By Jayna Baas
Are you an editor who also writes fiction? Or do you have a fiction story burning inside of you? Fiction writing is a real challenge. Unlike editing, there aren’t established rules to follow to ensure success. We have to dream up creative ideas. We have to compete with thousands of other stories in our genre. We have to believe in ourselves—which may be the toughest obstacle to overcome. And we have to be persistent until we cross that finish line. Then we have to hope our book somehow bobs to the surface and is noticed in the vast ocean of published books.
It’s tempting to think it’s too hard to succeed. Is it worth it to invest vast amounts of time, money, and effort to publish our stories? Do people even read anymore with all the videos, movies, and gaming options they can turn to for entertainment? Will AI-generated books take over? Are original Christian novels dying out? Who can we ask?
A panel of highly acclaimed publishing experts are here to dispel rumors and address concerns in an outstanding conference called “The Art of Writing.” Experts from Revell, WaterBrook & Multnomah, Tyndale House Publishers, and ACFW, plus award-winning authors are ready to share their secrets with you. There is even an option to add on publisher consultations.
The virtual event, hosted by ECPA and the Christy Awards, will be held on Thursday evenings: Oct. 19, Oct. 26, Nov. 2, Nov. 9 at 7:00 p.m. CT. The price is $69, which includes both the live session plus access to recordings for all four webinars. But we have a special discount for you! If you are a member of The Christian PEN or Christian Editor Connection or have attended a PENCON conference, you can receive $20 off by using code CEAspecial when signing up. If you are not a PEN or CEC member or PENCON attendee, learn more about the divisions of Christian Editors Association here.
You will be encouraged and informed after listening to what these industry professionals reveal about fiction writing today. Check out the amazing speakers and sessions here: https://christyawards.com/conference.html.
The deadline for signing up is Nov. 9, 2023, but sign up before Oct. 19 to access the live sessions instead of replay.
Jayna Baas is the current PEN Director and has been in love with words ever since she learned to use them. As a freelance editor, she specializes in copyediting and proofreading for a polished reading experience. As a Christian fiction author, she is passionate about helping fellow writers present Christ-honoring messages with confidence and excellence. Jayna lives in northern Michigan, where she enjoys gardening, good coffee, and time with family.
