Photograph © Andrew Pieper, 2012 Those of you who know I often teach at writers conferences sometimes ask about this aspect of my work. So I decided to share an occasional post that contains an expanded description of one of my workshops.  This first one covers one of my most popular conference topics. I’ve taught this workshop at the Florida Christian Writers Conference and the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference. They’re both wonderful conferences and, as a special bonus, both have tracks for teen and adult writers. C.S. Lewis referred to it as “surprised by joy.” L.M. Montgomery’s character Emily of New Moon called it “the flash.” Whatever you call it, if you consider yourself a writer or writer wannabe, you’ve experienced it: the spark of insight and creativity that moves you to pick up your pen/laptop/tablet and respond in words.  That spark moves us to create. That spark causes us to respond to truth and beauty. And when we understand God created us with the ability and deep need to reflect His glory, that spark helps us persevere. As a nonfiction writer, how do you nurture that spark? How do you express it in a fresh, personal, integrity-filled way? I receive more questions about Creative Nonfiction than about any other aspect of my work as a writer and editor. I designed this workshop to answer some of those questions and to give a specific, faith-focused response to some of the issues (including truth) its popularity has prompted today. The workshop explores the source of our creativity and the factors that war against it; a biblical process for creative renewal; specific techniques to breathe life into your nonfiction; and four essential elements of this intriguing, inspiring genre. Someday, I’d love to have you share in this workshop. And prepare to fan the flame. Have you heard of creative nonfiction or written a piece that uses its techniques? Feel free to leave a comment and share about your work or ask a question....

Photograph  © Andrew Pieper, 2012  “Today marks one year of sobriety for me,” my friend wrote. “A year ago I could not imagine one day without a drink, let alone an entire year.” He wrote to give glory to God and to ask prayer for others who suffer from addiction. I know many, and I’m sure you do, too. For a few weeks, I’ve served as part of a small online prayer group that encourages a young mom who’s made the bold step to stop letting her addictions win. Her honest sharing about tearing down these idols has challenged me to look at the things I put above my relationship with Christ. Not long ago, I met another young friend at a conference. God has used her to speak and write about her victory over addiction. But in the swell of victory comes the temptation, once again, to defeat. And so I’m lifting all of these and more before Him today. Lord who is our Strong Tower, We know we can run to You and find safety. We can cling to You and find hope. We can hide in You and find rest. So I pray all these things for my friends battling addictions today. Yours is the name above all names. You tell us to place nothing and no one above You. You are a jealous God because You are an all-loving God. And like any parent, You long to see Your children walk in wholeness.   By Your power and grace, our most precious Father, we lay our idols down. We surrender our cravings for things of this world and ask You to replace them with holy desires and longings. Help us, God, to look not to a drink or a smoke or a pill or a powder, not to shopping or exercise or a slice with a razor blade but only and always to You. God, some of us don’t recognize our addictions. We’ve buried them in beauty. We’ve couched them in socially acceptable patterns. And when we haven’t done that, we’ve made excuses. We’ve lied. We’ve stolen. We’ve broken relationships. And we’ve wasted time, effort, and money on things that do not bring honor to You. Forgive us, Lord Jesus. Draw us near to You. Be our everything. Give us Your strength to walk away, to turn it down, and to reach out to others for help. Move in us that we might live in You. Smash the enemy’s temptations and don’t give him one ounce or inch of victory in our lives. Allow us, Lord Jesus, to run to You. Live in us as the true and only desire of our hearts. The power that raised...

  What do writers do? They write. On March 3, I returned home from teaching and serving as chaplain for the 2013 Florida Christian Writers Conference to a busy season of (you guessed it) writing. Now that I’ve finished two major assignments with several more ahead, I’m coming up to breathe long enough to share my Top Ten Perks of the Florida Christian Writers Conference. 10. Atmosphere:  One of our prayers going into this year’s FCWC was for its atmosphere. Conference founder Billie Wilson established a precious tradition of encouragement, worship, and gentle humor. This year, co-directors Eva Marie Everson and Mark Hancock carried that out in their own inimitable style. And the stylings of worship artist Rob Gorini of Nonparell fueled our artistic flames. 9. Scholarships: Author and friend to writers Cec Murphey donated scholarships to help writers of color attend this year’s event (thank you, Cec). And the conference itself gave nearly $15,000 worth of scholarship money to those who applied. Please remember this if you’d like to attend the conference but have concerns about the cost. 8. Contest and Awards Banquet: The 2013 FCWC writing contest had a fresh look. Writers submitted entries before the conference and were honored during a first-class awards banquet on the final evening.   7. Location, Location, Location: Central Florida in March seems like a warm breath of heaven for those from less temperate climates. And the Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center, with trees laden in Spanish moss and breathtaking views of the lake, makes for a matchless setting. 6. Bookstore and Photography: The easy-access conference bookstore offered many advantages including a flash drive of all workshop handouts. And the official conference photographer not only offered a CD of conference photos but also took headshots (a common author need) upon request. 5. Workshops and Continuing Classes: The conference offered nine continuing classes (including a fabulous workshop for teens) which met every morning, all taught by experienced professionals. In addition, conferees had their choice of sixty-plus workshops on topics ranging from social media to time management to finding your writing voice. 4. Keynotes and VIP Breakfasts: Industry experts Alton Gansky, Rachel Hauck, Steven James, Sally Stuart, and Dan Walsh shared their expertise through venues that included not only the traditional conference keynotes but VIP breakfasts each morning of the conference. 3. Expert Feedback: The FCWC provided ample opportunities for writers to meet with top agents, editors, and authors in fifteen-minute appointments or at more informal lunch and dinner meetings. For an extra fee, conferees also had the opportunity to submit their work for an advance critique by a faculty member of their choice. 2. Critique Groups: This unique element of the FCWC came about through...

I’m popping in today to invite you over to the Christian Authors Network  website for my interview with author Lynda T. Young. Her You Are Not Alone books for families of children with cancer, congenital heart defects, and autism sound wonderful, and I’m sure writers will benefit from her marketing wisdom, too....

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord. (Psalm 130:1)Photo © Andrew PIeper, 2012 Perhaps you know someone in a low place. It might be a place of depression, of dark emotions and unspoken words. It might be a place of humility, of coming down from the heights to valleys unseen and undesired. It might be a place of pain and unheard-of imaginings. It might be a place of low respect or ill repute. It might be a place of consequences. It might be a place of choice. It might be a place of regret. It might be a place of the past. It might be a place of the now. I offer today’s prayer for those, for whatever reason, find themselves there. Lord, I come to You with the real sense of Your greatness and my nothingness. I confess to You my weakness, my failure, my inability, my sin. I know I need Your power to lift me up. But Father, I also confess to You my feelings about this low place. Too often, I look on it with loathing. I long for the former or future things. I desire affirmation and exaltation. I crave kindness. I miss mercy. And sometimes, I search for a way to go higher and ignore your call to stay low. Lord, help me listen to You. Help me see the broken beauty that surrounds me. Help me stop seeking false roads toward the heights—or false heights to ascend. And help me learn the lessons of this low place. God, I’d love to move out of the depths, but only in Your time and Your way. Only when I’m ready to comfort others with the comfort You give me. Only at Your word and with Your anointing. Please, Jesus, give me the power You had to empty Yourself and take the form of a servant. Give me the power to stay low until such a time as You choose to raise me up. Give me the power to exalt You.  As You increase, allow me to decrease—all for Your glory, AMEN. Do you find yourself or someone you love in a low place? Share a prayer need in the comments below or in an email. I know about the low places, and I’d be honored to lift you...