Springs Writers Update

Springs Writers will begin meeting again February 13. While we’re on hiatus, below are some writing opportunities for you to pursue. Merry Christmas and Happy Writing.

Call for Submissions

The Tao of Place; When a Mind Breaks; Hot Mamas of Reinvention: Interview Subjects Wanted; Overworked in America: Interview Subjects Wanted

http://thewordsinger.com/up-coming-5/

Chicken Soup for the Soul looking for stories: Finding My Faith; Hope & Healing for Your Breast Cancer; New Friends; Parenthood; Think Positive for Kids

http://www.chickensoup.com/form.asp?cid=possible_books

Miracles and Moments of Grace, stories on motherhood: http://stuartmarket.blogspot.com/2011/11/stories-on-motherhood-needed.html

True stories from people who have been blessed and comforted by God through animals and nature, especially after loss (death of a loved one, divorce, health, earthly possessions): http://stuartmarket.blogspot.com/2011/11/writing-opportunity.html

God Still Meets Needs daily devotional: http://stuartmarket.blogspot.com/2011/10/daily-devotions-needed.html

Donna Goodrich has a publisher "interested" in a book proposal for a book titled: "Devotions, Prayers, and Hints for Caregivers." She'd like 250 word devotions, prayers, and some very practical hints concerning caring for parents, spouses, children, or others. Doesn't have to be a terminal illness—even a temporary one where you felt stressed and needed the help I'm hoping this book can give. For details contact Donna Clark Goodrich at dgood648@aol.com.

November Workshop Cancelled

As some of you may or may not know, my firstborn son, an Army Ranger, was killed in Afghanistan last week. I’ve been in researchaholic mode, following the news coverage and making pdfs on my Mac of each story. Below you will find some links regarding my son. I’m not sure whether or not I’ll be in town for Springs Writers, on November 14. And since I was the presenter, the workshop is cancelled.

I’d appreciate your prayers for my daughter-in-love, Sarah, my two granddaughters, Mikajsa (age 3) and Aaliyah (age 1) and my son Kyle (age 24).

If you’d like to follow my thoughts and feelings, you can friend me on Facebook. Right now, I’m keeping my Facebook page locked down tight.

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/komo/article/Hero-s-story-Ft-Lewis-soldier-killed-on-14th-2238938.php

http://www.npr.org/templates/archives/archive.php?thingId=141716857

http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/america-live/index.html#/v/1244314084001/highly-decorated-army-ranger-dies-on-14th-deployment/?playlist_id=87651?test=faces

http://abcnews.go.com/US/army-ranger-helped-rescue-jessica-lynch-dies-14th/story?id=14811227#.TqdGxlzDOVw.twitter

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2053668/Kristoffer-Domeij-killed-Afghanistan-14th-deployment-Elite-Army-Rangers.html

Springs Writers October Meeting

"A man who is a master of patience is master of everything else." George Savile

We are working on a permanent meeting room at Woodmen Valley Chapel and will have the issue resolved by next month, so we will not meet in October. I hope you use the regular meeting time to write, write, write. Our November workshop will be:

Targeting a Publication for Your Writing

“The odds of hitting your target go up dramatically when you aim at it.”—Mal Pancoast.

Have you received rejection letters along the lines of ‘this piece is not quite right for us’? It may be nothing to do with the quality of your writing and everything to do with poor targeting. So how do you choose a magazine or e-zine to query to turn those rejections into acceptances? This workshop includes how to

• Determine your target audience and find key demographics
• Analyze a magazine to ensure your writing and topic matches what editors want
• Research for writers guidelines.

Scoti Domeij includes 17 online searchable databases listing 1000’s of magazine writer’s guidelines.

Springs Writers September Meeting

Hi Y'all.

Woodman Valley Chapel has a wonderful problem. The rooms at the church are packed every night meeting the needs of many people. Springs Writers will not be meeting tonight. I was able to book a room, but the confirmation was too late to inform you. Next month we'll be back on track. Hope you spend your time tonight writing.

FREE June Workshop: 50 Ways to Lead Your Lover

When: Monday, June 13, 2011

Location: Stone Chapel, 280 East Woodmen Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80919

Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

One. Two. Three. Four. Five seconds. That’s the length of time your lead has to hook your reader. Writing the opening hook and first paragraph can be the toughest part of your article or chapter. In this workshop Scoti Springfield Domeij

• * covers the most common types of leads, plus over 50 other creative leads
• * diagnoses common mistakes writers make writing hooks
• * identifies the qualities and common denominators of leads
• * reviews the nut paragraph leading the reader into your article
• * reveals 12 writing lead no-no’s.

Cut through information overload and write interesting leads to grab your readers to read beyond the first paragraph.

