Webinars are held on Tuesdays or Thursdays each month at 7pm ET. Please refer to the list of dates and times below.
Chapter members will receive an email with a link to the webinar via Zoom. The link will also be posted in the ACFW Virginia Facebook Group. When instructors permit, we will make PowerPoint slides available to members under the file tab of the ACFW Virginia Facebook group page as well. Webinars are recorded and accessible for two years for members whose dues are up to date.
As a reminder, each time you attend a live webinar January – September, you will be entered into a drawing for a paid registration fee to our November virtual conference! You’ll also have the chance to win a book chosen by the webinar speaker when you attend live.
If you’re not eligible for Virginia Chapter membership but want to view the webinars, click here to learn about webinar-only access.
No November Webinar
Excel for Writers
Presented by Jacinta Meredith
December 4, 2025 @ 7 p.m. EST
Learn how to use Microsoft Excel to organize multiple aspects of your writing life! This class will briefly touch on some basic functions, such as creating and filtering a table, before focusing on specific ways you can use it as a writer, including easily tracking tax information or making your tasks automatically turn red if they are overdue.
Please note: All taught functions can also be used in Google Sheets.
Jacinta Meredith is a full-time author living in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. with her husband, Daniel, and her cat, Tennyson, who was named after her favorite poet.
Her previous job as an analyst required her to use Microsoft Excel on a regular basis to analyze data, and she now uses that expertise to track various aspects of her writing life. She has had multiple short stories published and won the 2023 Genesis award for Historical Fiction.
When she isn’t writing or editing, you can usually find her reading, cooking, binging Castle, or researching just for fun.
One Sheet to Pitch them All
Presented by Edwina Kiernan
January 15, 2026 @ 7 p.m. EDT
What is a one-sheet? And who should use one, and when? This valuable yet often misunderstood item is a vital tool to not only help others grasp and love your story, but to help you stay focused and clear about where your story fits, and why it needs to be told. Join award-winning Christian historical romance author Edwina Kiernan to solve the riddle of the One Sheet To Pitch Them All, and discover the creative and marketing power of this simple, single sheet.
Edwina Kiernan is a Christian multi-award-winning author of nine novels. She is a committed follower of Jesus (the Living Word), and endeavors to use her pen to point others to Him. All her books feature strong, gospel-centered faith, dramatic danger and suspense, and sweet romance, wrapped up in atmospheric historical settings you won’t want to leave.
When she’s not writing, Edwina loves spending time with her dashing husband and lively little son, reading and studying the Bible, getting lost in a captivating novel and drinking more types of tea than most people realize even exist. Find out more at edwinakiernan.com.
The Heart of the Interview
Presented by Rachael M. Colby
February 17, 2026 @ 7 p.m. EDT
Let’s open healthy dialogue, amplify solutions rather than problems, promote truth, understanding, and healing via interviews and the works we create from them. Today, we seem to have a shortage of journalists and a plethora of sensationalists. Whether an interview is research for a book, published in print, podcast, or video, it’s paramount to be trustworthy of people’s stories.
I’ll share from experience hosting interviews with pastors, law enforcement officers, military personnel, teachers, nurses, and others for my WIPs. We’ll discuss various methods, media, permissions, pitfalls, publications, equipment, styles of interviews, and publishing one interview in multiple formats, and more.
Rachael M. Colby has a heart for reconciliation and a passion to uplift those who serve in tough places. She writes to connect cultures’ questions with Christianity’s answers, inspire faith, and motivate.
Her work has appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul, the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference Blog, online publications, anthologies, and the Oak Ridger newspaper. She’s a member of The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild and a protégé in the Cecil Murphey Mentoring program.
This Jamaican-born multi-genre award-winning writer, wife, and mom resides in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, runs on chocolate, and blogs at TattooItOnYourHeart.com.
Media Kit Makeover
Presented by Kelly Goshorn
March 19, 2026 @ 7 p.m. EDT
A media kit is an essential tool to help promote an author’s book to journalists, book reviewers, podcasters, radio show hosts, and book bloggers. In this workshop, attendees will learn how both published and unpublished authors can benefit from having a media kit, the five essential components of any press kit, “extra goodies” they can opt to include, and ideas for organizing and presenting this valuable collection of resources in an attractive, professional manner.
