Current, aspiring writers hone their craft at annual event

Participants in Southern Christian Writer’s Conference left inspired and equipped with tools to better their craft.

The SCWC, which was held June 6–7 at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, attracted more than 155 attendees with 33 speakers and staff members. More than 30 people gathered for the Thursday night kickoff 80s themed event. Thirty authors hosted tables in the book room.

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Keynote speakers

Keynote speakers included authors Caris Snider and T.I. Lowe. 

“This year’s conference was a wonderfully uplifting event featuring two outstanding keynote speakers,” said Cheryl Wray, the event’s organizer. “Both Caris and T.I. were so inspiring and authentic. Many of our attendees told me that both speakers really spoke to their hearts.”

Snider, author of several anxiety devotional books for a variety of ages, said her story would begin with “She was a master of the mask.”

While she was leading in her church, she was “crumbling under the weight,” and she didn’t believe anxiety or depression were real.

“You just need to pray harder,” she thought. “You just need to trust God more.”

Snider was praying harder and reading the Bible more “but there was something more going on there … I just pushed it down, and I hid.”

But then came the anxiety attacks which led to food issues. She began eating less than 1,000 calories a day and drinking gallons of water. When she became pregnant, she struggled but fought to gain even six pounds, and lost the baby. Today, she and her husband, Brandon, have two daughters. 

Snider encouraged SCWC participants to keep writing. 

“Every story in this room, God will not waste it,” Snider said. “You’re not too late. God never misses it, and you’re supposed to be here.”

Book to movie

Lowe, who lives in South Carolina, has written more than 20 books, but the first one was published as a promise to her mother during her battle with cancer. When Lowe’s mother died in 2013, she became deeply depressed but she was eventually able to get the book published through Kindle direct and then later through a publisher.

“I have no education in writing,” Lowe said. “I just had a desire to tell a story.”

Lowe is currently writing her 22nd book and has been moving forward with a screenplay for “Under the Magnolias.”

Conference options

Six different breakout session times offered participants options to learn about various genres and professional training on how to develop websites, editing and even sketching cartoons.

Along with the in-person event, Wray said 32 attended virtually. Access to recorded breakout sessions on a variety of topics was made available to all participants.

Wray said it’s always encouraging to see so many first-time participants and to see the group grow.

The 2025 Joanne Sloan Award for the Encouragement of Writers was given to Jeanie Thompson, poet and essayist. Thompson has spent some time working with juvenile offenders on their poetry through the Alabama Writers’ Forum..

Inspiring content

Each year, SCWC celebrates stellar writing with a few awards in different genres and mediums.

This year’s winners were: 

• Newspaper Article — 1st place: Ann Nunnally, “Thank You, President Jimmy Carter,” published in Thomasville (Georgia) Times-Enterprise; 2nd place: Tracy Riggs Frontz, “Human Trafficking Should Rock the Soul of America,” published in The Alabama Baptist; 3rd place: Laura Lee Leathers, “A Cup of Tea with Lydia,” published in The Country Register (Kansas) and other newspapers.
• Magazine Article — 1st place: “A Thrill of Hope,” by Karen Allen, published in Home Life; 2nd place: “Life of a Missionary Kid: On Mission from the Amazon Basin to American Hospitals,” by Haylee Collins, published in Missions Mosaic; 3rd place: “Common Courtesies,” by Alonza Jones, published in Home Life; honorable mention: “Look What Love Did,” by Datha Whifield, published in Woman of Faith; honorable Mention: “The Prize,” by Bill Patterson, published in Mature Living.
• Short Story (Fiction) — 1st place: “Edge of the Sea,” by Carole Lehr Johnson, published in Seasons of the Past; 2nd place: “A Pocketful of Change,” by Mark Wainwright, published in Seasons; 3rd place: “In His Eyes,” by Jennifer Carr, published in Book Funnel. 
• Poetry — 1st place: “yesterday’s storm,” by Patricia Tiffany Morris, published in Encore Prize Poems; 2nd place: “Winter,” by Gail Landgraf, published in The In Season Lifestyle; 3rd place: “50 Shades of Blackness,” by Linda Holloway, published in The Journal of Poetry Therapy; honorable mention: “Those Hands,” by April McCay, published in The Cullman Tribune.
• Blog Post — 1st Place: “The Weight of the Ring,” by Jennifer Carr, published on JCarrWrites; 2nd Place: “Fear in the Cave, Faith in the Light,” by Lottie Partridge, published on the Just Breathe Ministries blog; 3rd Place: “Daffodils and Hope,” by Sandi Herron, published on sandiherron.com; honorable mention: “Joy in the Hard Places,” by June Chapko, published on JunesTeaCupTreasures; honorable mention: “You’re Better Off Not Comparing Yourself to Others,” by Audrey Bivins, on HerViewfromHome blog; honorable Mention: “The Returning,” by Diane Pitts, on DianeHuffPitts.com.
• Devotion — 1st Place: “The Still Small Voice,” by Harriet Michael published in Arise Daily; 2nd Place: “He Calms the Storm,” by Carissa Lovvorn; 3rd Place: “The Meaning in the Murkiness,” by Noel Turner, published in Inkspirations Online; honorable Mention: “Rest” by R. A. Stubbs, published on SoulsFuel2Encourage; honorable Mention: “Holy Week Family Devotions” by Frankie Lumpkin published by Altadena Valley Presbyterian Church.