Omega Writer's Conference 2019 - Registrations are Open!

Just to help you, this is the information you need to put on your calendar right now:

• Friday October 11^th: Arrive Omega Writers’ Conference
• Saturday October 12^th: Omega Writers’ Conference
• Sunday October 13^th:  Omega Writers’ Conference

And then you can click here to go to the Omega Writers website and find out all the finer details at your leisure.

Or maybe you haven’t even considered coming?

I get it. I really do. Life is so busy. Everything else is shouting for your attention. The cost of living has gone up. People can be draining. It just feels too hard.

But what if conference this year were to provide the refreshment you need? What if you were to make connections that change the path of your future? What if you were to re-connect with old friends and make new ones who will be your greatest encouragers? What if this conference, you hear something – even one thing – directly from God that gives you the strength you need to keep going? And what if you develop and grow in ways you never dreamed you could?

It’s not only possible. I would say it's guaranteed.

We understand how busy life is and we understand how hard it is to be a writer and faithfully use your gifts for God to make a difference in this world. That is why our theme this year is:

Find the words that change the world at Jesus’ feet

We want conference to be a chance for you to hear God’s still, small voice amidst the noise of the world.

We truly believe He has something special for you.

We understand that every Christian writer needs support, encouragement, training and pastoral care. We were never meant to go it alone. This conference is an opportunity for all these things. We have experienced writing professionals lined up, waiting to share their wealth of experience and knowledge with you. We have opportunities for you to meet with editors and publishers. We have chaplains available to support you and encourage you along the way. We have, fellowship and fun and so much more.

We cater for all writers at every stage of the journey whether multi-published, pre-published, and even those with no intention of ever being published. If you are a Christian and write (doesn't matter what you write) we want to see you there!

If finances are an issue, there is the option of a scholarship for new attendees. (More details to come.)

We are especially conscious of our first-time attendees and will ensure you do not feel alone or unsupported. You will be welcomed with open arms.

This year our special guest speaker is Steve Laube.

Steve is an American Christian Literary Agent, a veteran of the bookselling industry with nearly 40 years of experience.

If I can’t tempt you with any of the above, let me try with our BOOKSHOP!

It is well known that writers make the best readers just as readers make the best writers. So, we have a bookshop full of all the newest titles (and many of the old) from Australian Christian authors. Not only can you buy these books, you can have them personally signed by attending authors.

For those who are unsure what to expect, or who need reminding, we have a link on our website giving you further details, including travel options, accommodation and attendance options, what to do if you have special dietary needs, and much more: Omega Writer's Conference FAQ

There are so many more exciting things I want to tell you about the conference, but at past conferences I've learned valuable things like sticking to my word limit so I'll stop. For further details and all the other things I really want to tell you, go to our website.

Conference is from Friday 11^th October until Sunday 13^th October, 2019 at the Edmund Rice Retreat and Conference Centre, Mulgoa (Sydney).

Registrations are open NOW!

Click here to register.

Oh, and I think I might have mentioned we have a website.

And click here to visit our Facebook page.

Hope to see you there!

About Jenny Glazebrook

 Jenny Glazebrook writes inspirational Christian fiction. She grew up in the small town of Gundagai, Australia and after years living in other parts of Australia, she have recently returned with her husband Rob and four children, Micah, Merridy, Clarity and Amelia. They have added many pets to our family including two blue-tongue lizards, a cat, a goose, a budgie (parakeet), many chickens, a sheep who thinks she's a dog and a dog who thinks he's a sheepdog.

Find Jenny online at www.jennyglazebrook.com.

From a Whisper to a Shout

Omega Writers annual conference is fast approaching, and I want to encourage you to consider coming along. Being together with other writers is a huge encouragement in itself. Writers are a unique breed, having a creative personality, and always on the lookout for ways to make their communication more effective.

You MUST come if it is possible. We will have work-shopping streams for all forms of writing:

Fiction; non-fiction; young adult writing; children’s books; screenwriting and even a stream that will discuss marketing yourself and your work.

We will have publishers and editors available for appointment, and for pitching by appointment.

Alex Marestaing is back by popular demand, as our keynote speaker. Travelling from the USA, Alex gave an inspiring presentation last year, and we will feature him on more occasions this time around.

