Latest Blog Posts

Encouragers and Discouragers & Who Won Poppy Smith’s Book?

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By Vonda Skelton | April 30, 2013

Today is a 5th Tuesday, and that means you get to hear from a guest blogger. Today’s guest is my friend, Laura Polk. Laura is a novelist I met several years ago at a writing conference, and I was immediately drawn in to her story. (And no, I’m NOT the one she refers to in this post!) I’m thrilled that Laura will be attending the Christian Communicators Conference in August at The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove!

What a joy to share this post with you today as we continue our focus on writing conferences. I hope Laura’s words will encourage you to keep learning, keep growing, and keep doing the work of a writer.

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Parting Words From The WORD…

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By Vonda Skelton | April 26, 2013

Photo courtesy of ChristianPhotos.net

The life of a writer can be discouraging. We can work for years on a book, writing and praying and editing and praying and rewriting and praying and editing and praying…

Some days the words just won’t come. Sometimes they come quickly, only to be found unworthy. If we’re wise, those words are thrown away.

But we keep going. We work hard until we finally think it’s ready. Yes, this can take years.

Then we pray and work even more until we generate the courage to hit SEND. We’ve reached our goal!

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Writer’s Headlines: Writing, Speaking, and Media Conferences

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By Vonda Skelton | April 25, 2013

It’s the 4th Thursday–Time to look at upcoming conferences!

1.  Southeastern Christian Writers Conference:  April 26-2, 2013, Cleveland, TN

2.  Colorado Christian Writers Conference: May 15-18, 2013, Estes Park, CO

3.  Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference: May 19-23, 2013, Ridgecrest, NC–I can’t wait to see you there!

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Interview & Book Give-Away with Author & Speaker Poppy Smith

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By Vonda Skelton | April 23, 2013

I’m thrilled to introduce my friend, Poppy Smith, to you. I first learned about Poppy years ago through her bestselling book, I’m Too Young to Be This Old (reprinted and updated this year). I immediately became a fan. This lady knew exactly where I was in life! Then we met when I joined the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA), and it’s been a joy to get to know her personally.

And I know you’re going to enjoy hearing about Poppy’s writing journey and her new book, Why Can’t He Be More Like Me? 9 Secrets to Understanding Your Husband. Be sure to leave a comment and you’ll be in the drawing for a free book! Not that any of us need help understanding our men, of course. And guys, don’t start. Remember, you’re outnumbered here. 🙂

VONDA: Okay, Poppy, let’s start at the beginning. How did your writing journey begin?

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Parting Words From The WORD…

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By Vonda Skelton | April 19, 2013

Photo courtesy of ChristianPhotos.net

(Sorry for the delay in posting this week’s Parting Words From The WORD, but I’ve been in seclusion with my friend and fellow writer, Robin Bryce, as we’ve been finalizing a new book proposal. Thanks for your grace…grace…grace…)

“You’re just telling us what happens. What about show vs tell?”

“Your verbs are wimpy, wimpy, wimpy. And look how many times you used adverbs to try to bulk them up.”

“Where’s the conflict? Remember, no conflict, no story.”

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Writer’s Headlines: Writing Opportunities

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By Vonda Skelton | April 18, 2013

Time to share this month’s WRITING OPPORTUNITIES with you!

No more excuses. Now you’ll know what to write about and where to submit. 🙂

1. Miracles and Moments of Grace is an upcoming anthology edited by author and speaker Nancy B. Kennedy and published by Leafwood Publishers. This will be the 4th book in their Inspiring Stories of Survival series. Get the Miracles & Moments of Grace Writers Guidelines here.

2.  I received this note from Jeanette Gardner Littleton. She’s looking for stories for another anthology! Hey Writers, I’m gathering stories for a book I’ll edit for Whitestone Communications and Bethany House. It’s “Angels, Miracles, and Other Heavenly Encounters 2.” If you have a story about a time when you had a supernatural experience (from a Christian-based perspective) we’d love to tell you more about this book and see if you’d like to write for it (it’s a paying opportunity). Please email me at and I’ll send you the guidelines.

3.  Marilyn Nutter will be editing the 2014 anthology Penned from the Heart. She says: Penned from the Heart is a book of 365 daily devotions which can be used in any year.  It is published around Thanksgiving by Son-Rise Publications, New Wilmington, PA.  Absolute cut-off date for receiving submissions is June 1. Penned from the Heart is a non-denominational, Christian book of inspiration and teaching. Devotions can be either prose or poetry (verse or free-verse). Devotions should be 225 words or less. Poems should be no more than 20 lines, counting spaces between stanzas. Complete writers’ guidelines can be found at or email .

