7 Ways You are Stepping on Your Story’s Tension – Deb Courtney
Craft of Writing – All Levels
This session will dig into ways in which writers commonly mis-execute tension. How to recognize them, and how to fix them.
10 Types of Character Dilemmas – Deb Courtney
Craft of Writing – All Levels
This session is a dive into the types of dilemmas and decisions your characters might need to make. We will dive into the 10 main types of character dilemmas, and discuss the circumstances under which you might want to use each type, from genre to specific character situations.
Agent Panel
Business of Writing – All Levels
With Aimee Ashcraft – The Brower Literary Agency, Kimberly Browser – The Brower Literary Agency, Ronadl Gerber – Lowenstein Associates, Sam Hiyate – The Rights Factory, and Patricia Nelson – Marcel Lyon Literary Agency.
Meet our attending agents and discover what’s involved in querying an agent, what they can do for you, and how they play a vital part in the publishing world.
A Murder Is a Trail of Breadcrumbs – Maria Kelson
Genre-Specific – All Levels
When asked why she wrote her debut novel in the mystery genre, Alice LaPlante said, “The murder is a trail of breadcrumbs into a world I couldn’t otherwise enter.” We’ll examine the role of murder in fiction in three different symbolic ways: as a trail of breadcrumbs, as a doorway, and as well of meaning. Specifically, we’ll look at what including a murder opens up in the story, and how it helps drive the plot to a page-turning fever pitch in three novels: The Silent Patient, Dark Places, and The House in the Pines.
And…ACTION! Fighting and Fight Scenes 101 – Bowen Gillings
Craft of Writing – All Levels
Award-winning author and recipient of five martial arts black belt certifications Bowen Gillings breaks down writing the successful fight scene. Looking at a fight through elements of character, setting, plot, voice, intent, and tone, Bowen uses examples from current popular novels and draws on his experience to show what makes a fight punch off the page and fit perfectly within the scope of your story. We’ll cover fisticuffs to falchions, katanas to kickboxing, and slaps to sucker punches. Plus, you’ll get a chance to hit some stuff yourself! Be it a detective thriller or an epic fantasy, if you’re going to write a fight the fight must fit. After this course, fit it will.
Avoiding the Mushy Middle: Get Unstuck, Raise Stakes, and Keep the Reader Hooked – Amy Lynn Green
Craft of Writing – Beginner
Most writers find the middle of their novel to be the hardest to write…and if you look closely at two- and three-star Goodreads reviews, readers tend to notice. If you’ve got a strong opening and a killer conclusion but aren’t sure how to manage what’s going on in between, this workshop is for you. Using tricks and tips borrowed from numerous genres, you’ll learn easy ways to stay on track, keep tension going, brainstorm new ideas, and find out what keeps readers turning pages. Whether you’re a pantster or a plotter or somewhere in between, you can learn what might be dragging down the middle of your work in progress, and to replace it with.
Behind the Scenes of a Novel Adaptation – Nancy Naigle – Keynote
Writers Life – All Levels
With several movies on Hallmark Channel, Nancy shares her experience on this journey and some super-fun points from her time on set during the filming.
Break All the Rules – James Perischetti and David Slayton
Craft of Writing – Intermediate
Never open a book with your main character waking up. Don’t give big info dumps. Show, don’t tell. Cut all the adjectives. There are rules to writing that we all know and get told over and over again.
We’re here to tell you that you can BREAK THE RULES! Every rule in writing can be broken…if you do it well. First you have to know the rule and understand why it matters. Then we’re going to show you when and how to break it. To paraphrase a famous pirate: the rules are more like guidelines.
Bringing Your Characters to Life – David Slayton
Craft of Writing – All Levels
Character driven stories are ones that readers connect with. This workshop will focus on creating multi-dimensional characters that readers can root for or hate. We’ll look at some examples of compelling protagonists and antagonists and break down the traits that make them tick. Additionally, we’ll look at ways to give your characters layers to help bring them to life.
