One Day Mercer County Writers Conference

... to Writing Success XVII

“The Heart of a Writer”

17th Annual One Day Mercer County Writers Conference

Cynthia Ruchti
Featured Speaker, 2008

 Cynthia Ruchti is in her 29th year as writer and producer of the daily radio broadcast—THE HEARTBEAT OF THE HOME, a slice-of-life radio drama woven together with relevant biblical teaching. The broadcast is created and recorded in central Wisconsin and aired on stations across the country.

She speaks to women's groups, leads worship and devotions or teaches workshops at a variety of writers' conferences (Write-to-Publish, Wisconsin Fellowship of Christian Authors, Quad-Cities Christian Writers' Conference, ACFW), writes magazine articles for regional and national publications, serves as editor and staff writer of a ministry magazine called Backyard Friends, and in-house has published 95 books which are compilations of past HEARTBEAT broadcasts. She's a humor columnist for American Christian Fiction Writer's Afictionado e-zine and writes a monthly column for Wisconsin Christian News.

All that is fit around her primary roles as a daughter of the King, Bill's wife of 35 years, Mom to Amy, Matt, and Luke, and Grammie to Grace, Ben, Hannah, Andrew, and a little munchkin to be named in May when he or she makes his or her appearance and we can finally stop calling the darling him or her!!!

What does she do in her spare time?

She's a cranny fiction writer. She steals miniscule crannies of time in which to write women's fiction which she calls "Diving Board Fiction: Taking you deeper than you thought you could plunge." That fits her overarching life ministry brand, which is "Splashing in the Deep End: Diving into words, worship, and wonder."

[You can check out her new website for an explanation of why that fits her life--www.splashinginthedeepend.com

Or visit her blog for an idea of what else is going on in her life: http://splashinginthedeepend.blogspot.com]

2008 Workshop Leaders

Roland Barkesdale-Hall currently serves as the managing editor of an affiliate of the American Library Association's newsletter and publisher of The Health Reporter. He has planned healing and restoration family gatherings and published a family-centered newsletter The Alleghenian. He studied publication management at George Washington University and teaches at Bryant and Stratton College.

Beverlee Blair has felt compelled to write since she was about eleven years old and has written one thing and another ever since. She was educated at Boston University, where she majored in English and English Literature and has had a varied career as a writer, teacher of creative writing, dramaturg, actor, dancer, court appointed private investigator and library assistant. She has done research for both CBS News 60 Minutes and the Oprah Winfrey Show. Her plays have been produced at Brava Theater for Women in the Arts in San Francisco, Pittsburgh Playwrights, Luna Dance Theater and other venues. Her short stories have appeared in the Writers Post Journal and the Poets and Writers' online publication. Ms Blair has taught creative writing to children and adults on both coasts, most recently at Sweetwater Center for the Arts in Sewickley.

Gloria Clover writes Christian fiction, devotions for Penned From the Heart, and co-directs this writing conference. Her novella, The Remaking of Moe McKenna, came out Oct. 2007 in the anthology Race to the Altar from Barbour Publishing.

Salene J. Cowher (Ph.D.) has worked in higher education for most of her life, currently employed as a graduate professor in the counseling programs at Edinboro University. A licensed counselor she’s maintained a part-time private practice since 1987. Salene has written successful grants, published in jouried publications, edited a textbook, and published poems.

Lynne Gordon has shared a job with her husband Drew for the last 20 years. Together they hold one full-time position as directors of publications for Crown & Covenant Publications--a denominational publisher. Lynne met Drew at Geneva College working on the student newspaper, where she was eventually elected editor-in-chief. Before Crown & Covenant, Lynne worked as a communication specialist for a Fortune 500 management consulting firm. She has a B.A. in English with minors in writing and journalism, and has taken some seminary graduate work.

Nancy E. James edits The Upper Case, newsletter/magazine of St. Davids Christian Writers Association. She taught creative writing at Westminster College and English as a foreign language in Japan and South Korea. Her poetry has appeared in many literary magazines, and she has taught workshops in poetry, journaling, and other topics at various writers' conferences.

Helen Kammerdieneris a retired elementary teacher who writes because she enjoys it and because expressing thoughts and feelings helps to relieve stress. Her articles and poems have appeared in Penned from the Heart, My Turn to Care, the Leader-Vindicator, and other publications. Some of her poems have been set to music and presented at church or community meetings by her friends. Her most recent Bible-character skits have been well-received by the annual women's Christian seminar held in New Bethlehem as well as by other local groups. Helen is a lay speaker in the United Methodist Church and leads a twice-monthly Bible study at an assisted-living facility in New Bethlehem. Every Sunday, she presents a short devotional as a part of the worship service at her church.

