Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Contest - Short Story


April Boyer

If you wish to enter the contest on my website, at the Kitchen page - please send your short, short story involving a recipe. Did your attempt at a new recipe have an unexpected humorous end? Was there a humorous mishap? Was their a heart warming visit, or conversation with a loved one or child? Did a child add his own funny wit?

Your winning entry will be posted after Sept. 27, and your choice of a devotional book awarded.

http://aprilboyer.com

Write Now! Conference (PA) - 10-28-06


Write Now!
One-Day Conference
Ten Workshops for Experienced & Beginning Writers
Keynote Address by Marsha Hubler,
$50 Adult $30 Student
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Faith United Methodist Church
700 Fairview Drive
Montoursville, Pennsylvania
Sponsored by
West Branch Christian Writers

For more information please contact: Roberta Brosius (570) 713-1756 brosius@ptd.net or Barbara Sutryn (570) 322-1984 bars@uplink.net

Workshops & Faculty

* Write for Children with Marsha Hubler, educator and author of Zondervan’s Keystone Stables Series.

* Write for Young Adults with Marsha Hubler.

*Take the Mystery out of Mystery Writing with Evelyn Minshull, educator, poet, and author of 26 books, including Guideposts’ Church Choir Mysteries

*Interview Like a Pro with Kathy Scott, journalist with over 600 articles in over 65 publications

*Render Unto Caesar with Judy Flook, who will help you understand tax issues for writers

*Poetry with Shirley Stevens, Teacher-in-residence and mentor at The Writing Academy in Minnesota, and award-winning poet

*Writing With Your Funny Bone with Jerry Westbrook, humor columnist for the Sunbury Daily Item

*Hands-on Devotional Writing with Roberta Brosius, Bible teacher and contributor to The Secret Place

*Just for Beginners with Eileen Berger, author of 15 novels and hundreds of short stories and articles

*Personal Experience Writing for Beginners with Bobbi Updegraff, author of 6 novels and dozens of articles, writer for Presbyterian
Disaster Assistance

*And that’s not all…

Editors—Matt Holliday, Pennsylvania Magazine
Bookstore—Buy books to boost your writing, and books by our faculty and West Branch authors.
Freebie Table—Pick up free sample copies of publications and writers’ guidelines.

ICRS News


Here is some news about editors/publishers in the Christian markeplace.

Chip MacGregor has left Faith Words (Warner Faith).
Terry Behimer, Nicci Hubert and Jeff Gerke have left NavPress.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Book Expo


Strang Communications is hold a Book Expo next month in Atlanta. The trade show will be open to the public. www.charismabookexpo.com has more info.

Monday, August 28, 2006

NJCWG Meeting

Meeting Tonight
Monday, August 28, 2006

6:15-7:00 - Chat Time
7:00-8:00 - Poetry Workshop conducted by noted NJ poet, Maude Carolan
8:00-9:00 - Critiques

REMINDER - NO Meeting 9/11/06

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Writing Op - Woman's Day Children's Books



Woman's Day and Scholastic have paired up again this year to bring WD readers our second annual "I Want to be a Children's Book Writer" contest, and there's still time to write the Great American Children's Book and make the deadline. (Entries must be received by September 6.) The winning entry will be published and distributed by Scholastic Book Clubs, the nation's largest school book club.

For rules and how to enter go to womansday.com/scholastic, where you'll also find the manuscripts of last year's 10 runners-up along with a video of our panel discussion about how to write a successful children's book.

We hope you'll enter and wish you the best of luck!
Warmest regards,
Woman's Day and Scholastic
Woman's Day
Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S.
1633 Broadway
New York, NY 10019

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Writing Op - CBN.com



Call for submissions:

I'd like to invite you to participate in our upcoming special section on CBN.com upcoming special section on the fifth anniversary of the September 11th terrorism attacks. We are gathering material to add to this special section, which will be promoted by The 700 Club. We are looking for people who would be interested in writing an article or a series of articles for this special section. Another possibility would be for us to use excerpts of books or reprints of articles that you have written dealing with the 9/11 attack. We will provide links back to your Web site and to our shopping channel for folks to purchase the referenced books.

