Schedule for 2026 Southern Christian Writers Conference
The 2026 Southern Christian Writers Conference (SCWC) will take place on June 19-20 at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama. The SCWC is the flagship event of our organization, and features keynote presentations; 26 + workshops on a wide variety of writing genres and topics; a book room for authors to share their books; 1-on-1 consultations with editors, publishers, and author coaches; three meals; awards ceremony for the SCWC Writing Awards; worship and prayer opportunities; a share & critique party; fellowship with other writers; publishing opportunities; virtual access to sessions; and much more! (If you haven't signed up yet, that information is at the end of this post.)
Note:
Sessions marked with asterisks ** will also be available virtually.
Workshops are not assigned rooms on this schedule; the final schedule will include those.
You don’t have to select workshops ahead of time; you will simply attend the ones you wish at the conference.
Look for a separate post with workshop descriptions .
Workshops are not assigned rooms on this schedule; the final schedule will include those.
You don’t have to select workshops ahead of time; you will simply attend the ones you wish at the conference.
Look for a separate post with workshop descriptions .
THIS IS A TENTATIVE SCHEDULE AND IS SUBJECT TO SLIGHT CHANGES.
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
(The Thursday event is only for those registering/purchasing it as an add-on to the conference.)
6:00 p.m.: Doors open for Share & Critique Party
6:30-8:00 p.m.: Share & Critique Party
FRIDAY, JUNE 19
11:00 a.m: Check-in begins (until 12:45 p.m.)
12:00 p.m.: “SCWC 101: Tips for First Timers,” with Stephanie Rodda
12:45 p.m.: Worship music & gathering **
BOOK ROOM, PRAYER ROOM, & OTHER AREAS OPEN
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
(The Thursday event is only for those registering/purchasing it as an add-on to the conference.)
6:00 p.m.: Doors open for Share & Critique Party
6:30-8:00 p.m.: Share & Critique Party
FRIDAY, JUNE 19
11:00 a.m: Check-in begins (until 12:45 p.m.)
12:00 p.m.: “SCWC 101: Tips for First Timers,” with Stephanie Rodda
12:45 p.m.: Worship music & gathering **
BOOK ROOM, PRAYER ROOM, & OTHER AREAS OPEN
1 p.m.: Opening Session: “Welcome to the 2026 SCWC” **
2 p.m.: Workshops #1
1. “ Plotting and P.O.V. in Fiction” with Ellen Sallas **
2. “Persistence in the Writing Journey “ with Kristy Ensor
3. “Christian Book Publishing Today” with John Herring **
4. “Writing Devotionals that Speak to the Heart” with Cindy Sproles **
5. “Organizational Skills for the Writing Life” with McKenna Erwin **
6. “Brainstorming with SCWC Staff” with Shirley Crowder
3 p.m.: Workshops #2
1. “Telling and Writing Stories for Children” with Linda Holloway **
2. “Writing for Lifeway Publications” with David Bennett **
3. “Creative Marketing Techniques” with Tanya Eavenson **
4. “The Joy of Creativity: Tips for Enhancing Productivity and Finding Joy in your Writing” with Christopher Sloan
5. “Group Coaching Workshop” with Sue Mohr
6. “Brainstorming with SCWC Staff” with Cheryl Wray
