Schedule

Sunday
3:30 REGISTRATION OPENS     
5:30 SUPPER     
7:00 OPENING SESSION
         Keynote: ”Full of Grace & Truth” - Jim Fahringer                           
9:00 GET ACQUAINTED TIME    

Monday-Thursday
8:00 BREAKFAST
8:45 MEDITATION
9:00  PRAISE & WORSHIP with Zach & Leah Peterson   
9:20 MORNING CHALLENGE

10:40 MAJOR MORNING CLASSES
12:30 LUNCH
  1:30 AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS
  4:30 CRITIQUE GROUPS or FREE TIME
  5:30 SUPPER and FREE TIME
  7:00 EVENING SESSIONS

Friday: 
 8:00 BREAKFAST
 9:00 PRAISE & WORSHIP
 9:20 MORNING CHALLENGE: "Help Stop Truth Decay" - Patti Souder 
10:00 BENEDICTION and FAREWELL

Continuing Classes

Designed to provide in-depth learning and participation. Most valuable when taken as a series but all are open to those who cannot attend every day.

MAJOR MORNING CLASSES 10:40-12:10 Monday-Thursday

SONGWRITING 
with ZACH & LEAH PETERSON
10:40 – 12:10  MONDAY-THURSDAY 

LIMIT: 8 CONFEREES ($40 each)

FANTASY: CREATE YOUR OWN BOOK 
with CATHY MAYFIELD & FAITH WEAVER
3:30 – 5:15 MONDAY-THURSDAY

NO LIMIT on the NUMBER OF CONFEREES ($20 each)
Attention teens and young adults! Come join us on an interactive, novel-writing adventure! We’ll cover basics of beginnings and endings, world building, character and story arcs, and the distasteful job of self-editing. A focus on fantasy worlds, characters, and storylines will show the nuances of this popular genre. We’ll use examples from other authors as well as from your WIPs (works-in-progress). Come prepared to have fun as you develop yourself as a writer and your manuscript as a closer-to-publishable novel!

Afternoon Workshops Series

(How-to instruction on specialized topics) 

“Roadmap for Success”
Caz Russell
3 Sessions: 1:30 – 2:15 Tues. – Thurs.

You want to be published, but how do you get there? Learn some life principles to help you achieve that goal.

“You’ve Finished Writing your Book – Now What? ”
Sue Fairchild
3 Sessions:  2:30 –3:15    Mon. – Wed. 

(Note: Sue is offering a 4th class on Thursday at 2:30 that's not part of this series.)

You finished writing those 50,000-100,000 (or more!) words but aren't sure what comes next. Come learn the complete next steps in turning your words into a published book!

“World Builders, Unite!”
Vincent Davis II
4 Sessions:2:30 – 3:15 Mon. – Thurs.  

Are you writing historical fiction? Fantasy? Sci Fi? Come and learn the techniques that just might make you a best-selling author.

“Author to Speaker: Your Metamorphosis”

Jill Marie Thomas

4 Sessions: 3:30 – 4:15  Mon. – Thurs.

Three things people want in a presentation: (Carry these three through all four classes.)

1. To be entertained. (But entertainment alone is not enough. It feels empty, like the feeling after watching several sitcoms.)

2. To learn something. (But learning something alone may feel empty too or sterile, like watching a documentary.)

3. To be challenged in some way. (Along with the other two facets, a good challenge leaves the audience member satisfied.)

Afternoon Workshops

Monday

1:30-2:15
1. Hot Topics in the Writing/Publishing World - Faculty Panel

2:30-3:15
2. Engaging a Children’s Audience -Bonnie Swinehart
3. Fiction: Build the Foundations 1 - Vincent Davis II
4. Getting the Most out of a Writers’ Conference - Joyce Ellis
5.  Finding the Right Editor - Sue Fairchild

3:30-4:15
6. Ask Me Anything—Almost (1) - Marsha Hubler
7. Your Book is Published; Now Prepare your Presentation - Jill Thomas
8. Writing Curriculum - Lin Johnson
9. WIP: Create your own Book, an Interactive Writing Adventure - Cathy Mayfield & Faith Weaver

Tuesday

1:30-2:15
10.  Write the Christian World View into the General Market - Cindy Sproles
11. Editor’s Pet: Fiction or Nonfiction - Roseanna White
12. Intro to Social Media: Storytelling - Don Catlett
13. Road to Success: Prime the Pump - Caz Russell

2:30-3:15
14. Proposals that Pop (Fiction and Nonfiction) - Jim Hart
15. Fiction: Build the Foundation 2 - Vincent Davis II
16. Shaping Articles from Interviews - Joyce Ellis
17. Agents and Publishers - Sue Fairchild

3:30-4:15
18. Book, Blog, or Article?  - Jim Hart
19.  Preparation of a Presentation for a Non-fiction Book - Jill Thomas
20. Writing Bible Study Guides - Lin Johnson
21. WIP: Create your own Book: an Interactive Writing Adventure - Cathy Mayfield & Faith Weaver

