A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Proverbs 25:11
About Tracy Crump

I never planned to become a writer. But one hundred published pieces later, I can testify to the fact that God's ways are not our ways.

My passion for ministering through the written word led me to help other writers improve their craft. Now I conduct workshops at writers' conferences such as the American Christian Writers (ACW) and Kentucky Christian Writers (KCWC) Conferences. See topics below.

In 2009, Marylane Wade Koch and I teamed up to present Write Life Workshops in the Mid-South area. To see our bios or sign up for our writers' newsletter, visit The Write Life. See examples of our workshop topics below.

We would love to help you learn more about writing and publishing your work. Contact us to find out how!
What people are saying:

Your workshop at the KCWC was one of the best organized, well balanced, and comfortably presented I have ever attended. I also heard others share the same opinion. Thank you for allowing God to use you in such a powerful way.
Diana D., Conference attendee

I  felt your instructions, advice, and handouts in the workshop were all  "spot on." Way to go!
Shawnee F., Conference attendee

I just wanted to thank you for making yourself available and for making time to get acquainted with the attendees.
Judy M., Conference attendee

You are a treasure of information.
Laquita H., Conference attendee
Writing Conference Topics
with Tracy Crump

  • Tackling Tough Topics It takes courage to address controversial or sensitive issues, especially when writing from a personal standpoint, but your words can make a difference in someone’s life. Learn how to write with humor and insight to give your readers hope for the future and avoid pitfalls inherent in tackling the tough topics.
  • Write Winning Queries You’ve written a riveting article and identified which magazine will be a perfect fit. Now you just need to convince a busy editor that receives thousands of submissions every month to buy it. Oh, boy! Master the art of writing a one-page query letter that will get an editor’s attention and persuade him to publish your piece.
  • Critique Give and Take Honest critique is one of the best ways to improve your work, but writers often shy away from it. Rather than treat it as rejection, discover the value of critique and how to give and take it to polish your pieces for publication. Meet the “unique critique personalities” and discover the good and bad of each. In addition, learn how to find a critique group and how to know when it’s time to move on.
  • Writers’ Rights First rights, reprint rights, all rights. Rights, rights, rights! What does it all mean, and what if I do something wrong? Learn the difference between the rights you sell on your work and find out how to retain as many rights as possible.
  • Doubtbusters: Conquering Writer’s Doubt Everyone talks about writer’s block, but many writers may suffer from something that poses an even greater hindrance to getting published: writer’s doubt. Learn a dozen “doubtbusters” and break the blockade that keeps you from getting your words into print.
  • To Cliché or Not to Cliché That is the question. What is a cliché, and why don’t editors like them? Dissect some of our everyday expressions and figure out why they work. Then discover fresh and exciting ways to word your thoughts in this fun and interactive brainstorming workshop. Learn to write so that your words will become the next generation’s clichés.
  • And more . . . Contact me for other workshop ideas.
What conference attendees say:

I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your workshop! It was informative, gracefully presented, and well-directed. That is very difficult to do when you're trying to stay flexible enough for interaction with the group. You were very generous with us.
Mary G., Fomer KCWC director

It was a pleasure to meet you, and your kind words encouraged my heart.
LInda, L., Conference attendee

Your session on writing about sensitive issues was excellent! You led well, engaged us all and allowed us to interact, and encouraged us. Thank you for sharing your life and perspective so freely.
Alice S., Conference attendee
Write Life Workshops
with Tracy Crump and Marylane Wade Koch

  • Stirring the Pot: Writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen have published almost 200 (and counting) different titles in the wildly popular Chicken Soup for the Soul anthology series. They receive thousands of submissions but select only 101 stories for each book. How can you increase the chances they’ll chose your story? Let Tracy Crump and Marylane Wade Koch, authors of seven Chicken Soup stories, show you.
  • Sharpen Your Saw: Honing the Writing Craft Beginners and pros alike will benefit from learning these techniques to improve their craft. Topics included are: Beginnings, endings and takeaways; prewrite to get it right; do-it-yourself editing; creative nonfiction; common writing mistakes; and write tight.
  • Me? A Published Writer?: The Basics on Getting Published . . . and More Everything you need to know to publish your work plus the inside track on new technology. We'll explore how to write a winning query letter and book proposal; writers' rights; marketing your writing; critique give and take; and the new world of e-books, POD, and social networking.
  • And more . . . Contact us if you would like to see a workshop we don't have listed.
What workshop attendees say:

