September 2022 News: Resources and Opportunities for CWG Members

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September 2022 News: Resources and Opportunities for CWG Members

As the days in my part of the world grow shorter and the nighttime temperatures cooler, I’m mourning the end of summer. If it could stay another month, that would suit me just fine. Still, the advent of autumn brings with it a dose of nostalgia. I think many writers appreciate memories of breaking open new textbooks, sharpening #2 pencils, and replenishing stationery supplies. A new school year is a little like a blank page, waiting to be filled.

I’m reminded of the excitement I felt in third grade as a couple friends and I filled our own blank pages with a a short mystery we wrote and illustrated. “Chrissy Cygococo and the Case of the Missing Jewelry Box” remains, mercifully, unpublished. It was, however, immediately adapted as a play and performed for Mrs. Mehalcik’s class at St. Luke School.

Do you remember the excitement you felt when you completed a creative project? Maybe writing. Maybe something else. Maybe it was many, many moons ago. Maybe it was last week. Whenever it was, I hope that this season brings you the satisfaction of using your God-given talents and skills to create. If in the process, you sniff a rubber eraser or an old book, for old time’s sake, I won’t tell.

Searching for a little creative boost? We’ve got something to get the creative juices going, below.

Speaking of creative juices, thank you to everyone who responded to our poll regarding conference and retreat options for 2023. Votes for a conference tied to the Association of Catholic Publishers meeting in late May in the Chicago area narrowly exceeded votes for the retreat options.

So, look for more in the coming months on the May 2023 conference and news about a retreat later in 2023.

Catholic Writing Prompts:
Let’s create some!
A while back, we received an email request from a member for Catholic writing prompts. Not finding any online or among our membership, it seems like a simple creative resource we could provide – together!

Each member is invited to contribute up to four writing prompts – two fiction, two nonfiction.

We’ll share these prompts on our website. And, depending on volunteer support and response, we may share these on social media. They could also be used for flash fiction contests. What do you think?

 

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Thank you to the many members who logged in and renewed last month! If you haven’t yet done so, please do.

In a couple of weeks, we’ll be sending out the member and clergy discount codes for the Catholic Writers Conference Online in February 2023. (See below.) Codes will be shared with active members only, so please be sure your membership is up to date!

Log in at CatholicWritersGuild.org to check your membership status.

By renewing your membership, not only do you benefit, but you support the Guild’s goals as we seek to offer more and better opportunities for you, such as awards, retreats, conferences, and an upgraded website.

Renew your membership at this link.

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Conference registration

Volunteer Corner

Our blog is a place where Catholic Writers Guild members can publish their articles and showcase their writing. We are looking for volunteer editors to edit one or more article per month or to join our substitute editor team.

Substitute editors are available to consider covering for regularly scheduled editors when needed. If you are interested in being one of our editors, or writing for the blog, please contact blog@catholicwritersguild.com.

Thank you!

Opportunities

Occasionally the Guild receives email messages from businesses and ministries seeking our writers’ services. I’ll share these here for our members to contact directly.

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Discover Publications is developing a monthly publication for evangelization via direct-mail distribution and is looking for freelance writers to take assignments of various lengths (350 to 1,500 words).

Writers should be well-catechized and doctrinally orthodox. We
want to discuss the Catholic reasoning behind the Church’s formal teachings on “controversial” issues so prevalent today such as abortion, LGB, transgenderism, CRT, divorce, etc.

Writers must be facile with the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Code of Canon Law to be able to cite them as authoritative.

Compensation in the $100 – $300 range.

Leo Zupan
Publisher (and Catholic Writers Guild member)
Discover Publications
[email protected]

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  • Job: Business Writing Course Designer/Developer
  • Description: Create asynchronous online business writing courses for online career resource company for high school students
  • Qualifications: Required: Past experience with creating online courses and experience with resume writing, interoffice communications, college application writing, and scholarship application writing.
  • Pay: Negotiable
  • To learn more, contact: Walter Crawford at wcrawford@goodcounselcareers.com

Check Your Spam!

