September: How to Make Your Reader Care

September 13, 2010: How to Make Your Reader Care

Description: If you have a wonderful story to share but can’t engage your reader emotionally, your story has fallen short of its potential. This workshop will discuss techniques for drawing your reader in and keeping them involved, whether you are writing fiction or nonfiction.

Speaker: Renee Gray-Wilburn: After five years of writing for publication, Renee has accumulated over 125 published pieces, including numerous articles for Focus on the Family’s children’s and parenting magazines; several short stories and devotionals in anthologies such as the Cup of Comfort series, Life Savors, and Guideposts Incredible Prayers; and magazines such as Grand, KidZone, Christian Communicator, Quiet Hour, and Devotionals. In addition, she has co-authored eight children’s curriculum books for David C. Cook and Group Publishing, and writes regularly for several organizations. Her company, A Way With Words, has provided editorial services for publishers, independent authors, and businesses for over ten years. These services include basic proofreading to content editing for any industry or genre of writing. In addition to writing and editing, Renee endeavors to teach and inspire others in their writing journey through writing workshops, her blog, and her online picture book critique group--Picture This

June: Finding Your Voice: Make Your Writing Sound Like You

June 14, 2010: Paulette Harris: Finding Your Voice: Make Your Writing Sound Like You

Description: Would you mistake Brad Pitt’s voice for Bill O’Reilly’s? What about a gangsta rapper with Carrie Underwood? Why do you read certain authors? It’s called “voice,” often referred to as “tone” or “mood" or “style.” Your writing personality, original thoughts, personal feelings, worldview, and how you interpret life distinguishes your writing from other writers. Paulette Harris provides insights on allowing your voice to shine through your writing.

Speaker: Inspirational writer and speaker Paulette Harris founded “The Writer’s Gathering” at Woodmen Valley Chapel, which became Springs Writers. Her writing represents a new and distinct voice in the genre of inspirational literature. Crafting her stories in both fable and fantasy, she’s written four novels: Inca Gold, Vapors, Tentacles, and Mara's Challenge. Drawing the reader into other worlds as well as today's milieu, she underpins her novels with deep spiritual truths. Paulette contributed to Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives. Visit Paulette’s website.

May Workshop: Off the Beaten Path Markets

May 10, 2010: Off the Beaten Path Markets

Description: With book publishers shortening their purchasing lists and many traditional magazines folding, writers need to adapt by looking beyond the mainstream writing markets. This workshop looks at some lesser known and perhaps never thought of ways to get your words in print.

Speaker: Renee Gray-Wilburn: After five years of writing for publication, Renee has accumulated over 125 published pieces, including numerous articles for Focus on the Family’s children’s and parenting magazines; several short stories and devotionals in anthologies such as the Cup of Comfort series, Life Savors, and Guideposts Incredible Prayers; and magazines such as Grand, KidZone, Christian Communicator, Quiet Hour, and Devotionals. In addition, she has co-authored eight children’s curriculum books for David C. Cook and Group Publishing, and writes regularly for several organizations. Her company, A Way With Words, has provided editorial services for publishers, independent authors, and businesses for over ten years. These services include basic proofreading to content editing for any industry or genre of writing. In addition to writing and editing, Renee endeavors to teach and inspire others in their writing journey through writing workshops, her blog, and her online picture book critique group--Picture This

Springs Writers Critique Group

This critique group will meet the Saturday following the Springs Writers monthly workshop.

When: Saturday, January 16, 2010

Where: 5209 Del Paz Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918

This Saturday Springs Writers will host its first critique group session. This group is open to anyone who wants to attend. You are welcome to come and observe.

The goals of this group include:

· Learn each critique group member’s responsibilities

· Teach writers how to give and receive critiques

· Critique submitted pages from manuscripts

· Channel participants into ongoing, healthy critique groups.

Submission Guidelines

To make sure the critique sessions are on target and beneficial, please provide the following when submitting a chapter or article.

