Mid-South Christian Writers Virtual Conference ~ Don't Miss

Patricia Bradley 

I’m excited to announce we’re having a virtual writer’s conference!


WHO? MidSouth Christian Writers Conference

Keynote? The AWESOME Rachel Hauck!

WHEN?  Saturday, March 20, 2021…unless you’d like to also attend the pre-conference workshops which will be March 19. For more details check out the website. But first a word about virtual conferences.


A virtual conference? I hear the groanings already, but have you ever been to a virtual writers conference? These days, it’s the only kind I’ve found, and I’ve learned when handed lemons, make lemonade! So…while I love in-person conferences, there are advantages to a virtual one.


You can attend a virtual conference at home in your pajamas if you want to. Doesn’t that sound heavenly to all you introverted writers out there? And for the extroverts like me, there will be chats where we can connect to all our friends!


At an in-person conference, there’s no way to take all the workshops offered, but when you attend a virtual conference, you get access to all the sessions for a limited time—like six months. For example…at the MidSouth Christian Writers Conference there are twelve sessions with a mixture of fiction and non-fiction topics ranging from how to indie publish and writing for children to writing dialogue (Rachel Hauck is teaching this one!) and many more. You can attend four live sessions and later watch the others at your leisure (in your pjs). Here’s a link to the schedule.


The total cost is so much less than an in-person conference. Twelve workshops for $45! (And no hotel costs!) And if you want to attend the Friday sessions (I’m teaching one on your characters journey) there are four 3-hour intensive sessions for an additional $35 each. Like the workshops of Saturday, you can attend one and have access to the others later. That’s a lot of craft to grab hold of.


At the MidSouth Christian Writers Conference, you’ll get lots of encouragement…and I almost forgot! You’ll get an opportunity to hear from editors and agents on what they’re looking for, and an opportunity to submit a one-sheet to the editor or agent of your choice. If you’re not sure what a One-Sheet is, check out Workshop Session 2 with Bethany Jett. You’ll learn how to create a One-Sheet that will grab that editor or agent’s attention.


So, what are you waiting for? Time is running out, and we have only so many attendees that we can take. Click here for more information on the conference.

                                                                     Patricia Bradley

Divine Appointments

By Tracy Crump

One year, when I served on the faculty at a writers conference, an author named Sharon Muse sat at my table for a one-on-one appointment and told me a fantastic tale. As a young lawyer, she’d been abducted by a former client who took her to a remote spot where he planned to rape and kill her. God supernaturally intervened and rescued her.

After he was arrested, Sharon began a seven-year battle against the justice system to get the man put away for life, terrified every day that he would return and kill her as he’d promised. Afraid to even walk down the street, she finally decided she’d had enough. She would kill him before he could kill her. God again intervened and allowed her to forgive.

Two movie companies had already contacted Sharon about telling her story, but she wanted to get the 300-page book she’d written on her experience published first. She asked me what to do next. Nonfiction is my forte, but I’d never published a book. What could I offer her? I gave her what advice I could and pointed her toward others who might be able to help.

When I returned home from the conference, I couldn’t get Sharon’s story off my mind and emailed her with more suggestions. That conversation bloomed into a relationship in which I now think of her as my third daughter-in-law. Through other God-arranged connections, I put her in contact with the country’s top-selling agent, and he took her on as a client. Her book, Kidnapped by a Client, releases this fall.

Sharon and I have talked about the events that brought us together. Or rather the many reasons we shouldn’t have met but did. We can see that God orchestrated our appointment from moment one. But what if she hadn’t sat at my table?

I’ve often mourned the fact that so few writers take advantage of conference appointments with agents and editors. It’s disheartening to see these professionals with so much to offer sitting at empty tables while writers avoid them because they feel intimidated.

Don’t miss an opportunity to speak to the very experts who can help you on your writing journey. If their appointment calendars are full, sit with them at lunch or catch them in the halls. They’ve attended the conference to help writers like you. Don’t let fear or uncertainty stonewall you. And don’t forget the little people like me, writers and mentors who may also have something to offer.

You never know when God is setting a divine appointment.

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Tracy Crump’s devotions and articles have appeared in numerous publications, but she is best known for more than two dozen stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul® and other anthologies. Her course, “How to Write for Chicken Soup for the Soul” is one of Serious Writer Academy’s top sellers, and she teaches workshops and webinars on writing for the series. She speaks at writers conferences, edits a popular newsletter, The Write Life, and has served as registrar for the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference. Visit Tracy at www.TracyCrump.com or www.WriteLifeWorkshops.com. Sharon Muse’s book is set to release November 12, 2019 and is available for preorder now on Amazon.  

Jumping Into Writing, Part One

By Lynn U. Watson

After publishing three devotional collections, I’ve jumped with passion into writing my first novel. A true story from the life of my great grandmother stirred my imagination and my compassion. But my WIP is rough at best.

During the recent Mid-South Christian Writers Conference, I enrolled in the “First Chapter Critique Group” led by award-winning novelists, Johnnie Alexander and Patricia Bradley. Other members of the group also based their work on family stories, both contemporary and historic. Not allowing the specifics we know about our story to control the fictional account we create isn’t always easy. It requires us to write with the backdrop of the facts we know, while developing memorable characters, great scenes, and a riveting story that’s mostly all made up.