Margaret Menanim’s poems have appeared in The Lyric, The Formalist, Iambs & Trochees, and The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Her book, Sonnets for a Second Summer, was published by Westphalia Press in 1996. Her online chapbook, Essential Tremors, was published by New Formalist in 2005.

Evelyn Minshull has 26 published books, still. Eaglet's World recently won a prize. She teaches a weekly class at the Senior Center in Hermitage.

Sherris Moreira-Byers is the editor of Views and Voices monthly magazine for women through The Herald and Allied News newspapers. Sherris was a staff writer for six years at The Herald and her beat areas included Brookfield, Hermitage and Grove City.

Stephanie Pedas, a former writing teacher, has a Master's Degree in English from Slippery Rock University.

Mary Jo Rulnick won the Bronze Winner Parenting Publications of America 2006 Awards, is the author of The Frantic Woman's Guide to Feeding Family and Friends (Warner, 2006) and The Frantic Woman's Guide to Life (Warner, 2004), and is a member of American Society of Journalists and Authors.

Audrey Stallsmith is the author of the Thyme Will Tell series from WaterBrook Press and The Body They May Kill from Thomas Nelson. She writes articles on plant folklore and Christian thought for her own web sites: thymewilltell.com and inklingsoftruth.com . Audrey is also registrar and webmaster for the St. Davids Writers' Conference

Shirley Stevens, leader, First Word Christian Writers; mentor, The Writing Academy; secretary, St. Davids Christian Writers Conference Board; poetry columnist, The Upper Case. Publications include Poet Lore, The Christian Century, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Time of Singing, Pennsylvania Anthology of Poets on Pennsylvania, Prize Winning Poems from Pennsylvania Poetry Society.

Marjie Stewart is a playwright with more than 20 productions. She is also college English teacher working on her Ph.D. in composition at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Her mother thought she was a very odd child because she liked to read plays, but she grew up to write them. Coincidence? We don't think so. Marjie also holds an MFA in fiction writing from the University of Pittsburgh and is the current president of the St. David's Christian Writers' Association.

Lora Zill has a M.A. in English and teaches at Gannon University and for Allegheny College's gifted program for public schools. She is a teaching artist with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, directs the St. Davids Christian Writer's Conference, edits Time Of Singing, and speaks at writers’ conferences. Her award-winning work has been published widely.

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2008 Workshops

Workshop Schedule

8:15-8:45 – Registration and Fellowship
9:00-9:50 – Announcements, Worship, and Keynote
10:00-10:50 – Workshop 1
11:00-11:50 – Workshop 2
12:00-12:50 – Workshop 3A, or lunch
1:00-1:50 – Workshop 3B, or lunch
2:00-2:50 – Workshop 4
3:00-3:50 - Workshop 5
4:00-4:45 – Awards Ceremony, Closing Remarks

Workshop Descriptions

FICTION

Beginners/Audrey Stallsmith (1) — Though geared toward novelists, all beginning writers will find helpful information to get them started in the amazing business of publishing.

Novellas/Gloria Clover (2) — Focus in this workshop will be on characterization which is primary regardless of the length of story, and the plotting to size.

Genre Fiction/Gloria Clover (3A) — Focus on this workshop will be the differences in plotting genre fiction to meet reader expectation, with discussion on various sub-genres that keep novelists from feeling locked into a formula.

It Helps If We’ve Never Grown Up/ Evelyn Minshull (3B) — Writing for children. Though under the fiction track title, this workshop will cover skits, non-fiction articles, and picture books.

Short Stories/Beverlee Blair (4) — is intended to teach the writer to hear his/her story’s heart beat and to amplify it or mute it as its various parts require. Students should bring either an early draft of short story or the kernel of an idea and be prepared to read aloud from their work. Specific plot, character and arc points will be amplified, shaded or muted using a variety of techniques, including studies in light and shadow, sight lines, the archaeology of feeling and the use of amplifying foresight.

Critique Groups/Panel of authors (5) — Want some immediate feedback on your manuscript. Bring a few pages of your current work to share.

NON-FICTION

Beyond Articles and Books/Mary Jo Rulnick (1) — Community newsletters, niche guide, and press releases can add consistent revenue to your income. Learn what needs to be included in a rpess release, how to seek out clients and how to submit to the media. Find out if a community newsletter will be a worthwhile project for your area and a venue to promote your own writing, while generating an income. Niche guides provide an opportunity to utilize your expertise to a narrow target audience or for a subject that offers a limited amount of information. Format, options, and marketing of these projects will be discussed. Workshop includes: information on how to brainstorm and write the three suggestions. How to make money with newsletter, guides, and releases. What opportunities for each idea writers can expect.