If you’re waiting on a reply from an official Guild email account (one ending in catholicwritersguild.com or catholicwritersguild.org), please be sure to check your spam or junk folder. Unfortunately, our messages have a way of ending up there.

If you’ve not received a reply to a message in a reasonable amount of time, please checking your junk or spam folder before resending your message.

With rare exception, I personally reply to messages within 2-3 days, maximum.

Seal of Approval

The Seal of Approval application opens for the 1st quarter on Monday, January 16, 2023 at Noon EDT. Once open, you can access the Seal of Approval Application Form for 24 hours. Reminder: If your book has received an Imprimatur, it is ineligible for the Seal of Approval but receives all benefits associated with the Seal. More information on the Seal of Approval process.

Application dates for 2023:

  • Mon., January 16
  • Fri., April 14
  • Fri., July 14
  • Fri., September 15
You may notice that the dates have shifted from the beginning of the month to the middle. This was done to avoid regular conflicts with New Year’s, 4th of July, and Labor Day.

Have You Expired? CWG Newsletter, August 2022

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This message comes to you a few days later than I’d hoped. Our little world was upended by the adorable puppy pictured below. Tillie has been with us three days now, and she is a wonderful addition to our home and family.

Tillie arrived somewhat unexpectedly. When I texted my oldest son, who’s 19, that his dad and I were bringing a dog home, he thought we were being incredibly irresponsible. As a good son, he was careful not to say it quite that bluntly, but I confirmed that’s what he was thinking.

His feelings about this seemingly spontaneous decision weren’t unwarranted. When we brought Tillie home we had no dog dish, collar, or leash. The living room floor was littered with the little kids’ LEGO sets. The dining room had piles of papers from the last school year that needed to be sorted. The only place we had ready for this dog was our hearts.

 

Sentimental maybe, but not practical.

It seemed a rash decision. But we’d been thinking about what kind of dog we wanted for months. Tillie checked all the boxes. Every last one.

As I told my son, we weren’t entirely ready for him or his siblings either, but that worked out okay.

We really were ready enough for Tillie. We knew what we wanted. We have a large, safe, fenced-in yard for her to run and play. And we have six people ready to love and care for her.

Sure we needed to do some housecleaning and buy some supplies, but the biggest obstacle was the simple but necessary act of actually getting the puppy. And that required an element of spontaneity.

I find that’s been my biggest obstacle to writing over the past couple of years: just doing it.

When people ask about my writing progress, I’m quick to tell them how things were upended here when my kids were all sent home from school due to the pandemic in March 2020. Life was topsy turvy. A year of genuine homeschooling followed. Then I took a part-time job. I just couldn’t find time to write.

As true as it is – and believe me, there have been many obligations taking my time – I’d been allowing those excuses to keep me from taking that necessary step. Just writing.

I’d spent years mulling over stories and characters. I simply needed to do something that wasn’t on the schedule, that there wasn’t room for in the schedule. Just writing.

Conditions weren’t – aren’t – perfect for writing. I have a list of chores and duties a mile long. I’m not entirely ready to write. My stories aren’t entirely complete, even in my head.

But I’m ready enough.

If you’re waiting for the perfect time to begin that next writing project, in my experience, that time will never come. Conditions will never be perfect. There will always be something else clamoring for your time and attention.

We all have obligations that should take precedence—God and family, obviously. But somewhere after those priorities, if God is calling you to write, you’re going to need to take that leap.

Your’e ready enough. Just write.

Catholic Writers Conference at Momentum ’22 a Success!

I’ve heard and read so many positive comments about the recent Catholic Writers Guild conference at the Catholic Marketing Network’s Momentum ’22. So many of you who attended have been reinvigorated for your personal projects and sharing your enthusiasm for the Guild and its efforts.

Thanks to Amy Cattapan, who chaired the event. Thanks, too, to the many volunteers who assisted her, especially committee heads CWG Vice President Barb Szyszkiewicz (volunteers), Stephanie Landsem (pitch sessions), Carmela Martino (speakers & scheduling) Amanda Lauer (sponsorships), Tony Kolenc (speaker introductions), Karina Fabian (Meals with Mentors) and Leslea Wahl (marketing).