Building Tension: Suspense vs. Surprise – Bryan Young
Craft of Writing – All Levels
Building tension in stories can be a difficult balance between competing drives in your story. How do you know when a surprise will be more effective for the audience than the slow burn of suspense? How do you accomplish them? This class will walk you through that process.
Choosing the Right POV – Bryan Young
Craft of Writing – All Levels
Every story lives or dies by who the protagonist and POV character are. Sometimes, it feels obvious, other times you can pick any character in the narrative and tell an equally thrilling story. This class will show you all the different options of choosing the right POV for your story or screenplay, and, if you’re writing prose, what POV to actually write in.
Common Mistakes in First Chapters – Najla Mamou – Wild Rose Press
Craft of Writing – All Levels
Whether in a bookstore, in a library, or using an electronic device, the reader uses the first chapter to decide if they want to continue on after the first chapter. So, what are the must have elements of a first chapter?
Critically Editing You – Yasmin Angoe – Keynote
Craft of Writing – All Levels
In this session, we’ll discuss ways we can honestly self-edit our work to make it polished enough for the next steps in our journey to publication and strategies to both give and receive thoughtful and effective feedback from our editors, beta readers, and critical partners.
Critique: How Delving into Another’s Writing Can Improve Your Own – Bowen Gillings
Craft of Writing – Beginner
Most writers understand that receiving criticism is one way to improve their writing. However, giving criticism holds equal value when done correctly. Conducting a good critique of another’s work will help you see the strengths and weaknesses in your own writing. This workshop delves into the techniques of an effective critique: how to listen to yourself as you read, identify the root of problems seen in character, story, and plot, and how to present a clear revision strategy for the other writer, all while dramatically improving your own writing skills.
Don’t Pigeonhole Me: Use What Makes You Unique Without Writing Yourself into a Corner – Maria Kelson
Craft of Writing – All Levels
If you see authors like you as underrepresented in publishing, whether by race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexuality, religion, ability, or by the kinds of stories you tell or the type of region you live in, you’re in a unique position as an author. You want to be able to bring all of yourself to your publishable work, but you don’t want to be known as “just” a _______ writer (fill in the blank with your underrepresented quality). The presenter will share her years of experience working inside and outside of Latinx literary networks to prompt attendee reflection on what they write, who their most hungry audiences will be, the role of identity-specific networking, and how to talk about our work to others.
Editor Panel
Business of Writing – All Levels
With Terri Bischoff – Crooked Lane Books, Joe Brosnan – Grove Atlantic, Leticia Gomez – Dafina Kensington Books, and Najla Manou – Wild Rose Press
Learn more about our attending editors, how they work, what they want, and tips on submissions.
Find Your Audience: Choosing, Writing, and Positioning Your Novel Strategically – Amy Lynn Green
Business of Writing – Intermediate
When agents and editors start talking about “high concept novels” “an attention-getting hook” or “finding a niche,” some writers hear that they should give up the story of their heart and instead pander to the market. Former publicist and current historical fiction novelist Amy Lynn Green explains why this isn’t true, and talks writers through four key questions to find the place where their passion and strategic marketing goals align. Whether you’re trying to decide on a new project to start, wondering how to position your brand online, or putting together a book proposal, these questions are intended to help you identify your audience and let them know you’re writing what they want to read.
Finding the Perfect Outline – Kevin Ikenberry – Keynote
Craft of Writing – All Levels
Story structure is a confounding, necessary subject for writers. This masterclass in the history, application, and similarities of modern story structures is designed to provide a solid understanding of story structure regardless of genre and with a focus squarely on the importance of character development and how our stories force change connecting readers to our stories.
Forging Fantastical Elements for Fiction – C.R. Rowenson
Craft of Writing – All Levels
What do fantasy, science fiction, eldritch horror, urban fantasy, LitRPG, and paranormal romance stories all have in common?
They all have that little something that takes the world and story beyond our reality into the realm of the fantastical. Not only that, while these elements can vary wildly from story to story and genre to genre, the creation process is always the same for the storyteller. Whether you’re creating terrifying monsters, marvelous magic systems, or science fiction gadgetry, the 7-stages remain the same.
