Thursday Sept. 28, 2023, 7:00-8:30 pm CST

This will be a hybrid meeting, one with a Zoom option for those who can’t attend in person.

With twenty-plus years in the publishing industry, editor and author Lee Warren shares his unique insights into what not to do when submitting a manuscript to an editor. Lee published traditionally before choosing to become an indie author. He has edited for publishers, newspapers and websites. In this workshop, you’ll glean information that will enhance your publishing knowledge and strengthen your work so your editor can focus more on your content to make it shine.

Connect with Lee at:
Email: leewarrenjr@outlook.com

Website: www.leewarren.books

Twitter: www.twitter.com/leewarren

Facebook: www.facebook.com/leewarrenauthor

Are you interested in slowing down and living deeper? Subscribe to Lee’s weekly email newsletter. He’d love to connect with you there.

This month, please join us at
Omaha Christian Center
4215 N. 92nd Avenue
Omaha, NE 68134

Important: Park in the north parking lot (lower lot) off of 92nd & Taylor. Follow the signs to the Wordsowers meeting room.
(From the north lot there are only three steps to traverse.)

Please join our private FB group if you would like to be a part of this meeting.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/261653995038722/

We meet the 4th Thursday of the month from 7:00-8:30 pm.

We welcome you to explore our Facebook page.

Please join us as Wordsowers favorite, author and editor Lee Warren, shares his expertise.

Are you ready to get serious about establishing a writing routine? National Novel Writing Month starts November 1. It’s the perfect time to fast draft the manuscript you’ve been thinking about. Yes, you can write a first draft in thirty days, even with a day job or other responsibilities. During this month’s meeting we will talk about the mindset you will need to pull it off, then we will get practical.

Award winning author Lee Warren has written 19 books and hundreds of articles for various newspapers, magazines and websites. He’s also a contract editor for Barbour Publishing and Electric Moon Publishing, and is on staff with The Christian Communicator manuscript critique service.

Lee has taught at the Florida Christian Writers Conference, the Glorieta Christians Writers Conference, the CLASSeminars Christian Writers Conference, the Heart of America Christian Writers Conference, the Write-to-Publish Christian Writers Conference, the Nebraska Writers Guild Conference and the Wordsowers Christian Writers Conference. Lee also served on the Wordsowers leadership committee for an extended period, and continues to be an invaluable resource for the group.

Get a jump on your writing with Lee’s superlative resource, Write That Book in 30 Days.
https://www.amazon.com/Write-That-Book-Days-Inspirational-ebook/dp/B0165NETNE

Please note: October wraps up our monthly Zoom meetings for 2022. We’ll take our normal November/December holiday break so members can enjoy time with family, friends, and most important–with the Lord. We hope to see you for the last Wordsowers meeting of 2022, October 27th at 7:00 pm CST!

Please join our private FB group if you would like to be a part of this informative meeting.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/261653995038722/

We meet online on the 4th Thursday of the month from 7:00-8:00pm CST. For the health and safety of our Wordsowers family we’ll continue meeting on Zoom while reevaluating when we can resume in-person meetings in 2023.

We welcome you to explore our Facebook page.

If you’re interested in indie publishing (a form of self publishing) but believe you can’t afford it, this Wordsowers meeting is for you.

Author/editor Lee Warren will provide the information you need to take control of your publishing career without busting your budget.

Lee has twenty years experience in the Christian publishing industry, both traditional and indie publishing, and has taught at writers conferences throughout the US.
He has written eighteen books and hundreds of articles for various magazines, newspapers, and websites, including Decision, Discipleship Journal, Light & Life, War Cry, Christian Single, Bible Study Magazine, CBN.com, Today’s Christian, Breakaway, Clubhouse, Living Light News and many others.

Please join us for an enlightening evening on Thursday Sept. 26, 2019.

After the meeting we’ll gather for our relaxed Afterglow chat session at Village Inn, 7837 Dodge St.

We meet the fourth Thursday of the month
6:00-7:45pm at the W. Clarke Swanson Library.

The meeting room is on the basement level. Park on the east side of the building and walk into the lower door.

