"Are you called to be a speaker? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you.”  —1 Peter 4:11a (NLT)

Speaking Topics

Suicide Awareness

Suicide is a subject most people would rather ignore. But statistics tell us that suicide is a major problem that won’t go away by our failure to acknowledge it. Every seventeen minutes, someone, somewhere in the United States takes his or her own life. In light of these statistics, it’s not too soon to understand how to identify suicidal tendencies and learn what you can do to help prevent this national epidemic of self-murder. Gain insights into suicide myths and learn how to boldly approach a topic that has long been considered taboo.

Understanding Teen Suicide

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15-24. A number of factors come into play with suicidal teens. Teens are more adept at hiding suicidal tendencies. Learn how to identify these variables and the best way to confront a suicidal teen. If you are a school administrator or educator, this is an excellent topic to address as part of staff development.

Reaching Out to Survivors of Suicide

For every suicide, at least six other people’s lives are affected. Suicide survivors don’t deserve ostracism as a consequence of their loved one’s actions. They need understanding, openness, and support to talk through the pain and trauma of suicide. The normal grieving and healing processes are accentuated and lengthened with a suicide death. Recovery is made even more difficult by the glances, whispers, and outright avoidance of the subject by well-meaning friends and relatives. Because people do not know how to respond to suicide, they often do more harm than good. Learn the most effective ways to reach out to survivors of suicide.

Candy is coauthor of AFTERSHOCK: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide, Broadman & Holman 2003.

Speaking Topics on Writing

So…You Want to Be a Writer?

Lights, fame, book signings, royalties! The life of a writer is glamorous, right? Well, not exactly. Learn what’s really involved in the writing life. Gain a realistic perspective on the hard work and rewards of writing. Find out how to structure and format your manuscript and give your book proposal all the elements necessary to catch an editor’s eye. Learn how writing articles for online sites and magazines can enhance your chances of getting a book contract. So…you want to be a writer? I can show you how to get started.

Rejection Recovery

Are you afraid to open your U.S. postal service mailbox or email in-box? Do you fear a rejection to your latest submission? Rejection is often devastating to us as writers because we’re creative types and take it personally. Learn ways to overcome rejection before it discourages you to the point of paralyzing your writing productivity.

(Candy has published articles on rejection recovery in The Cross & Quill and Writer’s Digest.)

Tackling Tough Topics

Suicide, divorce, infertility, terminal or chronic illness, and abuse – life often involves difficult circumstances. The challenge is to write about painful experiences in a way that ministers to others rather than promotes a pity party. Do you have a desire to help others overcome their pain and move on? Learn to deal with tough topics in a manner that provides hope, healing, and encouragement, while catching an editor’s eye. Determine which publishers to target for niche topics and how best to structure your proposal and manuscript.

Are Two Heads Really Better?
Pros and Cons of Coauthoring

Perhaps you feel you have the perfect book idea. But before you put that book proposal in the mail, why not consider coauthoring? What’s to be gained from working with a coauthor? Doesn’t coauthoring complicate the process? Learn how coauthoring can add credibility to your subject, strengthen your proposal, and lighten your workload. Determine potential pitfalls and how to avoid them.

(Candy’s article “9 Secrets to a Successful Collaboration” appeared in the September 2004 issue of Writer’s Digest magazine.)

Training the Next Generation

Today’s children are learning how to pass standardized tests, but are they really learning to write? You can be instrumental in encouraging the next generation of writers. Whether your children or grandchildren or someone else’s, start now to pass along the craft of writing to the next generation of young wordsmiths.

(Candy’s article “8 Ways to Encourage Kids to Write” appeared in the Writer’s Digest special edition You Can Write for Children June 2003 and her article “Training the Next Generation” appeared in the September/October 2004 issue of Advanced Christian Writer.)