2011 Continuing Sessions
Experience in-depth learning with a master craftsman!

Each of the five sessions builds on the previous session. Choose one continuing session for the entire conference.
In addition to the six hours you'll spend in a continuing session, GPCWC also offers your choice
of six hour-long workshops from the 42 offered or two hands-on clinics.

 I learned more here in these three days than I feel I have in college for the last three years!
Alaina Bargar - Jamestown, NY
 

Les Stobbe
Literary agent and author
www.stobbeliterary.com

Les is a literary agent, the executive editor of The Christian Writers Guild and one of its mentors, and former Journalist in Residence at Gordon College, Wenham, MA. He also serves as Director of International Christian Writers.
     The founding editor of the Mennonite Observer in Winnipeg, Les served as editor at Christian Life Publications, editorial director of Cambridge Publishers (Canadian business magazines), Moody Press Books, Christian Herald Books and Book Clubs, and Here's Life Publishers Ltd., and as managing editor of curriculum for Scripture Press. For seven years he served as president of Here's Life Publishers. His most recent full-time position was as Vice President of Communications and Marketing at the Evangelistic Association of New England (now Vision New England). He is author or co-author of 14 books and has written more than 700 published articles. Recipient of Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference award for probably having published more first-time authors than anyone else. Recipient of the Partnership Award from The Word Guild of Canada for his significant contributions to Canadian writers who are Christian and The R.A. Torrey Award for Outstanding Service as a Publishing Pioneer.
     Click here to read his exciting "Who Would Have Thought" testimony. 
 

Linda Waterman
Author, marketing & PR expert
www.investingyourlife.com

Linda is the author of more than 20 nonfiction books and is currently transitioning into fiction writing. She is a much sought after national conference speaker and writer. Linda’s recently released books, Investing Your Life in Things that Matter and Resource Guide for Women’s Ministry as well as Called to Influence (a women’s curriculum for growth and spiritual maturity developed for Dr. John Maxwell’s Injoy), hallmark a few of her accomplishments in an extensive career in communications, marketing, public relations, editing, and writing. Linda says that “writing enables me to sing my soul’s song.” She counts it a privilege every day to be able to express her heart’s message through written and spoken words.
     Linda and her husband, Reen D. Waterman, Jr., married after meeting at the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writer’s Conference and recently returned to Easton, Maryland, where Reen was raised on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Linda loves her roles as mother to Ruth, John, and Sarah; mother-in-law to Amy; and GrandMom to John, Jr. and Caroline, with a third grandchild on the way.
 

Eddie Jones & Cindy Sproles
Authors & editors
www.ChristianDevotions.US     www.DevoKids.com     www.DevocionesCristiano.com  
www.blogtalkradio.com/Christian-Devotions     www.blogtalkradio.com/He-Said---She-Said

Eddie is Acquisitions Editor for the book division of Christian Devotions Ministries - www.christiandevotionsbooks.com. He has authored four nonfiction books, one adult novel, a young adult novel, and has written hundreds of articles appearing in over 20 different publications. He teaches writers workshops and co-writes the popular devotion, He Said, She Said with Cindy.

Cindy is a contributing writer to Novel Journey and Novel Reviews, and Christian Devotions. She writes for PML Programs and contributes to the Times-News.net. Her devotions are published weekly in newspapers across the eastern seaboard. She is a contributor to CBN.com. Cindy co-writes the He Said, She Said devotions with Eddie which appear in Common Ground Christian Newspaper and The Good Life Christian Newspaper.

     
Enhancing Your Role as a Writer (Thursday am, Les) - Growth as a writer must go beyond skills development. Without continued spiritual growth a writer becomes self-focused. We’ll look at resources available to develop the inner strength, orientation, and stamina to be an effective writer. But we’ll also look outward to the many opportunities to expand your role as a writer, most of which are overlooked by even dedicated writers. Les will not only draw on his own experience of over 58 years as a writer but also those of associates throughout the years.

Writing Biblically for Life Impact (Thursday pm, Les) - When Jesus refused to speak to a crowd without telling a story (Matthew 13:34) He established the basis for all Christian communication, fiction or nonfiction. Why was this not recognized by Christian communicators until recently? What does it mean for writers in the 21st century? How do we implement Jesus' style of communication to grab the attention of the e-book reader, when the majority of e-book sales are fiction? How do we communicate basic gospel truths to a TV and movie-viewing population? How do we get beyond entertainment to life impact?

Developing a Personal Marketing Strategy: Promote Your Writing with Professional Polish and Pizzazz (Friday am, Linda) - How can your writing stand out amidst the “noise” of exhaustive and mixed marketing messages?  How will your message touch the world? This hands-on course equips you to evaluate your marketing methods and design a personal marketing strategy that moves you from the typical “hit- or-miss” approach to a comprehensive strategy guaranteeing success in the marketplace. Using traditional methods coupled with the most current tools of our digital age, worksheets will enable you (during the actual session time) to start the process of refining your marketing plan with proven techniques you can implement immediately. Don’t be overwhelmed by marketing. Seize the opportunity. You won’t regret it.

