Power in Writing Community.

 

    In the beginning God created family. He created man and woman and he saw that it was very good. God also noted it was not good for man to live alone and so he gave Adam a mate.

Early members of Sunshine Coast Omega 

Likewise it is not good for a writer to be completely alone.  I’ve heard many say that it’s a lonely experience being an author, and, yes, there is always a lot of time when we pound the keys in our bubble. However, there is a difference between being alone and being lonely. An author, needs a community, people around that support and understand her.

Writers together celebrate the release of Symphony of Grace

Jesus spent time alone, but he also spent much time in community, where He modeled different levels of relationship. He had three close friends, chose twelve disciples, and related to many others in the crowds. When he needed company, it was always available.

 

I find my writing community invaluable so when writing I purposely involve other people. I need people to bounce ideas off, to share wins and get feedback. Equally, I watch for others to help, support, read and critique.

 

When I write anything, my friend Sue wants to read every word. I email my books chapter by chapter. She knows my characters and keeps me encouraged. The wonderful thing about this arrangement is having someone I can discuss a character’s dilemma or a plot difficulty. Sue isn’t an author but an avid reader. She’s been an invaluable help to me as I have written various novels and articles. She’s also edits the document at the first level.

My little critique group. Jo, Miranda, Jeanette, Arlene.

 

I am part of a small critique group of four writers. This blog will be emailed to them today.  Next week when we meet they will edit it and critique it. They suggest changes and highlight obvious mistakes. As I’m a master at mistakes this group saves me from publishing bad writing. Each of us submits three pages each month and we all comment on one another’s writing. Our writing has improved as we’ve learned from each other.

 

Last Saturday, our sunshine Coast Omega writers group met in my lounge room. There were ten of us, investing our time to share each other’s knowledge and experience. It’s an incredibly rich place to be as we talk about our wins in our losses. One person has created a new app for the group to help with our editing. The members of this group are quick to help each other with knowledge and assistance. Some of the members are more experienced with many published books. Others have done a lot of study and bring knowledge about writing craft. Others are only just beginning their writing journey. Some understand technology and others struggle with it. It’s a fun, supportive group and its great to have people you can ring and seek help.

Sunshine Coast chapter celebrates with Julie as she launches Oscar was Here

 

And of course, there is the online writing community. Facebook groups like Australasian Christian Writers and Christian Writers Downunder feed encourage and teach me. Through these sites and others, I have met so many interesting people, discovered their writing and learned from their experience. Recently I sent El Gibbor, my next book, to a few beta readers requesting feedback before publication. One of those readers was Paula Vince in Adelaide. Paula and I met years ago at writers’ conferences. She published Picking up the Pieces the same time I published Though the Bud be Bruised. Both books look at different responses to sexual abuse. I knew she would be interested my latest book. She very graciously sent me three pages of suggestions, sharing how I could improve the book.

 

The wider internet community is a great forum for questions.  How do I self publish? Where is the best place to get this? What’s the best app for that?  So many questions mine the combined knowledge of writers. This help is invaluable.

 

Part of this community dynamic is our willingness to share our wisdom and time. Time invested in helping others reaps much reward. We champion each other, acknowledging wins and giving help when needed. Book launches are a great place to support community and build it. Julie Modra, one of our members, launched her book, Oscar was Here, at the Mad Hatter’s Bookshop last weekend. It was a great occasion and an opportunity to mingle.

Julie Modra at Mad Hatter's Bookshop

 

Wider community again is the Omega Writer’s conference that brings people together from Australia and New Zealand. Many of these occasions have equipped me with new skills, corrected bad habits and warmed me with great fellowship. There are many similar conferences from other Writers Centres, but I really enjoy the Christian fellowship.

A team of contributers celebrating Mosaic of Grace. 

Anthologies develop from community. Tabor College in Adelaide have printed one every year for ten years. There are many books on my shelf where my writing is published.  Keep your eyes open. There are lots of anthologies where your short works can be highlighted. I’m thankful for the community that works together to produce top quality books.

 

How do you find a group? I’d start on Facebook or similar sites. Join groups. Become a member of Omega Writers. And ask the simple question… Does anyone live near me? Join an online group like Grace Writers. Just hunt until you find your family

 

And remember a Christian is never alone. We carry the Holy Spirit within and he’s a great source of creative ideas and fellowship. 

Jo Wanmer lives on the northern outskirts of Brisbane with her husband of 55 years, Steve, and a lively needy toy poodle called Barclay. She is used to dodging him on her knee as she writes.She is excited to see her book El Roi named as a finalist in Caleb Christian fiction awards this year. Her book El Shaddai is leading a series. It is followed by El Roi, and El Gibbor is with the publisher. Two more books in the series are on the computer. Exciting books written with Holy Spirit as co-author.

 

Writers Helping Writers by Jo Wanmer

Writers helping me.

‘Do you know how to write books?’ 

Mary Hawkins' gentle question slid through the phone. I’d never met her but she’d read my manuscript and been asked to mentor me. This manuscript was my first attempt at serious writing.

