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Whether you’re a beginning or experienced writer, interested in fiction or nonfiction, you will be inspired while learning about the craft of writing at the Blue Lake Christian Writers Retreat to be held March 20 – 23.

In classes taught by seasoned professionals, you will learn how to improve your writing, market your manuscripts, and get published.  Workshops include writing for children, poetry, memoir, devotional messages, magazine articles, novels, as well as other subjects. Editors and publishers are among those professionals.

The retreat is directed by Marilyn Turk, who is a published Christian author. Her work has been published in Guideposts Magazine, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Lighthouse Digest, The Upper Room as well as several other magazines. She has published 20 award-winning books and novellas.

The Blue Lake Christian Writers Retreat is three nights and three days at the beautiful Blue Lake Methodist Camp, surrounded by the Conecuh National Forest. The camp is located on Highway 137, approximately 22 miles south of Andalusia, Alabama. Commuters in daily driving distance from Blue Lake Methodist Camp are also welcomed to attend one day or more.

It will include praise and worship along with keynote addresses. Participants can choose from three continuing classes and 12 afternoon workshops, which offer a range of information about various aspects of writing, both fiction and nonfiction. Subject areas also include marketing your writing, launching your book and more.

“The faculty are outstanding,” according to Turk. An editor for Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse Magazine for children ages 8 to 12 and Clubhouse, Jr. for ages 3 – 7 will teach on writing for children. Dr. John Herring, publisher with Iron Stream Media, will teach a workshop on writing Bible studies.

Turk says, “Everyone will be able to get something out of this conference. Good writing is good writing. This conference will teach you how to format a story, articles or a devotion.” The retreat is also open to all ages.

“This retreat is very motivating. It should help you, as a writer, to clarify your goals. It can help you decide what you want to do, what you need to work on and show you your strengths and weaknesses.”

Another good reason to attend the retreat is to open up opportunities. These kinds of things open up doors to be published. One-on-one critique sessions can be scheduled. “There’s a lot of social networking. It’s a really good platform for writers,” says Turk.

Reserve your place at Blue Lake Christian Writers Retreat now because space is limited. To find out more information about housing and meals, as well as registration fees for the entire conference or specific days, visit bluelakecwr.com.