PLANNING COMMITTEE: Michelle Medlock Adams, Bob Bridge, Barbie Jenkins, Brian Hawkins

OBJECTIVE/PURPOSE: To help others achieve their writing dreams

PLACE: The Bedford Convention Center in Downtown Bedford, Indiana
           931 15th Street
           Bedford IN 47421

DATE: February 24, 2007

TIME: 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.

CONFERENCE FEE: $40 pre-registration, includes a deli lunch; $20 for students; $45 at the door; $25 for students at the door (To pre-register, make out your checks to SIWC and mail them to SIWC, c/o Barbie Jenkins, 9238 Tunnelton Rd., Bedford IN 47421.)

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

Jane Rubietta is an award-winning author and international speaker, and the Assistant Coordinator and media specialist for the international writers' conference, Write-to-Publish. She teaches widely on writing and speaking, and her articles appear in Focus on the Family, Decision, Christian Reader, Today's Christian Woman, Indeed, and many other magazines. Award-winning books in include Grace Points: Growth and Guidance in Times of Change and Quiet Places. Her tenth book, Come Closer, will be released in July 2007. Jane has interviewed on hundreds of radio and television shows, including Prime Time America, Midday Connection, The Harvest Show, FamilyNet TV, and American Family Radio. Her books have helped thousands of people around the world find hope and healing. For more information, visit www.abounding.org.

Michelle Medlock Adams is an award-winning journalist and book author, earning top honors from the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Hoosier State Press Association. Author of 32 books, Michelle has also written thousands of articles for newspapers and magazines since graduating with a journalism degree from Indiana University. Her picture book, Conversations On the Ark earned her the "Barnes & Noble Author of the Month" honor in May 2003. In 2006, her books What is Easter?; Why I Praise You, God; Why I Trust You, God; Why I Thank You, God; What Is Christmas?; and Divine Stories of the Yahweh Sisterhood (which she co-authored with Gena Maselli) were released. In addition to writing, Michelle often speaks in front of large groups. From teaching about writing at universities and writers' conferences to sharing encouraging messages in churches, at women's retreats and luncheons—Michelle travels across the United States encouraging others to believe in themselves and follow their dreams. For more information, visit www.michellemedlockadams.com online.

OTHER FEATURED LOCAL SPEAKERS: Bob Bridge, Barbie Jenkins, and Brian Hawkins

SPONSOR: Lawrence County Community Foundation

THE BUZZ:

   Award-winning author and international speaker Jane Rubietta said: "Write On! will change the trajectory of your life. Being with other writers, published and unpublished, and with professionals in the industry will encourage and train you, and give you all the tools and accountability and excitement to keep you putting words together, line after line, until your anecdote, your article, your story, your book is finished."

   "I doubt I would ever have been published if not for attending writers' conferences," said Jane Rubietta, award-winning author and international speaker. "And the closer to home, the better! The professional training is invaluable... these days, you cannot get published if you don’t know format as well as market, style, and genre. Plus, other writers you meet will become part of your sphere of influence and encouragement. Besides, who else will understand the oddities of being a writer?"

   "It's impossible to overstate the importance of attending a writers' conference," said Jane Rubietta, author of 10 books and hundreds of articles. "You will meet professionals who know how to get you published. You will meet peers who will cheer you on and challenge you to keep writing. And you will meet your wildest dreams. Write On! Southern Indiana Writers' Conference will change your life."


   BEDFORD—It's been said that everyone has a story to share. The problem is many do not know how to tell that story in print or where to publish that story once it's ready for publication. For those reasons and many more, several area writers have put together "Write On! The first annual Southern Indiana Writers Conference (SIWC) to be held Saturday, Feb. 24, at the Bedford Convention Center in downtown Bedford, IN., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

   The conference will feature keynote speaker Jane (Henderson) Rubietta, who is from Bedford, but currently resides in the Chicago area. (Her parents Jack and Shirley still live in Lawrence County.) Rubietta is an award-winning author and international speaker, and the Assistant Coordinator and media specialist for the international writers' conference, Write-to-Publish, which is held each year at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill.

