Workshops

COMING SOON

Join us to learn and network with fellow writers and industry professionals.

Workshops are subject to change.

Dawn Alexander

Beyond the Bedroom: Using Physical and Emotional Intimacy to Create Authentic Character Relationships (Craft of Writing)(All Levels)

Intimacy isn’t limited to romance. Authentic character relationships are crucial in all genres, whether you’re telling a love story or building a friendship. This workshop will explore the progression from initial awareness to physical intimacy, as well as the emotional layers accompanying each stage of connection.

When You See It: A Practical Guide to Show, Don’t Tell (Craft of Writing)(All Levels)

Show! Don’t Tell! You’ve heard it, but how are you supposed to use it? What does it really mean? How do you actually do it? In this workshop, we will break down the basics of this common writing advice as well as revise sections from actual works-in-progress.

Story Blueprint (with Jessica Snyder) (Craft of Writing)

Hook readers and elevate your storytelling skills with a story blueprint based on tropes for genre fiction. This session will define what tropes are (and aren’t) and how they can be used in your story. Attendees will learn the expectations and implications of several tropes, how to deconstruct the framework, and how to seamlessly integrate tropes across genres. Dawn Alexander and Jessica Snyder will: – define what a trope is (and isn’t) and why they are useful in fiction – deconstruct the framework, expectations and implications of a trope – show you how to utilize them across genres – provide plenty of examples so you can implement them in your own writing

CW Allen

A Crash Course on Critique (Writing Life) (All Levels)

Every writer needs a good editing team. Learn how to get the advice that gets results, and how to help other writers make their work shine.

Codes, Ciphers, and Secret Messages (Reality Track/How To) (All Levels)

As long as humans have been sharing ideas, they’ve also been finding ways to conceal them. Learn the history of secret messages and the methods used to craft them, and explore ways to add codes, puzzles, and spycraft to your storytelling—no matter what genre.

Kid Lit 101 (Genre-Specific) (All Levels)

Want to write for kids? If you’re used to the norms of the adult publishing landscape, moving into children’s literature requires understanding a whole different set of rules. This overview of the current children’s literature landscape, from picture books to YA, highlights unique considerations for writing, querying, publishing, and marketing kids’ books.

Jessica Berg (Agent)

How to Pick Comps and Why They Matter (Business of Writing) (All Levels)

In this focused, one-hour session, learn the art of selecting comparative titles that strengthen your manuscript’s market appeal. Comparative titles (comps) are vital in positioning your book in the market, but how do you choose ones that genuinely resonate? In this workshop, you’ll discover:

Why comps are crucial to pitching your novel and how they impact agent and publisher interest.
How to find and select the most appropriate comps for your manuscript.
Ways to leverage comps to highlight your book’s uniqueness.

By the end, you’ll have the skills to choose powerful comps that enhance your manuscript’s appeal and position it for success in the competitive publishing world.

Lou Berger

Instant Slushpile (Craft of Writing)(All Levels)(After Dark)

If you’ve never caught this workshop at, say, MileHiCon, Bubonicon, FyreCon, or at COSine, the premise is absurdly simple:

Attendees bring an anonymized, 300-word story opening, either short story or novel, and drop it in front of Lou at the beginning of the workshop. He will peruse the audience and select INSTANT EDITORS from those gathered and bring them up front.

For each manuscript, in randomized order, he will read aloud until three of the Instant Editors raise their hands, signifying that they would not publish the story. If he completes the story with fewer than three hands raised, consider that a success!

Each Editor will then share what they liked about the story, and then Lou gives his own thoughts. The author, who is still anonymous at this point, is invited to reveal themselves. Sometimes, Lou reads a ringer, a manuscript from a previously-published work, by a noted author, just to keep the Instant Editors guessing.

If you find that you have the time and inclination to participate, please consider joining Lou and his INSTANT SLUSHPILE WORKSHOP with your anonymized manuscript in hand!

Deb Courtney

Non-verbal communications in Fiction (Craft of Writing )(All Levels)

Explore 5 areas of non-verbal communication, from physical interaction to how people inhabit the space around them, and how each can contribute to writing more realistic scenes and characters.

