ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2024

Saturday Workshops

Intensive Social Media Workshop — Megan Ellis

writing dynamic character-driven scenes — Jason abofsky

A workshop for aspiring and seasoned writers to learn how to create more dynamic scenes that grab the reader’s attention, keep them engaged, and make
them unable to put the book down. Topics will cover an overview of common traps that newer writers can fall into, the different styles and formats of writing, how they can both help and hinder reader immersion, and a breakdown of the Scene-Sequel approach to writing character-driven scenes along with some time to practice and share with the group.

Jason Abofsky is an author of Science Fiction and Fantasy stories. He has a B.S. in Computer Science, with hobby interests including reading, board games, video games, and participating in many conventions and festivals every year.

navigating the publishing maze: understanding your publishing options — emily barrosse

Gone are the days when an author’s only hope of publishing was to find an agent and pursue a traditional publishing agreement. Today’s writers have more options than ever before. In this workshop, we explain the pros and cons of a traditional publishing agreement vs. publishing a manuscript yourself vs. working with a hybrid publisher. Gain insights from a publishing veteran: former McGraw Hill Editor in Chief, Emily Barrosse, who founded hybrid publisher, Bold Story Press in 2020.

As a former Vice President, Editor in Chief at McGraw-Hill, Emily Barrosse developed her 35 year track record of publishing success while working in leadership positions in the traditional publishing industry. In 2020 she founded Bold Story Press, a hybrid publisher with an emphasis on publishing women authors.

pacing, plotting, and pancakes: common mistakes that make readers dnf — Margaret bates

Two freelance editors explain what makes readers stop reading or grow bored with a book's pacing. In this workshop, we work to help authors explore and acknowledge their pacing pit falls and work on strategies and takeaways for helping to create well-paced stories that keep readers coming back for more.

Margaret Bates has been a freelance editor for eight years and has worked for both small presses, like NineStar Press, and with indie authors. She's also taught workshops for Savvy Authors. Midnight Voss has been an editor for years, going freelance after earning her doctorate in English Rhetoric, Composition, and Pedagogy from the University of Houston in 2022.

Turning your writing into a play: the essentials you need to know — Jean Burgess, Ph.D.

Ever think that your short story or novel might make a good play but were unsure where to begin? This session might be just what you need. We’ll address the difference in writing for readers vs writing for live audiences. We’ll deep dive into how a play’s bare essentials - character, dialogue, action, and plot – differs from a narrative story. The session's strategies will include: presentation of content, whole audience discussion, small group exercise, and Q & A. 

For 40+ years, Jean Burgess told stories as a director and actor. Her fiction, That Summer She Found Her Voice, released in April 2024 by Apprentice House. Her contest-winning play, "Deleted," as well as two other plays, is published in her book, Collaborative Stage Directing (Routledge, 2019.) She presents workshops on varied topics (see www.jeanburgessauthor.com). Jean holds an MA in Theatre from Northwestern University and a Ph.D. in Ed Theatre from New York University. 

buffing & polishing: the art of the rewrite — john dedakis

You've finally finished your manuscript and now you're ready to tell Oprah all about it. Not so fast. The best writing is REwriting. In this session, you'll learn
practical ways to put your writing on a flab-burning diet so that your copy is tight, trim and hot -- and all without even having to step onto a treadmill.

Award-winning novelist, writing coach, and manuscript editor John DeDakis is a former editor on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer." DeDakis, a former White House correspondent, is the author of six novels in the Lark Chadwick mystery-suspense-thriller series. He is also the host of the video podcast “One-to-One.” www.johndedakis.com

The art of navigating writer's block — erica ginsberg

Writer’s Block is something few of us have never experienced. It is inherent to the creative process. What if instead of trying to avoid or overcome blocks, we instead saw them as simply part of that process? In this interactive workshop, CREATIVE RESILIENCE author Erica Ginsberg will help break down why blocks happen and what we can do to navigate them more effectively.

Erica Ginsberg is a writer, documentarian, and arts administrator. Her book and blog CREATIVE RESILIENCE helps artists across disciplines better navigate the ups and downs of the creative process. Erica also co-founded Docs In Progress and currently co-hosts The D-Word, organizations for documentary filmmakers. She is a three-time grantee from the Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council. She grew up in Silver Spring and currently calls Greenbelt home.

