MERRY CHRISTMAS 2019!!! Need
a break from holiday frenzy? Then join your fellow Lancaster Christian
Writers for some for food, fun, fellowship, outstanding talent, and some
shopping at Lancaster Alliance Church, 210 Pitney Rd (off Hwy 30 across from Costco) Saturday, December 21st, from 9:30AM-12 noon (registration opens at 9)
SPEAKER: As
per LCW tradition, our December meeting is reserved to showcase the
creativity and genius of our own members. So pull out that inspirational
prose, comedy sketch, poem, drama, devotional, even a scene (short!) of
your novel, and come share with us. Time limit is 3-5 minutes (easy way to calculate is a maximum of 750 words; THIS INCLUDES ANY INTRO OR PERSONAL COMMENTARY!!!), in order to permit as many to participate as possible. We do need an advance head count so please email if you want to participate so as to get you on the list.
FOOD!!! If you are baking any Christmas goodies and would like to contribute
to the party, any and all will be greatly appreciated. If you have
nothing to bring, don't let that discourage you from coming. We've never
run short yet!
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING:
AND if you have published titles or Christmas crafts, do bring them
along for display. What better or more economic gift can you get for
family member or friend than a personalized autographed title or craft. WHICH also means you may want to bring your checkbook and cash for shopping.
HOLIDAY GIFT FREE EBOOK: A special thank you to LCW member Laurie Ressler, who is offering her Christmas title The Night the Angels Got Lost as a free advent gift. A captivating, three-part family Christmas devotional, it is a great way to celebrate the Promised Child's arrival with family of all ages. Read all about it and download FREE copy here:
www.LaurieChristine.com/christmas-1
CRITIQUE GROUPS: We
will be making time as well for our usual peer critique groups, so if
you have that last piece you'd like critiqued before Christmas, bring 10
copies of up to 1500 words.
As always, more info can be found at our LCW blog: http://lancasterchristianwriterstoday.blogspot.com Or email questions or concerns to jeanette@jeanettewindle.com
Blessings,
Jeanette Windle
President, Lancaster Christian Writers
Join Lancaster Christian Writers for our November meeting Saturday, November 23rd, at Lancaster Alliance Church, 210 Pitney Rd (off Hwy 30 across from Costco) from 9:30AM-12 noon (registration opens at 9) with conference speaker and author Carol Cool. Please note that this is 4th Saturday of month vs. the normal 3rd Saturday due to timing of Christian book/craft fair LancoExpo 2019 on the usual 3rd Saturday.
WORKSHOP: Your Passion in Print: Writing About What Matters to You
So you really want to write about the things
that matter to you, the things that break your heart or get you
excited. But how do you do that for markets that are not quite as
passionate about your topic as you are? This interactive workshop helps
you identify passions, consider how to earn trust, and plan to build
bridges and platforms, as well as recognize when to cut your losses.
SPEAKER: Carol released her first book in 2016—Finding Balance in the Circus of Life—based
on a popular retreat she teaches. Carol has been published nationally
and internationally in magazines and journals such as PrayerConnect, Clubhouse, Christian Home and School, and The Bulletin of University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. She
runs her own editing and writing business, Cool Copy, which specializes
in editing and writing in the corporate and nonprofit worlds. She’s
taught at writers conferences in New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and
Washington, DC. She is a CLASS graduate and speaks at retreats and
conferences throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Carol is also a pastor’s wife,
ministering with her husband, Rev. Les Cool.
GOT A BOOK OR CRAFT TO MARKET FOR THE HOLIDAYS? A
reminder as well that LCW member, author, and local small press
publisher JP Robinson is offering LCW members a low-cost, fun way to
market your book or craft for the holidays by participating in LancoExpo
2019— the FIRST EVER book & craft expo on 11/16 from 10-3 p.m. at
the Quarryville Library. Sell your crafts and/or books at only $25 per
half table in a family-friendly environment. No commission will be
charged. All profits are yours! Register easily and securely online: www.JPRobinsonBooks.com
CRITIQUE GROUPS: We
will be making time as well for our usual peer critique groups, so if
you have a piece you'd like critiqued, bring 10 copies of up to 1500
words.
