2018 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS & classes
PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS THE WORKSHOP SCHEDULE FROM 2018. THE 2019 SCHEDULE WILL BE SIMILAR, BUT INDIVIDUAL CLASSES AND CLINICIANS WILL CHANGE. WE HAVE INCLUDED THE 2018 SCHEDULE TO ACQUAINT YOU WITH THE PACE OF THE WAJ WEEKEND.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11
5 p.m. Shuttle leaves hotel for workshop Holiday Inn Express
5-7 p.m. Registration/Check In Atrium
6 p.m. Master Class Concert Worship Center
7 p.m. Worship, Welcome and Introductions Worship Center
7:30-8 p.m. Compass Groups (Registrants will be assigned to a Compass Group when you check in at the workshop.)
LIVE CO-WRITE with Joel Lindsey and Jeff Bumgardner
PANEL: MAKING YOURSELF MORE PRODUCTIVE
Holly Zabka (Moderator), Lee Black, Simon Hawkins, Donna King, Jason Clayborn
PANEL: HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS WEEKEND
Dennis Dearing (Moderator), Dave Clark, Kenna West, James Tealy
PANEL: THE LIFE AND HABITS OF A PROFESSIONAL SONGWRITER
Joe Dan Cornett (Moderator) Tony Wood, Cliff Duren, Zane King
PANEL: NAVIGATING YOUR FIRST CO-WRITES
Phil Mehrens (Moderator) Belinda Smith, Krissy Nordhoff, Michael Farren
9:10 p.m. DISMISS
9:30 p.m. SHUTTLE LEAVES FOR HOTEL
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12
7:45 a.m. Shuttle leaves hotel for workshop
8 a.m. Breakfast Chapel
Late Registration Chapel
9 a.m. Worship, Announcements and Devotions Chapel
9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
PANEL: FANNING YOUR CREATIVE SPARK INTO A FLAME
James Tealy (Moderator), Krissy Nordhoff, Kenna West, Jason Clayborn
LYRIC WRITING: THE BASICS AND BEYOND
Tony Wood
WRITING GREAT MELODIES
Lee Black and Belinda Smith
GETTING ORGANIZED: Strategies for making every minute count in your writing.
Simon Hawkins
LEARNING STRUCTURE FROM THE SONGS YOU ALREADY LOVE
Sue C. Smith
OPEN CRITIQUING
Sign up at the registration table and get a song heard and evaluated by one of our professionals. This is not part of the WAJ competition, but it’s your chance to get great feedback in a relaxed setting.
ALUMNI ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING
Write About Jesus alumni will get valuable career counseling from one of our publishers or music industry pros (by appointment and for alumni only). Sign up during registration.
FRIDAY
11 a.m. - NOON
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENRES
Holly Zabka, Joel Lindsey
WRITING GREAT MELODIES
James Tealy, Jason Clayborn
LYRIC WRITING: DIGGING DEEPER
Dave Clark
HOW TO TAP INTO YOUR CREATIVITY (EVEN WHEN YOU BIG FAT DON’T FEEL LIKE IT)
Belinda Smith
OPEN CRITIQUING
ALUMNI ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING
12:15 p.m. Alumni Café Chapel
12:30 p.m. Lunch Chapel
FRIDAY
1:15 - 2:15 p.m.
PANEL: BUILDING A SONG PEOPLE WANT TO SING
Simon Hawkins (Moderator Jason Clayborn, Michael Farren, Krissy Nordhoff
MAKING THE MOST OF THE KEY MOMENTS IN YOUR SONG
Sue C. Smith
ROYALTIES, PRO’S, PUBLISHING, AND WHAT YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST KNOW
Joe Dan Cornett
SONG PAINTING
Joel Lindsey
RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD IN YOUR SONGS
James Tealy
KIDS WRITE ABOUT JESUS PANEL - The Grid
Tony Wood, Belinda Smith, Donna King
OPEN CRITIQUING
ALUMNI ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING Chapel
FRIDAY
2:30-3:30 p.m.
