A place to hone your craft and realize your publishing goals

Have you ever said, “I could write a book?” Here’s your chance to learn how. The Florida Christian Writers Conference will be held March 4-7 at Lake Yale Conference Center in Leesburg, Florida. This four-day conference will host editors, publishers, agents and writers – both famous authors and aspiring ones.

The Florida Christian Writers Conference is designed to be inspirational as well as instructive. From worship and fellowship times to classes and workshops, participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the publishing industry and how to proclaim God’s  message He has inspired. This conference is designed to meet the needs of authors, no matter where you may be on the path to publishing. If writing a book is only a desire in your heart, there are basic, introductory classes for you. If you have a completed manuscript in search of an agent or publisher, you can find both at the conference. Several conference workshops will address marketing and branding, so you can learn how best to market your message as well.

Some unique features of the conference include face-to-face appointments with agents and editors. You can submit your manuscript to the agents and editors of your choice. Authors who submit manuscripts receive written feedback during the conference and the opportunity to network with professionals. Specific awards are given in the following categories: poetry, drama/screenwriting, children’s books or short stories, curricula, short stories for teens or adults, articles, devotionals, novels and nonfiction books. Two of the general awards are Best Work for a First-Time Conferee and Conference Writer of the Year. Publishing companies represented at the conference include Baker/Revell, Bethany House, Christianity Today, Dayspring, Harvest House, Lillenas, Regal, Standard, Tyndale House and Wesleyan, to name only a few.

Instruction is available in all genres, from children’s books to screenwriting and everything in between.

Every level of writing skill is addressed, from beginner through advanced.

All conferees will have the opportunity to hear keynote speakers: Jerry Jenkins, The New York Times’ best-selling author of the Left Behind books and founder of the Christian Writers Guild; speaker, teacher and writer Cecil Murphey, author of The Man Behind the Words; writer and speaker Eva Marie Everson; and author Jesse Florea, editor for Focus on the Family. Well-known Christian authors Davis Bunn, Angela Hunt and Nancy Rue will be teaching classes. Attendance at the conference is usually around 250, with a faculty of 70 freelance writers, editors and agents.

Perhaps the most valuable opportunity of the conference is the potential for networking, for meeting others at the same point in the journey, and for being inspired by those who have moved farther down the publishing road. Testimonials from some who have attended the conference attest to this:

Jill Buyea said, “I always had a desire to write, but I never thought I could really be a writer. That is, until I attended the Florida Christian Writers Conference.”

Karen Evans wrote, “I went to my first writer’s conference seeking instruction. I found a wealth of information, a treasure of friends and the encouragement to persevere. A writer’s paradise!”

And in the words of Linda Rose, “It is so refreshing and encouraging to come away from everyday life and enjoy time with others who share your creative interests, along with the bonus of receiving excellent teaching and exploring professional opportunities with real agents, authors and publishers.”

Think you could write a book? Here’s your chance to find out, and learn more. For more information on registration, conference cost
and scholarships, visit www.FLWriters.org. >