   Rubietta teaches widely on writing and speaking, and her articles appear in Focus on the Family, Decision, Christian Reader, Today's Christian Woman, Indeed, and many other magazines. Award-winning books in include Grace Points: Growth and Guidance in Times of Change and Quiet Places. Her 10th book, Come Closer, will be released in July 2007.

   The other keynote speaker is Michelle (Missy) Medlock Adams, a 1987 Bedford North Lawrence graduate and a 1991 Indiana University graduate. Adams worked at the Bedford Times-Mail for several years in the mid-90s before pursuing a magazine and book writing career, which led her to Fort Worth, Texas. After working in Texas for nine years, the Adams family moved back to Bedford in July 2006.

   Adams, who has earned top honors from the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Hoosier State Press Association as well as a Barnes & Noble Author of the Month honor in May 2003, is the author of 32 published books including Little Blessings From a Big God, Little Colt's Palm Sunday, Sister For Sale, What Is Easter? and Divine Stories of the Yahweh Sisterhood (co-authored with Gena Maselli) which features writings of several area residents such as Mary G. Johnson and Barbie Jenkins.

   Like Rubietta, Adams has been teaching at writers' conferences around the country for the past six years, and she also taught a "Writing for Children" class at Taylor University in Fort Wayne, IN., this past fall.

   Both think it's time for Southern Indiana to have its own writers' conference.

   "There are so many talented writers in this part of the country, but so many of them don't know what to do with their writing," Adams said. "Every time I do a book signing in Lawrence County, I meet people who share with me their passion for writing and their desire to be published. I share tips to put them on the path to publication and always encourage them to plug into a writers' conference somewhere... now we can offer that here!"

   Adams says attending her first writers' conference in October 1998 completely transformed her writing career.

   "I learned how to format my children's stories and how to approach publishers with my writing," she explained. "I ended up selling two children's books that next year, and that really started the ball rolling for me."

   Jenkins, who is on the planning committee and will also lead two workshops at this year's SIWC, agrees. She attended a writers' conference in New Mexico three years ago, and that opened up many doors for her writing, including a relationship with Howard Publishing, which published her first children's book, The Christmas Kiss.

   "Attending the Glorieta Christian Writers' Conference was totally life-changing to me," shared Jenkins, who has won many awards for her journalistic endeavors at the Bedford Times-Mail. "I had no idea there were so many opportunities for writers."

   Local talent Bob Bridge, who has garnered too many writing awards to list over the course of his newspaper career in Indiana, is also excited about the upcoming SIWC and is lending his expertise. Bridge, who is also a prolific songwriter, will co-teach a songwriting workshop with Lawrence County's Brandon Pfeiffer, as well as a class on story mechanics.

   Brian Hawkins, a writer and well-loved teacher at BNL, rounds out the SIWC planning committee, and he will also lead a workshop. Other locals who will lend their expertise include former Times-Mail staff writer and book author Mary G. Johnson and several members of her writers' group.

   "There will be something for everyone," added Adams. "Whether you're a beginning writer wanting to dive into the basics of writing or an advanced writer desiring to learn how to increase your freelance income—there will be a breakout session perfect for you."

   Some of the 30-minute breakout sessions will include: "How to Get a Children's Book Published," "Songwriting 101," "The Art of the Interview" "Forming a Successful Writers' Group," "Story Mechanics," "Become an Idea Machine," "Finding Your Freelance Niche," "Writing Skits, Plays and More," and "Double the Creativity, Double the Fun" to name a few.

   In addition to the various breakout sessions, there will also be two keynote presentations, a question/answer panel at the end of the day, one-on-one faculty to attendee appointments and an onsite writer's contest with an award ceremony at day's end. The Lawrence County Community Foundation is just one of the sponsors on board for this exciting event.

   The conference will begin at 9 a.m., with registration starting at 8:30, and run until 5 p.m. Lunch is being served on the premises by Event By Design Catering and is included in the cost of the program, and music will be provided by Pfeiffer, as well as special songs by JoAnna Kai Cobb.

   Registration at the door will be $45 for adults and $25 for students. Pre-registration is $40 for adults and $20 for students. To pre-register, please make your checks out to SIWC and mail them to: SIWC, care of Barbie Jenkins, 9238 Tunnelton Road, Bedford IN 47421. More information will follow in future weeks.