PANEL: WHO DOES WHAT IN A SONGWRITER’S WORLD
Joe Dan Cornett (Moderator) Holly Zabka (Publisher), Zane King (A&R), Donna King (Producer)
THE ALWAYS AND NEVERS OF CO-WRITING
Kenna West
HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE UNSIGNED
Kristi Fitzwater, Gina Boe
HOW TO WRITE ANY TITLE
Simon Hawkins
KNOWING YOUR IDENTIFY AS A WRITER: THE SONGWRITER PERSONALITY TEST
Krissy Nordhoff
OPEN CRITIQUING
ALUMNI ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING
FRIDAY
3:45-4:45 p.m.
PANEL: THE HOW TO’S OF PITCHING YOUR SONGS A-201
Lee Black, Kenna West, Donna King
WRITING FOR YOUR CHURCH AND RECORDING YOUR SONGS O-104
Holly Zabka, Jeff Bumgardner, Cliff Duren
WRITING FOR THE BRIDE
Michael Farren, Krissy Nordhoff
WHAT I KNOW NOW THAT I WISH I’D KNOWN THEN
Dave Clark
HOW TO BE YOUR OWN PUBLISHER
Zane King
OPEN CRITIQUING
ALUMNI ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING
5 p.m. - GATHER FOR A GROUP PICTURE - DON’T MISS IT! WORSHIP CENTER
5:15 p.m. Alumni Café Chapel
5:30 p.m. Dinner Chapel
6:15-6:40 p.m. Compass Groups
7 p.m. Writers in the Round Concert Worship Center
9:45 p.m. Shuttle leaves workshop for hotel
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13
7:45 a.m. Shuttle leaves hotel for workshop
8 a.m. Breakfast
9 a.m. Worship, announcements, devotions
10 a.m. - noon - Songwriting Competition
Group 1 Worship
Group 2 Worship
Group 3 Worship
Group 4 Pop/AC/CCM
Group 5 Pop/AC/CCM
Group 5 Southern Gospel
Group 6 Southern Gospel
Group 7 Country/Southern
Group 8 Print/Choral
Group 9 Kids/Novelty/Special Occasion
12:15 p.m. Alumni Café Chapel
12:30 p.m. Lunch Chapel
SATURDAY
1:15-2:15 p.m.
PANEL: THE ALL-IMPORTANT RE-WRITE
Zane King (Moderator), Jeff Bumgardner, James Tealy, Belinda Smith
WRITING FOR KIDS
Gina Boe
WRITING THROUGH THE DAILY STRUGGLES
Joel Lindsey
.MAKING IT SOUTHERN GOSPEL
Kenna West
WRITING FOR THE BRIDE: HOW TO WRITE A WORSHIP SONG
Cliff Duren/Phil Mehrens
OPEN CRITIQUING
ALUMNI ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING
SATURDAY
2:30-3:30 p.m.
PANEL: WHERE WE’RE HEADED WITH CHRISTIAN SONGS
Simon Hawkins (Moderator), Krissy Nordhoff, Tony Wood, Michael Farren, Joel Lindsey
TRADITIONAL GOSPEL VS. CCM: HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT—AND ALIKE
Jason Clayborn
MAKING A DEMO THAT HELPS YOUR SONG GET CUT
Dennis Dearing
WHEN IT’S COUNTRY AND CHRISTIAN
Donna King, Lee Black
THE STATE OF THE SONG
Dave Clark
OPEN CRITIQUING
ALUMNI ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING
SATURDAY
3:45 - 4:45 p.m.