As always, more info can be found at our LCW blog: http://lancasterchristianwriterstoday.blogspot.com Or email questions or concerns to jeanette@jeanettewindle.com
Blessings,
Jeanette Windle
President, Lancaster Christian Writers
Ever wondered how to create believable characters your readers would recognize if they met them in a dark alley? Then join Lancaster Christian Writers Saturday, October 19, at Lancaster Alliance Church, 210 Pitney Rd (off Hwy 30 across from Costco) from 9:30AM-12 noon (registration opens at 9) as novelist and outstanding story-weaver Lisa Betz shares her secret tool for building compelling characters.
WORKSHOP: My Secret Tool for Building Believable Characters: The Enneagram and How to Use It to Develop Fictional Characters. The Enneagram personality type system is perfectly suited to writers. Each of the nine types has “a distinct way of seeing the world and an underlying motivation that powerfully influences how that type thinks, feels, and behaves.” This information can become a powerful tool in helping a writer craft complex, believable, and consistent characters. This workshop gives a brief overview of the Enneagram, followed by examples to show writers how to use it in their work.
SPEAKER: Award-winning writer Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a unique story to tell the world. She loves inspiring fellow writers to be more intentional about developing their craft and courageous in sharing their words. Lisa shares her words through speaking, leading Bible studies, writing historical mysteries, and blogging about living intentionally. She is also the managing editor of Almost an Author, a website for writers.
DEVOTIONAL SPEAKERS: We currently have openings for devotional speakers during the rest of the LCW calendar year, including for October and November. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your writing/speaking skills and bless your fellow members. If you'd like to share a devotional (5-10 minutes related in some way to topic of writing/writers), contact Jeanette Windle at jeanette@jeanettewindle.com to be put on the schedule.
GOT A BOOK OR CRAFT TO MARKET FOR THE HOLIDAYS? A reminder as well that LCW member, author, and local small press publisher JP Robinson is offering LCW members a low-cost, fun way to market your book or craft for the holidays by participating in LancoExpo 2019— the FIRST EVER book & craft expo on 11/16 from 10-3 p.m. at the Quarryville Library. Sell your crafts and/or books at only $25 per half table in a family-friendly environment. No commission will be charged. All profits are yours! Register easily and securely online: www.JPRobinsonBooks.com
CRITIQUE GROUPS: We will be making time as well for our usual peer critique groups, so if you have a piece you'd like critiqued, bring 10 copies of up to 1500 words.
As always, email questions or concerns to jeanette@jeanettewindle.com
Blessings,
Jeanette Windle
President, Lancaster Christian Writers
Can you believe it's back to school already! That goes for writers
too, so do join Lancaster Christian Writers for our fall kickoff Saturday, September 21st, at Lancaster Alliance Church, 210 Pitney Rd (off Hwy 30 across from Costco) from 9:30AM-12 noon (registration opens at 9) as we learn from social media expert Rachel Schmoyer how to use the bewildering world of social media effectively to reach readers.
WORKSHOP: Find Your Readers on Social Media: You have just poured your heart and soul into an article, blog post, or book and you are ready to let the world read it. How do you find your readers? On social media! Through this workshop you will find out the basics about Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Medium. Find out how social media can be exciting for an author. You don’t need to dread or be daunted by it. Come with questions; leave with sheets of simple tips and strategies for each platform.
SPEAKER: Before Rachel Schmoyer began her Read the Hard Parts of Scripturewriting and speaking ministry, she worked as a freelance copywriter and social media manager for several digital marketing agencies. She is a pastor’s wife at Whitehall Bible Fellowship Church and mom of four kids who never stop talking (that’s what happens when two professional communicators have children!). Her devotional articles have appeared in The Quiet Hour and Light from the Word. She has also had articles purchased by Highlights and Babybug. She loves to speak to women’s groups about finding simple truth in complex parts of Scripture.