‘I guess not.' I replied. 'I just sat down and wrote.’ 

‘I thought so.’ Mary paused. ‘It shows. But this story needs to be told. It will need a lot of work to lift it to publishing standard. I’m willing to teach you if you are willing to put in the effort.’

Mary had many fiction books published in the Australian market. A few weeks later I met this delightful lady at a mentorship retreat. There were two other fiction writers sharing Mary as our mentor. Other groups worked in their genre with different mentors. We gathered together in a couple of units near Noosa for a week. Within an hour of arrival, we started work, fingers hovering over our laptops, minds keen. 

Mary’s printed copy of my book, which I’d posted to her, was covered with red pen. Under her instruction I deleted the first three chapters. My gut wrenched but she convinced me those pages were irrelevant to the main story. I complied. She taught me how to sharpen the first line and then adjust the first paragraph. Moving amongst the three of us, she read, critiqued, corrected and changed, always telling us to rewrite. I typed, deleted, adjusted and rewrote. And we laughed as she corrected and encouraged us. Fingers sore and brain spent, I completed the first page and fell into bed. Only 369 pages to go!

The week resembled a boot camp. We worked from morning to late evening. In meal breaks we built great relationships. Every moment we learned from each other. When we closed our computers to go home, I’d made new friends and I’d successfully polished seventy of those pages. 

‘What happens now?’ I asked.

‘I’ve taught you.’ Mary hugged me. ‘Now you edit the rest using the skills I’ve given you.’

Reviewing the mentorship on the drive home I was both grateful for Mary’s patience and teaching and overwhelmed by the task ahead of me.

Sixteen years have passed since that pivotal weekend. The book we slaved over, Though the Bud be Bruised, won a Caleb prize for best unpublished manuscript and was published in 2012. The skills I learned from Mary have become my automatic way of writing. Since then, I’ve learned more about making my words sing, through events, workshops and meetings, mostly under Omega Writers and other gatherings of Christian authors.

Writers helping Writers.

Paul exhorted us in Romans 10:24-25 TPT…

    Discover creative ways to encourage others and motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love. This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together… In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other forward…

The encouragement I receive from other Christian writers builds my determination to push onward, to fulfil the goals God has placed in my heart.

Helen Hudson talking Holy Spirit and art. Check out her Facebook page    

A couple of weeks ago our Omega Writers Sunshine Coast group held a writer’s retreat. The aim was to spend time together and learn from each other. We gathered at our leader’s beautiful home on Friday night, meet together all day Saturday and Sunday morning. Our shared meals were prepared by Sue and her amazing mother. We stayed close by, some of us sharing a cabin, and we revelled in fellowship. One of our members, Julie Modra, shared from her vast knowledge and taught us about writing structure. Printed sheets helped us apply her wisdom… wisdom she has learned from others. We practised hearing the Holy Spirit through a Zoom training session by Lynne Hudson using art! We prayed for each other and planned events.  What a rich weekend!

Our representation of Holy Spirit's nudges

I also belong to another smaller group led by Jeanette Grant-Thomson. Four of us meet once a month. We write in different genres for different reasons. Each month we email every group member two or three pages of our work. We critique each other’s writing and then gather to share. At the end, a ten-to-fifteen-minute writing exercise stretches us. We read our stories aloud and encourage each other. The relationships are sweet and our skills are growing under this discipline.

Any success I’ve enjoyed as an author is attributed to the Holy Spirit firstly and then fellowship and instruction from other writers. 

Sunshine Coast members at retreat

Writers Building Writer Community 

Omega has organised a writer’s conference in Adelaide in October. It’s a great place to learn and a good place to meet other writers, build relationships and invite others to connect with you. Large gatherings can be impersonal, but it’s the small groups and conversations where I’ve been impacted. 

When I was writing El Shaddai, I had stalled and closed the file. God and I had agreed to write a book where He was one of the characters. But I panicked when I realised I was writing His words. Feeling totally inadequate, I stopped. Months later, in a small prayer meeting at a conference, God whispered, ‘What’s wrong with the book I’m in?’ Challenged, I came home and wrote the story as quickly as I could, not allowing myself to second guess anything.  And God says some amazing things in that book… things I didn’t know until I typed the words.  

Our Sunshine Coast group grew organically. In a post on Omega Writers page on Facebook, Sue Taylor-Reeves asked for anyone interested in meeting together. A few of us started to connect and then gather. And it grew. Commitment to the group keeps it healthy.

Our groups book launch in March

Jesus taught about sowing and reaping. If you want support with your writing, start by finding someone you can help. Find a writing buddy. Share your work. Give constructive feedback and receive other’s suggestions with grace. Offer prayer and encouragement. 

Reach out to help others. Volunteer to be a beta reader. Write reviews. Help with someone else’s book launch. Be active on the Facebook pages, Christian Writers Downunder and Australasian Christian Writers. These groups connect us to writers across Austrlalia and New Zealand. 

Christian community is important for Christian authors. Even Jesus didn’t walk alone. Often he was surrounded by thousands, but he always withdrew with his twelve, or three. We know he needed their prayers. They accompanied him, served Him and learned from Him.