Microflashbacks as a plot device (Craft of Writing) (All Levels)

Understand how micro-flashbacks differ from regular flashbacks (it’s more than just length!), and how to decide when a micro-flashback is the right choice

Strong Language – For and Against Swearing in Fiction (Craft of Writing) (All Levels)

Dig into connotative and denotative meanings and a discussion of what being a ‘bad’ word really means — and why we may or may not choose to use them.

Write Drunk, Edit Sober (Craft of Writing)(All Levels)(2 sessions)

The first session Write Drunk has you writing to various prompts while drinking. The follow-up Edit Sober session takes you through examining what you wrote and how to edit it into shape.

Alexandra Diaz

There’s No “Right” Way to Write (Craft of Writing)(All Levels)

They say writers either outline or wing it, but really there are other ways to write, including some that don’t involve a notebook/computer at all! Learn several different ways to write and develop a story, from timed writing to mentally visualizing a scene, and find the various methods that work best for you or your current project. This workshop is also great for those who struggle with “writer’s block” or every day life that keeps you from being creative.

The Author’s Website (Writer’s Tools)(All Levels)

This is arguably the most important promotional tool an author has. Unlike social media posts that “disappear” quickly, a website is a static resource that readers can return to for additional information on you and your literary work. Whether you create the website yourself (with a quick overview on how to do that) or hire a pro (ideas on what to look for beyond the price tag), this workshop will include suggestions and tools for you to make a strong permanent cyber presence that requires minimal maintenance after the initial setup.

Brenna English-Loeb

Using Outlines and Synopses as Tools for Revision (Craft of Writing) (All Levels)

Using common drafting tools like outlining and synopses in new ways, learn how to better visualize your novel’s pacing and structure to make it an even more engaging read. We will discuss how to group the action by section, character, and theme to better identify weak spots and under-utilized connections, as well as other techniques like timelines and even graphs. This workshop will be ideal for those working in genre spaces.

Ricardo Fayet

The Six Marketing Principles That Should Guide Your Writing Career (Business of Writing)(All Levels)

Why do some books perform so much better than others? What marketing strategies offer the best ROI? Why do some advertising platforms suddenly stop working? You’ll find out the answers to these fundamental marketing questions (and much more) in this workshop celebrating Reedsy’s 10th anniversary.

Since co-founding Reedsy in 2014, Ricardo has spent the past decade helping authors navigate the complex world of book marketing. In this workshop, he will distill the knowledge and experience that helped him write a popular book marketing series into six key lessons. With a mix of high-level marketing principles, as well as practical tips you can implement right away, you’ll leave with a clear roadmap for the future.

Assembling Your Publishing Dream Team (Business of Writing)(All Levels)

A career writing books involves so much more than just writing. As indie authors, you’re expected to make all the decisions around editing, design, publishing, and marketing. While you can start on your own, you won’t go far without a proper team behind you.

But what work should you outsource first? Is it better to spend your money on editing or on covers? When is the right time to hire a virtual assistant? And how can you find these people who can help take your career to the next level?

In this presentation, Reedsy’s Ricardo Fayet will show you how to assemble your publishing dream team and turn your publishing business into a well-oiled machine.

Entering New Markets Through Literary Translations (After Dark)(Business of Writing)(All Levels)

A workshop on getting translated into other languages, including:

Selling rights vs exploiting them yourself (and tips for both)
What markets to focus on first (depending on genres)
Average costs per language (and potentially genre)
Leveraging AI: yes or no?
What it’s like to work with a literary translator
Tips for marketing/promotion in the local market

Avery Flynn

Contemporary World Building: Tips and Tracks to Giving Readers the Full Experience (Craft of Writing)(All Levels)

Think you can avoid world building in contemporary stories? Think again. USA Today Best Selling Author Avery Flynn shares tips and tricks to building a fully imagined contemporary world that will give readers the full experience and keep them coming back for more.

Make ‘Em Laugh: How Bringing the Humor Heightens All Other Emotions (Craft of Writing)(All Levels)

The power of laugher isn’t only for comedic novels and you can use it to heighten the emotional experience for readers no matter what genre you’re writing in. USA Today Best Selling Author Avery Flynn will give you practical tools to do just that in your story.