With over 20 years in the business, Lee Warren has written 17 books and hundreds of articles for various newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently writes for “The Pathway” newspaper in Missouri, “Living Light News” in Canada, and ChristianExaminer.com

This award-winning writer is also a contract editor for E-Moon Publishing and Bold Vision Books, and is on staff with The Christian Communicator manuscript critique service. He is a certified CLASSeminars trainer, and has taught at Christian Writers Conferences throughout the United States.

Lee will be teaching the workshops Beyond ABC’s (Friday night), Understand Your Publishing Options and The Nuts and Bolts of Indie Publishing. Visit the workshop page to learn more.

We asked Lee a few questions to help you get to know him better.

Do you set goals for the new year? If so, does it help you produce more? I set goals and I set up systems to achieve them. Without a system (an actual plan), goals are just hopes. /This year, I’ve set a walking goal of 8,000 steps per day. My system for achieving this is to walk 2,000 steps before work, 4,000 steps after lunch (usually on a treadmill at the gym), and 2,000 steps at night./I’ve also set a reading goal of 30 minutes per day. My system for that is to listen to audio books while I walk, usually at the gym. And then to read on my Kindle app before I fall asleep each night./I track both goals with an app on my phone called Persistence. One glance tells me whether or not I’m staying on track for the year.

Who influenced you most in your life…what/how/why?My grandfather Ed on my dad’s side of the family./My parents divorced when I was eight years old. My dad wasn’t in the picture a lot in the first few years afterward, but Grandpa Ed stepped into the gap. He took me fishing and for walks in the woods. We piddled around in his workshop. And he taught me how to shoot a BB gun (after I passed his stringent safety exam). But more than all of that, he was a quiet, faithful presence in my life – showing up to fix things around our house, slipping my mother money when she needed it and always being available to talk./Recently, one of my family members told another family member that I’m like Grandpa Ed. If that’s true, it’s because of him.

What is your favorite part of a writing conference?Making genuine connections./I taught a class at a conference last summer in which someone asked me how to stick to a consistent writing schedule, especially since she has a family. She wanted to help her family understand that her writing time was important. I told her they will only come to such an understanding if she protects her writing time. Not that she should neglect anybody, of course, but her words matter. And when she protects the time it takes to produce them, like she would protect her devotional time, then her family will see how important her writing time is and begin to take it seriously, too. I think we both had tears in our eyes after that conversation.

Visit Lee on his website to learn more about what he writes and his editing services.

As a writer who is a Christian, you long for your words to have lasting value. That certainly could happen with a book deal or an article that goes around the world. But what about preserving your family’s faith history so it lives on for generations to come? In this workshop, we’ll walk through practical ways to write and record your family’s faith history so you can leave behind one of the most important pieces of work you’ll ever do.

Please join us as workshop leader Lee Warren shares his insights. Lee has twenty years experience in the Christian publishing industry, both traditional and indie publishing, and has taught at writers conferences throughout the US.

He has written eighteen books and hundreds of articles for various magazines, newspapers, and websites, including Decision, Discipleship Journal, Light & Life, War Cry, Christian Single, Bible Study Magazine, CBN.com, Today’s Christian, Breakaway, Clubhouse, Living Light News and many others.

After the meeting we’ll gather for our relaxed Afterglow chat session at Village Inn, 7837 Dodge St.

We meet the fourth Thursday of the month
6:00-7:45pm at the W. Clarke Swanson Library.

The meeting room is on the basement level. Park on the east side of the building and walk into the lower door.

Award-Winning Author and Editor

LEE WARREN

Returns for Wordsowers 2018!

Lee Warren writes contemplative essay and devotional books. His essays remind you to slow down and enjoy the present moment because we’re only here for a little while. Readers say his essays are vulnerable, open, honest, engaging, insightful and thought-provoking.

His devotional books provide practical, story-driven devotional material you can use every morning to get your private worship started right. Readers call his devotional books encouraging, inspiring and thoughtful.

When Lee isn’t writing essays or devotional material, he is a freelance journalist who has written hundreds of articles for various newspapers and magazines. He’s also a fan of NASCAR, baseball, tennis, books, movies and coffee shops.

