Sandra Heska King

daring to open doors

  • Home
  • About
  • DISCLOSURES
    • Amazon Affiliate
    • Book Reviews
  • Published
  • Contact
  • Blog
    • Commit Poetry
    • Dared

Window on Writing: Great Lakes ACFW Mini-Conference

April 20, 2011 By Sandra Heska King

 

I haven’t been to a writing conference in years.

Years and years.

Well, until this past Saturday when I attended the first one sponsored by the newly formed ACFW Great Lakes Chapter.

I loved meeting other Michigan writers.

And I came away encouraged and inspired.

With a little yellow pad filled with notes.

Author Gail Gaymer Martin talked to us about “Our Dreams and God’s Blessing.” She reminded us that He gives us the desires of our hearts. (In fact, if we walk with Him, He actually places those desires in our hearts.) And since our lives and our time are in His hands, then our “success” as writers is, too. And sometimes it may come later in life as He gives us time to experience “stuff.”

I know about that.

Writing, she said, is a journey–often with detours.

I know about that, too.

It’s also a sacrifice. We have to give up some things–even good things–if we are to embrace it as a ministry.

As Christian writers, we have a responsibility to shine the light on our Author, and so we have to stay steeped in His Word and make sure we are faithful to it.

Gail also shared ideas on how to create and show real emotions to make our characters three dimensional and create tension.

And she gave examples of fresh language and even used the word “onomatopoeia.”

Now where have I heard that before?

Oh, yes. It was here and here.

Gail had us crying and laughing. And I had to buy her book, Writing the Christian Romance.

Tiffany Colter, Writing Career Coach, spoke on “How to Make it at this Writing Thing!”

What a bright light Tiff is! She just lights up a room.

Here are some of my takeaways from her presentation.

If God’s called us to write, He has a place for us.

We can earn a living at this writing thing.

Look at changes as opportunities.

We’ll never “arrive.” There’s always another step.

There’s no one path to publication, and there is not just one kind of writing.

A writer is a business with a product.

She asks, “What’s one thing to pass on to free up time?” and “What problem can you solve for someone?

Tiffany has an amazing testimony.

Andy Meisenheimer is not only an editor, but he is also an accomplished pianist. So he spoke on “Piano Lessons for Writers.” And as you can probably guess, he encouraged us to practice, practice, practice–even the hard, dumb, boring, bad stuff.

Andy gives a daily writing prompt on his Storypraxis site (not exclusively Christian), an opportunity to write, free-flow, unedited, for ten minutes.

So, of course, he made us do that during his workshop with the prompt, “two children.” We had somewhere between five and ten minutes.

Should I be brave and share what I wrote?

Okay. No laughing.

Lake shimmered blue. Sun baked sand. I watched two children–a girl about 8 with tousled blond curls and a younger boy–playing at the edge of the water. The boy ran back and forth to lake’s edge, brought pails of water to dump into the moat that the girl shoveled around the mounded sand pile. Shovel. Pour. Shovel. Pour. And I thought how my life had been like that lately. Shovel. Pour. Shovel. Pour. A seagull waddled down the beach. And far out in the water I could see the needle of a ship silhouetted on the horizon. Going where? Exactly. Going where? How do I get past the shovel-pour, shovel-pour and go somewhere? And where would I go? The children laughed and giggled. They stomped on their castle, squishing wet sand between their toes. Caught up in the moment. This moment. Now. Not looking at what had been broken or smushed–not concerned that . . .

So if you went to the conference, would you be brave enough to share your “piano practice” in the comments?

If you didn’t, why don’t you run over to storypraxis and give it a try with today’s prompt.

Still on a high,

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the LORD grant all your requests. ~Psalm 20:4-5 (NIV)

Share this:

  • Email
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Filed Under: stories and reflections, writing

Comments

  1. Carol J. Garvin says

    April 21, 2011 at 12:57 am

    Financially, it’s possible for me to attend a conference only once every couple years. I love attending. Even though it isn’t a Christian conference, I love mingling with all the writerly people, learning so much in the workshops, being filled with inspiration. I can imagine there would be so much more of the latter at an ACFW conference. Believing that God has given me this desire to write gives me confidence that I’m doing what I’m suppose to be doing, but sometimes I yearn for more reassurance, or just an extra boost such as you experienced at your conference… and my next opportunity is more than a year away. ::sigh::

    • Sandra says

      April 22, 2011 at 11:16 pm

      So blessed that this was only 30 minutes away–and $15 including lunch! We had a room in a Mexican restaurant.

