February 2014: Crime Scenes and Characters

Brainstorm your cozy mystery or suspense plot ideas and investigative characters' development with  Detective Juliane.

Juliane sates, "I have been with my department for 6 1/2 years.  I was on patrol for 4 1/2 years before going into a geographic investigations unit. I am currently still in the geographic investigations unit. I am married with two amazing Great Dane dogs. I do Crossfit, play volleyball, and make stained glass for my hobbies. I also enjoy reading a little bit of everything.

I will discuss what I currently do in my geographic investigations unit; what life is like for a patrol officer; and police culture. To break down these topics even further, for geographic investigations, I investigate burglaries of habitations, burglaries of vehicles, thefts, criminal mischief, and any assaults - not domestic related. For a patrol officer, the kind of service calls that a patrol officer answers on a regular basis, including domestics, report calls, vehicle accidents, and mental calls. For police culture, I will touch on how police officers are/can be treated by the public, and how officers can have support through their "police family."

So, all you future Jessica Fletcher types have your plot twists and who-done-it red herrings ready. Take plenty of notes in your black book to make sure the DCI or CIS who is investigating the crime scene in your tale is realistic.

For those who don't write in this genre, well...you have an antagonist or two in your story line, right? Our February meeting will help you make sure your character is three-dimensionally molded and realistic. 

Betcha after an  hour of, as Hercule Poirot would say, little grey cell exercising with Juliane, you'll be spurred to click away on that keyboard. It will be worth the weave through the Mid-Cities'construction zones to get here.

So, join ACFW-DFW on February 15th, at 10:30 a.m. We meet in the Bedford Public Library at the crossroads of Forest Ridge Drive and Bedford Road, a few blocks north of Hwy121. Visitors are always welcome.

January 2012: The “I hate to write a synopsis!” Workshop POSTPONED

UPDATE:  Sharon Mignerey will be joining us later in the year.  Stay tuned. Meanwhile, join us on January 14th when Lena Nelson Dooley will speak to us on "Taking Settings to the Next Level." Details in a separate post.


Sure some people like to write a synopsis. For most writers, the task is about as appealing as jumping into a frozen lake during sub-zero weather...even though some people like that, too. On Saturday, January 14th, Sharon Mignerey will host this workshop and help participants identify the elements required to put together a solid synopsis. Workshop participants leave with a workbook that provides concrete reminders of the steps and the techniques. In addition to discussing different types of synopses and synopsis conventions, the workshop covers techniques to deconstruct your story so you can construct an effective, clear synopsis.

 Sharon Mignerey confesses to being a dreamer who believes that dreams to do true ... when you’re willing to work toward their achievement.  She knows because it took her 15 years to sell that first novel.  Sharon’s books have won several awards including The Golden Heart, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Colorado Romance Writer’s Keeper Award.  She’s a long-time member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, was named the 1999 RMFW Writer of the Year, and was honored with the Jasmine Award in 1996.   In addition to writing, Sharon is a frequent speaker at local and national writers conferences, which she says is a way of passing along the gift her mentors gave her.  The topics of her workshops range from those centered on craft to the motivational.  When she’s not writing, you can find her happily involved with her critique group of ten years or puttering around her garden. 

Join DFW Ready Writers at 11:00am for lunch, fellowship and our synopsis workshop, at La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant on Highway 121 in Colleyville.  We are the local chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers (www.acfw.com).  Visitors welcome!

Mary Hollingsworth – Saturday, March 13th

What's Happening in the Publishing Industry Today?

Mary Hollingsworth will give an overview of the changes and trends in our industry today, including the influence of the struggling economy. She will talk about up-and-coming publishing options, such as e-books, print-on-demand books, and self-publishing as alternatives to traditional publishing. She'll talk about branding and how to build your writer's "brand" (identity) and platform through Social Media Marketing.
Who is Mary Hollingsworth?

Mary Hollingsworth is the author of more than one hundred books and products. Sales of her books now top seven million copies, and her books have appeared on best-seller lists more than one hundred times. Mary has been a freelance author and managing editor since 1988. During her writing career, she has had more than ninety other works published, including articles, poetry, plays, and songs.

Some of her best-known books are Just Imagine with Barney the Dinosaur—the first hardcover picture book produced with the big purple guy; Hugs for Women; Hugs for Kids; Little Taps on the Shoulder from God; My Little Bible; The International Children’s Story Bible; and many others. She is currently writing a 365-day devotional for Tyndale House entitled The One Year Book of Laughter and Joy.

Mary served as a managing production editor for Worthy Books, Word Publishing, and Thomas Nelson, Inc., for more than fifteen years. She has also served as production editor for a number of major publishers, such as Guideposts Books, Integrity Publishers, WaterBrook Press, Howard Books/Simon & Schuster and others where she supervises the editorial production team for such well-known Christian authors as Billy Graham, Max Lucado, Charles Swindoll, Chuck Colson, Pat Robertson, Women of Faith, Patsy Clairmont, John MacArthur, and many others. She has also worked with Christian recording artists such as Sandi Patty, Amy Grant, Tammy Trent, Kathy Troccoli, and Michael W. Smith on various books and recordings.

She currently serves as the managing director of Creative Enterprises Studio—a writing and publishing association that assists publishers and individuals in the writing, editorial production, printing, and distribution of their books. You can see their work and services at CreativeEnterprisesLtd.com.

