Join LCW for Professional Q&A Panel Saturday, February 17, 2018

Join Lancaster Christian Writers Saturday, February 17th, at Lancaster Alliance Church, 210 Pitney Rd (off Hwy 30 across from Costco) from 9:30AM-12 noon (registration opens at 9) for a Professional Q&A panel comprised of experts across the gamut of journalism, fiction, non-fiction, publication, social media, platform building, marketing.

This is your opportunity to ask the questions on your mind (we DO ask that you stick to the general field of writing). It 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.

SUPER SATURDAY 2018!!!!!!  And our annual one-day conference is coming up on us quickly. Please do help us get the word out. All links for flyer, press release, registration, paying on-line, workshops and faculty bios are now all live on our LCW webpage; see column to the right. 
 
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 2018!! Join Fellow Writers in Kick-Starting the New Year Saturday, 01/2018 with Historian/Novelist JP Robinson

Happy New Year!!! Can you believe 2018 is already here? With the current cold snap, you may not be feeling like crawling out from under the quilts, much less outdoors. But as a writer, what better way to kick-start this New Year than joining your fellow Lancaster Christian Writers on Saturday, January 20, 2018, 9:30AM-12 noon at Lancaster Alliance Church, (210 Pitney Rd; off Hwy 30 across from Costco). Historian and novelist JP Robinson will be sharing the art of researching and writing historical fiction. You write neither fiction nor historical? The basic principles will help revolutionize your writing, regardless of genre.
 
SPEAKER: Author, teacher and international speaker, JP Robinson has turned his talents to promoting the Gospel through the written word. JP began writing as a teen for the Times Beacon Records newspaper in New York and won local recognition for his literary works. His historical fiction novels are high-adrenaline plots laced with unexpected twists. JP holds degrees in both English and French and is currently drafting his third novel. 
 
Born to praying parents who were told by medical doctors that having children was impossible, JP Robinson writes to awaken faith in a living God. His inspiring novel, Twiceborn, offers a stunning perspective on the power of grace and true conversion. Click here for an author interview. JP lives with his wife and children in Pennsylvania. Visit his website at www.jprobinsonbooks.com.
 
WORKSHOP: "Revolutionize the Art of Historical Fiction."  This interactive workshop showcases four ways to supercharge your historical pieces. Explore the benefits of writing historical fiction and discover how you can leave your mark on history while bringing the past to life.Our workshop will detail how to:

• Choose the right time & place for your novel.
• Depict authentic historical characters.
• Create an emotionally-gripping historical plot. 
• Maintain the balance between the "historical" and the "fictional."

SUPER SATURDAY 2018!!:  And keep your eye open for info on LCW's  one-day conference Saturday, April 7th, at Lancaster Bible College. We should have a flyer ready by end of month. Current faculty lineup includes New York bestselling author Loree Lough, author and conference speaker Pierre Eade, magazine writer Donna Brennan, novelists Shawn Smucker and Rita Gerlach, Tyndale bestselling author Lynn Eib, conference director, editor, and author Marlene Bagnull, and more. 

WORKSHOP/DEVOTIONAL SPEAKERS: We do have some openings for devotional speakers (5-10 minutes with focus on writing) in coming months as well as for workshop speakers for May/June, so if you are interested in giving a devotional or have a suggestion for workshop speaker, drop an email to: jeanette@jeanettewindle.com  

CRITIQUE GROUPS: We will be making time as well for our usual peer critique groups, so if you have a piece for critiquing, please 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

SHARE YOUR TALENT!!! Bring Your Best New WIP to LCW's 2017 Christmas Celebration Saturday, 12/16/17

Merry Christmas 2017!!! Needing an inspirational break from holiday frenzy? Then join your fellow LCW writers at Lancaster Alliance Church, 210 Pitney Rd (off Hwy 30 across from Costco) Saturday, December 16th, from 9:30AM-12 noon (registration opens at 9) for food, fun, fellowship, and fabulous speaker--YOU!!
 
SPEAKER: That's right. As per LCW tradition, December is for showcasing the creativity and genius of our own members. Submitting your work to a guaranteed and appreciative audience is an opportunity no writer should pass up. 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), 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.
 
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.
 
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!
 
