Wednesday, December 18, 2013

January 2014: Setting and Achieving Goals


Make 2014 Your Best Year Ever: Setting and Achieving Goals


Whether writing-related or otherwise, dreams don't come true by magic. Juggling the many demands of 21st-century living can distract us from achieving our writing objectives. Let's start the new year by looking at what we want to accomplish in 2014, and how we can make sure we'll celebrate those accomplishments this time next year. This will be an interactive workshop, so prepare to get started on your plan for the coming year.

Join ACFW-DFW as we welcome Laura McClellan on Saturday, January 11th at 10:30am. Dig into the new year with her interactive workshop at the Bedford Public Library.


A lawyer by day, a self-professed productivity geek, and a lover of the written word since childhood, Laura has been published both in professional publications and inspirational magazines and is a contributor to the popular Stepcase Lifehack blog. In 2012 she committed to pursuing her lifetime dream of writing a novel, and she’s currently polishing her first women’s fiction manuscript, a winner in several fiction contests, in anticipation of submitting it (by request!) to her dream agent. Laura is member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a team member at My Book Therapy. Find Laura online at www.Laura-McClellan.com, on Facebook as LauraLeaMcClellan, or on Twitter as @LauraMcMom.

We look forward to seeing you there! Visitors welcome.

Please note: There is a great deal of construction in the area. Small orange detour signs are on the side of the freeway to exit Forest Ridge at different exits. If you are traveling West bound on 183, please use the exit for Central Drive, Westpark Way, and Forest Ridge. If you are traveling East bound on 183, please use the exit for Bedford Rd., Brown Trail, and Forest Ridge.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

December 2013: A Christmas Party!

Please join us on Saturday, December 14th at 10:30am as we have a time of fellowship and celebrating the Christmas holidays.

We will have a Chinese auction gift exchange. Something a writer would like--books, stationery items, chocolate, lotions and potions, etc. Please bring gifts valued at $10-15 dollars, and we'll have fun with the gift exchange.

We'll enjoy a Christmas story or two along the way and have a fun time!

Visitors welcome.

We meet at the Bedford Public Library.

Hope to see you there!

Sunday, October 20, 2013

November 2013: Workshop with Deborah Raney


ACFW DFW will meet on Saturday, November 9th at 10:30am.  November's meeting will be a 2-hour workshop featuring multi-published author Deborah Raney discussing "Surprising Secrets of the Writing Life."  Here's what Deborah had to say about this topic:

SURPRISING SECRETS OF THE WRITING LIFE 

Little-known facts about what a working writer's daily life is really like. Did you know that much of a writer's day is spent doing things besides writing? Do you know why your agent earns his/her keep? What are the pitfalls of fame and the myths of fortune? How do you deal with the green-eyed monster––yours and fellow writers'? How does becoming a writer threaten your family life and life as you knew it before you were a writer? All this and much more, including what to do about it all!

DEBORAH RANEY's first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title and launched her writing career after 20 happy years as a stay-at-home mom. Since then, her books have won numerous awards including the RITA, National Readers Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, the Carol Award, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. Deb's 23rd novel, The Face of the Earth, released from Howard/Simon & Schuster in May and her new Christmas novel, Silver Bells, just came out from Guideposts. She is currently working on a five-book series for Abingdon Press Fiction. Deb enjoys teaching at writers' conferences across the country. She and her husband, Ken Raney, recently traded small-town life in Kansas ––the setting of many of Deb's novels––for life in the (relatively) big city of Wichita where they enjoy gardening, antiquing, movies and traveling to visit four children and a growing brood of grandchildren who all live much too far away. Visit Deb on the Web at www.deborahraney.com.

Cost for this workshop is $15 (plus an additional $2 fee for members only).  Don't miss this great opportunity!  We meet at the Bedford Public Library beginning at 10:30am.


Please note:  There is a great deal of construction in the area. Small orange detour signs are on the side of the freeway to exit Forest Ridge at different exits. If you are traveling West bound on 183, please use the exit for Central Dr., Westpark Way, and Forest Ridge. If you are traveling East bound on 183, please use the exit for Bedford Rd., Brown Trail, and Forest Ridge.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, November 9.  Visitors always welcome!

Thursday, September 26, 2013

October 2013: Never Say Never - Subjectivity in Style



Join DFW-ACFW on Saturday, October 12th, 10:30am, as we welcome Bruce Judisch as he discusses "Never Say Never: Subjectivity in Style."  This should be a fun discussion.  Here's what Bruce says about the topic:
 
