Writing workshops at Cedar Falls Christian Writers Conference
Register now for the 2025 Christian conference
Author and editor Mackenzie Ryan Walters will present two writing workshops.
Advance your writing skills by attending the 2025 Cedar Falls Christian Writing Conference.
Author and Editor Mackenzie Ryan Walters will present two writing workshops at the Christian event in northeast Iowa.
Mackenzie is a national award-winning journalist who formerly worked at the Des Moines Register, Florida Today, and other newspapers around the country.
She's now self-employed as a book ghostwriter and marketing consultant. Mackenzie’s passion is editing Christian short stories that share personal testimonies of faith at faithstoryteller.org.
About the writing conference
The 2025 Cedar Falls Christian Writing Conference is designed for writers of all ages and experience levels. The conference’s purpose is to “glorify God and his son Jesus Christ" while encouraging the craft of writing.
Mackenzie's writing workshops offer practical tips for beginners and advanced writers who want to improve their prose. The conference features additional authors and writing teachers, including sessions led by Julie Sunne and Jolene Philo. The keynote speaker is Michelle Rayburn. View a complete list of speakers here.
The three-day Christian conference is $275, which includes six meals and snacks. Registration is currently open.
When: June 12-14, 2025
Where: Riverview Conference Center, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Learn more or register: cfcwc.org
About Mackenzie’s writing workshops
Christian writing workshop teacher and author Mackenzie Ryan Walters.
Are you beginning to learn and develop a writing practice?
Thinking about writing your first book?
Or are you an experienced writer and author who wants to level up their writing practice?
Regardless of where you are in your writing journey, understanding the foundation of writing is critical for your success.
As a writing teacher, Mackenzie will focus on the essentials. Similar to how even elite athletes practice the same drills and approaches as they train, writers of all skill levels can benefit from returning to the basics.
Mackenzie’s book on writing Christian testimonies includes short stories from 40 writers and authors.
Both presentations draw from Mackenzie's book, “Faith Storytellers: Unleash the Power of Your Story.” Her book contains everything Mackenzie knows about writing short stories about faith and sharing your faith testimony.
At the 2025 Cedar Falls Christian Writers Conference, however, Mackenzie will lead you through the practical application of what she teaches.
You’ll be able to experience a tried-and-true writing process in real-time, meet and connect with other writers, and have time for questions during and after the sessions.
On Friday morning, Mackenzie’s first writing workshop will share how to work with your personality and natural writing tendencies.
On Saturday, Mackenzie will share the 5-step writing and revision process she teaches in "Faith Storytellers."
About Friday’s writing workshops:
Are you a Story Builder or Story Carver?
Have you ever stared at a blank page and were unsure what to do?
Felt overwhelmed by the mountain of material you have to write about?
Or maybe you felt unsure how to start your story?
Rest assured, you are far from alone! Most writers have experienced the same frustrations, apprehensions, doubt, and fear on their writing journey.
In this writing workshop, Mackenzie introduces you to her writing personality framework: Are you a Story Builder or Story Carver?
You’ll identify your natural storytelling tendencies and how to use it instead of struggling against it.
By first understanding your writing personality, you'll be able to see how God equipped you to craft your faith story.
By first reflecting on your natural, God-given strengths, you’ll understand how to get unstuck and what skills or approaches to drawn on the next time you sit down to write.
➡️ Can't make the conference? Take the storytelling test here!
About Saturday’s writing workshop:
Write your story with the simple, five-step Faith Storytellers Framework
Have you ever felt frustrated or discouraged after reading your first draft?
Or wondered how published writers seem to have such polished, perfectly aligned prose?
In this writing workshop, Mackenzie will pull back the curtain on the secret many professional writers don’t share: That writing is really about revision.
The path from idea to first draft to publication can feel murky and uncertain, but it doesn't have to be. The secret to good writing is great revision. Many revisions, in fact.
In this writing workshop, Mackenzie will share her five step writing and revision process that she teaches in her book. You’ll learn a “recipe” for revisions that you can use for fiction or nonfiction stories.
You’ll leave feeling empowered that you now know the “secret sauce” applied by professional writers, which will improve your writing and self editing skills. You’ll understand how to make your prose shine!
➡️ Can't make the conference? Learn about the Faith Storytellers Framework.
Looking for faith based writing prompts?
Join the Faith Storytellers newsletter for free writing prompts and spiritual journaling ideas. You’ll also enjoy uplifting short stories and learn about Faith Storytellers events and writing workshops.