Tuesday, March 24, 2020

How To Make a Dynamic One-Sheet by Emily Wickham

“Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.” Proverbs 22:29, NASB

Attending a Christian writers conference ranks near the top of my favorite activities. I’ve gained treasured friends at such events, and I’ve also benefited from the valuable learning opportunities, industry networking, and spiritual encouragement that conferences offer. Whether we’re anticipating our first or fifteenth conference, each of us can approach it by preparing well.

We should carry a dynamic one-sheet with us to each conference. This page highlights the details of our work-in-progress, enabling faculty members to evaluate our material without much effort. While the thought of creating a handout of this magnitude can feel daunting, there’s hope!

Making a one-sheet on Microsoft Word is simple plus cost-effective.

As a side note, I realize you might be wondering whether you’ll even be able to attend a conference because of the coronavirus pandemic. Creating a one-sheet right now might appear unnecessary, but you likely have additional time at home these days. In that light, this might be the perfect occasion for you to make your one-sheet.

The following instructions contain four easy steps. As you work on each one, please leave any questions in the comment section. I’ll do my best to help you succeed. Also, you can review my sample one-sheet, which includes comments and notes, at the end of this post.

STEP #1
• Open Microsoft Word
• Click FILE in the upper left-hand corner
• Click NEW FROM TEMPLATE
• Click the NEWSLETTERS option and double click on the style of your choice (see photo below)



STEP #2
• Select the page that contains the best layout for your text and photos
• Insert your information in the various sections:
• Book Title
• Genre
• Word Count
• A two or three-sentence book summary
• Endorsements – who recommends you and your writing? Why?
• Contact information (e-mail address, website, cell #)
• A one-paragraph description of your book that answers why it’s necessary in today’s market
• Author Bio plus a professional headshot
• Photos (Pixabay and Unsplash are excellent resources for free images)

STEP #3
• Save the entire “newsletter” as a Word document so you can make changes later if needed
• Next, save the entire document in PDF format
• Open your one-sheet in PDF format
• Select and delete the unnecessary pages on the left-hand side, then re-save the document

STEP #4
• Save your one-sheet on a flash drive or e-mail it to your local printing shop (I take mine to Office Depot)
• Print 5-8 copies to share with editors, agents, and other conference faculty members


We honor the Lord when we do our best, plus industry professionals appreciate excellence.

May God bless your creative endeavors, using your one-sheet to interest others in your writing.

What tips would you like to add? Please share them below.

Making a one-sheet on Microsoft Word is simple plus cost effective. Follow Emily’s four steps to create your own before attending your next writers conference. via @emilywickhamPH @MaryAFelkins #WritingConference #SeriouslyWrite

Note: A previous version of “How to Make a Dynamic One-Sheet” first appeared on February 5, 2019 at www.proclaiminghimtowomen.com.
EMILY WICKHAM seeks to stir hearts toward Jesus. She writes for LifeWay, speaks at ladies’ events, and shares  “Devotions for Women” videos on social media. Emily encourages Christian women plus equips Christian writers on her blog, www.proclaiminghimtowomen.comShe is the author of one Bible study, which was translated into Spanish in 2016. 
Emily, a resident of North Carolina, is Mark’s wife of 30+ years. They are the blessed parents of four adult children and two daughters-in-love. God’s faithfulness and love inspire Emily on her journey through life as she purposes to exalt Christ through written and spoken words. 
Connect with Emily:
Book Blurb:
Do you know any missionaries to Spanish-speaking women? Or, is your church involved in outreach to the Hispanic community? Emily would love to put her Bible study on Esther into their hands, and she’s willing to fundraise for this purpose. Please see her website for more information. You also can purchase Alcanzando la Justicia on Amazon.