A New Year & A New Column for Writers
Edie here. I cannot tell you how excited I am to have Ralene Burke joining us here on The Write Conversation. She's an amazing spec fiction author and has a heart to help other writers. I know you will be as blessed as I am to have her here. Be sure to give her a warm TWC welcome!
A New Year & A New Column for Writers
by Ralene Burke @RaleneB
Happy New Year, writers! My name is Ralene Burke, and I am the Marketing Director for Realm Makers (more on that in a minute). I am so thrilled that Edie invited us to have a monthly column on The Write Conversation. I have so many exciting things to share with you in the coming months—writing tips, special guests, and more—all having to do with some aspect of the growing genre of speculative fiction.
What IS Speculative Fiction?
Wait, what? You’re not sure what speculative fiction is? Well, I’ve got you covered. Speculative fiction is an umbrella genre that encompasses all stories that involve speculating beyond what we currently know: fantasy, sci-fi, supernatural/paranormal, horror, steampunk, and of course any mash-up that includes those genres.
Speculative fiction is not just Star Warsand Lord of the Rings. Some authors, like Frank Peretti, are celebrated in the Christian market, while others find crossover success, like Ted Dekker, Thomas Locke, or Tosca Lee, all who have been keynote speakers at Realm Makers.
We’ve seen a resurgence in recent years of readers looking for cleaner speculative fiction. I’m not talking squeaky clean—but stories that leave out gratuitous sex scenes and graphic violence. We’re happy to report there’s also a growing number of authors rising to meet this need!
What IS Realm Makers?
Realm Makers is the premiere organization bridging the gap between speculative fiction writers of faith, whether they write for the Christian market or the general market, and the readers looking for engaging books from a Christian worldview. We are mid-way through our sixth year, and we’re still growing and expanding with so many opportunities for writers and readers.
What do we offer?
For writers:Our Writers Conference, held July 18-20 in St. Louis this year, is our annual opportunity to come together to learn, network, and grow our family!Our Membership Program has plenty of benefits like the special Slack community, webinars by publishing professionals, a valuable newsletter, discounts on conference registration, and marketing opportunities.The Realm Awards are our annual awards program where we celebrate the best in speculative fiction by writers of faith.Realm Makers Consortium is a Facebook community open to all speculative fiction writers whether they are members of Realm Makers or not.
For readers:The Mobile Bookstore, where we take select books to the readers by attending book festivals, homeschool conferences, and more!The Online Bookstore is the place to see our inventory if you can’t make it to one of the events.Monthly Newsletter that highlights new releases, author interviews, etc.
I look forward to getting to know y’all in the coming months, and I hope you will ask me any questions you have or just let me know what you love about speculative fiction (whether you write it or read it)! I’ll catch up with you all next month.
TWEETABLESA New Year & A New Column for Writers from @RaleneB on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Information and resources for #specfiction writers via @RaleneB on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Whether she’s wielding a fantasy writer’s pen, a social media wand, or a freelance editor’s sword, Ralene Burke always has her head in some dreamer’s world. And her goal is to help everyone #SHINE Beyond their circumstances! Her novels, Bellanok and Armor of Aletheia, are available on Amazon. More fantasy novels coming soon!
When her head’s not in the publishing world, she is wife to a veteran and homeschooling mama to their three kids. Her Pinterest board would have you believe she is a master chef, excellent seamstress, and all-around crafty diva. If she only had the time . . . You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or at her website.
A New Year & A New Column for Writers
by Ralene Burke @RaleneB
Happy New Year, writers! My name is Ralene Burke, and I am the Marketing Director for Realm Makers (more on that in a minute). I am so thrilled that Edie invited us to have a monthly column on The Write Conversation. I have so many exciting things to share with you in the coming months—writing tips, special guests, and more—all having to do with some aspect of the growing genre of speculative fiction.
What IS Speculative Fiction?
Wait, what? You’re not sure what speculative fiction is? Well, I’ve got you covered. Speculative fiction is an umbrella genre that encompasses all stories that involve speculating beyond what we currently know: fantasy, sci-fi, supernatural/paranormal, horror, steampunk, and of course any mash-up that includes those genres.
Speculative fiction is not just Star Warsand Lord of the Rings. Some authors, like Frank Peretti, are celebrated in the Christian market, while others find crossover success, like Ted Dekker, Thomas Locke, or Tosca Lee, all who have been keynote speakers at Realm Makers.
We’ve seen a resurgence in recent years of readers looking for cleaner speculative fiction. I’m not talking squeaky clean—but stories that leave out gratuitous sex scenes and graphic violence. We’re happy to report there’s also a growing number of authors rising to meet this need!
What IS Realm Makers?
Realm Makers is the premiere organization bridging the gap between speculative fiction writers of faith, whether they write for the Christian market or the general market, and the readers looking for engaging books from a Christian worldview. We are mid-way through our sixth year, and we’re still growing and expanding with so many opportunities for writers and readers.
What do we offer?
For writers:Our Writers Conference, held July 18-20 in St. Louis this year, is our annual opportunity to come together to learn, network, and grow our family!Our Membership Program has plenty of benefits like the special Slack community, webinars by publishing professionals, a valuable newsletter, discounts on conference registration, and marketing opportunities.The Realm Awards are our annual awards program where we celebrate the best in speculative fiction by writers of faith.Realm Makers Consortium is a Facebook community open to all speculative fiction writers whether they are members of Realm Makers or not.
For readers:The Mobile Bookstore, where we take select books to the readers by attending book festivals, homeschool conferences, and more!The Online Bookstore is the place to see our inventory if you can’t make it to one of the events.Monthly Newsletter that highlights new releases, author interviews, etc.
I look forward to getting to know y’all in the coming months, and I hope you will ask me any questions you have or just let me know what you love about speculative fiction (whether you write it or read it)! I’ll catch up with you all next month.
TWEETABLESA New Year & A New Column for Writers from @RaleneB on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Information and resources for #specfiction writers via @RaleneB on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Whether she’s wielding a fantasy writer’s pen, a social media wand, or a freelance editor’s sword, Ralene Burke always has her head in some dreamer’s world. And her goal is to help everyone #SHINE Beyond their circumstances! Her novels, Bellanok and Armor of Aletheia, are available on Amazon. More fantasy novels coming soon!When her head’s not in the publishing world, she is wife to a veteran and homeschooling mama to their three kids. Her Pinterest board would have you believe she is a master chef, excellent seamstress, and all-around crafty diva. If she only had the time . . . You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or at her website.
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