Are You Ready for Fall Conference?

 YES!!!

Fall Conference will be live this year in Edmonton at the Providence Renewal Centre. If you haven't registered yet, visit our website. It looks like a fantastic line-up including our keynote, poet DS Martin.

AND... we ARE offering a virtual option! Check the website for details!

Here is the link:  

https://inscribe.org/events/fall-conference

See you there!

Fall Conference 2021!

Registration For Inscribe's Fall Conference is now open!

We are excited to announce that Fall Conference will be an IN-PERSON event again this year! Save the dates: Thursday, September 30 to Saturday, October 2, 2021, at the Providence Renewal Centre in Edmonton Alberta.

God’s Word Never Changes - Certainty in an uncertain time

Lamentations 3: 22- 23 

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness. (NKJ) 

Keynote: DS Martin - Canadian Poet

The event includes our annual Thursday evening Author's mixer, a variety of workshops, plus "open space" options. Join us on Saturday for our AGM. 

To get the entire scoop, AND TO REGISTER, visit our website: https://inscribe.org/events/fall-conference/

Fall Conference AND Fall Contest

Two exciting "Fall" roll-outs happening in June!

Fall Conference

InScribe's Fall Conference 2021 is happening IN PERSON at the Providence Renewal Centre in Edmonton from September 30 to October 2! 

DS Martin, well-known Canadian poet, is our keynote! Plus there are a lot of other workshops lined up! Registration opens on June 21 so keep your eyes open!

For more, check out our Fall Conference page on the website:  https://inscribe.org/events/fall-conference/

Fall Contest

Our annual Fall Contest for members opens on June 1. There are several favourite categories plus some new ones: Poetry, Creative Non-fiction, Children's Fiction, Devotional AND Published Work from 2020!

Great prizes, a chance for possible publication in our magazine, plus so much more. Winners will be announced at Fall Conference.

Check it out here: https://inscribe.org/contests/fall-contest/

Wondering about entering a contest? Watch all or part of this intensive workshop on entering contests - All the whys and hows!

Fall Conference - Get Ready!

Fall Conference 2020 is fast approaching:“Writing with Unflinching Boldness"

If you're planning to attend, here is a fantastic link to help you prepare for such a virtual event!

Now, more about our keynote speaker Randal Rauser

Randal is a seminary professor, husband, dad, and writer. He has authored many theological articles as well as the books What’s So Confusing About Faith?, An Athiest and a Christian Walk into a Bar… and A Swedish Atheist, a Scuba Diver, and other Apologetic Rabbit Trails, among others.

Randal is also providing a Workshop,“Perils and Promises of Writing for Yourself". This seminar explores the tension between writing for the audience and writing for the author, and considers how the audience can be found as the author writes for him or herself. For mroe on all the workshops check out this link: https://inscribe.org/events/fall-conference/fall-conference-2019/keynote-speaker-and-workshops/

Register now! 

Fall Conference Goes Virtual!

Due to Covid 19, the ICWF Annual Fall Conference will be online this coming September. 

Several members of the executive held a 'Mock/Trial' Conference in late May to work the 'bugs' out and it proved to be an amazing amount of fun, PLUS it went smoothly. So, never fear! Even if you think you aren't 'tech savvy' this year's conference is for you! When you register you can state whether you want help getting set up and we will have someone ready and willing to assist.

Registration is NOW OPEN at this link. There will be door prizes, workshops, speakers, awards, the fall contest winners, blue pencil, the AGM and so much more. Go to the link above for all the details.

Thankful for My InScribe Family - Tracy Krauss

Friend and fellow member Sheila Webster texted me shortly after Fall Conference with these four questions:
1. What are three takeaways from conference?
2. What is one thing you wish you'd said or done?
3. Who were you happy to see?
4. What are you inspired to write for the Kingdom?

I had to ponder these questions for awhile. My mind (and heart) were so full that I couldn't process my thoughts, let alone articulate them. 

Initially, I wrote (and this is me being brutally honest): "I am unequal to the task of being president!" and, "There is still so much I need to learn!" but I knew in my spirit that this was my exhaustion talking. Fortunately, my third takeaway, "I love my InScribe family!" helped me refocus on God's goodness and resonated with me into the next morning. 

As I continued to ponder, I realized that the most important thing about the weekend for me was something that I had shared with Dayna Mazzuca, another friend and member, on her way out the door at the end of conference. I was excited to share my 'revelation' with her, since she was instrumental a few years ago in helping the executive zero in on who we are as an organization so that we could write our mission and purpose statements. In case you missed it, the shortened state of our purpose is:

We minister to writers, so they can minister to others. That's a bold and powerful statement. (Credited to Sheila Webster?)

