If you are a novel writer, check this out:
Blue Ridge “Autumn in the Mountains” Christian Novelist
Retreat
Retreat for beginning and published novelists
October 14-17, 2012
October is the peak season for leaf color in the
mountains of western North Carolina and the perfect time for novelists to come
together for inspiration and improving on the skills and gifts God has made
available to us. We suggest that you have a novel in progress.
All novelists are
welcome to come and learn the craft that applies to all novel writing. The
faculty is Christian and some emphasis will be directed to the CBA market.
Enrollment limited.
Please register early. – Ridgecrest :
1.800.588.7222
LOCATION
Ridgecrest/LifeWay
Conference Center, Ridgecrest ,
NC
(twenty minutes east of Asheville —home of the famous Biltmore House
and Gardens)
All sleeping rooms
and classes for the Novel Retreat are in
Program Fee - $295 per person when staying on campus.
Deluxe Accommodations- $69 per night
Meal Package - $96 per person (begin with dinner on Sunday and end with Lunch on Wednesday.)
CONTESTS AND CRITIQUE
CONTESTS - $0-$15
entry fee (DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER
17, 2012 )
Send entries to
yvonnelehman3@gmail.com
- Best title (no fee) (receive
certificate)
- Best first sentence (no fee) (receive
certificate)
- Best opening paragraph ($5) (receive
certificate and critique)
Best proposal ($15)
Email a synopsis (up to 2 pages, single-spaced) and first 20 pages of the
manuscript (double-spaced) – recognition in various categories – state
historical or contemporary romance, mystery, suspense, women’s fiction,
speculative, mainstream, other (certificates for places, Best-of-All receives
tuition scholarship to 2013 Retreat)
- Best Finished Unpublished Novel ($15)
(tuition, meals, lodging scholarship to 2013 Retreat)
- Best First Published novel by a former
Novel Retreat attendee ($15) (Plaque)
Winners will be recognized Tuesday Evening after supper.
CRITIQUES - $30
each - RULES: - Critiquer will post when no longer receiving material for
critique
1. You
may enter the same material in the Contest and for Critique but only your
original UN-critiqued material will be considered in the contest.
2. Email
a synopsis (up to 2 pages, single-spaced) and first 20 pages of the manuscript
(double-spaced)
3. Send
a cover sheet with your name, contact information, novel category, title
4. Ask
your critic where to send the $30 check
5. Select
one (or more - $30 each) of the critics:
Deborah
Raney, debraney@mac.com
Lynette
Eason, lynetteeason@gmail.com
Ray
Blackston, RayBlaxton@aol.com
Ann
Tatlock, anntatlock@yahoo.com
Mark
Mynheir, mmynheir@earthlink.net
Yvonne
Lehman, yvonnelehman3@gmail.com
Ramona
Richards, Ramona@ramonarichards.com
Your
critiques will be returned by email. If you and/or your critic desire to meet
face-to-face, you may arrange to meet at mealtimes or at the convenience of the
student and faculty member.
DAILY SCHEDULE
SUNDAY – October 14, 2012
WELCOME –
ANNOUNCEMENTS -Yvonne Lehman, Director
PRAISE MUSIC – Janet
Powers Roller
KEYNOTE – Mark Mynheir
Meet the Faculty: Ray Blackston – Lynette Eason – Yvonne Lehman –
Mark Mynheir - Deborah Raney – Ken
Raney
Ramona Richards - Janet Roller – Ann
Tatlock
Get Acquainted - Deborah Raney
MONDAY – October 15, 2012
Mountain Laurel
Auditorium
PRAISE & WORSHIP
Janet Powers
Roller
RAMONA RICHARDS
Cinderella vs. Trinity: Two Sides of the Same Heroine
* * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
MONDAY AFTERNOON
& EVENING – OCTOBER 15, 2012
3:10-4:10
p.m. - FACULTY-LED WORKSHOPS (see descriptions)
(Mountain Laurel Rooms 1-5, Suite 5512 , and Jim
Henry Auditorium
1.