Writing for Denominational Publishers/Lynn Gordon (2) — Denominational and small church publishers offer a niche with a defined audience and unique opportunities for writers to build their resumé. Most of these publishers offer opportunities to write not only books, but also articles and ministry-related materials. This class will introduce how to approach a church-related publisher and write for them successfully.

Refine & Define/Sherris Moreira-Byers (3A) — editing your own work

Academic Writing/Salene Cowher (3B) — focuses on writing for research and practice; including articles for juried publications, textbooks, self-help books, and grant proposals.

From A to Z: Writing for Encyclopedias/Roland Barkesdale-Hall (4) — looks at how to develop a specific subject interest, market, research and write for lucrative reference sources.

Getting the Word Out/Roland Barkesdale-Hall (5) — addresses newsletter publication for family, churches, and organizations

ARTICLES

An Ear to Hear/Sherris Moreira-Byers (1) — learning how to interview

Designed to Sell/Cynthia Ruchti (2) — if you want to attract the interest of an editor or publisher, you'll need to learn how to design your writing with an eye for making a sale, not raising eyebrows. Come learn how to target your work for today's publishing market.

Award Winning Article/Mary Joe Rulnick (3A) — the five key elements to snag the editor’s attention: topic, research, statistics, quotes, and advice. Ninety-five percent of articles sold today are advice pieces. Discover how to find topics that grab interest for a salable idea, fine tune your research, add compelling statistics that give punch, gather quotes and solid suggestions from experts. Learn how to utilize your time to find experts, pinpoint specific advice and keep the theme throughout the piece. Rulnick dissects these components using her award-winning article as an example. Workshop includes: Keeping the them flowing through the article, how to gather statistics related to the piece, how to work in side bars related to the theme.

How to Write an Essay/Marjorie Stewart (3B) — from Montaigne to freshman composition to creative nonfiction, the essay has been extolled, loathed, loved, feared and misunderstood. In this workshop, we'll try to nail this mercurial form down long enough to begin writing one.

Worshiping Through Words/Evelyn Minshull (4) — writing and marketing devotionals.

Stepping Into Their Sandals/Helen Kammerdiener (5) — In this workshop we will attempt to look out at the world from inside a Bible character’s skin so that we can think, feel, laugh, and cry with them. That new perspective can be the starting point for a devotional, skit, etc. Peter (at the cross) And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered. Luke 22:61a (KJV) “No! I don’t know Him! No, no, no! Oh, why did I say that? And then I did it again – just another servant girl, but I swore to her I didn’t know Him. A third time! I asked God to curse me if I was lying! Why, oh why, did I do that? “I was so sure I’d fight for Him – stay with Him – stand up for Him, but He knew me better. He said I would deny Him, but I thought He was wrong – I knew that I’d give my life for Him. “But then that rooster crowed, and He looked at me. Jesus, look at me now. Please, dear Jesus, know I’m here now. Oh, how can I ask you do deal with my pain when you are suffering such agony – when I turned my back on you? “I did try to save you, but you told me to put up my sword. Jesus, I would have given my life for you! I don’t understand, Jesus, why are you dying?” Just as Peter regretted denying Jesus, we may have careless words and actions that bring us remorse. And, just as Jesus forgave Peter’s sins and failures, he also died for us and longs to forgive us. Dear Jesus, thank you for dying that I might be saved. Please help me to live a life that will point others to you.

POETRY

Poetry Percs/Shirley Stevens (1) — Brewing a Poem: Beginners learn to grind coffee beans before percolating them. Or they select tea leaves then let them steep. The first step (or steeping) involves reading good poems aloud. Begin with the concrete. and then produce images. So come prime your pump and perc a poem.

Formal Poetry/Margaret Menamin (2) — forms discussed: Couplet, Rhymed Quatrain, Sonnet (very lightly), Villanelle, Ballade, Triolet, and Pantoum. There will be handouts with samples by well-known poets as well as a few of the speaker’s own poems.

Sonnets/Margaret Menamin (3A) — A detailed focus on how to write a sonnet with the opportunity to compose a few lines.

Producing a Chapbook/Lora Zill (4) — Do you dream of putting your poems in book form? Lora has helped poets publish their own chapbooks and will share from her experience what to consider during this fulfilling and challenging process. Her workshop will include how to select poems, book design tips, copyright issues, publishing do's and don'ts, and will include examples of self published books to generate ideas for your own. This workshop will also benefit those who look to publish other genres but need some insight into the self-publishing process.