So come learn the 7-Stage process for creating fantastical elements for your fiction. Born from decades of practice and coaching dozens of writers, these stages will change how you approach your fiction. I find the seven stages make the creation process easier, increase my confidence in my creations, help me better integrate the fantastical into my story, and craft unforgettable fiction.
Getting from 0 to 1: How to Slay the Monsters in Your Way – Maria Kelson
Writing Life – Intermediate
You’re not a fresh-scrubbed newbie to the writing journey. You have a novel draft underway, or maybe early draft- s completed. But now you might face The Pain of Sacrifice, Suck Fatigue, Upheaval, Bad Advice, Pesky Human Needs–they can all present as challenges to the brave souls working to get a first novel out. In this workshop, the presenter shares the mindset shifts, habits, mistakes, and positive sources of external support she used to get her through a decade-long journey from 0 published novels to 1, along with tips for the stamina to continue your book journey into future titles. Attendees will have time to reflect on challenges and strengths in their own writing lives, and will be prompted to change the kinds of questions they are asking themselves in moments of doubt.
How to Write a Thriller – John DeDakis
Genre-Specific – All Levels
An overview that demystifies and deconstructs how it’s done — from the mere germ of an idea all the way through the creative process, with an eye on getting a finished book into the hands of potential fans. We’ll discuss the necessary components that make up a thriller, and look at how to tap into your subconscious and life experiences to transform them into a book-length project, populated with interesting characters, a high-stakes plot, snappy dialogue, and interesting settings
Introduction to Independent Publishing – Bernadette Marie
Business of Writing – All Levels
There are many choices when it comes to getting published. Independently publishing your books is only one path, but one which can be taken by the new author as well as the traditionally published author who is receiving their rights back. Explore the many different ways to publish your own work, what platforms are available, how do you find professionals to help you, and do you want to sell everywhere or be exclusive to one distributor? These are all things we will discuss as we explore the awesomeness that is independent publishing.
I Received an Offer of Representation, What Next? Exploring the Author-Agent Relationship – Kimberly Brower – The Brower Literary Agency
Business of Writing – All Levels
Entering an author-agent relationship is one hand, the equivalent of entering into a partnership, one that is hopefully fruitful and long. But if you’re new to having an agent, what should you expect? What questions should you ask? Senior literary agent Kimberly Brower will discuss at length the agent-author relationship—how it begins, what you should ask when receiving an offer of representation, what you should expect, etc.
It Never Grows Old: Writing Juvenile Fiction – Darby Karchut
Genre-Related – All Levels
Have you been playing around with the notion of writing a middle grade or young adult novel, but not sure how or where to start? Join author Darby Karchut as she leads a workshop just for you. We’ll explore the unique characteristics of children and teen literature, the dos and don’ts of writing for children and teens, and the current state of the kidlit universe. Fun for all ages!
Keep ’em Talking: Using Dialogue to Move the Story Along – Bernadette Marie
Craft of Writing – All Levels
Keep your characters engaged into their own story. Using dialogue effectively helps the reader engage with the characters by hearing them engage with one another. In this workshop we will explore making dialogue sound realistic, how to best use action beats to set up dialogue, and how to close out with dialogue tags. We’ll discuss how to differentiate between characters’ voices and how to use dialogue for info dumping.
Kidlit 101: Understanding the Childrens’ Book Market – Fleur Bradley
Genre-Specific – All Levels
So, you have this great book idea for kids… But is it a picture book, chapter book, middle-grade, or YA—and what do all those terms even mean? Author Fleur Bradley will explain the ins and outs, how to write for kids – like how to format a picture book, word count and content for each segment, and what to understand about marketing to the young set, from practical experience. This is an in-depth A-to-Z look at the Kidlit market, from writing to marketing and publishing. By the end of the workshop, participants will have brainstormed loglines or book ideas to start their Kidlit project.
