Newsletters

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And the fun begins . . .

My summer of conference travel has concluded. Did I say I was a little tired? Seems that as my travel slows, Eddie's picks up. He's doing a few more late summer and fall conferences. Either way - we've both been burning the candle at both ends.

So here we are ramping up for our February conference and I'm excited. I'm excited for a couple of reasons. 1) We're just over half filled. There are still about 20 rooms available on campus at the Cove and those will fill up quickly once I start pushing them.

Here's the thing, I still have about 15 folks who have not yet responded to me about their room preference or if they are taking a double, who their roomie is. I need to know ASAP so we know just how many rooms to open up and advertise.

If you've attended ACWC in the past, then you know the wonderful accomodations at the Cove. They are certainly premium and you can understand why it is important for us to open up rooms as soon as possible.

I've worked ALL DAY on housing. I knew it would take a full day, even with the jump I had on it. So if you received an email from me with your invoice for remaining payment attached, I ask that you tend to this as soon as possible so we are able to make our payment deadlines to our vendors.  If you received a note asking if you were planning on attending - RESPOND QUICKLY. That means you are one of those who we are waiting on. 

All that to say, HURRY! And thank you in advance.

Housing is truly a tough job. With limited space it can get pretty hairy so help me out and don't make me continue to waste time if you do not plan to attend. I SAY THAT WITH GREAT LOVE!

TO FACULTY - You will be receiving your contracts after Sept 15. Watch for those. Also we'll be sending info on the bookstore. Be gathering your handout pages. You can check the site to remind you of the classes you will be teaching. It's been awhile since you sent those and you've only attended 20 or so conferences since that time! LOL

TO CONFEREES
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships open to apply from September 30 through November 24. Visit https://www.ashevillechristianwritersconference.com/scholarships if you have friends who may want to attend but cannot financially make it happen. Our scholarships are chosen by a panel who have no vested interest in attending.

Contests
Each year we offer contests for our conferees to enter. It's great practice for you to 1) invest a little skin in your work and 2) learn how to participate, win or lose. Check out the contest page https://www.ashevillechristianwritersconference.com/bookcontest. Get ready to enter NOW! We want to see your work.


Mark our email as safe so it does not go to your trash or spam.
These emails are one of two ways to keep you informed of updates, changes, and additions. If you are not receiving the emails, please mark our address as safe so we don't go to your spam or trash. If you still do not receive the emails, every newsletter will be posted on the website Under Conference Updates - Newsletters. You should check that page on a regular basis so you do not miss out on important information. ESPECIALLY beginning in January when our additional teaching emails begin. You won't want to miss those.

Also, keep in mind if you feel it necessary to contact me regarding one of these emails
DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.
Instead, reply to [email protected]
If you respond to these emails the thread becomes LONG - WAY LONGER THAN I AM TALL! Often I will not see your email, so if you need an answer...respond to [email protected].

ROSTER
If you are new to our ranks then send me a short bio (50 words and include your website and email in that). Also send, AS AN ATTACHMENT, a photo of yourself. We put together a roster yearly to serve as your networking tool. You'll be glad to have this on the first day of the conference because it will not only serve as your networking tool, but it will help you recognize faces. That, in and of itself, is valuable.

Even if we had your SHORT bio last year, resend it along with a photo. Attach your photo as an attachment not in the body of the email. Short means 50 words. You can do it. Remember, we don't need your life history, just a snapshot of who you are for the roster. Send it to [email protected]  (This one says bio and photo! )

You're going to see me repeat a few things OVER AND OVER. It's because there is always someone who misses something. Bear with me!

VISIT THE SITE!
Go to our site www.ashevillechristianwritersconference.com and read through. Everything you need is on the site. INCLUDING THE SCHEDULE. It may have some tweaks as we move along, but basically it's good.  We want you to be comfortable when you arrive so spend some time on the site and get to know the faculty. As time progresses we'll talk more about paid critiques and mentoring. If you want some amazing one-on-one time, then consider a mentoring session. It will be money well spent as an investment in your career.

Additional charges
Every conference offers add-ons for their conferees. They are not required but they are certainly well worth your time and money. We encourage you to learn to prepare for a conference by knowing  you will want to take advantage of of these additonal items. Start now investing in your writing career. You will be glad you did. Here are a few optional things:

MP3s of the full conference. These will cost you $30 for the full conference including keynotes. The only thing you will NOT HAVE is praise and worship. We cannot record the music. Sorry, it's a copyright issue.  We provide you a book with every class handout. Purchase the MP3s and you have the full conference at home, along with handouts, forever and ever. The money raised through the sale of MP3s goes directly to scholarships.

Mentoring are on-hour sessions with the one of our faculty members who is mentoring. Linda Gilden mentors non-fiction and speakers, Edie Melson mentors social media and blogs, Larry Leech mentors fiction, non-fiction and memiors. Yvonne Lehman mentors fiction and advanced writers. Les Stobbe will mentor non-fiction.

Critiques are a paid service. This is well worth your effort to have a professional look over your work and offer you some guidance.

Contests are always great ways to grow.

Again, if you have responded to me about your housing...DO IT NOW! I can only hold rooms a short time before I have to assume you are not attending.

We can't wait to see you so gear up and get ready to step up and step out!

Begin to pray that God will send those He would have attend. This is first and foremost, the most important task.

Here's your thought to kick off our conference:
   Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.~ Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV


You are not alone in the this venture to become a writer. You don't have the privilege to whine and whimper that writing is hard or no one wants your work. Get over it. You're not alone.

I dare say, there isn't a writer alive who hasn't felt the struggle of learning the craft or who hasn't felt the sting of numerous rejections (all in a row). It's part of the process.

My Momma used to say, "If it's worth havin, then the work is worth doin." She was, and still is, right. If I find myself whining a tiny bit, my 92-year-old Momma is quick to nip it in the bud. After all, she should know. She's a master quilter and her work is amazing. Her fingers are bent, knuckles swollen from arthritis, but Mom continues to turn out quilt after quilt with masterful skill. She amazes me and when I ask her what prompts her determination to keep on keepin on, she is quick to remind me, God has empowered her with a gift. It's not up to her when to stop. It's up to her to do it to the best of her ability until Christ takes her home.

 Paul reminded us we are all able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine. Our problem is, we don't ask or imagine. We start. Stick our toe in the water, and if it's too cold, yank it out and cry we can't manage.

Think about Paul's words. To Him who is ABLE to do IMMEASURABLY MORE than we ASK or IMAGINE, according to his POWER that is AT WORK WITH IN US.  Did you realize you had such power at your fingertips? Well, you do.

As we ramp up toward our February conference, I want you to read Ephesians 3 and 4. Think on it. Take it apart. Let it soak in. Realize the gift God has placed before you and understand He is able to do immeasurablely more that you ask or imagine.

You can write. You can. You can because He is in you working to do more than you imagine. Let Him.

Remember, you are being prayed for daily. Our prayer team has your names. We have asked that God send those He'd have attend that we might help them discover the unimaginable.

Blessings,

Cindy Sproles
Director, Asheville Christian Writers Conference