Access Page – Publishing in Color Spring 2023 Online Conference

Thank you for registering!

This is the page where you can access all conference sessions and other features exclusively for conference attendees – please do not share it with anyone.

To access each session, click on the link showing the time for that session (for instance, 1:00 – 1:45 Eastern). Many of these links will not be “live” until the time of the conference. Following each live session, the link will change from Zoom (for the live session) to YouTube (for the recording of that session) once the recording is available.

Please note: all times are Eastern; end times are approximate; Also please watch for schedule changes.

All sessions can be viewed at the times indicated below, or for 3 months following the conference

All times and sessions are subject to change

If you would like to sign up for any 1-on-1 meetings with selected speakers, here is where to do that. These virtual private meetings are informal 20-minute “get to know you” meetings where writers can convey information about their project and ask questions. They are NOT manuscript review sessions, and the speakers are under no obligation to follow up with you after your meeting. The cost of each meeting is $10 and is non-refundable. The supply of meetings for each speaker is limited, and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, until the end of the conference. Please do not sign up for more than 4 meetings. At some point after you sign up, the speaker will contact you to schedule a mutually convenient time to talk, sometime before, during, or after the conference.

If you would like to offer an Open mic reading no sign-up is necessary.

Don’t forget to check out our Bookstore! There you can learn about our recommended books on writing, marketing, and getting published, as well as books from some of our conference speakers.

 

Monday March 13, 2023

  • 9:30 – 11:00 Eastern: Cheryl Price (Judson Press)
    • 9:30 – 10:15 Eastern: presentation: “Judson Press: The Types of Writers Needed” – Learn about who Judson Press is and our writing opportunities. We will explore the writing options Judson Press seeks for our class, a new book, and more opportunities. Additionally, we will discuss ways to encourage you to write and try new possibilities.
    • 10:15 – 11:00 Eastern: recorded Q&A
  • 11:15 – 12:45 Eastern: Brad Lyons (Chalice Press)
    • 11:15 – 12:00 Eastern: presentation: “The Company You Keep: Choosing the Right Publishing House for Your Work” – With so many publishing companies out there, how do you know which ones are the best match for your work? Brad Lyons, president and publisher of Chalice Media Group, will help you think through the process of evaluating publishing houses and how to help publishers see why you think your book and their mission are a match made in heaven.
    • 12:00 – 12:45 Eastern: recorded Q&A
  • 2:00 – 3:30 Eastern: Barb Roose (literary agent)
    • 2:00 – 2:45 Eastern: presentation: “Platform 101” – Platform isn’t everything in landing a publishing contract, but it is an important part of the picture. In this workshop, Barb will explain the three types of platform-building approaches. She will also provide step-by-step instructions, encouragement and lots of resources that will equip you to launch from zero platform and move with intention toward your publishing goals.
    • 2:45 – 3:30 Eastern: recorded Q&A
  • 3:45 – 5:15 Eastern: Linda Howard (Tyndale House)
    • 3:45 – 4:30 Eastern: presentation: “12 Things Every Author Needs to Know” – Becoming a published author is not an easy road. Some steps along the journey are simple and some are much more complicated.  And, there are certainly some major pitfalls to be avoided! Join us as we talk through some of the important things all authors need to know, whether they are just starting their journey or are far down the road. Understanding the publishing landscape and being well-versed on the process will help you as you progress in your writing career.
    • 4:30 – 5:15 Eastern: recorded Q&A

Tuesday March 14, 2023

  • 9:30 – 11:00 Eastern: Andy Rogers
    • 9:30 – 11:00 Eastern: recorded presentation and Q&A: “Self-Editing: What You Can Do Before Submitting Your Work” – For many writers, self-editing sounds as exciting as flossing your teeth. But it doesn’t have to be this way. If you first identify your weaknesses, then create a plan, you will get the work done more quickly and experience more joy in the process. In this workshop we’ll discuss practical tips that will improve your ability to edit your own work, making your writing more appealing to editors and agents. Self-editing may not ever be your favorite part of the writing process, but it doesn’t have to be a confusing mystery either. It’s an important step on the road to publication and something you can get better at with a little practice.
  • 11:15 – 12:45 Eastern: Jessica Sharpe (Bethany House fiction)
    • 11:15 – 12:00 Eastern: presentation: “Your Editor and You: What to Expect from the Editorial Process” Geared toward publishing beginners, this course walks writers through the average editorial process at a publishing house from start to finish and provides guidance on what to expect from your relationship with your editor.
    • 12:00 – 12:45 Eastern: recorded Q&A
  • 2:00 – 3:30 Eastern: Sharon Norris Elliott (literary agent)
    • 2:00 – 2:45 Eastern: presentation: “The Ten P’s to Your Writing Success” – There’s more involved with being an author than getting a book published. What does it really take to be a successful author? Attend this workshop and get the lowdown. Not only will you gain a wealth of knowledge about what really goes on in the business from an industry insider, but you’ll leave knowing what people to surround yourself with, how to brand yourself, and how to develop your personal mission statement and tagline. In addition, you’ll start thinking through your publishing plan for the future and much more.
    • 2:45 – 3:30 Eastern: recorded Q&A
  • 3:45 – 5:15 Eastern: Keith Ogorek (Uriel Press) 
    • 3:45 – 4:30 Eastern: presentation: “The 3 Phases of an Effective Marketing Campaign” – You’ve done the hard work of writing. Now it’s time to market your title to potential readers. For many authors, marketing is a mystery and creates some unique challenges. Unlock that mystery by joining us for this session, where we will present the three phases of an effective book marketing campaign. Keith Ogorek, President of the Author Learning Center, will share the crucial questions to ask as you build your marketing plan and craft an action plan to help you connect with potential readers.
    • 4:30 – 5:15 Eastern: recorded Q&A

