 We want to continue recognizing the contributions of The Word Guild co-founder, Wendy Nelles.
We can never express enough our deep appreciation for her investments of time, energy, skill and knowledge. But we want to try.
Wendy’s attention to detail has put us “on the map” in Canadian Christian writing.
Please join us as we say, “Hats off to Wendy!”
A Familiar Face Leaves The Word Guild and Write! Canada Leadership Teams
After helping to equip Canada's Christian writers to achieve increased professionalism and greater influence, Wendy Nelles steps aside from leadership roles in Write! Canada and The Word Guild
Toronto—Wendy Elaine Nelles will wrap up nine years of volunteer leadership in The Word Guild at the organization's Write! Canada conference from June 17 to 19 in Guelph, Ont.
Nelles, a Toronto-based writer and editor whose background includes journalism and corporate communications, co-founded The Word Guild in 2001 and assumed responsibility for directing Canada's largest Christian writers' conference, together with author N. J. Lindquist of Markham, Ont.
Continue reading A Fond Farewell Continued!
Wendy Nelles has been a driving force behind the Write! Canada Conference. As Co-director, Wendy has indelibly stamped her trademark on the Conference. This powerful event has benefited from her passion, skill and integrity. Now, for personal reasons, Wendy has resigned and she will be very much missed. She leaves behind a rich legacy of excellence.
We want to acknowledge her contributions and accomplishments by looking back. We will hear her thoughts and desires as she has helped direct and administer the Write! Canada Conference.
We also offer our prayers and best wishes as Wendy begins the next phase of her life. We know her writing will continue to bless her readers and her abilities will be widely used wherever she invests her time and energy. We will always value her input for Write! Canada and The Word Guild.
God bless you Wendy!
Continue reading A Fond Farewell to Wendy Nelles
Write! Canada 2010 is over, but we're leaving most of the information up so you can check out what happens at the conference.
We've already begun planning for Write! Canada 2011 and the new information will be posted in the fall.
Saturday, August 21
9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Vancouver Bible House 700 Kingsway, Vancouver BC
with N. J. and Les Lindquist
9:30 a.m. – Registration
10:00 a.m. – Workshop 1: The Art, Craft, Business, & Ministry of Writing with N. J. Lindquist
11:30 a.m. – Update on The Word Guild with Q & A
12:00 p.m. – Lunch and Networking
1:00 p.m. – Workshop 2: What Writers Needs to Know about Trends in Publishing with Les Lindquist
2:30 p. m. – Wrap-up
Write! Canada 2010 has come and gone.
We had a great time!
We'll be posting more information and photos here.
Meanwhile, you can start planning for Write! Canada 2011.
Also, we will soon be putting out a call for workshop proposals.
Charles Lewis is coming to Write! Canada on Friday, and he will be taking 1:1 appointments.
Mr. Lewis has been a journalist for 25 years, the past 11 years at the National Post.newspaper.
In June 2007 Mr. Lewis decided that the Post needed a religion reporter. In the past three years he has written more than 300 stories on faith and society and also helped launch the Post's religion blog, "Holy Post," of which he is the editor.
Mr. Lewis believes that religion is as important as politics and business because it hits people where they live.
He is looking for writers.
You can sign up for appointments with him on Thursday after 2:15.
Holy Post blog
 Wayne & Charmaine Hinds are the founders and directors of Worship in Motion ministry.
They launched Worship 4:23 magazine in 2008 to educate, inform, increase exposure and awareness about Creative Arts in worship while providing a forum for leaders, worship dance ministries and other worship based services. Worship 4:23 advertises upcoming worship arts events and provides a creative opportunity for writers and creative arts ministries.
Between them, Charmaine and Wayne have over 20 years experience in the Worship arts arena and business sectors.
Charmaine and Wayne have been key leaders in Church ministry, Christian Home Educators associations and Missions organizations. They have produced numerous Worship based events in Canada crossing denominational and cultural barriers.
Charmaine is a passionate writer and has self-published and distributed 3 books on worship dance and numerous articles for online distribution. She also travels for international speaking, training and equipping.
