Writing Workshops

Devotion Writing Workshops

Why Do Our Kids Get All the Best Classes? 

Here’s one for grownups!

 Suitable for Sunday School teachers, pastors, moms & dads, students, and anyone else who would like to learn how to communicate spiritual truths in simple, engaging ways.

 Our Daily Bread, The Upper Room, Guideposts, Chicken Soup

·        Have you ever wished you could communicate spiritual truth in a way that is simple yet engaging?

 ·        Do you feel the desire to write for God, but don’t know how to begin?

 ·        Would you like to learn how to write short devotions for publication in your church newsletter, blog, print, or online media?

 ·        Would you like to learn how to craft spiritual “parables” for use in Sunday School lessons, sermons, or other devotional type speaking?

·        After you write, do you wonder, “What’s next?” 

 If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be just the student I’m looking for. 

Christian Devotion Writing Workshop Intensive

 What:  A 3-hour writing intensive that will teach you how to write a Christian devotional piece.

  


Did you know God can use your life experiences, spiritual insights, and unique perspective to impart spiritual truth to others? Learn how to connect your life lessons to God’s word in a way readers can understand.

Did you know the average reader will stay on a web page or engage an article for 10 seconds before moving on? Learn how to write a compelling hook that will draw a reader into the body of your message.

Did you know you can help others take steps of spiritual growth? Learn how to challenge your readers without making them feel “preached at.”

This is a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn a step-by-step process for writing a 400-500 word devotion.

These devotions can also be used as introductions to sermons, Sunday School lessons, or Bible studies.

 Who:  Adults and mature teens (age 15 and up). Teens must be strong writers with the ability to write a 4-paragraph essay.

 What else: You will receive take-home sheets of the class notes and a list of publications interested in considering YOUR devotional for publication. 

 Cost:  $25/participant with a minimum workshop fee of $250.

 Class Instructor: Lori Hatcher, editor of Reach Out, Columbia magazine, and author of two devotional books:  Hungry for God . . . Starving for Time and Joy in the Journey. Lori's articles and devotions have been published in numerous print and online publications such as Crosswalk.com, Evangel, P31, The Mother's Heart, Inspired Women and Columbia Metropolitan magazine.

If you'd like to host a 3-hour devotion writing workshop at your church, ladies' or men's ministry event, or other venue, please contact Lori at loriahatcher@gmail.com. 

Note: There is a $25/person charge for the workshop with a minimum fee of $250. All materials are provided.

Lori is also available to present these 1-hour writing workshops:

(Ask about cost information.)

Profoundly Simple - Crafting a Powerful Christian Blog Post

Spiritual truth doesn’t have to be complicated. Jesus, the master teacher, couched powerful, life-changing truth in simple stories. The Good Samaritan, The Prodigal Son, The Rich Young Ruler – these brief narratives resonate with us and continue to affect us every time we read them. His example gives us the template for how to write a successful blog post. 

In this fun, interactive workshop, Lori Hatcher shares a simple template for crafting a blog post that will capture readers’ attention, draw them into your story, impart spiritual truth, and challenge them with life-changing application.

 

She’ll teach what word count works best (Did you know that two of the parables listed above are less than 350 words?), how to write a winning title (10 tips for sure-fire search engine success), and how to make your reader feel ministered to, not preached at (We versus You).

Best of all, she’ll help her students realize how God can use their individual stories and life experiences to unlock spiritual treasures through the powerful medium of blogging.

Blog Formatting for Maximum Effectiveness

You’ve poured your heart out on the page and written some of your best work ever. You post it on your blog and wait for it to go viral. Instead, the only buzz you get is from the crickets chirping in the background. The only comments you receive are from your sister and Aunt Helen. What went wrong?

Unfortunately, creative genius isn’t enough to guarantee page views. Or readers for that matter. In this fast-paced workshop we’ll tackle the basics of how to format a blog post for maximum readability, shareability, and sustainability.

Why Writers Must Be Speakers

Most writers prefer the solitary confines of their writer’s cave, emerging only occasionally for family dinners and social gatherings. “I’m a writer, not a speaker,” they say, and retreat to the safety of their own company. Unfortunately, times have changed. Today’s increasingly public society requires that writers must also be speakers if they hope to have successful careers. As Christian writers, we must also answer the charge to be ready to “give a reason for the hope that lies within you.” From the elevator pitch, to the agent interview, to the speaking invitation that follows your book publication, writers must be prepared. This workshop will share nine reasons why writers must also be speakers.

Crafting a Compelling Presentation (Speaker Training Workshop)

You feel called to speak. You realize your life experiences and spiritual insight can make a difference in other people’s lives. You know what you want to say, but you aren’t sure how best to say it. Toastmasters International speaker Ryan Avery studied 25 years of the International Speech Contest winners to determine which elements are most important in crafting a memorable, moving, and motivational speech. He included these three elements in his speech, “Trust Is a Must,” and walked away as the 2012 Toastmasters International World Champion. In this workshop and with his permission, I share his three-step formula.

The Day I Wanted to Quit - Tackling the mind games that foul writers' thinking and distort their perspectives

Most writers leave a conference pumped up and empowered. Then they go home. The doubts, fears, and insecurities they left behind begin to whisper in their ears again. Head games—writers play them every day. Is winning the battle in our minds really just a matter of positive thinking, or does God have something to say about it? This workshop offers a mix of sound biblical truth, humor, and common sense to empower the most insecure writer to answer God’s call to write boldly for Him, regardless of his or her ability, experience, or education. Addressing the areas of comparison, insecurity, and competitiveness, we’ll examine the biblical roots of each issue, walk through a three-step personal evaluation, and craft a unique mission statement designed to silence the voices that imprison our writing potential.

Contact Lori at loriahatcher@gmailcom for more information about hosting a workshop.