Summer Intern Wanted

Lorraine Pintus, an international author, speaker, and writing coach, is looking for a summer intern.  Lodging is provided in a beautiful Colorado mountain setting near Colorado Springs in Lorraine’s home. The intern would learn from Lorraine and work for 2 months for about 10-15 hours each week. Hours are flexible. (If desired, the intern can look for other part time work).

Length of time: June through July, 2011

Location: 15 miles north of Colorado Springs, CO

Duties:

• Social media: Execute messages via Twitter, Facebook, Linked-in and other networking sites. Create and place Facebook ads in connection with different books.  Market through social media a series of 10 short videos.
• Media: Write press releases and set up interviews for radio/TV/newspapers in connection with upcoming conferences/speaking engagements.
• Research: Research for future books Lorraine is writing and research placement opportunities for current books/articles.
• Product fulfillment: Fulfill orders for about 9 different products
• Conference/Speaking engagements: Organize and execute speaking events for author.
• Design/write publicity materials: Includes brochures, flyers, web copy. Also, help write scripts for 16 4-minute inspirational audios on related to health and women’s hormones.
• The ideal candidate must have a passion for God, a teachable spirit, excellent communication skills, and a desire to learn the writing/publishing/speaking business. Knowledge of Word, Publisher, Powerpoint, and Social Media is preferred.

While no monetary compensation is provided, the candidate will receive no less than 10 hours of coaching from Lorraine (a $750 value). This is tailored to the individual needs of the intern and can include anything related to the writing/speaking/publishing industry (book proposals, magazine writing, marketing, speaking, etc.)  1,000 square feet of private living space will be provided in Lorraine’s mountain home.

To apply:  Send a cover letter stating why you would be interested in this opportunity. Attach a resume which lists your skills and abilities and email it to Lorraine Pintus at lpintus at gmail dot com.

MAY FREE Writing Workshop: Edit Your Life: Setting Realistic Writing Goals

I will no longer be using the paid email blast company that sends the Springs Writers Enews to you. If you want to receive information regarding Springs Writers workshops and events, please subscribe to our blog. Thank you.

Edit Your Life: Setting Realistic Writing Goals

When: Monday, May 9, 2011

Location: Stone Chapel, 280 East Woodmen Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80919

Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

How far along are your 2011 New Years writing resolutions? Will the rest of the year slip away before you feel good about your writing goals? Scoti Domeij takes a fresh look at questions and stumbling blocks all writers -- beginning, intermediate and professional writers -- experience. To implement Peter Marshall's wise advise, "Small deeds done are greater than large deeds planned," this workshop helps you:  

• Identify the insecurities, obstacles, excuses and time wasters sabotaging your writing dreams
• Evaluate the next’s steps you need to take to achieve your writing dreams. 
• Set realistic, achievable writing objectives
• Create your make-time-to-write plan. 

This interactive workshop will help you walk away with personal, achievable writing goals. Bring a pen, paper and your calendar, plus any questions for the Q & A.

Speaker: Scoti Domeij

APRIL FREE Writing Workshop

Please note: The email blast company that I use to send out the Springs Writers Enews is sending everyone an email to opt into receiving our Springs Writers Enews. If you don't opt in, you will no longer receive the Enews. In the next couple of months, we will transition all communication from Springs Writers via subscribing to our blog.


APRIL FREE Writing Workshop
When: Monday, April 11, 2011
Location: Stone Chapel, 280 East Woodmen Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80919
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Are You Ready and Willing to Be Published?
You love to write. You feel God gave you an inspirational message or dynamic fiction story. And your life experiences enrich your message, seeming to validate God’s calling on your life to be an author. So, where do you go next? How do you turn your dreams of being a published writer into reality? Discover what it takes to expand your writing horizons to the published world, so others can benefit from your God-given talent. Denise Vezey shares 10 things you must be willing to do to be a published author.

Denise authored seven books and numerous articles. She’s also written professionally for Focus on the Family and the National Day of Prayer.

Upcoming Events

MARCH FREE Conference-Quality Workshop
When: Monday, March 14, 2011
Location: Stone Chapel, 280 East Woodmen Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80919
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Leave a Written Legacy
Most writers target their audience and seek publication with appropriate publishers. However, have you overlooked your biggest fans—your family? Discover the importance of writing down your life experiences. Your stories are part of the fabric of your family’s history. Lana Rockwell discusses how and where to start writing your memoirs, before they’re gone forever.

Focus on the Family’s news clip featured Lana Rockwell discussing her unique memory writing technique. Some writing credits include: The Christian Grandparenting magazine, A Caring Pregnancy Center monthly newsletter and the Woodmen Valley Chapel journal. Lana’s Leaving a Written Legacy workshop is popular at conferences, forums, community events and churches. Her books Leaving a Written Legacy and From My Recipe Box to Yours” will be released soon. Visit her website at http://mymemoriesforyou.shutterfly.com/. Lana and her husband love building memories with their 3 children and 11 grandchildren.