Likewise, in love we lift each other up and help carry each other’s burdens.

Closing brunch after a great weekend

How has the writing community helped you? How have you helped other authors?

Jo Wanmer is a story teller, that has had to learn how to write those stories into acceptable prose. She writes with the help of the Holy Spirit. Without His inspiration, there would be no books. Though the Bud be Bruised was published thirteen years ago. Late in 2024 El Shaddai was released and its prequel, El Roi, was released late last year. 

She lives, with her husband of nearly fifty-four years, just north of Brisbane. Family, God and writing are her three passions. Eleven great-grandchildren now fill their home with love and chaos.

 

Omega Writers Retreat: Views from the Pews

On 10-11 October, many of us tuned in to the Omega Writers online retreat. Omega Writers is an Australian Christian Writers network that helps to encourage one another, and provide skills and resources to help others in their writing journeys. This year's theme was 'Transformation: Renewing Our Minds, Sharpening Our Skills, Writing With Purpose'. We had the chance to hear some amazing speakers and network with fellow writers flung near and far.

It started out on the Friday night with the annual AGM and writing workshops in our smaller genre groups. Then the main retreat day on the Saturday included:

• A keynote address by American author Lori Roeleveld, with some insights from the book of Nehemiah to strengthen our writing.
• An action-packed advertising and marketing presentation by Carolyn Miller.
• An AI panel with Pete Court, Karen Brough, Susan Bruce and David Rawlings.
• A panel on publishing models with Meredith Resce, Jenny Glazebrook, Rochelle Stephens, Carolyn Miller and Gina Walters.
• More time in our genre groups.
• Later that night, we capped off the event with the CALEB awards for unpublished manuscripts.

I asked some of the attendees if they could share something they got out of the retreat and here are their responses.

Barbara McKay, Southeast Queensland

As iron sharpens iron, so likeminded people can sharpen and challenge you, refine you, and strengthen you. This is what I experienced from the girls in the Toowoomba Omega chapter who warmly welcomed me to the Online Retreat last Saturday. Their kindness was overwhelming.

As an octogenarian with physical challenges, I loved fellowship with these girls and others in Omega Writers online. Our speaker, Lori from Rhode Island in the USA, shared insights from the book of Nehemiah highlighting how she coped with adversity. I love this Old Testament book. Her words did encourage me to keep writing. I will listen again to her words, and like Nehemiah, take on board those Biblical principles of prayer, total dependence on a living God and planning, to help me achieve my writing goals.

Donna Gains, North QLD

It was so nice to see faces I haven't seen for a year and to be able to spend time with my tribe—writers with similar hearts and connecting beliefs. Lori's words spoke to my core reason for being a writer; God has called me to this, I am assigned and designed for these times, and I'm needed to build my part of the wall. So encouraging, like a vitamin shot in the arm.

Sara Powter, Central Coast NSW

Having never done an online retreat, I was somewhat fearful of what to expect. I had no idea whether there would be ten people or a thousand (not that it really matters). But I loved it. Due to various family commitments, we couldn’t attend the face-to-face conferences, but having them online was great. Although meeting other known names was fabulous, I selfishly wondered how this would help my writing. Well, it did!

I loved the talks from Lori and Carolyn, but the completely new area of AI—something I have NEVER been game to experiment with—was eye-opening. Consequently, I have been playing with ChatGPT using an incognito window. Ask it, 'What sort of books does so-and-so write' (in my case, Sara Powter), and it's amazing what you can find. I then asked it more questions—How many books has she written? How can she improve her writing? How can she improve her visibility (re advertising)? Potential areas for improvement & strategies for growth? And lots of other questions. This is BRILLIANT.

Then I played with shortening blurbs (I have done this through Grammarly Pro before). Once I had the blurb, I entered my draft title and asked it to suggest other options. I’ll probably stick with my original, but their suggestions make great subheadingss for advertising. When asked about other plots, it supplied those and suggested both how to make the main characters stronger and how to make the secondary characters more interesting. So, to the Adelaide team who led the AI panel, I bow with thanks. I still won’t use it for my writing, but for a dyslexic girl like me, this is a game-changer. (N.B. You can find Sara's books here.)

Adam Collings, Tasmania

There was a lot to love at the Omega Writers Online Retreat last weekend, from the many useful tips shared by Carolyn Miller in her marketing session, to celebrating the amazing winners of the various CALEB prizes. But for me, the standout was Lori Roeleveld’s keynote talk. I especially connected with her second point: “you were specifically designed and assigned to these times and this place.” While we can sometimes feel out of the loop here in Australia, I feel that doubly so in Tasmania. I love my state with a burning passion, but I sometimes identify with Luke Skywalker’s words. “If there's a bright centre to the universe, you're on the planet that it's farthest from.” We don’t have comic-cons or a large assortment of author markets (although we do have the biggest dedicated indie author book fair in the southern hemisphere!) But while I may not have the same opportunities as others, God chose me for here and now. And that’s exciting. (N.B. Adam writes as Adam David Collings)

Wrap-Up

Thanks for those comments, everyone. I can reiterate what everyone has said. I too got a lot out of Lori's talk, especially regarding writing the assignment God has given you without fear. Carolyn shared a lot of helpful tips on marketing. The AI panel was thought-provoking. I'm probably one of those who had looked on AI with trepidation, so it was good to hear more about the pros and cons and how you can think through ethical uses of AI that could help in your writing tasks. I appreciated that the publishing panel also explained a bit more about how to tell the difference between genuine author services that help you to self-publish your own work versus the vanity presses that rip you off. And the genre groups were a great way to liaise with others who are writing in a similar area.

