Inspire Christian Writer's Group

Inspire Christian Writers: October Events

Hello Inspire Writers,

Wow, I really have no idea where September went! I hope October ushers in some cooler weather and a slower pace. We had a great time at the Sierra Foothills Christian Writers Conference yesterday. If you are interested in attending next year, details will be available soon on their website: http://sierrafoothillsconference.com/

And speaking of exciting events, here are all the dates and meeting times for our critiques, prayer meetings and workshops for October.

Tuesday, October 5

 7pm Inspire Rocklin/Roseville at Harvest Church (Critique)

 7pm Inspire Sacramento at Capital Christian Middle School (Critique room C16)

Thursday, October 7

9:30 Inspire Fair Oaks at Sunrise Community Church (Workshop, A Step in the Write Direction –Childcare provided)

Monday, October 11

9am Whole Book Analysis Group at Jericho Coffee. We will be analyzing Kathy Macias' novel, Valeria's Cross  (If you need a copy of our analysis form, let me know and I will email it to you.)

Tuesday, October 12

7pm Inspire Rocklin/Roseville at Harvest Community Church (Critique)

Thursday, October 14

9:30 Inspire Fair Oaks at Sunrise Community Church (Critique –Childcare provided)

9:30am Inspire El Dorado Hills at Sun Hills Community Church (Critique—Childcare provided)

Monday, October 18

9am-noon Self-Editing for Fiction Writers workshop at Jericho

Tuesday, October 19

7pm Inspire Rocklin/Roseville at Harvest Church (Critique)

7pm Inspire Sacramento at Capital Christian Middle School (Critique Room C16)

Thursday, October 21

9:30 Inspire Fair Oaks at Sunrise Community Church (Workshop: A Step in the Write Direction –Childcare provided)

10am Inspire Elk Grove at Beth Thompson’s house (Writing Fiction for Dummies)

Tuesday, October 26

 7-9pm All Inspire Writers meet at Beth Thompson’s house for Prayer

Thursday, October 28

9:30 Inspire Fair Oaks at Sunrise Community Church (Critique –Childcare provided)

9:30am Inspire El Dorado Hills at Sun Hills Community Church (Critique—Childcare provided)

With all these options, you are sure to find a critique group and workshops that fit your needs and schedule. If not, let's plan one!

Have a wonderful October.

Gratefully,

Beth

 

What I Wish I'd Known: Debbie Fuller Thomas

The Inspire Christian Writers Group

Proudly Presents:

“What I Wish I’d Known” –a fun, informative evening with

Award-winning Author Debbie Fuller Thomas

Please join us:

Tuesday, June 29 at 7pm

At the Carmichael Library

5605 Marconi Avenue

Carmichael, CA 95608

Debbie Fuller Thomas writes contemporary fiction from a historic Gold Rush town in Northern California. When she’s not working on her next book or planning children’s programs for her community, she enjoys singing with Colla Voce of the Sierras with her husband and catching up with her two adult children. Her debut novel, Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon was a finalist for the 2009 Christy Award and the 2009 ACFW Book of the Year. Her latest novel is Raising Rain.

                           

 

To learn more about Debbie and her first two books, visit her website: www.debbiefullerthomas.com or http://novelmatters.blogspot.com where she blogs with five other upmarket fiction authors.

If you have any questions about the Inspire author event on June 29, please contact Beth Thompson at 916-607-7796.

Gratefully,   

Beth

Inspire Christian Writers to Host Pre-Conference Workshop

Attention all writers:

Are you going to a writer’s conference this spring? Don’t go unprepared. Inspire is hosting a Pre-Conference Workshop on Saturday, February 27.

You will learn everything you need to make a great first impression with editors, agents and even fellow writers. We will help you prepare an Elevator Pitch and a One Sheet and help you map out a plan for meeting with agents and editors.

Inspire’s Pre-Conference Workshop:

Saturday, February 27, 2010

9:30 am to 12:30pm

Ascension Lutheran Church

7607 Garden Gate Drive
Citrus Heights, CA 95621-1911

http://www.luthchurch.org/

A $10 fee will be collected at the door.

If you have any questions, or to reserve your place, give me a call: 916-607-7796

Bring all your writing friends!

Gratefully,

Beth

Power of the Pen Young Writers' Conference

Attention Young Writers:

Here is a writer’s event just for you! I realize this is last minute, but if you are free tomorrow, you should check this out:

Power of the Pen
Young Writers' Conference
Sierra Vista Community Center
55 School Street
Colfax, CA
Saturday, January 23rd, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

For all junior high and high school writers who want to take their writing to the next level.

Workshops include poetry, the powerful story, the art of the great interview, and turning ideas into awesome stories.

$25 includes a lunch (sandwiches and chips)

Contact Marci Seither for more information
(530) 389-8401

Enjoy!

Beth

Writers Workshop

ARE YOU READY?

·       To take your fiction to the next level?

·       To master Point of View?

·       To learn how and when to use Narrative Summary?

·       To write riveting Dialogue?

·       To develop your Voice?

·       To create unforgettable Characters?

If you are ready for this and more, join Inspire Christian Writers as we work through the book, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to edit yourself into print. Non-fiction writers will also benefit from these editing techniques.

We will meet at Jericho Coffee House on the third Monday of each month beginning January 18. Please come prepared with the Introduction and Chapter One exercises completed.

Who: All Inspire Writers

What: Editing Workshop

When: 3^rd Monday of each month, 9:00am-Noon

Where: Jericho Coffee House, 8711 Sierra College Blvd, Roseville, CA.

Why: To hone our writing skills and make our manuscripts masterpieces.