Please visit the website and have a look at the program. I hope you will join us. You will find details on the website on how to book your place. There are various options including several billeting options for those on a tighter budget.

This year, the conference is being held in the beautiful city of Adelaide (and I might be a bit biased, as that is my home state). We will be situated at The Monastery Conference centre at the base of the Adelaide Hills. Once again, visit the website for all details.

Here is an excerpt from a recent radio interview I did with Adelaide’s Life 1079 radio station.

On another note, we will be holding our Omega Writers’ Annual General Meeting on Friday evening of conference and as always, I strongly encourage you to consider becoming a financial member, if you are not already. Why? There is the ‘what’s in it for me?’ angle to consider, and you will find the benefits of membership listed on our website. But I would like you also to consider, ‘how can my being a member help others?’ angle.

Omega Writers is a network and support group who functions mostly with volunteer administration and facilitation. We hope to improve opportunities to connect writers with other writers, and also to connect them with ways and means to grow and move forward towards publishing. Having members who support us through financial membership, and even better, support us through volunteer activity, helps Omega Writers to achieve some of these aims. The more people on board, the further we will be able to go. If you’d like to consider becoming a financial member, please do so through our website. If you’d then like to attend our AGM, you will be notified of the time and agenda before the meeting. If you have bright ideas you think would aid in our growth, the best way to bring those ideas forward is to become an active member.

I hope to meet up with you at conference.

Many Blessings

Meredith Resce

This post has been cross-posted on the Australasian Christian Writers blog

President of Omega Writers Australasia

www.omegawriters.org

Author 

www.meredithresce.com

So many writers, so many stories

In recent years, I have been to many writers’ conferences, seminars and workshops. I remember attending my first ‘writery’ event at the NSW Writers’ Centre in 2004 and wondering what I was doing there. How did I ever think I could write a book worthy of publication? Everyone seemed so much more knowledgeable about the whole writing endeavour. Everyone seemed so much more confident and talented. Everyone seemed so much ... er ... well ... younger!

Photo courtesy Margaret Holahan

Last weekend, I attended the Omega Writers’ Conference in Sydney. It was a large conference, with almost a hundred attendees on the Saturday—for an excellent conference report by Narelle Atkins, please see her Australasian Christian Writers' blog. Again, so many knowledgeable and talented authors were present. Again, there were those more confident than others. And again too, so many seemed so much younger than I am—I remember telling someone there I felt about 110! But did I feel intimidated and out of place, as I had at that first ‘writery’ event I attended? Not at all.

Of course, thirteen years have passed since my initial foray into ‘writery’ circles. In that time, I have had eight books published. And this conference was about the sixth or seventh Omega event where I have been a presenter. But I believe there were also other reasons I experienced such a wonderful sense of belonging rather than those awful feelings of being a fraud or an interloper, sneaking into a place where I should not be.

For a start, I felt a great, inclusive warmth everywhere, that I hope each delegate experienced as well. People seemed genuinely interested in one another. People were friendly and helpful. People freely shared knowledge and expertise. People cared. It seemed to me that the whole Christian ethos behind this Omega event permeated everything and made such a difference.

Photo courtesy Margaret Holahan

But I think it was also the great diversity of writers present that enabled me—and hopefully everyone
—to feel at home. There were delegates present from almost every state in Australia (plus one New Zealander!), from both city and country regions and backgrounds.  Among these delegates were some at the very beginning of their writing journey, still thinking about whether this is what God has for them to do next, while others were multi-published authors. There were many different Christian denominations represented, although there was no real need even to discuss such issues. Yes, again there were many eager young faces everywhere, speaking of so many stories yet to surface and so much giftedness to share with the world. But there were also the more mature faces, speaking of deep experiences and insights gained that need to be heard and celebrated and valued.

I came away from the conference with the image of a beautiful, glistening opal clear in my mind. It has so much depth of colour that seems to glow and pulsate with promise, revealing itself differently from each and every angle. So ... may you all as writers, whether you attended this conference or not, know you belong, that your writing is valuable, that you add depth and colour to this unique opal and that you are part of something wonderful God is constantly fashioning and polishing to bless and reveal the Creator’s loving heart to the world.

Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives through the written and spoken word. She is the author of six published novels and two non-fiction works, ‘Soul Friend’ and ‘Becoming Me’. Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.