Breakout Sessions

Friday, April 8, 2011

1:15 p.m.

1. Tell the Story (Dr. Gail Hayes)

Storytelling can either be a natural gift or a learned skill. If you are to become a storyteller, you must learn to touch your readers in such an impacting way that it changes them. People want to know why and how the story impacts their lives. A good storyteller always knows that the story is all about the reader or the listener. Not about them. Join Dr. Gail Hayes for this exciting session and discuss:

* Why storytelling is the ultimate way to get a message to readers

* You already have the necessary ingredients

* Assembling your story board in perfect order (fiction and nonfiction)

* Writing your story for both the sacred and secular markets

2. You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover (And other Myths about First Impressions--Busted) (Kathy Carlton Willis)

One of the most important aspects about working as a writer is learning how to make a good first impression. By proper planning and the right materials, you'll be prepared for any opportunity that arises. We'll cover business cards, hooks, elevator speeches, basic image consulting and other ways to make positive first impressions.

3. Beginning Blogging (Michelle Rayburn)

Everything you need to know to start your own free click-and-build blog with easy solutions for even the blogger who isn't as techno-savvy. We'll talk about hosting companies, terminology and the basics of creating pages, adding photos, and posting content. We'll mostly focus on examples from the free program Blogger, but techniques will apply to other programs as well.

4. Silver or Dross? (Patricia Durgin)

Are roadblocks keeping you from moving forward on your God-ordained project? Do you know if your ideas are from God, yourself, a sincere-but-wrong-friend, or the enemy? Whatever your level of progress, this session shows you how to distinguish between these various idea sources. You can enjoy more peace and productivity when you discard the dross and keep the silver.

5. Writing Magazine and Online Articles (And Understanding Their Differences) (Ginger Kolbaba)

Want the fastest way to get published? Want your byline to be seen by thousands-possibly millions-of readers? Magazine and online articles will open doors for these and other opportunities for your writing platform. Learn what gets an editor's attention and has her begging for more of your work. We'll discuss why some manuscripts get rejected-and how to keep from making those same mistakes in your writing.

6. Class cancelled. Historical Fiction: What It Is, What It Can Do, and How to Do It (Jon Nappa)

Like parables told by Jesus, history offers much valuable material that can be crafted into metaphorical stories that enrich, inspire and impart life. Where do you go for research and how do you know when you've got enough? How do you utilize the research of others without plagiarizing their works? Learn about the many aspects of this genre.

7. Writer's Studio #1 (Susie May Warren) *

We'll take one of your characters and apply the lessons of the previous class to him/her, developing a powerful backstory, defining the layers and brainstorming your essential scenes. We'll also add in that dramatic irony for your story.

4:00 p.m.

1. Writing in Rhyme and Rhythm (Dr. Gail Hayes)

Some people are poets and they don't even know it! Does all poetry have to rhyme? Does it have to make sense or evoke emotion? It just has to make sense and evoke emotion from the reader! If you love poetry and want to get your poetic messages out to the world, then join Dr. Gail Hayes in this informative session. Participants will discuss:

* Different types of poetry and their impact

* How and where to market your poetry

* How and when to use poetry

* Writing for both the sacred and secular markets

2. Make Working at Home Work for You (Kathy Carlton Willis)

Working America is working more and more from home. Whether you telecommute or are self-employed, beefing up your home office will help you succeed at your goals. We'll discuss how to overcome the challenges associated with working from home and how to maximize the benefits of this arrangement. This session is designed to facilitate writers learning to treat writing like a job, and it will help anyone considering work-at-home opportunities for income.

3. Advanced Blogging (Michelle Rayburn)

Once you have a blog, it's time to take it to the next level by customizing. Learn how to make your free blog connect with a low-cost domain name to make it easy for your readers to find you. Also learn how to make your blog match your personality and your brand. Learn how to add headers, additional pages, backgrounds, and sidebar content that makes your blog stand out. We'll venture into the tech side of blogging by editing the HTML code of a page to widen columns and margins. It's easier than you'd think! We'll work with a sample blog and edit live online for a practical tutorial on editing a design.

4. Connect with Your Audience in 60 Seconds (Patricia Durgin)

Writers and speakers reveal their inner selves through stories. This session will show you how to use that strength to instantly connect with your audience, as you segue from a personal experience to your current book's topic, paving the way for a deep connection...sooner.

5. Understanding and Writing for the 21st Century Woman (Ginger Kolbaba)

Is the 21st century woman really that different from generations past? If so, how does that affect your writing? Can we really lose a woman reader if we don't pay attention to who she specifically is? And how do we know who she specifically is? How do we understand and write to a diverse group of women? This class will help you understand how best to reach more than half the population!