Bowen Gillings

Full-on Fight Scenes: Tools and Tips to Fit Your Tale (with AJ Metzger)(Craft of Writing)(All Levels) (3 hours)

Award-winning author and martial arts black belt Bowen Gillings combines forces with former MMA fighter and weapons expert AJ Metzger to help you understand some basic techniques, tools, and realities of violent action, and how to write the perfect fight scene to fit your story. This workshop breaks down weapons from around the world and throughout history. Using successful current novels, fight scenes are analyzed in terms of character, voice, setting, and more. Hands-on exercises (including getting your hands dirty learning a few moves) help you put real feel into the fights you write.

John Gilstrap

Bangs & Booms 101: Technical Stuff That Writers Should Get Right (Craft of Writing) (All Levels)

Fiction readers are getting more sophisticated all the time, and it’s a writer’s job to get the details correct. New York Times bestselling author John Gilstrap brings his thirty years of experience as a firefighter, EMT, safety engineer and hazardous materials specialist to the classroom in a lively, interactive session to teach the basics of projectile ballistics, fire behavior, how explosives work, and how the human body functions. What actually happens when a person gets shot or stabbed? Do silencers really work? What’s the difference between a fire, a deflagration and a detonation? Was there really another shooter on the grassy knoll when JFK was shot? These and many other questions will be answered. Note: This presentation contains graphic imagery.

Whose Story Are You Telling? (Craft of Writing) (All Levels)

Choosing the correct point of view is one of the key elements of dramatic storytelling. Bestselling author John Gilstrap has been praised by Publishers Weekly for “flawless characterization” in his books, and in this interactive session, he’ll walk you through the critical decisions that help you propel your story through the most dramatic set of eyes. Bring paper and a pen, because there’ll be a writing exercise.

Leticia Gomez

Traditional Publishing vs. Independent Publishing (Business of Writing)(All Levels)

The desire to be published is more prevalent than ever. A record- breaking number of CEOs, entrepreneurs, business professionals, and aspiring writers from all walks of life dream about becoming published authors but are stumped about which road to publication they would like to travel on. Filled with real-life stories, humor, and practical advice Leticia’s workshop will give aspiring and seasoned authors alike the good, bad, and ugly of these two methods of publication. By the end of the presentation, attendees will have gained the clarity needed to decide whether they have the stomach to take the traditional publishing route with the help of a literary agent or strike out on their own to publish their literary masterpiece.

H.Y. Gregor

Sandboxes: Shared Universes and Co-Writing (Craft of Writing) (Intermediate) (with David Shadoin)

The MCU may be the first thing that pops to mind when you think of a shared world IP, but it’s a fast-growing trend in publishing communities. We’ll talk about shared universes in speculative fiction: what they are, how they work, IP considerations, and how to write in another author’s sandbox. From there, we’ll explore co-writing, including the best ways to outline and prepare for writing with a co-author, various techniques to splitting the workload, and the “yes, and” mindset that helps make these stories shine their brightest.

If you’ve ever written a book but didn’t have the expertise to flesh it out the way you wanted, want to write in another author’s IP, or just want to write a novel with your best buddy, we’ve got you covered.

Kevin Ikenberry

Antagonists (Writing Life)(All Levels)

Writers focus much of their development and planning for their next work on their protagonist and often fail to fully develop the “bad guy.” Understanding the role of the antagonist, and how to create conflicts with the protagonist, is an essential tool for writers of all genres. This class focuses on aspects of development specifically for antagonists which ensure the antagonist is powerful, committed, and the perfect foil to your protagonist.

What are Mentors Meant For? (Business of Writing)(All Levels)

What does it mean to stand on the shoulders of giants?” Mentors in writing, as much as in our daily lives, are tremendously important. How do you find a mentor? What does a mentor/mentee relationship look like? This presentation walks participants through defining mentors, their relationships, and how to find them.

The Pitfalls of Literary Contracts (Business of Writing)(All Levels)

Getting your first literary contract is cause for celebration! However, for new and aspiring writers contracts can be daunting. Signing a contract you’re unfamiliar, or uncomfortable with, can having lasting consequences. While not a complete “deep dive” into contracts, this one hour presentation focuses on the most common pitfalls regarding copyright, terms of rights, rights reversions, and other area writers need to know.

Jenny Kate

Marketing for Authors (Business of Writing) (Intermediate)

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.

Marketing Tips and Tracks (Business of Writing)(All Levels) (After Dark) (with Susan Mitchell

Jenny and Sue shine a light on marketing trends, tips and tricks in a casual setting. Join the conversation and we’ll chat about what’s working in the industry, the direction digital is taking and how you can get your name and your work out there for readers and the writing community.