Wayne is an entrepreneur in business and technology with significant experience in marketing and advertisement. His connections internationally in the business community with all levels of management have proven to be invaluable.
Together, this couple is looking to transform and affect their sphere of influence using various forms of media.
About Worship 4:23 magazine
Worship 4:23 magazine (based on John 4:23, our biblical model of worship) is a special interest publication geared towards creative worshippers, dancers, musicians, worship leaders and all who participate in creating an atmosphere of worship.
This magazine provides you the complete opportunity to reach the creative arts in the worship community. With a special emphasis on creative arts in worship and dance, it is informative, visual and very exciting.
Readers will be able to put their trust in the consistent coverage, relevant topics and biblical content of this new worship magazine.
What we are looking for: writers, creative artists, photographers, editors and sales agents.
Wayne will be taking appointments with interested people. Charmaine will also be attending the conference..
Please note: the deadlines for requesting manuscript critiques and faculty appointments online has now passed. No more will be accepted.
However, you will still able to make appointments with faculty members after you register at the conference.
When you register for Write! Canada, you are entitled to three free 15-minute appointments with faculty where you can  ask for information, pitch an idea, or basically get help in whatever you're doing. If you haven't registered yet, do get your registration in quickly so you don't miss out.
In addition to the teaching faculty, which includes agents Kelly Mortimer and Les Stobbe, editors, authors, and freelance writers, we have a number of editors who are coming in to take appointments: eg. Bill Fledderus from Faith Today, Renee James from The Link and Visitor, Fazal Karim Jr. from The Christian Herald, Stephen Kennedy from testimony, Johanne Robertson from Maranatha News, and Eric E. Wright from Fellowship Link.
 Note 1: Sheila Wray Gregoire, who is teaching the class on beginning a speaking ministry, is interested in listening to a short three-minute speech or anecdote which she will then critique on the spot for you.
Note 2: Do not request an appointment with Jeremy Braun. As a sponsor, Word Alive will have a table and they will look after their own appointments.
More details
Register today so you don't miss out!
We are pleased to announce that Colleen Taylor will be singing at the Thursday night plenary and leading the Friday morning worship (8:00 am in the Irwin Room.)
Colleen Taylor is a prairie soul with a heart for the world. Through her publication and production company Siretona Creative, Colleen facilitates and equips women in the arts to build community among generations and nations.
She holds Masters degrees from Regent College and Briercrest College and Seminary. She has taught English literature at Briercrest, worked at a community newspaper, served as publications editor for the Canadian Association of Christians in Student Development, and has edited several books.
Colleen has released two music CDs and has published two
books: Notes from Over the Hill by Martha Morgan and BlueBeary by Kathleen McMillan.
Last year Colleen's song "Child of My Heart" won an Award of Merit for song lyrics in the Canadian Christian Writing Awards; this year BlueBeary is a finalist in the children's books category.
The charts that outline the interests and expertise of our faculty have been updated as of May 26th. Several new editors have been added.
Please read the faculty bios AND check out the charts before requesting a critique or appointment.
Faculty Bios
Faculty Interest Charts
We're very sorry that Melissa Endlich, an editor with Harlequin's Steeple Hill imprint, is unable to come to Write! Canada due to family illness.
Agent Kelly Mortimer has agreed to teach Melissa's workshop, Writing Romance Novels.
Kelly has had lots of experience with the romance genre. She recently made the Top 5 in Publisher’s Marketplace "Top 100 Dealmakers" in the Romance Category.
 Former Zondervan editor, now working as a freelance editor, Andy Meisenheimer is doing critiques and 1:1 appointments as well as teaching a fiction workshop at Write! Canada.
Read a fact-filled interview with Andy about the current state of the publishing industry and the critical role of editors in helping writers make their work publishable.
1. We have room for three more people in the Continuing Class Writing the Stories of Life: Nonfiction Writing Intensive with Audrey Dorsch.
If you're an intermediate or advanced writer working on a biography, memoir, or nonfiction article such as profile or life-experience story, this intensive will help you get to the next level. Audrey has taught a number of intensives and she always gets rave reviews.
