Called to Write Conference

Conference Pictures

Here are some conference pictures taken from the 2009 Called to Write Conference with Guest Speaker, Kim Vogel Sawyer.



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General Information

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28-29

April 3 & 4, 2009

Greenbush Educational Service Center
947 W. 47 Hwy.
Girard, KS

Featured Speaker ~ Award Winning Author

Kim Vogel Sawyer

along with LeAnn Campbell, Carol Russell and Sally Smith

Best-selling, award-winning author Kim Vogel Sawyer is a wife, mother, grandmother, author, speaker, singer of songs and lover of chocolate... but most importantly, she's a born-again child of the King! A professional teacher, Kim recently closed her classroom door to follow God's call on her heart to write and speak. Now blessed with multiple writing contracts with Bethany House and Barbour Publishing, Kim enjoys sharing her journey to publication as well as the miraculous story of her healing from a life-long burden of pain and shame. Kim's gentle yet forthright testimony lends credence to the promise of Ps. 117:2--"Great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever." To learn more about Kim, please visit her web site at: http://www.kimvogelsawyer.com/

[John Riddle has cancelled and will not be offered as a guest speaker this year. Below are three of our published members who have agreed to fill his workshop slots. Also, please look over the conference schedule for the updated workshop descriptions. We thank you for your continued support and patience as we work through these last minute changes.]

LeAnn Campbell is a freelance writer in Southwest Missouri. Her publishing credits include more than 1300 articles, columns, and other works in over 130 newspapers, magazines, and books. Her devotionals appear in Cup of Comfort books (for Women, for Mothers, and for Mothers and Daughters), and the soon-to-be published Cup of Comfort of Biblical Promises. She regularly writes devotionals for The Quiet Hour and Standard Publishing. LeAnn co-authored Moms over 50 Devotions to Go, and her Writers’ Devotions to Go by Extreme Diva Media has just come out. OakTara Publishers plans the release of Old Shack Mystery, the first book in her series for middle-grade children in early summer 2009.

Carol Russell is a freelance writer and speaker. She has many articles and devotions published, as well as many children’s stories. Her writings have appeared in several anthologies. Carol speaks at writer’s conferences and meetings, as well as women’s retreats, fellowship meetings, and mother/daughter banquets. She resides in Kansas.

Sally Smith is an engaging speaker who loves to teach the Word of God. She has an M.Ed. in counseling and is an experienced Christian school teacher, guidance counselor, and parenting class facilitator. In addition to her speaking, Sally is a freelance writer who has been published in LIVE, Journal for Holy Living, Club House, and The Lookout magazines. She was featured in two compilations Cup of Comfort Devotional for Mothers and Along the Way for Teens. Her current project is finishing a book about how to pray for your pastor. Married for 33 years, their family resides in southwest Missouri.

Workshop Schedule

Friday

8:00 - 8:30 AM - Registration (Coffee, tea & snacks provided)

8:30 - 9:00 AM - Welcome/Opening Devotion

9:00 - 9:50 AM - Road to Publication - Kim Vogel Sawyer

10:10 - 11:00 AM - Writing and Selling Devotionals - LeAnn Campbell

11:20 - Noon - Author Panel Question & Answer

12:00 - 1:00 PM - Lunch (provided)

1:00 - 1:30 PM - Skit & Door Prize drawings

1:30 - 2:20 PM - The Mechanics of Marketing - Carol Russell

2:40 - 3:30 PM - From Contract to Book - Kim Vogel Sawyer

3:50 - 4:40 PM - The Four Basic Growth Groups - Sally Smith

4:40 - 5:00 PM - Closing Devotion and prayer
5:30 PM - Optional dinner at Celebrity's

Saturday

8:00 - 8:30 AM - Registration

8:30 - 9:00 AM - Welcome/Opening Devotion

9:00 - 9:50 AM - Writing with Humor - Carol Russell

10:10 - 11:00 AM - Getting Rid of Cookie-Cutter Characters - Kim Vogel Sawyer

11:10 - Noon - Read-Around Groups

12:00 - 1:00 PM - Lunch (provided)

1:00 - 1:30 PM - Writing Activity & Door Prizes

1:30 - 2:20 PM - Plotting a Story - Kim Vogel Sawyer

2:40 - 3:30 PM - Interviewing and Writing Personality Profiles - LeAnn Campbell

3:50 - 4:40 PM - Turning Rejection into Redirection - Kim Vogel Sawyer

4:40 - 5:00 PM - Contest Winners and Closing

Workshop Descriptions

Road to Publication by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Kim will share her personal publishing testimony, showing how God works in mysterious ways to bring our lives into alignment with His will.

Writing and Selling Devotionals by LeAnn Campbell
This workshop will help writers understand what a devotional is—and what it is not. The workshop will go through the process of knowing who the readers are, determining what to write to reach those readers, and show what to include in a devotional.

The Mechanics of Marketing by Carol Russell
One of the biggest steps toward publication is marketing. This workshop has three parts.
· Learn to use market guides
· Analyze book and periodical markets
· How to order writers’ guidelines and sample copies

From Contract to Book by Kim Vogel Sawyer
"I've signed on the dotted line . . . now what?" Kim will share the stepping stones that lead to seeing your book on a bookstore shelf.

The Four Basic Growth Groups by Sally Smith
This interactive workshop walks listeners through a search of what God has given them to serve Him. Topics include our personality, our background, our physical characteristics as well our spiritual gifts. It ends with a challenge to improve our own personal mix of qualities and to use it for God's glory

Writing with Humor by Carol Russell
Everyone loves to laugh. Funny thing about humor, it reads easy, but is hard to write. This workshop will give you the techniques, procedures, and processes that bring on the laughs. Learn the sources, different styles, markets, and cautions when writing with humor.