Lean and Mean World-Building: Editing for Brevity – David Slayton
Genre-Specific – All Levels
A proper word count for the genre is essential to getting a deal, especially as a debut author. This workshop will focus on writing speculative fiction. We’ll discuss techniques for including detail without boring your readers. Additionally, we’ll talk about methods for bring getting your word count down while still breathing life into your worlds.
Less Filling: Removing Words That Aren’t So Nutritious From Your Story So That It Tastes Better – Sam Knight
– Craft of Writing – Beginner
We hear about “weak” words, or words that ‘weaken’ our writing. Most of them are “filler words”, or words that add nothing to our stories. Here is a list of common filler words and weak words and why and when you should avoid them, so that you can decide whether or not you really wanted them in your story.
Let Me Speak: Crafting Characters’ Voices – Darby Karchut
Craft of Writing – All Levels
Creating distinctive ways of speaking for our characters can be challenging, but oh, what a straight-up joy once we hear them in our heads for the first time. But how do we do that? Where do we start? Is this the same as “author voice?” – No, it is not, but it is just as much fun. This workshop explores the use of idioms, colloquialisms, internal dialogue, sentence lengths, sounds, gestures, favorite sayings, rhythm, literary references, and more as tools to help capture that pitch-perfect character’s voice.
Marketing for Authors – Jenny Kate
Business of Writing – All Levels
With your book complete, now what do you do? Let’s focus on the most effective tactics to build your readership and sell books.
In this workshop, we’ll focus on what the three pillars of effective book marketing: your website, your email list, and ad buys to sell books.
This workshop is for authors who have books to sell.
Money & Rewards…and the Wisdom to Know the Difference – Erick Mertz
Writing Life – All Levels
This class is for any writer weighing the decision about going pro, or who has started down the freelance road and is struggling with how to make it work. This class will assist students not only with the basics of how to run a small, freelance writing business but how to make money while continuing to enjoy the creative process.
The focus of this class is learning how to continue enjoying your writing while getting paid for it. We discuss maximizing creativity and enjoyment without going broke. I give students practical tools about the necessities required to start, maintain and grow a thriving freelance writing business. I will offer students humorous and informative examples of what works, doesn’t work, and REALLY doesn’t work, but more importantly how to prioritize what they need when they need it.
Students will take away clear, actionable steps on how to happily settle into a freelance writing career.
Monsters are Needy – Erick Mertz
Craft of Writing – All Levels
Have you heard from an editor or feedback group that your villain, or monster, lacks credibility? Are you writing or re-writing a manuscript and struggling to help that bad guy to show his or her teeth? If so, it may be that your villain isn’t getting enough page or screen time. In this class, I analyze successful films, books and television series to illustrate how best to utilize your threat. We learn that monsters are, indeed, needy as well as the ways to build them up in order to give your audience what they’re looking for.
Morning Meditation and Writer Wellbeing – Johnny Worthen
Writing Life – Advanced
This class will be offered each morning before sessions start.
The Dalai Lama said, “Don’t learn Buddhism to be a better Buddhist; learn Buddhism to be a better whatever you are.” I am a writer.
Join author Johnny for discoveries in eastern philosophy with their application to the life of an author with its many disappointments. Sessions include directed mindfulness meditation and lecture on concepts that directly speak to the writer’s journey.
Day one: Basics – the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-Fold Noble path
Day two: Blocks – The Five Hindrances and the power of RAIN
Day three: Third Person Limited – Non-Identity and the muse
Each class meets in the morning before regular programming Though classes are meant as a three-day seminar, attendees can come to any of them without prior or later attendance and still get useful information.
Multiply Your Novel’s Reach: Four Keys to Book Club Marketing – Amy Lynn Green
Business of Writing – All Levels
Word of mouth is still the #1 way readers report hearing about new authors…but that can seem out of your control as an author. If you’ve ever felt frustrated by the limits of social media, daunted by complex advertising plans, and unsure where to spend your time, this class offers a solution: increase your reach by deliberately targeting not just individual readers, but groups of them. Whether pre-published or multi-published, traditional or indie focused, authors will come away with practical, step-by-step instructions for:
Based on real data supplied by hundreds of book club coordinators and presented by a historical fiction author who has eight years of experience in the marketing department of a publishing company, this workshop is designed to be practical, actionable, and empowering.