Kelly Goshorn weaves her affinity for history and her passion for God into inspiring stories of love, faith, and family set in America’s vibrant past. Her debut novel, A Love Restored, won the Director’s Choice Award for Adult/YA fiction at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference in 2019, and earned recognition as both a Selah Award finalist in the Historical Romance category and as a Maggie Award Finalist for Inspirational Fiction. When she is not writing, Kelly enjoys binge-watching BBC period dramas, board-gaming with her family, exploring historical sights, and spoiling her Welsh corgi, Biscuit.
Connect with Kelly through her website.
Finding Where Your Story Fits & Why it Matters
Presented by Hope Welborn
April 21, 2026 @ 7 p.m. EDT
What genre do you write? Who is your audience? How can you market your book? Whether you are pitching, self-publishing, or still writing your WIP, knowing where your story “fits” is an important part of getting published and making sales. Through exploring the most popular genres, sub-genres, and even genre “mash ups,” this class will show you the importance of knowing where your story fits and how to get it into the hands of the right people.
Award-winning author Hope Welborn writes spine-tingling suspense, sprinkled with romance, and saturated with faith. By day, she masquerades as a digital content marketing technology specialist, and by night, she stays up too late putting words on the page. Hope is co-owner and technology manager for Spark Flash Fiction and a member of the Suspense Squad. Her novella, Hidden, was published in the Holiday Menace collection in 2023 and is now available in eBook and in print. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.
Writing Through Discouragement
Presented by Sarah Hamaker
May 21, 2026 @ 7 p.m. EDT
The writing life isn’t for the faint of heart. We put ourselves out there with stories from our hearts, and rejection or setbacks hurt. Discouragement over not getting that contract, award, book sales, and other life circumstances can drag us down into a pit of despair from which we have trouble climbing out. In this workshop, we’ll cover why discouragement happens and steps you can take to overcome it—and return to writing.
Multi-award-winning and best-selling author of inspirational romantic suspense, Sarah Hamaker loves writing books “where the hero and heroine fall in love while running for their lives.” She’s an AWSA certified writer and speaker coach, and podcaster of “The Romantic Side of Suspense.” She and her husband are therapeutic foster parents with UMFS. Sarah lives in Virginia with her husband, four children and three cats. You find out more about her on her website, her author Facebook page or on BookBub.
Writing Rich, Enduring Characters
Presented by Larry Ninas
June 16, 2026 @ 7 p.m. EDT
Character development is the heart of a good story. How can you write characters that have a depth and richness that endears them to your readers? Writing characters that are authentic and relatable is a craft that can be learned and honed. This workshop will give you tools to develop characters with a depth of character that will be the foundation of your story. You will learn how to organize and develop a character catalog, as well as apply the Plinkett Test to each of your characters to ensure they endure the challenges of your story.
I was born and raised in west central Georgia/east central Alabama. I am a retired Naval Officer and public school teacher. My wife, Lynne, and I live on a small farm in LaGrange, Georgia. We have three cats (Sammie, Honey Bear, and Nellie Bell), an adorable Anatolian Shepherd named Molly, and a Nubian goat named Lilac. I love to hike, take and edit photographs, blog, podcast, and drink coffee. I love to write about discipleship, exploring, and growing closer to God. You can keep up with my writing and books at HTTP://yonderbook.wordpress.com.
Newsletters - From "Good Enough" to Great
Presented by Kate Huff
July 16, 2026 @ 7 p.m. EDT
Have you been told you need a newsletter, but feel stuck on where to start or what to say? Have you already launched one, but staying consistent and coming up with engaging content every month feels like an uphill battle?
Whether you’re a published author or pre-published, this class is designed to help you cut through the confusion. We’ll walk through exactly what your newsletter should include, how to build strong reader connections, and explore how to take your newsletter from “good enough” to truly great.