Getting Rid of Cookie-Cutter Characters by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Gingerbread men are wonderful treats at Christmastime, but no reader wants to find cookie-cutter characters in a story. Participants will explore the elements needed to bring characters to life on the page and will practice using their own works-in-progress as the basis for study.

Plotting a Story by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Even seat-of-the-pantsters need a rough idea of where the characters are going to avoid being "written into a corner." By making an outline of turning points and stumbling blocks, writers can avoid the frustration of "what next?"

Interviewing and Writing Personality Profiles by LeAnn Campbell
In this workshop, LeAnn will discuss different methods of interviewing, tips for successful interviews even in difficult circumstances, and tips for writing the article after the interview.

Turning Rejection into Redirection by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Rejection is inevitable in the writing life, whether in the form of a declined proposal from an editor or less-than-favorable feedback from a reviewer. This workshop looks at the various reasons why rejection happens, presents ways to make rejection less likely, and also examines the positive side of receiving a rejection.

Paid Critiques

We are offering paid critiques to conference attendees. Each person receiving a critique will be given a 20-minute appointment Friday or Saturday.

LeAnn Campbell has agreed to fill John Riddle's critiques.

Kim Vogel Sawyer will do on-the-spot conference critiques for $10.00. Bring 5-10 double-spaced pages for her to critique the day of your appointment. SPECIAL NOTE: KIM'S CRITIQUE SCHEDULE HAS BEEN FILLED.

Spaces have been filled. You will be notified of your critique time prior to the conference.

Writing Contests

Categories:

• Nonfiction: Limit 1200 words
• Fiction: Limit 1500 words
• Devotional: Limit 500 words
• Poetry: (rhymed or free verse) Limit one single-spaced page

Procedures & Rules:

1. Entrants must be registered for the conference.
2. Must submit only unpublished entries, and entries may not have previously won a CWF contest award.
3. Must submit two copies in standard manuscript format--typed, one side only, double spaced (single spaced for poetry).
4. Only one entry per category. A $5.00 fee is required for each entry.
5. Include a cover sheet with title, category, author's name, mailing address, email address, and phone number. Do NOT put author's name on manuscript.
6. Entries and payment must be postmarked no later than March 2, 2009.
7. Manuscripts will not be returned.
8. Entries not in compliance with procedures and rules will be disqualified.
9. Prizes in each category: $15.00 for 1st Place, writer's book for 2nd Place and certificate for 3rd Place.

Book Tables

CWF will have reference and writing books for sale at the conference. Our guest speakers will also be selling books and will be available for book signings. Girard CWF members may sell books at the conference. All book sales are subject to a 15% consignment fee.

**There will be used books that attendees may purchase by dropping a voluntary amount in the donation jar.

Read-Arounds

Saturday morning, we will have Read-Around groups, where registered attendees may read their work for general comments. Time allowed for each writer will depend on the number of participants. There is no additional charge to participate. Groups offered: Fiction, Nonfiction, Children's Fiction & Nonfiction, Devotionals, and Poetry. Please bring 5-10 pages of a current project to read during this time.

Conference Rates

Member rates:
$50 - Postmarked by 3/2/09
$60 - After 3/2/09

Nonmember rates:
$60 - Postmarked by 3/2/09
$70 - After 3/2/09

Limited scholarships are available upon request. Friday and Saturday lunch and snacks are included in conference rate. For more information, please visit our web site at http://www.christianwritersgirard.org/, or contact Deborah Vogts at debvogts@gmail.com. Conference registrations will be mailed out early January 2009.

Area Lodging & Dining Options

*Pittsburg, KS is approximately 20 miles SE of Girard; Greenbush Educational Service Center is approximately 8 miles west of Girard.

Area Lodging

• Madison House B & B - 211 N. Summit, Girard, KS - 620-724-4679
• Comfort Inn & Suites - 4009 Parkview Drive, Pittsburg, KS - 620-231-8800
• Holiday Inn Express - 4020 Parkview Drive, Pittsburg, KS 620-231-8700
• Super 8 Motel - 3108 N. Broadway, Pittsburg, KS 620-232-1881

Area Dining Options

• Applebee's - 2802 N. Broadway, Pittsburg, KS
• Bamboo Palace - 2711 N. Broadway, Pittsburg, KS
• Braum's - 515 S. Broadway, Pittsburg, KS
• Cafe Del Rio - 202 E. Centennial, Pittsburg, KS
• Celebrity's - 218 S. Summit St., Girard, KS - 620-724-6069 (Optional: An informal dinner is planned here Friday evening after conference dismisses.)
• Chatter's Restaurant & Bar - 2401 S. Rouse, Pittsburg, KS
• Chicken Annie's Girard - 498 E. Highway 47, Girard, KS
• Chili's Bar & Grill - 2911 N. Broadway, Pittsburg, KS
• Dairy Queen - 1314 S. Broadway, Pittsburg, KS
• El Charro Mexican Restaurant, Pittsburg, KS
• Jim's Steakhouse - 1912 N. Broadway, Pittsburg, KS
• Lotus Chinese Restaurant - 4060 Parkview, Pittsburg, KS
• Pizza Hut - 609 W. St. John, Girard, KS
• Sonic - 208 W. St. John, Girard, KS
• Starbuck's Coffee - 2828 N. Broadway, Pittsburg, KS