With 20 years in the publishing world, Lee published traditionally before choosing to become an indie author. He has edited for book publishers, newspapers and websites/blogs. Check out his website at http://www.leewarren.info.

If you were at a book event and someone asked you, “Why do you write?” what would you say? I write for a number of reasons.

I write because others have written and their writing has meant so much to me. “The Chronicles of Narnia” helped me understand the faith in childlike ways. Elisabeth Elliot’s books cemented my understanding of sacrifice and giving myself away. Donald Miller’s books have challenged my theology. On and on it goes. I can only hope my writing spurs others on in a similar fashion.

Writing also helps me to process. I don’t always have clarity of thought about something until I’ve had time to write about it. And as I revise my manuscript, my thinking becomes clearer.

Share a tidbit that has helped you in writing and/or marketing. I would say understanding the importance of listening to experts with one ear. They are experts for a reason, but that doesn’t mean they necessarily know what’s right for me. Just because they view the publishing world one way doesn’t mean I need to hold a similar view. I don’t know how many times traditional publishers told me female readers aren’t likely to trust a male author who writes female protagonists. I’m glad that Nicolas Sparks, Charles Martin, Travis Thrasher, Dan Walsh, and so many others didn’t let that stop them from writing such fiction the way it did me.

Do you ever struggle with writer’s block and if so, how do you overcome? I started as a journalist, so writer’s block wasn’t allowed. You had a deadline and you met it. As I branched out and began writing both nonfiction and fiction books, I always had a deadline, regardless of whether a publisher assigned one to me or I assigned one to myself. I create an editorial calendar before a project begins and I stick to it.

Creatively, I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer (as far as fiction is concerned). I never have any idea where the story is headed or how I’ll resolve the conflict. I just dive into character and work through their issues with them. Sometimes, I write myself into a corner, or the story is just a mess, but that’s what the revision process is for. By the time I finish the second draft, I have a good grasp of my characters and am able to revise accordingly for subsequent drafts.

Lee returns to lead our Friday night session “Beyond the ABC’s. Workshop for Experienced Writers.”

Please note: The Feb. 2018 Wordsowers meeting was cancelled due to icy conditions. Because of the high number of requests for Lee’s workshop, he will present his material at our March 2018 gathering.

With twenty years in the publishing industry, editor and author Lee Warren shares his unique insights into the dos and don’ts when working with an editor.
Lee published traditionally before choosing to become an indie author. He has edited for book publishers, newspapers and websites/blogs.
In this workshop, you’ll glean information that will enhance your publishing knowledge and strengthen your work.

Please feel free to bring a snack and beverage if you choose. This meeting is open to all.

After the meeting we’ll gather for our relaxed Afterglow chat session at Village Inn, 7837 Dodge St.

We meet the fourth Thursday of the month
6:00-7:45pm at the W. Clarke Swanson Library.

The meeting room is on the basement level. Park on the east side of the building and walk into the lower door.

Meet Lee Warren, a workshop leader for Wordsowers Christian Writers Conference.

Lee Warren writes contemplative essay and devotional books.

His essays remind you to slow down and enjoy the present moment because we’re only here for a little while. Readers say his essays are vulnerable, open, honest, engaging, insightful and thought-provoking.

What would you like conference attendees to know about you? Maybe something that would help them feel comfortable approaching you. My first article was published seventeen years ago, but I still make mistakes. I tend to focus too much on tactics and not enough on strategy. I waited way too long to develop a business model. Some of my books have done well, while others have flopped. Sometimes, I focus too much on marketing and not enough on writing. I’m slow to change.

We’re all works in progress and we all had to start somewhere. We can learn from each other. So, let’s sit down and talk at the conference. I’m looking forward to meeting you.

What do you see as the greatest take away from your workshop and why? Who will get the most out of your workshop? “Writing as a Business – Creating a Plan” will help writers make good decisions about four specific areas of their business: business model, product development, finances, and editorial schedule.

We’ll discuss choosing one of three business models, the ideal creation space (philosophically speaking) for product development, bootstrapping as a new author, and how to develop an editorial schedule so you can stay on pace with product development.