2. Image consultant Diane Callender is now full on Friday. You can now be put on a waiting list for Saturday.
Diane took a number of appointments last year and we brought her back because people found her so helpful.
This is a terrific opportunity to have a professional consultant help you create the image you want to project.
Sign up today!
What do writers/editors who are Christian need? Encouragement and empowering. Come to Write! Canada 2010 and you will go home inspired and equipped.
These are a few of the endorsements Joel Freeman has on his website. And we are going to have him with us for three days. He's even taking 1:1 appointments.
Can you afford NOT to come?
"… people here are still commenting on how much they gained from the experience…"
– Ken Schlager, Director of Strategic Development, Billboard Music Group
"…the Organizational Development Team would like to thank you for a job well done…"
– Stacey Day, Team Leader, NASA, Goddard
"…I have never seen a management program so well received…"
– Don Griffin, VP Human Resources, Tuscan Dairy Farms
"…Our staff, without exception, came away from the meeting empowered and better equipped to work with others as a team…"
– David Ruleman, Vice President, WAVA Radio Station
"…I have received favorable comments from other courses, but not nearly to the degree I have received from your course…"
– Thomas Barritt, Central Office Training Officer, Veteran Affairs
"…I highly recommend The Freeman Institute's programs to all federal agencies as well the private sector…"
– Ellen Metsch, INS, Department of Justice
"…thank you for your efforts in assisting us through this difficult situation…"
— Ricky Fischer, USPS Postmaster, Cumberland, MD
"…Your style of presentation was superb, and we would gladly entertain follow-on sessions with you as well as recommend yourself and this workshop to other organizations…"
– John Cashour, Deputy Chief Workforce Skills Development, National Security Agency
"…Our CFO had previously worked for a Fortune 500 company, which frequently conducted off site training sessions, and he told me that your seminar, "Dealing With People Who Drive You Crazy!"® was the best training session he had ever attended…"
– Richard Faint, CEO, Sequoia Software Corporation
Freeman Institute
Following is the list of winners:
Winners Ages 14-19
Third prize: $50 gift certificate
Corrine Clyne of Winnipeg, Manitoba for “Wings of Life”
(No first or second prize was awarded.)
Winner Ages 20-39
First prize: free registration to Write! Canada
Joanne Walton of Kingston, Ontario for “My City, My Muse”
Second prize: $100 gift certificate
Jordana Shell of Claresholm, Alberta for “The Tollen Bell”
Third prize: $50 gift certificate
Heather Boersma, of Winnipeg, Manitoba for “Fan it Into Flame”
Winners Ages 40-plus
First prize: free registration to Write! Canada
Maureen Newman of Granville Ferry, Nova Scotia for “On My Mothers Side”
Second prize: $100 gift certificate
Anita Rossi McQuarrie of King City, Ontario for “The Road to Big Vancouver 2010”
Third prize: $50 gift certificate
Dean Crawford of London, Ontario for “He Reigns”
All entrants wrote something based on the conference theme: "Ignite the Creative Side of Your Brain."
Read the complete press release as a Word file.
GUI Winners Release 2010
We're delighted to have Dr. Joel A. Freeman as our plenary speaker this year. He's very busy, traveling all over the world, involved in many different projects, and the fact that he was willing to make time for our conference is an enormous testimony to his interest in helping other writers fulfill their potential.
Read his full bio here.
Dr. Freeman's topic:
Ignite the creative side of your brain: on the edge dribblings of an author/entrepreneur
1. Thursday evening plenary: How Your Wild and Crazy Personality Informs Your Writing
Your personality is unique. In this session, you will be encouraged to embrace that uniqueness and skate out into the fringe elements of the way God has designed you. We will also discuss the "blessings and curses" of creativity.
2. Friday evening plenary: Navigating The Publishing Maze
Articles? Poems? Books? Self publishing? Traditional publishing? Foreign editions? There are many questions you will need to answer. Also, there are many companies waiting to take your money — "Sure, this manuscript is great and I have a special deal just for you. Give me $9,999 and I will print this book for you. Plus, I will…blah, blah, blah…" Heard that one before? In this session we will share how the publishing industry preys upon the ego needs of writers to be published. Freeman will share some ideas on how to approach the publishing process from a position of strength.