 

Conference chair Amy J. Cattapan (r) with speaker Deacon Harold Sivers

 

Thank you to each of our presenters and panelists, who brought so much valuable information and encouragement to the attendees. For those that volunteered in the trade show booth, your assistance was invaluable.

Barb Szyszkiewicz reported: “All told, our volunteers logged more than 70 hours among 14 volunteers (not including conference committee members or mentors who did not also sign up as volunteers). They are truly the heartbeat of the live conference! We even had a few drop-in volunteers, and they always showed up right when we needed them most.”

And, finally, thank you to those who prayed for the conference and its attendees. Your prayers were felt.

 

 

Next up: Catholic Writers Conference Online in February 2023. See below!

Are You Expired?

Please take a few minutes to log in at CatholicWritersGuild.org and check your membership status. Perhaps you missed the reminder to renew or simply forgot. (You may be surprised that you’ve long been expired!)

In order to remain eligible for the online conference member discount, free submissions for the Seal of Approval, and continued access to our members-only groups (Facebook, Discord, MeWe), you’ll need to have an active membership.

By renewing your membership, not only do you benefit, but you support the Guild’s goals as we seek to offer more and better opportunities for you, such as awards, retreats, conferences, and an upgraded website.

Renew today!

Register now for the online conference!

Volunteer Corner

So many opportunities, formal and informal, come through volunteering. When you volunteer for one of the Guild’s projects, you develop relationships in ways simple membership does not allow. While your service obviously benefits the Guild at large, it benefits you as well.

The Seal of Approval Committee is always seeking volunteers. The more volunteer evaluators we have, the more books we can evaluate each quarter. We’d love to avoid putting any member books on a waiting list.

If you’re interested in volunteering as an evaluator, please send a message to [email protected]. Online training is provided. As a perk, you get to read other Catholic authors’ digital books for free! Each quarter there are a variety of books for children, teens, and adults, both fiction and nonfiction. Sometimes, poetry.

Are you on LinkedIn? So are we.

I’ve been dusting off our LinkedIn page, hoping to make it more active and useful. If you have a LinkedIn account, please follow the Guild and considering adding your membership to your resume.

Seal of Approval

The Seal of Approval application opens for the 4th quarter on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at Noon EDT. When open, you can access the Seal of Approval Application Form. Reminder: If your book has received an Imprimatur, it is ineligible for the Seal of Approval but receives all benefits associated with the Seal. More information on the Seal of Approval process.

 

Does your creativity need a jump start? Give this a try.

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My family just returned from a short camping trip. Only 48 hours at a Pennsylvania state park campsite. Though I didn’t consider our destination to be too far off the beaten path, we did not have cell phone service. What a blessing!

If your creativity is waning, you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or discouraged, I recommend unplugging and soaking in the natural beauty of God’s creation. After two days without pinging notifications or time wasted staring at a screen, my gratitude, optimism, and creative well are replenished. (Mostly. It was, after all, only two days.)

Below is a photo one of the 19 waterfalls we hiked to in Ricketts Glen State Park. What a gift that the master Creator allow us to participate in a small way in His creativity through our writing.

I hope that you make time to unplug and refill your creative well this summer, and, if you’re able, I hope that includes next month’s live conference.

Carolyn Astfalk
President

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Catholic Writers Conference Live:
Have you registered yet?
There is still time to register for our 2022 live conference held in conjunction with Catholic Marketing Network’s Momentum ’22. All the details are available at our website, including a schedule and Conference FAQ.If you’re on the fence, I sadly can’t solve problems related to inflation or the cost of fuel. However, I can assure you that your attendance will be worthwhile. Our team of volunteers has scheduled a wide array of informative sessions and panels, opportunities for networking, and pitch sessions with Catholic publishers. We haven’t had the pleasure of meeting like this since 2019, and I can sense the excitement of our attendees!

Questions? We’ve tried to anticipate those.
Registration is being handled through the Catholic Marketing Network. When you register, remember to click on “Catholic Writers Guild Track.” This is the only way for CMN to properly credit the Guild for its registrations, which help to cover our expenses.