Here are some examples of similar sections we have created in the past with
the help of the Regent faculty and staff:
http://www.cbn.com/special/DaVinciCode/
http://www.cbn.com/special/supremecourt/
http://www.cbn.com/special/Narnia/
http://www.cbn.com/special/blackhistory/

Please let me know if you have anything that might be helpful to our audience. All correspondence can be sent to Chris Carpenter, the CBN.com Program Director, at chris.carpenter@cbn.org or by phone at 757-226-3559.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

In Christ,
Craig

craig von buseck
director of ministries
977 centerville turnpike, virginia beach, va 23463
tel: (757) 226-3557 fax: (757) 226-3575
email: craig.vonbuseck@cbn.org
www.cbn.com

After the Proposal

After my son proposed to Amanda (at the Solid Rock Camp where they work), he took her to Amanda's Restuarant in Hobokan to celebrate. Posted by Picasa

I've been neglectful of updating the NJCWG blog this week -- but for good reason. Timothy Robert DuMont and Amanda Joan Lillis got engaged this week (yeah!!!) and I was blessed to be a small part of the process (I got to be the go-fer who ran his errands to prepare for the big event - grin). Posted by Picasa

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Next Mtg NJCWG



Next Meeting of the NJCWG
Monay, August 14, 2006

NOTE: The Ringwood Christian School is redoing their floors before the school year starts o we may be meeitng in a different room. Please follow the signs on the door. They will direct you to the room where we are meeting.

Ringwood Baptist Church
30 Carletondale Rd
Ringwood, NJ 07456

6:15-7:00 - Chat Time
7:00-8:00 - Lesson
8:00-9:00 - Critiques

LESSON TIME: We will continue working on how to get F-R-E-S-H ideas and how to work a stories in a way that takes a N-E-W approach.

BRING: One a list of at least three ideas that you might like to work on for publication.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Writing Op - Anthology



Here is a message from a fellow author. This is an EXCELLENT opportunity for publication!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please, please, please! Those of you out there with a story for Trusting Him for Life After Divorce or Trusting Him with Your Addicted Child, get them to me. I need more stories. The deadline is set for August 15 - just a few days away. For questions or guidelines, please email me.

Charlotte Holt
cjholt@kingwoodcable.net
www.publishedauthors.net/charlotteholt

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Writing Op - Travel Newsletter


A travel newsletter I subscribe to has requested regular submissions from writers who live in several locations as well as those who travel frequently. Here's the link:
http://www.logueit.com/writers.html

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Conference - Glorieta



October 11-15, 2006
(Near Santa Fe, NM)
For all the details - CLICK HERE

A Special Note From Louise: The Glorieta Christian Writers Conference has the best line-up I've seen in a long time. This event will be the highlight of 2006 for its attendees. I am pleased to announce that I will be on staff at Glorieta this year. There was a "glitch" in the system and it seems that my bio and class description got deleted from the website - but it should be back up within a few days.

For those of you who want to get serious about writing and getting published - THIS is the conference for you. If there is any question in your mind about the level of your skills, check out the Comprehensive Class called Get Published Now! This is something new that CLASS staffers are trying out. I can't imagine a better way to get expert mentoring and teaching from some of the best in the business.

If you feel God is calling you to do this - please check it out before all of the slots are filled. Many churches support their aspiring writers with scholarships (but you must ask for the help) and I know that Glorieta offers a number of scholarships to those who've proven their dedication.

If God is calling, dare you hold back ?