Sheyla Knigge

Treating Publishing Like Tinder (Business of Writing)

It’s so easy in the digital age to get caught up in the little things, especially when it comes to your career. In this workshop we’ll go over sweating the small stuff, handling rejections, and what’s better left for the group chat.

Shannon Lawrence

Short Story Generative Workshop in Two Parts (Craft of Writing)(Beginner)(2 hours)

Split over two days, an hour each. Short stories have made a comeback. They’re fun, but also beneficial to honing writing skills. Learn about the dynamics of short story writing then use prompts to start stories during the hour. Work on them overnight if you choose. Come back on day two to break into partners/groups to look over what you’ve started and get feedback. For the last twenty minutes we’ll go over finding markets and submitting.

Neurodivergence & Writing (Writing Life)(Beginner)

Neurodivergent brains are wired differently, so tips for writing don’t always work the same for NDs. Often, the standard tips just need to be tweaked to find productive approaches. Learning how to adapt NT methods to your needs can go a long way in helping you find the best way forward so you can stop worrying about how to get things done and start writing.

Thrills, Chills…and Ills? What Makes a Story Horror? (Genre-Specific)(All Levels)

Horror is more than a genre–it’s a feeling that grows in the pit of your stomach and spreads until you have to turn on the lights and check the locks. We’ll dissect the horror “genre” and go over tricks and tips to create your own terrifying tales.

Mysteries, Monsters & Mayhem Live Recording (Reality Track/How To)(All Levels) (After Dark)

Ever wanted to see a podcast recorded in real time? Join Shannon & MB as we record an episode of our true crime podcast with an author guest from PPWC 2025.

With MB Partlow and conference guest

Kelley Lindberg

Just-in-Time Description and World Building (Craft of Writing)(All Levels)

Whether you’re writing modern murder mysteries, historical rom-coms, urban fantasies, or space operas, your characters exist in a world that includes mundane features like geography, transportation, and money (does your protagonist need a MetroCard to hop the NYC subway?) and deeper aspects such as religion, politics, magic, bureaucracies, pandemics, or natural disasters. Learn how to avoid info-dumping while still creating a believable world that your characters inhabit and your readers will love.

Weaponize Those 5 Love Languages to Develop Characters and Build Tension (Craft of Writing)(All Levels)

(For all genres—not just romance!) The bestselling The Five Love Languages book series introduced five ways people receive and express love in any relationship (romantic or non-romantic). Writers of all genres can use these love languages for devious intent! In this fast-paced workshop, we’ll explore the five love languages, evaluate published examples, and learn how to use love languages to fully develop your characters, build that all-important tension and conflict between characters, and weave new levels of emotion into your scenes.

Do Your Settings Work as Hard as You Do? (Craft of Writing)(All Levels)(2 hours)

If your settings aren’t doing double duty (or even triple duty), they’re not working hard enough. Explore how your settings can go beyond location and time to reveal your character’s personality, enhance or instigate conflict, and establish tone, mood, and atmosphere—all without slowing down your story. Discussion, examples, and hands-on writing exercises will help you make settings an important tool in your “show, don’t tell” toolbox.

Chris Mandeville

Pitch Like a Pro (Business of Writing)(Intermediate)(2 hours)

This workshop goes over everything you need to know to pitch your book articulately, enticingly, and successfully to editors and agents. Covers logline, genre, hook, questions to ask in a pitch, and what questions to prepare to answer. Includes multiple worksheets plus a customizable in-pitch guide.

A two-hour version of this workshop includes a pitch “demo”, individual hands-on exercises like logline writing, and group brainstorming of “key words” to use in a pitch.

Map Out Your Plot using Story Structure (Craft of Writing)(All Levels)

Story structure can be a powerful tool to help you map out the plot of your novel. This workshop provides a high-level overview of a variety of different “mapping” options, including Three-Act Structure, the Hero’s Journey, GMC (Goal, Motivation & Conflict), the Plotting Grid. Explore different structures to see what might work best for you via participatory exercises, examples from popular fiction, and a take-home list of resources. Terrific for beginning writers, as well as seasoned “pantsers” who want to learn what all the plotting fuss is about.

