Wordsowers Christian Writers Group

A multi-published author, Dr. Craig von Buseck is the Editor of Content for the website of Inspiration Ministries. Craig has extensive speaking experience, traveling often to conferences, professional events, churches, and writer training meetings. Craig served for twelve years as Ministries Director and Programming Director for CBN.com, one of the world’s most popular Christian websites. He also served for more than ten years on the Executive Board of the Internet Evangelism Coalition (IEC). Craig is a contributing writer for CBN.com, ChristianPost.com, MTL Magazine, and Charisma Magazine.

Craig is our keynote speaker. He will also be teaching ABC’s for Beginning Writers as well as Adapting a Book to a Screenplay. Visit the workshops page for more information.

Do you set goals for the new year? I typically revise and rework goals at the beginning of each year rather than set new goals and constantly have several projects in various stages of development.

Who influenced you most in your life? One of my biggest influences, my father, always made it clear that he believed in me and that I had the abilities to fulfill God’s plan for my life. A  world-class portrait painter, one day he told me why he chose art as his profession. “Craig,” he said, “if they took my oils away I’d use acrylics. If they took away my acrylics I’d use watercolors. If they took my watercolors I’d use a pencil. If they took away my pencil I’d grab a stick and doodle in the dirt. You see, I’m not an artist because that’s what I do. I’m an artist because that is who I am.”

How do you deal with ‘writer’s block?” I recognize that it doesn’t exist. Would you go to your accountant and ask him or her how they deal with ‘accounting block’? Of course not. The concept of ‘writer’s block’ is just as ridiculous. //The way to deal with the problem of difficulty in writing a story, or a book, or a screenplay is to work the problem until you find a solution. The accountant who is missing some figure will work on that dilemma until they find the answer to the problem. It is the same for a writer. Anything less is simply laziness. //Writing is work. When an obstacle reveals itself you push through until you overcome. There are days when I am more ‘inspired’ as a writer, just as there are good days for your average accountant. But every day is a work day — inspired or not. //My writing mentor said: “If you write one page per day, by the end of the year you will have a 365-page book.” Do the work – and work through the problems as they arise. Inspiration will come.

All of us have faced rejection, how do you deal with it? I was rejected numerous times for my book “Nobody Knows: The Harry T. Burleigh Story.” One acquisitions editor wrote that I didn’t understand the genre. That hurt, but it also opened my eyes. //I was often invited to writers conferences to teach on how to write articles for the web. Conference leaders often allow faculty to attend classes as the schedule allows and I typically sat in on fiction classes. I took copious notes and tried to buy the books that the teachers recommended. I read and studied those books when I went home and saw that the editor who rejected my Burleigh book was right. I rewrote the story based on what I learned about the genre. In 2013 Baker Books acquired it. //Being rejected is difficult, but how we respond to that rejection is what matters in the long run — will the rejection make us bitter or better? The key is to never give up and to keep working on your passion projects until you succeed.  

Visit Craig’s website to discover more about what he does and what he writes.

Alex Marestaing’s passion lies in encouraging believers to rethink the way they engage with secular culture.  As a writer, he’s worked on creative projects for The Walt Disney Company, Lego, Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins and The Los Angeles Times.

In addition, he’s written freelance for various faith-based publications and has covered soccer in Europe and the U.S. for Sports Spectrum Magazine and Yanks Abroad. Alex’s novels have earned him an honorable mention at the London Book Festival and an EPIC Award nomination. Alex speaks to audiences about faith and the creative process throughout the U.S.A, Europe, and Australia.

Alex will be teaching the workshop Writing Beyond the Church Parking Lot and sharing a Special presentation for all attendees: Outside Voices. Visit the workshop page to learn more. 

We asked Alex a few questions to help you get to know him a bit.

Who influenced you most in your life? My mother and oldest sister were the  biggest creative influences in my life. They valued creativity, and that made me feel as if my creative endeavors mattered and were worthy to pursue. The world doesn’t always value art, like writing, and to have encouragers like my mom and sister was a gift. They’re both gone now, but their support growing up has definitely stayed with me.

What is your favorite hobby? How does it help or influence your writing? Last year I started a podcast called The Stories Tour, where I interview people of faith making a difference in the mainstream creative market. Talking to directors, screenwriters, and authors who have made a cultural impact has been so fun and enlightening that I guess I would say it’s become one of my favorite hobbies. The podcast started as part of the marketing plan for a book I was writing called Outside Voices, but now it’s become far more than just an add-on to a book. It’s become a creative outlet and ministry tool independent of my writing.

All of us have faced rejection, how do you (did you) deal with it at the time and now that you look back upon it? Pursue writing seriously, and rejection will come. It’s pretty much guaranteed. How you cope with that rejection is what matters. When I get rejections, I’m disappointed at first. But over time, that disappointment always goes away, and I tend to learn from them. Sometimes rejection is a sign that I need to dust myself off and walk away from an idea. Other times it’s a call to change.  Tenacity is of course important, but if I’m simply being tenacious and not evolving as a writer, not listening to why a manuscript was rejected, not changing, then I’m not being smart. And in order to make it in any creative field, one needs to act creatively…and intelligently.

Do you have anything posted around your writing desk–a reminder of why you sit at a computer for hours on end? I have a Donald Duck toy on my writing desk. That toy reminds me of my first writing job for Disney. The job was a total miracle and was the foundation for the rest of my writing and speaking career. Donald Duck reminds me that risks pay off, that the unexpected can happen, and that God can open impossible doors.

Do you have a favorite scripture, if so, how has it helped you? Proverbs 3:6 – In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight. (NIV) I love this verse because it reminds me that I can take risks and move out on my creative endeavors, even if I’m not one hundred percent sure that they will work. If I’m praying, seeking wisdom from God, and getting counsel from those I trust, I can move out in the assurance that even if my path isn’t perfect,  God is going to make my paths straight.

Visit Alex’s website, The Stories Tour, to learn more about Alex and what he does.