Comprehensive Classes for 2006
The Truth is Stronger Than Fiction - Terry Whalin
Terry Whalin is the Fiction Acquisitions Editor at Howard Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster. Besides Terry's love for fiction, for many years he has been a prolific nonfiction writer and editor. Terry's nonfiction writing has appeared in more than 50 magazines like Marriage Partnership, Writer's Digest, and The Writer. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including his Running On Ice, The Overcoming Faith of Vonetta Flowers (New Hope Publishers) or Book Proposals That $ell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success (Write Now Publications). Terry is on the board of directors of The American Society of Journalists and Authors, the leading nonfiction writers group in the nation. To encourage writers of nonfiction and fiction, Terry is the creator of Right-Writing.com at: http://www.right-writing.com. Also he blogs about his life as a writer and editor at: http://www.thewritinglife.ws Terry and his wife, Christine, live in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Writing for Kids: The Best of the Best - Gwen Ellis
Gwen Ellis is owner of Seaside Creative Services, Inc. In this role, she writes books, screenplays, edits, concepts products, and consults. She has worked as a magazine editor, book editor, children's acquisitions editor, writer, and consultant. While at Zondervan she was the editor of a little book called God Bless America. The book was on the New York Times and three other best seller's lists for eleven weeks.
Becoming a Writer: Putting Your Passion Into Print - Sean Fowlds
Sean Fowlds is a professional journalist and speaker. He was the long-time book editor at Christian Retailing before founding his own editorial service called Lightpost Communications. Some of his notable clients include the Associated Press, Publishers Weekly, and Thomas Nelson Publishers. During his more than 17 years of experience working with business corporations and non-profit organizations, Sean has written more than 700 articles and made more than 700 speeches to date.
Bulding Your Web Presence - Krisann Blair
Krisann Blair has been a successful Internet entrepreneur since 1998. As creator and owner of www.ChristmasOrganizing.com, Krisann has successfully grown her web presence throughout the years and now receives 800 to 2000 unique hits EACH DAY, top listings in Google, Yahoo! and other search engines. Krisann also writes and publishes a monthly online newsletter to over 2500 subscribers and runs a Yahoo! Discussion group of over 1300. Her online presence has also enabled her to be "found" online and contacted by media such as ABC, FoxNews, Entrepreneur, Newsweek, USA Today, Rutgers News Service, Balance Magazine, Women's World, and others. In addition to running her Christmas Organizing web site, Krisann and her husband Ashley, own S.P.I.D.E.R. Services which dedicated to helping churches, individuals and small businesses with Simple Printing, Internet Development and Entrepreneur Resource Services.
AuthorizeMe - Sharon Norris Elliott
Sharon Norris Elliott is a published author of dozens of magazine articles and devotions, and several books including What? Teenagers in the Bible? and Living A Milk and Honey Life: Letting Go of what's Holding you Back. She is a professional educator and editor, magazine columnist, and conference speaker. Sharon is CEO of two companies: AuthorizeMe and Milk & Honey Life Retreats. She is also a sought-after instructor at major Christian writers' conferences nationwide.
Your Professional Persona - Betty Southard & "Team"
Betty Southard is the author of 3 books and the contributor to many compilations. She is a speaker, Bible Study author/ teacher, and a staff member for CLASS. She is a graduate of Fuller Seminary, Minister of Caring for the Hour of Power and actively involved in ministry at the Crystal Cathedral.
Get Published Now! - "Team"
Do you feel called to write, but question your skills? Have you wished for someone who could really help you with your work? Then this class is for you! Limited to 24 attendees, all participants in this class will get hands on help and will be published! All students will submit a writing project in advance to be developed in the class and have professional writer assigned as a mentor--1 mentor for every 2 students--for the class time. On day one, some of the GCWC editorial team will teach how to tighten up your writing, then you and your mentor will work on your submitted piece. The next day, the editorial team will teach how to brighten up your writing and mentors will help implement the techniques. On day three, Craig Von Buseck will teach writing for the internet and then students, with the help of their mentor, will rework their piece to fit CBN.com's guidelines. The last day, Mary Lou Redding for the Upper Room will address writing for the Upper Room and the writings will be modified to be publishable in the Upper Room. At the conclusion of the class each student will have three publishable pieces: the original "article," a piece for CBN and a devotion for the Upper Room. Each piece from this class will be considered for publication in the Upper Room, will be published on CBN.com and will be included in a special compilation book to be published with all the students' projects, to be delivered at each students home two weeks following the class. Each student will receive 25 copies of the book and may order additional copies. A $133.44 surcharge will be added to the regular registration fee for this class. Students must apply in advance and be approved. (CLICK HERE for Get Published Now Writer's Guidelines)

Conference - Sandy Cove


A Note From Louise: The Sandy Cove Conference was the first writers conference I ever attended. It is the perfect conference for writers just starting out because it has wonderful teaching and a number of editors, agents and publishers. That said, it is considered a mid-sized conference and is not quite as overwhelming as the huge Florida Christian Writers Conference, Mt Hermon Conference or Glorieta Conference. If you've never been to writers conference before, this might a good choice for you. It is within easy driving of North Jersey and the accomodations are reasonable and very comfortable.

Sandy Cove Christian Writers' Conference
October 1-4, 2006
Take your writing to the next level.
Take the Word to the world.