WRITE YOUR LIFE
Tony Wood
HOW TO WRITE A MUSICAL
Joel Lindsey/Jeff Bumgardner/Cliff Duren
SOCIAL MEDIA, PROMOTING YOUR BRAND, AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Mary Alice Lovelace
SETTING UP YOUR HOME STUDIO
Pete Buchwald
WRITING FOR THE CUT
Lee Black
OPEN CRITIQUING
Alumni One on One
5 p.m. Compass Groups
Final Judging WAJ Office (PRIVATE)
5:30 p.m. Alumni Café, featuring Kids Write About Jesus Chapel
6 p.m. Dinner, Awards and Goodbyes Chapel
5 p.m. Shuttle leaves hotel for workshop Holiday Inn Express
5-7 p.m. Registration/Check In Atrium
6 p.m. Master Class Concert Worship Center
7 p.m. Worship, Welcome and Introductions Worship Center
7:30-8 p.m. Compass Groups (Registrants will be assigned to a Compass Group when you check in at the workshop.)
LIVE CO-WRITE with Joel Lindsey and Jeff Bumgardner
PANEL: MAKING YOURSELF MORE PRODUCTIVE
Holly Zabka (Moderator), Lee Black, Simon Hawkins, Donna King, Jason Clayborn
PANEL: HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS WEEKEND
Dennis Dearing (Moderator), Dave Clark, Kenna West, James Tealy
PANEL: THE LIFE AND HABITS OF A PROFESSIONAL SONGWRITER
Joe Dan Cornett (Moderator) Tony Wood, Cliff Duren, Zane King
PANEL: NAVIGATING YOUR FIRST CO-WRITES
Phil Mehrens (Moderator) Belinda Smith, Krissy Nordhoff, Michael Farren
9:10 p.m. DISMISS
9:30 p.m. SHUTTLE LEAVES FOR HOTEL
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12
7:45 a.m. Shuttle leaves hotel for workshop
8 a.m. Breakfast Chapel
Late Registration Chapel
9 a.m. Worship, Announcements and Devotions Chapel
9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
PANEL: FANNING YOUR CREATIVE SPARK INTO A FLAME
James Tealy (Moderator), Krissy Nordhoff, Kenna West, Jason Clayborn
LYRIC WRITING: THE BASICS AND BEYOND
Tony Wood
WRITING GREAT MELODIES
Lee Black and Belinda Smith
GETTING ORGANIZED: Strategies for making every minute count in your writing.
Simon Hawkins
LEARNING STRUCTURE FROM THE SONGS YOU ALREADY LOVE
Sue C. Smith
OPEN CRITIQUING
Sign up at the registration table and get a song heard and evaluated by one of our professionals. This is not part of the WAJ competition, but it’s your chance to get great feedback in a relaxed setting.
ALUMNI ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING
Write About Jesus alumni will get valuable career counseling from one of our publishers or music industry pros (by appointment and for alumni only). Sign up during registration.
FRIDAY
11 a.m. - NOON
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENRES
Holly Zabka, Joel Lindsey
WRITING GREAT MELODIES
James Tealy, Jason Clayborn
LYRIC WRITING: DIGGING DEEPER
Dave Clark
HOW TO TAP INTO YOUR CREATIVITY (EVEN WHEN YOU BIG FAT DON’T FEEL LIKE IT)
Belinda Smith
OPEN CRITIQUING
ALUMNI ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING
12:15 p.m. Alumni Café Chapel
12:30 p.m. Lunch Chapel
FRIDAY
1:15 - 2:15 p.m.
PANEL: BUILDING A SONG PEOPLE WANT TO SING
Simon Hawkins (Moderator Jason Clayborn, Michael Farren, Krissy Nordhoff
MAKING THE MOST OF THE KEY MOMENTS IN YOUR SONG
Sue C. Smith
ROYALTIES, PRO’S, PUBLISHING, AND WHAT YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST KNOW
Joe Dan Cornett
SONG PAINTING
Joel Lindsey
RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD IN YOUR SONGS
James Tealy
KIDS WRITE ABOUT JESUS PANEL - The Grid
Tony Wood, Belinda Smith, Donna King
OPEN CRITIQUING
ALUMNI ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING Chapel
FRIDAY
2:30-3:30 p.m.
