February 11, 2026 Newsletter and Lesson 1 Extended Lessons
Sunday, January 11, 2026 by Cindy K. Sproles

Time is Ticking Away

We are seven weeks out. Can you believe it? Holy clock ticking, Batman!

It's been a group effort, and I want to thank my kind helpers, Terri Kelly and Denise Jenkins, for keeping me on track. When we started this conference 20 years ago, our first gathering was in 2006. I'm not Eddie, nor did I figure it would grow into such a beloved little conference. But we'll chat about that later. Let me get to the STUFF before I forget.

IMPORTANT NEWS - I am seeing that one or two of you have unsubscribed from our newsletter, which, by the way, baffles me. I haven't bombarded you with email, but I digress. This newsletter keeps you informed about changes, updates, and check-ins. So, please, don't unsubscribe until after the conference. I'll tell you now, you'll get one email a week through the conference date. Maybe an extra here or there, but only with important information. You can check the website at www.ashevillechristianwritersconference.com/newsletters. And keep a check on your email from me. I try my best to email you through Mailerlite, via my personal conference email, and via the website to keep you posted.

Critiques and Mentoring - Our mentors are quickly filling. If you contact Terri and do not get the mentor you want, it doesn't mean other faculty mentors cannot help. Terri will match you up with the perfect mentor, but you need to do this quickly, as our window for those mentoring appointments is closing soon. Our mentors need time to assess your work, make notes, and prepare for a 1-hour mentoring time with you. So, if you think you want a mentor, step it up and contact Terri @ [email protected].

That said, we brought Beth Fortune on a bit later and did not get all her mentoring up on the site. She will do: Articles, Devotions, Bible Study Ideas and Plans, and developing a women's ministry or a speaking ministry. Beth is good, and with years of experience under her belt, she'll guide you the right way.

Billy Arrington does plays and lyrics. He also develops a ministry.

Larry Leech does fiction and non-fiction. Denise Loock and Andrea Merrell both do all the writing. Edie Melson does websites, social media, and non-fiction. Our mentors are amazing. That said, hurry up if you want one of those spots.

*We will not record our classes this year! - I know, I sorta hear some boo hisses but I asked last week and had not one response. As a ministry, Christian Devotions works hard to be a good steward of the funds God provides. It costs us $900 to pay someone at the Cove to record and edit, then flip those recordings to MP3s. I had no response, so we will not sell MP3s this year.

*Devotion Contest - This contest is still open. But the door closes on that soon. We encourage you to enter. All those devotions are put on the website after editing, and Martin and Andrea will help get them into the format necessary for publication on the site. But the biggest thing is stepping out and allowing your work to be judged. Don't hesitate. Don't be afraid. Just do it. It's great to stretch your writing muscles.

* Unpaid Invoices - Denise and I spent several hours last week billing the remaining amounts due. You have until Feb. 13 to pay this invoice. I urge you to do that as quickly as possible. We are on the line to pay the bills so your prompt attention to this will help us. ?I realize a few of you registered and paid the deposit last week, and we have not billed you yet. We will be doing that this week and you will have an additional week to pay. Thank you to those who were Johnny-on-the-spot and paid as soon as you received the invoice. I can't tell you how this helps. So, if you have not completed that step, know that I cannot complete your registration until you do. So, hurry. And thank you.

*Week one of extended learning - This week begins your extended learning blog posts. We can't possibly cram all we want you to know in the short time frame we have. So, for the next seven weeks, we will send a weekly lesson. These will be listed on our website under the blog, but they are linked here for your convenience. Now, we don't need these turned in. These are things you can study and apply to your writing at home, so spend a little extra time and read through them, then do the short assignment. This week's lesson is from the amazing Denise Loock and is called Five Ways to Impress an Editor . Click on the title or go to the blog on the website.

And Finally...

The last two years have been a real trial for our family. But then, who doesn't have trials, right? We've struggled, and through the struggle, I am amazed at how God continues to lead our family, guide me and my worrisome ways, and still care for us. But He does.

It's hard when we are placed in difficult situations to actually depend on God to lead us through. Publishing is a tough business. We'd all like to believe that it's a piece of cake. A publisher will see you, love your work, and boom! Publish it. This is just not the reality. There are rejections, and just because you may be an author who has published multiple books, it doesn't exclude you from the rejection pile.

The hard part is actually accepting that God's plan for your writing may not be exactly what you had in mind. His direction may lead you to a style or genre you didn't expect. His timing is perfect, so those rejections just mean you keep working, and when God sees the plan for your work pop into the timeline, it WILL publish.

The hard thing for our family has been trusting that God is in control. I had to let loose and let Him work in His time. When I did, He did amazing and miraculous things that only HE can do. Better yet, we are far better off. So, when you dig into this industry, remember to give your work to God and mean it. Do the work, write. Then step to the side and let God take control. It may not make sense, but trust me. It will.

We hope that your time with us will show you the joy in learning to trust and wait. You are a writer, whether you are learning or seasoned. You've been called. You're here because you heard and obeyed. Don't rush the Master. Instead, let Him lead you by the still waters and restore your soul while you wait.

We'll see you soon!

Cindy?

Comments

Theresa Gleason From Dandridge TN At 1/14/2026 9:07:01 AM

Well, well! NOW, I have a fun reason to check my email more regularly! This is my 1st newsletter and I'm the type of person who would have bought those Mp3 conference recordings..... **here's my mournful boo hisses**** But, wow, $900 is a huge expense for that. I had no idea!