Attendees of this CREW will learn four skill sets:

1—How to structure five genres: Bible studies, devotionals, Christian living books, gift books, and memoirs.
2—How to study a book’s form, using a real mentor book chapter.
3—How to build a chapter.
4—How to storyboard an entire book outline in a dynamic exercise.

You have held this book idea in your heart and mind long enough. It’s time to get it out of your brain and down onto paper. But you want to do more than simply write it; you want it to touch the souls of your audience, and you want it to be really good. This multi-part workshop helps develop your thinking and writing to reach toward that goal. Learn to think like an acquisitions editor and publisher as you write the book, to capture the attention and soul of your reader, and to organize your thoughts so they flow beautifully on the page. You will walk away from this workshop positioned to be a best-selling published author yourself.

Professional writers not only need to plan for next week, but also for the year to come. In this workshop, we will help you craft a year-long roadmap across all your platforms: writing, speaking, and social media. Gain insights from guest experts, create a tailored plan, and receive personalized feedback to ensure a successful, goal-oriented year in your writing career.

Author and experienced editorial assistant Michelle Ule will lead an interactive day examining how to write a query letter to spark interest, as well as the value of and how to write a proposal. Participants should have at least a nearly-completed manuscript and be prepared to share and work together.

Has a fictional story ever stirred something deep inside you or inspired you to see the world in a new way? This CREW will explore all the components needed to create a compelling, life-changing novel across genres. We’ll discuss characters, theme, moral premise, conflict, setting, and how to welcome readers into a new story. Then we’ll break out into small groups to practically apply these techniques. If you’re working on a manuscript, please bring two copies of the first five pages.

Sometimes it’s a difficult or life-changing experience that has prompted us to write. This CREW will offer suggestions and writing opportunities to look more deeply at your story to continue your healing journey. You'll also identify or refine your core message as a part of preparing to write for impact, as well as deeply caring for your readers.

USA Today bestseller Shelley Adina Senft will help you put the indie publishing ingredients together to create a successful career. You’ll learn to understand the retailers and their metadata, make good product development decisions, and build marketing into your books that will help make readers come back for more.