Schedule 2026
The MSCWC schedule overflows with opportunities for you to interact with the faculty and each other as you study the craft and business of being a professional writer. If your faculty member has prepared a handout, it will be available in class.
ALL EVENTS take place at CENTRAL CHURCH, 2005 Winchester Road, Collierville, TN 38017
Friday, March 20
11:00 AM
Bookstore table setup
Bookstore tables must be reserved upon registration, first come, first served.
12:00 PM
Check-in for Friday Workshops; Bookstore Opens
Friday classes are an optional add-on NOT included in Saturday registration.
1:00-4:00 PM
Friday Workshops
The Author’s Journey: From Concept to Publication Led by Kay and Frank DiBianca
Explore A Freelance Editing Career Led by Alycia Morales
Is AI Your Writing Ally or a Threat to Your Creativity? Led by Liana George
Hooked on the Start: Fiction First Pages Critique — This is a hands-on class limited to six participants. If you want to participate email midsouthchristianwriters@gmail.com Led by Johnnie Alexander
5:00-7:00 PM
Meet & Greet
Light dinner is included for anyone attending Friday or Saturday classes.
You may bring a guest for $5 per person but you must reserve your spot during registration to ensure we order enough food.
Saturday, March 21
8:00 AM
Registration and one-on-one signups; Bookstore & Prayer Room open
One-on-One appointments will meet all day in the Middle School Room. It’s fine to slip out of your class to attend your one-on-one appointment, then return to class.
9:00 AM
Welcome & Announcements
Karla Lewis, emcee
9:30 AM
First Keynote
DiAnn Mills
10:30 AM
Break/Bookstore/Prayer room
10:45 AM
First Workshops
Johnnie Alexander: Turning Back Time: Writing Fiction Rooted in the Past
Alycia Morales: Creative Ways to Supplement Your Writing Income
April Thompson: Your Appearance Should Be as Polished as Your Prose
David Bennett: How to Guarantee Your Manuscript Will Be Rejected or SMH (Shaking My Head)
11:45-1:00 PM
BOOKSTORE/PRAYER ROOM
12:00 PM
Lunch
"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might
ecc. 9:10
1:00 PM
Second Workshops
Annette Marie Griffin: Writing for a Middle-Grade Audience (Without Sounding Cheesy or Preachy)
Shannon Leach: Picture Your Path: Defining and Designing the Writing Journey That is Unique to You
DiAnn Mills: Writing Personal Tragedies with Grace
Dell Self: Pages of Wisdom: Building Authority & Leaving a Legacy (Share What You Know. Impact Who You Love)
2:00 PM
Break/Bookstore/Prayer Room
2:15 PM
Third Workshops
Patricia Bradley: Crafting Engaging Dialogue – Moving Beyond ‘He Said, She Said’
Annette Marie Griffin: How to Broaden Your Online Audience by Using Google Analytics and Best SEO Practices
Delores Topliff and Loretta Eidson: Four Goals to Achieve in Writing Fiction
Diane Turpin: Book Cover Design — Putting a Face on Your Book
3:15 PM
Break/Bookstore/Prayer Room
3:30 PM
Second Keynote
DiAnn Mills
4:45 PM
Conclusion
Karla Lewis, emcee
5:00 PM
Conference Ends