· Submit a complete article or chapter, but realize we may only partially critique each submission. (In some critique groups, members are only obligated to review 8-10 pages per person.)

· Spellcheck your article before submitting it.

· Email your submission to scotidomeij at gmail dot com before Saturday.

· Submission deadline: We’ll discuss this on Saturday.

· Bring six copies for critique group members.

· Please read the information below. If possible, include the information that’s listed under your submission category with your emailed submission.

FICTION/NOVEL

What is the genre?

Who is the target audience?

One Sentence Summary: What is your book about?

1. Elements of the one-liner

a. 25 words or less.

b. Packed with emotion and suspense

c. Evokes character, suggests motivations, and strongly suggests plot.

d. Hooks readers into wanting more.

e. Sells your story to agents and editors.

2. Samples:

a. A slain cop is reborn as a fearsome cyborg and takes revenge, regains his identity.

b. A paleontologist contends with man's hubris on an island resort where dinosaurs have been revived.

c. After the death of his only friend, a dwarf must re-connect with new people, situations.

d. A rogue physicist travels back in time to kill the apostle Paul.

e. Check out the New York Times Bestseller descriptions

3. Links regarding one sentence summary by Randy Ingermanson

a. http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php

b. http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/26/whats-your-one-sentence-summary/

Brief synopses of your novel.

· Should read like back cover copy.

· Punchy, to the point, and invitational to the reader.

· 75-500 words.

· Avoid deep details; it’s an overview.

· Focus on character’s goals and motivations.

· Establish the setting and tone.

· Write the synopsis in present tense, third-person, even though your project may be first person.

· Includes all important plot points, conflict or topics of your book.

· What does the character encounter in story events and how the character emotionally/physically/spiritually reacts to those events?

· How does the character change as a result of the conflict?

· Describes the story setup, major disasters, and ending of the novel.

· Links to articles regarding writing a synopsis.

a. http://www.charlottedillon.com/synopsis.html

b. http://www.mybooktherapy.com/index2.php/?page_id=171

c. http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog/The+Rock+Synopsis.aspx

NONFICTION BOOK

Who is the target audience?

What is the book about?

1. Write a 90 second elevator speech. This is similar to a synopsis—a verbal pitch of your book—a brief explanation of what your book is about. No more than 3 sentences.

ANTHOLOGY

Note: The easiest way to provide this information is to go to the Web site and copy and paste it into a document. Include the link to the Web site.

What is the name of the anthology?

1. Examples: Cup of Comfort, Chicken Soup for the Soul

What description did the publisher provide?

2. Example: Chicken Soup for the Soul: Topic: New Moms: Becoming a new mom is the most amazing experience, unique and unlike any other. From the moment that baby is placed in your arms, there is an incredible feeling only a new mother can know. This book celebrates the physical, emotional, and spiritual experience of having a child and creating a family. We are looking for heartwarming, insightful, and humorous stories about raising babies and toddlers that share with our readers the wonders of early motherhood. The deadline for story submissions is February 28, 2010.

What are the publisher’s writing guidelines?

ARTICLE

Who is the target audience?

What kind of article is this?

What magazine or e-zine are you planning to send the article to?

Which column are you targeting?

1. Example: Relevant magazine:

a. The God section explores spiritual topics (spiritual disciplines, relationship with God, others and the church, worship). 600-1000 words

b. Life covers just that: life (relationships, career, finance, travel, psychology and ethics/morality). 600-1000 words

c. Progressive Culture talks about what's new and noteworthy in culture—trends, fashion, film, TV, arts and music. Reviews: 400-600 words; features 600-1000 words.

What are the magazines’ writing guidelines? Once again, the easiest way to provide this info is to cut and paste from the magazine’s Web site, include the link.

