2020 Carolina Christian Writers Conference
Friday, March 27 – Saturday, March 28, 2020.
The 2020 Carolina Christian Writers Conference will be held at First Baptist Spartanburg, March 27th and 28th, 2020. This two-day event will offer you the opportunity to learn from professionals in the publishing industry. Those who attend can learn about fiction, nonfiction, article writing, humor, children’s writing, book proposals, social networking and more. Discover how to take your story from idea to the printed page. Pitch your work to editors and publishers. Explore the mechanics of good writing and the importance of writing with excellence to change the world. Get encouragement and instruction from professionals.
Now is the time to realize your dream of being a published author. If you are a new writer who wants to learn how to break into the publishing world, this conference is for you. If you are an experienced writer looking for new markets and wanting to network with other writers, this conference is for you. All writers can benefit from two days of companionship, learning, worship, and encouragement.
Information for Writing Contest to come.
REGISTRATION
Registration for the 2020 Writers Conference is now open
For more information contact Linda Gilden
Director, Carolina Christian Writers Conference
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Friday,
March 27, 2020
9:30 a.m. –noon
M
(There is an extra charge for the above optional workshop. Register online or by calling 864-699-4314. $45 before the conference, $60 at the door).
11-noon FREE – Making the Most of the Conference
11-noon Prearranged Appointments with Faculty
Noon – Faculty Meeting
1:00 – 1:25 – Registration – Pick up Packets and Badges
1:30 – 2:30 – Welcome and Instruction – Linda Gilden, Carolina Christian Writers Conference Director
Staff Introductions, Appointment Sign Up, and Networking
3:00 – 3:55 – Workshop 1
4:05 – 5:00 – Workshop 2
5:00 – 6:30 Dinner – On Your Own (restaurant list in your folder)
6:30 – 6:50 – Praise and Worship led by Courtney Johnson and Kelli Wolfe
6:50 – 7:15 Explanation of Genre Groups
Keynote Speaker
7:30 – 8:30 – Interactive Genre Groups
Fiction—
Nonfiction Books—
Magazine Articles—
Marketing—
Children
Devotions
Speaking
Writing for the Web
Saturday, March 28, 2020
8:30 – 9:00 – Registration
9:00 – Opening
9:15 – Praise and Worship—led by Courtney Johnson, Kelli Wolfe and Teresa Holliday
9:30 – 10:15 – Keynote Speaker
10:25 – 11:20 – Workshop 3
11:30-12:00 Book Signing
12:10-12:50—Lunch With Faculty
1:05 – 1:55 – Lightning Learning
2:05 – 3:00 – Workshop 4
3:10 – 4:00 Closing Session
Keynote Speaker
Keynote Speaker
Keynote Speaker Information – To Come
OPTIONAL FRIDAY MORNING WORKSHOP
Friday morning 9:30-Noon Cost $45 if preregistered, $60 at the door.
Gathering Your Tribe: How to Grow an Email List From Zero – 1000.
Do you have a large dusty email list? Or have you just realized you need a list and don’t know where to begin? This hands-on class will show you how to rapidly build an email list that connects with your readers. An email list is your direct contact people who want to hear from you. In this step-by-step class Rhonda Robinson will take you through every stage of the process, from setting up your email, creating content, and strategy, to cultivating a tribe of readers eagerly awaiting your next book.
Manuscript Critiques
Critique fee is $35.
Are you interested in taking your writing to the next level? A good way to determine if you are ready for publication is by submitting your manuscript for critique. Some shy away from having a manuscript evaluated, but if you are serious about improving your writing and achieving publication, a manuscript critique is an important step in the process. And it is a great way to learn from a professional what mistakes you are making in your writing. We look forward to helping you.
CCWC CONTEST GUIDELINES
Deadline: February 1, 2020
Welcome to the 2nd annual writing contest of the CCWC! It is our prayer that through this contest, we encourage authors to confirm their calling. This part of the contest is limited to attendees whose entries are unpublished and uncontracted for the category entered.
The fee attached to each entry contributes to our Scholarship Fund, enabling talented but financially challenged writers to attend the conference. Thus, when you enter the contest, you are investing not only in your own professional growth, but also in God’s plan of provision for others.
Rules, guidelines, and fees are listed below. Please read and follow them carefully so as to ensure a valid entry.
Praying for you as you write for Him!