Keys to
Characterization: Make your minor characters come alive via quirks, habits, and
speech patterns - Ray Blackston (ML 1)
2.
Dueling
Dialogue – Lynette Eason (ML 2)
3.
What’s the
Big Idea? And how do you develop it? – Yvonne Lehman (ML 5512)
4.
Second
Draft: Whipping Your Story into Shape - Mark Mynheir - (JH Auditorium)
5.
Writing
Cinematically - Deborah Raney (ML 3)
6.
10 Tips to Winning an Editor’s Heart (and
Signature on a Contract) – Ramona Richards (ML 4)
7. Painting the Landscape: Senses and Setting
– Ann Tatlock (ML 5)
4:20-5:20
p.m. - FACULTY-LED WORKSHOPS (see descriptions)
1.
First Person
Voice: Key elements of crafting your
novel in the first person voice - Ray
Blackston (ML 1)
2.
The Tapestry
of Backstory: How to Weave it Without Tangling the Threads – Lynette Eason – (ML
2)
3.
Raise the
Stakes: Create and Sustain Tension – Yvonne Lehman (ML 5512)
4. Get Your Cops Right! - Mark Mynheir (JH Auditorium)
5.
Surprising
Secrets of the Writing Life - Deborah Raney – (ML 3)
6.
Perfect Pitch: 10 Tips on Selling in 50 Words or Less –
Ramona Richards (ML 4)
7.
Putting up
the Frame - Ann Tatlock (ML 5)
* * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
MONDAY – October 15, 2012
1.
Crucial
Edits before You Submit: Editors and agents are looking for reasons to reject
your work, so give them as few reasons as possible –
Ray Blackston (ML 1)
2.
Subtext –
What your Characters are REALLY Saying – Lynette Eason (ML 2)
3.
First
Sentence, First Paragraph, First Page – Yvonne Lehman (ML 5512)
4.
Writing
Mystery/Suspense – Mark Mynheir (JH Aud)
5.
Checklist for Writing a Winner – Deborah Raney
(ML 3)
6.
Ebooks & Covers - They’re Not What You Thought – Ken Raney (ML 5)
7. What DO They Want?: Editing Your
Inspirational Novel for Publication – Ramona Richards (ML 4)
TUESDAY – October 16, 2012
Mountain Laurel
Auditorium
PRAISE & WORSHIP
– Janet Roller
MARK MYNHEIR
Plot, Structure, and Character Arc
* * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
TUESDAY AFTERNOON
& EVENING – OCTOBER 16, 2012
3:10-4:10
p.m. - FACULTY-LED WORKSHOPS (see descriptions)
1.
First Person
Voice: Key elements of crafting your
novel in the first person voice - Ray
Blackston (ML 1) Repeat
2.
Writing
Suspense: How to go from Bad to Worse and Make Your Reader Beg for More –
Lynette Eason (ML 2)
3.
The Picky
Stuff: Eliminate the Negative, Accentuate the Positive – Yvonne Lehman (ML 5512)
4.
Get Your
Cops Right! – Mark Mynheir (JH Auditorium)
5.
The Business
End of Writing - Deborah Raney (ML 3)
6.
Shoot
Someone: Ten Tips on Turning Your Middle from Muddle to Magnificent – Ramona
Richards (ML 4)
7.
“What’s
Happening, Dude?” - Plots and Sub-plots – Ann Tatlock (ML 5)
4:20-5:20
p.m. – FACULTY-LED WORKSHOPS (see descriptions)
1.
Crucial
Edits Before you Submit - Ray Blackston (ML 1) Repeat
2.
Developing
Dialogue – Lynette Eason (ML 2) – Repeat
3.
The Picky
Stuff: Eliminate the Negative, Accentuate the Positive – Yvonne Lehman (ML
5512) Repeat
4. Personality
Profiles: Building your Characters from the Ground Up – Mark Mynheir (JH
Auditorium)
5. Ebooks
& Covers: They’re Not What You Thought – Ken Raney (ML 3)
6.
Marathon :
Finishing Your First Draft in 30 Days or Less – Ramona Richards (ML 4)
7.