Thank you to the Omega president, Carolyn Tonkin, and to all of the office-bearers, committee members and helpers who organised the retreat. Thank you to all of the presenters and genre group leaders for your efforts, and a big shoutout to Tamara Wenham and the judges who did so much work towards the CALEB awards.

Next Year's Conference

The 2026 Omega conference will be held  at the Nunyara Conference Centre in Belair, Adelaide from 16-18 October. Guest speakers have already been lined up from the US and the UK, and local speakers will be announced at a later date. So mark your calendars now.

If any of the other retreat attendees would like to share what you got out of the retreat, we'd love you to add a comment below. It was a blast!

____ 

Nola Lorraine has a passion for faith and social justice issues, and loves weaving words that inspire others with courage and hope. Her books include the inspirational historical novel Scattered, the Christian devotional book Comfort Zone, and the Christian charity anthology Glimpses of Light which she co-edited with Jeanette O’Hagan. She also has more than 150 short publications, including fiction, poetry, devotions, true stories, magazine articles and academic papers. She loves sharing the words and stories God impresses on her heart, and prays that He will use them to bless others.  http://www.nolalorraine.com.au

Upcoming Omega Online Retreat 2025 by Carolyn Tonkin

 

The Buzz about Writing Groups

I was buzzing!

The year was 2014 and I’d just returned from my first writers conference full of ideas about writing, and publishing, and editing, and marketing, and creating a website, and learning how to pitch my project, and, and… to be honest, I was a tad overwhelmed. But I didn’t give up. My eyes had been opened, and I couldn’t close them. I took a deep breathe and begun my journey of learning.

I read books about the craft of writing, I joined groups of other Christian writers to ask questions and share my journey, I read outside my genre and I entered competitions that provided feedback.

Fast forward ten years later and as I’ve applied what I learnt I’ve seen a few of my stories published in anthologies, my first full-length fiction book was picked up by a small Australian Christian publisher, and I found myself volunteering to be on the organising committee of Omega Christian Writers. Why volunteer? Was I not busy enough? Didn’t I want to spend more time furthering my own writing?

Yes, but as followers of Jesus, we are wired for service, so I felt compelled to ‘give back’ to the groups that had helped develop me as a writer, and I would trust God for the rest … because one thing was clear — trusting Him to direct my paths has never failed me.

Not Just Face-to-Face

2020 saw Covid hit our shores, and the growth of many online platforms where people found they could meet and conduct all kinds of business. Many of us discovered Teams, FaceTime and Zoom, as a way of keeping in touch ‘face-to-face’ rather than using email or phone, and it was in the Zoom space that the Omega Christian Writers online retreat was birthed. It’s interesting to note that in 2025, more people than ever are using this cost-effective avenue to meet, listen and learn.

 

If you’ve never joined an online writing group, can I encourage you to consider it?

The Omega Christian Writers Online Retreat 2025

The Omega Christian Writers online retreat is a great way to start. 

The retreat, held bi-annually since 2021 is on 10-11 October this year. It opens on the Friday night and continues all day Saturday. 

The keynote speaker this year is Lori Roeleveld, an international award-winning author with degrees in Psychology and Biblical Studies. Lori is gifted in helping people face difficult challenges, locate the hidden gold buried in their lives, and then teach them how best to apply it. She will bring a session rooted in the book of Nehemiah that will appeal to both fiction and non-fiction writers, and which fits perfectly with this year’s theme: Transformation: Renewing our Minds, Sharpening our Skills, Writing with Purpose.

The retreat will host numerous sessions and workshops covering:

• Publishing models
• The pros and cons of AI
• A great session on advertising and marketing

plus 

• Opportunities to gather in your genre groups to workshop your craft, and
• The Caleb Award presentations, hosted by Dr Pete Court. 

Being online means you can choose to sit by yourself in the comfort of your own home or organise a small group to spend the time together. I’m doing a little bit of both! Either way, I guarantee you won’t regret investing your time into your writing, I believe you’ll leave inspired and with some new tools in your author toolbox.

You may even leave the retreat buzzing!

Registrations are Open!

Registrations are now open. You can find out more and register at the following link. If you are a financial member of Omega Writers, be sure to go into the members' area first for the discount code.

https://omegawriters.com.au/2025-online-retreat/

See you there!

Author Bio

Carolyn Tonkin is the current President of Omega Christian Writers.