Wednesday March 15, 2023

  • 9:30 – 11:00 Eastern: Margot Starbuck (Wordmelon)
    • 9:30 – 10:15 Eastern: presentation: “Crafting a Winning Nonfiction Book Proposal: 3 Things Every Publisher Needs to See to Say Yes!” – Whether you’re pitching your book to an agent or a publisher, both are seeking to discern whether your book serves the reader by meeting a felt need. In this workshop, you’ll learn what they must see in order to say “yes,” so that you can deliver a proposal that makes it hard for them to say “no.”
    • 10:15 – 11:00 Eastern: recorded Q&A
  • 11:15 – 12:45 Eastern: Dave Almack (P&R Publishing)
    • 11:15 – 12:45 Eastern: recorded presentation and Q&A: “Finding your voice, discovering your audience, getting your deal” – This presentation is about learning to write in an authentic and authoritative way and finding the audience that resonates with your work. Also included are specific tips for getting your proposal approved.  This is a progressive presentation moving from knowing yourself to knowing your audience to knowing the industry.
    • Chat session
  • 2:00 – 3:30 Eastern: David Zimmerman (NavPress)
    • 2:00 – 2:45 Eastern: presentation: “Just Weird Enough: Distinguishing and Contextualizing Your Work” – Authors face an impossible challenge: To write something fresh and distinct that people will embrace enthusiastically. As one author put it, the challenge for authors is to be “just weird enough.”  This workshop will help you keep your book proposal, and the book it becomes, on the right side of weird by carefully contextualizing your work among its most natural audiences and competing authors, while differentiating your work in compelling and substantive ways. We’ll also discuss NavPress and what we are acquiring.
    • 2:45 – 3:30 Eastern: recorded Q&A
  • 3:45 – 5:15 Eastern: Elizabeth Jackson (Tyndale House fiction)
    • 3:45 – 4:30 Eastern: presentation: “5 Red Flags to Watch for in Your Writing” – When it comes to pitching your novel to agents and editors, there are some common pitfalls to be aware of that can cause an editor to press pause when considering your manuscript. In this talk, hear about five common mistakes fiction writers make and how you can avoid them in your own writing.
    • Tip sheet from Elizabeth to go along with her presentation
    • 4:30 – 5:15 Eastern: recorded Q&A

Thursday March 16, 2023

  • 9:30 – 11:00 Eastern: Karen Neumair (literary agent)
  • 11:15 – 12:45 Eastern: Paul Brinkerhoff (Our Daily Bread Ministries)
    • 11:15 – 12:05 Eastern: presentation: “Devotional Editing: Self-Editing Your Writing” – Devotional editing involves big-picture message awareness and nitty-gritty details of content. If the author wants to grab the reader’s interest, focus their attention on Scripture, and lift the reader’s heart to God in gratitude, trust, and hope, what kind of illustrations are best? How much interaction with the biblical passage is needed? What tone works best for application? How do you decide when the topic is too political? What transitions are invalid? Why do editors flag something theological? In this presentation, Paul Brinkerhoff will walk you through the task and process of self-editing your devotional writing.
    • Presentation slides
    • 12:05 – 12:45 Eastern: recorded Q&A
  • 1:00 – 2:00 Eastern: Networking Break – an unmoderated time for you to network with your fellow attendees
  • 2:00 – 3:30 Eastern: Xochitl Dixon
    • 2:00 – 2:45 Eastern: presentation: “Children’s Picture Books: Writing in Rhyme” – Learn to write in rhyme, one beat at a time. Writing a rhyming picture book requires more than ensuring the last word of one sentence rhymes with the last word of another sentence. Every syllable of every sentence in every stanza works together, drawing readers into a storyline with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Learn what questions to ask when you are deciding whether or not you should write your story in rhyme. Discover how repetition, sound, sentence structure, and creative word choices can create lyrical stories that young readers will ask to read again and again and again.
    • Christian Writers Market Guide
    • 2:45 – 3:30 Eastern: recorded Q&A
  • 3:45 – 5:15 Eastern: Chris Mellor and Amanda Ericson (Guideposts)

Friday March 17, 2023

  • 9:30 – 11:00 Eastern: Joyce Dinkins (Our Daily Bread Ministries)
    • 9:30 – 10:20 Eastern: presentation: “WOW, That’s Truly Original” –  We’ll  explore your voice, writing with originality, and consider the process of and need for verifications, and permissions. We will touch on AI developments and their impact on originality, and longtime writer and editor Linda Washington will contribute thoughts on plagiarism.
    • Handout
    • 10:20 – 11:00 Eastern: recorded Q&A with Joyce Dinkins and Linda Washington
  • 11:15 – 12:15 Eastern: Open Mic
  • 12:30 – 1:30 Eastern: Networking Break – an unmoderated time for you to network with your fellow attendees
  • 2:00 – 3:30 Eastern: Nilwona Nowlin (IVP)
    • 2:00 – 3:30 Eastern: recorded presentation and Q&A: “From Passion to Published” – You’ve answered God’s call to write, so what’s next? Using storytelling, this workshop will help you map your journey to publication by walking you through the elements of a successful book proposal.
    • IVP proposal guidelines
    • Nilwona’s presentation
  • 3:45 – 5:15 Eastern: Elevator Pitch Practice Session