Plan Ahead
for Promotion: One-on-One Without a Delete Kay – Janet Powers Roller (ML
5)
AWARDS CEREMONY for Contest Winners
Followed by FACULTY BOOK
SIGNING
(Get your books ahead of time at LifeWay Boostore)
WEDNESDAY – October 17, 2012
Mountain Laurel
Auditorium
PRAISE &
WORSHIP – Janet Roller
Ken Raney
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN FOR WRITERS
Wishing you a safe
trip home, blessings in your personal and writing life, and look forward to
seeing you again.
Yvonne &
faculty
BIOS & WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS -
2012
RAY BLACKSTON – www.rayblackston.com
Ray
Blackston’s quirky and comic writing style has
been entertaining readers ever since the publication of his award-winning debut
novel, Flabbergasted. Released in 2003, Flabbergasted was first
noticed at the 2000 Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference and was later
chosen as a finalist for a Christy Award. Five
novels later, Ray is now a frequent speaker and teacher at writers conferences
and loves to share what he's learned, whether in the classroom or
one-on-one.
Quirks,
habits, and speech patterns - Your
main characters should talk and act in ways that make them jump
off the page. Here's how to do it without Pogo sticks!
CRUCIAL EDITS BEFORE
YOU SUBMIT: Editors and agents are looking for reasons to reject your work, so
give them as few reasons as possible!
FIRST-PERSON VOICE: Key elements of crafting your novel in
the first person voice - Add depth to your story and bring entertainment to
your readers by writing skillfully in first-person. Ray has penned five first-person
novels, and he will share what he has learned and take any and all questions.
LYNETTE EASON
Lynette Eason has written/contracted twenty-three books
since 2007. She has thirteen Love Inspired Suspense books on the shelf
with more due to release soon. Lynette
also writes for Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Her current
release, WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS hit #8 on the CBA
bestsellers list this year. Currently, she is working on her third series for
Revell. She has been teaching for more than ten years and is very happy to make
the transition from teaching school to teaching writing whenever the
opportunity presents. She is married, has two children, and lives in Spartanburg , SC.
SUBTEXT – What your
Characters are Really Saying
Come learn how to build your characters from the ground up.
Lay your foundation to create a character readers will love. What does an
editor mean when she says your
characters aren’t sympathetic? Why should I give the villain a redeeming
quality? What do I do when my characters just won’t do what I need them to do? If
you’ve asked yourself any of these questions and more, this is the workshop for
you. I look forward to seeing you there!
DUELING DIALOGUE
Who says what, how to say, when to say and why they say it. Readers
want to fall in love with the characters in your book. Come learn how dialogue
can make that happen. Or turn a reader off. With hands-on exercises, writers
will enhance beginning or advanced skills as they grow to understand their
characters and the dialogue they use.
THE TAPESTRY OF
BACKSTORY: HOW TO WEAVE IT WITHOUT TANGLING THE THREADS
Writers learn how to weave backstory throughout their story
by using a character chart. They will also learn tricks to including backstory
in dialogue, setting, and narrative.
WRITING SUSPENSE: HOW TO GO FROM BAD TO WORSE AND MAKE YOUR READERS BEG FOR
MORE
Learn what elements make up a
rocking, edge of the seat, suspense story. Come prepared for a hands-on
experience that you can take home and implement immediately. Workshop will
include topics such as: OPEN WITH A BANG - writing the best opening line ever, USE
ALL FIVE SENSES: why you need this to carry your suspense forward, DIALOGUE: yes,
even your dialogue is important what to say and how to say it, INTERNAL AND
EXTERNAL CONFLICTS: how to carry the suspense from beginning to end, CHARACTER
DEVELOPMENT IN SUSPENSE: learn how to really mess your characters up only to
rescue them by the end of the story—most of the time and only if you want to,
END EACH CHAPTER WITH A HOOK and much, much more.
