April Meeting Notice

Richmond Christians Who Write
12114 Walnut Hill Dr. Rockville, VA 23146
Tel.: 804-749-4050
Fax: 804-749-4939
E-mail: RichmondCWW@aol.com
Blog: http://www.rcww.blogspot.com

Founder and Director:
Rev. Thomas C. Lacy

Membership:
Barbara Baranowski

Advisor/Coodinator:
Marie Corso

Blog Master:
Michael Rew

April 14, 2006

Dear Christians Who Write:

April Meeting

Our next meeting will be April 23rd, (4th Sunday to avoid Easter), 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Grove Avenue Baptist Church. NOTE: Enter the church through the rear entrance closest to the Parham Road side of the building. Upon entering, look for the elevator on your left. Go to the 2nd floor. Turn right when getting off the elevator, go to the end of the hall, turn right, go to the first door on the left past the water cooler.

Tom Lacy will be speaking on: How to Sell Articles to Magazines. it has been said, "There is a book in everyone." And many RCWW members want to publish at least one. However, I've learned over the years that, in essence, books are a series of articles. Accomplished book writers have told me to start with articles and the end result may well be a book. Why?

Articles are easier to write than books. The possibility of getting an article published is far greater than getting a book published. If you can sell articles, book publishers will see you can write material magazine publishers will buy and magazine readers will read. You build an audience.

Articles reach a wider readership than books. A nonfiction book is considered successful if it sells 5,000 copies. Magazines are read by thousands and millions. As writers, we want to get the word out.

No, don't give on writing a book. But do think about starting at the article level.

2006 Meeting Schedule

May 21, June 11 (2nd Sunday to avoid Father's Day), July 16, August 20, September 17, October 13-14 RCWW, November 19.

Meeting Schedule

2:00-2:15 Sign In and Fellowship
2:15 Opening Prayer
2:15-2:45 Introductions and Announcements
2:45-3:45 Speaker or Workshop
3:45-4:00 Refreshments and Fellowship
4:00-4:55 Critique (Bring 20 copies, typed, double spaced)
4:55-5:00 Closing Prayer

Writing Conferences

In my March meeting notice I asked you to look for my letter about local writing conferences. (Sorry, but I didn't think it would take me this long to get back to you.) American Christian Writers (ACW), of which we are a chapter, has come to Richmond for the last seven years because of RCWW. This year the numbers were way down. Next year they will not come back to Richmond. Like any business, they have to make a profit to stay in business.

RCWW has held 4 fall conferences. We did not hold one in 2005 because the last two were not well attended. But I know conferences are vital to writers. And I know they are expensive to hold and expensive to attend.

A small local conference cannot afford to bring in top authors, editors, publishers and agents. So local conferences tend to be writing workshops focusing on learning the craft. We have locals wo are qualified to teach writing workshops, and I have called on the ones I know, and they have done a great job. But they have not been well attended. Even so, I have set aside the weekend of October 13-14 this year and October 19-20 in 2007 for holding conferences. I need your help in planning.

What features would you like included? What workshops would benefit you the most? Do you know local instructors, authors, editors and publishers I could contact? What would you be willing to do to help?

Obviously, I need prompt feed back. Let me hear from you soon.

Colorado Christian Writers Conference
May 17-20, 2006
Details: http://www.writehisanswer.com/Colorado

Write-to-Publish Conference
June 7-10, 2006
Details: http://www.writetopublish.com/

Sandy Cove Christian Writers' Conference, October 1-4, 2006
Details: http://www.sandycovewriters.com/

Critique Group/Accountability Partner

In teaching on this subject, I have said, "Two of the worst critiques a writer can get are: (1) 'It is perfect. I wouldn't change a word,' and (2) 'It stinks.' Although we would always like to get the former and never get the latter neither are good. Be that as it may, writers need their work critiqued. Writers need someone else to read their material objectively.

Top writers have told me they would never have made it to the top had they not been in a local critique group which is different from being in a local writers group -- not to minimize the value of the latter. I see this as one of our most needed features of our local writers group. But it is not enough that I see the need. You must see the need to make the commitment to getting your work critiqued and critiquing the work of others.

Yes, we do some critiquing at our monthly meeting. We have had testimony from those who have been helped. But, to me, the need is greater than can be covered in one hour once a month.

In the past I set up a weekly, evening session. It was well attend in the beginning, but it slowly diminished in attendance. It could have been the wrong night or the wrong location. But I am willing to promote another effort for extended critiquing. The difficulty is always finding the right night and the right place. Do you have suggestions?

It might be some of you would like to set up a time convenient to one or more writers in the group and schedule your meetings at random times. I would be willing to help you coordinate these sessions.

It might be the above would be more suitable to those writing the same genre. How can I help you get this started.

Many years ago I asked for facilitators in various parts of the greater Richmond area to lead neighborhood groups. Although I did not get a single response, this might be a opportune time to consider this set up.

Suffice it to say: I see a need and am willing to try to fill it.

Let me hear from you.

Dues and Mailing Lists

Dues, in the amount of $20.00, are payable January through June and $10.00 July through December. They may be paid at our monthly meetings or mailed to: Richmond Christians Who Write, 12114 Walnut Hill Drive, Rockville, VA 23146.

Check out our Blog! See you on April 23rd! Bring a friend!

Tom Lacy