Dr. Ted Baehr
Founder and Chairman, The Christian Film & Television Commission™, author
www.movieguide.org

Ted is the founder and Chairman of The Christian Film & Television Commission™ and Publisher of MOVIEGUIDE® Magazine, a family guide to entertainment.  An award-winning media authority often on television, radio, and in print, his purpose is to be used by God to redeem the values of the mass media and to encourage families to use wisdom in selecting their entertainment.  His books include The Media-Wise Family, Narnia Beckons, Faith in God & Generals, as well as the newly released The Amazing Grace of Freedom and The Culture-Wise Family, among many others. 

Mona Hodgson
Author
www.monahodgson.com

Mona is a novelist, children's author, magazine writer, and newspaper columnist. Since Mona began writing for publication 23 years ago, she has participated in more than 75 writers' conferences and seminars as a student, a faculty member, or as the director. Her credits include 28 children's books; several hundred articles, poems, and short fiction for adults and children in more than 50 periodicals; and contributions to 11 books for adults. The third novel in her Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series will be released this May.

 

Tony Bonds
Editor, Rainbow Publishers and Legacy Press
www.RainbowPublishers.com      http://www.legacypresskids.com/

Tony is the editor for Rainbow Publishers and Legacy Press, publishers of children's Christian books. He holds an MFA in creative writing from San Diego State University and is a published author.

Introduction to Writing for Children (Thursday am, Mona) - This foundational workshop includes age group divisions, various fiction and nonfiction formats for magazines and books, and much more that will open doors to the world of writing for children.

Writing Books for Young Children (Thursday pm, Mona) -  We'll examine and discuss board books and picture books, discover the various formats and types, and learn how to write them, how to format them for submission, and how to market them.

Writing Fiction Children Want to Read (Friday am, Tony) - What draws young readers into a narrative world? How do we know if kids will want to read what we write? E.B. White, the author of Charlotte's Web, said, "Children are the most attentive, curious, eager, observant, sensitive, quick, and generally congenial readers on earth." In this workshop, we will investigate key themes, plots, settings, and characters that occur in selected works of fiction for children and young adults. We will also discuss and practice a few key techniques and elements of the craft that can be used to create unforgettable stories.

Writing Books for Young Readers (Friday pm, Mona) - Take a comprehensive look at Early Readers and First Chapter Books: What they are, who they’re for, favorite types and topics, book proposal components, submission format.          

Cec Murphey
Bestselling author
www.cecilmurphey.com

Karen Moore
Author
www.karenmoore.net

Karen has been in and around publishing for a number of years, serving as Children’s Book Manager at David Cook, Senior Acquisitions Editor and Publisher in the Bible Division at Thomas Nelson, and as a Creative Director in the Greeting Card Industry. Recently, she has acquired books in the areas of ministry and non-fiction. As the author of over fifty children’s books and gift books and devotionals, Karen has helped to develop a number of character licensed properties.
     Karen has a Master’s Degree in Education and has taught English and Reading in grade schools and in colleges.  As part of the greeting card industry, she helped to create the original Care Bears and has written and published over 8000 greeting cards, including the first Chicken Soup for the Soul greeting card line and the first Hugs greeting card line. She served as a new product development consultant for Dayspring Cards and for Blessings and Designs in Costa Rica. Karen loves creative opportunities and continually seeks them in her work today. She says, "I have learned to listen with my heart, to write with compassion and to filter out what’s important. In that regard, I’m eager and happy to work with you and help you create new opportunities for your talents."  
 

       We'll look at what a gift book is, how to develop a gift book proposal, how to create a great devotional book or book series, and how to get the attention of gift book and devotional book publishers. We’ll also look at other types of writing, such as greeting card writing and how that helps you develop the skills to write succinct and well thought out devotionals.  Learn the best ways to tap into these specialty markets with someone who has published and sold over a half million gift and devotional books and over 8000 greeting cards.

Craig Bubeck
Editor - Wesleyan Publishing House
www.wesleyan.org/wph

Craig is Editorial Director for Wesleyan Publishing House (WPH), in Indianapolis, IN. He is also a published author and has served in various senior-level editorial roles for CBA industry publishers over the past 15 years, including Focus on the Family, Scripture Press, Victor Books, and David C. Cook. In addition, Craig is a teacher at heart—for nearly 20 years he has been a regular adjunct professor of English literature and rhetoric at several universities. He has acquired broadly in Christian fiction and particularly nonfiction, and he specializes in theological and Bible study resources. (Currently, WPH does not publish fiction.)

Marti Pieper
Book doctor, writer, editor
Representing SUSIE Magazine
www.susiemagazine.com     www.martipieper.com

You've always wanted to write, but you don't know where to begin. Marti's years of experience in writing and editing for the Christian market helped her realize that who you are matters as much as what and how you write. This interactive continuing class contains a unique combination of practical insights and professional wisdom. Each session examines a common blunder made by beginning writers and uses real-life examples to reveal the character qualities that help you navigate the often-challenging journey toward publication. Also included are practical tips and specific suggestions for organization, time management, creative thinking, self-edits, and developing your voice.
 

Mike Dellosso
Author, Christian thrillers
www.mikedellosso.com

Mike is the author of four novels of suspense: The Hunted, Scream, Darlington Woods, and Darkness Follows. He is also a newspaper columnist and feature writer for ACFW's Afictionado. Mike teaches writing to a variety of ages at conferences and other venues.

I know this is one life that will be changed forever because of all I learned.
Awesome! Awesome!
 Donna Craven, 2008 conferee