YVONNE
LEHMAN – www.yvonnelehman.com
Yvonne is an award-winning, best-selling author of more than
3,000,000 books in print, who founded and directed the Blue Ridge Mountains
Christian Writers Conference for 25 years, is now director of the Blue Ridge “Autumn in the Mountains” Novelist Retreat (www.lifeway.com/novelretreat). She
mentors for the Christian Writers Guild. She earned a Master’s Degree in
English from Western
Carolina University
and has taught English and Creative Writing on the college level. Her latest
releases include eight ebooks for Barbour’s Truly
Yours line, A Knight to Remember
(Heartsong), Let it Snow (Heartsong,
November 2012), and her 50th novel, Hearts that Survive – A Novel of the TITANIC (Abingdon). yvonnelehman3@gmail.com
WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?
You will discover into which genre your idea or
work-in-progress fits. There is a process to finding and developing your ideas.
In the first few pages of your story, the groundwork is laid for the entire
book. We will talk about setting, characters, descriptions, conflict, theme,
plot, and faith. You’ll discover how to be aware of those ingredients and
include as many as possible in that all-important first sentence, first
paragraph and first page.
RAISING THE STAKES (Tension)
The stakes are the meat or the heart of the story. The
stakes are what captures the editor’s attention, keeps the reader interested,
and makes your book a page-turner. We’re told that we need to raise the stakes
in our writing. We have no story without stakes (plural!) In this workshop we
will define what is not, and what is a stake. You not only need to establish
the stakes in your novel, but discover what is at stake for you, the author,
and what is at stake for your reader.
THE PICKY STUFF:
Eliminate the Negative, Accentuate the Positive – Submit your pages to
Yvonne at yvonnelehman3@gmail.com
by October 1, 2012
and we’ll look at the picky stuff that makes an editor see you as an amateur.
We’ll look at grammar, punctuation, tags, attributions, unnecessary words, adverbs,
names, and end up with a polished piece of writing.
FIRST SENTENCE, FIRST
PARAGRAPH, FIRST PAGE . We know
the importance of the beginning of a book. How do you capture the attention of
the editor/reader in that first sentence? What goes into that first paragraph?
Then, you’re ready to go! But… to…where? (For
best results, submit your first page to Yvonne at yvonnelehman3@gmail.com by October 1, 2012 .
MARK MYNHEIR
Mark Mynheir is a twenty-four-year law enforcement veteran
and former homicide detective whose career has included serving as an
undercover narcotics agent and a S.W.A.T. team member. Mark has parlayed his police experiences
into a successful speaking and writing career.
He has written articles for Focus on the Family’s Breakaway magazine, Lookout magazine,
and Christianfictiononline.com. He is
the also the author of five mystery/suspense novels: Rolling Thunder, From
the Belly of the Dragon, The Void, and The Night Watchman, which
was a Christy Award Finalist, and The Corruptible.
PLOT, STRUCTURE, AND
CHARACTER ARC
Understand the essential elements of Plot, Structure, and
Character Arc and how they interweave to strengthen your story.
SECOND DRAFT: WHIPPING YOUR STORY INTO SHAPE
Get advice and worksheets from some of the top editors and
writers in the CBA on everything
from grammar to POV that will help keep your manuscript off of the dreaded
slush pile.
The Cliché Cop in literature and on television—alcoholic,
divorced, cynical, and mildly disturbed—has, unfortunately, a strong basis in
reality and is the direct result of subjecting a normal human being to ten,
twenty, or even thirty years of law enforcement. Learn the psychological stages police
officers go through in their career and how that knowledge can be used to make
compelling, believable police characters in any story.
PERSONALITY PROFILES:
BUILDING YOUR CHARACTERS FROM THE GROUND UP
Learn the four basic personality types—Feeler, Driver,
Analyzer, and Elitist— and how to incorporate their traits into your characters
by understanding how the different personalities think, act, speak, dress, and
react under stress.
DEBORAH
RANEY is the author of more than twenty novels. Her books have won the RITA Award, HOLT
Medallion, National Readers' Choice Award, Silver Angel, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. Her first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World
Wide Pictures film of the same title. Her newest books, the Hanover
Falls Novels, are from Howard/Simon & Schuster. She and her husband, Ken
Raney, have four children and enjoy small-town life in Kansas .