Why you should be writing articles — diane helentjaris

Writers of all genres can benefit from writing articles. Print magazines, online content, nonprofits all consume an unending stream of short and long articles. Helping fill this need can jump start a writing career, build professional relationships, and leverage a writer’s work. Learn how to get started, stay organized, and succeed. Before (or after) devoting months to a book, knock out an article or two.

Diane Helentjaris is an experienced article writer and a past finalist in the Iceland Writers’ Retreat Alumni Award. Her work is in Glimpses of Our World: A Bilingual Anthology of Greek American Poetry, Strife & Harmony: An International Anthology, and NoVA Bards 2023: An Anthology of Northern Virginia Poetry. She wrote The Indenture of Ivy O’Neill. A former physician, she earned a BA cum laude in Humanities and an MD from Michigan State, and an MPH from the University of Michigan.

book promotion through podcasting — rob jolles

Work with any publicist and they’ll tell you, “Want to get your book and your voice out there? Pay attention to podcasts!” In this workshop we’ll focus on how to prepare your pitch materials, how to get booked on podcasts, and how to be a great guest!

A five-time Bestselling author, Rob has not only appeared on hundreds of podcasts, he is the host of his own podcast, Pocket-Sized Pep Talks. He’s produced over 350 podcasts, his show is in the top 2% in downloads, and listened to in over 50 countries. Learn more about Rob at www.jolles.com/podcast/

selling books in person — kenton kilgore

You can win lifelong, hardcore fans and make money by selling your books in person, but there’s a lot more to than just signing copies. So, how best to do it? Author Kenton Kilgore walks you through every step of how to successfully sell books at events, with lots of do’s and don’ts that he learned from extensive experience. Think you're too shy to meet people and convince them to buy your books? Kenton shows you how to overcome that so you can easily engage with potential readers.

Kenton Kilgore is the author of four young adult fantasy/sci fi novels (with a fifth on the way) and four children's books. He is the Past President of the Eastern Shore
Writers Association and was a presenter at Brain to Bookshelf in 2023.

From prose to poetry: Give your writing a fresh spin — Kari Martindale 

Have you been writing prose for a while now and you’d like to try your hand at poetry? Or maybe you're a seasoned poet looking for inspiration? Come learn some techniques to turn your old prose into new poetry! Using examples from several of her published poems that originated as prose, Kari will give you a foundation for how to turn your own work into a new poem!

Kari Martindale is a published poet and spoken word artist who has read at Arts guilds across Maryland and performed at the White House. She sits on the Board of Maryland Writers’ Association and is former co-editor of Pen-in-Hand. Her poem “The Beaches of Normandie” earned an honorable mention in the 2024 Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition.  Kari is a teaching artist for Armed Services Arts Partnership, freelances for Frederick News Post, and holds an M.A. in Linguistics from George Mason University.

 

working with independent bookstores — erin matthews 

Erin Matthews, owner of The Last Word bookstore, will offer best practices for self-published authors to work with independent bookstores.

Erin Matthews owns The Last Word bookstore (which runs the conference bookstore), an independent new and used bookstore. She has been a bookseller for 15 years, and is currently vice president of the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association.

the glimmers are golden: the alchemy of turning ideas into well-crafted short stories — pam mcfarland

 

How do we choose what to write about, and how do we make our stories compelling? This workshop will provide a variety of pathways to help you develop those "Glimmers" in your imagination into fully developed, well-crafted stories. Overview of craft elements such as characterization, plot, and voice will be provided, along with time during the session to flesh out some ideas of your own.

Pam McFarland is a journalist, writer and editor based in Maryland just outside of Washington, D.C. She has an M.A. in fiction writing from Johns Hopkins University and teaches memoir and reflective writing classes at Montgomery Colleg's Lifelong Learning Institute. Her fiction has appeared in such publications as The Saturday Evening Post, Cobalt Weekly, and in Gravity and Love, an anthology of stories and essays by D.C. area women writers. She is working on her first novel.

back to basics: rhetorical forms for jump starting works of non-fiction — susan zimmerman

Maybe you feel compelled to write a letter to the editor or an essay about feminism. Once your fingers are on the keyboard what is the best way to engage your readers, organize your thoughts, and compose an ending that will leave your readers eager for more. Participants will consider the common forms of rhetorical organization that serve as a starting point for non-fiction writing. We will also study effective opening and closing paragraphs by examining examples by well-known essayists.

