By Joseph Bentz

One of the benefits of attending a writers conference is receiving instruction in one-hour workshops that cover every imaginable aspect of the writing craft, from productivity strategies to marketing advice. However, some writers may be at a point in the planning or drafting of their book where they would also benefit from a longer class in which they receive not only instruction but also specific critique from an instructor and other writers who have read portions of their work ahead of the conference.

For those writers, the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference offers a creative and innovative five-hour practicum that combines hands-on feedback on your current non-fiction book project with teaching about issues such as what a first chapter needs to accomplish and which approaches will make your writing more persuasive. The practicum also addresses the next steps in the book process, such as writing the proposal and approaching editors and agents. Participants will also receive handouts and samples of book proposals, effective query letters, and other good writing examples.

I have taught this practicum at Blue Ridge and other conferences many times, and writers have made good progress on their manuscripts. Some writers have found these practicums a way to get “unstuck” in their writing, as they work their way through responses from an actual audience rather than reading their drafts only for themselves. Others have found these groups a way to hone and fine-tune their books before approaching editors and agents. Some writers have gone on to see these projects published. The groups have also formed a sense of community that often outlasts the conference, as writers stay in touch with each other and with me as their work on their books continues.

This class is limited to 10 participants, and some of the spots are already filled If you are interested in joining the group, please email me at jbentz@apu.edu. By May 1st, participants must submit 10-12 double-spaced pages of their manuscript, along with a 1-2 page overview of their project The work-in-progress may be in various stages, from fragments to a completed draft. Writers in this workshop will also receive submissions of the other participants, which they will be expected to critique ahead of the conference. Once you sign up, I will send more details about how the practicum will be conducted. About half the time in class will be spent in instruction and the other half going over critiques that have been done before the conference.

Joseph Bentz is published in both fiction and non-fiction, with four novels and five non-fiction books. His most recent book, Nothing is Wasted, was published in 2016 by Beacon Hill Press. His novel Dreams of Caladria was published by Enclave in 2015. He is currently at work on a book about passages of Scripture that have changed the world. He is a professor of English at Azusa Pacific University in Southern California, where he teaches courses in writing and American literature. His blog, Life of the Mind and Soul, can be found at www.josephbentz.com. He frequently teaches at writers conferences and also speaks at churches, professional conferences, and other venues around the country.