Recap of my Writing Is Not For Wimps workshop

Not everyone attended my Writing is Not for Wimps workshop at the FaithWriters conference last weekend.

Gasp!

Ok, I'll cut them some slack, since I was up against Clearing the Blog Fog, taught by Patty Wysong. I'd probably have a tough time choosing, too.

A few people asked if I would go over some of the main points of my workshop. Although I would be happy to reiterate the main focus of this class, I will not be covering everything, due to the fact that I have been considering writing a tutorial, which will be available for purchase down the road.

Today, I will simply provide the same pep talk I gave in my workshop. So listen up.

First, God created you and HE gave you your gift. Don't you think that minimizing yourself and/or your gift is like slapping God in the face? Don't you agree that not using those talents to our full potential is a huge disappointment to God? (If not, read Matthew 25)

Yes, there are obstacles and set-backs we encounter. Things that cause us to question our calling or even make us want to give up. I believe the driving force behind wanting to throw in the towel is FEAR. By the way, I have an acronym for F.E.A.R. - FAITH ENDS AT ROAR! In other words, the minute we encounter a ROAR! We run. We cower. We back down. Our faith vanishes to make room for our insecurities. Not cool.

I've got news for you. You are a writer. You will bump into obstacles. Some of them enormous. Some that seem impossible to face, let alone climb over. But the obstacles are not the point. Overcoming them and growing through them IS the point. It really is possible to kick your writing wimp to the curb and become the strong and successful writer God wants you to be.

In the Writing is Not for Wimps tutorial, which I hope to put together soon, I will offer tips on overcoming the top 6 or 7 obstacles that keep us from pursuing our passion. I strongly believe God wants us to take control over our inner writing wimp. I am excited about putting together a manual to encourage you and help you along your way down the path to your passion.

I have appreciated all of the positive feedback I received from this class. The verse that sums up this lesson is from 2 Chronicles 15:7:


"But as for you, be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded." (NLT)

And my Workshop Topics are...

As you probably know (because I've blogged about it a few times), I am facing my fears and teaching two workshops at the FaithWriters conference this coming August 13th & 14th. thanks to all of you who left suggestions on what topics you'd like to learn more about. Today, I hope you'll indulge me as I post descriptions of each workshop. Maybe you'll even be enticed to come to the conference. I'd love nothing more than to meet you! (even if the thought of more people in my particular class greatly intimidates me). There really are some wonderful workshops to choose from, including one of self-publishing, genres, the nuts & bolts of writing, finding humor in everyday situations, theater & fiction, and blogging basics.

Here are the two workshops I believe God placed on my heart:

Writing isn’t for Wimps -- Finding the Strength to Overcome Obstacles in the Path of Your Passion

You have a passion to write. But passion alone won’t make you successful. There are plenty of challenges you’ll face along your journey. Challenges that may frustrate you and tempt you to give upon your passion altogether. This workshop will cover some of those challenges and show how to overcome them. Challenges like handling harsh critiques, organizing your time, dealing with rejection, and coping with an unsupportive family. Join me and learn how to rise up and kick that writing wimp to the curb, and emerge as the strong and successful writer God intended you to be.

This Little Writer Went to Market -- Where and How to Submit your Work and Possibly Even Get Paid!

So you’re ready to submit your work. But where do you begin? Where can you find the right publications for your articles, poetry, or fiction? Geared toward the beginner, this workshop will provide you with a list of potential markets, as well as some other ways to supplement your income with writing. Half of the class will focus on non-fiction, the other half on fiction. It will teach you not only where to submit your work, but how. It will also cover writing contests and how they can boost your writing career to the next level. By the time you leave, you’ll be equipped with some tips on taking that (sometimes scary) step into the world of writer’s guidelines and manuscript submissions.


So...I look forward to this opportunity to share what I've learned so far in my own writing journey. If you have any suggestions or thoughts on either of these workshops about specific aspects you'd like to hear about, please let me know. Or if you'd like to write the entire lesson for me, I'd be open to that, too.

For complete details on the FaithWriters conference, visit the official conference page at: http://www.faithwriters.com/conference.php

Hope to see you in August!