Line Dancing/Shirley Stevens (5) — Study the styles of poets from Walt Whitman to Barbara Crooker. After reading models, you will emulate their style. Using your own subject matter, you experiment with these poets’ techniques and launch your own poems. Find your muse!

DRAMA

A Picture Worth a Thousand Words/Stephanie Pedas (1) — Have a picture worth a thousand words? This class covers the basic terms and techniques needed to prepare a script for filmed media, from cinema to podcasting. Whether you have a screenplay written up already, a novel you want to convert to a screenplay, short stories that could work as television scripts, or just an idea you need to explore in a visual medium, this class will give you insight into how these different forms work and how you can turn your words into moving images.

Improv!/Marjorie Stewart (2) — Stimulate your creativity through theatrical improvisation exercises. Improv is more than you see on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" — it's an excellent training ground for character development, understanding plot, and just flat out having a great time.

Writing for the Ear/Cynthia Ruchti (4) — Whether or not you ever intend to write radio scripts, blurbs, or ad copy, you might gain some insights for your magazine or novel projects through this workshop on writing for the ear. The techniques involved in writing for radio carry over into other forms of writing. If you also have a unique idea for radio, choose this workshop as a place to learn about radio's challenges and joys.

Set it to Music: Creative Lyric Writing/Mary Gould (5) — Some of the topics covered: How to lure inspiration and keep it warm; the rhythm of words; song lyrics are not poetry; saying it another way; things publishers hate to hear unless you're already famous; outside helps: not all rhyming dictionaries are created equal; and more...

WRITER’S LIFE

Revvin’ Your Engines/Evelyn Minshull (1) — how to jump start your writing and leap over writers’ block

Daily Writing Practice: Starting to Get Ready to Begin/NancyE James (2)— The word practice means a habit or custom. It also means working on a skill in order to perfect it. Daily Writing Practice is both of these, and more. Writer Natalie Goldberg says, “Writing practice is a priori to any other kind of writing you might do. And . . . you can move . . . right over into a short story, a novel, an essay.” We will both talk about the practice and practice it!

On the Way to Memoir: Getting Ready to Begin/NancyE James (3A) —This workshop may be taken separately or as a follow-up to “Daily Writing Practice.” How can daily writings generate the memoir you’ve been wanting to write? How can biographical material be sorted, selected, organized? How may you choose a pattern, a theme, a focus for your memoir? The workshop will include brainstorming exercises as well as suggestions from various resources on memoir-writing

Word Playing with My Friend Dick and His Pal the Dinosaur/Helen Kammerdiener (3B) — this is a light-hearted look at word meaning, word choice, and rewriting with the help of a dictionary and thesaurus. You may want to bring your favorite thesaurus and/or dictionary to use in class exercises.

Therapeutic Writing/Salene Cowher (4) — focuses on the therapeutic value of writing and related creative outlets in everyday life. The use of poetic symbolism as metaphor for problems will also be addressed.

PraiseMoves: The Christian Alternative to Yoga/Mary Ann Haslett (5) — As a writer, I know that you can get so caught up in writing that you get stiff, and sore, but don't feel like taking a break to exercise. PraiseMoves is the perfect way to relieve those stiff shoulders, sore back, and aching neck because it combines Deep Stretching, Gentle Movement, and Strong Scripture for Weight Loss, Stress Relief, Flexibility, and Strength. Having had 2 spinal surgeries, I have personally experienced many physical benefits from PraiseMoves®. These include lasting relief from chronic back pain, better posture, and improved muscle tone. Even more important than the physical benefits are the spiritual benefits that have come through PraiseMoves® which include feasting on God’s Word and experiencing His love and grace while transforming your workout into worship. Experience the relaxing, uplifting, and Christ-centered benefits of these stretching and breathing techniques for yourself. This workshop presentation will include a brief overview of PraiseMoves and then we will engage in about 10 minutes of gentle aerobics, about 30 - 35 minutes of stretching Postures (each posture is associated with a Scripture) and about 5 - 10 minutes of a Scripture Sequence where we will flow the postures to a Scripture, and then we will conclude with WWJD relaxation and mediation. Come enjoy a relaxing exercise break! If you would like more information on PraiseMoves - check out the website - www.praisemoves.com

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Contests

All entries must be postmarked and mailed to Audrey Stallsmith at 87 Pines Road East, Hadley, PA 16130 by April 1, 2008. There is no charge. Envelopes and entries should be clearly marked CONTEST. You should include a cover sheet with your name, pertinent info., entry categories, and manuscript titles. A piece title, not your name, should identify each separate ms. You may enter as many categories as you’d like, but enter each category only once. The poetry contest is the exception: enter either beginning or advanced, but not both.