Jennie Marts

Crafting a Cozy Mystery (Genre-Specific)(All Levels)

Are you interested in crafting captivating mysteries wrapped in the warmth of small-town charm? Dive into the world of cozy mystery writing with award-winning and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennie Marts, as she teaches you what it takes to write in this beloved subgenre of crime fiction. Learn how to create a story with a charming setting, an intriguing murder, a quirky cast of characters-some of whom will be the amateur sleuths trying to solve the mystery–and that a red herring is more than just a smoked piece of fish.

Boost Your Book Sales with Amazon Ads (Business of Writing)(Intermediate)

Ready to reach more readers and boost your book sales? Join USA Today Bestselling author, Jennie Marts as she covers the basics of creating Amazon ads that help your book stand out. You’ll learn how to create ads and leave equipped with actionable tips and insights to make your ads work for you. Whether you’re new to Amazon ads or just want some easy-to-follow tips, this session will give you the tools to start using Amazon ads to get your book in front of more readers!

Unleash your Inner Author Confidence: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome (Writing Life) (All Levels)

Do you ever find yourself doubting your abilities as a writer–even in the midst of your accomplishments? Whether you’re an aspiring author or a seasoned pro, many of us struggle with imposter syndrome, a common but often hidden challenge in the writing world. Join award-winning and USA TODAY Bestselling author, Jennie Marts in this workshop designed to help you recognize, confront, and triumph over imposter syndrome. She’ll teach you how to recognize the signs of imposter syndrome and offer strategies to silence your inner critic and boost your confidence to overcome self-doubt and unleash your full creative potential.

AJ Metzger

Full-on Fight Scenes: Tools and Tips to Fit Your Tale (with Bowen Gillings)(Craft of Writing)(All Levels) (3 hours)

Speed Pitch Practice (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 Practice 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.

Susan Mitchell

Excavating Inspiration in Unlikely Places (Writing Life)(All Levels)

Writers need inspiration. Where do we find it? This workshop puts a new spin on research encouraging writers to look in unlikely places from the weird corners of the internet to thrift stores, music and the open road. We’ll talk about mining the gold in everyday experiences, and how the seeds of inspiration just need a little light to grow. Then we’ll do an exercise and share our results.

SMART Goals for Writers (Business of Writing)(All Levels)

Do you have SMART GOALS? Your goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time Bound. Using this method to articulate your goals, you can plan your project launch with benchmarks and KPI’s to stay on track and hold yourself accountable, and measure your progress along the way paving a path to success.

Decoding Blockbuster Plots and Synopses (Writing Tools)(All Levels)

Use the tools, tips, tricks and formulas for movies and television series to engineer or reverse engineer your plot and perfect the points to address for a compelling synopsis.

Marketing Tips and Tracks (Business of Writing)(All Levels)(After Dark)

With Jenny Kate

Kim Olgren

Deviously Twisted Mystery Endings (Genre-Specific)(All Levels)

Mystery is one of the hardest genres to write because of the myriad of moving parts in play at any given time. Then you have to make the ending a dramatically satisfying event for the reader. One way to do this is with a twist ending. Learn how to determine if a twist ending is the right ending for your story, the different kinds of twist endings, and how to ensure it will be satisfying for your reader.

So You Went to a Writers Conference, Now What? (Writing Life)(All Levels)

Learn how to use post-conference energy to propel your writing forward. So, you’re home from the writers conference and it feels a little like you’ve left Hogwarts. You’ve met so many people. You’ve taken in all the workshops you could. You’ve taken copious notes. You’ve made new friends, maybe even had a pitch appointment, and were asked for pages (OMG!). Kim will show you how to take advantage of the heady after-conference atmosphere and use it to create momentum toward making your writing dreams happen.

Caris Pasch-Cooper

Writing in the Age of Tik-Tok: Ultra Short-Form Storytelling (Craft of Writing)(All Levels)

According to Orson Welles, “The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.” In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore how ultra short-form storytelling (think a one-minute TikTok video or a 100 word story) can expand a writer’s creativity by forcing them to think outside the box – or, more accurately, inside a very small box. We will look at examples of exceptional short-form storytelling in video and in print, discuss strategies for fitting big ideas in small packages, and each write our own tiny tale.