Already registered? Here’s what you need to know.

This conference doesn’t happen without volunteer power. We need your help. No experience necessary.

Our remaining needs:

  • Presenter’s aide to introduce Tony Kolenc’s ever-popular session “Legal Issues for Writers.”
  • Pitch session assistants (2) to help move people through the process.
  • Trade Show Booth staff. This is a golden opportunity to meet those strolling the trade show floor: bookstore owners, publishers, creators, and more.
Current members who serve at least six hours will receive reimbursement for the conference fee after August 1. If you can’t serve for a full six hours but still want to help, your assistance is most welcome. Sign up today to volunteer.
Meals with Mentors, Pitch Sessions
Registrants should receive an email from Amy Cattapan to sign up for Meals with Mentors programs and pitch sessions.

Please be patient as it may take up to a week for assignments to be made.

 

Member Seal of Approval Book Display

Has a book of yours received the Seal of Approval since last year’s mini-conference? If your book received the Seal of Approval (or an Impirimatur) in the second half of 2021 or the first half of 2022, it is eligible to be displayed at the Guild’s trade show booth.

If you’d like your book to be displayed, please send a single copy to Amy Cattapan at PO Box 447, Prospect Heights, IL 60070.

Please be sure to note that the book is for the Guild’s display table.

Want to share a room or a ride?

Check your copy of the member newsletter for links to our Room Share and Ride Share interest forms and lists of members looking to share! If you didn’t receive a copy of this month’s newsletter, check your spam and updates folders of your email before contacting [email protected]

If you are unable to attend, please share news about the conference with your Catholic writer friends via email, social media, or word of mouth. This conference is very reasonably priced and not only does it benefit members, but it also helps raise the Guild’s profile and increase its membership.

A final note. I will not be attending this year’s conference. Do I think the president should be there? Yes, I do.

However, I’m still in that season of mom life where I have young children that need supervision, work schedules to juggle, and a tight budget. My limited ability to travel played heavily in my hesitancy to accept the presidency.

I will sincerely miss being at the conference as I’ve found the three conferences I’ve attended to be an absolute delight, both in helping me to grow as a writer and in meeting so many truly wonderful members of the Guild. Please do not take my absence as an indication of the value of this event.

Our officers will be represented capably by Vice President Barb Szyszkiewicz and Treasurer Cesar Chacon.

 

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Our Blog Has a Fresh Look
You may have noticed some changes to the Guild’s blog. For one, it’s a lot more active. If you’re subscribed, you’re seeing our members’ work in your inbox regularly. If you’re not subscribed, you can do that easily in the left margin of the page.
Second, the blog has a new look. It’s more contemporary, cleaner, comments are functioning properly, and it’s visually consistent with our website.

If you haven’t visited the blog, please do and share the articles that resonate with you.

Thank you to Katelin Cummins for all her work in revitalizing the blog and Barb Szyskiewicz for her expert assistance.

Volunteer Opportunity: Bigmarker Managers

Do you like tech and want to help the Guild? We need of a couple of volunteers to manage the Bigmarker system. (It’s as easy as Zoom.)

What you need to know:
To increase our webinar offerings, volunteers are needed for beyond the annual online conference.
Assistance is needed with setting up the online conference. (The next will be February 24-26, 2023.)
Webinar masters are paid (usually a percentage of paid registrations).
Training videos are available as well as assistance from our resident Bigmarker expert, Karina Fabian.
Interested? More questions? Ready to commit? Let us know.

Seal of Approval

The Seal of Approval application opens for the 3rd quarter on Friday, July 1, 2022 at Noon EDT. When open, you can access the Seal of Approval Application Form. Reminder: If your book has received an Imprimatur, it is ineligible for the Seal of Approval but receives all benefits associated with the Seal. More information on the Seal of Approval process.

Copyright 2022 Carolyn Astfalk

Images: (top) copyright 2022 Carolyn Astfalk, all rights reserved. All others: Catholic Writers Guild

 

CWG Member News for April 2022: Live Conference Registration is Open!