Writers who are ready to treat their work as a business would benefit most from this workshop. Even experienced writers will pick up some great tips and maybe gain a bit of clarity for their vision.

If you could share only one piece of information/tip/encouragement with a writer, what would it be? Plan before you write. It’ll save you a ton of time on the back end.

If you are writing fiction, which genre will your book fall into? What is the typical word count for novels in your genre? What is the most used point of view most in your genre? What are the genre tropes you need to include in your novel?

If you are writing nonfiction, how many words is the typical nonfiction book in your genre? What type of tone is common in your genre?

If you are going indie, what types of book covers are doing well in the top 100 bestsellers of your genre? Are there any color schemes that seem to be used over and over again? Do most of the top selling covers use stock photos, or do they use vector images, or something else?

If you are writing articles for magazines, newspapers, or websites, have you read the writers guidelines to learn the word count or to determine what the publication needs as far as topics are concerned?

If you are writing devotions, which layout does the publication you are targeting use? The standard layout is Bible verse, illustration, explanation, application. But some publications want the Bible verse at the end. Others want the explanation before the illustration.

Do your homework ahead of time by reading the writers guidelines and sample copies (or by reading the top books in your genre) so you won’t be paralyzed by the fear of the unknown when it comes time to write.

Connect with Lee: Facebook Website Twitter

If you are looking for help in writing a devotional book, Lee has written “Write That Devotional Book: From Dream to Reality.” You’ll learn about all of the key components of a devotion, how to structure a devotion, how to map out your book, and how to target a specific audience. This resource even includes a couple of sample devotions in the back, broken down by section. You can find out more about the book on Lee’s website.

Get your copy on Amazon

Author/Editor Lee Warren shares, “Why Genre Matters.”

Readers have certain expectations when they buy books.
Romance readers expect a HEA (happily ever after).
Readers of women’s fiction expect strong female protagonists.
Memoir readers expect the author to be vulnerable, while devotional or how-to book readers expect insight.
If you don’t meet genre/reader expectations, your manuscript will be met with resistance. Join us to learn more about genres so you can determine which ones to target with your own writing, and, ultimately, satisfy your readers.

March 23, 2017, 6PM @ Swanson Library, 90th & Dodge, Omaha

The meeting room is on the basement level. Park on the east side of the building and walk into the lower door.

After the meeting, we’ll gather for our informal Afterglow chat session at Village Inn, 7837 Dodge Street.

Platform building includes meeting people face to face instead of simply on Facebook.

So earlier this year I slithered from the confines of my office and emerged into the real world. AKA, the one I don’t create on my computer.

Along with 100 other authors, I’d signed up for the Omaha Public Library’s Author Fair.

On the way there I pictured writers bashing each other in an All Star Wrestling free-for-all to snag readers.

Instead I met fabulous people and learned from their techniques.

Rather than a cage match slam-down, I found a tag-team situation…with everyone on the same team.

Angela D. Meyer, Where Hope Starts author, helped me arrange my table area.

By “helped” I mean she reconfigured my haphazard pile of books, sign-up sheets, and related items into an attractive, cohesive display.

I learned: Eliminate my bulky book stand and work my items into a semi-circular shape to make the most of limited space.

Lee Warren spent the afternoon sharing tips he’d learned in his years as a multi-published author and editor.

I learned: Offer an incentive to invite people who are interested in my message to sign up for my blog or newsletter. Collecting a long list of address from people who’ll never open my emails is counterproductive.

Author Brook Williams wore a T-shirt displaying a link to her website and the cover of her newest book, Accept This Dandelion.

I emailed her later to admit, “Oh my goodness. I just now realized you’re the one who wrote, Right Place, Wrong Time.”

I learned: Promote your book in unique ways.

Jennifer Slattery lured people to her table with snack-sized chocolate bars. People took the bait and signed up for her blog.

But Jennifer had bigger fish to fry.

She shared about Taking’ it to the Streets ministry, serving the unemployed and underemployed.

I learned: Use your platform to help others.

After enjoying Kim Stokely’s novel, Winter Trees, I couldn’t wait to read Woman Of Flames.