3. Saturday afternoon plenary: Marketing & Branding…and Your Website
Writing is just the beginning. Once you’ve completed the final edits, the real fun begins! This session will show you how to let people know who you are and how to navigate past gatekeepers so you can get interviews and speaking engagements, move your books out of the boxes stacked in your attic, basement, garage, closet and under your bed—into the hands of readers, and get your message of hope to the people who need to hear it.
Also please note:
The earlier you register, the more chance of getting a critique or appointment with the faculty member of your choice.
Don Loney is unable to attend the conference this year, and the workshop he was teaching has been changed to a panel on the same topic. Details coming soon.
Additional faculty members taking appointments: Bill Fledderus, senior editor of Faith Today.
1. Save money!
Friday, April 30th, is the last date for you to save $20 on your registration for Write! Canada.
You can also save $20 on your registration if you're a member of The Word Guild, so if you aren't, you might want to sign up for both at the same time. Then you'll get year-round benefits.
2. Get a Manuscript Critique or 1:1 appointment with the faculty member of your choice.
The earlier you register, the higher your chances of getting up to four manuscript critiques and/or three appointments with the faculty members you prefer. Current registrants are receiving their Critiques and Appointments Package – which includes sign-up sheets for critiques and appointments – this week. Register today so you don't miss out.
3. This year's only intensive class - "Writing the Stories of Life" – is limited to 12 participants.
If you're an advanced or professional level writer who is working on a biography, an autobiography, a memoir, or a true-experience story, this intensive is for you.
Participants will read one story or one chapter of each other's work prior to the conference, and then, led by experienced editor Audrey Dorsch, the group will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the work during the classes.
This class is limited to 12, so sign up quickly! Our intensives are usually very popular.
Check out all of our continuing classes.
4. Image consultant, Diane Callender, is back for the second year, with a limited number of spaces.
First impressions are crucial. Writers, authors and speakers who want to advance their careers need to present a professional and contemporary image during public appearances such as media interviews, book signings and speaking engagements.
Last year, Write! Canada offered image consultations for the first time, with Diane Callender, a professional image consultant who specializes in helping clients to meet new personal and professional opportunities with increased confidence. She does this by affirming individuals in their unique God-given image.
Diane has room on Friday for six 1-hour consultations. If those are filled, she may come back on Saturday.
More details.
5. The earlier you register, the more likely you are to get the accommodation or roommate you prefer.
Whether coming with a group or venturing out alone, hoping to find a like-minded friend, staying on-site is one way to get the absolute most out of the conference, There are various options, from hotel-quality rooms to air-conditioned dorms in the Inn, to assorted rooms in the Century Lodge and rustic cabins. Go here for accommodation details.
6. Get some promotion for yourself or your writing on our participants page and in our gift bags
This year for the first time we're listing all registrants (not only faculty and staff) on our Web site (unless they specify they don't want to be included.)
This is a way for you to let people know who you are and what you write. We have lots of people checking out the Write! Canada Web site. The earlier you register, the longer your chance of making a connection.
See who's coming.
Plus, once you're registered, for a very small fee you can send an item to go into our gift bags which every participant receives at register. Details here.
7. You know you need a deadline
Let's face it. Writers tend to be procrastinators. Most of us "need" deadlines the way fish need water. And the next deadline isn't until June 7th, when you'll be getting in just under the wire. You may be okay with that. Just warning you.
If you plan to come anyway, why not register right away? You can buy coffee for your favorite editor with that $20 you'll save.
 Mags Storey came to her first Write! Canada in 2000.
“I wanted to be a novelist more than anything else in the world,” she remembers.
Raised in a missionary home, Mags wanted to write about the Church she knew, “a Church where people aren’t perfect.”
She’d attempted novel writing in her teens, and by the time she’d finished high school, she'd already felt the pain of publishers’ rejection letters. She knew first hand the experience of turning that rejection inward; of giving up—at least temporarily, and thinking, “I’ll never be a writer.”