Dalene Parker
CCWC Contest Director
View Guidelines
CATEGORY GUIDELINES
| ARTICLES |
Submit your nonfiction article (up to 1200 words)
|
| CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK |
Submit entire manuscript without graphics or illustrations.
|
| DEVOTIONS |
Submit up to five devotions of no more than 300 words each, including the accompanying prayer and scripture/quote.
|
|
NONFICTION BOOKS · Bible Study · Biography · Devotions · How-to · Memoir
|
Submit a one-paragraph summary of the book, the Table of Contents, plus up to the first 2000 words.
|
|
FICTION · Contemporary · Historical/Biblical · Romance · Speculative/Fantasy · Suspense (Mystery/Romance) · Young Adult
|
Submit a one-paragraph summary of the novel, chapter titles, plus up to the first 2000 words.
Note: In your summary, specify which sub-category your novel fits best. Submissions may only be entered in one category, limited to one submission per category. |
| POETRY | Submit your BEST poem(s), up to five, single-spaced, limited to one page each. |
CONTEST RULES:
All entries must adhere to the following specifications or risk being disqualified.
E-mail by or before February 1, 2020 to Dalene Parker:
worddoctor13@gmail.com with CCWC Contest in the subject line.
Format for contest entry:
Cover pageis crucial and should be the first page of your entry,not a separate document.
On the top line of your cover page, center the words CCWC Contest Entry/Category (Name the specific category of your writing).
In the middle of the cover page, please include:
- Title of Entry
- Category with subgenre if applicable
- Total number of entry pages (not counting cover page)
At the bottom of the page, please include the following:
- Name
- Address
- Phone
Your entry pages should be numbered, double-spaced (except for poetry), Times New Roman 12-point font, and have a running title in the header, but no other identifying information.
ENTRY FEE: Make check payable to CCWC at a rate of $25 per entry.
REMEMBER: Make certain you put CCWC Contest on Memo line of check.
Mail check to the following address:
Att: Paula Nichols
First Baptist Church
250 E. Main Street
Spartanburg, SC 29306
You may write your check for the total number of entries. However, please attach only one entry per e-mail. You may enter as many times as you wish as long as you enter only one manuscript per category, or for the novel, per subcategory. Your entry will only be judged if the entry and the entry fee are received on or before February 1, 2020.
Note: If you prefer, contest entry payment may be made on the CCWC website at the same time as your registration for the conference.
Contest winners will be announced at the closing session of the CCWC on March 28, 2020.
Fine print:
- Entries not formatted according to guidelines may be disqualified.
Critiques will not be given on contest entries, but a scoring sheet and comments may be included subject to the judges’ discretion.
- Contest entries will not be returned.
- Categories may be combined as warranted by number of submissions.
- Judges may decide not to declare a winning entry in any category if level of entries does not meet publishing industry standards.
KUDOS AWARDS for PUBLISHED AUTHORS
Note: This part of the contest is not limited to registered conference attendees.
Authors whose works have been published between January 2019 and January 2020 may submit a hard copy of the work along with a $25 entry fee payable to CCWC (Please write KUDOS Conteston memo line).
Categories for KUDOS AWARDS:
- Articles
- Fiction
- Non-fiction
These entries should be postmarked no later than February 1, 2020 and mailed to:
Linda Gilden, CCWC Director
PO Box 85
Moore, SC 29369
EABooks Publishing Opportunity
Experience the excitement of publication from submission to publication
EA Books Publishing is excited to offer a publication opportunity this year. This opportunity is open to all registered attendees of the Carolina Christian Writers Conference 2020. This year one of the EA Books illustrators designed the cover and we love it. Here is the info for this opportunity:
Opportunity for Publication
Twenty to twenty-Five writers will be chosen for inclusion in a book titled, Blessings in Disguise, published by Living Parables, an imprint of EABooks Publishing, making them “published” authors. Authors will be able to purchase books at a reduced rate and keep the profit from their sales.
View Guidelines
- For unpublished authors (can have articles, blogs, or online content published either paid or unpaid, but not a book for which royalties were paid or inclusion in another anthology for which the author was paid)
- Must be registered for the full conference– opportunity not open to single day attendees
- Only those who follow the full submission guidelines will be considered
- Only one submission per person registered for the conference
- Can submit a short story, article, devotion, or poem
- 300-1000-word limit
- Include a 50-word bio at the end of your submission, a title and your name with contact information (email, address, and phone number) at the top of the first page of the submission (none of this is included in submission word count total).
- Standard manuscript format (Times New Roman, 12pt font, double spaced, 1-inch margins, Microsoft Word doc or docx)
- Submissions must be submitted via email attachment to contests@eabookspublishing.com by midnight February 1, 2020 and include CCWC in the subject line.
- Those that best reflect the theme, Blessings in Disguise, who meet submission guidelines, and represent the best writing of a new author, will be chosen for inclusion in the book. Contributors will be announced during the conference.