PANEL: WHO DOES WHAT IN A SONGWRITER’S WORLD
Joe Dan Cornett (Moderator) Holly Zabka (Publisher), Zane King (A&R), Donna King (Producer)
THE ALWAYS AND NEVERS OF CO-WRITING
Kenna West
HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE UNSIGNED
Kristi Fitzwater, Gina Boe
HOW TO WRITE ANY TITLE
Simon Hawkins
KNOWING YOUR IDENTIFY AS A WRITER: THE SONGWRITER PERSONALITY TEST
Krissy Nordhoff
OPEN CRITIQUING
ALUMNI ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING
FRIDAY
3:45-4:45 p.m.
PANEL: THE HOW TO’S OF PITCHING YOUR SONGS A-201
Lee Black, Kenna West, Donna King
WRITING FOR YOUR CHURCH AND RECORDING YOUR SONGS O-104
Holly Zabka, Jeff Bumgardner, Cliff Duren
WRITING FOR THE BRIDE
Michael Farren, Krissy Nordhoff
WHAT I KNOW NOW THAT I WISH I’D KNOWN THEN
Dave Clark
HOW TO BE YOUR OWN PUBLISHER
Zane King
OPEN CRITIQUING
ALUMNI ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING
5 p.m. - GATHER FOR A GROUP PICTURE - DON’T MISS IT! WORSHIP CENTER
5:15 p.m. Alumni Café Chapel
5:30 p.m. Dinner Chapel
6:15-6:40 p.m. Compass Groups
7 p.m. Writers in the Round Concert Worship Center
9:45 p.m. Shuttle leaves workshop for hotel
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13
7:45 a.m. Shuttle leaves hotel for workshop
8 a.m. Breakfast
9 a.m. Worship, announcements, devotions
10 a.m. - noon - Songwriting Competition
Group 1 Worship
Group 2 Worship
Group 3 Worship
Group 4 Pop/AC/CCM
Group 5 Pop/AC/CCM
Group 5 Southern Gospel
Group 6 Southern Gospel
Group 7 Country/Southern
Group 8 Print/Choral
Group 9 Kids/Novelty/Special Occasion
12:15 p.m. Alumni Café Chapel
12:30 p.m. Lunch Chapel
SATURDAY
1:15-2:15 p.m.
PANEL: THE ALL-IMPORTANT RE-WRITE
Zane King (Moderator), Jeff Bumgardner, James Tealy, Belinda Smith
WRITING FOR KIDS
Gina Boe
WRITING THROUGH THE DAILY STRUGGLES
Joel Lindsey
.MAKING IT SOUTHERN GOSPEL
Kenna West
WRITING FOR THE BRIDE: HOW TO WRITE A WORSHIP SONG
Cliff Duren/Phil Mehrens
OPEN CRITIQUING
ALUMNI ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING
SATURDAY
2:30-3:30 p.m.
PANEL: WHERE WE’RE HEADED WITH CHRISTIAN SONGS
Simon Hawkins (Moderator), Krissy Nordhoff, Tony Wood, Michael Farren, Joel Lindsey
TRADITIONAL GOSPEL VS. CCM: HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT—AND ALIKE
Jason Clayborn
MAKING A DEMO THAT HELPS YOUR SONG GET CUT
Dennis Dearing
WHEN IT’S COUNTRY AND CHRISTIAN
Donna King, Lee Black
THE STATE OF THE SONG
Dave Clark
OPEN CRITIQUING
ALUMNI ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING
SATURDAY
3:45 - 4:45 p.m.
WRITE YOUR LIFE
Tony Wood
HOW TO WRITE A MUSICAL
Joel Lindsey/Jeff Bumgardner/Cliff Duren
SOCIAL MEDIA, PROMOTING YOUR BRAND, AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Mary Alice Lovelace
SETTING UP YOUR HOME STUDIO
Pete Buchwald
WRITING FOR THE CUT
Lee Black
OPEN CRITIQUING
Alumni One on One
5 p.m. Compass Groups
Final Judging WAJ Office (PRIVATE)
5:30 p.m. Alumni Café, featuring Kids Write About Jesus Chapel
6 p.m. Dinner, Awards and Goodbyes Chapel