January 26 Newsletter - Assignment 4

January 26 Newsletter - Assignment 4
Monday, January 27, 2020 by Cindy Sproles

Assignment 4 is on the site
Assignment 4 is now available on the site for your at home homework. (Is that an oxymoron?) Either way, Andrea Merrell has provided you with a nice post about perception. I do hope you are working through these short posts in your FREE time. They are simply additional helps for you that we felt like were gravy on the biscuits.

Here is the link for assignment 4:  https://ashevillechristianwritersconference.com/acwcwritersblog/120-Sensory-Perception-Enhances-Your-Writing--Assignment-4?sel=1-

** Continue to check the blog for additional posts throughout the week. I think I have enough to double up for you.

ALSO NEW CONFEREES and ALREADY SIGNED UP CONFEREES, if you have not yet sent your bio and (25-50 words) and a photo to Andrea . Just click her name and an email will pop up for you to send it to her. These bios are important for our conference. It's part of our networking tool. Please help us by sending these along asap. Time is running out to add you to this networking tool and we want you all in here.

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If you have not joined our ACWC facebook page - please do.  From here forward, you'll find important updates as well as posts from InspireAFire.com, which is part of our ministry. ( https://www.facebook.com/Asheville-Christian-Writers-Conference-388703764478971/ ).
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REMINDER - MENTORING AND CRITIQUES
I realize many of you are brand new to writing and to writing conferences. Given that, let me say that a mentoring session is amazing. I know some feel like they don't have anything to offer, but if you've written a few pages, consider taking time to schedule a mentoring appointment. It's so valuable.

Mentoring - There are still some individual mentoring appointments available. I cannot stress to you enough the important of this valuable one-on-one time with professionals. You can learn so much in one hour of undistracted work. The cost is min. and the information you will glean from this time will be amazing. Our mentors are:
Edie Melson - social media and blogs
Linda Gilden - Non-fiction and speaking
Larry Leech - Fiction and non-fiction
Les Stobbe - Non-fiction and fiction
Eddie Jones - Fiction and self-publishing the right way
Yvonne Lehman - Fiction
Folks, again, this is money well spent. You don't have to a full manuscript to do mentoring. You simply have to have a few pages that your mentor can work with. Now...this is not to say they will teach you to write. That's your responsibility but baby...will they guide what you do. Take advantage of this. Every one of these mentors have 20-50 years of experience. Don't miss this opportunity.

ADDED BONUS - Linda Gilden will be teaching a small workshop that will be available to 3-5 conferees. This small workshop will give you some wonderful opportunity to work closely with Linda on your writing in a small group session. The time and class will be announced next week. If you feel like you would benefit from this there will be a signup sheet at the conference. Remember, the workshop is limited to 3-5 folks.

Critique - A paid critique is just a bite in time. A fast look as a short piece of work for some immediate fixes and suggestions. Again, money well spent. I've done critiques with conferees that needed some little tweaks and boom, they published on websites and in magazines. These are great 15 minute appointments directed specifically at your work.

You can contact Terri Kelly via email to sign up for your mentoring or critique. Terri will give you all the necessary information you need to participate in this. Just click her name for the link to her email.
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REMEMBER TO CONTINUE TO CHECK THE WEBSITE CONFERENCE UPDATES

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MP3's
What is the benefit of the MP3s? Whether it's ACWC or any other conference you attend, we want you to get in the habit of purchasing the MP3s or Conference CD's. These are all the classes that are taped throughout the full conference. Some conferences allow you to pick and choose classes, others like us, set a price for the full conference recordings. PEOPLE THESE ARE A MUST HAVE. Why? Because when you go home, you have the conference for years to come. I can't tell you at the times I have referred back to classes I've been in attendance and re-listened to them. Another advantage is you can take the classes YOU NEED face time with the instructor and not feel like you are missing other important classes. You'll have them for home. While you are at a conference, attend classes that help you WHERE YOU ARE in your writing, then listen to the others once you get home. Our conference is the only conference I know of, that provides you a printed book of all the class handouts. It's printed nicely so you have it to take home. That, along with your MP3's will give you the full conference at home. The only requirement is we ask that you DO NOT share them with folks outside our conference. You paid to attend our conference and our faculty has entrusted you with their recording and handouts. Please respect the copyright. The cost for our full conference is $35 for the MPs. You can purchase these at the bookstore. See Wendy Leech. We'll take your email address and when the MP3s are uploaded to a password protected page, we will notify you and you will have 1 month to download them before the page shuts down. NOW! These are generally ready about month after the conference, sometimes sooner. If you do not receive a notice from us they are ready, please contact myself or Martin. We will post an announcement on the site and we will email you the instructions and password to the page. Invest in your future of writing. Purchase the MP3's.
The money from the MP3s goes straight to our scholarship fund so when you purchase them, you are providing a scholarship for someone next year.
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PRE-REGISTRATION FOR 2021
We offer a one-time opportunity to secure an on-campus room at the Cove during our conference. This is pre-registration for 2021. The cost is $25 to hold your room ON CAMPUS at the Cove. These rooms sell out quickly and if you loved our conference then spring for your 2021 spot. Once you pay the $25, you will let us know if you want a single or a double room. (If you want a double, do you have a roomie that may come). Then in August, I'll verify your desire to attend the conference. If I do not hear back from you, the $25 goes into our scholarship fund. If I DO hear back, then we subtract it from the remaining cost of your conference price. Our plan for the Cove next year is to move into the main conference hall. We're testing the waters for allowing about 25-30 additional conferees to attend. Currently we can only house 119 and we generally have a waiting list of about 25. It would be wonderful to not have to turn those few additional folks away. So we sticking our toe in the water and we'll see if the fish bite. Consider attending our 2021 conference. Our faculty is nearly complete - HINT - Lynette Eason, mega selling-author. We might consider Bob again...who knows. And we have a few other surprises tucked under our belt for 2021. Join us at the Cove for the 2021 Asheville Christian Writers Conference. You can register with Wendy in the bookstore and pay your $25.

