Here's the Latest!

The North Jersey Christian Writers Group currently meets on the first Saturday of each month from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at:

High Mountain Church of Nazarene
681 High Mountain Road
North Haledon, NJ 07508

The first hour is a short devotion followed by a writing exercise.
The second hour is spent critiquing each other's work.

Any questions?
Email:
Barbara Higby at bhighby5(at)optonline(dot)net     
or
Susan Panzica at susanallenpanzica(at)gmail(dot)com.

REMINDER

REMINDER
There is NO meeting of the NJCWG on 4/3 due to the Easter holiday. Many of you requested that the last meeting be postponed so that you could attend and I will gladly accommodate you in that regard.

Our last meeting WILL be on Saturday, May 1, 2010 - 2:30 at the Ringwood Baptist Church. Please pass the word to anyone you know who would like to attend this last meeting. Everyone who attends will receive a FREE copy of Sally Stuart's Christian Market Guide as a gift.

Hope you've all been thinking and praying about what God wants you to do with your writing and whether or not God is calling you to raise the writing torch in northern New Jersey. If you are interested in taking over the NJCWG group, email me. BTW, being the facilitator of a writers group adds a lot to your writers resume . louisedumont@gmail.com

Blessings to you all,
Louise Bergmann DuMont

Good News / Bad News

Good News - I'm back from my trip to visit my granddaughter (and son & d-i-l --- grin) and we had a wonderful time!
Bad News - I got an awful cold while I was there, then I shared it with my lovely d-i-l. Yuk.
Good News - More of you will be able to attend the last meeting of the NJCWG because I have to change the date again.
Bad News - I have to change the date of our last meeting --- again. There will be NO meeting of the NJCWG on April 3,
Good News - Easter is coming up fast (April 4) and our meeting was supposed to be the day before. That would have been rather inconvenient for many of you and I would have hated not being able to say good-bye. The NEW date for the last meeting of the NJCWG is Saturday May 1, 2010.
Bad News - That is a month and a half away.

But there IS more Good News! More people will be able to come to the meeting. I have two people who called about wanting to join (yes that IS still good news) and IF any of you would like to continue a writers group, all you have to do is drop me an email and I'll be happy to walk you through the process so you can have your own meetings where ever you feel comfortable. It would also mean you would have two new members right from the start! I ask that you all seriously consider and pray about this. There really are no prerequisites to running this group. I started it when I only had one article published, had not attended any conferences, and read only two writing books. Again, please seriously consider and pray about this.

Hope to see you all of you on May 1, 2010 - 2:30 at the Ringwood Baptist Church. Please pass the word on to anyone you may know who would like to attend this last meeting.

Blessings,
Louise

Friends of Israel Conference

A Day in the Prophetic Word with the Friends of Israel

For anyone who is interested. The Friends of Israel will be hosting a conference at the Ringwood Baptist Church, 30 Carletondale Road, Ringwood, NJ 07456 on Saturady, March 6, 2010 - 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Cost $25.00 per person (includes registration, sessions, continental breakfast & lunch).

You MUST REGISTER TO ATTEND (register by Feburary 26)
You can register by picking up and mailing a registration form from the Ringwood Baptist Church or you can call 1-800-257-7843.

NOTE: because of the conference, there will be no NJCWG.

NO February Meeting

The deacons have asked me to cancel the February meeting of the NJCWG due to the predicted snow storm (our King's Kitchen program is also canceled). Again, no meeting in March - but we WILL meet in April.

See you all in the spring.

Louise

February Meeting - IMPORTANT

Two things...

1) Please check this blog before the meeting this Saturday. The weather is supposed to take a turn for the worst on Fri/Sat and I'd hate for someone to come all the way out to Ringwood only to find that we canceled the meeting. If need by - call me 551-427-3794.

2) Anyone who regularly attended the NJCWG meetings in 2009 will receive a FREE copy of Sally Stuart's Christian Market Guide from me. Just show up to either our February or April meetings (remember - March meeting has been canceled) and you will get your copy. First come, first served. This is my going away gift to you all for many happy years of friendship and fellowship.