6. Class cancelled. Critique Groups (Larry Leech)

Discover how to empower, equip and encourage one another with friendly, yet constructive critiques. Learn key components of starting, leading and growing a successful critique group. This interactive workshop illustrates sure-fire critique techniques.

7. Writer's Studio #2 (Susie May Warren) *

Applying the techniques of the previous class, we'll work on one scene, taking apart the structure to add tension. We'll also work on overall plots, brainstorming with you to make them wider and more powerful.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

11:15 a.m.

1. Small Talk: Writing for Our Precious Little Ones (Part 1) (Dr. Gail Hayes)

Writing for children can be fascinating. One must have the ability to tell a story in such a way that children will find it not only interesting and entertaining, but the writing must also contain a relevant message or life lesson. Join Dr. Gail Hayes and discuss:

* How to capture the attention of children

* How to skillfully weave life lessons into your writing

* How to speak their language

* Writing for the sacred and secular markets

2. Tips from a Former Newspaper Reporter: How to Interview to Get Unique Results (Kathy Carlton Willis)

So you want to write a feature article that's different from all the rest. No same-old same-old for you. The problem is if you ask identical questions as the other writers, you'll get an identical response. The remedy to the problem is to learn to ask different questions. This workshop will teach you how to develop a unique interview style, by tapping in to your curiosity. Inquiring minds really do want to know!

3. Widgets, Gadgets, and Add-Ons for Bloggers (Michelle Rayburn)

If you're ready to go beyond basic blogging, there are hundreds of great tools that you can add on to your blog for free. Learn how easy it is to add on widgets and gadgets that allow you to advertise on your blog, link to other bloggers, link to sites like Amazon, and much more. You'll also learn about tracking your web statistics and managing e-mail subscriptions and RSS feeds that increase your readership. To keep it practical and hands on, we'll walk through step-by-step examples as we change content on a live blog right in class.

4. The Writer/Speaker Connection (Patricia Durgin)

What are you doing to create a following? Once a luxury, now a necessity, publishers require an established platform to market your book. This session explains why a platform is necessary, how to develop (or improve) yours, and increase your chances of being published, by growing your audience.

5. Writing for the "So-What" Crowd (Ginger Kolbaba)

As writers, one of the best things we can do to connect with our readers is to remember the "so what?" factor-understanding who they are, what they want, and how not to waste their time. We'll look at tips on how to give a reader great takeaway from our writing-and make sure they read all the way to the end of the piece and remember it!

6. The Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing (Frank Ball)

Self-publishing has never been easier and more affordable than today. It is sometimes the best and often the only choice to get a book into print. Learn the pros and cons of different publishing options so you can decide what best suits your needs.

7. Writer's Studio #3 (Susie May Warren) *

Let's add emotion! Applying the techniques of the previous class, you'll work on a scene with the specific goal of adding in storyworld and emotion. We might even do some improv to get you into character.

2:45 p.m.

1. Small Talk: Writing for Our Precious Little Ones (Part 2) (Dr. Gail Hayes)

This class will be a continuation of Small Talk, Part 1.

2. Shoot for the Stars: From Book Proposal to Book Contract (Kathy Carlton Willis)

Learn the components of a selling book proposal, to make yours shine above the rest. Don't aim for ordinary; shoot for the stars! Give acquisitions editors a proposal that earns notice and negotiates a contract.

3. Finding Your Niche as a Blogger (Michelle Rayburn)

Want your blog to be more than just a personal online journal? How does a writer create content that will bring in readers and keep them coming back? If you already have a blog, or you're ready to start one, but you don't know what to say, this class is for you. You'll learn about creating interesting content and blog posts that offer something that only you can. As with writing great articles, your blog content needs a good hook, an appealing title, and content that engages the reader. We'll brainstorm and help you find your niche.

4. Three Ways to Have an Online Presence--Even If You Don't Have a Blog or Website Yet (Patricia Durgin)

Perhaps you haven't committed to a blog yet or it's under construction. In the meantime, how can you be found online? This session identifies three sites where you can discover and connect/interact with your audience and begin building your platform without a blog or website.

5. Writing Personal Stories (Memoirs) (Ginger Kolbaba)

We all have stories to tell. But what makes some stories publishable and others "journal-only" options? We'll look at how to best shape your personal experiences for a number of different publishing avenues and how to think "outside the box" when sharing your stories.

6. What Superman and Batman Taught Me about Writing (Mike Brewer)

Can we really learn about the writing life from characters who leap from rooftops and swing from spider webs? Absolutely! From the cape-and-long-underwear set, pick up a few Bang! Pow! tips guaranteed to make you a hero at the keyboard.

7. Writer's Studio #4 (Susie May Warren)*

It's time to word paint! We'll workshop a scene, rewriting it together, and then you will rewrite a section of your own work, focusing on the art of your words.

* Please note: The Writer's Studio breakout sessions are for only those who are taking the Writer's Studio continuing class.