• Refine your writing and speaking skills
• Be mentored by editors and professional writers
• Network with editors and professional writers
• Expand your vision of how God can use you
• Enjoy His presence on the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay in Northeast, Maryland.

Join us for one (or both) of two life-changing events: The Sandy Cove Christian Writers' Conference and Student X-treme Training Tuesday

Plus separate "Authorize Me" seminar on Saturday with Sharon Norris Elliott

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Mystery Writers



Here is a GREAT website for mystery writers. They try to keep track of as many of the websites related to mystery, crime, and suspense literature as possible. http://www.cluelass.com/

When you get to the site, be sure to click on The Mysterious Home Page link. Also great stuff.

Writer Site


Here is an interesting site I stumbled upon. This has writing info and some "fun" writing stuff as well.
http://www.angelinyourinkwell.com/

This section has a number of writing opportunities I haven't seen before. I am not endorsing them, just pointing them out. You'll have to verify whether they are on the up-and-up yourself.

http://www.angelinyourinkwell.com/fun.htm

SpiritLed Writer Articles



The Spirit Led Writer site has some great new articles on line. Check them out!

Grant Writing for Beginners
Thinking of Hiring an Editor?
Poetry Potpourri
Writers Devotional: The Perfect Gift?
8 Ways to Encourage Children to Write
Conference Review: Write-to-Publish Conference
Conference Review: Book Expo America
Reaching the Woman in 27A
Polishing Your Prose
Nuggets for Personal Journaling
... and so much more.

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Comfort Cafe - Latest Column


My latest Espresso for the Heart column hit the Comfort Cafe
http://comfortcafe.net/?page_id=287

Writing Op - Seeds of the Season


A Message From Fellow Writer
-- April Boyer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello friends,
Just to give you time to think about it, I will publishing new content for my website by September 30 . Note the contest opportunity below. If you want to promote your work, or touch or encourage someone , you can send me your stories for use on the Featured or Seeds pages. Send writing relate articles for use on the Writing Desk, creative ideas for the Your Turn page, and short-short stories, funnies, or easy activities and recipes by and for children. For my favorite Kitchen Page, I can use your friendly-visit-over-tea short stories or poems like Notes From Home, Nature Notes, short Tea Recipes, short Garden Tips or Household Hints, personal funny church or family occurences, etc.
Dont forget to send your Writer's Group info (full or consistent calendar only), book, music or speaking promotions. If you have a great link to share, I'm sure our friends will appreciate that too.

~~~~~~~~
CONTEST!
~~~~~~~~
WIN A FREE DEVOTINAL BOOK
For The Best Entry out of ten. Your choice from 4 selections. Send your short-short funny or heart-warming story behind a favorite recipe. Your story will be published on the "Kitchen" page http://aprilboyer.com with your own credit line and bio for the Sept. 30-issue. Only ten emailed entries will be considered by Sept. 1 Please send your work in the body of your email - NOT as an attachment.
Consider:
A funny mishap
A remarkable or miraculous event
A heart-stopping moment
A heart-warming reunion
An invasion from nature
A recipe gone wrong
A child's wise words
A moment with God

April Boyer
"Faith is not believing that God can. It is knowing that God will."

NEW Christian Humor Writers Group



Introducing The Christian Humor Writers Group!

This new group is an offshoot of an private little chat group was formed several years ago by a handful of humor writers who met at a conference and formed a quick friendship. We've had so many requests from people interested in joining us on our merry lark that we've created a public group, and you're invited to join!

This discussion group is for Christians of all denominations involved or seeking to be involved in the religious or mainstream humor industry - including essayists, authors, speakers, comics, greeting card writers, cartoonists, editors, etc.

This is a casual group designed primarily for networking but also to encourage and educate in a light-hearted manner. Periodic discussion topics and writing prompts will keep the conversation flowing and allow members to talk about topics like joke writing, humor markets, idea generating, approaching humor from a faith perspective, adding humor to your writing, and more. Members are encouraged to share writing opportunities, conferences, writing tips and more.

For more information or to join, visit
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Christian_Humor_Writers/.
(Note: If you are not already a member, you may have to join yahoo - this is free)
To see some writing samples from CHW members, visit our blog at www.christianhumorwriters.com.
Many thanks!
Joanne Brokaw
www.christianhumorwriters.com