You’ll walk away from this class with the confidence to hit send every month!
Kate Huff loves finding Gospel elements in all stories, especially fairytales. She believes fairytales that explain the Gospel in clear and captivating ways have the power to change the world. Her first manuscript is currently with an agent, and she’s working on her second fiction novel.
Kate works as a freelance content writer and newsletter specialist. She has over twenty years of experience crafting content and writing newsletters. She helps authors and entrepreneurs create compelling newsletters that connect with their audiences and offers training on how to build successful newsletters and grow subscriber bases.
Why Social Media Matters
Presented by Hannah Benson
August 18, 2026 @ 7 p.m. EDT
Social media can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be that way! In this workshop, learn why social media is a good tool for writers, how to build a brand that best reflects you, social media tips and tricks, and more! With 2+ years of professional social media experience, I’ll guide you in creating a strong online presence to showcase your work, connect with readers, and grow your author platform. This workshop covers strategies for engaging content, managing platforms effectively, and navigating the digital landscape. Join me for an inspiring introduction to social media success!
HANNAH BENSON is a writer, actress, and content marketer passionate about storytelling that glorifies God. Her writing has appeared in The Rebelution, Her View From Home, and Inside Out Worldwide. She works in film marketing at 3 Days Studios and previously assisted in the marketing for the Great American Prayer Event. Hannah loves tackling the social media beast and wants to teach others to do the same. Connect with her on her website, Instagram, or Facebook.
Deep POV: Experiencing Intimacy with Your Characters
Presented by MaryAnn Diorio
September 17, 2026 @ 7 p.m. EDT
Attendees will learn to create powerful, page-turning stories by defining, identifying, and applying the principles and techniques of deep POV in developing characters that live on the page and linger beyond it.
MaryAnn Diorio writes award-winning fiction from a quaint small town in New Jersey where neighbors still stop to chat while walking their dogs, families and friends still gather on wide, wrap-around porches, and the charming downtown still finds kids licking lollipops and old married folks holding hands. A Jersey girl at heart, MaryAnn loves Jersey diners, Jersey tomatoes, and the Jersey shore.
You can learn more about MaryAnn and her writing at maryanndiorio.com and at shop.maryanndiorio.com.
Adventures in Research
Presented by Linda Shenton Matchett
October 20, 2026 @ 7 p.m. EDT
Accuracy makes the difference between a good and great story, regardless of whether you are writing a contemporary or historical novel, and readers are savvy, able to catch errors that will put a dent in your credibility as an author. However, conducting research is more than “Googling” a topic. Learn the difference between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources, how to create a network of subject matter experts, and where to go for information when you can’t actually leave your desk. The answers are closer than you think.
Linda Shenton Matchett writes happily-ever-after historical Christian fiction about second chances and women who overcome life’s challenges to be better versions of themselves. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry of Star-Spangled Banner fame and has lived in historical places (including Northern Virginia!) all her life. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII and a former trustee for her local public library. She lives in central New Hampshire where she explores the history of this great state and immerses herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.
No November Webinar
Romancing the Cat: How to use two popular plotting methods and plan a story that works
Presented by Christine Hill Suntz
December 3, 2026 @ 7 p.m. EDT
Are you a pantser looking for strategies to help you reduce your editing time? Or maybe you’re a plotter seeking a fresh take on your outline? Have you tried to follow a plotting method only to end up lost in the weeds? Join Christine Hill Suntz as she unpacks two popular plotting methods: Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody and Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes. Christine will show authors how she created a hybrid plotting method inspired by these two classics. Bring your fresh ideas for your next WIP, and let’s get plotting!
Christine Hill Suntz knew she wanted to write novels the day she finished Anne of Green Gables, and she’s been lost in her imagination ever since. Her love of language led her to study French and German before finding a home teaching high school French. Her work has won numerous prizes, including the 2022 ACFW Genesis competition. Christine lives in Ontario on a hobby farm with her family and a herd of entitled goats. When she’s not writing or teaching, she enjoys trying out historical recipes on her (mostly) willing family.