Pitch Perfect – Knocking Your Book Pitch Out of the Park – Elizabeth Chandler
Business of Writing – All Levels
Who doesn’t love public speaking, especially when you’re talking about your own writing?! Oh, pretty much everyone, ever. But talking about your book doesn’t have to be feared worse than death – 75% of the population; the other 25% are lying:.
This workshop includes a simple X, Y, Z formula for developing your pitch with your words on your terms. You’ll learn the steps to put together a winning elevator speech, practice your pitch and initiate a plan to start delivering it confidently to anyone with a heartbeat.
You’ll stair step through the workshop from 0 to hero with:
Following our time together, you’ll be ready to deliver your pitch to the next person you see–and start reaping the reward in newsletter sign ups, book sales, increased awareness and more!
Planning for Success – Sarra Cannon – Featured Speaker
Business of Writing – All Levels
What if growing your success didn’t have to mean sacrificing more of your time? So many writers are on the edge of burnout, wondering how to reclaim our passion for writing without losing momentum. What if you could increase your joy and freedom while also increasing your income? Let this be the end of putting more on your plate than is humanly possible. Join bestselling author and productivity coach, Sarra Cannon, for a motivating session on how to create a plan for the future of your author career that allows you to focus your time and energy where it matters most.
Querying: The Art of Rejection – Johnny Worthen
Business of Writing – Intermediate
So, you have a book. Now what? The class will discuss editing considerations, querying tools, formats, synopses, resources and targets while offering suggestions and techniques to present your work to publishers and agents. Learn from the mistakes of a hard-working bootstrapped blue-collar writer who’ve learned it all the hard way and found success in multiple genres.
Refilling Your Creative Well – James Persichetti
Writing Life – All Levels
Productivity gurus talk about time management, but we don’t often talk about ENERGY management, especially when it comes to the chaotic and unpredictable energy of creativity. Even if you’re a master at scheduling your life and have set aside plenty of time for writing, what happens when you find your creative well has run dry? How often do we hear advice about putting your butt in the chair, your hands on the keyboard, and making sure inspiration strikes from 9 to 5 every day? While that advice is well-intentioned, it treats writers like machines and can easily lead to burnout. Learning to manage your energy and refill your creative well is an essential skill for any writer who wants to make it in this New-York-hustle industry—without running themselves into the ground.
Romancing the Book – Bernadette Marie
Genre-Specific – All Levels
Romance books are a $1.4 Billion dollar industry. As one of the leading genres of fiction, the market is right for diving into romance. In this workshop we will discuss all the yummy parts of writing romance, the plethora of tropes, how to write it door open or closed, and discuss what dedicated, die hard romance readers are looking for, and what they won’t budge on.
Scenes That Steal the Scene – Callie Stoker
Craft of Writing – Intermediate
Take your scene concepts and turn them into fully expressed experiences that your reader can climb into and never want to leave. Learn the elements that make up a scene, how to give your scene a complete arc, how to bind together your scenes to create good story flow, and how to outline scenes with an eye to what they accomplish for your story.
Scrivener: An Introduction for Beginners – Johnny Worthen
Writing Tools – All Levels
A hands-on introduction to Scrivener, one of the most popular and powerful writing programs out there. This class, designed for the novice user and the absolute beginner, will demonstrate simple use and daily tricks to get over the initial hump of what can be a daunting learning curve. Once over it, the program becomes a powerful ally, offering tools to help every step of the process while maintaining the ability to disappear for undistracted creativity. Student are encouraged to have installed Scrivener on their laptops before class – LINK. It is a free trial download. Instructor will be using a Macintosh computer, but the program is available for PC and IOS as well.