James Persichetti

Write Towards the Ending (Craft of Writing)(All Levels)

The ending should represent everything you want the book to be, a culmination of the struggles and decisions your character has made, to deliver a final knockout punch. Whether you plot out every scene beforehand or set pen to paper to see where it leads, every story should build towards a satisfying ending that is (ideally) both unexpected and inevitable. This workshop is all about writing the most impactful ending that will leave your readers feeling like the hours they put into your book were worthwhile.

Plotting Your Character’s Demise (Craft of Writing)(All Levels)

There are hundreds of ways to kill a character, but there’s usually just one PERFECT way for them to meet their demise. Looking at character traits, revelations, and more, this course will discuss the six most important elements to consider when crafting a character death that will have the greatest impact on the story.

Refilling Your Creative Well (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 of 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 writing 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.

Steve Saffel

Secrets of Pacing and Clarity (Craft of Writing)(All Levels)

This workshop focuses on the nuts and bolts of dramatic structure and learning from other media to create the most polished fiction and target the broadest possible audience.

How to Engage with the Gatekeepers: Agents, Editors, and Publishers (Business of Writing)(All Levels)

TBD

Group Storytelling Session (in Zeb’s Lounge) (Writing Life)(All Levels)

Join us in an informal group storytelling session in Zeb’s Lounge. This session allows attendees the opportunity to practice the oral tradition of telling stories. Come prepared to share a story (ghost stories, adventures, or whatever else you can think of).

David Shadoin

Sandboxes: Shared Universes and Co-Writing (Craft of Writing)(Intermediate)(with H.Y. Gregor)

David Slayton

Write What You Feel: Emotion in Fiction (Craft of Writing)(Intermediate)

Fiction that doesn’t make us feel something is fiction we fail to remember. This workshop will focus on techniques to help writers show not tell and get in touch with their emotions.

Starting Your Story in the Right Place (Craft of Writing) (Beginner)

One of the most challenging goals in commercial fiction is knowing what to include and what to exclude in a first chapter. In this craft-oriented workshop we’ll focus on examples that strike the right balance between exposition and action (in medias res).

Jessica Snyder

Swipe Write: How to Match with Your Perfect Editor (Business of Writing)(All Levels)

Learn what aspects to look for when researching the right freelance editor for you and your story, create your own plan for self-editing and revising, and master a few mindset tips that will help you throughout your author career.

The Happily Ever After Business Plan (Writing Tools)(All Levels)

Skyrocket your career by creating goals that stick, getting clear on your plan, and achieving all the things. The framework and strategies in this course are applicable to most small businesses and industries, but the examples we present are tailored to writers and editors at all levels of their careers. If that sounds like you, you’re definitely in the right place!

The Six Foundational Elements of Romance Fiction (Genre-Specific)(All Levels)

Conquer the structural elements of character-driven fiction to write romance novels that readers love. This presentation teaches romance fiction from a structural standpoint. You’ll learn about goal, motivation, and conflict, which are the cornerstones of fiction writing. But then we dive deeper to cover character arcs, flaws and stakes, which are vital in character-driven stories like romance. You’ll understand how each element hinges on the others to build the infrastructure of your story, and you’ll gain the confidence to utilize these elements to improve your own books.

Story Blueprint (with Dawn Alexander)(Craft of Writing)

Callie Stoker

But Is It a Good Idea? (Craft of Writing)(All Levels)

Do ideas matter? Are there new ideas? We will investigate how ideas are part of the creation process and look at skills to diagnose the ideas that are falling flat and what elements they may be missing before they are ready to become story.

The Allegory in Your Subtext (Craft of Writing)(Intermediate)

We review the concepts of allegory, archetypes, tropes and other story templates and how they can be used to shortcut what we are trying to deliver in our writing and create depth and subtext to our themes and characters. In the last hour we brainstorm characters using archetypes then allow writing time in the class to show off our new skills.

The Sequel to Every Scene (Craft of Writing)(Beginner)

If every action has an equal reaction, so should our scenes. That reaction is found in the sequel of our stories. We will cover the three steps of sequel, where is shows up in our scenes, and how it is the key to binding together the deeper aspects of storytelling like character growth, subtext, and theme.

Capturing the Elusive Voice (Craft of Writing)(Beginner)

What is voice? It is often talked about but rarely clearly described. This presentation will break down what voice is and how it functions in prose. The tools taught will help you shift generic exposition and prose into character-driven voice with the use of language, metaphor, simile, and character point-of-view. It will cover how voice functions in first person vs. third person, and include exercises to help you discover your own unique voice for your writing.

