Welcome to CWFI Online!

Christian Writers Fellowship International is a multi-service ministry to Christians in publishing. For 30 years we have encouraged and equipped writers to minister to readers with writing of the highest biblical and professional standards. We encourage them to make Jesus Christ - His love and gift of salvation - the centerpiece of every writing, teaching, and speaking opportunity. We urge them to use their writing and speaking gifts to do their part in fulfilling the Great Commission.

Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. —ROMANS 10:18, NIV

Cross & Quill—
The Christian Writers Newsletter:

Our organizational newsletter is produced bimonthly and features profiles of writers and editors, how-to articles, inspiration, market news, conference news, and many other features. Each issue of Cross & Quill features a professional member of the CWFI Family. To request a sample issue, click on the button marked "Cross & Quill" on the left hand margin of this page.

*In This Issue ...*
Colleen L. Reece is one of the pioneers of contemporary Christian publishing. She has been a great discipler for Christian writers through teaching at writers conference and through her workbook entitled Writing Smarter, Not Harder, The Workbook Way. She is the author more than 100 books and hundreds of magazine articles. Click here to view her extensive list of novels and other book products.
*Plus ...*
Writing an Effective Query by Sandy Brooks • This article defines queries (and e-queries) and gives helpful information on how to plan and write them. Poetry for Writers by Marlene Chase • Three poems from Marlene's pen which demonstrate ultimate beauty and craftsmanship in the writing of poems. Where to Find Article Ideas by Sue Tornai • Sue summarizes in a substantive fashion what we need to get going on writing and submitting our manuscripts. Book Video, Fad or Future by Sarah Bolme • Sarah, director of the Small Christian Publishers Association, gives points and insights on the recent trend toward putting together a book video to promote your book. What's New in Books for Writers by Cheryl L. Branche • Cheryl gives us a thumbnail on the new book by Kelly L. Stone entitled Time to Write: More than 100 Professional Writers Reveal How to Fit Writing into Your Busy Day. MarketLines by Jan White • Jan encourages writers to try writing and submitting seasonal material. The Gift of Your Words by Kay Hall • Kay tells how to use diverse resources on the Internet to produce quality products. After the Conference . . . Now What? by Johnnie Alexander Donley • Johnnie helps writers who have attended writers conferences to analyze and utilize the writing tools they have learned.	Writing Rainbows! by Jane Ault • Jane gives a devotional thought on waiting for God's perfect timing in publishing our work. Changing Lives a Few Words at the Time by Colleen L. Reece • Colleen explains that Christian writers have all the tools they need to write and make a difference in the lives of readers. Starting on the Right Foot, Part 1 by Dave Fessenden • Dave explains from an editor's point of view how to form a purpose statement which helps bring focus to the planning and writing of nonfiction books. Contests by Sheryl L. Nelms • An amusing poem on submitting to writers' contests. Creating Quality Characters by Ryan Barnhart • Ryan enlightens us on the why's and how's of creating quality characters for novels and short stories. How to Write for a Christian Teen Audience by Liesl Greathouse • Liesl, a teenager herself, gives excellent points and insights on how to successfully write stories for teenagers. Basics for an Inspirational Children's Story by Idella Bodie • A simple roadmap for planning and writing children's stories. From Water Wings to the High Dive: Easing Yourself into a Writers Group by Lisa Lawmaster Hess • Lisa encourages new and aspiring writers to get involved a writers group.

In addition to receiving hardcopies of Cross & Quill for one year, your benefits of full CWFI membership will include...

Help with Writing Skills: The introductory letter and elective sheet that comes with your first issue of Cross & Quill allows you to choose from a wide selection of instructional and how-to materials that will encourage and equip you in your writing career. Whether you are a beginning writer or well-published author we have materials that will meet your needs. Some show you the basics like how to prepare, format, and submit your manuscripts. Others teach you the business side of writing such as studying contracts, writing queries and cover letters, keeping records, tracking manuscripts, and many other tasks unique to writers.

One on one help: Through our critique service, market consultation service, and online access to the CWFI office we give individual help and attention to you and your writing career.

Books Direct: To view our wide variety of books for writers, visit our Books Direct page where you can choose from hundreds of how-to books and have them delivered right to your door.

Member Books: We help our authors promote their books to an international audience by featuring them on our Member Books page. This is a free service to the CWFI Family.

Connections: On our Connections page, we help you connect with Christian writers and groups near you. We offer help to group leaders by referring potential members from our database and by giving them free publicity in Cross & Quill. This is also a free service to members.

CWFI Family Email Conference: Writers from a wide variety of experience levels, editors, conference directors, and others in the publishing industry from all over the world join in online fellowship. We share information, experiences, prayer needs, and other support vital to the writing life. This is a free service to CWFI members and subscribers to Cross & Quill.

Help with contracts: We provide members with samples of book contracts that will answer many of their simple questions. The CWFI staff can provide answers to many simple questions about contracts. For more complex questions we can refer you to a good copyright lawyer.

Referrals when writing, editing, and teaching opportunities arise: Often editors and other individuals in Christian publishing need to find good writers, teachers, and editors. We help editors, publishers, and others "Connect" with professionals who can meet those needs.

Agents: We offer help and advice to our members for sifting through the complexities of finding and hiring any agent: guidelines for studying agent contracts; telling you what to look for and what to look out for; other things you need to know about agents and agenting. As an introduction to this subject click on the Cross & Quill link. Scroll down to "Recent articles in Cross & Quill." Then click on "This Side of the Desk." This article will familiarize you with the subject of agents.

Postal Address:	CWFI c/o Sandy Brooks 1624 Jefferson Davis Rd. Clinton, SC 29325-6401
Telephone:	864-697-6035
Email Addresses:	cwfi@cwfi-online.org sandybrooks@cwfi-online.org

United States and U.S. Territories
1-Year Full CWFI Membership:	$45.00
2-Year Full CWFI Membership:	$85.00
3-Year Full CWFI Membership:	$120.00
1-Year Subscription to Cross & Quill:	$25.00
2-Year Subscription to Cross & Quill:	$48.00
3-Year Subscription to Cross & Quill:	$70.00
Canada
1-Year Full CWFI Membership:	$47.00
1-Year Subscription to Cross & Quill:	$27.00
2-Year Subscription to Cross & Quill:	$49.00
3-Year Subscription to Cross & Quill:	$76.00
Outside North America
1-Year Full CWFI Membership:	$50.00
1-Year Subscription to Cross & Quill:	$35.00
2-Year Subscription to Cross & Quill:	$65.00
3-Year Subscription to Cross & Quill:	$90.00

Payment in U.S. Funds Only

Join or Renew Online Now!

"We look forward to facilitating your career
in Christian publishing!"