GOT A BOOK TO MARKET FOR THE HOLIDAYS? If you're looking for a low-cost, fun way to market your book for the holidays? LCW member, author, and local small press publisher JP Robinson invites you to participate in LancoExpo 2019— the FIRST EVER book & craft expo on 11/16 from 10-3 p.m. at the Quarryville Library. Sell your crafts and/or books at only $25 per half table in a family-friendly environment. No commission will be charged. All profits are yours! Register easily and securely online: www.JPRobinsonBooks.com but hurry before the cost goes up!
CRITIQUE GROUPS: We will be making time as well for our usual peer critique groups, so if you have a piece you'd like critiqued, bring 10 copies of up to 1500 words.
As always, email questions or concerns to jeanette@jeanettewindle.com
Blessings,
Jeanette Windle
President, Lancaster Christian Writers
Don't miss our last Lancaster Christian Writers monthly meeting
before summer break Saturday, June 15th, at Lancaster Alliance Church, 210 Pitney Rd (off Hwy 30 across from Costco) from 9:30AM-12 noon (registration opens at 9). Author and organizer extraordinaire Lisa Lawmaster Hess will be sharing from her own vast experience how to organize life for more effective writing.
WORKSHOP: Organizing for Writers: Let’s be
honest. Creative people may be great at coming up with new ideas and
crafting cunning characters, but the same great minds that produce
winning manuscripts can have trouble remembering which safe place we
left the manuscript in. Why not try a better, low-stress way to keep
track of things — one that's more your style? Come explore personal and
organizational styles that interfere with getting organized and learn
how to use them to your advantage. Bring your sense of humor and leave
the judgment behind as we match up styles with the strategies that make
organizing less onerous. For more tips, check out Lisa's brand-new title on the topic:
Know Thyself is
an effective and fun way to discover your personal and organizational
styles, and will help you own your style. You’ll take what you might
have thought was a flaw and learn how to make it a strength. And that,
plus Lisa’s help and a sense of humor, will guide you toward an
organization method that’s a good fit for your organizational challenges, not someone else's.
SPEAKER: Lisa
Lawmaster Hess is a transplanted Jersey girl who has lived in
Pennsylvania for most of her adult life. She is the author of two
nonfiction books (Acting Assertively and Diverse Divorce) and two novels (Casting the First Stone and Chasing a Second Chance) as well as a contributor to The Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion and the anthology 50 Over 50. Lisa’s articles have appeared online and in regional and national publications. Lisa blogs at The Porch Swing Chronicles and Organizing By STYLE and writes weekly STYLE Savvy posts CatholicMom.com.
A retired elementary school counselor, Lisa is an adjunct professor of
psychology at York College of Pennsylvania. Her new book, Know Thyself: The Imperfectionist’s Guide to Sorting Your Stuff comes out this month and is available for preorder.
CRITIQUE GROUPS: We
will be making time as well for our usual peer critique groups, so if
you have a piece you'd like critiqued, bring 10 copies of up to 1500
words.
As always, email questions or concerns to jeanette@jeanettewindle.com
Blessings,
Jeanette Windle
President, Lancaster Christian Writers
Happy Easter!! And
thank you all who contributed volunteer services and turned out for our
Super Saturday 2019. It was a wonderful event, and we’ve had rave
reviews on bestselling novelist Ronie Kendig’s keynote address and each
of the workshops. Each year we come into this one-day conference not
sure we will do it again (pre-conference stress!). One commitment we’ve
made is that if conference attendance doesn’t cover expenses, we will
close it down. This year’s attendance was somewhat lower than last, but
we DID cover expenses, so look forward to adding Super Saturday 2010 to
your calendar.
