2017 ACFW CONFERENCE – 40 DAYS OF PRAYER DAY 32 – 8/20/17 – BRANDILYN COLLINS AS SHE EMCEES “Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.” (Psalm 66:16). Father God, we thank You for Brandilyn Collins and her many years of service to ACFW. We thank You for her heart …
Creating a World
By Susan A.J. Lyttek One thing I love about writing speculative fiction is the opportunity to imitate my God and create worlds. There are entire books written about how to design your universe. Obviously, I cannot going that far in a blog post. Even so, I will include some basic pointers on the process. Anchor it in reality. Unlike our …
ACFW 40 Days of Prayer: Day 33
2017 ACFW CONFERENCE – 40 DAYS OF PRAYER DAY 33 – 8/19/17 – FINANCES FOR THOSE ATTENDING CONFERENCE “My help is from Jehovah who made the mountains! And the heavens, too!” Psalm 121:2, TLB. Lord, You are our faithful God. When You call, You also provide. We’ve seen You provide finances for a writer’s conference two days before it started. …
Everything I Need to Know About Writing I Learned from a Tom Hanks Movie
By Tamara D. Fickas It’s no surprise to those who know me that I’m a huge Tom Hanks fan. This started with a little known sitcom from the late 70s called Bosom Buddies. At that time, Tom looked like a guy at school I had a crush on. The Tom appreciation lasted even as the crush didn’t. Over the years, …
ACFW 40 Days of Prayer: Day 34
2017 ACFW CONFERENCE – 40 DAYS OF PRAYER DAY 34 – 8/18/17 – THOSE TEACHING WORKSHOPS Proverbs 8:1 Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? Dear Heavenly Father: Many writers have learned various lessons about this writing calling You gave each of us. Some of them will be sharing what they’ve learned with those of us …
Learning from the Pro Writers without Stalking Them
By DiAnn Mills We all want to be called pro writers and to raise our status to bestselling. In our excitement, we follow the award-winning, best-selling writers whose success make us drool. Their books are read and reread, often with highlights. Their blogs are ingested like candy, and whenever they speak, we’re there. At conferences, we sign-up for one-on-one appointments …
ACFW 40 Days of Prayer: Day 35
2017 ACFW CONFERENCE – 40 DAYS OF PRAYER DAY 35 – 8/17/17 – THE PRAISE BAND AS THEY PRACTICE AND LEAD WORSHIP Heaven Father, we thank You for the talent and willingness of the praise band to serve. Bless them and enlighten them as they practice and lead worship. Help them listen to Your voice as they prepare, so that …
ACFW 40 days of Prayer: Day 36
2017 ACFW CONFERENCE – 40 DAYS OF PRAYER DAY 36 – 8/16/17 – THOSE TEACHING CONTINUING EDUCATION Heavenly Father, please be with those who are teaching the continuing education classes during the conference. Grant them wisdom to impart Your truths to the participants. Help them to be open to the whisperings of Your Holy Spirit as they prepare for the …
Between You and SME: Resources for Fiction Writers
by Angela Arndt As a corporate trainer for an insurance company, I wrote the curriculum and trained new hires to ensure they used correct procedures. But my degree was in education, not computer programming. How could I teach them when I needed someone to teach me? The answer? A subject-matter expert, or SME (pronounced “smee,” like Captain Hook’s bo’sun in …
ACFW 40 Days of Prayer: Day 37
2017 ACFW CONFERENCE – 40 DAYS OF PRAYER DAY 37 – 8/15/17 – ACFW MEMBERS UNABLE TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. – Jeremiah 29:11 AMPC Sovereign God, we pray for those who are …