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, email questions or concerns to jeanette@jeanettewindle.com

Blessings,
Jeanette Windle
President, Lancaster Christian Writers

Lancaster Christian Writers Welcomes Journalist/Novelist Donna Smith Saturday, 11/18/17, PLUS Invite to One-Day Writers Conference with Mike Dellosso

Take time out of your Thanksgiving rush to join Lancaster Christian Writers Saturday, November 18th, at Lancaster Alliance Church, 210 Pitney Rd (off Hwy 30 across from Costco) from 9:30AM-12 noon (registration opens at 9). Writer and journalist Donna L. H. Smith will be teaching you you can turn your story idea into publishing gold.

 
SPEAKER: Donna L. H. Smith’s extensive writing experience over the past forty years includes everything from radio journalism to newspaper to magazine articles, script-writing of slide sets and filmstrips, public relations and marketing, and promotional pieces. Her first novel Meghan’s Choice was a semi-finalist for Operation First Novel in 2015 and is being published in late 2017. Her novella Remember Honor was a semi-finalist in the 2016 ACFW Genesis contest. Donna currently serves as Mid-Atlantic Zone Director for ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). You can find more about her at http://donnalhsmith.com. 
 
WORKSHOP: Mining for Stories: Discovering Their Worth: Where can you get a unique story idea that hasn’t been done before? How can you know if a story idea is worth pursuing? Using the O2EU (Obscure, Opposite, Extreme, Unusual) formula, this workshop will teach you how to use every resource available to you to find to a unique angle for your story. Once you’ve discovered your idea, how do you know if it’s worth telling? A scoresheet will be included as a handout, but you’ll have to be brutally honest with yourself when scoring your story idea.
 
WRITERS ONE-DAY INTENSIVE INVITE FROM MIKE DELLOSSO: Mike Dellosso, a suspense novelist and writing coach well-known to our LCW group, invites all writers to a one-day intensive writers conference,  Creative Writing for Everyone, Saturday, November 11, 2017, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, at Calvary Bible Church, 603 Wilson Avenue, Hanover, PA 17331. Whether writing fiction or non-fiction, experienced or novice, this conference is for you. Cost for the day is $40 ($30 for students, ACFW, LCW members; simply mention that you are LCW when you register). Registration and other information can be found at: Creative Writing Instruction
 
SUPER SATURDAY 2018!!:  And it's never too late to get LCW's own one-day conference down on your calendar. Next year's conference is confirmed for Saturday, April 7th, at Lancaster Bible College. We are excited to have already confirmed a stellar faculty lineup, including New York bestselling author Loree Lough, author and conference speaker Pierre Eade, novelists Shawn Smucker and Rita Gerlach, journalist and Tyndale author Lynn Eib, conference director, editor, and author Marlene Bagnull, and more. Look for more info after the holidays.

CRITIQUE GROUPS: As usual, 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 in Welcoming Publisher and Author Dr. Amy Deardon Saturday, October 21, 2017.

Join Lancaster Christian Writers on Saturday, October 21st, 2017, in welcoming back Dr. Amy Deardon at Lancaster Alliance Church, 210 Pitney Rd (off Hwy 30 across from Costco) from 9:30AM-12 noon (registration opens at 9). 

Publisher, author, entrepreneur, Dr. Amy Deardon has become the go-to expert in indie publishing, teaching clinics and workshops on the topic at numerous writers conferences, including our own. This time she joins us to share cutting-edge new tech developments that can help YOU become your own publisher excellently, economically, effectively, and with expedited promptness.

SPEAKER: Dr. Amy Deardon is an award-winning author, publisher, and online entrepreneur who began her own indie publishing service because she'd seen too many authors falling into the costly pitfalls of self-publishing, hybrid, or even traditional publishing companies. She is eager to help writers take their words to the next level through story or nonfiction coaching/editing and guiding them through the indie-publishing minefield. In her life B.C. (before children) Amy was a Ph.D. scientist under a different name who did bench research. She lives with her husband and two children near Washington D.C. Visit her website at www.amydeardon.com.

WORKSHOP: “BECOMING YOUR OWN PUBLISHER”. This workshop showcases the difference between paying thousands of dollars to and receiving often minimal profits from a self-publishing or hybrid company and truly becoming your own publisher. Keep all rights and profits while you design and market your stunning new book—while keeping your costs low. We’ll look at an overview of the indie publishing process including: 1) finding topics that sell; 2) E-books and print books; 3) interior and cover design; 4) marketing ideas. See why indie publishing may work for you. You can do it!

MEETING PLACE: Please note we will be back in our normal meeting place this month, Uptown Theater to the right just inside main doors of church.

CRITIQUE GROUPS: As usual, we will be making time as well for our usual peer critique groups, so if you have that 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