LCW Welcomes Award-winning Print Journalist and Author Lisa Bartelt Saturday, 02/22/20: PLEASE NOTE THIS IS 4TH SATURDAY OF MONTH, NOT 3RD

We hope you enjoyed last month's snow day. No worries about missing out on the fabulous speaker we'd scheduled for that day. She has graciously rescheduled for March. Meanwhile, Lancaster Christian Writers would like to invite you AGAIN to kick off your 2020 writing year Saturday, February 22, 2020, at Lancaster Alliance Church, 210 Pitney Rd (off Hwy 30 across from Costco) from 9:30AM-12 noon (registration opens at 9) with award-winning journalist, author and blogger Lisa Bartelt. Please note this is 4th, not 3rd Saturday of month due to some scheduling conflicts.

WORKSHOP: How to Keep Going in All Kinds of Weather: Lessons for Writers from Running. When author and journalist Lisa Bartelt started running two years ago, she quickly learned there was seldom a perfect day for getting outside and training. Some days it rained. Others were sunny. Some days it was cold. Other days were hot and humid. If she waited for the perfect conditions, she’d never run. The same principle applies to writing. Over the past two decades , Lisa has found a way to write in a variety of seasons: single with a full-time job, married with a full-time job, as a stay-at-home-mom, through trauma, trying to make writing a full-time job, and treating it as a part-time job while holding down another part-time job outside of writing. In this workshop, Lisa will share eight lessons she’s learned from running that help her be a more consistent writer no matter the “weather.”
 

SPEAKER:  Lisa Bartelt is a freelance writer and editor whose work has appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul books, The Upper Room, Prayer Connect magazine, and The One Year Book of Joy and Laughter. She was one of fifteen winners in CBE International’s annual writing contest in 2018 and has served as a judge for writing contests hosted by Writer’s Digest and American Christian Fiction Writers. She was a journalist and editor for daily newspapers in Illinois for nearly ten years, where she won awards for both writing and editing. She blogs at http://lisabartelt.com

 
WRITERS RETREAT INVITE: Give your writing journey a beautiful boost April 2-5, 2020. When was the last time you had entire hours, much less days, of uninterrupted time to work on your manuscript? That’s what the third annual Genuine Writer’s Retreat wants to offer you just as soon as the weather starts to warm up again. Set in beautiful, engaging Annapolis, Maryland, it will be held this year at Gibson’s Lodgings, a lovely bed-and-breakfast with modern amenities and historic appeal. Attendees can gain encouragement from fellow writers and insights from two carefully crafted workshops, wander the town for inspiration, and/or pick a comfy spot within the B&B to breathe in the obligation-free air and write their hearts out. Early bird prices end January 31 though. So be sure to claim your space today at www.TheGenuineWriter.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

Join Lancaster Christian Writers This Saturday, 10-15-16, with Journalist/Editor Lisa Bartelt

Join Lancaster Christian Writers Saturday, Saturday, October 15, 2016, at Lancaster Alliance Church, 210 Pitney Rd (off Hwy 30 across from Costco) from 9:30AM-12 noon (registration opens at 9). Journalist, freelance writer/editor, and blogger Lisa Bartelt will be sharing a workshop on how to deal with that painful topic: peer and editorial critique.

SPEAKER: A newspaper reporter, copy editor, freelance writer, including Group Publishing curriculum and numerous magazine articles, and avid blogger, Lisa Bartelt is a child of the flatlands fulfilling her dream of living near the mountains. She loves reading, writing and listening to stories—true ones, made-up ones and the ones in between— preferably with a cup of coffee in hand. Wife, mom of two, and ordinary girl, Lisa blogs about books, faith, family and the unexpected turns of life at Beauty on the Backroads (http://lisabartelt.com). Connect with her on Facebook or Twitter.

WORKSHOP: “Better than Good: Honest Feedback without Hurt Feelings”: To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing. For writers, this idea attributed to Aristotle would also include: "write nothing." Most of us want to avoid criticism at all costs. But a writer needs feedback  before presenting our words to readers, who certainly will have an opinion. Is there a way to receive honest feedback, whether from fellow writers or editors, without having our feelings hurt? Is there a way to give constructive feedback without sounding mean? This workshop will look at specific ways to offer helpful feedback beyond statements such as "I like it" or "It's good." It will also address how to prepare ourselves to receive feedback and evaluate it without an emotional breakdown. And we'll see that even successful, published authors aren't immune to the negative side of criticism.

CRITIQUE GROUPS: And don't forget to bring your latest work-in-progress for critique groups (ten copies up to 1500 words).