WRITING CINEMATICALLY
By starting every scene with a dynamite sentence, you can make
your novel come alive for your reader. Using this trick, Deborah will explore
how writing a novel that reads like a movie changes telling to showing, deepens
characterization, makes your settings a character in themselves, and
facilitates many other secrets of strong writing.
SURPRISING SECRETS OF
THE WRITING LIFE
Little-known facts about what a working writer's daily life
is really like. Did you know that much of a writer's day is spent doing things
besides writing? Do you know why your agent earns his/her keep? What are the
pitfalls of fame and the myths of fortune? How do you deal with the green-eyed
monster––yours and fellow writers'? How does becoming a writer threaten your
family life and life as you knew it before you were a writer? All this and much
more, including what to do about it all!
CHECKLIST FOR WRITING A WINNER
Ten tips
from contest judges for writing a book that’s destined to capture a loyal
reader following—and find favor with contest judges.
THE BUSINESS END OF
WRITING
A flourishing career as a writer necessitates a
business-like approach to your work. Beginning with tips for an “attitude
adjustment,” Deborah will reveal some basic steps that can help you move from
dabbling as a hobby writer to being a successful working writer. Topics for
discussion include scheduling writing time, organizing office space, record
keeping, perfecting the craft, self-promotion and a Q&A session to answer
your specific questions (NOTE: This is not a business accounting or tax law
class.)
KEN RANEY
Ken Raney is president of Clash Creative, Inc., a producer
of illustration and graphic design. He also owns Clash Entertainment, Inc.,
producer of www.clashentertainment.com, an entertainment portal website for
Christian teens featuring media news, reviews, and interviews for books,
comics, music, movies, careers, and gaming. Raney is the author/illustrator of
two children's picture books and has over 35 years of experience in graphic
design, illustration, advertising and marketing. He and his wife, novelist Deborah
Raney, have four children and make their home in Kansas .
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
FOR WRITERS
Every writer will eventually need to either hire a designer
or learn to be one. This session will help writers understand some basic design
principles for designing professional looking business cards, newsletters,
blogs and websites, bookmarks, postcards, e-mail signatures, ads, and much
more. We will also explore some of the easily accessible online resources for
writers such as templates, themes, stock photography, fonts, photo-manipulation
programs, etc. This is designed to be very practical and user-friendly even for
non-techies.
EBook COVERS –
THEY’RE NOT WHAT YOU THOUGHT
Cover designs for eBooks require some key considerations vs.
the typical print book cover. Whether you're hiring a designer or attempting to
design your own cover, make sure yours get noticed for the right reasons! Join
illustrator/designer Ken Raney as we look at the design considerations for a
compelling eBook cover that gets noticed, communicates well, and looks as
professional as the writing inside. We will look at typography, stock
photography, illustration, and other considerations including some case
histories for a strong eBook covers. This class will prove helpful to all levels
of writer–from beginner to seasoned pro.
RAMONA RICHARDS
Ramona Richards, Senior Acquisitions Editor for Fiction at
Abingdon Press, has more than 25 years experience in magazine and book
publishing. She has been an editor for Thomas Nelson, Rutledge Hill Press, and
Ideals. The author of seven novels, two books of devotions, and numerous
magazine articles, Ramona is a frequent workshop speaker. In 2011 she taught at
the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Write to Publish, the
Carolina Christian Writers Conference, and the Oregon Christian Writers
Conference. Information about Ramona and her work can be found at
www.ramonarichards.com.
CINDERELLA VS.
TRINITY: TWO SIDES OF THE SAME HEROINE
Ten reasons that Cinderella and Trinity (from The Matrix)
aren’t that different and how those similarities can turn a heroine into a
character that will win the hearts of readers and editors alike.