She has been writing across a variety of genres since she was a teenager but found God spoke to her about the purpose of her writing after attending her first writer’s conference in 2014.

Carolyn is currently working on the second instalment of her trilogy in inspirational fiction. Her first novel, Nellie’s Child was published in 2021.

Author website: https://www.carolyntonkin.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolyntonkin.author/

Photo Sources

Featured photo from Omega conference 2024 by Nola Passmore; Author pic from Carolyn Tonkin; online graphic by ZedH on Pixabay.

Why it took 18 years to publish my book

By Susan Barnes

On 19 June 2007, I posted a blog post (here). The post contained five statements about Jesus. These five statements became ten, and eventually became the ten chapters in my book, 10 Blessings of God. (The book was originally called 10 Things I Love About God.) I probably finished the first draft of the book later that year, that is in 2007, 18 years ago. 

Why did it take me so long to publish? 

1st Reason – I actually didn’t want to write a book

Most authors write the types of books they would like to read. When I came to faith as a teenager, I knew very little about being a Christian as I didn’t come from a churched home. I began reading Christian Living books. I’m an avid reader, so I read lots and lots of them. 

After a while, I realised that 99% of these books were written by American males who were university graduates. Often, they pastored large churches and were well-known. 

Given that I was none of these things and never likely to be, I felt writing and publishing a book wasn’t a viable option for me. I also realised that many of these authors were involved in their own marketing and doing a lot of public speaking, which wasn’t appealing either.

Two years before the blog post, that is, in 2005, we had moved to Gisborne. We were going on long service leave in a couple of months, so there was no point in me looking for a job or getting overly involved in our new church. Our older children had already left home, and our youngest was 18 and didn’t move with us. I had recently finished a Diploma in Library and Information Services, and I wasn’t planning to do any more study. I literally had nothing to do. 

So I prayed about what God wanted me to do and the idea of writing a book came to mind but I kept dismissing it. After a while, I thought perhaps this idea was from God. So I proceeded to tell God why it was a very bad idea! “I’m an Australian female. I’m unknown. The Australian Christian publishing industry is tiny.” I also told God that I didn’t have anything to write about.

Suddenly, I was reminded that over the previous ten years, I had written fortnightly and sometimes weekly devotions. I knew that I wrote on particular themes, like love, grace, peace, hope. So I printed off my devotions and put them into piles according to their topic. From these ideas, I wrote a chapter about each topic. Three months later, I had a book-length manuscript. Something I had thought impossible.

After this process, I had so many devotions left over that two years later, I wrote a second book, which became 10 Blessings of God. I still have the original manuscript on my computer, and maybe I’ll publish that next year.

Once I had a manuscript, I started looking at publishing options. 

2nd Reason – I discovered I wasn’t a good writer

Perhaps this should have been obvious to me as I was only an average English student. Generally, my essays scored Cs. I was actually much better at Maths.

I began showing my book to editors. I remember one editor saying to me, about what I thought was a particularly clever sentence, “That’s the most awkward sentence I’ve ever read!” 

About this time. a literary agent did show some interest but told me my book required too much editing.

However, the most disturbing thing I was told about my writing was that I was quoting too many other people. I was hiding behind other people’s experiences instead of sharing my own. 

In retrospect, I wonder why I kept writing. But it was partly because I knew that people had been blessed by the devotions I had written. And also, because I discovered I liked hanging around the Christian authors I met at the Omega Writers events. I found like-minded people and I felt a bond with them. 

I heard a conference speaker once say, you can learn to be a better writer, but if your content isn’t very good, that’s a much harder problem to solve, so there was hope.

It took a lot of time and work to improve my writing. It wasn’t easy because there aren’t courses or workshops you can take for learning how to write a Christian Living book. 

The other issue of being able to write about my own experiences, instead of borrowing from other people's, also took a lot of time and energy. I had to work through some emotional issues to get to that place.

3rd Reason – I really didn’t want to self-publish 

I was around when self-publishing became a ‘thing’, and it wasn’t good. A lot of poor-quality books flooded the market, and I didn’t want to be part of that. So I persisted for over a decade to get traditionally published. 

During this time, through a series of unexpected events, I went back to study and completed a bachelor's degree in Christian ministry. Later, I completed a Graduate Certificate in Writing through Tabor College. 

Also, during this time, there was a five-year period where I was an interim pastor at three different churches. I preached my way through, 10 Blessings of God, a couple of times. So I felt it was worthwhile writing it, even if it never got published. 

I continued attending conferences, meeting agents, editors and publishers. I wrote book proposals and cover letters. Mostly, I was writing to Americans, so I had my book edited into US English, which makes me feel like a bit of a traitor! However, since 2005, when I started a blog, I’ve always had a lot more visits from Americans than Australians. 

In 2020, at an Omega Christian Writers Conference, my book, won the prize for the best unpublished manuscript, but it wasn’t enough to convince me that my book was good enough to self-publish.

In 2022, I spoke to an acquisition editor from England at another Omega Writers Conference who was genuinely interested in publishing my book. We corresponded for the next couple of months, but in the end, the editorial board decided my book wasn’t financially viable. 

