Scholarship Recipient Shares Thoughts on 2016 PPWC

By: Ledema Renfrow

Pikes Peak Writers Conference was my first writers’ conference so I went not knowing what to expect. But four days later, I left with many new friends, tons of valuable information and an invitation from a New York City agent to submit my manuscript.

What more could a writer ask?

I was grateful for the choice of presenters at the 2016 PPWC. The only problem was choosing just one at times when I wanted to learn so much. Every program I attended offered something I needed.

On Friday afternoon during a break, I noticed the sun coming through a lobby window. It had been snowing so the sun was very inviting. I sat down on the window seat and a young man sitting on the other end started a conversation.

He asked what I was writing, and I told him I had just finished No Star in the Window. 

He asked if I had published anything, and I showed him the book I self-published in 2014, Two Decades of David: Life, Death, and Beyond. “It is the true story about our son who was killed by a drunk driver,” I explained.   

He glanced through it. “What was the moment of sweet revenge at the end?” he asked. 

“I was selected for jury duty a few years after our son was killed. When the judge asked, ‘Is there anyone in the jury box who thinks they could not give a fair and honest verdict in this case?’ I raised my hand.” 

“Why is that?” the judge asked.

“I stood and pointed. ‘Because you are the judge who sentenced the drunk driver who killed my son to just 30 days in jail on a work release.’ Then, I pointed to the defense lawyer. ‘And he is the lawyer who defended the drunk driver who killed my son.’ It was truly their moment of reality and my moment of sweet revenge.”

After that, I asked the young man if he was an agent. He introduced himself and asked me to send him a copy of my new book.

No Star in the Window is written for Middle Grade students about the journey of an eight-member family through WWII. The young protagonist, Lerna, is under the power of her slightly older sister, and their struggle to the end. The setting is the unique city of Pueblo, Colorado, which had many military connections during that time. Pueblo also has an interesting history, which fits into the story quite well.

As for the workshops, after attending Self-Publishing, I decided the most difficult part was marketing.

Thank you to Pikes Peak Writers for the scholarship I was awarded, and to those who planned such a wonderful conference That scholarship was a tremendous help and I will be forever grateful.

About the Author:  Ledema Renfrow retired from the University of Southern Colorado after 20 years. She took classes on her lunch hour and in the evenings for 10 of those years to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications. As an Information Specialist in the Communication Services Office, she wrote news releases about activities at the university and edited the weekly Faculty/Staff Newsletter. She was a member of Toastmasters for 19 years and earned the highest rank of Distinguished Toastmaster. She entered numerous TM International and Humorous Speech Contests and advanced to the District level in one international competition. She was recognized as District 26 Toastmaster of the Year in 1997 and Chaired the TM District Conference in the fall of 2000. Ledema helped produce the hospice book, “Sharing the Journey: The Essence of Hospice” in 2010. In 2014 she finished and self-published “Two Decades of David: Life, Death, and Beyond.” It is featured on her website AuthoredbyLedema.com. Ledema may be contacted by e-mail at Ledema@Renfrow.com.

Scholarship Recipient Shares Thoughts on Prequel Day

By: MaryAnn Sundby

I heard there were scholarships for the 2016 Pikes Peak Writers Conference. Application details were explained on the website Here, so I applied and within two months I heard a scholarship was awarded for me to attend Thursday, called Prequel Day, of the PPWC. I was thrilled to be with other authors for the day and hear professionals offer time-tested ways to improve our craft. 

Two bits of advice I took home from the workshops were: Let your voice come out and polish your writing.  Though I’ve heard these before, both are important to hear again as I refine my writing skills.

The voice in my writing comes from my experiences, childhood, and attitudes that flavor each story.  As I develop setting, conversation and conflict, that uniqueness flows into my words. I need to encourage this creative side to blossom and capture my reader.

As my stories develop, I edit and edit so the reader does get bogged down with too many words, description or a boring story. I weed through every sentence and paragraph to provide clarity so the story shines. As I polish, the technical side of my writing takes over. It’s as important as the creative side.

Without reservation, I would recommend writers consider attending the PPWC conference next year.  You will learn techniques and ideas to improve your writing and will know your time was well spent.

About the author:  I write for the children’s market and have been published in Christian periodicals and newsletters. This year Ripple Grove press is publishing my first book, Monday is Wash Day. Look for it in September.

PPWC15 - The Prequel

By Anastasia Storer 

I recently had the privilege of attending the Thursday Prequel at this year's PPWC under a scholarship. I cannot thank the organization enough, as otherwise I'd not have been able to attend. It's been a long time since I've been able to go to a convention. As I handle the final preparations before I leave the country for two years to volunteer with the Peace Corps in the small country of Moldova, I find myself looking back over the notes I took and once again being so thrilled I was given the opportunity to be a part of the conference.

I've been struggling over the last few months with my writing as other things took precedence. This led to my finding it impossible to keep my word count where I thought it "should" be. Getting the chance to spend a day surrounded by readers and writers, all with the same sorts of struggles, all with the same passion for the written word, really helped me get myself back on track and helped me to realize I needed to set more realistic goals for myself during what is a very hectic time of life for me.

It also cemented in my mind the desire to attempt to form a writing circle during my time in Moldova, to encourage Moldovan writers the same way the people at the conference encouraged me.

