Our History
Pictures from previous sessions--many from David LaBelle, 2023.
Thank you Shelly, Jean, and Sue!
From the announcement that we were meeting face to face in 2022, after two years of Zoom Sessions!
"We are excited to be celebrating our 20th year of the Cedar Falls Christian Writers Workshop! In addition to meeting new people, we hope that many of our previous attendees will come back for a reunion and celebrate with us. We are honored to have speakers this year who have "grown up" through the workshop, from just beginning their writing aspirations to becoming multi-published authors.
In our 20-year history, we've survived floods and tornado threats, but the COVID-19 pandemic was a disaster we just couldn't overcome. In 2020 and in 2021, we pivoted to holding our workshop virtually via Zoom, like so many others. We had successful turnouts both years and a great time exploring a variety of ways to stay engaged and make connections in a different kind of face-to-face environment.
We came back to the beautiful Riverview Conference Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa, to meet in person, on June 9-11, 2022. We have great sessions planned, but we intentionally allowed more space in the schedule with fewer breakouts, to supply attendees cushions for long-awaited networking with other writers and speakers. We know that part of what draws people to our writers' workshop, besides our qualified content each year, are the connections made and the sense of community that is built. (We have also been told our food is pretty good!)
If you have a desire to explore writing, return to writing, improve your writing or learn how to get published and marketed, the Cedar Falls Christian Writers Workshop has something to offer everyone who attends. Whether you're a published writer or not, this unique opportunity:
• improves your focus on your writing goals and commitment,
• strengthens your knowledge and skills,
• connects you with great resources and other Christian writers, and
• nourishes your spirit.
We especially love to see the transformation of people who come not knowing if they are writers or those whose eyes are opened wider about the options for their writing. You will arrive excited, and leave moved, motivated, and making steps forward."
Vision Statement
We welcome new writers, established writers, and everyone interested in the writer's craft. Our purpose is to glorify God and His Son Jesus Christ through all we do as we encourage others in the craft of writing.
Speakers at the Cedar Falls Christian Writers’ Workshop, 2003-2022:
2003 – Roger Palms and Jack Metzler
2004 – Sandra Aldrich, Jim and Terri Kraus
2005 – Lorilee Craker, Ann Byle and Tracy Groot
2006 – Carol Rottman, Travis Thrasher and Shelly Beach
2007 – Dr. Dennis E. Hensley, Laurie Winslow Sargent and Shelly Beach
2008 – Lynn Austin, Tim Beals and Shelly Beach
2009 – Dr. Dennis E. Hensley, Tracy Groot and Shelly Beach
2010 – Mark and Jeanette Littleton and Shelly Beach
2011 – Holly Miller, Shelly Beach, Jolene Philo and Jocelyn Green
2012 – Kevin Hansen, Shelly Beach, Jolene Philo, Jocelyn Green, Wanda Sanchez, Mary Potter Kenyon, Grant Tracey, Jean Vaux and Sue Schuerman
2013 – Ann Byle, Shelly Beach, Jolene Philo, Jocelyn Green, Wanda Sanchez, Mary Potter Kenyon, Jean Vaux, Sue Schuerman, Cherie Dargan, Dixie Phillips, Jeremy Schraffenberger and Dr. Vince Gotera
2014 – Cecil Murphey, Shelly Beach, Wanda Sanchez, Jolene Philo, Mary Potter Kenyon, Jean Vaux, Sue Schuerman and Clare Bills
2015 – James Watkins, Twila Belk, Shelly Beach, Wanda Sanchez, Jolene Philo, Mary Potter Kenyon, Mary Jedlicka Humston, Gail Kittleson, Clare Bills, Cherie Dargan, Linda Wiges, Jean Vaux and Sue Schuerman
2016 – Tamara Clymer, Shelly Beach, Mary Potter Kenyon, Mary Jedlicka Humston, Gail Kittleson, Sue Schuerman, Jean Vaux, Carrie Worthington, Jolene Philo and Ann Philo Fleck
2017 – Cynthia Ruchti, Shelly Beach, Wanda Sanchez, Jolene Philo, Ann Philo Fleck, Mary Potter Kenyon, Sue Schuerman, Jean Vaux, Cherie Dargan and Darcy Maulsby
2018 – Jocelyn Green, Shelly Beach, Mary Potter Kenyon, Mary E. Knippel, Jolene Philo, Ann Philo Fleck, Kailen Fleck, Cherie Dargan, Mary Jedlicka Humston, Gail Kittleson, Lyn Vandebrake, Darcy Maulsby, Jonathan Stull, Sara Broers, Jean Vaux
2019 – Tim Beals, Shelly Beach, Mary Potter Kenyon, Mary Potter Kenyon, Mary Jedlicka Humston, Jolene Philo, Ann Philo Fleck, Mary E. Knippel, Lyn Vandebrake, Jonathan Stull, Aaron Putze, Arvee Robinson, Steven Thompson
2020 VIRTUAL – James Watkins, Mary Potter Kenyon, Jean Vaux, Sue Schuerman, Anne Fleck, and Gail Kittleson
2021 VIRTUAL – Shelly Beach, Mary Potter Kenyon, Karen Strauss, Gail Kittleson, Sue Schuerman, Jean Vaux and Mackenzie Ryan Walters
2022 – Mary Potter Kenyon, Shelly Beach, Daniel Bernstrom, Gail Kittleson, Jolene Philo, Sue Schuerman and Jean Vaux
2023 -- Mary Potter Kenyon, Twila Belk, Linda McCann, Sheri Shonk, David LaBelle, Mary Jedlicka Humston, Shelly Beach, Wanda Sanchez, Steve Thompson, Ryan Howard, and Cherie Dargan.
So what are people saying about the conference?
"The conference was great. It gets better every year. I've seen great growth over the years, not only in numbers but also in content. Thanks."
"This was my first workshop, so I sincerely benefited from each session in different ways. The presenters overall were wonderful."
"Thank you for making this for beginners, too. It was not intimidating at all."
"The speakers were knowledgeable, funny, and intimate. I have been so blessed by this conference and can't think of anything I would change." www.cedarfallschristianwritersworkshop.org/
"The conference was great. It gets better every year. I've seen great growth over the years, not only in numbers but also in content. Thanks."
"This was my first workshop, so I sincerely benefited from each session in different ways. The presenters overall were wonderful."
"Thank you for making this for beginners, too. It was not intimidating at all."
"The speakers were knowledgeable, funny, and intimate. I have been so blessed by this conference and can't think of anything I would change."