You should charge more. This was the best $$ I ever spent.
Anonymous, Workshop attendee

I so enjoyed the workshop. The fellowship level of professionalism and experience was refreshing.
Ali T., Workshop attendee

I am not a writer, but I have always enjoyed trying. This is so helpful because you have to know what to do-how to write-in order to get published.
Anonymous, Workshop attendee

It was wonderful! I'm a sponge. Bless you for sharing your time, talent, and experience!
Sharman G., Workshop attendee

Everything was wonderful, very friendly! Thanks, I can't wait for the next one.
Anonymous, Workshop attendee

Writing/Speaking Resume
Tracy Crump

Anthologies
  • Cup of Comfort Book of Bible Promises: "A Thorny Rose" 2010
  • Chicken Soup for the Soul
What the Dog Taught Me: "A Mother's Love" 2009
Love Stories: "The Deposit Slip" 2008
Father and Son Soul: "Saying Goodbye" and "Dad's Shadow" 2008
Nurse's Soul: A Second Dose: "The Lifeline" and "The Reason" 2007
Articles (Partial list)
  • ParentLife: 2 articles including "Toxic Teasing" March 2010
  • Focus on the Family 5 articles including "Where Is Baby Jesus?"
December 2008, "Six Features of a Father Figure" June 2008, and
"Teaching Kids to Manage Money" March 2008
  • Journey: "Her Heart's Desire" May 2008 and "More Than Many
Sparrows" December 2008
  • Pray!: "Pray for Them? I Don't Even Know Them!" Nov/Dec 2007
  • Today's Christian Online: "The Bible on the Square" October 2007
  • The Way Home: "Confessions of a Reluctant Homeschool Mom" and
How Do You Spell 'They'?" March 2007
  • Christian Communicator: "Write Winning Query Letters" July 2009 and
"Writer's Doubt" November 2007
  • Mid-South Christian Chronicle: Eleven newspaper articles from August
2006 to August 2007
Tracy Crump-Writer of the Year with Reg Forder at 2009 American Christian Writers Conference in Memphis, TN
Tracy  and Marylane with novelist Rene Gutteridge at
2009 ACW Conference in Memphis, TN
Writing/Speaking Resume (continued)

Devotionals
  • Quiet Hour: Assigned devotionals July 2009
  • Light from the Word: Assigned devotionals Jan 2008, Apr 2009,
Jan 2010
  • The Vision: "The Next Step" May 2007
  • The Secret Place: "All Creation" Winter 2007
Speaking
  • American Christian Writers Conference, Memphis
2009 Faculty/presenter "Tackling Tough Topics"
  • Kentucky Christian Writers Conference, Elizabethtown
2009 Faculty/presenter "Tackling Tough Topics" and "Critique Give
and Take"
  • Workshops:
"Stirring the Pot: Writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul"
Florence, AL March 2009
Tupelo, MS September 2009
  • Local presentations:
Nine presentations to writers groups, book clubs, and civic
organizations in the Mid-South area
Other
  • Named 2009 Writer of the Year at 2009 ACW Conference, Memphis
  • Member of National League of American Pen Women 2006-Present
New Beginnings Writing Contest Chair 2007, 2008
  • CLASS (Christian Leaders, Authors, and Speakers Services) graduate 2008
  • Co-founder/co-editor The Write Life
  • Owner/moderator Kathy Carlton Willis Mentoring Clinic 2008-Present

"Thanks for being so thorough. I really, really appreciate it."
Jodi Skulley
Editor, ParentLife magazine
"Tracy has a great speaking style. She is engaging, warm, informed, and comes across as very comfortable on stage. I would recommend Tracy as a speaker for your next event."
Julie Ferwerder
CLASS Instructor
"Both presenters were helpful and professional. I appreciate that both expressed faith and 'yes, we can, too.'"
Attendee
"Stirring the Pot" workshop