Wednesday

1:30-2:15
22. The Storyteller in You - Cindy Sproles
23. Four Roads Diverge - Roseanna White
24. Blogging: Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting - Don Catlett
25. Making Grand Slam Decisions Biblically - Caz Russell

2:30-3:15
26. Are You Ready to Work with an Agent?  -  Jim Hart
27. Constructing Characters - Vincent Davis II
28. Writing Picture Books for Children - Joyce Ellis
29. Contracts and Legal Stuff  - Sue Fairchild

3:30-4:15
30. Marketing for Those Who Don’t Like to Market - Jim Hart
31. Preparation of a Presentation for a Fiction Book - Jill Thomas
32. Writing Personal Experience Articles - Lin Johnson
33. WIP: Create your own Book: an Interactive Writing Adventure - Cathy Mayfield & Faith Weaver    

Thursday

1:30-2:15
34. Spit-shine  your Manuscript  -  Cindy Sproles
35. A Fun-filled Tour of a Cover Design Process - Roseanna White
36. Word Press Quick Start - Don Catlett
37. Leaving a Legacy - Caz Russell

2:30 – 3:15
38. How to be your own Sales Person - Bonnie Swinehart
39. Constructing Plot and Story - Vincent Davis II
40. Writing to the Heart and Mind of the Non-Christian - Joyce Ellis
41. Final Touches and Tools for Self-Editing - Sue Fairchild

3:30-4:15
42. Ask Me Anything—Almost (2)  - Marsha Hubler
43. Put on your Deodorant and Take the Stage - Jill Thomas 
44. Writing Devotions - Lin Johnson
45. WIP: Create your own Book: an Interactive Writing Adventure - Cathy Mayfield & Faith Weaver   

Faculty

Don Catlett: truly enjoys sharing the tools & skills he’s developed as a designer & marketing advisor over the past 21 years. As a freelance Wordpress & social media consultant who’s fascinated by content marketing, design, & technology, he transforms creative ideas into effective strategies. He helps his clients bring the right content to the right media so it's ready at the right time. Looking for someone to help you tell your story on the web? Come along as Don guides you through the journey.

Michele Chynoweth: is the bestselling author of several award-winning contemporary suspense novels that reimagine Bible stories including The Faithful One, The Peace Maker, The Runaway Prophet, The Jealous Son and her new novel, The Wise Man. Michele is also a renowned conference speaker, book coach, professional editor with several publishing houses, as well as freelance, and the founder of “Your Book Done Right” Master Class and Elite Coaching, helping writers become successful authors. She’s a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and lives in North East, Maryland. 

Vincent B. Davis II: is the author of 7 books, entrepreneur, speaker, and soldier. He is passionate about helping authors learn the tactics he used to become a bestseller. Focusing primarily on Amazon, he loves making the complex simple so that authors can sell more books.

Joyce Ellis: has published hundreds of articles & 16 books including the Gold-Medallion-Award-winning One-Minute Bible for Kids, the humorous grammar book Write with Excellence 201, & the picture book The Fabulous World That God Made, one of Focus on the Family’s Top Ten Family-Friendly children’s books. Her newest release is the devotional book Our Heart Psalms. A former magazine editor, Joyce is also a writing instructor & public speaker. She takes frequent mission trips, & has taught English in Thailand via Zoom. She enjoys a good cup of tea & reading by a lake or ocean. 

Sue Fairchild: has self-published four of her own books & has helped numerous authors to publish theirs. After starting as a freelance editor, she now works for Elk Lake Publishing, Inc., Redemption Press, & Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She’s also an editor for The Christian Pen, Vice President of the St. Davids Christian Writers’ Association, & the coordinator of her local critique group.

Jim Hart: is a literary agent with Hartline Literary Agency. For the past 8 years he has worked with both veteran & debut authors, representing a mix of non-fiction & fiction books. Jim is also a singer/songwriter & worship leader. He has been involved in youth & music ministry for several decades and is a credentialed minister with the Assemblies of God. 

Marsha Hubler: the author of the best-selling Keystone Stables Series, she has a master’s degree in education. She has 23 books & dozens of articles/short stories in print. Her latest series, TOMMI POCKETS, addresses kids suffering from divorced parents & peer rejection with the hope offered by God and people who care. The director of the Montrose Christian Writers Conference since 2015 & a frequent speaker, she loves to help beginning writers. 

Lin Johnson: is the editor-administrator of The Christian Writers Market Guide; a freelance editor, and author of more than 70 books with a specialization in Bible curriculum. She is a Gold Medallion Book Award and an Evangelical Press Association Higher Goals award recipient. Lin also directs the Write-to-Publish Conference in the Chicago area and teaches at writers’ conferences around the world.

Cathy Mayfield: Often found teaching rather than writing, Cathy Mayfield homeschooled for over 30 years, working with young writers through various avenues including writers’ clubs, workshops, & conferences. Her devotions have appeared in All God’s Creatures 2021. She’s published in Strength & Grace, Guideposts’ devotional magazine for caregivers, & the Focus on the Family magazine. She enjoys time with her husband & dog on her porch & reading to their 5 grandchildren.