  2. Sara Biskie says

    April 21, 2011 at 8:27 am

    I am not a writer, but Sandy, I am a reader. I enjoy and benefit from what you post. The way you take everyday examples and often pictures and weave them into a spiritual thought or challenge is so interesting to read. I continue to pray that God will make time and give you energy and ideas for what you are so passionate about.

    • Sandra says

      April 22, 2011 at 11:19 pm

      Thank you so much, Sara. I wish I had come to this point sooner–but then I guess He had to bring me through “stuff.”

      I wish I had made it over to your house last week–or even this. Time slips away so fast. 🙁

  3. journeytoepiphany says

    April 21, 2011 at 10:55 am

    I’m so glad you got to go away to learn more about your craft.

    • Sandra says

      April 22, 2011 at 11:19 pm

      🙂

  4. Jill Kemerer says

    April 21, 2011 at 5:07 pm

    I feel so blessed to have attended with you! Gail, Tiffany, and Andy inspired me–as did meeting so many fellow Christian writers. And it was wonderful to meet you!

    (Your writing prompt really spoke to me. As a mother, much of my life is shovel-pour, shovel-pour.)

    • Sandra says

      April 22, 2011 at 11:21 pm

      Me = blessed, too. 🙂

      Isn’t it funny where words take us when we just let them flow?

  5. Karen Lange says

    April 21, 2011 at 7:50 pm

    Sounds great! Loved this sampling of the speakers. I can see how you were inspired and encouraged. Thanks for giving us a mini conference!
    Have a blessed weekend,
    Karen
    P.S. Any workshops on gardening? 😛

    • Sandra says

      April 22, 2011 at 11:23 pm

      I guess we were gardening in a sense. Learning how to grow a crop of words. 🙂

  6. Susan J. Reinhardt says

    April 21, 2011 at 9:35 pm

    Hi Sandy –

    Thank you for sharing your experiences at the conferences. I’ve read Tiffany’s story, but hearing it from her packed quite a punch.

    Blessings,
    Susan 🙂

    • Sandra says

      April 22, 2011 at 11:24 pm

      She gave away our choice of teaching CDs, and I bought a couple others that I’ve listened to several times already. Good stuff.

  7. deidra says

    April 21, 2011 at 10:07 pm

    So glad you got to that conference! Thanks for sharing your take-aways with us!

    • Sandra says

      April 22, 2011 at 11:24 pm

      Even more excited now to go to the ACFW conference in St. Louis! Praying it works out.

  8. T. Anne says

    April 23, 2011 at 6:49 pm

    Tiffany is one of my most favorite people on the entire planet. Great post.

  9. Anne Lang Bundy says

    April 23, 2011 at 6:49 pm

    I don’t know what makes me want to cry more, Tiffany’s testimony or finding out I missed that conference.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Meet Sandra

I’m Sandra, a camera-toting, recovering doer who’s learning to be. still. Read more…

Get updates from the stillness by email

Your personal information is safe and will never be shared.

Archives

Categories

Instagram Inspiration

sandraheskaking

A tale of two iguanas... I did not see the iguana A tale of two iguanas... I did not see the iguana in the background until I downloaded the photos. That, I believe, is the one that got caught in one of the openings in the neighbor's chain link fence. We tried in several (safe) ways to dislodge it without luck and could think of no other option but to leave it. Somehow it apparently dislodged itself. We also believe this is the pair that was getting into another neighbor's garden. We haven't seen either one since the last cold snap, so we are wondering if they survived. 
🌱
Thinking some may have tumbled from their perches last night. Pretty sure it will be raining iguanas tonight since we are under a frost advisory. It's cold. And windy.
Just sing... sing a song... Singing our way into Just sing... sing a song... 