APRIL FREE Writing Workshop
When: Monday, April 11, 2011
Location: Stone Chapel, 280 East Woodmen Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80919
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Are You Ready and Willing to Be Published?
You love to write. You feel God gave you an inspirational message or dynamic fiction story. And your life experiences enrich your message, seeming to validate God’s calling on your life to be an author. So, where do you go next? How do you turn your dreams of being a published writer into reality? Discover what it takes to expand your writing horizons to the published world, so others can benefit from your God-given talent. Denise Vezey shares 10 things you must be willing to do to be a published author.

Denise authored seven books and numerous articles. She’s also written professionally for Focus on the Family and the National Day of Prayer.

Cecil Murphey Coming To Colorado April 8-9, 2011
New York Times Bestselling Author and International Christian Speaker to talk on “Knowing God, Knowing Yourself: An Invitation to Daily Discovery”

Cecil “Cec” Murphey, The Man Behind the Words, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s fourth annual ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Colorado retreat, to be held at the Ponderosa Conference and Retreat center in Larkspur, Colorado.

As a New York Times bestselling author and Christian international speaker, Cec has authored or co-written more than one hundred books that have been translated into more than 40 languages and have sold millions of copies, including the bestseller, 90 Minutes in Heaven (with Don Piper). His newest book, Knowing God, Knowing Myself, released December 2010, is this year's retreat theme.

Cecil has also written hundreds of articles that have appeared in a variety of publications. His passion is to stimulate people's minds and nourish their souls. Since 1984, he has been using his writing and speaking to help him accomplish those goals.

Join ACFW as Cec teaches on Knowing God, Knowing Myself, and let him lead you into a deeper awareness of God's presence, startle you out of common spiritual reflections, and take you on an uncommon path of daily self-discovery and Christ-centered insights.

For details: Email Paula Moldenhauer at president@hiswriters.acfwcolorado.com.
To register log on to: www.acfwcolorado.com/acfwcoloretreat.

Colorado Christian Writers Conference
Date: May 11-14, 2011
Location: YMCA of the Rockies - Estes Park Center (NW of Denver)
Website: www.writehisanswer.com/Colorado

The Colorado Christian Writers Conference exists to encourage and equip Christians to write about a God who is real, who is reachable, and who changes lives. Through challenging general sessions, six hours of continuing sessions, six hour-long workshops from 42 offered or a hands-on clinics you’ll explore how to effectively “write His answer” through fiction and nonfiction.

This year’s faculty of 62 includes 7 agents, 20 book editors or author reps, and 18 periodical editors who will be available for free 15-minute appointments. Each full-time conferee is guaranteed four 15-minute one-on-one appointments with the faculty of their choice.

Check out the keynote speakers
Download the 16-page brochure
Conference and schedule at a glance
Wednesday, May 11 Early bird workshops
Thursday/Friday, May 12-13 Workshops
Continuing Sessions
Markets represented at the conference

Online Registration

Lodging

Monday, February 14, 2011

Location: Stone Chapel, 280 East Woodmen Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80919

Time: 6:30 - 8:00 PM

FREE Writing Workshop: 20 Questions Your Book Proposal Must Answer

Speaker: Renee Gray-Wilburn

Writing a book proposal can be intimidating, overwhelming, and often confusing. This workshop examines four areas of concern for editors: the book itself, you as the author, your audience, and your marketing plan. Learn what specific questions your proposal must answer as it goes through an editor's selection process.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Location: Stone Chapel, 280 East Woodmen Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80919
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 PM

FREE Writing Workshop: Leave a Written Legacy

Speaker: Lana Rockwell

Most writers target their audience and seek publication with appropriate publishers. However, have you overlooked your biggest fans—your family? Discover the importance of writing down your life experiences. Your stories are part of the fabric of your family’s history. Lana Rockwell discusses how and where to start writing your memoirs, before they’re gone forever.

Critique Training Group Begins

When: Saturday, February 26, 2011, 1:30 PM-3:30 PM

Where: 5209 Del Paz Drive, Colorado Springs CO 80918

Contact: Scoti Domeij, Email: Scotidomeij at gmail dot com

This small group will meet once a month for the next five months. This training equips writers to participate in a healthy critique group setting and then launch viable writing critique groups in June. Last year we encouraged people to come and observe. For a variety of reasons and for bonding purposes, this year writers who want to participate must commit to the following:

• Attend all sessions.
• Be on time.
• Submit work for critique.
• Critique other writer’s work.