4.  And on the theme of anthologies, don’t forget Christian Soup is always looking for writers. Here’s the link to the latest call-outs for Chicken Soup for the Soul stories.

5.  Susan Baganz is a new editor at Prism Book Group and she’s looking for novellas! Through an unexpected turn of events I accepted a position as Acquisitions Editor with Prism Book Group (). It’s a small Christian press and I’m looking for authors who write romance, romance, romance: contemporary, historical (especially Regency), Western, Comedy or Romantic Suspense. (no Amish, please?). They should fit our Diamond or Inspired lines. Give me a creative happy ending and I’ll be tickled raspberry. Submissions can be sent to sbaganz at prismbookgroup dot com. Here’s the link to the Prism Book Group submissions page.

6.  Arthritis Self Management magazine writing guidelines here.

7.  CampSight magazine for Christian camps and conference centers. CampSight writing guidelines here.

8.  Working Mother Magazine. Writing guidelines for Working Mother.

9.  Watercolor Artist and Artist Network are looking for writers. I know some of you are artists, so this might be just for you! Watercolor Artist Submission Guidelines.

10. Sew News writing guidelines here. (I know there are sewing people in this group. This is for YOU!)

Okay, that’s it for this month’s writing opportunities. That should keep you busy for a while. 🙂 Can’t wait to see what comes out of these opportunities. Be sure to let me know if your work is published through any of these contacts. It’s such an encouragement to hear of your successes!

Happy writing!

Vonda

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How NOT to Get Published

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By Vonda Skelton | April 16, 2013

Don't be a weirdo.

Since one of my goals here at the Christian Writer’s Den is to help you in your search for publication, we’ll continue our preparations for writing conferences. After all, I made many of the mistakes we talk about here. Thankfully I was given the opportunity to repair the damage I’d done, but not everyone gets a second chance. Don’t waste your opportunity.

Some of my favorite conferences are already over and some are coming up in the next few weeks and months. But whether you’re preparing for your experience or remembering back on it, I hope you won’t regret your actions.

This little video was produced a couple of years ago by my friends at CLASS Christian Writers Conference (CLASSeminars.org) and I just have to share it with you again today. How NOT to Get Published…

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Parting Words From The WORD…

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By Vonda Skelton | April 12, 2013

Photo courtesy of ChristianPhotos.net

Let’s face it, ministry is hard. But how can that be the case if we’re doing what God has called us to do?

We may mistakenly think that if we’re in the middle of God’s will, doing what He has for us to do with our lives, then everything should work out smoothly.

That wasn’t the case with Jesus…and it’s not the case with us today. Jesus had no place to lay His head, few friends who stood by Him in the hard times, He suffered, bled, and died. And yet, He continued in His call.

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Writer’s Headlines: Kudos, MoGo7000 Results, & Christian Communicators Conference

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By Vonda Skelton | April 11, 2013

It’s the 2nd Thursday, and time to celebrate your successes!

Congratulations to all these Christian Writer’s Den writers. You’re doing what it takes!

1.  Linda Thomas (IN): Recently published my first Bible Study, In Step with the Spirit.

2.  Colleen Luntzel (OR): Colleen has a new blog, Bring Bread. In Isaiah 29:8, the Scripture says, “…an hungry man dreams, and behold, he eats; but he awakes, and his soul is empty.” Hunger is powerful and demands to be satisfied, whether it’s physical or spiritual. It’s easy to satisfy physical hunger, but when it’s the soul that knots tight in hunger pangs, only The BREAD of Life, Jesus Christ, can satisfy.

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What Drives an Editor Crazy, by Chip MacGregor

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By Vonda Skelton | April 9, 2013

As I mentioned last week, conference season is here, so it’s time to buckle down and take care of a few things before we head out the door.

Thanks to Chip MacGregor, president of MacGregor Literary, for allowing me to repost this hilarious, yet helpful article. I guarantee you you’ll laugh. And if you’re smart, you’ll apply what you read. Here’s the link to Chip’s original post. Be sure to head over there (after reading and commenting here, of course) and check out all his great topics.

And to the guys among us: If you really want to get Chip’s undivided attention at a conference, be sure to follow him into the restroom and deliver your pitch. He loves that.

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