4 p.m: Break time
BOOK ROOM OPEN
5 p.m.: DINNER
Joanne Sloan National Award for the Encouragement of Writers presentation
6 p.m.: Keynote Presentation, “Father Goose and the Power of Poetry and Picture Books” with Charles Ghigna **
7:15 p.m.: Workshops #3
1. “Generating Ideas for your Writing” with Joanne Sloan
2. “So You Want to Write a Cozy Mystery” with Deborah Malone and S.C. Merritt **
3. “Writing Bible Studies that Lead Scripture Speak for Itself” with Heather Iseminger **
4. “Writing for Denominational Publications” with Dianna Cagle
5. “Brainstorming with SCWC Staff” with Stephanie Rodda
8-8:30 p.m.: Breakout Sessions
(Small discussion groups on the following topics: social media marketing, podcasting, creating coloring books on Amazon, time management, audiobooks, writing church histories, publishing with SCWC Books, and more)
8-9:00 p.m.:
BOOK ROOM OPEN
PRAYER STATIONS OPEN
9 p.m: Doors close for the night
SATURDAY, JUNE 20
8:00 a.m.: Check in & BREAKFAST
BOOK ROOM, PRAYER ROOM & OTHER AREAS OPEN
9 a.m.: Opening Session: “Welcome Back for Day 2”
9:30: a.m. Workshops #4
1. “Travel Writing Road Map: Pitch, Plan, Produce” with Valerie Luesse **
2. “The Rights of the Writer” with Heather Iseminger
3. “How Spiritual Gifts Shape your Words” with Shirley Crowder **
4. “Newsletters for Authors” with Tanya Eavenson **
5. “Brainstorming with SCWC Staff,” with Vernet Nettles
10:30 a.m.: Workshops #5
1. “The Nuts and Bolts of Self Publishing” with Steve and Laura Young **
2. “Feature Stories that Shine” with Solomon Crenshaw **
3. “Finding and Following Gods Purpose for your Writing” with Anna Nash
4. “Writing as Outreach: Reaching Readers with Hope” with Vernet Nettles
5. “Substack Simplified” with Stephanie Miller **
6. “Brainstorming with SCWC Staff,” with Diana Cagle
11:30 a.m.: LUNCH
12:30 p.m.: Keynote Presentation, “To Tell the Truth” with Cindy Sproles **
1:30 p.m.: Workshops #6
1. “A Novella Approach” with Stephanie Rodda **
2. “First Person: Writing from your Personal Experience” with Javacia Bowser **
3. “Querying and Writing Magazine Articles” with Cheryl Wray **
4. “Group Coaching Workshop” with Sue Mohr
5. “Brainstorming with SCWC Staff” with McKenna Erwin
2:15 p.m.: Break
BOOK ROOM and other areas open
3:00 p.m.: Question and Answer Panel **
3:30 p.m.: Closing Session **
Door Prizes
2026 SCWC Writing Awards ceremony **
_____________________________
We are already praying for the 2026 Southern Christian Writers Conference! We have prayerfully sought our leaders, and believe that they will provide you with quality information and meaningful encouragement.
Email Coordinator Cheryl Wray at scwritersconference@gmail.com if you have questions.
If you have friends, fellow writers, or others who may be interested in attending the Southern Christian Writers Conference, registration is open! (The deadline to register is June 15, but we’ll close registration when it reaches attendance of 160; we anticipate that will happen before the deadline, so sign up if you want to attend!) If you can't attend in person, but want to sign up for virtual access you can also do that at the form below.