But Mags couldn’t escape the conviction that God had made her to write a book.
So that first conference, when she was “too scared to talk to anyone,” and merely “session hopped” because she was “too terrified to sit through a full session,” Mags bought a special notebook, took it out into the sunshine, sat alone on the grass, and began to write.
Later that day, at the night owl reading session where anyone can read, she read aloud from what she’d written during the day. The positive comments she received were enough to launch her. Thus began her first book.
It took three years to write the manuscript; another two to revise it and find a publisher. Mags’ first published novel, If Only You Knew, a “romantic disaster” story about forgiveness, friendship, faith and love hit bookstore shelves February 28, 2009.
“It takes a huge, huge amount of guts and perseverance to keep going,” she reflects, then smiles as she quotes a now forgotten source; “Many are called. But few can stand it.”
***
OVERHEARD, DAY ONE OF THE CONFERENCE:
“I’ve learned so much, if I went home now, I would still be happy!”
***
Compiled by Patricia Paddey.
 When Carla Anne Coroy spoke during “Brag Time” at the 25th anniversary Write! Canada conference, she positively bubbled. “Last year, I came and I didn’t know if I was a writer,” she began. “But this year … I can say, ‘I am a writer!”
The Niverville, Manitoba resident first attended Write! Canada in 2008. “I had written for church newspapers,” she says. “I had written manuals and curriculum. But I didn’t think that counted because it wasn’t for a royalty publisher.
“And then, as I met people here and learned what it took to become a writer, I learned that a lot of what I was already doing was writing. So I realized I could take and sell what I write, because I am a writer.”
It was a realization that led to a transformative year. She began blogging about the life of a married single mom. Her work caught the eye of editors at a U.S. online publication, Mentoring Moments, and they asked Coroy to become a staff writer. .
She’s also written a book, found an agent, and garnered interest for her manuscript from several different publishers.
“I came back this year, because I learned so much last year,” she enthused. “The learning was just as great this year.
“This year I learned how to hone my craft and to write with more confidence.”
***
NOTABLE QUOTES:
“I wouldn’t miss this conference, because it’s my inspiration for the next year.”
- Fern Boldt, author, St. Catharines, Ontario.
***
Compiled by Patricia Paddey.
How does an attorney by profession—and former municipal leader by vocation—become a publisher of award winning books? She follows God’s leading.
 Dianne Haskett is president and editor-in-chief of Believe Books, an independent publishing house in Washington, DC. She launched the business in 2006.
“We felt that the Lord was calling us to [start the publishing business],” said Haskett during an interview at Write! Canada 2009. “When we asked for confirmation as to whether it really was his will, he showed us Psalm 96 verse three, in a [Bible] translation that basically said, ‘Go and publish the stories of God’s glorious deeds throughout the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things that he does.’
“And so we felt, alright; that’s what our mission is. We’re supposed to bring back to the Christian Church the type of life stories of people that at one time populated the shelves of Christian homes and Christian bookstores.”
Since then, Believe Books has published 13 books, three of which have won bronze IPPY awards at Book of the Year by Independent Publisher Book Awards.
“These life stories will continue to survive long after the authors have passed away,” said Haskett. “They’ll be on book shelves somewhere and future generations will pick them up and be drawn—not only to a belief in God—but into a faith that believes miracles still happen today.”
***
NOTABLE QUOTES:
“We’re commissioned to ‘go out into all the world,’ and that’s one of the things I’ve really learned through this conference, is the opportunities that exist beyond Canada to get your message out.”
– Beverly Kent-Helmond, Peterborough, Ontario
***
This blog compiled by Patricia Paddey.
When Dr. Brad Burke came to his first Write! Canada conference six years ago, manuscript in hand, he was looking for contacts. “I didn’t have an idea what to do with my manuscript,” he admits, “so I thought, ‘maybe I can get a hold of some publishers and find some way to get this published.’”
The physical rehabilitation specialist found what he was looking for. It was at that first conference that he met Les Stobbe, who would become his agent.
The following year, he met Heather Gemmen, then senior editor at Cook Communications.