Well, that pretty much sums it up.  Are there any questions?
Oh, okay. Maybe a little more detail.  :)
Way back in elementary school, long before we knew such things as editors existed, we learned the first rules on how to write.  Spelling, grammar, sentence structure…you remember, right?  Break the rules, earn a red-pencil mark.  Well…
…when you’re as old as I am, and memories of elementary school are harder to come by, red pencils tend to lose their fearsomeness.  You begin to think more in terms of communicating than of writing.  Writing is the medium; communicating is the goal.  Sometimes (brace yourself), just sometimes, rules need to be bent…stretched…yup, even broken to achieve communication. That can be scary.  Why?
Because, to do this effectively, you must think.  And dare.  And perhaps risk a finger-wagging by the omniscient critique partner you’ve engaged.  Well, I’ll have some tidbits for the crit partner too.  ;-)
During our chat—because that’s what it’s going to be: a chat—we’ll address both writing and critiquing.  Candidly, yes.  Subjectively, yes.  But most of all, funly! (?)
Oh, and just to allay any fears, this will not be an exercise in literary anarchy, chaos, or sloppiness.  Cecil Murphy once told me, “There’s a lot of bad fiction out there.  No need to add to it.”  There are ways to break the rules—rules for breaking the rules, if you will.  As we discover them together, I’m sure I’ll have as much to learn from you as you will from me.


About Bruce: 
I’m a husband of one, father of three, and grandfather of fourteen.  And if you don’t think *that* keeps me busy!  J  Born and raised in Canton, Ohio, I served 21 years in the US Air Force, living in California, Alaska (child #1), Texas (child #2), England (child #3), Crete (nope, all done), Germany, and Maryland.  I now live in Universal City, Texas, with Jeannie, the wife of my youth in whom I rejoice. 
I’ve authored a series on the story of the Old Testament prophet Jonah, “A Prophet’s Tale” (The Journey Begun, OakTara, 2009, and The Word Fulfilled, OakTara 2010 – part three, The Promise Kept, is in the oven). My most recent work is a contemporary/20th-century historical novel Katia (2010, OakTara), which is the prequel to For Maria, also a contemporary/20th-historical hybrid.
In the nonfiction realm, I’ve written more than 18 Bible book study booklets, one of which is currently being prepared for release as eBooks through Cape Arago Press, as well as topical studies on the Seven Churches of Revelation, the Resurrection, and Discerning God’s Will.  My secular credits include an article in a professional journal published by the Department of Defense’s Information Operations community, the IO Sphere.
Academically, I hold an MA in Information Systems and Computer Resources Management; an MA in Management (Business concentration); a BA in Russian; and an AA in Communications Processing Management. But, who cares?  J 
More information on his writing can be found on my website at www.brucejudisch.com.


We meet at the Bedford Library. Directions in the right side bar.
Sneak Preview for November:
November 9: Deborah Raney will talk about "Surprising Secrets of the Writing Life" in a 2-hour workshop. Cost is $15.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

September 2013: All About ACFW

ACFW Web Manager Becky Yauger joins us to speak about all things ACFW.   ACFW is more than just the national conference, email loops and contests.  Becky will talk about how to navigate the website, where to get help and show you the hidden gems and helpful information available to you with a click of the mouse at www.acfw.com.

DFW Ready Writers will meet on September 21 at the Bedford Library beginning at 10:30am.  Lunch and fellowship time will follow.

Becky is a past vice-president and membership officer for ACFW. She worked for 15 years in radio and television broadcasting, before finally starting on her writing career. She’s been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul and Guideposts Magazine and continues to scribble away on various works while waiting for God's leading for her writing career. She also hosts a weekly blog called Talking Among Friends. Becky and her husband live in the Dallas area and have two grown children.

Future Speakers:
October 12:  Bruce Judisch will discuss "Subjectivity and Style".
November 9: Deborah Raney will talk about "Surprising Secrets of the Writing Life" in a 2-hour workshop.
December 14: Annual Christmas Celebration

Visitors are welcome so please join us!  

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

August 2013: Encouragement For Your Writing Journey

"Broken and Blessed: Encouragement for Your Writing Journey"

Writing can be a lonely business. Pitfalls along the way often sidetrack even the most dedicated writers. In this session, author Elizabeth Ludwig talks about dealing with rejections, poor sales numbers, even bad reviews, and focusing on the good that God has intended. Drawing from the scriptures, Elizabeth offers encouragement and blessing to those struggling to fulfill their calling to write.
 

Elizabeth Ludwig is the award-winning author of No Safe Harbor, Book One in the Edge of Freedom series. Her popular literary blog, The Borrowed Book, enjoys a wide readership. Elizabeth is an accomplished speaker and teacher, often attending conferences and seminars where she lectures on editing for fiction writers, crafting effective novel proposals, and conducting successful editor/agent interviews. Along with her husband and children, she makes her home in the great state of Texas. To learn more, visit ElizabethLudwig.com.

DFW Ready Writers will meet on Saturday, August 17th (instead of our usual second Saturday of the month) at the Bedford Library, 2424 Forest Ridge Drive in Bedford. The meeting begins at 10:30am, followed by lunch and fellowship after. 

Upcoming speakers include ACFW Web Manager, Becky Yauger, discussing "Getting the Most From Your ACFW Membership," and multi-published author Deborah Raney giving a hands-on workshop in November.

Visitors always welcome.

DFW Ready Writers is the local chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). For information, visit www.acfw.com.