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Here we are at the cusp of another Easter! April is nearly half behind us, and the Catholic Writers Guild is looking forward to the return to its live conference in July. Amy Cattapan and a group of dedicated volunteers are working to bring you a spectacular conference. I hope you’ll consider attending! Please see below for more information, including an important instruction regarding registration.

May this Holy Week provide you with many opportunities to grow closer to our suffering Savior.

Carolyn Astfalk
President

 

Catholic Writers Conference Live!

Our live conference returns this year, held in conjunction with Catholic Marketing Network’s Momentum 2022 July 25-28, 2022 in Schaumburg, Illinois. The full Catholic Writers Guild schedule will be finalized and shared very soon.

Registration is being handled through the Catholic Marketing Network. When you register, remember to click on “Catholic Writers Guild Track.” This is the only way for CMN to properly credit the Guild for its registrations, which help to cover our expenses.

 

Ride/Room Sharing

If you’d like to share costs with fellow Guildies by carpooling or sharing a hotel room, complete the forms linked in the member newsletter dated April 12 and then contact other members by email to make final arrangements. (Missing your copy of the newsletter? Check your spam folder before emailing [email protected])

Testimonials Wanted!

Would you like to share a brief (max 25 words) testimonial like the one above about the Catholic Writers Guild for our social media promotion? This could be a general testimonial or something about our conferences, awards, Seal of Approval, critique groups, or other activities. Please email your testimonial to vicepresident@catholicwritersguild.com.

Volunteer Opportunity: Bigmarker Managers

Do you like tech and want to help the Guild? We need of a couple of volunteers to manage the Bigmarker system. (It’s as easy as Zoom.)

What you need to know:

  • To increase our webinar offerings, volunteers are needed for beyond the annual online conference.
  • Assistance is needed with setting up the online conference. (The next will be in Winter 2023.)
  • Webinar masters are paid (usually a percentage of paid registrations).
  • Training videos are available as well as assistance from our resident Bigmarker expert, Karina Fabian.

Interested? More questions? Ready to commit? Let us know.

CWG Member News March 2022: Opportunities Galore!

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We’ve been gearing up to revive some activities that have fallen by the wayside, asking you to prayerfully consider where you can pitch in. This month, we have some concrete opportunities. Please read on for details.

I pray that despite the many distractions and crises in our world, these grace-filled weeks of Lent bring you closer to our suffering Savior.

Carolyn Astfalk
President

[Editor’s note: email addresses and links to members-only forms are included in the newsletter sent to all CWG members. If you did not receive your newsletter, which was sent on March 10, first check your spam folder before emailing [email protected].]

By Popular Request

There was great interest at the online conference in a listing of members and their websites, podcasts, and social media. This will help our members connect, share ideas, and promote each other’s work. We’ll provide access to a spreadsheet with this information in our next newsletter. Please fill in the members-only Google form linked in the March newsletter if you’d like to participate.

Showcase Your Writing

Write for the CWG blog! We’d love to revive the blog as a showcase of member writing. We have a survey for members who would like to help with this project as a monthly writer and/or editor. We’re also seeking blog committee members. Please fill in the members-only form linked in the March newsletter, and our CWG blog project manager, Katelin Cummins, will be in touch.

Social Media Help Wanted

We could really use a volunteer or two to assist with social meda. Currently we have a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and MeWe. We also have some software to help with certain social media scheduling. We’d like to post about twice per week, plus engage with our followers. Interested? Contact information is available in the March newsletter.

 

Testimonials Wanted!

Would you like to share a brief (max 25 words) testimonial like the one above about the Catholic Writers Guild for our social media promotion? This could be a general testimonial or something about our conferences, awards, Seal of Approval, critique groups, or other activities. Contact information is available in the March newsletter.

CWCO Wrap-up

Our pitch sessions were a great success! To clarify last month’s update: Twenty-seven pitches resulted in manuscript requests. An additional eleven pitches sparked some interest that may result in a later request. Thanks to all of those who coordinated and participated! If you attended the conference, you should have received email links to the recorded sessions. If you did not, please let Carolyn know.