Anyway, I managed to convey to Dayna how grateful I felt for her skill in helping us define who we are, because... We fulfilled our PURPOSE at conference because PEOPLE WERE MINISTERED TO! 

I've been reading through the post conference evaluations and over and over again this same theme keeps coming up. People were moved by the worship; touched during the morning devotional times. (Thanks to Ron, Charity and of course, the Holy Spirit!) People loved the connectedness, the personal nature of the open space concept, the powerful doxology that was sung at the last gathering, and the feeling that God was present. In short, those that attended kept relaying that same message: they had been MINISTERED TO. 

Yes, there was also some wonderful teaching and I came away with a lot of new information. As always, a highlight for me was seeing my InScribe family in person. I truly love and appreciate the deep relationships I have gained over the years. You truly feel like FAMILY to me, and because of that I know I can lay aside any sense of inadequacy because the grace of Christ dwells among us. Yet, the wonder of God's Almighty presence is what struck me most about this year's conference. It literally permeated the air. 

I finally settled on these three takeaways:
1. We fulfilled out purpose in that we ministered to the writers who were present.
2. God's presence was felt in a powerful way - from the worship, to the devotionals, to the doxology, and everything in between.
3. Even the skeptics left with a sense that God did something new at FC this year. 

As for the rest of my answers, well, perhaps that is for another time.

Tracy Krauss writes from her home in northern BC. 
As InScribe's current president, she is well aware of her shortcomings, but is thankful that God still uses "cracked pots." Visit her website: tracykrauss.com  -fiction on the edge without crossing the line-

Come to the Well - Carol Harrison

Come to the Well

I arrived at the fall conference filled with a combination of excitement and skepticism about the new format of Open Concept for the workshops. I also came in expectancy of how God would refresh my weary body and soul as I came to the well. The theme reminded me of the opportunity for gathering as a community of writers, who are Christian, to be encouraged, challenged and refreshed through sharing of ideas. But I really looked forward to the time of worship which would begin our days. 


Praise songs started each day of the conference. It did not matter where we came from, what backgrounds we represented or even what or how much we wrote. We worshiped God, the creator of all, the giver of skills and abilities and accepted his invitation to come and be present with him.

Charity Mongrain's object lesson on Friday morning has remained a vivid picture in my mind. Dipping the glass pen into the ink well only allows a short burst of writing - a few words really before it needs to be dipped again. O Lord how you long for me to come to the well over and over again throughout each day to receive from you all I need to meet the needs of the day. How often do I try and fill up a supply of ink in my well and nourishment for my soul in one quick dip, hoping it will last for the day or even more.

Saturday morning Ron Hughes challenged us to remember whose we are and to take up the name of the Lord our God as we act like Jesus followers in this dark and broken world. Others will see our Saviour reflected in us and want to come to the well like the Samaratin woman did - to meet with Jesus. He waits for us to come and longs for the relationship we have with him to deepen.

We lifted our voices in song. We were lifted up in prayer and challenged to be with Jesus daily, hourly, even minute by minute at the well of His Word where he offers to fill us up. The decorations also gave us the visual clue of the theme. We were invited to come to the big well filled with verses. Each one had been  written  after being prayed over by the prayer team. A mailbox stood waiting to accept our prayer requests.

My verse was Psalm 46:10, "He says, "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

I came needing a time of refreshing. God reminded me through worship, devotions, a verse from the well to rest in Him, to worship him no matter what circumstances I find myself in,  and to join together in community, encouraging and lifting each other up.

Before any sessions began, I felt God had met my needs. The sessions gave me opportunity to share with others as we discussed together how to write tight for great impact, how to use writing as healing and what that might mean as well as how to find time in our busy lives to write. The open concept allowed all to contribute to each workshop or to listen and absorb what others said. It also provided me with the opportunity to give myself permission to simply be in a place to visit or colour or use a writing prompt.

I came to the well of refreshing through praising God. I came to the well of community and left with ideas, books, new contacts and knowing once again I am not alone in this writing journey. God is so good. He provides all that we need. His mercies are new every morning.

As a speaker, published author and storyteller, Carol Harrison is passionate about mentoring people of all ages and abilities to help them find their voice and reach their fullest potential. She shares from her heart, telling stories from real life experiences and God’s Word to encourage people and help them find a glimmer of hope no matter what the circumstances. She believes we need to continuously grow in our walk with God and lives out her storytelling passion by speaking at women’s events and retreats, Bible Camps as well as school assemblies and church events. Carol is a wife, mother of four adult children and grandmother to twelve. She makes her home is Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

An Ode To Autumn by Bob Jones

I wasn’t able to attend InScribe’s Fall Conference. That was a loss for me. However, Charity Mongrain let me know I was named the winner of an InScribe award.