Self-Publishing Success: What Worked, What Didn’t, What I’d Do Differently – Erick Mertz
Reality Track/How-To – All Levels
This class covers self-publishing basics. Using examples from the presenter’s self-publishing journey, we cover important topics like editing, covers and reaching readers.
Show Me the Money! – Leticia Gomez – Editor
Business of Writing – All Levels
Is there any real money in becoming a full-time author or is being able to make a decent living off of your writing just a pipe dream? This question and many others will be answered in this informative and eye-opening presentation/workshop in which Leticia will combine a few topics from her vast speaking repertoire including advances vs. royalties, the sale and licensing of foreign rights, and making a killing by optioning film & TV rights for your published book. Drawing from more than fifteen years of experience as a literary agent and now an acquisition editor, she will break down all of the financial aspects of a publishing contract and demystify several things at once.
Speed Pitch – Deborah Brewer
Business of Writing – All Levels
Welcome to Speed Pitch!
Here you are at PPWC 2023 where everybody is curious to learn about you and your book. Nevertheless, people have short attention spans and lots of other writers to meet. Can you explain the highlights of your project without confusing, or worse, boring your listeners? Speed Pitch is here to help.
How the Session Works
Participants will wait “quietly” in line for a turn to speak one-on-one for five minutes with a randomly assigned published author, seasoned writer, or maybe a VIP. You will verbally pitch your book and your coach will ask you questions to refine it. When the time is up, you’re done! But you’re welcome to get back in line for another go.
Tackling Plot and Conflict – Craft of Writing – All Levels – Yasmin Angoe – Keynote
Writing is a high wire balancing act while juggling multiple plates in the air at the same time. In all genres, authors need a perfect balance of plot and conflict. Is there enough conflict to support the plot? Are the conflicts weighty enough and do they fit the character and the story? In this session, we’ll discuss the various types of conflicts we could incorporate, how to determine which conflict might work best for our plot and the character going through the conflict, and if it all fits the type of story you’re telling so the reader remains hooked beyond the last page.
The 10 Step Edit: Get Your Manuscript Ready to Publish in 10 Easy- ish Steps – Rebecca Taylor
Craft of Writing – All Levels
You’ve spent months, maybe years, writing your book. You’ve gotten up early, stayed up late, poured your heart and soul into every page–you’ve never worked so hard! It’s finally finished! Well…not exactly. Many authors dread the editing process because the task can seem daunting and they may not know exactly where to start, but there is nothing worse than feeling embarrassed by work that isn’t yet ready for others to read. Editing a book, especially your own, can be fraught with pitfalls but I’m here to teach you, with just 10 easy- ish steps, how to get through it as quickly and painlessly as possible while not cutting corners and ensuring you send only your very best work out into the world.
The Final Word: Power at the End – Darby Karchut
Craft of Writing – All Levels
As writers, we know the value of an engaging opening scene or chapter to hook a reader. Just as important, however, is the story’s ending. A compelling finale and a perfectly realized closing line have a powerful magic of their own, no matter if your book is one in a series or a standalone. In this workshop, we’ll explore six classic endings and why they work, and examine some nifty tools to help you wrap up your masterpiece, and turn your reader into a fan.
The Murder Book: A Roadmap to Writing Killer Fiction – Barbara Nickless
Genre-Specific – All Levels
The case file, often referred to as a “murder book,” is used by homicide detectives to gather all the information relevant to their investigation. In this workshop, we’ll work on creating a writer’s murder book. Your case file will include tools for developing the structure of your mystery or thriller, your cast of characters, vital clues and red herrings, and much more: everything you need to write a suspenseful, page-turning mystery. Whether you’re just getting started or at that dreaded midpoint slump, this course will help you manage the trees so that you can focus on the forest.
The Road to Traditional Publishing – James Persichetti and David Slayton
Business of Writing – Beginner
This workshop will provide a road map the traditional publishing process, describing each step along the way, who is who and what role they play. We’ll discuss the author’s obligations and responsibilities and what you can expect from agents and editors.