“She liked the books, took them back to Cook and decided to publish four of the six books I’d written. Simultaneously,” Brad adds.
The time lapse between Brad's first conference and being able to claim the title, “published author”? Three years.
Today, Dr. Brad practices medicine in Windsor, Ontario three days a week. He lives in Michigan, where he devotes the other two days of his workweek to writing and speaking.
His book series AN MD Examines, contains the titles: Is God Obsolete?, Why Doesn’t God Stop Evil?, Does God Still Do Miracles?, and Why Does God Allow Suffering?
***
NOTABLE QUOTES:
“I really like the conference a lot. The people are awesome. It’s cool to see Canadians come from everywhere for a weekend of God and writing. It’s been a really good experience.”
- Jordana Shell, 19 from Clareshome, Alberta
***
Compiled by Patricia Paddey.
 Corrine Clyne, 17, is one of those lovely, soft-spoken girls. You know the kind: sweet smile, dark, sensitive eyes and a heart that listens—intently—before it speaks.
“I write poetry,” she says quietly when asked what’s brought her to the conference, “because when I write poetry, I can express my feelings.”
Corrine has traveled long and far to get to this, her first writers’ conference. She lives in Norway House, Manitoba, a First Nations community, where she attends a creative writing after school club led by author Dorene Meyer.
“I really enjoy mentoring authors,” says Dorene simply, almost apologetically, as though encouraging and developing talent in others is really their gift to her and not the other way around. “I’m impressed with Corrine. She’s a beautiful girl inside and out. This is a Christian conference, and I wanted to see her develop more in that area, so I encouraged her to come.”
Dorene knows the difference that coming to a conference like this can make in the life of a writer. She came to her first Write! Canada conference in 2005. An unpublished writer, she had sent an entry in to the God Uses Ink novice award. And she won. The prize? Free registration to the conference in Guelph, Ontario.
“My husband and I motorcycled down from Northern Ontario and camped along the way to get here,” she remembers.“I’d never met an author before. I thought I knew nothing. But once here, I realized I knew a lot. And I thought, ‘I can do this for people!’”
And so she does. In addition to writing four books (published under the name M.D. Meyer), she's a part-time instructor at University College of the North. She was a mentor in the 2008 Sheldon Oberman Emerging Writers Mentor Program, and she's the editor of six anthologies featuring the work of those she instructs, including the work of Brenda Fontaine.
At 61, Brenda joined Corrine and Dorene on the long trek to the conference. “I’ve been writing throughout my life,” says Brenda, “but I’d never shared my work with anyone.” Until she received encouragement from Dorene to do so. Now, she’s prolific, regularly writing articles on assignment for Northroots Magazine. Her book,
Babs’ Adventures, is based on stories her mother told her about growing up in the north in the 1950’s.
“I feel like she’s been waiting her whole life [for the opportunity to express her voice],” says Dorene. “She just needed someone to cut her loose and set her free.”
***
NOTABLE QUOTES:
“I think the prime value of the conference is releasing people to write the words and messages God has given them; this is done by honing their skills, igniting their motivation and helping them realize that it’s okay to have this passion to write.”
- Les Lindquist, Chairman of the Board, Christian Info Canada, Conference Treasurer
***
This page written and compiled by Patricia Paddey
Do you write, edit, or speak in public? Want to tell your story, write a column, publish a book, share your knowledge, promote your organization…?
Find the tools and contacts you need at Write! Canada, where you’ll “Ignite the Creative Side of Your Brain!”
No matter your profession, writing style, or experience level, there’s a place for you at Write! Canada 2010, Canada’s largest Christian writers’ conference, in Guelph, Ontario, June 17-19.
Dynamic keynote speaker Dr. Joel A. Freeman will show you how to improve your communication skills and maximize your productivity as he explores the conference theme “Ignite the Creative Side of Your Brain!”
Freeman is an executive success coach and specialist in organizational change—with a list of clients ranging from NASA, IKEA and the FBI to prime ministers, pro athletes and multi-national business leaders. Raised in Three Hills, Alberta, he has authored seven books, including If Nobody Loves You, Create the Demand.
