Called to Suffer. Called to Write. Reflections From the Advanced Writers and Speakers Conference

Glancing at the books on the author's table at the Advanced Writers and Speakers Conference (AWSA), I sensed the presence of God as I realized I was standing on Holy Ground and sharing life with women whose names could have been included in Hebrews 11.

Each called to suffer. Each called to write. Their books all bring glory to God and hope to those who hurt.

These dear AWSA sisters know human pain and they know God's healing. One has her only son in prison with a life sentence without parole. Another lives daily with her brain damaged daughter hurt in a car crash as a baby. Quite a few cancer survivors filled the room. Too many women damaged by abusive marriages, but, thankful to be loved by God. Several bear the scars of childhood sexual abuse. All have a story. All give glory to God for His tender comfort when life hurts.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of compassion

 and the God of all comfort, 

who comforts us in all our troubles,

so that we can comfort those in any trouble

 with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 (NIV)

I could highlight each author and sing praises to God for His work in her life. But today, I think of one of the many who left laughter in my heart.

 Funny. You know you are at a writer's conference when two strangers meet and within minutes this is happening:

Two authors eating the marigolds decorating our dinner plates. Sort of a dare, which left us both hysterical.

 "I'll eat a petal if you eat a petal."

"I'm going to eat the whole marigold! It won't hurt me!"

"Except for the insecticide!"

We laughed. We ate marigolds.

Perhaps those who know suffering not only take time to smell the roses, but also to eat the marigolds

Susan VandePol knows pain. As we laughed and ate flowers together. I asked what every author asks another, "What's the title of your book?"

"Life After Breath.  

http://www.amazon.com/Life-After-Breath-Husband-Morgan/dp/1630473421

My husband was a firefighter killed on duty. I started a ministry called   'Families of the Fallen' to help grieving widows and families." (May not be a direct quote, but said to the best of my recollection.)

And so I sat in the presence of another who loved  and trusted God enough to revisit the pain and put her story into a book for others to know the comfort Susan herself received from God.

To learn more about Susan VanderPol  please see her website at www.MattersofLifenadBreath.com

Susan, forgive me for posting that silly pic of us, but we did have a great laugh and laughter is healing.

Do you have a story God wants you to  share?  In so many ways, it is easier to shut the door and move on. Forgive and forget and pretend all is well.

 But God, called some to suffer and some to write. Has He called you?

Be a splash of serenity to someone hurting today! At the very least, go buy them marigolds and share a meal.

Write What You are Passionate About--My Writing Journey, Part 3

Part 3 of my writing journey continues with this wanna-be-obedient-to-God writer enthralled by the speakers at Montrose Christian Writer's Conference.

Two dozen devotions in hand with no idea how or if they will become a book, I listened intently to each presenter.

"Write what you are passionate about." the author/teacher at Montrose said.

Ha! I'm passionate about a lot of things. Let's see. I'm passionate about my bath, I chuckled out loud at my own silliness. More seriously, I realized, I'm passionate about being a mom! And so I wrote, Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms

Oh, if only it was that easy. The book came four years later, but that first writing seminar is where the direction came for my first book.

My advice to you: Write what you are passionate about. It worked for me and, I hope, it will keep you from hitting your own head hoping words and illustrations and titles fall into your brain. If you are passionate about a subject, that's what God has for you to write.

Most writers don't leave their first writer's conference with a book contract in hand. Publishers want to see your writing in print other places before they'll risk printing the book of an unknown writer. You need to start building a resume.

At Montrose Christian Writer's Conference, and most other writing conferences, attendees are granted 15 minute appointments with authors, editors, agents, and publishers of their choosing. These people will read your work and give you their professional opinion. A word of encouragement: Not all publishers will like what you write. So, if one publisher isn't positive about your writing, don't give up because of one opinion.

That first conference, I was too intimidated to meet with a publisher, but I did want someone to read my devotions and tell me honestly whether I could write or not. In the gazebo, I met with Gloria Clover who published a compilation of devotionals in her books, Penned From the Heart.

So nervous, I handed my work to Gloria. Quietly, she read a few, looked up and said, "How many of these can I have? I want to put them in my book." My heart stopped--at least it felt like it.

I was now a published writer. For the next two years my devotionals appeared in Penned From the Heart. My resume building had begun.

What did I learn that can help you?

~~Write what you are passionate about.

~~Begin building a resume by being published in a smaller market.

~~Learn how to write a book proposal and a query letter.

~~Attend a writer's conference where you will learn the business and meet people who will help you on your writing way.

I left Montrose resolved to return the following year with a book proposal and a manuscript of bathtime devotions for mothers. Stay tuned for more tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I suggest a hot bath so you can soak all this in. It worked for me!

Elaine

The Funny Things (and God-Appointments)That Happen at a Writer's Conference

God brings friends together in hilarious ways.

"You, with the beautiful hair, do you know the answer?"

Surely, she doesn't mean me. Attending the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writer's Conference, I had slipped into Patricia Durgin's marketing class a little late.

"You, you, the one with the beautiful hair, do you know the answer?" she pointed right at me.

"You mean me?"

"Yes, you. You, with the beautiful hair."

Blushing and feeling quite lovely, I answered her question.

Later, I saw Patricia Durgin in the hallway. Fluffing my beautiful hair, I went straight to her to thank her for her compliment. Before opening my mouth, my eyes spotted the badge proclaiming loudly from her jacket, "VISUALLY IMPAIRED."

Laughter arose from my gut and within minutes the lady with the beautiful hair and the seeing-impaired teacher bonded.

Today, I'd like to introduce you to Patricia Durgin, my friend with the beautiful eyes. She is beginning a new season of coaching women to discover what God created you to be and do. Titled "His Purple Thread--Detecting God's Pattern in Your Life," Patricia's ministry coaches each of us to discover the purple thread God weaves through our individual lives so we can know and fulfill God's plan.

