Advanced Writing

Becky Wade joins DFW Ready Writers on Saturday, June 8th to discuss "Advanced Writing."

Writers can do everything "right" with the basics of craft (point of view, scene structure, characterization) and still manage to write a book that agents, editors, and readers end up throwing against a wall in frustration.  During the session, Becky will hit on some advanced-level considerations that every writer should weigh when crafting heroes, heroines, dialogue, pacing, theme, conflict, and more.  

Becky's a California native who attended Baylor University, married a Texas boy, lived overseas in the Caribbean and Australia for four years, then settled in Dallas.  She published three historical romances for the general market in '99, '2000 and '01 then put her career on hold for several years to raise her three children.  When God called her back to writing, Becky knew He meant for her to turn her attention to Christian fiction.  She now writes contemporary inspirational romances and is positively certain that she's finally found her author's voice and her favorite niche in the world of publishing.  Her CBA debut, My Stubborn Heart, was released in the spring of 2012 and has been nominated for both an INSPY Award and for RWA's RITA Award.  Her newest release Undeniably Yours, hit shelves May first of this year. 

Don't miss the next meeting of DFW Ready Writers, Saturday, June 8th, 10:30am at the Bedford Library.

 

New Article!

Writing: a potentially problematic passion by J.A. Marx

May 2013: Lessons About Conferences - For Veterans and Rookies Alike

You don’t just attend classes at a conference. You learn life lessons. Things like pearl-diving and treasure-hunting. Things like realizing the most important appointments may not appear on your schedule. Things like learning that “no” might mean “yes,” and that the conference doesn’t end on the last day—it begins. We’ll discuss what expectations are realistic vs unrealistic. And why that open chair at the lunch table may not be your key to publication. 

Join us Saturday, May 11th at 10:30am at the Bedford Public Library.

Dr. Richard Mabry is a retired physician, a member of DFW Ready Writers, past Vice-President of the American Christian Fiction Writers, and the author of five published novels of medical suspense. His books have been finalists in competitions including ACFW’s Carol Award and Romantic Times’ Inspirational Book of the Year. His novel, Lethal Remedy, won a 2012 Selah Award from the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference. His most recent medical thriller, Stress Test (Thomas Nelson), was released in April of this year, and will be followed by Heart Failure in October.

Richard’s non-fiction book, The Tender Scar: Life After The Death Of A Spouse (Kregel Publishers), has ministered to multiple thousands of grieving individuals. His meditations and short pieces have appeared in The Upper Room, In Touch, and several other periodicals.

When Richard is not writing, he spends his time reading, working fruitlessly to improve his golf game, and defending his title as the world’s best Granddad. He and his wife are active members of Stonebriar Community Church, pastored by Dr. Chuck Swindoll.

Upcoming Speakers: 

June: Becky Wade will discuss Advanced Writing.

Don't miss a meeting of DFW Ready Writers, the second Saturday of every month at 10:30am at the Bedford Library. Visitors welcome! 

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

New Article!

Paper Dolls by Lynne Gentry

New Article!
Don't Imitate Others - Follow God's Direction by Lena Nelson Dooley

April 2013: Make Your Good Manuscript Great

Join DFW Ready Writers on Saturday, April 13th as we welcome published author Anne Greene who will discuss "Taking a Manuscript from Good to Great."  

Here's what Anne says about this topic: 

God has called us writers to a heavy responsibility. As writers we need to make the story God gave us jump off the page and leap to life for the reader. We are life changing witnesses of what we know to be true. 

We bring encouragement and hope. We help readers discover themselves in our stories. We paint a picture of what God is like—His nature, His love, His faithfulness. We help readers see Jesus. The tools I’m offering you will help.

I advocate belonging to a critique group. BUT sometimes if you are working too fast, a weekly critique group is too slow. Sometimes you’re under a deadline and can’t wait for your work to be critiqued by your group. Sometimes you can’t find a good fit in a critique group.

So, I’m giving you tools to enable you to critique your own work as well as forge you into a sought-after critique partner. It’s a win-win learning opportunity.

Sounds boring, right? No. It’s absolutely exciting.

You can use these TOOLS whether a seat of the pantser or a storyboard/plotter. Then you can submit those manuscripts to agents and editors with confidence.

ANNE GREENE delights in writing about wounded heroes and gutsy heroines. Her second novel, a Scottish historical, Masquerade Marriage, won the New England Reader Choice award, the Laurel Wreath Award, and the Heart of Excellence Award. The sequel Marriage By Arrangement releases in April.  A Texas Christmas Mystery also won awards. In 2014, her World War II novel, Angel With Steel Wings, about WASPs, women test pilots will release. She makes her home in McKinney, Texas. Tim LaHaye led her to the Lord when she was twenty-one and Chuck Swindoll is her Pastor. In 1990, Anne graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Literary Studies from the University of Texas.

View Anne’s other books, her blog, travel pictures, and art work at http://www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com. Anne loves to speak to book clubs, libraries, and conferences. Her  love of sailing, horseback riding, history, and art, as well as her Citizens Plano Policy Academy training, and military life sometime figure in her books. She judges the Rita, Golden Heart, Book of the Year, and many other contests. A Critique and Writing Craft group meets at her home on Monday nights.

Her highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to an awesome new world and touch hearts to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. 

Upcoming Speakers: 

May: Dr. Richard Mabry joins us to share what he learned from conferences.

June: Becky Wade will discuss Advanced Writing.

Don't miss a meeting of DFW Ready Writers, the second Saturday of every month at 10:30am at the Bedford Library. Visitors welcome! 

 

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