Unleash the Arcane with the Magic System Blueprint – C.R. Rowenson
Writing Tools – All Levels
A quality magic system can turn a good story into an unforgettable story, but writing a magic system that is creative, consistent, and interesting is tough. In fact, building magic systems often seems more instinct than skill. Instinct alone doesn’t work for everyone. Some of us need more structure to make our masterpiece.
That’s where The Magic System Blueprint comes in.
The Blueprint combines nearly a decade of exploration, experimentation, and development into a simple tool that allows authors to quickly map their magic system and gain a holistic sense of how it works and how it fits into the story and setting. With the Blueprint in hand, you can analyze any system in existence and build any system imaginable.
So come learn the four different types of magic systems, the impact of your system’s prevalence, how to identify the source of the magic, and more. See how the magic systems from The Lord of the Rings, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Stargate SG-1, and Brandon Sanderson’s Allomancy compare and fit into the blueprint. Absorb all the ways you can tweak and twist your system into exactly what you need.
In short: start using The Magic System Blueprint today and your magic systems and stories will never be the same.
Upgrading Your Words to Say More – Callie Stoker
Craft of Writing – Intermediate
Editing isn’t just about correcting mistakes, it’s also an opportunity to identify flat words or writing and replace them with words, phrases, and scene choices that can do more for your story. These techniques will condense language, and add depth to your writing. This is a revision technique that once learned, becomes a skill that will upgrade the writer themselves.
Use Amazon Ads to Sell More Books Without Breaking the Bank – Sonja Dewing
Writing Tools – All Levels
Amazon ads can quickly eat up your budget if you don’t know the ins and outs. I’ll show you how to set up your ads for the best possible sales and without overspending!
Use ChatGPT for a Year of Social Media – Writing Tools – All Levels – Sonja Dewing
ChatGPT has changed marketing forever.
You can create posts and more with catchy content and calls to action in just a few minutes, instead of taking. You can generate hundreds of posts ideas just by clicking a few buttons. I’ll cover:
Use ChatGPT to Outline Your Next Story and Get Writing Faster – Sonja Dewing
Writing Tools – All Levels
I will never use ChatGPT to write a story, but I will use it to make my life easier. I’ll show you how to get AI to put your outline together and how to keep it all organized. We’ll use our own ideas first and then use ChatGPT to build on that!
Using Binge-Worthy Tricks from TV – Trai Cartwright
Craft of Writing – All Levels
TV watching has radically changed in the last decade, and it’s all because of the way stories are told. Suddenly we can’t stop ourselves from binge watching! There are very specific reasons why it’s the Golden Age of television, and those exact principles can be used to make our books binge-readable, too.
Vonnegut’s Rules of Writing – Bryan Young
Craft of Writing – All Levels
Kurt Vonnegut had 8 rules for writing short stories and they’re all still useful, but he had so much more to teach as well. Author Bryan Young will walk through these 8 rules and other writing advice from Kurt Vonnegut and show how to apply them best to modern storytelling in the world of short stories and novels, as well as other lessons learned from the classic author.
What Publishers Want – And Authors Need – Sam Hiyate – The Rights Factory Agency
Business of Writing – All Levels
Please bring Query Letters!
Today’s literary marketplace remains a mystery to up-and-coming writers. Often they ask themselves, what do I do next? How do I write a query letter that will stand out? What are editors really looking for? Most importantly, how do I know that my work is ready to be submitted?
Agent Sam Hiyate will examine the publishing world in the U.S. and international markets in this workshop. What are the market’s needs, wants, trends and ‘must haves’?
How can you as a writer target your submission to get the attention of an editor or agent? What are the best ways to improve your chances of getting published? Sam will examine the reasons submissions get published, and top reasons most never make it out of the slush pile. Learn about the publishing world and its trends in this invaluable workshop aimed at helping you understand what the market wants.
Bring your query letter for your MS for discussion and critique!