Upcoming 2010 FREE Writing Workshops

July/August: Summer Break

September 13, 2010: How to Make Your Reader Care

Description: If you have a wonderful story to share but can’t engage your reader emotionally, your story has fallen short of its potential. This workshop will discuss techniques for drawing your reader in and keeping them involved, whether you are writing fiction or nonfiction.

Speaker: Renee Gray-Wilburn: After five years of writing for publication, Renee has accumulated over 125 published pieces, including numerous articles for Focus on the Family’s children’s and parenting magazines; several short stories and devotionals in anthologies such as the Cup of Comfort series, Life Savors, and Guideposts Incredible Prayers; and magazines such as Grand, KidZone, Christian Communicator, Quiet Hour, and Devotionals. In addition, she has co-authored eight children’s curriculum books for David C. Cook and Group Publishing, and writes regularly for several organizations. Her company, A Way With Words, has provided editorial services for publishers, independent authors, and businesses for over ten years. These services include basic proofreading to content editing for any industry or genre of writing. In addition to writing and editing, Renee endeavors to teach and inspire others in their writing journey through writing workshops, her blog, and her online picture book critique group--Picture This

October 11, 2010: Tools to Avoid Clichés

“I think my whole generation's mission is to kill the cliché.”—Beck Hansen

Description: Is your writing mission to kill those dreaded overused ideas and trite phrases. We all know we're not supposed to use clichés, but how can writers avoid them? Evangeline offers practical tools to transform clichés into memorable word pictures.

Speaker: Evangeline Denmark has storytelling on her heart and in her blood. The daughter of novelist, Donita K. Paul, Evangeline grew up living and breathing good stories. She has co-authored two children's books that are under contract with Waterbrook Press. Evangeline is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers, serving as chapter secretary.

November 8, 2010: The Last Class on Show vs. Tell You'll Ever Need

Description: If you write fiction, you've doubtless heard someone say, "Show, don't tell." But what does that mean? Telling is the act of stopping your story to spoon-feed backstory or explanations to the reader (who probably couldn't care less). Showing is the act of illustrating that information in a way that doesn't stop the story and does engage the reader. Telling is much easier. Anyone can do it--but "anyone's" story would be weak. Showing is harder but a hundred times more effective. Learning to spot telling, and to convert it to showing, can be confusing. Come hear the best way to learn how to see it--and some fantastic ideas for how to transform it.

Speaker: Jeff Gerke has been called the de facto gatekeeper of Christian speculative fiction. After writing his own speculative fiction and spearheading the launch of a fiction imprint dedicated to Christian speculative fiction at a major Christian publishing company, Jeff branched out on his own to launch Marcher Lord Press, an Indie publishing house billing itself as the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction. His fiction how-to book, The Art & Craft of Writing Christian Fiction, is available through Amazon or Marcher Lord Press and his new craft book from Writer’s Digest Books is due out in late 2010. Jeff lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, teenage daughter, 9-year-old son, and 2-year-old adoptive daughter from China.

December: Christmas Break

The cross. A symbol of fashion, fad or faith?

"Christianity is a religion founded on the mystery of the cross of Christ." —Leo the Great, Pope from September 29, 440 to 10 November 10, 461

Book Review: The Mystery of the Cross: Bringing Ancient Christian Images to Life

Author: Judith Couchman

Paperback: 227 pages

Publisher: Intervarsity Press

ISBN-10: 0830835393/ISBN-13: 978-0830835393

The cross. What does it mean to you? A symbol of fashion, fad or faith?

Occasionally, I read a Christian book that grabs my interest and my heart. I confess…the majority of modern-day, nonfiction Christian books recycle the same old yadda, yadda, yadda making me question, “Have I become a skeptic regarding the profoundness of today’s Christian literature?”

Then a book comes along that offers a refreshing and authentic look at faith, provokes deeper thought and prompts tears from deep within. The Mystery of the Cross: Bringing Ancient Christian Images to Life by Judith Couchman provided to me one of those rare reading experiences that engaged my biblical, artistic and historical inquisitiveness, spiritual intellect and emotional core.