Mary’s background in publishing includes a wide variety of book genres and responsibilities: trade books, workbooks and study guides, gift books, devotionals, children’s picture books, Sunday school curriculum, adult and children’s Bibles and Bible story books, Bible reference books, cookbooks, and others. She has served as proofreader, copy editor, substantive editor, rewrite editor, co-author, general editor, managing editor, cover copywriter, and art director, among other assignments.

With a Bachelor of Science in Business Education from Abilene Christian University, Mary has minor equivalencies in journalism and Bible. Her master’s work is in journalism and communication.

Mary lives and works in Bedford, Texas, with her dog, Jazz, where she enjoys reading, collecting miniature and rare books, singing, and travel.

See http://www.maryhollingsworth.com/ for a more complete overview of Mary’s publishing career.

DFW Ready Writers in the News - What's Happening April 2009

Happy Easter, Ready Writers! May it be glorious as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!

A few of our members have some fun things coming up this month!

Our president, Lena Nelson Dooley, will be speaking at the Madison County Writers Guild in Madison, Texas, on April 18th. The next week, Lena can be found at the Mother-Daughter Tea at St. Matthew Cumberland Presbyterian Church on April 25th.

Grammar Girl, Jane Thornton, had an article on The Christian Pulse last month! Click here to read “Come Together.” Check out the site again on April 20th for her newest article, “Sixty is the New Forty.”

In the “sad, but happy” news department, the Buffaloes are roaming! On the 448th day of joblessness, (but who’s counting? :oP) God blessed Lisa’s husband Dennis with a job. The Buffaloes are already in the middle of settling in to their new home in Boise, Idaho. We’ll miss you so much, Lisa!!! May God bless you and your family in this move and make the transition easy and the burdens light.

Lisa also has an article out on The Christian Pulse this week. To read “Bustin’ Bunnies,” click here.

Congrats to all the DFW Ready Writers in the News!

Until Next Month,

Dawn Michelle Michals

www.dawnmichellemichals.blogspot.com

DFW Ready Writers in the News - What's Happening March 2009

Hello, Ready Writers!

Make plans NOW to attend the Christian Book Expo 2009 March 19 - 22, 2009. Several DFW Ready Writers will be in attendance as well as Liz Curtis Higgs, Max Lucado and Lee Strobel. To attend the Christian Book Awards on Thursday night, click here for ticket info.

In Member News:

Speaking of the Christian Book Expo, our very own, red-headed DFW Ready Writer's President, Lena Nelson Dooley, will be signing books and visiting with fans of Christian fiction. Stay tuned for a schedule of our members who will also be in attendance.

Does that comma need to be there? Is your subject/verb agreement giving you migraines? Our very own "Grammar Girl" Jane Thornton will speak to us this Saturday on "What’s Grammar Got to Do with It?" Her realistic look at grammar essentials will help you eliminate those pesky errors that send editors scrambling for their sanity.

Big news for Lisa Buffaloe: Lisa signed this week with Tamela Hancock Murray of Hartline Literary Agency. Congratulations, Lisa! Publication is not far behind!

Wanna win some dough? Visit Leanna Ellis's Web site for a chance to win $50. Leanna's April release, Ruby's Slippers, is already available through Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com, and she'll be bringing some copies on Saturday.

Beth Shriver's newest release, Love at First Flight, will hit stores on April 8th. Grab your copy and support a fellow Christian writer.

Marilyn Eudaly will be presenting the Keeping it Real: An interactive workshop on character motivation and conflicts to the His Writers chapter of ACFW in Denver, CO on April 13. Road trip, anyone?

Additionally, Marilyn's story "Looking Out" in Ultimate Gardner by HCI Publishing will be in bookstores in April.

Mary Ann Hayhurst received her contributor's copies for her devotional that appeared in the March 8th issue of Evangel. Mary Ann, we would love to see it! Please bring a copy on Saturday.

We are writers! If you have news that didn't make it in this month, never fear! Send it to me for inclusion in next month's Member News.

May God bless you richly as you share His Word to the nations.

To be used by Him,

Dawn Michelle Michals
dawn@dawnmichellemichals.com
dawnmichellemichals.blogspot.com

DFW Ready Writers in the News - What's Happening February 2009

So far, 2009's been a busy year for the DFW Ready Writers!

The Christian Pulse Online Magazine published Lisa Buffalo's article Something Stinketh in their January issue. To read Lisa's article, click here.

And this month, Lisa's article The Visitor appears in The Christian Fiction Online Magazine.


DFW Ready Writers' President Lena Nelson Dooley signed a contract with Summerside Press for Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico. Lena also sent in two complete novellas on February 1. Be on the look out for Wild West Christmas and Christmas Love at Lake Tahoe.


Deborah Rather, under the pen name of Arlene James is working on her Mother's
Day novella, and just got the go-ahead for book 2 in her new Chatam House series for Love Inspired.


Becky Yauger's story will appear in Chicken Soup for the Soul - The Cancer Book hitting bookstores March 3rd. Becky recently took over the secretary's position for the DFW Ready Writers as well as serving as secretary for ACFW.

Lynne Gentry received word that one of her short stories may be published by Simon & Schuster in the compilation book, God Sightings by James Bell.


Congratulations, Ready Writers!


Do you have an event or news item to share? E-mail us at dawn@dawnmichellemichals.com to have your event posted to the DFW Ready Writers' blog.