Nevertheless, the fact that a completely objective, unbiased person wanted to publish my book made me realise that my book was, at long last, good enough to be published.

However, by now, we had moved back to Bendigo, and I had been fortunate to pick up a school librarian position. And while it was a good job and I felt blessed to have it, the position was taxing, both physically and mentally. I quickly realised that I would have to wait until I retired to publish my book. 

In February of this year, I retired, and now, finally, I have a published book. It’s published under my business name, Reams of Grace. 

Author Bio

Susan Barnes has thirty years of experience in pastoral ministry, serving in various roles at different churches where her husband, Ross, was the pastor. Since earning a degree in Christian ministry, Susan has served as a chaplain and an interim pastor at rural churches in Vic and NSW. Books have always been an important part of her life, and she worked for many years in public and school libraries. 

Susan has published hundreds of devotional articles where she shares her experiences of trusting God. She lives with her husband in central Victoria, Australia. 

 www.susanbarneswriter.com

Writing goals when you’re nearly 80

by Barbara McKay

My story

Since my husband died from metastatic cancer in 2014, learning to write creatively has been therapeutic.


‘Don’t you think I’m too old to be writing?’ I was speaking with a lovely author, Anne Hamilton at a Writer’s weekend in Brisbane early this year. She answered me ‘No’ she said,

‘You are showing cognitive plasticity’. I could have jumped for joy at those words, but I couldn’t because I’d broken my leg


My creative writing journey began when I saw an ad ‘Write your Memoir’ course by Cecily Anne Patterson. In 2018, I was 73, and a widow coping with grief and loss. I contacted
Cecily, and slowly worked through every session. Lots of new terminology, and eventually, I wrote my first chapter, getting to about 80,000 words.


In 2022, Vanessa Vankcom said ‘Why don’t you send 10,000 words into Omega Writers for the CALEB Unpublished Adult Nonfiction section? I did. I received an email to say ‘You are a finalist’. I cried all day. What was God saying to me?


I was 77. I faced my fears, and decided to go to the conference at Kingscliff. I met Cecily, and many other amazing authors. They weren’t scary, but normal human beings, fun and developing their writing to bless others.


After that weekend, Nola Passmore, the encourager who specialises in nagging us to write, invited me to join the Toowoomba Omega Writers – again, a scary experience but exciting. I told the group ‘I’m in Year 3 doing a subject titled ‘Creative Writing’. Some of them told me off. ‘No, you cannot say that. You are on a creative learning curve, just like all of us.’ Mazzy even said that with my life’s experience, I’d have plenty to write about from a mature perspective.’ She’s a great encourager.

Some Writing Tips

Tips for organising your writing goals when you’re nearly 80, when you feel you’ve left it too late. Why did I ask that question?


Firstly, the ageing process does bring deficits with chronic illness, hospitalization, loneliness, and discouragement. Those of you who have older members in your families see their decline.

Secondly, our lives do have an expiry date. I do feel a sense of urgency with my writing because none of us know when that time will come. What creative work is a priority? What do I leave undone? What stories do I tell? I am in the final season of my life. I’m in my 80th year – unbelievable. To think that I’m learning at this age is surely a gift from my loving Heavenly Father. I do lose heart and that’s why I love it when the apostle Paul says ‘Do not lose heart. Though outwardly, we are wasting away, yet inwardly, we are being renewed day by day.’ 2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV

Thirdly, the gift of encouragement. Why is it that many of us become discouraged and long for words of affirmation? How do I finish my life with few regrets?

What makes me a feisty nearly 80-year-old who feasts on life?  Many of your comments bring the sparks that light up my life.

1. Meredith said ‘my mother finished her memoirs at the end of last year. She was 85. She passed away four months after she finished writing them. ‘What a wonderful story, and no doubt Meredith gave her loads of encouragement. We need to get a rough draft down, even if it isn’t published.

2. Nola mentioned a lady who died at the age of 96. ‘She was writing a monthly column into her 90’s. She turned in her last column on the day she died.’

3. Sue Jeffrey is the one who said ‘you inspire me’ and called me ‘feisty’

4. Christine O’Malley said ‘build yourself a group of praying supporters who will laugh with you, cry with you…and keep on asking how the writing is going to make sure you don’t give up.’ Let’s do it. That’s not easy for some of us who live in rural places, but it is do-able. We have ‘zoom’ and a ‘mobile’.

5. One young author, Stephanie said ‘I want to keep on encouraging others. The gift of encouragement is such a kind, generous gift.

6. Anusha mentioned ‘I make writing goals each year’.

7. Recently, I read a letter from my aunt, Hilda North. She was writing to me to give instructions on organising her 90 th birthday’. God nudged me. ‘Look at that aunty of yours – cognitively, as sharp as a tack. She lived until she was 101.

8. I have learnt not to compare myself with others. The more I learn about creative writing, the more I realise there is so much that I do not understand. People have said to me ‘you have to start somewhere’.

