Saturday Workshops

Sunday Workshops

Writing Community: Building and Participating in a Dedicated Writing Community - Donald Rodenbo

Writing can feel like a lonely experience, but it doesn’t have to be. Building or joining a writing community gives you access to a variety of creative thinkers, as well as built-in alpha readers, beta readers, and a critique circle. A rising tide lifts all boats and participants will learn how to actively build and/or participate in a writing community, as well as the benefits of doing so.

What You Need to Know About Writing Romance - Kimberly Hunt

The Heartbeat of Romance explores the essential elements readers expect from the genre they love. In this workshop, we’ll break down the core “pulse” of romance—character chemistry, emotional tension, beloved tropes, and the promise of a satisfying happily-ever-after (or happy-for-now). Whether you’re drafting your first love story or revising a manuscript, you’ll learn how these genres' expectations keep a romance novel’s heart beating strong.

What You Need to Know About Free Verse and Blackout Poetry - Crystal Charlotte Lynch

This interactive workshop explores the expressive power of free verse and blackout poetry as accessible, transformative writing forms. Participants will learn how to break traditional poetic rules, trust their voice, and use language as a tool for storytelling, healing, and self-discovery. Through guided exercises and discussion, attendees will leave with practical techniques and original pieces of their own work.

Taking Inspiration from Games - Edward Swing

Over the past fifty years, games have evolved from the simple card and board games to extensive franchises in a variety of genres. The largest element of the entertainment sector, games offer thousands of characters and worlds, easily surpassing what any author can create.

Rather than viewing this enormous engine as a rival to our writing efforts, let's use elements from games as inspiration. Join me on a journey through different game worlds and explore ways to harness this creativity.

Writing Dialogue That Sounds Like Dialogue - Donald M Mewha

Have you ever read a book and had your eyes glaze over as characters robotically drone on? Has there been a TV show where the words coming out of the characters' mouths are divorced from reality? Have you watched a movie and winced because people just don't talk like that?

Finding More Time to Write Poetry - Claudia Gary

The ideas for some of our best poems can occur when we’re busy — working, exercising, during personal conversations, while interacting with children or students, when we’re about to go to sleep, and when a morning alarm rings. What can we do? How do we stay on schedule and yet avoid losing those good ideas? This workshop presents strategies, as well as an opportunity to generate (or develop) new poems.

Project Management Principles for Writers - David Sloan

This will be an overview of project management best practices that can be adapted for the process of writing and independent publishing. Learn applications from well-established project management process and values that you can use at home and with your writing groups.

What You Need to Know About Writing Short Fiction and Nonfiction - Dale E. Lehman

How do you pack a complete story, including sufficient information and entertainment, into a small space? In this session, we will explore key differences and similarities between short and long forms, how to select suitable ideas for short-form writing, and how to stay under your word count limit by crafting focused, economical prose. We will utilize writing prompts to identify short-form ideas and will apply a technique for finding the strongest, most economical way to phrase our ideas.

What You Need to Know About Writing Amazing Essays - Amy L. Bernstein

The rise of Substack, Medium, and other author-driven platforms have ushered in a golden age of essay-writing that offers opportunities to publish, share, and monetize content in ways that go far beyond the traditional blog. To succeed, writers must ensure their voice as essayist stands out and grabs a reader's attention. We'll share specific strategies to help writers discover their authentic voice to get their key points across. Your starting point for writing viral essays.

OMG: Writing About religion in Science Fiction and Fantasy - Dan Desai Martin

Whether through mortals fighting gods; deities blessing (or cursing) humanity; or a corrupt cult performing dark rituals, religion brings depth, conflict, and realism to SFF stories. Together, we’ll discuss ten questions to ask when creating a religious system, five common pitfalls to avoid, and ways to use religion (and belief) as a driver of both plot and character. Along the way, we’ll examine examples from stories ranging from The Handmaid’s Tale to Dragonlance books to Star Wars.

Sci-Fi: Navigating Between Physics and Imagination; A Physicist's Guide to Better Stories - Sonya Lyatsky

Sci-fi writers often misrepresent physics or bend it to serve the story; even the most popular authors make mistakes. The workshop goes beyond clichés like speed and time to explore deeper pitfalls. Drawing on real scientific principles, the presenter shows how to balance accuracy and imagination, handle concepts such as space travel, time, consciousness, and life, and make stories more believable. Attendees will gain practical tools to strengthen their stories and avoid common scientific errors.

Building a Better Villain - Bruce Nesmith

Learn the six attributes of a great villain, and how best to utilize them in current and future work. Attendees will create their own villain and get a chance to have it critiqued by the presenter and the audience. Attendees will leave with a detailed plan for creating fictional villains.

Doing it All Wrong: What You Need to Know About Writing and Publishing Children's Picture Books - Kendall Concini-Moore

Blogs and podcasts teach the "right way to create a picture book” but she did it all wrong and made it work. In this interactive workshop, Kendall Concini guides writers through crafting emotionally resonant Picture Books and navigating the real-world process of bringing them to life. Attendees will leave with a draft concept, a clear framework, and practical insight on illustrators, editors, publishing paths, and relationship-building.

