Inspire:

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

Inspire Writers Attend Christian Writers Seminar

 

Here we are leaving for the 2009 Christian Writers Seminar:

 

Dee Aspin, Kris Lindsey, Me, Beth Self and Lori Sinclair just before we climbed into my car for the drive to Castro Valley. Half the fun of attending a conference with the Inspire group is the lively conversations along the way.

James Scott Bell encouraged us with "Every hour you spend writing is an hour you don't spend worrying about your writing."

He also urged us to continue writing during these tough economic times, to provide encouragement, hope, escape and entertainment to a world in need of our words.

Me, Joanne Kraft, Lori Sinclair, Kris Lindsey and Beth Self at the beginning of the final keynote session.

Other great quotes gleaned at CWS:

"If you build a house and no one moves in—it is incomplete. Similarly—writing is incomplete without a reader." Cindy Martinusen Coloma

"The last sentence needs to go KA-BOOM! It should not trail off into the wind." Ken Jones

"Articles must always answer the 'So what?' question." Lynne Thompson

"Set realistic goals so you can feel the satisfaction of reaching them instead of feeling like a failure for falling short." Cindy Martinusen Coloma

"Always give God the glory." James Scott Bell

 

Kris Lindsey, D. L. Huckabay, Beth Self, Me, Joanne Kraft and Lori Sinclair. The Seminar has just ended. Now if we can just apply everything we learned!

Watch for information on several upcoming conferences. We would love to have you join us.

Gratefully,

Beth

The Pitfalls of Self-Publishing

The Sacramento Suburban Writers Club will meet Monday, January 19 at the Fair Oaks Library, 11601 Fair Oaks Blvd. from 7-9pm. Loraine Holden will speak on "The Pitfalls of Self-Publishing."

For more information about this free event, call (916) 334-3269.

This event will provide valuable information for those considering self-publishing.

Have a great weekend and Keep Writing,

Beth

16th Annual Christian Writers Seminar

Inspire Writers,

It is time again for the Christian Writers Seminar hosted by Jon Drury at Redwood Chapel in Castro Valley. Our group members have attended this event for the past five years. (Remind me to tell you the story about how Inspire started. It was a result of my attending this event six years ago!)

This is an inexpensive seminar, it is nearby, and Jon always brings in great writers to teach us what we need to know.

 

16th Annual Christian Writers Seminar

 with James Scott Bell

   

Loading Mercury with a Pitchfork

February 20-21, 2009

James Scott Bell is the bestselling author of Try Dying, Try Darkness, and Deceived, among many others. He is a Christy Award for Excellence winner in Christian fiction. He served as the fiction columnist for Writer's Digest, and has written two bestselling craft books in the Writers Digest Series Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure and Revision & Self-Editing. Jim has taught writing at Pepperdine University and at numerous writing conferences.

    Does God want you to write for publication? The basics of Christian writing may help you answer that question. This year's instruction spans the basics of Christian writing, fiction, researching, articles, self-publishing, screenwriting, and more. Though we target the person beginning the journey of written ministry, published writers will also find encouragement.

For all the details and to register go to www.christianwriter.org . Then email me so we can organize rides and room-shares. inspiregroup@comcast.net

I'm looking forward to a wonderful experience!

Keep writing,

Beth

 

 

 

Six Point Blog Check-up

Is it time for a routine check-up of your blog? Here are some tools that will help:

1. Find out your blog's score on http://website.grader.com/ as a starting point.
2. Learn how to avoid the Most Common Blog Mistakes at Randy Elrod's post.
3. Check out 5 Ways to Imitate the Top 10 Blogs on Blog Herald.
4. Subscribe to He Blogs, She Blogs for great insights and ideas on blogging.
5. Analyze one of your favorite blogs. What makes it great? Emulate what works.
6. Plan to attend the upcoming Inspire Writer's Blogging Workshop in March. More information will be coming soon.

Have a great weekend and keep writing (and blogging!)

Beth

Lee Roddy is Coming to Inspire

How to Write a Story:

A Fiction Workshop

with special guest Lee Roddy!

Inspire Christian Writers will be hosting a very special fiction workshop taught by Lee Roddy on Tuesday, May 6^th at 7pm at Warehouse Christian Ministries!

Mr. Roddy is the best-selling author of over 50 novels for juveniles and adults with more than two million copies sold. He teaches writing all across the country.

Mark your calendar for May 6^th!