlight and Magnolias Conference, which I will be attending this upcoming weekend. No doubt, he’ll provide even more information for me to absorb and apply to my own writing.




L to R: Seekers Cheryl Wyatt, Janet Dean, Missy Tippens, Audra
Harders, Steeple Hill Assistant Editor, Emily Rodmell, Debby Giusti,
Glynna Kaye and Myra Johnson at ACFW.



The highlight of both conferences is reconnecting with friends. Many of the Seekers – 15 of us began as a group of online friends all working toward publication…for the last three years we’ve blogged about our experiences (http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/) and celebrated when doors opened and our books sold—were at the ACFW conference so it was especially wonderful to get together with them. The Georgia writers are a warm and welcoming group, and I’m excited about seeing many dear friends this weekend as well.

I’ll return home on Monday and head back to my computer. Hopefully, my writing will benefit from the workshops I’ve attended. I know I’ll have wonderful memories of the friends I cherish that will carry me through a winter of writing.

Wishing you abundant blessings!
Debby Giusti
http://www.debbygiusti.com/
http://www.crossmyheartprayerteam.blogspot.com/
Visit Seekerville (http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/) for our October Birthday Bash. Great blog interviews, lots of fun and giveaways, including a Kindle loaded with Seeker books!