Blessings,
Louise

February Meeting

February Meeting of the NJCWG will take place on the first Saturday of February - 2/6/10 at the Ringwood Baptist Church, 30 Carletondale Road, Ringwood, NJ 07456. 2:30 - 5:00 p.m.

NOTE: There will be NO March Meeting because the Ringwood Baptist Church will be hosting The Friends of Israel Prophecy Seminar that weekend. I will post more information on this blog about this event later. Everyone is welcome to attend. There will be a $25.00 fee but that includes a continental breakfast and a lunch.

Announcement
I need to find homes for ten copies of Sally Stuart's 2010 Market Guide. The cost is $20.00 which includes shipping (selling retail for $24.99). I would REALLY like to be able to sell 9 copies. Please let me know ASAP if you want a copy - email me @ louisedumont@gmail.com. I will have the copies at the February meeting.

April Meeting - 4/3/10

One More Important Announcement
After a great deal of prayer and much serious consideration, I am announcing that the NJCWG (North Jersey Christian Writer's Group) will hold its last meeting on April 3, 2010. Its been wonderful facilitating this group, but I believe God is leading me in an other direction. I am no longer giving the appropriate amount of time to this group and believe you would be better served elsewhere. Our last two meetings (February 6 & April 3) will be spent talking about alternative places to find critique help, online vs in-person writers groups, and writing organizations that help new writers. I will also try to provide other resources that will help you in the months to come. Please pass the word that this group is disbanding.

I would not trade a moment of the last 10 years with the NJCWG, but I do believe it is time for me to do other things. Thank you all for your friendship and support. I hope each and every one of you will keep in touch and you certainly can call on me for individual help when you need it.

Sincerely,
Louise Bergmann DuMont
Jehovah-Tsidkenu
(The Lord is my Righteousness)

Dec & Jan Meetings Canceled

Hi everyone

The November meeting of the NJCWG was a blessing - as always - but because of the upcoming holidays, we will not meet again until February 6, 2010.

There will be NO meetings in December (12/5) or January (1/2).

I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving and a most blessed Christmas.

See you in February!

NJCWG Facilitator
Louise Bergmann DuMont

November Meeting

***Please also read the post listed previous to this one for important notes regarding upcoming meetings.***

NOVEMBER MEETING DETAILS
At our November meeting we will be working on story structure. The lesson portion of our meeting will be run as an interactive workshop. Please bring paper and writing implements.

Nov Meeting of the NJCWG

Dear NJCWG Members

The next meeting of the North Jersey Christian Writers Group will be...

Saturday November 7, 2009
2:30-5:00
Ringwood Baptist Church
Ringwood, NJ 07456

For our December Meeting...

On Saturday December 5, 2009
We will hold a Christmas Social. More information will be posted about this shortly.
You will need to bring a "Christmas" piece written by you (one page please).
You will need to bring some Christmas "goodies" to share with the group (sweet or savory - but keep it on the lighter side)

Regarding January....
There will be no January meeting (1/2/10) of the NJCWG.

Next Meeting

NO meeting in September due to Labor Day Weekend

Next meeting of the NJCWG:
Saturday, 2:30, October 3, 2009

Ringwood Baptist Church
30 Carletondale Road
Ringwood, NJ 07456

Praying you all had a great summer. I may have a special treat for you this fall. I've been in contact with a writing husband and wife team who want to come speak to our group. It will be something you won't soon forget. Keep your eyes on the blog to find out the date.

Also note that if there is an interest, we will be having a Christmas party this December. Right now I'd like to schedule it for the first week in December - possibly Dec 5. Please email me if you are available and if you want to attend. I will need a commitment of 20 people within the next few weeks in order to book the room. The cost will likely be around $30.00 per person. Spouses are not only welcome but are encouraged to join us.

See you again soon!

Louise

Next Meeting

Please check previous posts for some interesting writing ops and other writing information...