10 TIPS TO WINNING AN
EDITOR’S HEART (AND SIGNATURE ON A
CONTRACT)
This “Top Ten” countdown focuses on what editors and agents
look for in a prospective writer’s work and attitude. Drawn from 30 years’
experience as a professional editor, this is practical advice presented with
humor and (I hope) wisdom. (novice)
PERFECT PITCH: 10
TIPS ON SELLING IN 50 WORDS OR LESS
Ten suggestions that will help you perfect your “elevator
pitch.” These will help you refine the high concept in your book and suggest
ways to practice. Finally, they’ll help you eliminate those inevitable nerves
when approaching an editor and make the best of your ten-minute session. Bring
those pitches with you! (novice & intermediate)
WHAT “DO” THEY WANT?
- EDITING YOUR INSPIRATIONAL NOVEL FOR PUBLICATION
Editors don’t look for a reason to buy the novel you’ve
struggled with for months—or years! They look for a reason to reject it. Don’t
give them one. This workshop provides a glimpse from behind an editor’s desk:
what they look for, why talent is not enough to get your manuscript published,
and traps to avoid in such areas as format, presentation, and the development
of character and story arcs. (intermediate & advanced)
SHOOT SOMEONE: TEN TIPS ON TURNING YOUR MIDDLE FROM MUDDLE TO
MAGNIFICENT
Every novelist struggles sooner or later with a “middle
malfunction.” In this workshop, I offer ten work-horse tips and writing
exercises for revitalizing a droopy middle or jumpstarting a stalled one.
Included are such suggestions as: Shoot Someone. Literally, if you have to. Chart
Your Course. Get out that spreadsheet program . . . Fight Club. In other words,
up the stakes on the outcome of conflict. (intermediate & advanced)
MARATHAN: FINISHING
YOUR FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS OR LESS
If you’ve ever thought, “I can write better than that!” then
this workshop is for you. A lot of people have great ideas and start a book,
but never finish. Some even enter “book in a month” contests, then stall out
after only a few chapters. This workshop will provide readers interested in
writing as well as experienced authors the guidelines necessary for finishing
the first draft of a novel in 30 days or less. (all levels)
JANET POWERS ROLLER (PRAISE AND WORSHIP)
Janet Powers Roller has been a Christian speaker, singer and
writer since being named Miss South Carolina 1997. Her testimony and
talent has afforded her many opportunities with audiences of all sizes. A
recent transplant to Forest City , NC , Janet and her husband enjoy the
adventures of parenthood with their two children, Sam and Darby. She is a
Music Director, PTO President and stay-at-home mom (who rarely stays at home).
PLAN AHEAD FOR PROMOTION: ONE-ON-ONE WITHOUT THE
DELETE KEY will cover some of the basics of self-promotion.
From websites and business cards to getting and leading an interview,
Janet will cover some basic (and not-so-basic) ways to build presence and get
your message "out there". Writing the book is great; getting
people to want to buy it is another! Get ready for a fun,
informative and eye-opening session with tips everyone can use.
Ann is a novelist
whose books have received numerous awards, including the Christy Award and the
Silver Angel Award from Excellence in Media. Most recently, her novel Promises to Keep was named by Booklist
Magazine as one of the top ten historical novels of the year. Ann lives with
her husband and daughter in Asheville
NC
PUTTING UP THE FRAME: DECISIOINS TO HANG
YOUR STORY ON
Even
if you're a "seat-of-the-pants" writer, you'll need to make some
definite decisions before you jump into the story. We'll talk about such
aspects of novel-writing as genre, theme, POV, and outlining, and why these are
important to pin down before you begin.
PAINTING THE LANDSCAPE: SENSES AND SETTING
To
write a novel is to create a world. Learn to use your senses to create a vivid
setting for your readers to “live in.”
“WHAT’S HAPPENING, DUDE?” PLOTS AND SUB -PLOTS
Novels
contain not only plots but sub-plots, all of which are woven together to create
a compelling story. In addition to learning the major plot models, you’ll learn
the basics of sub-plotting and how to use these interwoven story lines to
strengthen your novel and keep your readers reading.
Oh how I wish I could attend! Alas, my budget is restrictive. Are there scholarships available?
ReplyDeletePS - My autobot word was bugsomer. Just had to share that. Maybe there are bugs in the mountains in October.
Alycia, I'm not sure! Ask Yvonne!
ReplyDelete