Couchman deftly weaves forty art images of the cross and little known historical facts with biblical passages. The spiritual insights, like a quiet beckoning, intertwines with the reader’s heart to investigate not only the meaning of the crosses we carry in our lives, but the cross carried by Jesus and Christ followers in bygone times.

It’s rare that a writer can turn factual information and antiquated artifacts into penetrating spiritual insights that pierce the heart. Drawing upon a vast array of resources, Judith steps outside the common Christian reference material. The author traces the enigma of the cross’s appearance in pre-Christian times, other cultures and religions. Yet she skillfully transports the mystery of the cross back to how the cross imprinted ancient Christians and our lives today. A master writer, Judith’s command of research, vocabulary and spiritual depth enhances an intriguing read, plus the reader’s takeaway—factually, artistically, theologically, emotionally, and spiritually. Many of her stomach-grabber meditations compelled me to stop to reflect upon the truths fleshed out. Yet I felt a delightful tension and curiosity urging me to continue reading until I’d consumed the last page.

The book also includes the award-winning artist Anne Elhajoui’s delicate line drawings, a classy interior book design, and notes for each chapter. My only wish for this book? More pictures or illustrations of the artifacts described. Readers can also access a free, downloadable study guide.

Judith writes, “The forty short chapters can be read for art appreciation, historical information, personal meditation, spiritual formation, small-group discussion, Lenten observation, or worship insights.” The Mystery of the Cross: Bringing Ancient Christian Images to Life invites readers to delve into the mystery of a deeper walk in their faith journey with Christ.

This book, an enriching addition any devotional library, is not another fashion or fad book—it’s designed to become a classic.

Read the introduction.

Read an excerpt The Mystery of the Megolith.

Author Bio

Judith Couchman is an author, speaker, writing coach, and art history instructor. She's published more than 40 books, workbooks, and compilations. Her books cover topics as diverse as discovering your purpose, shaping the soul, thriving in difficult times, body image, art history, church history, flower gardening, and breadmaking. Judith presents seminars based on her books and serves as a writing coach for people who want to publish nonfiction.

Judith also teaches art history courses as a part-time instructor for the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Judith holds a B.S. in education (English and journalism), an M.A. in journalism, and an M.A. in art history. She lives in Colorado. Visit Judith's blog and website.

View the book trailer.

What Are Other's Saying about Judith's Book?

Read the reviews and endorsements

Take the book's blog tour

Buy The Mystery of the Cross: Bringing Ancient Christian Images to Life

Table of Contents

Part One: Ancient Echoes of Christ: The Cross in Pre-Christian Times

1. The Mystery of the Megalith

2. Egyptian Signs of Life

3. The Healing Cross

4. Ugly Roman Power Symbols

Part Two: The Pain and the Glory: The Cross and the Suffering Savior

5. Shouldering the Cross

6. The Garden and Golgotha

7. Inscription Insights

8. The Man of Sorrows

9. Descent from the Cross

Part Three: Early Signs of Faith: The Cross and the First Believers

10. Crucified with Christ

11. The Everywhere Cross

12. Graffiti Marks and Mocks

13. The Sign of Jonah

14. The Outstretched Hands

15. Signs of the Cross

16. The Absent Crucifixion

Part Four: The Great Conversion: The Cross and Early Religious Freedom

17. The Emperor’s Vision

18. Searching for the Real Thing

19. A Cross in the Desert

20. The Missionary Cross

21. Becoming More Christian

Part Five: Daily Signs of Salvation: The Cross in Ancient Everyday Life

22. A Cross for the Darkness

23. Hoping for the Cross

24. Fear No Evil

25. The Trustworthy Standard

26. Coins for the Kingdom

Part Six: Ways to Worship: The Cross in Early Church Life

27. Walking the Cross

28. Follow Me

29. The Cross and the Water

30. Breaking the Bread

31. Take This Cup

32. Decorating the Sacred

33. The Iconoclastic Cross

Part Seven: Enduring Mysteries: The Cross and Its Eternal Power

34. Pilgrims of the Cross

35. The Ecumenical Cross

36. Desperately Seeking Sanctuary

37. Hearts Up

38. The Veiled Cross

39. The Eternal Kingdom

40. To Rise Again

A free copy of this book was provided to the reviewer.