Clever Kim used a tall pole stand to display her book banners.

I learned: Buy poles and banners at places like Vistaprint. Check the pole’s weight, and also see if they’re collapsible for airplane travel.

It’s a family affair, as Kim’s niece, Rebecca Grous brought her own novel The Determining.

Rebecca said she’s uncomfortable with public acclaim. She’d rather remain in the background than the limelight.

I learned: Push past reticence to come out of my comfort zone.

What about meeting the public? Isn’t that why I went?
Absolutely.

I connected with readers.
People signed up for my blog.
I had a great time chatting with a multitude of folks.

What about you?

You’re the main event in your own Author-mania ring.

Is something holding you on the ropes? Are you feeling frustrated, ready to tap out?

Don’t give up. Push past those barriers,

and emerge a champion.

We’ll cheer you on with more enthusiasm than Hulk Hogan making a come-back.

Is your writing stuck in a hammer lock? Our free monthly newsletter will get it off the mat. Sign up is easy–the button is on the right side of this page, near the top.

My daddy’s parents came to the US from Mexico in 1908. They worked hard, studied hard, and became US citizens. Their descendants went on to become professionals, holding prestigious jobs in business and government. But it took my Tia Gracia, my Aunt Grace, decades to pass her citizenship test. She was almost 100 years old when she became a US citizen.

In my writer’s group some people are more prolific. They can finish a month’s worth of content while I’m constructing my first draft.

Courtesy of AKARAKINGDOMS @ freeigitalphotos.net.

It’s like watching Speedy Gonzales zip by, leaving me in a cloud of dust…and discouragement.

Anybody else been there? Feeling intimidated? Like you’re not as good?

We have two options:

A) Make excuses for why they’re so much better.

B) Ask them for tips, and apply what we learn.

Hint: option B produces the best results. However, if you choose option A, bring a box of chocolates to my house and we’ll host a pity party together.

Here are a few ideas to help push through:

1) Identify the problem. Ask yourself, “What’s making this so difficult? Lack of resources? Lack of time? Fear of failure? Confusion? Vampire bats gnawing on your ankles? Once you define the hold-up…

2) Reach out for the solution. Use your life lines: Mentors, writer’s group, google, self-help books, and genies in lamps.

3) Address the priority items. Connecting with fans on your author’s Facebook page is great, but do it after you finish the guest blog due tomorrow.

4) Drown out distractions. Ignore email, the ringing phone, tweets, and the circus performers jumping through flaming hoops on your front lawn.

To stay on track ask,

“Is what I’m doing moving me toward my goal, or away from it?”

If you’ve hit a plateau, go back to number one to determine the hold-up.

If you’re moving forward, please stop beating yourself up.

Comparing ourselves to others is a sure way to lose heart, lose focus, and lose momentum.

My aunt Grace could have said, “I’m an old lady. It’s too hard to become a citizen now.” But she didn’t give up, and neither should we.

courtesy of digitalart @freedigitalphotos.net

We might not be a Speedy Gonzales, but remember, the tortoise still won the race against the hare.

Now on to

Jeanie’s Super-Secret Newbie No-No’s

Photo courtesy of graur razvan ionut @ freedigitalphotos.net

To recap what we’ve learned so far:

Week 1- Exclamation marks scream, “Newbie!”

Week 2- Annihilate Adverbs.

Week 3- Eradicate empty words. Really just skip them. I’m very serious.

Week 4- Use “Invisible” Words: said, ask, answer, and reply.

Week 5- Run off Run-On Sentences

Week 6- Clear out Clichés

Week 7- Pass on Passive Voice

This week-

Eliminate Empty Adjectives.

Mark Twain wrote, “When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don’t mean utterly, but kill most of them–then the rest will be valuable. They weaken when they are close together. They give strength when they are far apart.”When editor Lee Warren critiqued the first chapter of my novel, he explained the weakness of empty adjectives. And used up an entire ink cartridge highlighting mine.

“Big” is imprecise. How big? The size of a bus? A skyscraper? A planet?

Lee noted there’s nothing special about a “blue car.” (Although an orange one might be interesting enough to pass inspection.)