Contact Jennifer if you have any questions: inklink (at) sbcglobal.net or call 530-823-6702

 

Inspire Christian Writers to Host Award-Winning Author Sharon K. Souza

Hello Writers,

 

The Inspire Christian Writers Group

Proudly announces a special guest appearance by

Award-winning author Sharon K. Souza

On Tuesday, September 29 at 7pm.

 

Please join us at

Warehouse Christian Ministries,

9933 Business Park Dr., Sacramento

For more info contact

Beth Thompson at 916-607-7796.

 

Sharon is a gifted story-teller with a remarkable ability to create characters that whisk readers away to another time and place. She is coming to share her experience and expertise with us. She is optimistic, encouraging and a deep well of wisdom.

 

Sharon’s first book, A Heavenly Christmas in Hometown (which was also adapted as a play) was followed by two novels published by NavPress in 2008: Every Good and Perfect Gift and Lying on Sunday. Her newest project is titled Unraveled. To learn more about Sharon and her writing, you can visit her website and follow her on Twitter.

        

Plan to attend this fun Inspire Christian Writers’ event. And bring your writing friends. There is no charge for admission for this event. However contributions toward an honorarium will be accepted..

I’ll look forward to seeing you then.

 

Gratefully,

 

Beth

 

 

The Inspire Christian Writers Group proudly presents:

10 Mistakes Beginning Writers Make

By best-selling author Lee Roddy

Learn how to write novels that readers love from a seasoned pro! Lee Roddy will share the insights that have made him one of our favorite storytellers. His books have sold millions of copies.

 Join us on May 12^th at 7:00 pm

At Warehouse Christian Ministries

9933 Business Park Drive

(directions are in left sidebar )

For more information call: Beth 916-607-7796

I hope you will join us for this fun and informative workshop.

Gratefully,

Beth

 

Writing Unto the Glory Writer’s Workshop Coming to Redding

 

For more information go to: http://tinyurl.com/aklmw9

Easy Ways to Build Blog-Traffic By Guest Blogger Joanne Kraft

Building your blog traffic, one reader at a time.

So, you want to start your own blog? Did you know that there are more than 150,000 blogs created every day? But don't be intimidated by the competition. If you have something to say and can say it well, your blog will do just fine. I have written my own blog since August 2007, that's about ten-years-old in blog-years. So, my friend, I have a few tips for you. Let's begin at the beginning...

1. What is the purpose of your blog?
This defines your blog, sets it apart from millions of others. Are you a mom wanting to vent- or, maybe a writer hoping for publishers to take notice of your quick wit and redemptive prose? You can make this little spot on the world wide web anything you want it to be. The more defined and specific the message, the easier it is to retain traffic.

2. Comments
Commenting is HUGE. People want to hear from you and you want to hear from others. The more you make nice and play along by encouraging others or just making witty small talk, the more blog-friends you will make - and faithful they will be! Plus, there are others out there that we bloggers like to call lurkers, they may never comment, but are reading blogs and comments as well. Often times, the comment you have left on another blog is what will bring readers and lurkers over to your site.

3. Participate in blog carnivals.
This is a pretty big deal. Very often, blogs will offer a giveaway, or will have a weekly link of participation, like Thankful Thursday (www.eph2810.com)or Wordless Wednesday (www.wordlesswednesday.com). Take advantage of these. And when you do, make sure to post on your blog about it with a link back to the host blog.

4. Have blog carnivals of your own.
There are readers out there that live for these giveaways. I don't use this to my advantage like I should. But each year I do offer a blog-design giveaway. You don't have to spend lots on a blog carnival. You can give away something small like a Starbucks gift card...everyone loves them, and they are easy to send through the mail.

5. LINK-LINK-LINK
The more you blog, the more you will discover others with gifts you want to share. From recipes, to household tips, there are lots of things your readers will love to experience right along side you.

And don't underestimate those opportunities for praying for one another. It won't be long before you find other bloggers who are hurting or crying out for prayer. Take the time to leave them a prayer in their comments and a link back to your site. This tip may not grow your traffic, but it will surely grow your prayer life. Praise the Lord!


6. Write Well!
There is no substitute for good writing. Just don't be long-winded about it. If your message is a long one, break it up into two parts and publish it over two days. Keep your posts short, a minimum of 250-500 words. It doesn't matter how much you desire to get your message out, if you don't write it well your readership will suffer.

Whether your message is short or long, I am praying your blog will change lives for His glory, one reader at a time.

Blogging to Inspire and Greg Cochran’s Book Signing

Mark Your Calendars!

 

March 14^th is going to be an exciting day.

 

First:

Inspire will host our Blogging to Inspire workshop. Come and learn everything you need to know about blogging.

 

Topics will include:

Blogging Basics

Nuts and Bolts of Constructing a Blog

Building Community

The Blogosphere as a Mission Field

Creating a Platform

Generating Revenue

And More!

 

Blogging to Inspire:

Saturday, March 14

10:00am-1:00pm

At Sue Tornai's House

$5 fee for lunch and supplies

Bring a guest!

Please RSVP by March 10 via email to: inspiregroup (at) Comcast (dot) net

Or leave a comment with your RSVP.

 

Next:

Inspire's Greg Cochran will be signing his novel, Saving Grace at The Bible House in Elk Grove:

Saturday March 14^th at 2:00pm

The Bible House, 7601 Laguna Blvd #160

Elk Grove, Ca, 95758

 

To learn more about Greg and his novel, stop by his website: http://www.gregcochran.net/

Be sure to read the first chapter of Saving Grace while you are there.

 

Two fantastic events in one day: join us on March 14^th for a great day!

Gratefully,

Beth