Susan Zimmerman Orozco is a retired educator, writer, and editor with a background in Creative Writing and graduate degrees in Applied Linguistics and Education Administration. Her publishing credits include articles in national education publications and features in English-language periodicals in Mexico. In retirement she published a young-adult novel, Hear My Words. Her second, A Cord of Three Strands, will be launched Fall, 2024. Her current WIP is Xochitl Sanchez Wants to Go Home.

Sunday workshops    

Intensive Social Media Workshop — Megan Ellis

Trends to watch for writers — Wilma Brockington-Parker

In this engaging and practical workshop, participants will explore the latest trends shaping the writing world and dive into how new tech, evolving reader tastes, and cultural shifts are game changers for writers.

Wilma Brockington-Parker has coached writers, executives and others to help them develop strategies and actions for realizing success. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas’ Executive and Professional Coaching Program and a certified professional coach (International Coaching Federation). She also earned an MS in Management and an MBA from the University of Maryland Global Campus.

how to traditionally publish your short story collection without an agent — tj butler

Would you like to traditionally publish your short story collection without an agent? Small, independent, and university presses are all great options that welcome un-agented authors. This workshop will cover the publishing process from start to finish: publishing your stories in journals before querying (it’s not too late to start), how to find great publishers, the query package and the query process, and tips on marketing your collection in a sea of novels.

TJ Butler writes fiction and essays that are not all fun and games, teaches workshops, and coaches writers. Her work has appeared in media outlets such as Huffington Post, Insider, and various literary journals. She was one of those kids who wanted to be a writer when they grew up. BUST Magazine calls her recent short story collection, Dating Silky Maxwell, “gritty, realistic, often unnerving, and far from glamorous.” Connect with her at TJButlerAuthor.com.

Fairytales in Poetry: A Journey into self — Tara A. Elliott

We often think of fairytales as imaginative bedtime reading for children, but what happens when they become the vivid backdrop for our own insights? Through intense close reading and discussion, this workshop explores fairytale poetry from Louise Glück, Anne Sexton, Lucille Clifton, and Neil Gaiman. Participants will also create a draft of their own fairytale poem which does not have to end with, “And they lived happily ever after.”

Tara A. Elliott's poems have appeared in 32 Poems, Cimarron Review, and Birmingham Poetry Review, among others. An award-winning poet and educator, she serves as Executive Director of the Eastern Shore Writers Association (ESWA), and chair of the Bay to Ocean Writers Conference. A former student of Lucille Clifton, she’s been awarded numerous grants and honors, including the Christine D. Sarbanes Award from MD Humanities and Maryland State Arts Council’s Independent Artist Award.

 

using digression to create deep stories — Dale E. Lehman

Digression is a literary technique used to add depth to stories. In this session we will explore what digression is, why it’s necessary, and how it functions. We will consider examples from well-known authors, look at when digression becomes distracting or tedious, and discover where and when it works best. To tie it all together, we will workshop a short scene to learn how to find spaces for digression and use it to develop characters, add plot complications, and generate subplots.

Dale E. Lehman is an award-winning writer, veteran software developer, amateur astronomer, and bonsai artist in training. He principally writes mysteries, science fiction, and humor. In addition to his novels, his writing has appeared in Sky & Telescope and on Medium.com. He owns and operates the imprint Red Tales. He and his late wife Kathleen have five children, six grandchildren, and two feisty cats. At any given time, Dale is at work on several novels and short stories.

poetry in wellness — Crystal Charlotte Lynch

Poetry in Wellness is a concept based on the benefits that poetry can have on one’s mental health. The purpose of this workshop is to highlight how poetry can provide a unique holistic approach, for one’s mental well-being. Participants of this workshop will gain better emotional clarity and community engagement with a sense of belonging. Materials needed journal or notebook with a pen or pencil.

Poetry in Wellness is a concept based on the benefits that poetry can have on one’s mental health. The purpose of this workshop is to highlight how poetry can provide a unique holistic approach, for one’s mental well-being. Participants of this workshop will gain better emotional clarity and community engagement with a sense of belonging. Materials needed journal or notebook with a pen or pencil.

maintaining mood in memoir — Megan harris m.

 This hands-on workshop will offer pointers for how to create the most fitting tone for your works in progress, and also demonstrate some practical techniques to make sure your narrative is consistent and genuine. From practicing realistic dialogue to employing a dynamic setting, Maintaining Mood in Memoir will boost your ability to keep your audience fully engaged for the duration of your characters' journeys.