Becca Syme (Sponsor)

Market Awareness and Writing to Market (Business of Writing) (All Levels)

How do I use the data available to me through Amazon to understand my place in the market, and write to market? There are four different archetypal pathways you can use to write to market. This workshop will cover each of the four types and use the Kindletrends data analytics tools to help writers understand whether or not they should write to market, and how to do it.

Michelle Van de Pas (Sponsor)

TBD

Jennifer Wilkov

Book to Film Strategies to Sell Your Story in a Single Sentence, Treatment, Pitch Deck or Bible (Craft of Writing)(Beginner)

Stories go beyond the pages of a book in the form of screenplays and scripts that are marketed and viewed by eager theatergoers and read by avid readers. Many writers want to raise their story to the big screen, whether they start with a book they believe is a film or with the film in mind. However, understanding what it takes to actually pitch the story for the screen and take it from book to film, television or streaming can seem like a mystery of its own. In this presentation, Jennifer S. Wilkov, multi #1 international best-selling author, award-winning freelance writer, and Hollywood story consultant, will share book to film strategies so you can take your story to multiple media. Break through the pages of your book, streamline your pitch for Hollywood with these documents, and craft them with ease. Expect to learn:

The basics for selling your story in a single sentence
Treatments, pitch decks and bibles: what to include and what not to
Fool-proof ways to structure your storytelling in your pitch documents
Proven techniques to use to craft these essential pitch documents
Top strategies to sell your story from book to film

Seven Screenwriting Strategies to Elevate Your Script (Craft of Writing)(Beginner)

Stories hit the page as screenplays, scripts or books viewed by eager theatergoers and read by avid readers. Many writers want to raise their story to the big screen, whether they start with a book they believe is a film or with the film in mind. However, understanding what it takes to actually write the story for the screen can seem like a mystery of its own, especially for book writers. In this presentation, Jennifer S. Wilkov, multi #1 international best-selling author, award-winning freelance writer, and Hollywood story consultant, will share seven screenwriting strategies to elevate your script. Break through the screenwriting static, streamline your screenplay, and craft it with ease. Expect to learn:

The basics for writing your screenplay
How to properly format your screenplay
Fool-proof ways to structure your storytelling
Proven techniques to use to craft it
Top strategies to elevate your script

Marketing Your Book to Success: Before, During After Publication (Business of Writing) (All Levels)

Authors know that marketing their books is 100% their responsibility but most don’t have the skillset or knowledge to create a winning marketing plan for their project. The truth is: everybody would like to have a plan that works, but getting it written, done, and executed properly out in the marketplace to attract attention and grow your sales can seem like it will take years. It’s time to build a plan to successfully market your book that can save you time, energy and money and can ensure you get results during the most pivotal times. In this presentation, Jennifer S. Wilkov, the founder of Your Book Is Your Hook, LLC, will show you how to master the art of determining what belongs in your marketing platform – and what doesn’t – before, during, and after your book has been published.

Expect to learn:

Set goals for your marketing by taking the time to plan your efforts before you start executing them
How to use digital marketing to leverage the internet, build awareness online, and generate more sales before, during, and after your book is published
Proven techniques for offline strategies to get your message out
Measure, correct and keep your marketing momentum going, no matter what
Key reasons why you must measure and track your performance
Fool-proof ways to master your book marketing efforts to take control of your project’s success

Johnny Worthen

Morning Meditation and Writer Wellbeing (Writer’s Life)(All Levels)

The Dalai Lama said, “Don’t learn Buddhism to be a better 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.

Prewriting Checklist (Craft of Writing) (Intermediate)

Often neglected the most important part of the process is prewriting. Spurned by a powerful but aa short-sighted urge to “get started” one is rushes headlong and unprepared into the deep unforgiving waters of muddled middles flat characters, incomplete ideas and weak plots only to founder and and wreck on the infamous writer’s block.

What you need is a pre-writing checklist to verify you’re ready, that your is hold full, your ship intact, your destination sure. Laden with sharpened harpoons for the literary leviathans that await.

This class presents a concrete check list of items and angles every author should consider before starting out of any work of fiction.