Writing conference on the horizon in Canby

Six Oregon authors are among the 20 faculty members gearing up to inspire writers at the 2024 Cascade Christian Writers Conference June 23-26 at the Canby Grove Christian Center.

The Sunday through Wednesday conference features five in-depth morning coaching classes on how to get published, writing a spiritual memoir, creative thievery, and learning from published authors about the pitfalls and successes encountered on their writing journeys. The conference also offers a selection of two dozen workshops.

In his coaching class, “Writing Your Spiritual Memoir,” Jason Hague, associate pastor of Christ’s Center Church in Junction City and author of “Aching Joy: Following God through the Land of Unanswered Prayer,” will discuss the difference between autobiography and memoir, the components of a good memoir, and why so many fall flat.

Amy Earls, a college advisor from Corvallis, will team up with Taylor Bennett, an author from Roseburg, to teach a coaching class on “Creative Thievery.” They’ll discuss how to create something fresh, new, and eye-catching by tapping into the techniques of their favorite authors. Bennett also will teach a workshop on “Viral-Level Branding.”

Melanie Dobson of Sherwood, author of nearly 30 novels and five-time winner of the Carol Award, will teach two workshops - “Brick by Brick: How to Build Your Story” and “First Five Pages: Strategies for Critiquing a Novel Manuscript.”

Author and literary agent Nick Harrison of Eugene will teach a workshop on “Troubleshooting Your Unsold Novel” and meet with writers interested in representation by WordServe Literary. He is the author of more than a dozen books and worked as a bookstore manager and acquisitions editor for Harvest House.

Morgan Busse of Salem, a three-time Christy Award finalist and winner of the INSPY, Carol, and Realm Award for best in Christian speculative fiction, will teach a workshop on the “Elements of Fantasy.”

Keynoting the conference are Becky Wade, a Christy and Carol award-winning author of 11 contemporary romances, and Rachel Dodge, an award-winning author of devotional books.

Writers can sign up to meet one on one with agents and acquisition editors. Each writer also can meet for 15 minutes with a mentor, an established fiction or nonfiction writer who can offer writing or career advice and encouragement.

For more information and to register for the Cascade Christian Writers Conference, visit https://cascadechristianwriters.org/events/cascade-conference/