Ohio Writers: Let’s Start a New Chapter

We’re looking for writers interested in starting a Catholic Writers Guild Chapter in the Cincinnati/Dayton Area. Contact information is available in the March newsletter.

Catholic Writers Conference Live 2022

Mark your calendar and make your reservations! Our live conference returns this year, held in conjunction with Catholic Marketing Network’s Momentum 2022 July 25-28, 2022 in Schaumburg, Illinois (same location as last year). Would you take a couple of minutes to fill our this interest survey? It will help immensely with the planning for the event. Thank you!

Catholic Writers Conference Online: February 11-13, 2022

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What is the Catholic Writers’ Conference Online?

A professional, faith-focused writers conference “attended” in the convenience of your own home!

This affordably priced, online conference eliminates the need for costly travel, without sacrificing professionalism. Not only will you receive excellent instruction from some of the top Catholic names in the field today, but you’ll also have the opportunity to pitch your manuscript to publishers from both Catholic and secular markets. All delivered with a Catholic perspective and fellowship.

This is the must-attend online event for Catholic writers!

What do I get?

  • Three days of webinars, delivered with both audio and visual access
  • Workshops for intermediate and advanced writers
  • Topics ranging from finding your calling as a writer to publishing and marketing your book
  • Practical advice and tips you can put to work immediately
  • The opportunity to ask in-depth questions and get feedback from knowledgeable instructors
  • Recordings of all webinars
  • Reference materials from all webinars
  • Networking and socializing between webinars
  • Pitch sessions
  • And something you won’t find anywhere else … emphasis on how our faith informs our writing

How hard is it?

It’s as easy as watching a YouTube video or chatting with Facebook Messenger. In fact, it’s even easier! You’ll receive an email with links directly to the webinars. At the conclusion of each day, you’ll receive another email with the recordings of the webinars to revisit at your convenience.

When is it?

Feb 11-13, 2022, with pitch sessions the week following.

How much does it cost?

$40 for members
$60 for non-members

This year, there is a $5 increase to pay for the webinar software, help defer costs of the summer conference, and support the continuing work of the Guild.

Who’s presenting at the Conference, and what’s on the schedule?

Check out our schedule of workshops, panel discussions, and times for networking and prayer.

Find out about our presenters.

How do I register?

Visit CatholicWritersGuild.org/online-conference and use the sidebar on the right. If you are a Guild member or clergy, contact [email protected] for discount codes.

Pick up the Orange

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By Janice Lane Palko

Some people receive profound promptings from the Holy Spirit. Me? I get messages like “pick up the orange.”

A few weeks ago, I walked into my local grocery store and saw a woman select some oranges and put them in a plastic bag. As she walked away out of the corner of my eye, I saw an orange fall from the display and roll across the floor.

You should pick up the orange, said that still small voice.

Instantly, I began rationalizing. I didn’t dislodge the orange. Why should I pick it up? They have stock boys to do that. I’ll look stupid, like I have OCD or something, if I pick it up and put it back where it belongs. Let somebody else do it.

Then my better nature joined the debate. Will it kill you to pick up an orange? Geez, Mother Teresa picked up dying people from the streets, and you’re freaking out over an orange. How shallow are you? Who cares what people think? Someone may trip over it. You will be doing a good deed, no matter how insignificant.

So, I pushed my grocery cart over, picked up the orange, and put it back in the display. But then something else happened.

As I was about to press on with my grocery shopping, I caught a glimpse of a woman to my side bend and pick up another orange, one that I hadn’t even noticed had escaped with the other orange, and replace it in the display.

I was astounded. This woman was following my example.

That little interlude set me to thinking about life, and for those of us who write, about what our toils to turn a phrase may mean in the big scheme of things.

Several months ago, fellow CWG member Cathy Gilmore posted an article from the Catholic News Agency titled The Catholic Church Desperately Needs Artists by Mary Rezac. It detailed how the world so sorely needs creative people who can bring beauty and truth to the culture.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been writing for more than twenty years, and the monetary return on my artistic endeavors has yet to land me a summer home at the beach, a six-figure deal, or a stint on Oprah.

