Freelancer Conference

Dear Freelancer Family:

If you haven’t already done so, I hope you will get your registration in for our first-ever freelancer conference July 14-16, 2008 in Orlando, Florida. Only a few more days remain for the $225 “early bird” registration! The ICRS (The Christian Bookseller’s Association’s International Christian Retail Show), with which this conference is partnering, looks like it will be a great event—one where you can learn a great deal about the publishing industry as a whole and your place in it. You will have a floor badge and plenty of time to walk the floor.

I want to remind you to email me if you would like to find a roommate for the conference or have any other needs we can help you with. I also thought you might like to hear about those individuals who will be taking care of our workshops and events.

Workshop – Freelancing for Fun and Money
This workshop will show you how to earn a portfolio full of credits and money in the bank.
The presenter will be Vicki J. Kuyper. Vicki has a very long list of freelance credits, spanning a number of years. She used a lot of her freelance earnings to travel and now is an established author. Her book documenting her travels is entitled, Wonderlust and was published by New Hope.

Workshop – Publishing Straight Up!
This workshop provides an overview of the publishing industry in simple, understandable terms.
The presenter will by Patrick L. Judd. Pat has a long and successful history in publishing and now runs his own publishing house, True North Publishing.

Workshop – Freelancer Is Another Word for Entrepreneur!
This workshop will give you strategies for running your own small freelance business. There will be tips on marketing, financials, wise business principles, working at home, and taking care of the tax man.
The presenter will be Dennis Currington (yes, my husband). He has served as the Director of Small Business Development for a number of years at the Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Workshop – All About Editing
This workshop discusses the various types of editing—macro, substantive, line, copy, and proofreading—what they entail and how you can go about becoming proficient in them.
The presenter is Kathryn Deering, who for many years worked as an in-house editor in several Christian publishing houses. Now she works as a top-of-the-line freelancer editor, specializing in fiction.

Workshop – Devotional Writing
This workshop will show you the secrets of touching hearts by writing thought-provoking, life-changing devotionals, without preaching. You will learn the concept of the “embedded message,” how to write inspiring material even within strict specifications, and how to give publishers what they’re looking for.
The presenter is Rebecca Currington. Yep, that’s me! I have been writing devotionals for 20 years and believe that devotional writing is a distinct discipline from other types of writing and one that has the potential to change lives.

Workshop – Story Writing
This workshop will teach you the elements of good story writing, how to make your stories sizzle, hold a readers interest, and how to best market your stories in the industry.
The presenter will be Karen Linamen. Karen is the author of a number of humor story books, the most recent being “Due to Rising Energy Costs, the Light at the End of the Tunnel Has Been Turned Off!” Karen writes a great deal of humor with big doses of spirituality worked in.

Workshop – Technical Tips and Tools of the Trade
This workshop will show you how to provide a technically clean manuscript, computer shortcuts that will save you time and frustration, and what style books, dictionaries, and other tools you will need to do your freelance job with excellence.
The presenter will be Patricia Lutherbeck. A long-time employee of Snapdragon Group, many of you have heard from her by phone and email. She’ll be here to show you how to work smarter rather than harder.

Luncheon – Snapdragon Celebration Luncheon
The speaker will be Todd Hafer, editorial director for Hallmark’s book division. Todd is also a prolific author, his most recent title being Bad Idea, published by NavPress. Todd has been told to give you the benefit of his wisdom, inspire you to great things, and put you in a mood to laugh all the way back home.
Be sure to watch the website for updates.

Blessings,
Rebecca Currington
President
Snapdragon Group

www.snapdragongroup.com. If you go to the freelancer page, the password is snapgroupie.