What You Need to Know About Writing Memoir - Keshni N. Washington

Memoir writers often smooth out the contradictions in their identity before the reader ever sees them. In this generative workshop, Keshni Washington guides participants through published models of memoir that hold complexity on the page, then invites writers to find the tensions in their own stories. Through diagnostic questions and timed writing, attendees leave with a clearer sense of where their memoir has been flattened, and a new draft that pushes back.

Build a Shared Universe Anthology - Beth Martin

Combine world-building with collaborative storytelling to create an engaging book readers will love! Join Beth Martin, editor of the Starship Blunder series, to learn how to build and manage a shared-universe anthology. From submissions to editing and publication, this workshop provides practical tools for writers familiar with independent publishing.

Capturing the Reader Through Empathy, Tension, Conflict, and Suspense - Judy Kelly

Tears, laughter jump for joy, anger!! Give your characters more depth, bring them to life, make your readers feel what they feel, worry about them when they are in trouble and root for them. You will learn how to develop your story by using empathy, tension, conflict and suspense. We will define them and see examples of their use. Bring your story or some part of it to practice how to use one or two. Attendees will give feedback to each other.

How to Plot Like a Pro - Kathryn Johnson

You have a great idea for a story. Are you a born planner or a writer who loves to discover stories organically (i.e., a pantser)? Understanding how to structure a well-conceived story around a Main Character and Central Conflict, while paying attention to pacing, can make the difference between a finished, publishable manuscript…and an abandoned work-in-progress. Plotting provides a safety net that never robs the author of the joy of writing and always reduces revision time. Think you can’t plot? Join us and learn how!

What You Need to Know About Writing Mysteries - Flo McCahon

The mystery genre has specific rules readers should be aware of when crafting their stories. There are also differences among the types of mysteries, from traditional to cozies to suspense thrillers and more. This workshop will explore the different options for creating a mystery.

How to Make Your Characters Come Alive on the Page Through Interiority and Emotionality - Heather Davis

Readers don’t fall in love with plot. They fall in love with people. And one of the most powerful ways to connect readers to your characters is through interiority and emotionality. The trouble is, almost no one actually teaches writers what these concepts are or how to use them effectively on the page. In this interactive workshop, writers will learn the four layers of interiority, explore authentic emotionality, and practice a framework for crafting relatable, unforgettable characters.

Book Review: ARCS, ALC, and Maintaining Momentum After Publishing Day. - Sil Bihagia

Early, honest reviews are one of the most important things you can do to market a book. This workshop teaches you where to go for editorial and reader reviews, how to run an effective advanced review or advanced listener campaign. and what services you should avoid.

The Prose Editor's Toolkit - Hannah Grieco

You have a first draft of an essay or story. What now? In this hands-on session, we'll go through a series of fast and easy exercises to help your work evolve. Leave with new ideas and tangible editing tools for the future! Bring 1-2 flash drafts (or excerpts) and get ready to play!

Covers: The Art of Marketing Your Book - Kenton Kilgore

Contrary to the old saying, people really do judge books by their covers. Indeed, they are a writer's most important marketing tool. In this seminar, you'll learn how to get covers right so that readers will discover and buy your book.

Using Place to Control Tension, Conflict, and Pace - Aurora Bonner

This craft-focused workshop shows writers how to use place as a powerful engine for tension, conflict, and pacing. Participants will learn how setting can escalate stakes, pressure characters, and shape the rhythm of a scene. Through examples and targeted exercises, the session offers practical techniques for turning environment into an intentional force. Writers will leave with clear, adaptable tools to sharpen atmosphere, intensify conflict, and control narrative momentum in their work.

Command the Room: Mastering Your Personal Appearance as an Author - Bruce Rule

Today’s writers must be their own best promoters, but personal appearances can be daunting for authors who would rather write than speak in public. Fortunately, even the most introverted author can excel before an audience by following the proven techniques tested in the real world for years. Discover strategies to overcome nervousness, build trust, and boost book sales. This workshop will prepare you for a range of personal appearances so you will be confident when you step on stage.

Don't Forget Radio - Wendy Meyerhoff

Selling book/services via radio and/or podcasts. Includes Q&A.

Amazon KDP 101: How to Upload and Publish Your Book with Confidence - Susi Clark

Learn how to confidently upload and publish your book using Amazon KDP. This hands-on session walks you through preparing your files, gathering key metadata, and navigating the KDP platform step-by-step. Watch a live upload demo and gain the clarity you need to successfully publish your book without guesswork.

What's in a Name? - Andrew McDowell

Choosing and/or creating the right names is crucial when it comes to character development and worldbuilding. They help make characters come alive in readers' minds. You will learn about key factors to consider when it comes to choosing (or creating) the right names in any genre and for any target audience, receive tips on how you can find them, and gain a greater appreciation for their importance and power in stories.

How to Build Your Author Platform - Laura Di Franco

Build a powerful author platform that actually grows your audience and book sales. In this hands-on workshop, discover three proven strategies to attract email subscribers, grow loyal social followers, and turn speaking opportunities into fans and clients. Walk away with clear calls-to-action and a platform strategy designed around your ideal reader audience.

Researching Historical Fiction - Pat Valdata

Writing historical fiction is a fun challenge for writers who immerse themselves in another place and time. But it’s easy to lose oneself in unproductive research—and in the AI era, there’s even more misinformation online than ever before. This craft talk will offer tips on how to research a book efficiently, both online and in person, and how to use that research productively when writing a historical novel.