True story. I have own only two awards for my writing. Both times I was not able attend the conference. Now I face a dilemma – the next time I enter a contest, should I stay away or show up? Advice solicited.

As I have not attended any recent conferences I offer you an ode to my favorite season. Autumn.

A change is in the air.

It’s in the breeze, in the trees, inside each and every one of us. And somewhere, not far off, the smoke of backyard firepits is seasoning the darkening sky.

Each year October arrives all bluster and invites us to stay outside and enjoy a few more days of color and light. Some deem the season after summer in the prairies as “fall.” I like the eastern term, “autumn.”

All too quickly, leaves change color and fall to the ground, where they await to be raked into clear plastic bags or bonfires. In autumn we go back to school, back to work, and back to the future.

Our beach chairs were packed away while envisioning next summer’s dreams. We unpack our woollen socks. In autumn we stop to watch the trees and their painted leaves. We watch the skies for geese and listen for rain. We settle into long pants, sturdy boots and trusty raincoats. This time of year, we remember our love for pumpkin spice in lattes and pies. We purchase bushels of apples and bake with buckets of cinnamon.

Each year, autumn reminds us to return to routines that anchor our lives in time. We relive glory days. We gather together in football stadiums, and around October tables.  In the shadow of shortening days we retell tales of gridiron glory and harvest bounty.

Autumn is the story of life, of how endings follow beginnings and time always leads to new beginnings. Autumn gives us a better perspective on the full story of our lives – discovery and loss; sacrifice and surprise; an eternal rhythm that keeps us whole.

This autumn, harvest all the light and life, and goodness that you can. Embrace the season for all its worth before the winds of winter begin to billow.

I am a recovering perfectionist who collects Coca-Cola memorabilia and drinks iced tea. My walls are adorned with our sons’ framed football jerseys, and my bookshelves, with soul food. 

I write to grow hope, inspire people to be real, forge an authentic faith in Jesus, and discover their life purpose.

Please follow my writing at REVwords.com

Fall Conference - Approaching Fast!

In one month from now, it will all be over! But it's not too late to register for this year's exciting InScribe Fall Conference held at the lovely and tranquil Providence Renewal Centre in Edmonton. 

You can read more about this year's revolutionary 'Open Space' concept here or here. 

Our keynote for the Friday banquet is Sigmund Brouwer - award winning author and long time friend of InScribe! Don't miss it! 

To register, go to our website: inscribe.org

Fall Conference OPEN SPACE!

This year's Fall Conference is fast approaching and we are SO excited about the new format that we are trying this year. OPEN SPACE is coming to Fall Conference, and yes, it is a bit scary but very exciting, too!

What is OPEN SPACE?

In this model we do not have any workshops pre-planned, but will be utilizing the ideas of those who come to conference.

It will be structured but in an 'unstructured' kind of way. There will be an initial gathering where the concept will be explained and people will have a chance to share their ideas of what they would like to focus on/learn about. Then we will break into groups based on interest.

Colleen McCubbin has hosted more than one of these events so she will be our 'lead', but based on feedback from her events (not just from her but from other people who've attended them), it actually is a very satisfying experience. People learn what they want to learn - not arbitrary topics that might not really apply to them. Also, because of the interactive nature of the whole event, there are a lot more 'aha' moments. As a teacher, let me give you an analogy from the classroom: think of it as the difference between students listening to a lecture or collaboratively working together on a project. Learning takes place in both cases, and sometimes the second option might appear to be somewhat 'chaotic', but in the end, students tend to remember the second scenario more and feel as if they actually ingested and used the info rather than just 'in one ear and out the other'.

The person responsible for the suggestion during the initial gathering may act as the facilitator, but does not necessarily have to be 'in charge'. This means if you have a topic that you are passionate about you can come prepared to talk about it, (remembering that whether the topic of discussion actual ‘flies’ is totally dependent on attendee interest.) Conversely, if there is something you really want to learn more about but have no clue where to begin, you can suggest that as well and those that are also interested or have some knowledge will gather to share what they know.

Several people, such as exec who are comfortable doing so or others that Colleen may contact, will come prepared as 'back up' facilitators in case attendees are too shy/confused/intimidated to put topics up on the board. (In other words, we may have a few ‘plants’ to make sure it runs smoothly or to make sure one person doesn’t monopolize any particular group or turn it into a lecture.)

The 'laws' of open space will be clearly set out beforehand - example: 'the law of two feet' which means people can get up and leave any session and join another at any time. This means that the previous scenario probably won't happen because only those who want to be there will stay.

It's a lot to take in and will be a huge change, but I am excited about seeing it in action. Colleen did give us some links for more information in her article in FellowScript which may also help to explain it better.

Hope this helps to de-mystify the concept somewhat. I am super stoked about the event and can hardly wait to see how it will all work.