The sessions I attended on editing and on query letters might as well have been tailor-made for me in terms of where I am in my process of working on a writing career. Another few months, and I'll be able to take the amazing insights and advice Bree Ervin offered in her Read Like An Editor workshop (goodness, I've not taken so many notes so fast since my college days!) and put them to use. And if I'm lucky, before the year is out, I'll be ready to take what I learned in Andrea Somberg's Queries With Claws to start trying to find a home for my book.

Thank you again to the Pikes Peak Writers organization for giving me the opportunity to attend the 2015 prequel!

May Letter from the Editor

By Debi Archibald 

I am writing this on Sunday, one week post-conference, still processing the workshops, the random meetings, the keynotes, the volunteer experiences. Working to find the process that will take three intense days worth of information and infuse it into my writing life for the next 51 weeks. My "to-read" shelf is stacked with several books that are way outside my genre comfort zone. I finally entrusted the first several chapters of a rough draft to a beta reader. And I learned more from sitting in on several R&C sessions than I ever have in a formal writing class.

Over the next several weeks you will see some guest posts from the writers who received scholarships to attend PPWC15. They'll provide a wide range of fresh insight and perspective into the conference experience, as well as their own personal take-aways.

What did you take away from Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2015? And where will it take you this year?

Debi Archibald is a Colorado Springs native but spent most of her life wandering both the Arizona desert and healthcare administration. She is now blissfully reestablished at the foot of Pikes Peak. Two novels, Form and Function and Crushed, are in various stages of editing. In addition to fiction, she ventures into humor and short memoir. A recovering foreign language geek, she is also passionate about hiking, cooking, reading and being a grandmother, the role she is sure she was born for. She shares her home with the world’s most human Siberian Husky, Sasha. You can find her at pikespeakpen.com.

January Letter From the Editor

The holidays have finally come to a close. Whether that's cause for celebration or mourning for you, hopefully it's at least a window into a calmer time. A time many of us use to reflect on the previous year and look forward to what needs to be accomplished in the coming months.

Did you make resolutions? Is goal setting a part of your January each year, in any way, shape, or form?

For some, goal setting is a good idea, even if it isn't done in January. If you do it annually, you should do so with the idea that your goals will have to be somewhat flexible. Often, by the end of the year your goals and intentions have changed, and something that seemed important in January no longer matters to you in June. Re-evaluating quarterly can help solve this problem, allowing for adjustments or tweaks in the goals you previously set. In addition, this gives you a refresher in what you had hoped to accomplish; otherwise, it's too easy to forget or let projects fall by the wayside.

If you don't want to set regular goal reviews, maybe consider reviewing the whole shebang any time you realize one of your goals has changed or won't be achievable as you originally set it. Otherwise, just remember you're human, and that things will change. Don't beat yourself up when you drop a goal or have to modify it. Keep going, and make it what you need it to be.

Our goal here at Writing From the Peak is to continue bringing you great original content from your fellow Pikes Peak Writers members. We hope there's something here for everyone. Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered that we haven't done yet, or haven't done enough. Are we overlooking an important subject?

On a related note, if one of your goals is to make it to PPWC 2014 this year, you might like to know that our scholarship applications have opened up as of this past weekend. The application period ends February 15, so be sure to get your application in!

Good luck with your goals, writing and otherwise, as we cruise into 2014. And Happy New Year!

~Shannon Lawrence
Managing Editor, Writing From the Peak
PPW Director of Non-Conference Events

PPWC Scholarships - A Helping Hand

By Debbie Maxwell Allen
 

Photo courtesy of Jared Hagan, PPW photographer

The Pikes Peak Writers Conference is one of the best conferences in the country. With best-selling authors, top agents, and editors, the weekend of April 18-21st is already marked off on the calendars of hundreds of writers.

But what if you're a starving writer? A writer trying to make ends meet with a day job (or two), while adding to your book in stolen moments? The conference price tag (though it's a great deal compared with other conferences) can seem daunting.

Thankfully, Pikes Peak Writers has a scholarship fund. Volunteers work tirelessly all year to raise money so writers like you can attend.

I, myself, am a scholarship recipient. When I applied, I didn't expect to receive a scholarship. I was surprised to be selected, since I knew I had a lot to learn about writing.

Immediate Past PPW President Chris Mandeville, a member of the scholarship committee, emphasizes that the committee isn't only looking for great writers. They're watching for writers with goals, dreams, and who exhibit potential--not perfection.

The application is easy. It's just an email letter along with a short writing sample. Head over to the Pikes Peak Writers site.  Click on the 'scholarship' tab for the details. Scholarships may be full or partial. Applications are accepted until February 15, 2013, so you have two more weeks to get yours in.

Attending the Pikes Peak Writers Conference has had a huge impact on my writing career. I've learned so much through the workshops. I've met authors whose work I love, and agents and editors I respect. Even more, I've made friends with other writers on the same journey as I am, people who encourage me and help make my writing the best it can be.

The conference this year is shaping up to be another amazing experience. Will you be there?

About the Author:  Debbie Maxwell Allen writes young adult historical fantasy in the Rocky Mountains. She blogs about free resources for writers at Writing While the Rice Boils.