“I can’t remember a more enjoyable and informative presentation. Sam’s stories from the world of publishing vividly illustrated his points. His ability to focus on each person’s work and rearrange elements showed directorial genius… I am very glad I attended and look forward to querying Sam when I am further along in [my writing].”—Tim Christian, Author of Hemingway’s Widow
Why the Great Gatsby is the Best American Novel Ever Written – Trai Cartwright
Craft of Writing – All Levels
Lots of people make this declaration, but few understand just why this book is so amazing. This workshop will break down the key factors to its excellence–all craft components you can make use of in your own writing! We’ll look at the design of the voice, the narrative distance, the use of an unreliable narrator, and of course themes. This goes far beyond character and plotting and into the level of craft that brings layers and levels to any book.
Write Descriptions Your Readers Won’t Forget – Stant Litore
Craft of Writing – All Levels
Excite your reader on every page. Vivid description isn’t a static listing of attributes; instead, it’s the live wire that runs through every scene in your story, and both information and emotion travel to the reader along that hot current. It’s how you make both a character’s exterior world, their interior emotional life, and specific interactions between the two vivid and unforgettable. Good description is electric, and it shocks sleepy readers awake. It helps us sit up with a gasp and pay attention.
In this unique workshop with Stant Litore, discover tools for electrifying your prose and master fresh strategies for describing characters, settings, emotions, and actions in ways that leave the reader breathless.
Write Drunk, Edit Sober – Deb Courtney
Craft of Writing – All Levels
A follow-up to the Write Drunk session the previous night, this Edit Sober session takes you through examining what you wrote and how to edit it into shape.
Write Pacing Your Readers Won’t Forget – Stant Litore
Craft of Writing – All Levels
Keep your readers on the edge of their seats. You’ve got great characters and a good idea for your plot, but your story builds tension too slowly; even you get bored in the middle, and you’re the one writing it. How do you avoid the slow start, the overly predictable middle, the boggy subplots, and the unsatisfying ending? Pacing is not just about action. It’s about the way you dance with the reader – where you drop clues, where you misdirect, where you cut between scenes, when you throw in unexpected complications, and how you raise the stakes. It’s about knowing when to delay and when to deliver.
So how do you rev up the speed at just the right moments, give just the right amount of pause for breath, and play with readers’ expectations in ways that build suspense and give your readers surprises they’ll be discussing for days? Jump into Stant Litore’s exhilarating crash course on pacing in fiction. Beyond just theory, Write Pacing Your Readers Won’t Forget will provide you with practical strategies and techniques to make your fiction thrilling.
Writing Series That Sell – Sarra Cannon
Craft of Writing – All Levels
One of the most powerful ways to make a living as a writer is with a series. As the author of five successful series that have sold over a million copies total, Sarra Cannon will give you actionable steps on how to strategize and plan your next bestselling series. Then, we’ll dive into tips on how to build worlds and create character and story arcs sure to draw readers in and turn them into loyal fans.
Writing as a Way to Heal – John DeDakis
Writer’s Life – All Levels
All of us have — or will — experience the loss of a loved one. In my case, in addition to the expected deaths of grandparents and parents, I’ve witnessed a car-train collision that killed three people, lost my sister to suicide, and endured the death of my youngest son because of an accidental heroin overdose. Even though death is a part of life, it need not be crippling or debilitating. In this session, we’ll look at strategies — including journaling and writing — to help you move forward, through and beyond the pain and into a future that can once again be filled with hope — and even joy. Session includes short writing exercises.
Your New Author Marketing Plan – Fleur Bradley
Business of Writing – All Levels
Marketing—your publisher takes care of all that, right? Think again. Especially in this post-COVID time, you need to have a plan and know what new opportunities are available to you. Author Fleur Bradley will share her experience marketing her books and stories, with – unexpected successes and failures. She’ll explain how to create a marketing plan, use social media to your advantage, and avoid wasting time on stuff that doesn’t get your book sold. When you leave this workshop, you’ll have a rough draft for your marketing plan with a checklist and calendar.