Finally 

This year, I suffered, I broke my left leg badly – hospitalised for 77 days, moon boot for 11 weeks, and transition care for 12 weeks. ‘What was God trying to tell me?' 

Again, God placed wonderful people on my radar, surprising me with heavenly hugs. I wrote two stories about my suffering, and I’m pleased they are being published in Stories of Life - His love to me during the tough times.


Now I want to hear from you, stories about those who persevere when tempted to give up – stories from those who are in their 70’s and 80’s. What legacy are you leaving?

Brought to you by Barbara McKay 

The 2024 Omega Writers Conference is taking shape!

Omega Writers is excited to see the 2024 Omega Writers conference taking shape.

Held in Sydney from 20-22 September 2024, this opportunity to connect in person with so many Christian Writers from across the country only comes around once every two years!

It’s a great opportunity to hear author, publisher and teacher Susan May Warren talk about the joys, responsibility and craft of being a Christian writer. Susan May Warren is an in-demand speaker and teacher. You don’t want to miss your chance to be in the room for her talks.

The price of the conference is all-inclusive, which means accommodation, meals and teaching are all included in the price (Hub appointments are extra). But we have a day rego option that brings the price down for people who have local accommodation.

Sydneysiders take note! Our last conference was in Kingscliff and our next conference may very well be in another state so make the most of this opportunity by registering now. Day rego is a great option for Sydney locals who can enjoy the fun, fellowship and learning while staying in their own comfy beds. 

This national conference, the only one drawing Christians from across the country, is a fantastic opportunity to connect with other creatives wanting to serve their Creator with excellence. It doesn’t matter where you are on the writing journey, the Omega conference will leave you inspired, equipped and spurred on along your writing journey.

Don’t miss out! Register now!

Caleb Award Update

Are you judging the 2024 Caleb Award? Don’t forget your score sheets are due back on 20 June.

Editors and how to find one!

Have you ever wondered about the different types of editing, but been too afraid to ask? This blog from editor Iola Goulton gives a clear explanation of the different types of editor a writer needs. You’ll be able to connect with editors of all types at our in-person conference as part of our hub.

The Hub offers 2024 Omega Writers Conference delegates the chance to book appointments with agents, publishers, editors and industry experts. You can discuss a work in progress, or to pitch a manuscript ready for submission to an agent. This is an invaluable opportunity for writers to gather feedback, suggestions, and guidance as well as to increase their understanding of the publishing process. Appointments are 30 minutes long and will either occur in person or online, depending on the location of the agent/publisher/expert.

Bookings for The Hub are now open. These appointments are only available to conference attendees. Appointments will be allocated on a first in first served basis and will be capped once the editor/publisher/expert’s booking limit has been reached. Actual appointment times will be confirmed closer to the time of conference. Some flexibility may be required to cater for time zone differences etc. Bookings close on 9 August.

Costs: $50 for members, $70 for non-members.

Book here

Merry Christmas from Australia’s Christian Writers Network

 A message from Meredith Resce, Acting President of Omega Writers

Omega Writers: Australia’s Christian Writers Network has had a wonderful year––full of activities, successes and a few challenges. I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Omega Writers management team who have worked tirelessly around their own day jobs and family responsibilities to make the year a success.

Please pray for our team as we continue to plan for activities for next year, including our bi-annual face-to-face conference, planned for September 20-22^rd 2024. Lots of work still to do for that. If you are keen to help, please let us know where your talents lie, and we’d be pleased to include you in our team of helpers.

We have begun to plan for another round of masterclasses next year. Our first will be with indie author Christine Dillion looking at “What to focus on at the different stages of your author career”. You can book your spot on this masterclass here.

After a hectic year, the committee are stepping away from their Omega Writers’ desks and taking a well-earned break. You won’t hear much from us until the new year when we start to tell you all the exciting things we have planned for the conference!

On behalf of the management committee, may I take the opportunity to send you Christmas greetings and many blessings as you and your family welcome a new year. Have a restful holiday and we look forward to resuming our activities in February.

Omega Writers | Introducing the 2023 Online Retreat

 It’s that time of year!

Spring has sprung. The trees are blossoming, the bees are busy, it’s time to plant tomatoes, the agricultural shows are popping up all around the countryside AND Omega Writers’ Zoom Retreat is happening.

I read a lament – or maybe just an observation – that many people prefer face-to-face. It’s true. There’s nothing like getting away from the grind of daily routine, settling into an accommodation with writing friends, sharing meals together, and generally enjoying not only the input and teaching, but also the fellowship.

Omega Writers management committee had been considering cutting our conferences to bi-annual because of the enormous cost in terms of human resource (which is mostly volunteer), and also the cost of flying interstate (and for some, internationally). We felt if we had a rest year for the organisational committee that would give delegates time to save up over the two-year period.

While these talks were still in the pipeline, the pandemic hit, and we had to cancel the face-to-face conference scheduled for that year. Most everyone was barricaded in their homes from compulsory lockdowns and were going a little stir-crazy. In South Australia and Toowoomba we had opportunity to move about within our own communities, so it wasn’t quite as bad, but we couldn’t travel interstate. So COVID-19 and the rapid changes in technology offered, dare I say it, an opportunity.