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He Is the Humble Servant

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. - James 4:10 NIV

When will the wilderness end? That's the question I ask. Listing all the STUFF that has happened in our family over the last 4 years would wear you thin. Our family is no different than yours. We have periods of time when life is grand and then we have these spurts. You know, the kind that make you say, "Really God. Not another one!"

Eddie and I talked once about walking through the desert - those times you feel like God has shunned you, turned a cold shoulder. I've since grown deeper in my relationship with God and I've learned God never directs me into the desert. Instead, he steers me toward the wilderness. What's the difference? Well, the desert is dry, hot, and sandy. There is no relief in sight for hundreds of miles. The wilderness though...that's different. In the wilderness we may feel a little like the Israelites, but God always provides for us. Always. Even when we don't see how He possibly could or would. He is a God of promise and great love. He would never hang us out to dry, and He certainly doesn't. We may wander a bit, but the provision is always there if we look.

In my writing career, I've asked God numerous times to simply allow me to be a writer. I've promised that the work I do will be to His glory and not mine. In fact, I arrogantly thought I was being humble - I wanted God to see I meant the promise. So be humble. Right? Oh so wrong. I began to ponder that word humble and I came to the conclusion, it's never really me who is being humble. It's God. In His humility He sent His son. In His humility, He continually does for me - over and over again. In His loving humility, He provides for me, even when I walk through the wilderness. I could never personally match up to Him, but then God doesn't expect me to. He simply expects my best. He asks for my love and He loves me unconditionally, despite my mess-ups. God is a humble and loving Father. I often call Him, Abba.

Several years ago, before my first novel sold, I remember talking to Dee Dee (She reminds me of this frequently). I remember telling her, I didn't think I would ever be a writer. (That's my paraphrase) and Dee Dee sweetly hugged me and reminded me, God's plan holds a spot for me. And sure enough, she was right. God's plan held an amazing spot for me. One that continues to surprise me. When I feel like I'm so undeserving, God says, Cindy, yes you are. In His loving humility, He gifts me words that tell stories, I alone could never conceive. Even when I walk through the wilderness, His humility continues to teach me by His faithfulness. Oh to be like Him. How could I ever humble my sinful natured self enough to be worthy?

James tells us to simply humble ourselves to the Lord and when we do He will lift us up. Humility is hard for humans because we are somewhat selfish by nature, but when we do our best to truthfully give of ourselves, go to our knees to the Father and tell Him how we love Him and why. He lifts us up and a clear path through the wilderness shines through.

If we teach you nothing more at this conference, than to humble yourself to the Lord, then we have done what God has instructed. For our humility is not always to mankind, rather to the Lord who leads us through the wilderness so that we learn of His faithfulness and love. Remember as you write, to write for HIM not you. Keep your knees planted firmly on the ground and be the tool. Tools are things we use to accomplish a task. Be a tool so God can accomplish the task He has set in place for you. Don't try to tell Him how to do His job, rather be humble before Him and He will lift you up. And trust me, when God lifts you up, you will be so overwhelmed with joy, that it will take your breath.

I listed the provision for our family in this wilderness we are currently walking. This past week alone, these things have happened. We were given provision for our hotel rooms for us and our boys at Vanderbilt while Tim is hospitalized. One friend has rented a room in Nashville to come and spend the entire week to ten days with us so I am not alone. Three families from our church are driving 5 hours down a day early, staying the night in Nashville, to be with us while Tim is in surgery. We were provided funds to cover two months of my paychecks while I am out of work caring for my Prince. I've written down 5 new ideas for novels when I was unsure I've ever have inspiration again. In the wilderness, God provides. In His humility, He loves fiercely.

He is the servant whose heart is overflowing with love. How will you respond when you are in the wilderness? I wonder.

Much love to you all.
Cin