This afternoon, 12/8/2011, at 1:00 won't you join us in a teleconference call and discover if His Purple Thread is just what you've been seeking as you desire to know what God created you to do and how to do it with excellence.

For more information:

Patricia Durgin's website is http://tiptracy.com/

An overview of His Purple Thread can be seen at http://tiptracy.com/hispurplethread/

Connect to the teleconference at http://tiptracy.com/liveteleconferenceinstgructions/

I'll be on the call and hope to talk to you!

His Purple Thread may be just what you need to bring splashes of serenity to your life!

Blessings,

Elaine

Writing a Book? Want it Published? Here's How.

"I want to write a book. How do I get it published? What do I do next?" I asked those questions years ago when I wanted to write a book. Now, as an author, those are the questions I am most frequently asked. My answer, "Go to a Writer's Conference. You will learn the basics of the writing and publishing business; meet editors, publishers, agents, and authors; and get a good dose of laughter and inspiration rubbing shoulders with fellow writers."

Here are three I attended and I recommend:

MONTROSE CHRISTIAN WRITER'S CONFERENCE, Montrose, PA, July 24-29, 2011. This is where I got my start, sold my first article which became the first chapter of my first book, taught my first writer's classes, and met authors who became dear friends. The above You Tube was taken at Montrose last summer. I entered beautiful Dreyer Hall hungry for dinner and met James Willis, a fellow faculty member, hankering for an interview. Montrose Christian Writer's Conference is a fun and a beautiful place to take the next step on your writing journey. www.Montrosebible.org/writers.htm

UPSTATE NEW YORK CHRISTIAN WRITERS' GATHERING, Delta Lake Bible Conference, Rome, NY, July 7-8. This Gathering is held literally in my back yard on the shores of beautiful Delta Lake. Three years ago David Fessenden and Debbie Tuthill approached me separately (they had never met) with the vision of having a writer's conference at Delta Lake. God's Hand was on this. The response to this gathering exceeded our expectations and we look forward to our Second Annual Gathering next month. http://fromconcepttocontract.com/wp-content

GREATER PHILADELPHIA CHRISTIAN WRITERS CONFERENCE, Philadelphia Biblical University, Langhorne, PA, August 10-13. A larger conference with publishers, editors, agents, and authors galore. This is where I met my agent, Diana Flegal from Hartline Literary Agency. More information at www.writehisanswer.com/Philadelphia

This summer I am teaching at the Upstate New York Christian Writers Gathering and at the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference. I'd love to meet you there.

God has placed a passion in my heart to encourage Christian writers to write and to be published. Afterall, if Christians stop writing, what is left for people to read? Only you can tell your story and your story can help others live their stories in victory.

If you have any questions about writing or about these conferences, please ask. I'd love to be a Splash of Serenity to your writing dreams.

Keep Writing!

Elaine

Why Attend a Writer's Conference

If Christians stop writing, what choices will people have at the bookstore and the super market check-out aisle? Trips to the grocery store are enough to spur me on to write and to encourage Christians to publish their stories.

"Get thee to a writer's conference" is my first suggestion to anyone who asks how to get their book published. At Montrose Christian Writer's Conference I sold my first article and learned to write a proposal that became my first book. At Greater Philadelphia Christian Writer's Conference I met my sweet agent, Diana Flegal. My writing world expanded as fellow scribes became precious friends at writer's conferences. Not to mention, you'll laugh yourself silly. Fill a room with writers and let the wit roll. It's worth it just for that dose of medicine.

Last summer during Family Bible Conference at Delta Lake Bible Conference Center, I was approached by two people who share my passion for writing. Debbie Tuthill, a student enrolled in the Christian Writer's Guild, and Dave Fessenden, managing editor for CLC Publications, both came to me within hours of each other with the same thought: Delta Lake would be a great place to have a Writer's Conference. That afternoon Debbie, Dave, and I met under a maple tree. It was apparent this was God's plan for Upstate New York and Delta Lake Bible Conference Center.

The fruit of that meeting grew into the first Upstate New York Christian Writers' Gathering being held at Delta Lake Bible Conference Center in Rome, New York, on July 8-9, 2010. Please consider joining us for two high-energy afternoons. Six seminars covering fiction, non-fiction, writing for adults and for children, and dramatic scripts are offered for a total cost of $25. That's a deal! Faculty include Jon Graf, founding editor of Pray! magazine and the author of six books; Dave Fessenden, managing editor for CLC Publications and the author of four books; Hope Marston, author of numerous children's books; Jim Bogoniewski, writer of over 120 plays; and yours truly, Elaine W. Miller, author of two books. Bring your family and enjoy the added atmosphere of Family Bible Conference with programs for all ages. For more information, please contact me or www.DeltaLake.org under the tab, "Family Camp."

My passion to encourage writers won't end at Delta Lake this summer. I am thrilled to join many authors, editors, and publishers on the faculty at Montrose Christian Writer's Conference in Montrose, PA, July 25-30, 2010. Montrose holds a special place in my heart as this is where my dream and God's call to be a writer was realized. I'll be leading two workshops: "Marketing Your Ministry" and "A Writer Speaks." For more information please see WWW.MONTROSEBIBLE.ORG.

You are the only one who can write your story. Please don't let what God has done in your life remain in your computer or your brain, never to be read by a world hungry for God. Write it and write it well. Learn how at a Christian Writer's Conference. Hope to see you there. Introduce yourself to me. I'd love to share some wit and some splashes of serenity with you.

Blessings on your writing,

Elaine W. Miller
Author/Speaker
www.SplashesofSerenity.com
SplashesofSerenity@yahoo.com