I attend a weekly Bible study, and shortly after the orange incident, our leader asked us to share our all-time favorite inspirational books. One woman recommended He and I by Gabrielle Bossis, a French, Catholic woman who lived from 1874-1950. He and I chronicles the interior conversation she and God shared. When she was putting these conversations on paper, Bossis didn’t know that after her death, they would be published, translated into many languages, and cherished by so many readers.

At times, it may be frustrating when we think of how much time and effort we put into our literary endeavors compared to the remuneration we receive in turn. However, I don’t, and I’m sure many of you don’t, write solely for financial gain. Then, take heart, fellow creatives. Though we may never know the extent of our influence, like Bossis, our work may do good long after we are gone.

I don’t know if God intends for me to be a best-selling author or not. But what I do know is that I’ll be fine with whatever magnitude of success I achieve. I’ll continue to write and strive to bring beauty and truth to the world through my work with the hope of glorifying God.

I may be only a stepping stone for someone who comes after me, a toehold for another writer on their climb to achieving loftier success in reviving what has been a hallmark of the Catholic Church throughout its existence: excellence in artistic expression for the glory of God.

Therefore, as this new year begins, I’m going to pick up that orange and keep on writing. I urge you to do the same. You never know who is watching us or reading works or being inspired by our example. We don’t know who may decide to follow us, who may bend down to pick up that orange we didn’t even realize had also rolled away.

10 Ways to Make the Most of an Online Conference

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CWCOicon

The Catholic writers Conference is next week! Today is the last day for registering! If you’ve been putting it off, there may still be time. Go to http://catholicwritersconference.com for details and the link! In the meantime, here are ten ways to make the most of your online conference experience.

  1. Clear your calendar. Turn off social media during the webinars, shut the door to your office, put up a “Do Not Disturb” sign. This is an immersive experience. Reduce your distractions to get the most out of the experience.
  2. Get your manuscript ready. We have publishers ready to hear pitches. We’ll have pitch practices twice during the conference and pitch sessions the week following.
  3. Meal Prep! This is one intense weekend of high-value presentations that you can apply to your writing immediately. You won’t want to miss any. While we’re providing half hour breaks between webinars, these are social times and time for asking questions not covered in the conference.
  4. So get those crock pot meals ready or buy that oven lasagna. You can keep your family well-fed and not miss a thing.
  5. Prep your questions. The list of workshops is at http://www.catholicwritersconference.com/workshops. Check them out and have your questions ready. If we have a full house, the quicker we can answer questions, the more we can answer.
  6. Remember the hashtag #CWCO2016. Use it on Twitter and FB to track events, praise presenters and hook up with other attendees in social media.
  7. Take Notes! Have a notebook handy, open a doc file on a separate window, or if you’re attending the CWCO, take notes right in the webinar software!
  8. Stick around for the between presentations conversation. This is where you can ask questions not covered by any of the workshops, make connections, brainstorm with others. You can socialize, trade puns…it’s open chat, so have fun!
  9. Use private chat. Like in a regular chat room, the webinar software allows you to chat privately with a single person. Use it to hold private conversations.
  10. Follow up with people. Just like in a live conference, you want to make contacts, then follow up with them after the con. Use the private chat to exchange emails, Facebook profiles and other contact information. Then, in the week following, touch base with the people you met.
  11. (Bonus Tip!) Practice! Pick a few things you learned and apply them to your work right away.

How the Catholic Writers Conference Made a Gardener into a Writer

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Registration is still open for the Catholic Writers Conference Online, March 4-6. Get the details and sign up here.

Attending a writing conference is an investment of time and money. How can you be sure you’ll get anything from it? The Catholic Writers Guild has had dozens of success stories, from writers who found their inspiration to those who landed book contracts. One of the most touching and inspiring stories is that of Guild member Margaret Realy. But we’ll let her tell you:

How could I possibly glorify the Lord by writing? I was only a gardener, and rapidly losing my identity as one because of encroaching arthritic disability.

The life change from landscapes to laptops was nothing I had anticipated. It began in the Adoration chapel with tearful prayers for direction and guidance. That guidance came through the Catholic Writers Guild.