Most new writers don’t realize that editors love sharp, concise writing. When they see fluffy modifiers they send Mark Twain’s ghost to scare the empty adjectives out of your submission. Since ghost writers can cost a fortune, take all the big, pretty adjectives out yourself.

Since we all need to move forward, my Current Lofty Goal (AKA something I need to do, but tend to put off) Finish out NaNoWriMo, writing a 50,000 word novel during the month of November.

What challenges do you face in your writing life? We at Wordsowers want to help. Connect with us here or on our Facebook page.

Great news: sign up for our free monthly newsletter to get help delivered straight to your inbox. It’s easy–the button is on the right side of this page, near the top.

Before the WordSowers 2014 conference in March, we posted an interview with Lee Warren, our workshop presenter for this Thursday, April 10. Take time to read the first interview and you’ll know Lee even better.

Lionhearted Kat: In the last interview you said by attending the HACWN conferences in KC you “…ended up building a relationship with an editor I met at one of those quarterly conferences and I still write for him to this day, even though he has changed publications.” We have many authors writing books. Do you recommend beginning with writing articles, a book, or building relationships?

Lee: Every writer’s journey is different, but I don’t think these three options are necessarily mutually exclusive. At the very least, writers need to be involved in building relationships while also working on articles or a book.

I started by writing articles. I landed an on online singles column with Christianity Today long before most people were online. But not much grew out of that experience because I wasn’t building relationships with other editors. I don’t even know I was supposed to, but when I received a flyer for the HACWN conference, it sparked an interest in me to know more about the publishing industry, so I attended it.

At that conference, I met the editor for Decision Magazine (published by Billy Graham’s ministry) and began to build a working relationship with him. Two years later, he published my first article.

Meeting with editors and publishers at a writers conference–photo by Kat

Later that same month, I met the editor of Sharing the VICTORY Magazine (published by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes) at an HACWN quarterly conference. He’s the editor you mentioned in your question. After writing eight or nine articles for him there, he went to another publication and when he needed freelancers, he asked me to join his stable. I’ve probably written forty or fifty articles for that publication, and I continue to write for it.

Writing articles helped to build my creditability, both as a sportswriter and a journalist. As I met more editors at conferences and mentioned my article writing experience, they were open to talking to me about book ideas. My NASCAR book, Racin’ Flat Out for Christ stemmed from one such conversation with an editor.

In my case, books flowed out of articles and relationship building.

Lee Warren has more to share–on the interview page (for the rest of the story.)

Lionhearted Kat: The April workshop info is found below. See you Thursday.

April 10, 2014—Lee Warren presents: Navigating the Self-Publishing Maze
Two major shifts are occurring in the publishing world right now. Large traditional publishers are narrowing their pool of authors in favor of authors with large platforms. And at the same time, the price to self-publish is dropping dramatically as many options abound. In this informal workshop we will talk about the self-publishing process, whether or not you need to hire an editor or cover designer, and we’ll examine a number of low cost (or even free) self-publishing options.

Lee Warren is a founding member of WordSowers. He has written six books and hundreds of articles for various magazines, newspapers, and websites. He critiques manuscripts for The Christian Communicator Service, on-staff with CLASSeminars and owns Christian Manuscript Editing Services. Follow Lee

Interview by the Lionhearted Kat

Wordsowers Christian Writers Group

Inspiring Christian writers to grow, connect, and thrive in their craft.

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We asked Lee a few questions to help you get to know him better.

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Award-Winning Author and Editor

LEE WARREN

Returns for Wordsowers 2018!

Lee returns to lead our Friday night session “Beyond the ABC’s. Workshop for Experienced Writers.”

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Jeanie’s Super-Secret Newbie No-No’s

Eliminate Empty Adjectives.

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We asked Lee a few questions to help you get to know him better.

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Award-Winning Author and Editor

LEE WARREN

Returns for Wordsowers 2018!

Lee returns to lead our Friday night session “Beyond the ABC’s. Workshop for Experienced Writers.”

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Jeanie’s Super-Secret Newbie No-No’s

Eliminate Empty Adjectives.

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