Our president that year, Penny Reeve, decided to push forward with a Zoom Retreat instead. Those of us in Adelaide and Toowoomba met together in our chapter groups and dropped into the zoom together. It was cost effective and successful, and so it fit well with our plans of having the face-to-face only every other year. In line with this bi-annual pattern, it was decided that the CALEB award would split in two: Published work entered on the year we hold face-to-face, and unpublished on the year we hold Zoom Retreat. This also helped with the human resource situation where we need to find judges for the CALEB award.

And so, here we are in 2023, gearing up for the online retreat, and excited about the things we have lined up. You can make it true to the tag line:

Here we are, TOGETHER, by joining with your chapter groups and organising for locals to meet together. (To find your nearest chapter group click https://omegawriters.com.au/resources/)

Please make sure that you register for the Saturday (cost of $50 members/$70 non-members). You can also register for the Friday evening AGM and social session, and the Saturday evening CALEB awards. Different zoom links will be emailed to you from these registrations. There is no cost for the Friday or Saturday evening sessions.

Our keynote speaker is Roseanna White – author, publisher, graphic designer. She will be zooming in from the US (another benefit of having an online retreat), and will be speaking on the following topic:

WRITE DEEPLY, READ DEEPLY, LIVE DEEPLY – We all want to write stories that leap off the page and into the readers’ hearts, but how do we dig deep enough? Join author Roseanna White as she shares the secrets of writing that resonates… by starting the process long before you sit down to write.

While we are on the topic of in-person conferences, we have a conference committee already at work and well underway planning next year’s event. Conference 2024 – Emerge – Connect, Equip, Inspire - will be held in NSW this time, so all of us from out of state will know to save our pennies for flights.

One last thing that should be mentioned: Omega Writers – Australia’s Christian Writers Network, has been focused on growth this last year.

We have gone through the process of rebranding and launching a new website; adding regular masterclasses which can be accessed from home; and increasing our online presence through social media.

I’m sure it is obvious that none of these new things, or any of the old things facilitated by Omega Writers, happens by magic. There are no fairies who pop in to do all the work necessary. Yes, there is a solid team of volunteers, people who don’t get paid and who take very little credit.

If you have a heart for the writing network that is Omega Writers, and have skills you think might be useful to us – particularly administration or IT - please let us know.

Don’t forget to book in for our Zoom Retreat and get ready to be blessed.

Click here for more information and to book. 

Have you found your writing community?

By Tamara Wenham

Writing can be a solitary business, with long hours spent alone at a keyboard. That’s just the nature of the beast. While there’s no other way to get a book written than to sit down and slog it out, when you come up for air you need a strong writing community around you. Such a community can support you in your writing goals and provide valuable learning opportunities to deepen your knowledge about the writing craft.

Omega Writers: Australia’s Christian Writers Network aims to provide a supportive writing community for Christian writers to encourage, educate and equip them to be the very best writers they can be. 

Here are a few of the ways we do that:

Online masterclasses

Throughout the year Omega Writers runs online Masterclasses for writers to help them develop their writing craft and marketing skills. These masterclasses offer expert advice at an accessible price and are open to everyone. Omega members usually receive a further discount.

Our next masterclass is Hunting for History: Tracking Down Sources in Original Sources.

In this masterclass, you will learn about when and how to use archives or libraries for different research purposes. You will gain some tips and tricks for digging up archival gold from a range of collections, as well as how to tap into communities of fellow history hunters in Australia and abroad. The class will be led by professional archivist Tamara Wenham. 

Book now for Monday 7 August at 7.30pm AEST: https://www.trybooking.com/CJTHF

Chapter group events

Omega Writers is an Australia-wide network for Christian writers. We have chapter groups all over the country who hold regular meetings to support Christian writers in every stage of the creative journey. Our active Brisbane group is a great example of the benefits of a strong writer’s community. In fact, our Brisbane chapter contains many original members of Omega Writers!

In August, they are holding the Brisbane Omega Showcase. This is an opportunity for writers —both established and aspiring—to showcase their work in a supportive environment. The weekend will feature presentations from a range of writers and publishers as well as prize draws that offer practical assistance in the form of editing, proofreading and book vouchers.

Book now for 11-12 August 

Friday and Saturday: https://www.trybooking.com/CIDBQ 

Friday only: https://www.trybooking.com/CHZPW 

Saturday only: https://www.trybooking.com/CIDBC

Online Community

Communities these days aren’t just in person! Writers can benefit from a range of online writing communities that help them at all stages of their journey. If you are looking for a supportive online community, our Omega Writers Facebook Group is the place to ask all your questions about writing craft and Christian publishing. 

Join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/196006267212092.

Writing Prizes

Omega Writers also runs the CALEB Award. Each year we alternate between awards for published and unpublished writers. Our 2023 (Unpublished) finalists were recently announced on our Facebook page while our website is down for maintenance. Congratulations to all the finalists!