Next meeting of the NJCWG: Saturday, 2:30, August 1, 2009

Ringwood Baptist Church
30 Carletondale Road
Ringwood, NJ 07456

Looking forward to seeing you all again after our brief summer hiatus.

Comedy!

Those of you who are interested in comedy might enjoy The American Bridget Jones's Diary blog published by an up and coming comic - Chris Falcon:

http://andtheplotthickenz.blogspot.com/

AuthorizeMe Seminar

Dear Writers:

The AuthorizeMe Seminar is ready to launch you into your publishing future for the fourth year in a row at Sandy Cove Christian Conference Center. Immediately following the new Arts & Communicators Spiritual Retreat, you’ll have 9 hours of coaching instruction helping you get your book idea out of your head, down onto paper, completely outlined, and into a professional book proposal format.

Please e-mail Sharon Elliott, AuthorizeMe founder and CEO, with your intention to attend at AuthorizeMe@sbcglobal.net. We need a minimum number of attendees, so I need to hear from you right away. Please let me know you’re coming by August 6th.
(Send your intention to attend. Registration for the seminar is handled directly through http://www.authorizeme.net/ and will begin in late August.)

Here are the AuthorizeMe particulars:
Price includes an overnight stay, 3 meals, and seminar tuition.
Dates: October 1 – 2, 2010
¨ Single occupancy = $375 per person
¨ Double occupancy = $325 per person (must have your own roommate)
¨ Triple occupancy = $295 per person ( “ “ “ “ roommates)
¨ Quad occupancy = $275 per person ( “ “ “ “ “ )

****************************

And don’t forget the new Arts & Communicators Spiritual Retreat - Ignite the Passion of your heart September 28-30, 2009 - A Unique Writer’s Retreat
http://www.sandycove.org/arts/
New affordable two day format
with the option of adding a third day for additional content.

Retreat rates begin at $258 per person (quad occupancy) and include 2 nights lodging, all meals, sessions, specialty tracks and activities. ($269 triple, $289 double, $299 single)
Three night package: Single $449 / Double $434 / Triple $404 / Quad $387
Register for the retreat directly with Sandy Cove.

Contracts & Writing Ops

Hi everyone. Hope you are having a great summer. I sure am.

1) Please check out the last few posts on this blog if you are looking for some interesting writing opportunities.
2) I would like to extend my sincerest congratuations to Susan Panzica who has won a full scholarship to the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference - August 6-8, 2009. (http://www.writehisanswer.com/Philadelphia/)

The next meeting of NJCWG is on Saturday, August 1, 2008, 2:30 p.m. Hope to see you there!

Ringwood Baptist Church
30 Carletondale Road
Ringwood, NJ 07456

Facilitator, NJCWG
Louise Bergmann DuMont

Writers Digest Fiction Contest

Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Awards
http://www.writersdigest.com/popularfictionawards
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Short Story Competition from Writer's Digest

Compete and Win in All 5 Categories!

* Romance
* Mystery/Crime Fiction
* Science Fiction/Fantasy
* Thriller/Suspense
* Horror

The Grand Prize-Winner will receive $2,500 cash, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books and the 2010 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.

Entry Deadline: Monday, November 02, 2009.

For entrants paying with a credit card, we will accept manuscripts submitted online.

Entry Fee: All entries are $15.00 each

Writing Op

Writing Op From Guideposts
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Seeking Manuscripts

Dear Valued Writer,
We are now in phase two of the Incredible Power of Prayer series and I welcome you to join us. Guideposts is launching a series of 12 books on various aspects of prayer and how people from every walk of life have been transformed through God's response to their prayers. These books will be available by mail only, sent monthly as part of a book series promotion.

You may have contributed to the first three titles in this series (Praying from the Heart, The Healing Touch, and Expecting Miracles) or perhaps to my Cup of Comfort, Life Savors, or Love Is a Verb brands. Or perhaps I'm contacting you for the first time. Whatever the case, I eagerly seek your participation in this next phase of prayer volumes.