Whether you’re a professional or beginner writer, you’ll find classes to help you take control of your own career, create additional markets, add complementary skills such as speaking or editing, publicize your cause or organization, use social media marketing, understand how digital innovations are revolutionizing the publishing industry, and learn how to benefit from new opportunities.
Skilled instructors leading the six-hour in-depth continuing sessions include Canadians Jim Taylor (editing), John Longhurst (media promotion), Sheila Wray Gregoire (public speaking), D. S. Martin (poetry) and Audrey Dorsch (memoir/biography), as well as Americans Michelle Buckman (fiction) and Ginger Kolbaba (personal experience writing).
The conference also offers 18 workshops, covering topics such as “Why you need a literary agent” taught by American agent Kelly Mortimer; “Writing an unconventional Christian novel” by former Zondervan editor Andy Meisenheimer; “Writing leads, transitions and endings” by writer Jeanette Lockerbie Stephenson; “Understanding e-books” by Wiley Publishing’s executive editor Don Loney and Production Technology Coordinator Jenna Magnus; “Writing romance novels” by Harlequin Love Inspired editor Melissa Endlich; and “Creating a blog guaranteed to succeed” by Ann Voskamp, author of A Holy Experience, a blog read by thousands daily.
You can also take advantage of networking opportunities, manuscript critique services, appointments with literary agents and editors, open-mike reading sessions and a well-stocked bookstore.
This event, in its 26th year, is organized by The Word Guild, a national association of writers and editors who are Christian.
N. J. Lindquist of Markham, Ontario, founder of The Word Guild and director of Write! Canada, says, “Canadian writers and speakers who are Christian have lots of great things to say. But they need to be said well, and we’re here to help with that. We aren’t likely to make an impact with our writing if we aren’t keeping up with the technology as well as the thought processes of our world.”
“It’s become harder to get published—and paid—by traditional media such as newspapers or book publishers today,” says Wendy E. Nelles of Toronto, The Word Guild’s other founder and co-director of Write! Canada. “At the same time, it’s now amazingly easy to share your writing with the public through blogs, self-published books and e-books.”
Lindquist and Nelles agree that in today’s changing publishing world, serious writers have to distinguish themselves by the quality of their work and their marketing savvy if they hope to get many readers or buyers.
The complete Press Release as a Word File.
We think we have a fabulous line-up for 2010. We hope you'll agree.
While we aren't going to try to fix a format that is working very well, there have been a few important improvements.
Improvements from the conference centre staff:
1. Dorm rooms now have keys for each person in the room.
2. Keys will be given out when you register; no need to go to the conference office.
3. We now have a vegetarian option for meals. There's a place on the registration form for you to let us know.
4. We'll continue to have coffee served in both the FULLER Lounge and in the OKE Room in the basement of the new Ministry Building.
Improvements in the schedule:
1. We now have a designated prayer room – the HANCOCK Room.
2. Prayer time for the conference has been moved from during registration to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.
3. We have a new "How to Register" checklist you can follow.
4. We've invited image consultant Diane Callender back due to popular demand.
5. We've moved the Saturday morning workshop to 9:30 a.m. so the continuing class will be held just before and after lunch, without the workshop in the middle.
6. We've added a special half hour on Friday evening just before the plenary for The Word Guild's Managing Director to talk about "Why Canada Needs The Word Guild."
7. On Thursday evening, following the plenary, we've invited one of the founders of The Word Guild and directors of Write! Canada, N. J. Lindquist, and the Chair of the Board, Les Lindquist, to lead a hands-on session called "A Vision for Canada."
8. We've separated our "Brag Times" from our plenaries on Thursday and Friday. (More information in the registration package.)