Meanwhile join us Saturday, May 18, at Lancaster Alliance Church, 210 Pitney Rd (off Hwy 30 across from Costco) from 9:30AM-12 noon (registration opens at 9) for a Faculty Q&A Panel comprised
of experts across the gamut of journalism, fiction, non-fiction,
publication, social media, platform building, marketing. We try to
schedule one every year or two to give YOU the opportunity to ask any
questions on your mind in the field of writing. This is also your
opportunity to share your own experience and tips with the group.
It DOES help us in preparation to know what particular questions or
topics you would like addressed. So please submit questions and/or
suggestions in advance to jeanette@jeanettewindle.com As time permits, questions can be asked on the spot as well.
LCW INVITED TO FIRST EVER LANCOEXPO!!
A special thanks to J.P. Robinson, one of this year’s SS2019 faculty,
who is organizing Lancaster County’s first ever LANCOEXPO to display and market books and crafts for the holiday season. He has extended a reduced rate offer for participation as well as an early bird special
to LCW members. The event will take place November 16, 2019, with
limited vendor spots available, so register soon! Information can be
found at: https://jprobinsonbooks.com/lancoexpo-vendor-page/
CRITIQUE GROUPS:
We will be making time as well for our usual peer critique groups, so
if you have a piece you'd like critiqued, bring 10 copies of up to 1500
words.
As always, email questions or concerns to jeanette@jeanettewindle.com
An invitation to all Christian writers, aspiring or expert, teen through
centennial, all genres, to kick their writing to the next level at
Lancaster Christian Writers' Super Saturday 2019!! April 6th, 2019, from 8:30am-4:30pm at Lancaster Bible College, 901 Eden
Road, Lancaster, PA, 17601. This one-day writers conference offers a
dual track of workshops in fiction and non-fiction. Please share with friends, family, church, school, library, homeschool co-op!!
SS2019’s very affordable registration price of $55 is
due by Wednesday, April 3rd, and includes lunch and LCW membership.
Registrations after April 3rd and walk-ins day of the conference are $65. Seventh-twelfth grade aspiring writers are also welcome at a two-for-one rate, or half-off if accompanying a parent, which includes lunch buffet. Group rates for home-school co-ops or Christian schools can be negotiated by contacting Jeanette Windle at jeanette@jeanettewindle.com
We are delighted to welcome Ronie Kendig. bestselling author of over twenty high action novels, as keynote speaker. Other faculty include publisher and literary agent Dave Fessenden, historical novelist and writing coach Rita Gerlach, publisher, author, and historian J.P. Robinson, editor-in-chief of Hope Editors and author of fiction and non-fiction Hope Flinchbaugh, freelance editor and award-winning author Jeanette Windle. Workshops cover such topics as:
- Mind Your Business: Why & How Authors Can Easily Set Up a Writing System that Pays
- Pack a Punch: Striking Hard with Plot and Character for a Knock-out Novel
- Dynamic Dialogue: Creating Dialogue with Purpose that Moves Your Story Forward
- More than Just a Transcript: Turning Your Preaching or Speaking into Writing
- Three-D Characters: Five Key Strategies to Create Characters That Walk Off the Page
- Divide and Conquer: Manageable Steps to Writing Your First Draft
- Write to the Heart of a Child: The Craft and Ministry of Writing for Children
- Ambush Your Reader: Shrewd Tactics for Using Setting and Stage to Create Strong Emotional Impact and Suspense
A conference bookstore will offer a wide variety of writer resources and
faculty titles. Personal consultations with faculty are on a
first-come, first-serve basis. More information, including the Super Saturday 2019 Flyer/Registration Form and Press Release (download to share!!!) can be found above right. OR email LCW president Jeanette Windle at jeanette@jeanettewindle.com. Payment can be made online (see Payment Option to right), or mail check/ money order payable to: Lancaster Christian Writers, c/o Jeanette Windle, 1776 Euclid Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601.