REGISTRATION FORM LINK HERE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdduaqNdMx4YyzXEyi-XAbFCzaNxTEeZ6ao7HzfLTqzVPwDXA/viewform?usp=header
For more information about the conference:
2 p.m.: Workshops #1
1. “ Plotting and P.O.V. in Fiction” with Ellen Sallas **
2. “Persistence in the Writing Journey “ with Kristy Ensor
3. “Christian Book Publishing Today” with John Herring **
4. “Writing Devotionals that Speak to the Heart” with Cindy Sproles **
5. “Organizational Skills for the Writing Life” with McKenna Erwin **
6. “Brainstorming with SCWC Staff” with Shirley Crowder
3 p.m.: Workshops #2
1. “Telling and Writing Stories for Children” with Linda Holloway **
2. “Writing for Lifeway Publications” with David Bennett **
3. “Creative Marketing Techniques” with Tanya Eavenson **
4. “The Joy of Creativity: Tips for Enhancing Productivity and Finding Joy in your Writing” with Christopher Sloan
5. “Group Coaching Workshop” with Sue Mohr
6. “Brainstorming with SCWC Staff” with Cheryl Wray
4 p.m: Break time
BOOK ROOM OPEN
5 p.m.: DINNER
Joanne Sloan National Award for the Encouragement of Writers presentation
6 p.m.: Keynote Presentation, “Father Goose and the Power of Poetry and Picture Books” with Charles Ghigna **
7:15 p.m.: Workshops #3
1. “Generating Ideas for your Writing” with Joanne Sloan
2. “So You Want to Write a Cozy Mystery” with Deborah Malone and S.C. Merritt **
3. “Writing Bible Studies that Lead Scripture Speak for Itself” with Heather Iseminger **
4. “Writing for Denominational Publications” with Dianna Cagle
5. “Brainstorming with SCWC Staff” with Stephanie Rodda
8-8:30 p.m.: Breakout Sessions
(Small discussion groups on the following topics: social media marketing, podcasting, creating coloring books on Amazon, time management, audiobooks, writing church histories, publishing with SCWC Books, and more)
8-9:00 p.m.:
BOOK ROOM OPEN
PRAYER STATIONS OPEN
9 p.m: Doors close for the night
SATURDAY, JUNE 20
8:00 a.m.: Check in & BREAKFAST
BOOK ROOM, PRAYER ROOM & OTHER AREAS OPEN
9 a.m.: Opening Session: “Welcome Back for Day 2”
9:30: a.m. Workshops #4
1. “Travel Writing Road Map: Pitch, Plan, Produce” with Valerie Luesse **
2. “The Rights of the Writer” with Heather Iseminger
3. “How Spiritual Gifts Shape your Words” with Shirley Crowder **
4. “Newsletters for Authors” with Tanya Eavenson **
5. “Brainstorming with SCWC Staff,” with Vernet Nettles
10:30 a.m.: Workshops #5
1. “The Nuts and Bolts of Self Publishing” with Steve and Laura Young **
2. “Feature Stories that Shine” with Solomon Crenshaw **
3. “Finding and Following Gods Purpose for your Writing” with Anna Nash
4. “Writing as Outreach: Reaching Readers with Hope” with Vernet Nettles
5. “Substack Simplified” with Stephanie Miller **
6. “Brainstorming with SCWC Staff,” with Diana Cagle
11:30 a.m.: LUNCH
12:30 p.m.: Keynote Presentation, “To Tell the Truth” with Cindy Sproles **
1:30 p.m.: Workshops #6
1. “A Novella Approach” with Stephanie Rodda **
2. “First Person: Writing from your Personal Experience” with Javacia Bowser **
3. “Querying and Writing Magazine Articles” with Cheryl Wray **
4. “Group Coaching Workshop” with Sue Mohr
5. “Brainstorming with SCWC Staff” with McKenna Erwin
2:15 p.m.: Break
BOOK ROOM and other areas open
3:00 p.m.: Question and Answer Panel **
3:30 p.m.: Closing Session **
Door Prizes
2026 SCWC Writing Awards ceremony **
_____________________________
We are already praying for the 2026 Southern Christian Writers Conference! We have prayerfully sought our leaders, and believe that they will provide you with quality information and meaningful encouragement.
Email Coordinator Cheryl Wray at scwritersconference@gmail.com if you have questions.
If you have friends, fellow writers, or others who may be interested in attending the Southern Christian Writers Conference, registration is open! (The deadline to register is June 15, but we’ll close registration when it reaches attendance of 160; we anticipate that will happen before the deadline, so sign up if you want to attend!) If you can't attend in person, but want to sign up for virtual access you can also do that at the form below.
REGISTRATION FORM LINK HERE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdduaqNdMx4YyzXEyi-XAbFCzaNxTEeZ6ao7HzfLTqzVPwDXA/viewform?usp=header
For more information about the conference:
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