Poetry Contests

Beginning Poetry: Any poetic style, 1-3 poems, total of 40 lines or less in all poems together. This is for Newbies, not humble poets—if you’ve placed in this category before, don’t play again.

Light Verse: 1-3 poems, total of 40 lines or less in all poems together. Make us laugh.

Advanced Poetry: If you have placed in the Beginner's Poetry contest in years past, it is time to enter here. Any type of poetry. 1-3 poems, 40 lines or less.

Fiction Contests

Story Beginning: No more than four pages, double-spaced, of your best adult fiction in any genre.

Description of Person or Place: This is an exercise in preparing your story. In fiction, your description must be given out with your action and dialogue. (No information dumps as they are sometimes called.) But here we are giving you the opportunity to know what your character or setting look like, information dump, but seek out the beautiful way of expressing it that you will want to transfer over to your story. No more than two pages double-spaced. Any genre.

Children’s Story: A picture book or a story for a magazine, complete in four, double-spaced pages.

Non-fiction Contests

Devotional: 250 words or less, one Christian thought, including Scripture and prayer.

Editorial: Your opinion on a current controversial topic with incorporated Scripture. 500 words or less.

"I knew I was a writer when...": Two pages double-spaced, a serious or humorous writing experience in your style of choice.

(Contest entries should be double-spaced.)

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2008 WINNERS:

Advanced Poetry

Honorable Mentions:
A Bridge Never Crossed by Janyce Brawn
Looking for Spring by Betty Rosian
ASuet Ball Attack Methods by Virginia McBurney
3.Cycles by Linda Turner
2.Concord Grapes by Janet Sady
Renga Moons by Mary Koepke
1.My February Story by Marjorie Wonner

Beginning Poetry

Honorable Mentions:
The Race by Kathy Fieser
October Haiku by Jenifer McNamara
Enthralled by Cherie Reilly
3. Lights in the Night Sky by Jenifer McNamara
2. Violinists in the Courtyard by Daniel Bates
1. Prodigal by Hana Haatainen Caye

Children's Story

3. Wadelia Spider's New Home by Janet Sady
2. Goodness for Sale by Kathleen Welty

Description

3. Description by Betty Rosian
2. Coasts of the U.S. in 2084 by Tom Rookey
1. My Name is Addy Furtado by Mary Hickey

Devotional

HM: Driving to Dayton by Mary Hickey
HM: Microwave Christianity by Betty Rosian
3. Facing the Giants by Kathy Fieser
2. Keeping Connected by Helen Kammerdiener
1. Look Up by Janet Hardie

Editorial

3.Put the Bible Back in Schools by Virginia McBurney
2.Controlling the Mouse by Helen Kammerdiener
1. Profanity Deserves a Little What? by Betty Rosian

"I Knew I was a Writer When"

HM: I knew I was a writer when" by Linda Au
3. My Summer of Love by Kathy Fieser
2. Pirates and Pilgrims and Beans, Oh My! by Jennifer Lis
1. I Knew I was a Writer When" by Jean Croyle

Light Verse

3. The Vanishing Cents by Betty Rosian
2. I'm Sane, I Say by Daniel Bates
1. Two Toes by Kathy Fieser

Story Beginning

Honorable Mentions: Calling by Carol Hamilton
Only My Tomorrow by LuAnn Shaffer
Brick and Mortar Cannot Build by Kathleen Welty
3. Trash by Tom Rookey
2. Nowhere, PA by Janet Sady
Fountainside by Karen Tuminello
1. Mrs Needlemeier's Novel Idea by Linda Au

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Critiques

Everyone who registers for the conference is entitled to one FREE critique of 6 or less double-spaced, (size 12, clear font), pages of a manuscript. Additional critiques may be purchased for the following fees:

10 additional pages for $8.00
25 additional pages for $20.00
50 additional pages for $40.00

REMEMBER: Do not send contest entries with manuscripts to be critiqued, or vice versa.

Include this fee with your registration. However, ALL manuscripts for critique are to be sent to Evelyn Minshull at 724 Airport Road, Mercer, PA 16137. All persons who send (or bring) manuscripts after April 11, 2008 must include a SASE for the return of your ms. after the conference.

Printable Registration Form