As always, email questions or concerns to jeanette@jeanettewindle.com

Blessings,
Jeanette Windle
President, Lancaster Christian Writers

Join LCW Expert Panel for Q&A Saturday, 2/20/16 PLUS Sign Up & Share SS2016

Got questions you’ve always wanted to ask—whether on past workshops or any other writing related topic? Then join Lancaster Christian Writers on Saturday, February 20, 2016, Lancaster Alliance Church, 210 Pitney Rd (off Hwy 30 across from Costco) from 9:30AM-12 noon (registration opens at 9) with fiction and non-fiction author and editor Jeanette Windle, journalist and curriculum writer Lisa Bartelt, and social media expert Alison McLennan for a Q&A Session on topics of your choice.

Q&A PANEL: LCW members frequently with questions as to how to submit articles to magazines, how to write a devotional, where to find an agent, how social media can be used to promote writing sales, how to approach editors, what are pros and cons of signing up for this summer’s writing conferences, how to turn life experience into marketable memoir, and much more. Non-fiction or fiction, sales or marketing, this is YOUR opportunity to ask the questions on your mind. The only restriction: questions must be applicable to group, not on your own work-in-progress (for that, bring those copies and join peer group critique section.  Help us prepare by sending your questions in advance to jeanette@jeanettewindle.com
 
SUPER SATURDAY 2016: And don’t  forget it isn’t too early to get your registration in for Super Saturday 2016 at Lancaster Bible College Saturday, April 16, 2016. Please help us spread the word!!! by sharing event data on your own social media/church and library bulletin boards, etc. Flyer and press release for 2016 are now live for easy sharing or printing (see Super Saturday 2016 above). For those wanting to pay by credit card or PayPal, we have that option available this year by requesting secured invoice through PayPal from LCW president at jeanette@jeanettewindle.com.

THANK YOU! And a special thanks to LCW member Laura Pappas, who has so kindly and expertly designed our SS2016 flyer (and last year’s!).

DEVOTIONAL: We also have openings for devotional speakers for February, May, and June. This is your chance to share that writer-relevant devotional, blog post, essay, or just encouragement with your LCW peers. If you'd be interested in sharing (5-10 minutes), especially for this coming month (2/20/16), please email jeanette@jeanettewindle.com

CRITIQUE GROUPS: And don't forget to bring your latest work-in-progress  for critique groups (ten copies 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

Lancaster Christian Writers Hosts One-Day Conference April 11, 2015, at Lancaster Bible College

For a bargain of excellence and price, no writer, whether beginning or advanced, within driving radius will want to miss Lancaster Christian Writers' Super Saturday 2015!! to be held April 11th, 2015, from 8:30am.-4:30pm at Lancaster Bible College, 901 Eden Road, Lancaster, PA 17601. This one-day writers conference offers a full slate of workshops taught by top industry professionals in both fiction and non-fiction fields. An early registration price of $50 is due by Wednesday, April 8, and includes soup/sandwich buffet lunch (think Panini!) and LCW membership. Registrations after April 9 and walk-ins day of the conference are $60.

A fiction track will be taught by award-winning novelists Dina Sleiman and Kelly Long along with children’s author Brenda Hendricks. Non-fiction faculty include TV/radio speaker, marketing expert, award-winning author of 19 books Karen Whiting, professional memoir and ghostwriter Shawn Smucker, journalist/social media experts Lisa Bartelt and Alison McLennan.Keynoting the opening session will be linguist, missionary, and author Grace Fabian.

Workshops cover such topics as:

• Market Yourself Now! Learn Tools to Develop Press Kit, Bio, Website, and Other PR Products.
• Writing Blockbuster Scenes: How To Keep Readers Flipping Pages and Asking For More.
• Transformed Manuscripts: Repackaging Your Ideas (Sold or Rejected) to Expand Marketability.
• The Unfortunate Truth in Fiction: Addressing Hard Issues Without Pulling Down Your Story.
• A Story To Tell: Surefire Do’s and Don’ts to Write a Gripping True Life Story or Memoir.
• Myers-Briggs for Your Protagonist: Applying Personality Types to Create Characters with Distinctive Qualities, Motivations, and Voices.
• Let’s Ride the Seesaw: Recruiting Your Inner Child to Communicate with Young Readers.
• 100% Guaranteed (Oh, Yeah?) Secret to Blogging Success Beyond Your Wildest Dreams!

A conference bookstore will offer a wide variety of writer resources and faculty titles. Conference attendees can get personal consultations with faculty on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Lancaster Christian Writers welcomes writers of all churches and denominations, all levels and genres. Monthly meetings offer opportunities for manuscript critique, networking with other writers, workshops and guest authors.

Mail Super Saturday 2015 registration form (or relevant info) and check or money order payable to: Lancaster Christian Writers, c/o Jeanette Windle, 1776 Euclid Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601.  Email questions to LCW President Jeanette Windle at jeanette@jeanettewindle.com (preferred) or call 717-209-0011 after 4 PM. For more information, see SS2015 Flyer, Schedule, Workshop Descriptions, Faculty Bio at above links.