Singing our way into the weekend.
"We don't just see. We learn to see." ~ Russ Ramse "We don't just see. We learn to see." ~ Russ Ramsey in Rembrandt is in the Wind
Now you see me... now you don't. Now you see me... now you don't.
"I started looking and listening. I realized that "I started looking and listening. I realized that work, like life, is shot through with poetry. It was everywhere. I was so taken with what I discovered that I wrote a book about it." @gyoung9751 
🌱
Whether you work in an office, a retail store, a restaurant, or at home... Whether you work on roads or on power lines, or on high buildings...Whether you collect trash or preach sermons, or care for your kiddos. Whether you do art, or weave words, or take photos of a common gallinule AKA moorhen AKA swamp chicken--it's all shot through with poetry.
🌱
So pay attention. Find a poem.
🌱
Read more at https://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/2023/01/10/its-poetry-at-work-day-2023/
Rising… Rising…
Everyone needs a little balance in life. And maybe Everyone needs a little balance in life. And maybe a beauty routine. And breakfast. Especially breakfast. I wonder if it consists of a few fire ants. I hope so. (Well, not mine. I'm having oatmeal with chia seeds. What are you having this morning?)
🌱
P.S. Happy Friday!
"Though your destination is not yet clear You can "Though your destination is not yet clear You can trust the promise of this opening; Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning That is at one with your life's desire." ~John O'Donohue 
🌿
A blessing for a new beginning in a new year. I'm sure he wrote it especially for me. At least I'm claiming it. Maybe it will speak to you, too.
🌿
Also, I'd really like this skirt --> 
🌿
Read the whole poem--> -->
🌿
Well, bummer... The whole page didn't print. Read it in the comments below.
"What precocity, a bird half the size Of an Anjou "What precocity, a bird half the size
Of an Anjou pear." ~ Stephen Kuusisto in "The Mockingbird on Central" (Find it in The Poets Guide to the Birds edited by Judith Kitchen and Ted Kooser)
🌱
"The morning pages are the primary tool of creative recovery." ~ Julia Cameron in The Artist's Way. 
🌱
I've been in a long creative drought, so I started morning pages--again. This time I've got a bit of an accountability group through @refineretreat's Refinery--which I finally also joined this year. I'll turn 74 this month. I'm not ready to grow old while I age--though everything does seem to take longer while time goes by faster.
🌱
#aweandwonder #tsaweandwonder
Tonight’s walk in the neighborhood. I’m still Tonight’s walk in the neighborhood. I’m still kinda amazed that out of all the places we could have ended up after moving from a place I said I’d never move from), here we are—planted right next to the northern Everglades. Six-plus years, and I still shake my head in wonder.
"So fancy is the world..." ~ Mary Oliver in "This "So fancy is the world..." ~ Mary Oliver in "This World." #aweandwonder #tsaweandwonder
Look, Mom! I can walk on water! #aweandwonder #tsa Look, Mom! I can walk on water! #aweandwonder #tsaweandwonder
Gazing into 2023 like… Let’s take it step by Gazing into 2023 like… 
Let’s take it step by step with hope and courage. Also I hope to be posting again more often.
🎉
Happy New Year!
The morning before the last morning of 2022. 🌴 The morning before the last morning of 2022. 
🌴
71 degrees. Heading to 83. I can live with that.
From the top of Brasstown Bald—the highest point From the top of Brasstown Bald—the highest point in Georgia at 4784 feet.
Winding roads… Winding roads…
Tonight's moon. It's kinda okay. Tonight's moon. It's kinda okay.
Don’t mind me. Just storking by. Don’t mind me. Just storking by.
I’ve gotten several messages asking if things we I’ve gotten several messages asking if things were okay. Yes. I’ve recovered after 3 weeks in Covid jail. Also, I’ve been a bit scarce on social cuz we’ve been finishing up house renovations, and there is SO much that now needs to be cleaned and stuff put away. Also, we’ve had the second oldest grand with us for two weeks. I “should have” at least shared some stories about our adventures, but we’ve relished the time and kept busy. One can’t leave South Florida without a gator encounter, though, right? Tomorrow the two of us fly back to Michigan, and then I will spend a week with my sister where I expect I will be put to work in the chicken house and the gardens and become a glad(iola) roadside proprietor for a day at the Four Star in while she and my BIL attend a family reunion. I’ll also get to see my dad in the nursing home and spend a couple nights with my daughter. D will hold down the fort here. Then maybe by the first of next month, I’ll be able to finish putting things in order, breathe, find some writing space and get back to normal. Whatever that is.
I tossed and turned all night. And then the storm I tossed and turned all night. And then the storm started. I finally got up about 5ish and sat outside to watch. Until a couple mosquitoes found me. Also, the jasmine hadn’t gone to bed yet and smelled heavenly.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Get the Mug

Embrace the life you have t s poetry mug

Privacy Policy

Full privacy policy is available HERE.

I Read Light

TSP-Red button

bibledude-net



Sponsor a Child

Join the Compassion Blogger Network

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2023 Sandra Heska King · Site by The Willingham Enterprise, LLC on the Genesis Framework by StudioPress · Log in