I've been working . . .
I've been working today to catch up all the conferee registrations. Remember last letter I told you things would start to happen to prevent you from attending. This week alone we have had 6 conferees fall out of our conference. Two were okay...grandbabies scheduled to make their entry that week. We all know grandma has to be there for the wee ones. But the other four - have become ill. Three with cancer, one with an ongoing issue. Folks - when you plan to answer the call - be prepared. This is why I told you to gird up with the armor of God. Attacks will happen. My question is - will you be strong enough to proceed? I hope so. Please pray for our conferees who are ill. It breaks my heart when cancer strikes. So pray for those who need our prayers. You don't have to know their names. God already knows. But continue to lift the movement of this conference to the forfront of your prayers.
You've asked about an update on me. I see an ENT on Monday. There are good days and bad days with the headaches from the pressure. I simply ask your prayers and patience as there are days, I simply cannot work.
For our newly registered conferees...
LET'S GET ON WITH IT . . .Yes, I'm repeating myself, so don't you dare skip over this! :)
WE STILL NEED YOUR BIO AND .JPG.
Every year we compile a roster for your benefit. It has a dual purpose. 1) It allows our prayer warriors to pray specifically for you and 2) it becomes your introduction and networking tool for your peers at ACWC. I understand what it is like to be new to a conference and that's why we work to compile this list. I want you to be able to put faces with names so when you walk in the door at ACWC, you feel your family - not like you're a stranger. Cindy Saab has graciously volunteered to do our roster. It's a massive job. So I encourage you to send her your bio and .jpg. THIS IS A MUST HAVE! WE MUST HAVE IT.
Below is the link for the bio form along with Cindy's email address in this letter. And here's a hint that will help us. We don't need a life history. Keep your bio at 75 or less words, include your email address. When you send your ,jpg of yourself (for those who do not know what that is, it's a photo file of yourself. If you don't have one, ask a friend or a teenager to take your photo and help you email it) PLEASE DON'T SEND A FAMILY PHOTO. If that is all you have, crop everyone else out of the photo. We love your families, but we only want your face. (There are security reasons for this - trust us).
Attach the .jpg and the bio form and email it to: cindyspeakswrites@gmail.com
Click here ->Directory_Form 4 (This should download to your computer or you can go to www.ashevillechristianwritersconference.com and click forms and newsletters. )
This roster is so important. Please be sure and send us the bio and .jpg.
___________
GEAR UP - CONTESTS, MENTORING, AND CRITIQUES
Get ready. Start now to plan for ACWC. That means preparing work to be critiqued, or for mentoring, and especially for our contests. You will hear me say this from here forward. CONSIDER A PAID CRITIQUE. They are such a vital part of your writing career. Critiques help you not only have an experienced set of eyes on your work, but it's excellent guidance. Direction. They help you learn to accept criticsm as a good thing, not a personal attack, and they help you develop professional relationships that can lead to open doors later on. This is an opportunity to learn from those who have trod before you. Take advantage. Visit our website and click on Critiques. Sign up for a critique. It's an important experience.
Mentoring - At this point I can say we are the only conference I know of that provides the opportunity for 1.5 hours of private mentoring. This is a pot of gold. In private mentoring you have an extended time with detailed work put into your manuscript to help you hone and make it better. Vonda Skelton is mentoring for non-fiction and speaking. Yvonne Lehman, author of over 50 books, is mentoring for fiction. Edie Melson is mentoring for websites and social media. And Linda Gilden is mentoring for non-fiction and articles. OH MY WORD - I've said it before, but I'll say it again, I would have paid $100 for and hour of one-on-one time with Yvonne Lehman when I was learning fiction. Now, you need to have a manuscript to be mentored. No, it doesn't have to be complete, but it does need to be at least 5 chapters in. There has to be something to work with. Vonda can help you with your speaking, and how to develop your tribe, she can lead you in non-fiction. Yvonne can help you make your fiction a hit-to-the-gut. Linda can help you with non-fiction and how to make it speak to a wider audience, and Edie's knowledge of website appearance and social media will help you build your platform. All this to say, this is money well spent and something, that if you are far enough along, you want to be a part of. Slots fill quickly so if you want mentoring, let me know NOW!
