Christian Writers Guild Webinars

End your 2009 writing efforts strong by participating in two Christian Writers Guild Webinars.

Webinar #1

Wednesday, December 9

8 p.m. Eastern Time

"Critique and Q&A with Jerry"

Best-selling author Jerry B. Jenkins will do a "thick-skinned" edit of one manuscript and then open the webinar to your questions about writing and getting published. The author of the sample selected for the critique will receive a free copy of Jerry's how-to: Writing for the Soul.

Webinar #2

Thursday, December 17

8 p.m. Eastern Time

"Promotion and Marketing Can Be Fun"

Author Michelle Cox will show writers how to wow pub (publication) boards and editors with the promotion and marketing section in their proposals.

To register for the seminars, call the Guild at 1-866-495-5177. Guild members pay $25 for one Webinar, $40 for both. Nonmembers pay $45 for one, $75 for both.

**Anyone who signs up for one or both Webinars this month gets free shipping for all merchandise purchased in the Guild's online store during December. Items will be sent via USPS Media Mail. When you call to register, ask for your special discount code to take advantage of this opportunity.**

Online Author Video--What Will They Think of Next?

I mentioned on an earlier post that New York Times bestselling author Jerry B. Jenkins joined the ranks of bloggers.
His book, Riven, hits bookstores this July. Tyndale House is publishing Riven. If you want to learn more about the book, you can hear Jenkins talk about it in an online video posted on Tyndale's Web site.
The book's plot is intriguing.
But, I've got to tell you I was also intrigued by the fact that I was watching an author interview online.
How cool is that?
Talk about thinking outside the box when it comes to marketing! Talk about using technology to your advantage! There was a list of other author interviews on the Web site--and I'll definitely be checking out Susan May Warren's video. And Kevin Leman's. And Francine River's.
Check it out. You'll probably find some of your favorite authors on the list!

For Your Blogging Pleasure

I found out about a couple of new blogs and wanted to share them with you:
Writing News bills itself as book, author, and creative writing news. The stated goal of the blog is "to provide daily news updates for writers on all the topics they find interesting. We’ll report on writing, authors, contests, events, awards, markets, books, poetry, various genres, related websites, and anything else that seems relevant."
The most recent news post, dated March 30th, lists the Hugo nominees.

New York Times bestselling author Jerry B. Jenkins has started a blog. Besides posting some photos of his adorable grandson, he mentioned the upcoming July 22nd release of his book Riven, from the lyric of Rock of Ages, referring to Christ's riven side. Jenkin's said this is "the novel I've always wanted to write. The story has been rattling in my brain for decades. It's about a present-day condemned man who chooses crucifixion as his method of execution."
Go here to see the cover.

Doing Nothing May Be Doing Something

"Procrastinating is part of the writing process. Your subconcious is working on the story. You can procrastinate--just make sure you finish."

~ Jerry B. Jenkins, New York Times Bestselling author

Sometimes when I look at what little writing I've accomplished lately, I feel guilty. I'm a writer. I should be writing.

And yet, I'm not ready to write.

I keep pushing myself away from the computer, waiting for the answer to the question: What next?

Reading Jenkin's quote gave me some breathing space. While I may not be spinning words into sentences and sentences into paragraphs and paragraphs into articles or a book proposal--I am working. My subconcious is mulling over ideas. I'm wondering if my recent talk at a women's conference could become a book topic. I'm wondering if some of the things I'm blogging on over at The Accidental Pharisee are worth writing about in some other format.

Right now I am a procrastinating writer. My hands are idle--but my brain is on overdrive. I like to say writing is rewriting. Sometimes writing is not writing. Sometimes writing is thinking about what you're going to write. And then thinking some more--until the thoughts finally oveflow onto the page.