Take advantage of this continuing warm weather and join Lancaster Christian Writers for our last monthly meeting before LCW's annual conference (see info below!). We meet next on Saturday, March 16th, at Lancaster Alliance Church, 210 Pitney Rd (off Hwy 30 across from Costco) from 9:30AM-12 noon (registration opens at 9). Comic book writer and forensic artist Christine Kerrick will be sharing tips on how to keep knowledgeable readers from rolling their eyes at rookie law enforcement mistakes.
WORKSHOP: “Ten Things Hollywood Writers Get Wrong with Law Enforcement.” Nothing stalls a police-themed story quite like incorrect or missing information. Is there really such a thing as ‘good cop/bad cop’? Can investigators find a DNA match instantly? Can a forensic artist actually get an accurate facial identification using just a skull? Knowing how police, investigators, forensic scientists, and forensic artists work gives richness to your story and can open up other plotlines and story elements. You don’t have to know everything about procedure and investigation—you just have to know where to look!
SPEAKER: Award-winning illustrator, comic book writer/artist, and FBI-trained forensic artist Christine Kerrick worked as a civilian for a law-enforcement agency for five years. Experiences volunteering with police, doing “jump-outs” and ride-alongs taught her how police and investigators work. Doing forensic art and facial reconstruction for Broward Sheriff’s Office, Philadelphia Medical Examiner, and PA State Police gave her more insight into how investigators track down an identity, how they get the bad guys, and the stress of their own lives. These experiences birthed stories she is writing now, and a police devotional to support and encourage police. To learn more, visit www.christinekerrick.com.
DEVOTIONALS: Also, we have openings for devotional speakers at March, May, and June monthly meetings. Time frame is 5-10 minutes (including introducing yourself) and must have some tie-in to writers. This is your opportunity to share your words and God's message with fellow writers, so drop an email to jeanette@jeanettewindle.com if you would like to sign up for a month.
SUPER SATURDAY 2019 WORKSHOPS AND FACULTY BIOS ARE NOW ONLINE. SS2019 is coming up in just over a month. Check out conference info at http://lancasterchristianwriterstoday.blogspot.com And don't forget to help us circulate ourSS2019 FLYER as well as PRESS RELEASE as well as to sign up soon for our April 6th one-day conference at REGISTRATION. Success and continuation of this annual conference depends on YOU to help us get the news out. This includes to high-schoolers at half price, so let those talented younger writers in your church, family, or homeschool co-op know.
CRITIQUE GROUPS: We will be making time as well for our usual peer critique groups, so if you have a piece you'd like critiqued, bring 10 copies of up to 1500 words.
As always, email questions or concerns to jeanette@jeanettewindle.com
Blessings,
Jeanette Windle
President, Lancaster Christian Writers
Happy 2019!!! What a great turnout and weather we had for our January kickoff. We meet next on Saturday, February 16th, at Lancaster Alliance Church, 210 Pitney Rd (off Hwy 30 across from Costco) Saturday, January 19th (01/19/19), from 9:30AM-12 noon (registration opens at 9). Novelist, investigative journalist (and LCW president) Jeanette Windle will be teaching a workshop on effective plotting.
WORKSHOP: “A Story to Tell"--Keys to Plot Development. A
compelling story lies not only in who, what, where, and when, but how
and especially why. Inciting incidents, interweaving plot lines,
conflict, character-driven versus plot-driven, rising and falling
action, climax, and resolution are among the elements necessary to tell
an effective story. While workshop is slanted to fiction, principles
apply to non-fiction story telling as well.
SPEAKER: Award-winning
novelist, investigative journalist, editor, and collaborative writer
Jeanette Windle grew up in the Amazon's guerrilla hot zones, has lived
in six countries, and traveled in more than thirty. Those experiences
have birthed twenty-one titles, including bestselling novels Veiled Freedom/Freedom's Stand, (ECPA Christian Book Award/Christy Award/Carol Award/Golden Scroll nominees), as well as such non-fiction titles as Forgiven (ECPA Christian Book Award/Christian Retailing Best Awards nominee) and All Saints, also a Sony Affirm movie. To learn more, visit www.jeanettewindle.com.