Book four, From Tragedy to Triumph, deals with the pervasive issues related to our trials, hardships, and suffering in life, whether physical, emotional, relational, financial, etc. The focus should not be so much on the trials or the stress they cause, but on how the power of prayer eliminated or helped you deal with these trials. What lessons did prayer teach you through these ordeals and how did God use them for good for your life or others?

Book five, Refreshed by the Spirit, focuses on prayers we send to God when we are spiritually dry; when situations might be okay but we don't feel His presence; or during a dark night of the soul when life is difficult. The fault may be our own because we're not walking with the Lord, or He may seem distant because of struggles in our lives. As we continually pray for His presence, suddenly things change and we are refreshed and filled with his reassurance, peace, and joy. How did God visit you in a new way that caused praise and thanksgiving and may have even changed your life?

Book six, Love and Forgiveness, deals with relationships that have been strained or broken due to offenses against us, or our own faults. When we pray for love for those who mistreat us and pray for the willingness to seek restitution and restoration we regain our families and friends and change the hearts of our enemies. How was prayer the determining factor in a renewed love, forgiveness, and eventual restoration of relationships?

We would be pleased to consider as many stories for these three volumes as you wish to submit. We'll look at stories of up to 2,000 words and prefer that they be at least 1,000 words. The stories should have a creative title, an attention-grabbing introduction, main body with a conflict or challenge, and a clear, satisfying resolution. They need to be descriptive, rooted in time and place, compelling personal experience stories with a realistic portrayal of the people involved. They need to be stories rather than testimonies, Christian living articles, and shouldn't focus on mere feelings or mental states.

Most important, they need to revolve around prayer itself and not the circumstances of the story. These are themed books but the purpose is to convince the reader of the power of prayer in these situations.

We prefer original stories but you may also submit previously published stories that you have full rights for and are not currently in print with a major publisher. We pay $25 fo stories under 1200 words, and $50 for stories over 1200 words. You may retain the right to publish the stories in magazines and in books with less than national distribution and not carried in nationwide bookstores.

We are accepting manuscripts for all three volumes until December 15, but the sooner you submit the better your chance of acceptance. We will notify you by February and send you a permission form if your story is a finalist for any of these volumes.

Please send your manuscript attached to the e-mail rather than pasting text in the email
Window. Feel free to send your manuscript in normal manuscript formatting, with your full contact information—name, address, phone number, email address—and whether you're offering First Rights or Reprint Rights at the top of each manuscript. Please include a biography of 30 words or less at the end of each manuscript.

Please direct all inquiries and manuscript submissions to my colleague, Jeanette Littleton, at incredibleprayers@earthlink.net. If this email has been forwarded to you and you can't submit to this call, but would like to hear about other editorial needs as they arise, please send us your email address and we'll add you to our notification list. Also please pass this along to any writing or praying friends who might be interested.

Blessing to you and yours,

Jim

James Stuart Bell
Compiler, Guideposts Incredible Prayer series

Incredible Prayers
A Guideposts Series
with James Stuart Bell

NJCWG PICNIC

NOTE: This picnic is on RAIN OR SHINE... Inside or Out. Don't miss it! Hope to see you there.

The June (6/6/09) meeting of the North Jersey Christian Writers Group will take place at Marilyn Gardullo's home. Instead of the usual agenda we will be hosting our Annual NJCWG Picnic. A special thanks to Marilyn for offering her beautiful home for this event.

Where: Due to limited parking around Marilyn's house, meet in the Ringwood Baptist Church parking lot cnd car pool over (only minutes away).

When: June 4, 2009 - Rain or Shine -- 2:30 at the church - we'll head over no later than 2:45. If you find you'll be late, call me for directions - Louise DuMont, Cell: 551-427-3794.

What to Bring: Bring a covered dish to share with the group.

ALSO Bring: A short story to be read out loud to the group.

