August Newsletter - WELCOME TO ACWC
Sunday, August 29, 2021 by Cindy Sproles

Welcome to the 2022 Asheville Christian

Writers Conference

Welcome to the August Newsletter for the Asheville Christian Writers Conference!

We are so glad you have registered to join us in February. As we begin to gear up for the conference there are a couple of things I need you to do.

1) Make sure you mark this email address as safe in your browser security. Sometimes we get snagged as spam - which we are NOT! But this is our only way to connect with you. Well, sorta. But it's the biggest and fastest way. So mark us as safe and if you change an email, please notify me at [email protected]

2) We are offering the largest faculty we have ever offered to our conferees and we are planning on going live online again this year. This means we have stepped out in faith financially, trusting God will provide for our needs. PLEASE BEGIN NOW, PRAYING FOR THIS CONFERENCE AND OUR STAFF.

3) Check the website for monthly updates. We have a specific page, that should you not get the emails, you can go here for the most current information. As we draw closer to the conference (7 weeks prior) we will begin weekly updates and offer you some additional training you can do at home. This makes us unique. So keep this in mind. You can find this page at https://ashevillechristianwritersconference.com/newsletters. I also, try as I might, to send you a link via email to this newsletter each time I do one. So let it be known, if you don't get the info, it's not that I haven't tried. THIS IS WHY YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS MUST BE CORRECT.

4) Speaking of email addresses: I realize that some folks have a separate email address they use when paying through Pay Pal. The only email address I have is THAT EMAIL that comes on your confirmation report. IF your regular email address is different, please, please, please, send me a note at [email protected]

5) IF YOU HAVE REGISTERED AS STAYING IN A DOUBLE ROOM, please email me with your roommate's name. It's important that you understand due to COVID restrictions, I cannot match folks up in rooms. I have, in the past, been able to assign roomies. I can't do that anymore due to COVID (BOO-HISS). That being said, if you have signed up for a DOUBLE room and you don't have a roommate, you will be bumped into a single room and charged accordingly. I'm sorry. I wish it weren't this way, but say THANK YOU COVID for making life rough on every account. Some of you have registered your spouse (wonderful) but I need their name. So please send that to me at [email protected] and if you would do that quickly.

There! I think that's the housekeeping for now.

_______________________

MOVING ON!
Like I said, we have the largest faculty EVER! And without a doubt, they are the industry's best. For starters we have Bob Hostetler, Eva Marie Everson. Both are best-selling, award-winning authors. But to them, we drop in the amazing DiAnn Mills - I can't even say how many awards DiAnn has stacked up and just how many of those are Christy Awards. She is wonderful and is Co-Director Emeritis of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference so just between Bob, Eva, and DiAnn you have blockbuster teaching. (I'm so excited).

THEN we put the icing on the cake with the Director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, EDIE MELSON. Edie is the guru of social media. So much so, we give her 2 straight hours to teach you on Friday.

We are adding to our teaching platform, non-fiction writer, Candy Arrington and YA author Tryan Souder, as well as magazine writer and speaker, Lori Hatcher and author/assistant Director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Writers Conference, Edwina Perkins. They are nothing short of amazing. And we are bringing back the super-duper, Nancy Lohr, Sarah Loudin Thomas, Terri Kelly, Larry Leech, Les Stobbe, Linda Gilden, Andrea Merrell and Denise Loock. Then we have newcomer, Editor for ChristianDevotions.us, Martin Wiles. Agent, Linda Glaze and on-line with us, Deb Haggerty with Elk Lake Publishing. We are hoping for one more publisher and are waiting on her response. Oh my goodness...I shudder to think I left someone off. That's why it's important that you visit the website and look over the faculty. https://ashevillechristianwritersconference.com/faculty

DiAnn Mills Eva Marie Everson Bob Hostetler

We will offer you information on mentoring as we get those mentors lined up. This additional instruction. One-on-one for 30 minutes with the mentor of your choice. It's at an additional cost, but trust me, well worth your time and money.

We will also have paid critiques available. These also are a shortened version of mentoring but well worth your money.

I do not have the classes up on the site yet. I hope to be working on that this week. But know that we start this conference at 1 p.m. on Friday and we don't stop until noon on Sunday. Those Friday classes are early bird, and there is NOT an additional cost for those.

We are planning to do live online, God willing. Please pray for this and for our attendance. I know that so many still fear COVID and it is something that haunts us all. I will say this. We adhere to whatever mandates are placed on us by the State of NC and by the personal policies of the Cove. Currently, the Cove is not requiring masks, but know that this could change as we move closer to February and Covid cases climb. We will keep you up-to-snuff on those mandates as we get them and we ask that you leave your politics at home. We are gathering to train writers for God's call to write on their lives...not to divide and debate whether or not to be vaccinated or to wear a mask. If you cannot adhere to the mandates that are placed on us, then rather than signing up for the in-person conference, we encourage you to have the experience via the live online conference.

Okay. I think that is enough for today. Trust me, there could be more! But for now, this will do it. Below you will find your words of encouragement.

Much love,
Cindy Sproles

Director

Be Your Best

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. - Titus 2:7-8 ESV

We are writing Christians. Whether we write in the Christian market or in the general market. I personally believe we need to step out of our "Christianese" comfort zone and reach out to a world that obviously needs us and the Word of God, but we can't do that effectively if we do not change our mindset.

In this time we live in, even the kindest of hearts will come to arms over things with which we have no control. The world and the evil one are shouting with joy every time we lose sight of that which God has called us to. Titus tells us to show ourselves as a model of good works. He uses words like integrity, dignity, and sound speech so that...you can not be put to shame or have evil spoken of you. Wow. Who would have imagined how difficult this would be in this day in time?

When we write, it's easy to get caught up in the rings of fire that surround us, but it is vital that we remain focused on God and not let ourselves be drawn into the flames. When we write, write with integrity and dignity, not anger and disgust. Avoid stepping into the social media fires that can tear us down. In other words, even when it is difficult, be a light because you may be the only light someone sees.

Even when it is hard, look to the Father. When you are tempted to lash out with your words, be they from your mouth or your pen, look to the Father. Gaze into the deep loving eyes of God. Swallow the anger, pride, and determination to make a point and look to the Father.

We live in a time when more than less, do not even know who Christ is. Did you hear that...MORE than less. We are needed in the marketplace as examples, as light, as that which God calls us to be. Our example can and will change hearts. You carry a might sword - the written word.

As you write, pray fervently over your work. Ask God to direct your words and to remove any animosity. Write with purity and love. Write with the words given to you by the Holy Spirit and do not be fooled by what the enemy can do to drag you into the chaos. Christ needs you to be the mouthpiece of His Word.

Be your best. Write prayerfully and with integrity and peace. Be a light.