LDStorymakers, Inc. - The LDS Author's Guild

Were you aware that there is an LDS author guild called LDStorymakers, Inc.?

Following is a "Website Interview" with LDStorymakers New Website.  Take some time to browse around it - it's a new website, so you'll want to check back from time to time as they continue to build it.  You may have customers that want to write or have written a book - Now you can refer them to this group.

What is LDStorymakers, Inc.?

LDStorymakers, Inc. is an author’s guild for published authors who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All LDS authors who meet the membership requirements are invited to join.

How did LDStorymakers get started?

LDStorymakers (pronounced “LDS Story Makers”) started as an online e-mail group, the brainchild of best-selling author Rachel Ann Nunes. Originally called ldssmallpresswriters, our group was designed as a home for published writers who were associated with small publishers—particularly those associated with the LDS market. From the comfort of their own homes, our members could offer help and seek advice from each other, polish their writing skills, and socialize with other authors who knew the ropes.

Within six months of its October 2002 founding, our group had grown to nearly twenty members, representing a wide variety of experience, genres, and market savvy. Although membership was small, we spanned the world, reaching as far as New Zealand and encompassing a potpourri of talent and lifestyles.

In the fall of 2003, we changed the name of our group to LDStorymakers to reflect our religious affiliation and the high ethical values we each strive to associate with our writing.
In no time at all, LDStorymakers had grown from a gaggle of strangers who knew very little about each other, to a gathering place for friends. Membership is open to all LDS published authors who meet our joining guidelines.  (Read more . . .)

How many members are in the LDStorymakers Guild?

LDStorymakers currently has over 130 members and continues to grow. Our authors write fiction (in every genre) and/or non-fiction. Many write for the LDS market, and are published by Desert Book, Covenant, Cedar Fort, and other LDS publishing houses. Others are striving for a larger, national market, and some have been picked up by one of the big publishing houses back east.

Meet Their Members - This is a great resource for you to use to get to know an author and can be used to enrich the content on your websites and in your emails.  I've already used this resource on our blog.

What if you want to write but haven't been published?

We have all been where you are. For that reason, we want to help you in your journey toward publication by providing answers to frequently asked questions, a list of LDS publishers and how best to contact them, and some other useful links relating to writing, getting an agent, and the publication industry in general. We encourage you to check back often as these FAQs, lists, and links will no doubt grow. Please be patient with the FAQ page, in particular, as it is a brand new endeavor and will take time to build.

How does someone join LDStorymakers?

As a group of authors who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, our purpose is to encourage and support published authors, strengthen the cause of literacy, and raise the quality of LDS literature.
If you are a published LDS author who is anxious to forward the cause of LDS literature and strive for quality in your writing, we would love to have you join us. There will be opportunities to participate in book signings, literacy events, conferences, and more.

Upon joining our organization, you will be able to enroll in our five Yahoo! Groups: one for announcements from the Board of Directors (this one is required), one for LDStorymakers business (also required), one that you may use to send your news to the other Storymakers, one for chatting on a broad range of topics (except religion and politics), and the last for discussing information about writing and publishing. You will also have an opportunity to be featured, along with your work, on the home page of the website. (We reserve the right to accept or reject any material offered for the site.) Carefully read the membership requirements below. If you qualify, please join us!

MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS . . .



8th Annual LDStorymakers Writing Conference 

May 5-7, 2011 will be the 8th Annual LDStorymakers Writing Conference, at the Sheraton Hotel in Salt Lake City, UT.  I love to learn and I've looked at their class and workshop synopsis schedule and there are many I would love to take - I wish I could go, but I don't think a "published bookmark" qualifies for membership.

This conference is for LDStorymakers what our LDSBA Convention & Trade Show on August 2-5, 2011 is for us.  It's a place to learn and network; to see what's new and what's coming; to meet authors/artists and make new friends. 

Your Small & Simple Thing to do is go LIKE the LDStorymakers Facebook page.

****CALLING ALL LDSTORYMAKERS -- Come share with us about your Conference - Follow our blog and comment here.  Help us learn more about you and ways to better sell your books .