Want to be Published?

The 2016 Montrose Christian Writers’ Conference:

One Step Closer to Publication! 

BUT FIRST…

 

REMEMBER TO HONOR OUR BRAVE VETS TODAY!

 

Plan to come to Montrose this July!

As director of the Montrose Christian Writers’ Conference, I guarantee you’ll find faculty members who will help you get published. Besides 43 afternoon classes that cover everything from self publishing to blogging to writing novels to working with an editor to public speaking, we have an excellent line-up of continuing Major Morning seminars, concentrating on a specific genre or subgenre with best-selling authors:

1. THE IRRESISTIBLE NOVEL – Jeff Gerke
2. WHAT’S YOUR STORY? (How to Write a Memoir) – Larry Leech
3. THE INSPIRATION & THE PERSPIRATION (Beginners) – Roseanna White
4. FOCUS ON JUVENILE FICTION – Jeanette Windle

Editors and Agents:

If you have a manuscript, and you’d like to show it to an editor or agent, plan to meet any of these faculty members, who just might be interested enough to consider it for publication:

1. SUSAN M. BAGANZ – acquisitions editor with Prism Book Group (romance novels)
2. JIM HART – agent with the Hartline Literary Agency (fictional suspense, romance, women’s fiction, & some sci-fi)
3. MARSHA HUBLER – acquisitions editor with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas juvenile & tween fiction, adult fiction)
4. ROSEANNA WHITE – managing editor of WhiteFire Publishing (non-fiction, romance (both historical and contemporary), biblical fiction, suspense, women’s fiction, and speculative fiction)
5. JEANETTE WINDLE – acquisitions editor with Kregel Publishing (tween and adult fiction)

Work-in-Progress:

We also have three work-in-progress sessions this year with award-winning authors, who will work with you on your manuscript and get it publishing ready. (These WIPs are limited to 8 conferees each, so don’t wait to register!):

1. FROM GOOD TO BETTER TO BEST (FICTION) – Gayle Roper
2. HONING YOUR NONFICTION – Kathy Ide
3. POETRY (EXAMINING WORKS IN PROGRESS) – Shirley Stevens

Check All the Details:

Please check out the Montrose Bible Conference website for all the details, including a listing of all classes and activities, a brochure, and a registration form.

http://www.montrosebible.org/OurEvents/tabid/113/page_550/1/eventid_550/58/Default.aspx

We’d love to see you at Montrose from July 17^th to the 22^nd. But…if you can’t make it for the week, plan to come for a day or two. I promise you won’t be sorry.

Marsha

http://www.marshahubler.com

http://www.montrosebible.org

http://www.horsefactsbymarshahubler.wordpress.com

http://www.marshahubler.com

 

(More shameless promotion)

A HORSE TO LOVE

 

Foster kid Skye Nicholson hates everyone and everything until she meets Champ,

a gorgeous show horse. Then everything changes…for both of them.

http://www.amazon.com/Horse-Love-Keystone-Stables-Book-ebook/dp/B002U80FZK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1459004666&sr=1-1&keywords=A+Horse+to+Love+by+Marsha+Hubler

Read Full Post »

Today’s Writers’ Tip: Write “Outside the Box”

May 23, 2016

 

Today’s Writers’ Tip: Writing Fiction Plots Outside the Box

Over the years, I’ve taught different classes and courses on writing at various writers conferences, including the Montrose Christian Writers Conference in Montrose, PA. As of January 2015, I assumed the directorship of the conference, which is a wonderful experience for any writer at any level in his/her career. Every year there are workshops and classes presented by a faculty (this year 17) of many best-selling or award-winning authors, agents, or editors representing various genres and subgenres.

In one of my seminars for beginners, I present anything and everything from query letters and proposals to marketing yourself and your work. I also present a detailed Power Point on the good elements of fiction, including how to write “outside the box.” I thought I’d share a few of those pointers with you in this post.

First, we need to define the term “outside the box.” What in heaven’s name does that mean?

“Write outside the box.”

Well, in plain language, it means to write a plot that doesn’t have a normal humdrum boring story line.

As a short exercise in my presentation, I always cite some average boring story lines and ask my class to change the plot so that it’s outside the box. One example I cite is the following:

“A little girl finds a nest of baby bunnies in her back yard.”

Now, of course, everyone is immediately drawn to the “outside the box” famous children’s story, Alice in Wonderland, where Alice finds a whole new world, not a nest of baby bunnies.

Several years ago, I presented this workshop to a group of writers and asked how to change the story line. One fellow in the back of the room raised his hand and said, “How about if a big rabbit finds a nest of little girls in his back yard?”

I said to him, “Sir, you are DEFINITELY thinking outside the box. Go for it.”