November FREE Workshop: What’s Missing from Your Writing Toolbox? Get the Power Tools You Need to Power Edit Your Manuscript

When: November October 9, 2009, 6:30p.m.–8:00 p.m.

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

Workshop Description: Do you want to push your writing to the next level? Do you want publishers to take you seriously?

• Kris, a prolific, beginning writer, has no clue how to self-critique or edit.
• Kelly, an intermediate, published writer, submits self-edited articles with obvious sloppy, editorial faux pas.
• Kyle, a published and experienced writer, doesn’t recognize lazy writing habits that drive critique group members and editors crazy.

What do they all have in common? Their writing toolbox lacks crucial power tools to ramp up their writing from good to great. Scoti Domeij’s jam-packed workshop includes:

• Top 10+ must-know ways to develop the skill of self-critiquing to edit your manuscript—tomorrow.
• Self-critique/editing checklists to polish your manuscript—next week, next month, next year.
• Discover quick fixes for common and not-so-common mistakes
• Learn 2 easy ways to flip dull, passive sentences into active, powerful copy.
• Find out 3 user-friendly tips to figure out your most common writing errors and how to fix recurring problems.
• A valuable list of online resources and recommended books to further your writing and editing skills.
• An interactive critique and editing time to mark your WIP (work in progress).

Bring 1-2-3 pages or your entire WIP, colored pencils or highlighters and one blood-red pen. And don’t forget a little extra spit to shine your rough draft to polish ready for submission.

Speaker: Scoti has used her writing, editing and research skills to write educational curriculum for Standard Publishing, David C. Cook, Rainbow Publishers, Christian Ed Publishers, Harvest House Publishers, Precept Ministries International, Focus on the Family, Gospel Light Publishers, and The Association of Christian Schools International.

As Senior Research Assistant/Art and Editorial Production Coordinator for the 27-part film series entitled That the World May Know. Scoti also wrote Favorite Bible Heroes and co-authored: Wrong Way, Jonah! with Kay Arthur. Her stories were included in The Mommy Diaries: Finding Yourself in the Daily Adventure edited by Tally Flint (Revell) and Christmas Miracles by Cecil Murphy and Marley Gibson (St. Martin’s Press). She’s written over 300 articles, some of which have appeared in The New York Times, Contemporary Christian Music, Family Life Today, School Daze magazine, Southwest Art, Bookstore Journal, Single Adult Ministry Journal, The Orange County Real Estate Digest, World Report, Get Up and Go, Charlotte Parenting, Focus on the Family magazine, and other parenting magazines. Currently, Scoti, the Colorado Springs Single Moms Examiner, writes a daily column for www.examiner.com and a monthly Solo Parenting column in Colorado Springs Kids magazine

Find out more about Scoti:

The Writing Road blog

Daily Reflections for Single Parents

Colorado Springs Single Moms Examiner

New! Springs Writers Critique Group

Springs Writers will offer a critique group opportunity on one Saturday each month at Scoti Domeij’s home. Writers will receive feedback on their manuscripts and also learn how to critique other writer’s manuscripts. Dates and details will be available soon.

Please note: Springs Writers does not meet in December to help you enjoy the holidays with a little less stress.

Snow Policy: If School District 20 closes, the evening workshop will be cancelled. If the school district is not closed, we will make our decision to cancel a workshop by 3:00 pm and email the Springs Writers E-News subscribers. You may also call 719-548-9723 for snow closure information.