To gather more insight into this, I also attended Johnnie and Pat’s workshop: “Creating Characters with Personality and Pizzazz.” They loaded their mini-class with reminders of what it takes to bring our characters alive on the page. From both groups here are hints I brought home with me:

1. Ask your character what motivates him/her?
2. Ask your character what he/she fears?
3. What can’t your character do in the beginning? How will that change by the end?
4. Develop your character’s personality (Myers-Briggs helpful here)
5. Elicit emotions that deepen the connections of your characters with your readers.
6. Get to know your characters better by channeling them. Tap into your own emotions – (For the protagonist you might close your eyes and imagine; for the antagonist, think “evil.”)
7. Develop your character’s point of view.
8. Incorporate strong and realistic dialogue to move the story along. (That may include sentence fragments, slang, dialect.)
9. Always be a student of the craft of writing and learn it well. Read successful author’s books on the topic of writing. Here’s a list of Johnnie and Pat’s suggestions:

-The Emotion Thesaurus:A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi (There are six in this excellent series. I own four and am eager to add the others.)

-The Emotional Craft of Fiction: How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface by Donald Maass (I’ve just begun this one – two chapters in, and I know he has much to teach any author.)

-Getting into Character:Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn from Actors by Brandilyn Collins (Another great little volume already in my author’s library.)

-Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself into Print by Renni Browne & Dave King

-Story Trumps Structure:How to Write Unforgettable Fiction by Breaking the Rules by Steven James (Now that sounds interesting. Know the rules but break them.)

-Writing Deep Viewpoint:Invite Your Readers into the Story by Kathy Tyers,

-Writing with Emotion,Tension & Conflict: Techniques for Crafting an Expressive and CompellingNovel by Cheryl St. John

Part Two of Lynn’s post will appear on Monday.

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Lynn U. Watson combines many years' experience in women's ministry, love of essential oils, and her passion for God's word to bring her readers freshly inspired encouragement for their walk with Jesus. Her devotional, The Essence of Courage, was recognized as a 'must read' by regional publishing industry leaders. Married since 1973, Lynn and Steve have filled their Bartlett, Tennessee home with handmade treasures and lots of love for family, especially their five beautiful (of course) grandchildren. Aromas of freshly baked bread often fill Lynn's kitchen. Jasmine, her tuxedo kitty, enjoys sleeping in Lynn's lap while she writes. Here is my website link: https://lynnuwatson.com/

Avoiding the Conference Kerfuffle

By Jeris Hamm

Yes, "Kerfuffle" is a word.

True, it's used more often by the Brits to describe a royal scandal, disturbance, or fuss. The word brings to mind Downton Abbey's Countess (Maggie Smith) raising a pinky as she drinks from her teacup and dishes the latest social transgressions.

When it comes to planning a writer's conference, I've learned there are ways to avoid a royal kerfuffle.

With careful planning, the event can be more like a royal Ascot race­--sleek horses poised at the gate listening for the bell, jockeys harnessing the power of the thoroughbreds under them, and hooves pounding through the flying dust across the finish line.

The race is run, not in confusing kerfuffle, but toward an intended destination. It begins with a burst of excitement and ends with an accomplished outcome.

Hosting a conference is a rush of expectations, planning, and nervousness. There are miscommunications and mess-ups. But with a plan and lots of prayer, the event can be an experience that stretches writer muscles, hones organizational skills, and grows group cohesiveness.

The starting line is important. Hosting the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference has been a dream of my writer's group, Byhalia Christian Writers, for a couple of years. We originally planned the meeting for 2013, but soon realized we were too late getting out of the gate.

Instead of grumbling about lost opportunity, we got back on our young steed and set a date for 2014. We chose a Saturday in early March, a date that wouldn't interfere with spring break or conflict with other well-known conferences.

Other first decisions included securing a venue and contacting our keynote speaker. With these essentials in place we were off to a good start.

Next we planned the schedule. Several from our group stepped up as workshop leaders, stretching their communication skills to include not just writing, but speaking. Others volunteered for gathering hotel information and hosting snack and lunch breaks.

Marketing plans followed. The group decided on a budget and a target for our marketing outreach, depending on publicity as much as possible. We started a blog, posted on Facebook pages, and used contacts within our group for website and brochure development. We've posted on free community calendars in our area, including newspapers, radio, and television.

We did splurge on brochures, investing in quality printing to communicate a professional image. We also placed ads in strategic writer's magazines.

As we approached the final turn in January, we learned two important lessons.

Although we'd all been praying for the conference, we realized we needed a prayer chairman. Having one person to relay needs and prayer requests kept us united and spiritually on track.

Another lesson was: communication. When clarification was needed or questions arose, we solved problems by communicating with the group, especially among conference staff.

Our members regularly post on our Facebook page, passing along information and posing questions. We give each other support, try to be patient, and realize we are all in this together­­--for God's glory and to encourage writers for His kingdom.

With the conference drawing near, we're giving it our best, pressing toward the finish line.

I've personally had a few kerfuffles, but I'm still galloping on.  Although I'll be panting and trotting in on wobbly legs, the end will be worth it.  I can smell the wreath of roses now, although a nice bouquet of daisies would be fine.

After all, it's our first conference.

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Jeris Hamm is a West Tennessee writer who has published in several national magazines including Clubhouse, Kids' Ark, Southern Writers Magazine, and Christian Communicator. Her novel for children, The Secret of the Seven Rubies, is an award winner, as is her blog, Southern Grace. She is Marketing Director for the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference. Jeris teaches creative writing in Corinth, MS.