BEING ACW COMPETITIONS MANAGER IS FUN by Bobbie Ann Cole

I have been living in Canada for almost a year. The writing has been on the wall that my role as ACW Competitions Manager would not be sustainable after in-person meeting replaced Zoom, which it did last October. An ACW Committee retreat is scheduled for this February, and it breaks my heart not to be going, because a more dedicated and loving bunch of Christian writers to mingle with you never did see.

It is time for me to step down in favour of a UK-based person. Could that be you?

All ACW Committee offices are voluntary. However, to quote Jesus, we get fed, “in a way you could not know about.” Committee interactions  are the best bit. We enjoy one another’s company and love to laugh together. There is true  fellowship as we plan and pray together. We support one another through crises. There is a great can-do spirit. And we all really want ACW to shine as a glowing beacon that is helpful in practical ways to you, our members.

There are usually two competitions per year. Although this means there is almost always a competition going on, the workload is light, except for the great flurry of entries that tend to arrive as a competition is closing. You get a great deal of independence doing it and there is a lovely atmosphere of mutual trust within the Committee.

Here is what the role entails:

·       Devising competitions and pitching them to the other Committee members

·       Appointing judges

·       Working with webmaster (Rosemary) to create a dedicated page for each competition in the Competitions area of the website

·       Promoting the competition, e.g. through the ACW Group Facebook page and Christian Writer, and announcing it wherever and whenever possible

·       Receiving entries, acknowledging receipt, checking they conform to the rules, forwarding them to judges as anonymous

·       Communicating with judges concerning shortlists and results

·       Announcing winners.

·       Preparing winner interviews and features for Christian Writer etc.

·       Organizing for winners to receive their prizes, plus a thank-you for the judges.

·       Reporting on competition entries and winners to the Committee

·       Attending Committee meetings, discussing general ACW issues that arise

I took on the role of Competitions Manager because I felt it was time to give back, having been a member since 2012. Boy, has it given back to me, however. I’ve made a heap of new friends, not only among the Committee but also ACW members. My title has also enhanced my standing as a Christian author among Christian authors.

And I have loved doing it.

If you think this might be for you, then please contact Fiona Lloyd, Chair, at chair@christianwriters.co.uk.  

Bobbie Ann Cole is a Christian writer, speaker and writing teacher.  Her acclaimed Book Compass Course, helping your plan your book content, publication and time management, so that you are ready to write with ease, starts again Jan. 10^th 2022, or as a self-paced option, starting at your convenience.