New schedule for Thursday evening:
7:00 p.m. Plenary Session (1 of 3) with Joel Freeman – IRWIN ROOM (Ministry Building – upper level)
8:00 p.m. "A Vision for Canada" with Les and N. J. Lindquist – IRWIN ROOM
9:00 p.m. Brag Time – Part 1: everyone except authors – IRWIN ROOM
9:35 p.m. Coffee break – FULLER ROOM (Lounge in Main building)
New schedule for Friday evening:
7:00 p.m. "Why Canada Needs The Word Guild" by Denise Rumble, The Word Guild Managing Director – IRWIN ROOM (Ministry Building – upper level)
7:30 p.m. Plenary Session (2 of 3) with Joel Freeman – IRWIN ROOM (Ministry Building – upper level)
8:35 p.m. Brag Time – Part 2: authors only – IRWIN ROOM
9:15 p. m. Book Store Autograph Party – JANTZ ROOM (Gymnasium)
9:45 p.m. Refreshments – FULLER ROOM
See the complete schedule.
 Marianne Meed Ward worked with Faith Today from 1989 to 1998. It was her first job out of journalism school. She began as editorial assistant, was promoted to the role of news editor, and later replaced Audrey Dorsch as managing editor. In this latter role, she also acted as director of the God Uses Ink conference, and was part of the planning team that moved the event to Guelph. Today she works as a weekly columnist with the Toronto Sun.and is involved in local politics.
Journalist Patricia Paddey interviewed Marianne during Write! Canada 2009.
PP: What is the greatest value of a conference like this?
MMW: It brings people together who are often isolated. As writers, we toil in front of our computers. We send stuff out, and we don’t always know what kind of impact it has. Sometimes we get back email and letters, but more often, we don’t see anything. We also don’t realize that there are many other people out there doing what we’re doing as well. So, it’s worthwhile to bring people together to rub shoulders, purely from an isolation standpoint.
But it’s also great for skills development. I personally know that my writing greatly improved in the course of coming here, not only as a participant and organizer, but as a learner. I sat in on many sessions and know that it improved my writing greatly.
PP: Let’s talk about the mainstream media. Have you seen the interest—for writing from a faith perspective—lessen or grow among mainstream publications?
MMW: It waxes and wanes. It comes and goes. When I started in ’89, fresh out of journalism school, there were very few newspapers that had a religious section. And if they did have a section, it covered the strawberry social and the fundraising for the new stained glass window, a few theological "sermon" columns from the local parish priest or minister, and that was about it. Then we saw the financial scandals with Jim Bakker [of the PTL television ministry in the U.S.] and the mainstream media realized religious groups are also institutions. And journalists cover institutions—to hold them accountable, to ask questions, to make sure they are doing what they say they want to do—on behalf of the people they serve.
For many years, journalists just ignored that whole sector, until a negative [story] got people involved. But as time’s marched on, we’ve seen religion become a factor of many mainstream news stories. Now, it’s a factor when it comes to elections. It’s a factor when it comes to social policy. What does religion have to say about poverty? What does religion have to say about marriage? About education? All of those other beats that were regularly covered by journalists, were not covering the religious aspect and yet religious groups were very involved. So [the mainstream media] woke up to the fact that there were a lot of stories to be told, and a lot of educating to be done.
PP: What would you say to encourage writers who are just starting out, or who may have a dream of crossing over to mainstream media?
MMW: The very first thing I would say is learn. Go to school. Get your degree. Go to the best schools. Find out which schools are training journalists, and learn about [the profession] first. Come to conferences like this. Learn how to do journalism well. Learn the tools of the trade, and then bring your Christian faith to applying those tools. Bring that faith lens to covering stories. And then cover the stories that other people can’t because [they may not have that faith perspective so] it’s just not on their radar.
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NOTABLE QUOTES:
“When Christ came, the guy that was closest to him here on earth—the Apostle John—trying to find a way to describe him said, “he was the Word.” He could have said, “he was the dance or the symphony or the painting,” but he didn’t. He said he was “the Word.” God himself, described as being “the Word.” Words are important and they shape us.”
– Chip MacGregor, President, MacGregor Literary
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Write! Canada Conference Up to 250 Canadian writers and editors who are Christian will gather in Guelph, Ont. from June 16 to 18, 2011 for the 27th annual Write! Canada conference. Sponsored by The Word Guild, the conference features engaging keynote speakers, in-depth continuing classes, wide-ranging workshops, and a host of other learning and promotional opportunities.
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