JANUARY MEETING HANDOUT:
Thank you, Annette Whipple for an outstanding workshop on work-for-hire
freelancing at our latest LCW meeting. For those who attended and those
who couldn’t make it, she offers a link to the Powerpoint/handout she
shared. The link will only remain live for a week, so grab download
now: https://www.annettewhipple.com/p/for-writers.html
WRITERS RETREAT INVITE: LCW member Jeannette DiLouie,
Chief Executive Editor of Innovative Editing, invites Lancaster Christian Writers to prepare to be inspired at The Genuine Writer’s Retreat 2019. Ever
been to Annapolis? It’s truly beautiful. Like the best of Boston, it’s
filled with great food, great scenery and a historic feel you don’t want
to stop soaking in. It’s also the site of The Genuine Writer’s Retreat
2019, right off the waterfront at Gibson’s Lodgings bed and breakfast.
Attendees can enjoy picturesque accommodations, delicious food, two
carefully crafted presentations, and plenty of time to relax and write.
Get the inspiration, encouragement and insights you’ve been looking for
on your writing journey March 22-24 at this scenic locale. Early bird prices end January 31, so be sure to claim your space today at www.TheGenuineWriter.com
SUPER SATURDAY 2019 FLYER/REGISTRATION NOW LIVE ONLINE: And don't forget to help us circulate our SS2019 FLYER as well as PRESS RELEASE as well as to sign up soon for our April 6th one-day conference at LBC REGISTRATION. Success and continuation of this annual conference depends on YOU to help us get the news out.
CRITIQUE GROUPS: We
will be making time as well for our usual peer critique groups, so if
you have a piece you'd like critiqued, bring 10 copies of up to 1500
words.
As always, email questions or concerns to jeanette@jeanettewindle.com
Happy New Years!!! Can you believe we all survived the last year--and the holiday bustle? Now it's time to set those goals and make those writing resolutions for 2019. What better jump-start than joining fellow LCW members at Lancaster Alliance Church, 210 Pitney Rd (off Hwy 30 across from Costco) Saturday, January 19th (01/19/19), from 9:30AM-12 noon (registration opens at 9). Educator and children's non-fiction author Annette Whipple will be sharing her secrets for breaking into the for-hire writing market.
WORKSHOP: "Skip the Pitch: Work-for-Hire Writing Assignments" Break into the publishing world and establish yourself as a professional writer or earn additional income without pitching agents or editors. Educational publishers (Christian and general) hire writers to write informational books and other resources for children. Participants will learn how to approach publishers for work-for-hire assignments.
SPEAKER: Annette Whipple is a children’s nonfiction author living in Oxford, PA with her husband and three children. She strives to inspire a sense of wonder in people while exciting them about the world around them. When she’s not writing, Annette enjoys reading a good book and snacking on warm chocolate chip cookies. Connect on Facebook and Instagram at @AnnetteWhippleBooks and Twitter @AnnetteWhipple. Learn more about Annette, her books, and her presentations at www.AnnetteWhipple.com.
SUPER SATURDAY 2019: And it isn't too early to mark your calendar for 2019's one-day LCW conference at Lancaster Bible College, scheduled for Saturday, April 6th. An outstanding faculty lineup includes high-octane thriller novelist Ronie Kendig, renowned editor and agent Dave Fessenden, historical novelist Rita Gerlach, journalist and author Hope Flinchbaugh, novelist and publisher J.P. Robinson, and more. Flyer and other data will be online by end of month so help us in getting the news out.
CRITIQUE GROUPS: We will be making time as well for our usual peer critique groups, so if you have a piece you'd like critiqued, bring 10 copies of up to 1500 words.
As always, email questions or concerns to jeanette@jeanettewindle.com
Blessings,
Jeanette Windle
President, Lancaster Christian Writers
