You're Invited to the CWG Conference July 19-21

Although the weather in North Texas has been cool in recent days, the heat of summer is only a few weeks away. By mid-July, temperatures will be blistering — a good time to get away to a cooler northern clime. Fortunately, that is precisely when the Catholic Writers Guild will be hosting their annual conference, this year in Schaumburg, Illinois, the heart of "Chicagoland."

Meet & Learn from Other Catholic Writers

Whether you are a member of the Guild or not, consider yourself invited to the 2017 Catholic Writers Guild Conference Live, July 19-21. As usual, the Guild Conference is scheduled to coincide with the Catholic Marketing Network's annual trade show, which means that conference attendees not only get the chance to mix & mingle with other Catholic writers, and to learn the crafts of writing (and marketing their writing) but also to pitch directly to publishers' representatives. If you have a manuscript ready for a publisher, this is an ideal occasion.

Everyone attending the conference will also have access to the Catholic Marketing Network trade show floor, where you can meet publishers, vendors and book store owners. It’s a great place to network. CMN is offering several events to CWG Conference attendees as well, such as pilgrimages and meal events.

The cost of the conference is very modest — just $75 for members, $45 for students, and no cost at all for clergy, seminarians, or religious. If you'd like to attend, but are not yet a member, you can register for $107.50, which includes a year's membership in the Guild. All attendees can also enjoy discounted group rates on accommodation at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel for $149 a night (plus taxes and fees).

Find more information on the Conference here. Online registration is being handled by the Catholic Marketing Network. You can register online until July 14; after that date, you may simply register on-site at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel. The Catholic Writers Guild Conference truly is a unique week of writing, fellowship and faith — highly recommended.

DFW Catholic Writers Meet Monthly

Meanwhile, our local DFW Catholic Writers Group continues to meet on the first Tuesday of each month (find the details here) -- next meeting Tuesday, May 2. You need not be a member of the Catholic Writers Guild to attend. We hope to see you soon!

If you want to make sure you never miss a meeting, contact Nancy Ward  to get on the email list. You can also sign up to receive all blog posts by email. Just fill in the form in the right-hand sidebar.

It's Not Too Late! Sign up now for the Catholic Writers Guild Conference Online

Three and a half years ago, just as I was about to try to launch a career as a commercial writer and editor, I had the good fortune to attend the 2012 Catholic Writers Conference. By some miracle, it was being held practically in my own backyard, in Arlington, Texas. I’m not exaggerating when I say that the experience changed my life forever – not least because it sparked the founding of the Dallas/Fort Worth Catholic Writers Group, which I’ve been an active part of ever since. It may be a long time before I have the opportunity to attend the annual conference of the Catholic Writers Guild (normally, it alternates annually between New Jersey and Chicago), but I hope very much to be able to take part in this year’s online conference – and you can, too.

Two things have helped me persevere in my efforts as a writer: the education I’ve gleaned from expert writers and editors, and the fellowship I’ve enjoyed through our local Catholic writers group and the Catholic Writers Guild Facebook group.  The upcoming online conference (March 4-6, 2016) will offer a combination of both, with a new webinar format that will make the online conference more engaging and interactive than ever. Check out this recent article on Aleteia to find out more about what makes the Catholic Writers Guild, and our online conference, special.

Here are some of the things you can look forward to:

• A greater emphasis on how our faith informs our writing. We have speakers who will discuss writing as a Calling, literature as evangelization, and even how genre fiction like horror and science fiction can still reflect our Catholic values.
• Practical advice and tips you can put to work immediately. From managing your time to reconstructing your plot, developing great characters to building your social media presence, our experienced and well-published presenters share their best practices.
• Webinar format that incorporates audio and visuals. This year, our presenters come live to your screen. It’s easy – if you can handle Skype or Facetime, you can do this! (Don’t worry, there’s still chat available for talking or “passing notes.”)
• Networking. One of the comments in the past has been there’s not time to just get to know fellow attendees. This year, there’s time in between each session, we have open chat time, plus an open chat room on the conference website.
• Recordings! Did you have to run after a toddler and miss part of a lecture? We’ve got your back. We’ll have recordings of each session available for you free!
• Pitch Sessions. They’re back! We’re recruiting publishers of Catholic and secular media to hear pitches from authors with manuscripts ready to submit! Check out the growing list.

Get all the details here. The cost is just $25 for Guild members, and $40 for anyone else.

Meanwhile, writers in the Dallas/Fort Worth area will have another opportunity to get together for critique and mutual encouragement this Tuesday evening, 23 February, at the University of Dallas. Join us!  Here are the details of time and place. Hope we see you there!

If you want to make sure you never miss a meeting, contact Nancy Ward  to get on the email list. You can also sign up to receive all blog posts by email. Just fill in the form in the right-hand sidebar.

Escape the Texas heat this October

If you're like me, when "autumn" arrives in Texas (to the extent that it ever does!), you dream of crisp, cool air and brightly colored leaves drifting down from stately maples and oaks. This fall you can make that dream come true if you attend "Your Word is My Delight," a Catholic writer's retreat to be held in Lansing, Michigan, October 13-17.

The five-day retreat will include workshops, talks, daily mass, and, no doubt, plenty of time for contemplative walks through autumn leaves. Speakers and presenters will include novelist & editor Michelle Buckman and Catholic radio personality, Al Kresta. Quite a bargain for $450!

Find more information, including downloadable brochure and registration form on the Catholic Writers Guild blog.