Zach & Leah Peterson: joined the MCWC faculty in 2021 as the Praise and Worship Team. Music for Zach & Leah Peterson has been an integral part of their lives from an early age—Leah playing in accordion contests at age 4 and Zach singing in cantatas & church beginning at age 9. They both sang in the nationally televised Rejoice Choir as well as in the Susquehanna Valley Chorale. In 2015 they produced their first CD, “The Love of God,” that included two of their original compositions. Their desire is to communicate & worship in song to uplift & edify the believer & bring the lost to Christ. Zach currently serves as the music director for Bible Baptist Church, Kreamer, PA, & Leah directs the church’s children’s choir. 

Caz Russell: is a certified independent John Maxwell speaker, trainer, & coach. He’s the author of Nuggets: What Dog Training Taught Me about Life and Leadership, & he’s an “outdoor” writer for The Daily Item newspaper. Speaking both internationally & nationally, the last 6 years he has traveled from the west coast to the east coast sharing his keynote messages, which often leave the audience feeling empowered  and motivated.

Patti Souder: former MCWC director, has written, co-authored, or contributed to 14 books. She has also written articles, children’s stories, plays, & musicals. Her special niche? Creating drama sketches that bring Bible characters to life with rhyme, rhythm, & humor. Her dramas are available at SkitGuys.com, AlphaStarDrama.com, & Lillenas.com.

Cindy K. Sproles: the co-founder of ChristianDevotions.us, she’s dedicated to spreading the Word of God through devotions & offering writers their first writing credits. With 20 years’ experience, she’s a best-selling & award-winning author, receiving the 2021 Novel of the Year from the Christian Market Book Awards. She’s served as a managing editor for 2 publishing companies & now works as a freelance editor. She travels nationwide speaking at conferences where she loves teaching new writers. 

Bonnie Swinehart: an author whose career has included assistant preschool teacher, librarian, environmental writer/editor, Director of Communications, newspaper reporter, photographer, & weekly columnist. Her “published author” dream came true with 2 juvenile fiction books, Benjy and the Belsnickel & Benjy and the County Fair. She enjoys speaking to groups (especially children) & sharpening her sales skills.

Jill Marie Thomas: a business owner, teacher, author, and speaker, Jill has years of experience teaching college mathematics and speaking and writing on behalf of her family’s pretzel manufacturing business. She’s published five Bible studies, a series of five scripture-writing journals, three non-fiction books, and has a fiction work in progress. She loves drinking coffee with friends, adventuring with her grandkids, and traveling to exotic places.
 
Roseanna White:  is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing for WhiteFire Publishing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. 

David White: David J. White is a lover of stories, be they in the written word or on the screen. As the founder and publisher of the WhiteFire Publishing Group, he gets the chance to explore this love and lead authors and creatives into the challenge of getting them into the world.

Faith Colleen Weaver: lives in Carlisle, PA, with her husband and 4 cats. Her debut novel—a YA, fantasy, create-your-own-quest novel, Once Upon a Book—was released in November 2020 with a 2nd novel to be released in the spring of 2022. Appreciating choose-your-own-adventure books, Faith decided to write some for young adults & signed with Elk Lake Publishing for an open-ended series of these unique books. Faith enjoys reading, photographing nature, & mentoring teens.

Professional Critiques

This is a great opportunity to have your work evaluated by a published professional. You will receive a written evaluation of your manuscript plus a 30-minute private appointment to discuss ways to improve and/or market your piece.

Register for MCWC by June 1st and request guidelines for emailing your manuscript.  $40.00 per critique.
 

Other Opportunities

WORK-iN-PROGRESS

MORNING FOUR-SESSION WORK-IN-PROGRESS: Songwriting Seminar with Zach and Leah Peterson  $40 (Limit: 8 conferees)

AFTERNOON FOUR-SESSION WORK-IN-PROGRESS: Fantasy – For teens and young adults! Create your own Book: An Interactive Writing Adventure with Cathy Mayfield/ Faith Weaver $20 (No limit on conferees)

PRIVATE BLOGING LESSONS

Work one-on-one with social media consultant Don Catlett to start a blog or upgrade the one you have. Each 45-minute session $20.

EDITORIAL APPOINTMENTS

Private 15-minute appointments with editors and agents to show them your work, which may be suitable for their publications and/or to discuss ideas for stories. Sign-up sheets available at the conference. Bring professionally prepared manuscripts. Be sure to bring copies! No charge.

CRITIQUE GROUPS and GENRES of INTEREST GROUPS
Opportunity for feedback from other writers. No charge. Held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 4:30pm. 

Scholarships

Shirley Brinkerhoff Memorial Scholarship

$200 grant for tuition: Awarded to a writer actively striving to hone the craft of writing who’s not yet secured a publishing contract. Application below. 

General Scholarship

Help available according to need. For more information go to the About Montrose tab and click on scholarships.  

Register Here or pay your balance

Rates & REGISTRATION FORM