Just for the fun of it, I’m going to list about 10 different story lines. Analyze each one. If you can change the plot to move it outside the box, do so. But some of the story lines are already outside the box and are, in fact, famous stories or books written by best-selling published authors. See if you can identify those that are already great plots.

So, which of these would you like to continue to read?

1. A little girl saves enough money to buy a horse at auction.
2. A bitter sea captain of a sailing ship hunts for a white sperm whale to kill him.
3. A newly married couple tours Paris, France, and enjoys all the sites.
4. A boy is shipwrecked on an island with only a wild stallion that won’t let him get near him.
5. A middle-aged woman works at Wal-Mart, saving enough money to take a trip to Hawaii.
6. A young pioneer woman is left alone on the prairie in her covered wagon when her husband falls from his horse and is killed.
7. The neighbor’s cat has a litter of six kittens underneath a little boy’s porch.
8. A collie dog, sold and taken away from the boy he loves, travels a long distance through life-threatening dangers to return to his boy.
9. A young unmarried girl decides to marry her childhood sweetheart.
10. An unmarried woman on a plantation in a southern state faces the harsh reality of post Civil War life and the loss of all she held dear.

Well, how did you do? Did you analyze the boring plots and decide what you could do to make them better? (Numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, 9)

And did you identify the best-selling books/movies in numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10?

MOBY DICK

THE BLACK STALLION

LOVE COMES SOFTLY

LASSIE, COME HOME

GONE WITH THE WIND

When you analyze what makes these million-dollar story lines what they are, you’ll be on your way to writing, possibly, the next great American novel. And all the while you’re writing, keep on reading. Read tons of books, especially in the subgenre in which you are writing, and learn how the masters did it. Maybe someday, your name will be on a best-seller list with the rest of them!

Happy writing!

P.S. Time to register for the Montrose Christian Writers Conference. You won’t be sorry!

Please check http://www.montrosebible.org/OurEvents/tabid/113/page_550/1/eventid_550/58/Default.aspx for all the details.

Marsha

http://www.marshahubler.com

http://www.horsefactsbymarshahubler.wordpress.com

http://www.marshahubler.com

(More shameless promotion)

ANOTHER WHOLESOME BOOK FOR TWEENS

SNOW, PHANTOM STALLION OF THE POCONOS

Dallis Parker copes with bullying at school by dreaming about owning Snow, a wild Mustang, who most folks believe doesn’t even exist. Then she actually touches the horse, and her life is changed forever.

http://www.amazon.com/Snow-Phantom-Stallion-Marsha-Hubler-ebook/dp/B013GUF078/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449523382&sr=1-1&keywords=Snow%2C+Phantom+Stallion+of+the+Poconos

Read Full Post »

Get Your Work Published!

DO YOU NEED HELP TO GET YOUR WORK PUBLISHED?

COME TO THE MONTROSE CHRISTIAN WRITERS CONFERENCE, MONTROSE, PA

July 17^th – 22^nd

Thinking of self-publishing your book? Award-winning author Michelle Lazurek will have a continuing afternoon series for you to learn the ups and downs of doing it yourself.

Having trouble understanding all those little icons in the Microsoft WORD menu at the top of your documents? How do you insert a picture? Bullet points? A footnote? Author/illustrator Brenda K. Hendricks will explain in depth how to use WORD as you write your manuscript.

Working on a tween or teen novel? Author Marti Pieper and best-selling author Karen Whiting will show you exactly what you need to do to get that manuscript published.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Needing an agent? Hartline Literary Agent Jim Hart will tell you how to get that agent.

Writing some short pieces or feature/news articles? Authors Patti Souder and Kathy Ide and best-selling author Jeanette Windle will share what needs to be done to get that short work published.

These are only a few of the 40+ afternoon workshops and seminars offered at this year’s Montrose Christian Writers Conference. Check out all the details (including a registration form) at http://www.montrosebible.org/OurEvents/tabid/113/page_550/1/eventid_550/58/Default.aspx  

We’d love to see you there!

Marsha

Director MCWC 2016

Read Full Post »

Do You Know Your Writing/Publishing Terms?

May 9, 2016

DO YOU KNOW YOUR WRITING TERMS?

I often speak at writers’ conferences and present workshops to help those who are just starting out in the writing/publishing world. During my presentations I’ve often stared into the blank faces of newbies who don’t have a clue about what I’m discussing, and I’ve found that it has much to do with their lack of knowledge concerning the writing/publishing business and the many “odd duck” terms we writers use.

For you who are more experienced, this little quiz will be old hat for you. It’s a 20-question matching quiz to sharpen the writing/publishing part of your brain. So, take a few minutes, grab a pen and paper, and let’s go: (Sorry for the misalignment of the list. Parts of the answers in the right column wrap around underneath the first word in the left side of the list. WordPress alignment is the problem.)

