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American Christian Fiction
Writers (ACFW) is a fairly but fast growing group of authors and
industry professionals. What? You knew that? You knew we had over 1700
members and are still growing? Huh. Well what will I tell you then?
Ah. You are still wondering what
the buzz is about the contests we sponsor. The contests rules and
information confuse you? Let’s see if we can help clarify who the BOTY
and Genesis contests are for, what they mean to you, and how you can
take part.
We offer two overall
opportunities for authors with several categories in each, based on
genre. The BOTY is an acronym for Book of the Year. This is a contest
specifically for the published author. The Genesis contest is for the
unpublished author. (Think the beginning of your career, hence,
Genesis.) Each contest is listed on the ACFW Web site with the entry
rules and deadlines, as well as the cost to enter. (Please see www.acfw.com for more
details.)
The very small fee is to offset
costs of running the contest. These are not vanity contests to be a
huge income for anyone or some get-rich scheme. The point of these
opportunities is to help grow careers and award excellence in Christian
fiction. They both take immense volunteer effort to coordinate and
officiate. But participation in either the Book of the Year or the
Genesis contest is a benefit for an ACFW member.
Why?
Because of ACFW’s Mission
Statement and our purpose for existing: To encourage writers
of Christian fiction, to develop their skills, to educate them in the
market, and to be a fellowship for writers of like interests.
So now you’re thinking, “Hmm, I
might like to get involved, but I don’t know if I qualify.” And
secretly some are saying, “I’m scared, but I really dream of being
published someday. I wish I had the courage to enter. What if I’m not
good enough?”
Great, you are on the right
track. Remember our mission statement? To encourage, to develop, to
educate and to be a fellowship . . . How can we do that without your
participation?
Head on over to www.acfw.com and take a
peek at the Book of the Year and the Genesis contests information. I’ll
bet you will find the right one for you to help spur your writing on to
greater heights. If you are still confused about which genre or if you
qualify, e-mail the contest coordinator and ask questions. (The contact
information is in the guidelines to make it easy.) Not only will you
get great answers, but professional and courteous responses as well.
Have you thought of entering
either contest? If not, why not?
A dream only has a chance of becoming a reality when we dare to act. Do
you dare?
A fun tidbit and new
endeavor from your operating board in 2009: Four of your officers will
be teaching week classes on our ACFW Course Loop. Here’s the lineup.
July’s
schedule:
1st week: Cheryl Wyatt—Plotstorming
(character-driven brainstorming
method)
2nd week: Pam Meyers—Deep Point of View
3rd week: Angie Breidenbach—Overcoming Your Pirates
(negatives that
hold you back from your goals)
4th week: Margaret Daley—Using the Five Love
Languages to Enrich Your
Stories
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