Book Review: Made to Crave

“Food can fill our stomachs but not our souls.”—Lysa TerKeurst

Book Review: Made to Crave

Author: Lisa TerKeurst

Publisher: Zondervan

Price: $14.99

Pages: 224

ISBN-10: 031029326X

ISBN-13: 978-0310293262

Made to Crave chronicles Lysa’s struggles with weight, body image and identity. She depended on food for comfort more than God. Lysa expresses many of the feelings and rationalizations every women feels and thinks who fails at dieting. She ate too much of the wrong kinds of foods and felt trapped in a cycle of hunger. When the author craved food, she prayed instead. Some ways she lost weight included a weekly weigh-in to hold her accountable, a balanced protein-carbohydrate eating plan, correct portion sizes, and accountability with a friend. But this book is not just about how and when to eat.

Lisa shares her spiritual journey and the truths she learned about losing weight, obedience to God, and self-discipline. When our identity is in Christ, then the number on the scale only indicates how much we weigh, it’s not an indication of our worth. When the weight doesn’t drop as fast as we want, it’s important to define ourselves by our obedience and relationship to God, not the number on the scale. This statement sums up the purpose of this book: “I’m not on a diet. I’m on a journey with Jesus to learn self-discipline for the purpose of holiness.“

About the Book

Just because a woman finally fits into her skinny jeans doesn't mean she's won her battle with food. Too often, women overlook the spiritual component to their physical struggle with healthy eating. Made to Crave taps into the desires God gave you to consume food without letting food consume you!

Made to Crave is the missing link between a woman's desire to be healthy and the spiritual empowerment necessary to make that happen. The reality is we were made to crave. Craving isn't a bad thing. But we must realize God created us to crave more of him. Many of us have misplaced that craving by overindulging in physical pleasures instead of lasting spiritual satisfaction. If you are struggling with unhealthy eating habits, you can break the "I'll start again Monday" cycle, and start feeling good about yourself today. Learn to stop beating yourself up over the numbers on the scale. Discover that your weight loss struggle isn't a curse but rather a blessing in the making, and replace justifications that lead to diet failure with empowering go-to scripts that lead to victory. You can reach your healthy weight goal - and grow closer to God in the process. This is not a how-to book. This is not the latest and greatest dieting plan. This book is the necessary companion for you to use alongside whatever healthy lifestyle plan you choose. This is a book and Bible study to help you find the "want to" in making healthy lifestyle choices.

About the Author

Lysa TerKeurst is the president of Proverbs 31 Ministries and the author of twelve books (including a Gold Medallion finalist and a People's Choice Award finalist) and numerous magazine articles. She has told her remarkable life story on national television and radio, including Oprah and Good Morning America. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and five children.

Lysa is also a speaker and presenter in over forty major events, banquets and retreats for women throughout North America, including the conference "Extraordinary Women"and "Renewing the Heart" Focus on the Family. The decision that she and her husband to adopt two children from an orphanage in Liberia, Africa, captured national media attention. Her decision started a chain reaction, being the inspiration for other families to adopt 45 children from the same orphanage. Her remarkable story led her to appear on Oprah and The 700. Lysa is an award-winning author of thirteen books, including her latest, How To Be More Than A Good Christian.

Visit Lysa’s website: www.lysaterkeurst.com

Springs Writers Cancelled Tonight

Woodmen Valley Chapel has canceled all events today. Springs Writers will not meet tonight. Stay warm and safe at home tonight. See you in February.

Upcoming Workshops

• February 14: 20 Questions Your Book Proposal Must Answer, Renee Gray-Wilburn
• March 14: Memoir Writing: Leaving a Written Legacy, Lana Rockwell
• April 11: The Difference Between a Published and Non-Published Writer, Denise Vezey

January FREE Writing Workshop: Your 2011 Writing Goals—Where To Begin?

When: Monday, January 10, 2011, 6:30 PM-8:00 PM

Where: Stone Chapel, 280 East Woodmen Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80919

Your 2011 Writing Goals—Where To Begin?

Don’t know where to start or confused about setting reachable writing goals? Scoti Domeij takes a fresh look at questions and stumbling blocks all writers—beginning, intermediate and professional writers—experience. Learn how to:

• Overcome insecurities and obstacles sabotaging your writing dreams
• Set realistic, achievable writing objectives
• Evaluate whether a critique group will help achieve your writing goals
• Toughen your resolve to write, produce, and submit
• Obtain writing credits this year

This interactive workshop will help you walk away your personal writing goals for 2011. Bring a pen, paper and your calendar, plus any questions for the Q & A.

Speaker: Scoti Domeij

Upcoming Workshops

February 14: 20 Questions Your Book Proposal Must Answer, Renee Gray-Wilburn

March 14: Memoir Writing: Leaving a Written Legacy, Lana Rockwell

April 11: The Difference Between a Published and Non-Published Writer, Denise Vezey