In 2009 when I attended the CWG Live Conference, I set aside my fears and entered the unfamiliar world of publishing. I listened intently to those who guided me into an industry I knew nothing about.

There were seminars, workshops, and pitch sessions. I was introduced to professional writers and acquisition editors. Each opportunity that the CWG offered, I seized. As an introvert, the hardest event to manage—and most significant—was the informal networking that took place in hallways and at meals.

Through the guidance of Guild members and their willingness to mentor, my anxiety and insecurities began to lessen. My words became manuscripts which became book summaries and proposals. These were groomed for pitch sessions through the CWG support system.

The graces and blessings of the Guild have allowed me to develop as a writer, to serve God with words instead of a trowel. Left to my own devices, I would never have realized the seed planted in me to be a spiritual gardening author. The CWG members gave breath to my prayers.

Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB, is a lay hermit and award winning author of three books: A Garden of Visible Prayer, Cultivating God’s Garden through Lent, and A Catholic Gardener’s Spiritual Almanac. She is a columnist, presenter, retreat leader, and a regular contributor to Aleteia, Catholic Mom, and Catholic Digest. Margaret blogs at Morning Rose Prayer Gardens on Patheos.

Margaret’s amazing transformation came at the live conference, but others have found blessings at the online one as well. The online conference offers instruction, networking, and even pitch session opportunities at a fraction of the cost and without the hassle of travel.

If you haven’t signed up yet, do it now. Go to http://www.anymeeting.com/PIID=EC51DE87844F3B and fill out the form. We’ll see you there!

 

Why Attend an Online Conference Like CWCO2016?

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CWCOiconCWCO2016 is almost here! It’s set for March 4-6, and all the terrific details are at http://catholicwritersconference.com. It’s $40 for nonmembers,  $25 for CWG members. Drop by the website and register soon. Registration ends Feb 27 or when we get 200 attendees.

It’s been a long haul for Laura Lowder and I. We’ve been recruiting speakers for months, working on the new webinar software and putting together a huge amount of publicity and training materials we’ll be sharing with attendees. We have 24 presentations and 6 pitch sessions with Catholic and secular publishers.

I’d like to share with you why I feel so strongly about this conference.

In 2007, I attended my first writing conference. What an experience! I sharpened my skills as a writer and was introduced to the then-new world of internet marketing. I sold my first novel to a small press publisher. I – an introvert who seldom socialized – attended a huge party and laughed for hours. To top it all off, I made connections that have pushed my publishing career forward and made friends that I can still depend upon for help or companionship.

But the most amazing thing? The conference was completely online!

Have you ever wished you could attend a conference, learn from the writers who had been there/done that and succeeded, meet publishers and make friends who identify with your passion for words?

Have you ever had to push that dream aside because live conferences don’t work for you? They may be too expensive, involve travel that takes you away from work or family…or maybe it’s too far beyond your comfort zone to talk to complete strangers.

I’ve been there. I know how much easier it is to correspond, where I can think about my responses and not whether I’ve spilled something on my shirt or if my face “looks wrong.” My husband, Rob was working at the Pentagon, which meant LONG hours, so I could hardly leave the four kids for several days. Plus, we had enough bills without plane tickets and hotel fares. That first online conference changed my life and career. I wanted to do that for others.

But with the help of the Guild, I could do that. Ann Lewis and I started the first online conferences, and when she began the live ones, Laura Lower stepped in to co-chair the online ones with me. With Laura’s influence, we’ve given the conference a greater Catholic identity. Not only do we have excellent workshops on writing and marketing fiction and nonfiction, but we have presentations with a Catholic angle including theology, prayer and fellowship that is uniquely for our faith.

Our 2016 CWCO is coming March 4-6, and this year, we’re entering the 21st century with webinar presentations. If you can watch YouTube or use a chat like Facebook Messenger, then you have all the skills you need to participate. We have presenters covering all aspects of writing, faith and literature.

Are you ready to take your writing to the next level? Let us help you! Sign up for the CWCO 2016 today!

http://www.anymeeting.com/PIID=EC51DE87844F3B

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