1. _______GENRE                        A. $ EARNED AFTER BOOK IS OUT

 

2. _______MANUSCRIPT SUB. B. YOUR NAME PRINTED W/WORK

 

3. _______ QUERY LETTER      C.  SUMMARY OF BOOK ON COVER

 

4. _______ COVER LETTER     D.  UNDERLYING MESSAGE

 

5. _______ PROPOSAL              E.  CLEVER BEGINNING OF STORY

 

6. _______ CRITIQUE/EDIT    F.  CATEGORY

 

7. _______ REJECTION            G.  “PLEASE LOOK AT MY WORK”

 

8. _______ CONTRACT             H.  ALL ABOUT YOU & YOUR WORK

 

9. _______ MARKETING          I.  “DOES NOT MEET OUR NEEDS”

 

10._______ PITCH                            J.  SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT YOU

 

11._______ HOOK                            K. SENDING IT TO THE PUB. CO.

 

12._______ STORY LINE                 L. “ENCLOSED PLEASE FIND …”

 

13._______ THEME                           M.  $ FOR NOT BEING PUBLISHED

 

14._______ PLOT                               N. EARNED BEFORE BOOK IS OUT

 

15._______ BLURB                            O. ESSENTIAL REVIEW OF WORK

 

16._______ CREDITS                        P. OF THIS A WRITER DREAMS

 

17._______ BYLINE                           Q. LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 

18._______ ADVANCE                       R. ACTION IN YOUR STORY

 

19._______ROYALTY                         S. WHAT YOUR STORY IS ABOUT

 

20._______KILL FEE                        T. GETS THE ATTENTION OF THE

EDITOR OR AGENT

 

Well, how do you think you did? Here are the answers:

 

1. F    2.   K.     3.  G     4.   L.   5. H     6.  O     7.   I.       8.   P.      9.  J.    10.   T
2. E. 12. S.    13.   D.   14.  R.    15.  C   16.  Q   17.  B.   18.   N.    19.  A.     20.  M

Happy writing!

Marsha

(Web) www.marshahubler.com

Montrose Christian Writers Conference

http://www.montrosebible.org/OurEvents/tabid/113/page_550/1/eventid_550/58/Default.aspx

(Horse Facts Blog) www.horsefactsbymarshahubler.wordpress.com

(More Shameless Promotion)

 

SNOW, PHANTOM STALLION OF THE POCONOS

Dallis Parker copes with bullying at school by dreaming about owning Snow, a wild Mustang, who most folks believe doesn’t even exist. Then she actually touches the horse, and her life is changed forever.

http://www.amazon.com/Snow-Phantom-Stallion-Marsha-Hubler-ebook/dp/B013GUF078/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449523382&sr=1-1&keywords=Snow%2C+Phantom+Stallion+of+the+Poconos

Read Full Post »

Today’s Writers’ Tip: Evening Perks at the Montrose Christian Writers’ Conference – 2016

EVENING PERKS AT THE MONTROSE CHRISTIAN WRITERS CONFERENCE – 2016

Do you like to laugh?

How sharp are you at Jeopardy?

Would you like to read a section of your written work to the entire conference assembly?

Then it’s time to register for the Montrose Christian Writers Conference July 17th to the 22nd. Besides choosing from over 40 workshops during the week, three evenings offer additional perks:

Monday Evening: Puppets on Parade will present faculty and conferees who would like to participate in a fun-filled program of puppetry and ventriloquism. You may volunteer to be in the program or relax in the audience and enjoy the event.

Wednesday Evening: Odd Ducks’ Dilemma, a Jeopardy-type game will challenge panels of three volunteers each, both faculty and conferees, with questions about writing/publishing on all different levels.

Example: Answer – The author of Alice in Wonderland

The Question – Who is Lewis Carroll?

Thursday Evening: Writers’ Theater invites any conferee or faculty member to read a three-minute section of any written work. It’s an evening of creativity you’ll enjoy whether you participate or cheer on the writers brave enough to read their work to their peers.

Please go to http://www.montrosebible.org/OurEvents/tabid/113/page_550/1/eventid_550/58/Default.aspx

for all the details and a registration form. I hope to see you at Montrose in July!

Marsha

Director

(More shameless promotion)

Whispering Hope

A wild horse and an angry young woman. Is there a secret to taming them both?

Foster kid, Skye Nicholson, sets her sights on a new teen and a rescued wild Mustang

at Keystone Stables.

http://www.amazon.com/Whispering-Hope-Keystone-Stables-Book-ebook/dp/B003TO59SW/ref=pd_sim_351_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=51o1ofvvbSL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_OU01_AC_UL320_SR206%2C320_&refRID=0WD7GM9G0BRSCZKCKZFM

Read Full Post »