Story Topic: The Best Summer Vacation -- EVER!!! I know you may be tempted to write about something else (or use an old piece you've already written) - but please don't. Take this opportunity to write something fresh and creative. Your story can be fiction, nonfiction, or anything in between. BUT, keep the story to ONE side, ONE page. It isn't that we don't enjoy longer pieces, but time is limited and everyone should to get a chance to read.

Hope that all of you can make it. I know I'm looking forward to some great fun and fellowship.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

SPECIAL NOTE: There will be NO July Meeting (7/5/09) of the NJCWG due to the Independance Day Holiday.

May Meeting of the NJCWG

Yes, the NJCWG is meeting this Saturday
May 2, 2009
2:30
Ringwood Baptist Church
30 Carletondale Rd
Ringwood, NJ 07456

... and YES, I am a grandmother

Jocelyn Grace DuMont
Born 3/8/09, 5:17 p.m.
7 lbs 4 oz
20 inches long

Writing Opportunity

James Scott Bell

James Scott Bell is looking for freelance contributions for his new books. Wouldn't it be great if a number of our members were selected for publication in these books? Why don't YOU give it a try? See below

Louise DuMont
Facilitator, NJCWG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Writer,

I’d like to invite you to be part of an exciting new series that Guideposts is sponsoring: The Incredible Power of Prayer.

You may have contributed to one or more of my story volumes in A Cup of Comfort, Life Savors, or Love is a Verb. Great! I’d love to hear from you whether you’re a previous associate or have not yet submitted anything to my projects.

Prayer is the heartbeat of the Christian life and is an amazing gift from God to us. A prayer in faith can spur God’s heart to “move mountains” on our behalf. The incredible power of prayer can accomplish miracles that go far beyond anything we humans can accomplish on our own.

Guideposts reaches millions of Americans with their upbeat message of God empowering us. And now, Guideposts is launching a series of 12 books on various aspects of prayer and how people from every walk of life have been transformed through God’s responses. These books will be mailed monthly as part of a book club promotion, and will be exclusive to this readership.

I am now collecting submissions for the first three books in the series and would welcome as many stories as you wish to submit. The first volume is Praying from the Heart and covers God answering our deeply felt prayers of great passion, sincerity, and trust. These prayers may be repentant, express deep gratitude, or describe desperate cries that lay bare a person’s deepest needs.

The second volume, The Healing Touch, deals with stories about prayers that lead to physical, spiritual, relational, or emotional healing. They may involve relationships that don’t resolve perfectly, but bring a closer relationship with God and a new sense of purpose and greater ability.

The third volume, Expecting Miracles, includes personal experience stories about audacious prayers with powerful answers. This is where the need is great and God responds extraordinarily. The answers don’t need to be purely supernatural; God can work in mysterious ways using all kinds of means.

Submissions can be up to 2000 words. Each story should have a creative title, an attention-grabbing lead, main body explaining a conflict or challenge, and a resolution. These need to be descriptive and compelling personal experience stories—not simply testimonies. We prefer original stories but you may also submit previously published stories. The payment is $25 for stories under 1000 words, and $50 for longer stories. You may retain the rights to publish the stories in magazines and books with smaller distribution sources.

We are accepting manuscripts from now until at least June 15 for the first three volumes. We’ll announce the finalists for the first volume around October 15.
Please include on each manuscript—not in headers or simply in the e-mail—your name, contact information (address, phone, e-mail, rights offered) and a bio of up to 30 words. Please attach to the e-mail rather than pasting text in the body.

Please direct all inquiries and manuscript submissions to my colleague, Jeanette Littleton at IncrediblePrayers@earthlink.net. And please feel free to let others know about this project. If this e-mail has been forwarded to you, and you can’t submit to this call, but would like to be notified about other editorial needs as they arise, please send us your e-mail address and we’ll add you to our notification list (we do not sell or distribute these e-mail addresses).

Blessings to you and yours,

Jim

James Stuart Bell
Compiler, Guideposts Prayer series

JSB/jgl