Contests - We have the Badge of Honor Book Contest which is given to the best manuscript submitted. The prize is a beautiful plaque and the opportunity for your manuscript to go before the publishing board of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas for a possible contract. The winning book must meet the publication board requirements before it's given a contract but it's an awesome opportunity. Some of our past winners are Nan Jones, Jayme Mansfield, and Laura Poole. This is an awesome opportunity. The book contest is led by Sarah Thomas and are judged by a panel of well published authors and agents. Consider taking a leap of faith and enter.
Devotions contest: Each year we choose a winner from our devotions entries as well. Step out. Make the effort and enter.
*I am still working on the Class Schedule. Those will hopefully be listed in the next couple of weeks on our website.
FINALLY
If you have not completed your final payments - please do so. I am expected to make a payment very soon to the Cove.
*We have room for 29 more conferees. The on-site housing is closed, but the three hotels we overflow into are literally just a few hundred feet from the Cove's entrance. There's plenty of housing off campus. Below are the links for final payment. Thank you to all of those who have completed your payment. I urge those with remaining balances to pay soon. Most of you are sharing as a DOUBLE. You will need to choose the room occupancy and if you paid the $95 pre-registration or if you paid $25 deposit at the last conference. You're going to see this every newsletter. Pay close attention to the links and pay according to your room choice. I have to nail down the reservations in November. Your promptness on this will be so helpful.
God has instructed us to be good stewards of His provision, and that means paying our bills ON TIME if not sooner. He has blessed us at the end of each conference to be debt free and that happens because you are gracious enough to pay your conference registrations on time. Thank you for that.
If you have paid a deposit of $95 - Here is your link for final payments. Choose your room and click and make your payment by November 1. All links have a $6.50 PayPal surcharge added. Sorry but processing costs continue to rise and we cannot absorb it - it will show as SHIPPING.
Triple Room - (Please do not choose a triple unless you have roommates in line and have contacted me) - I know we have some writers groups and families who attend so I have you already. But it's those new ones that throw me for a loop).
Click here for a triple room less $95 deposit
Double Room - If you have paid $95 against your reservation for a double room
Click here for double room less $95 deposit
Single Room - If you have paid $95 against your reservation for a single room
Click here for single room less $95 deposit
IF YOU PAID $25 deposit at Boot Camp 2016 these are your payment links and it's due November 1
Triple less $25 deposit
Click here for triple room less $25 deposit
Double less $25 deposit
Click here for double room less $25 deposit
Single less $25 deposit
Click here for single room less $25 deposit
Remember FINAL PAYMENTS ARE DUE NOW!
Since I'm so good at repeating myself...Get out your armor
Remember, each piece of the armor is vital. The belt supports the core of your body. That's the truth of God. The breastplate protects the center of who you are - the heart. That is physical and the soul which is spiritual. Gird up friends. Prepare. We march as an army together to write the words God leads us to write. There will be hardships at times, but there will be overcoming and rejoicing as well. Re-read our last message and take action.
Re-read our last message
THE CALL FROM GOD
We looked at 1 Samuel 17 and the story of David and Goliath in our last letter, and how David trusted in his call from God. He bolted onto the battlefield with a few stones and a sling, then in his trust in God, took aim and killed Goliath. Today, I want you to go to the next step. Take a look at Ephesians 6. It's time to suit up, people.
You're going to find that the closer you come to ACWC, the harder it becomes to do the work. Issues will arise, laziness happens, dread, you question whether you need to attend. SUIT UP and put on the armor of God.
Don't think of the armor of God as symbolic, instead, close your eyes, hold out your arms, and allow the LIVING ARMOR OF GOD to surround you. When Paul chose the armor of a soldier to use as picture for God's armor, he gave you a symbolic snapshot of the protection found in Christ. But this protection is not just symbolic, it's very real and when you lift your arms to God and allow Him to slip on His living protection, you are able to fight amazing battles.
As our conference draws closer, remember you have been prayed for. We asked specifically for God to send those who He is calling to His writing work. You have answered the call. There will be temptations, frustrations, life attacks because the evil one does not like it when we obey. Gird yourself in the armor - the LIVING ARMOR of God and stand firm.
Your gifts, talents, and passions for the written word are nestled in your soul. Now is the time. You are called to write. Now, do it.
Our theme for ACWC this year is the Youthful Faith of David. You have the example of faith and trust through David. Now you have the armor of God. Wear it, day in and day out.
Much love,
Cindy Sproles
Director
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