Megan Harris M. is currently working on her PhD in English at Morgan State University. She also teaches English for Morgan State and Montgomery College in Germantown, MD. Her creative works usually include pieces of her past that she uses to help others who’ve experienced the same, as well as some academic projects that explore the ongoing effects of sexism. She is the author of Not You: a memoir and the mother of five children.

readings and book events: set yourself up for success and show up with confidence — jaclyn paul

In-person readings and bookstore appearances provide authors with excellent opportunities to showcase their work and make an enduring impression on readers. However, the thought of reading our work to an audience can make many of us want to run for the hills. This workshop will give authors a foundation of strategies to prepare for their next reading or book event. Even the most dedicated introvert can show up with confidence and enjoy giving readers an event to remember.

Jaclyn Paul lives in Baltimore with her family and is the author of bestseller Order from Chaos: The Everyday Grind of Staying Organized with Adult ADHD. She also publishes fiction under the pen name Lena George, where she slyly weaves queer and neurodivergent characters into your next book club favorites. Find her online at www.jaclynpaul.com, www.lenageorgeauthor.com, and www.adhdhomestead.net.

publish that book — Katherine Pickett

You just typed “The End” on your manuscript. Now what? Join Katherine Pickett, owner of POP Editorial Services and 25-year veteran of the publishing industry, to learn the ins and outs of book publishing in a fun, relaxed workshop. You’ll discover: The types of editors available to you How to work with a book designer Printing and binding options Selecting an ebook company.

Katherine Pickett is owner of POP Editorial Services LLC and author of Perfect Bound: How to Navigate the Book Publishing Process Like a Pro. Katherine offers copyediting, developmental editing, and coaching services to authors and publishers. Her creative work can be found in Lowestoft Chronicle, Grande Dame Literary, and Defunct. Her articles have appeared on Publishing Perspectives, JaneFriedman.com, Writer Beware, IBPA Independent, and elsewhere. Find her blog at www.thePOPnewsletter.com.

Writing, Pitching, and selling tv movies — Brian Ruberry

Unlock the secrets of writing, pitching and selling TV movies. With hundreds of TV movies made every year, learn the kinds of stories that networks like Hallmark, Lifetime and others are looking for. Discover insider strategies for navigating the industry, from script development to selling your idea. Led by a local screenwriter with five TV movie credits in the last three years, hear how to turn your vision into a marketable TV movie that catches the eye of producers.

Brian Ruberry is an award-winning screenwriter, playwright, short story writer and script consultant. His TV movies include “Merry Magic Christmas” (Lifetime, 2023), “Stepping Into Love” (Great American Family, 2023), “Single and Ready to Jingle” (Lifetime, 2022), “The Attraction Test” (UPtv, 2022) and “A Christmas Song” (In Development). His screenplay, “Poker Face,” was a semifinalist (top 2 percent) at the Austin Film Festival and received a coveted score of “8” on The Blacklist.

using dialogue to advance your plot — amy schisler

Did you know there is more than one kind of dialogue? In addition to person-to-person dialogue and inner dialogue, there's dialogue that conveys information, introduces characters, expresses character traits, and provides background information. Dialogue can and should be used to advance the plot of your story. This workshop will give you some tips to do that effectively.

Amy Schisler is an award-winning novelist, children’s book author, spiritual writer, blogger, speaker, reader, and avid traveler who lives on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Whether she’s writing novels of faith and inspiration, books for children, or her blog, she loves connecting with readers. Her novels have won numerous literary awards. When she’s not writing, Amy can be found on a boat in the Chesapeake or hiking in the Rocky Mountains.

how to submit to magazines and newspapers — Laura Sturza

Many writers dream of publishing their work but are unsure how to achieve their goal. Plus, there is the dreaded fear of rejection letters. Participants will learn how to prepare work for publication, research prospective magazines and newspapers, write a compelling pitch, learn best practices for keeping track of submissions, and celebrate the successes and heartaches that come with the process. The goal of this workshop is to help writers achieve their publishing visions.

Laura Sturza's work is published in The Washington Post, Shondaland, The Boston Globe, AARP, The LA Times, Hippocampus, and Lunch Ticket, among others. She has received hundreds of rejections and lived to tell. Laura is completing the memoir, Better Late: The Making of a Midlife First-Time Wife. She was an editor of Transformation: A Women Who Submit Anthology. Laura teaches memoir writing and earned her MA from George Mason University. She lives in Rockville. laurasturza.com

selling your books at trade shows — edward swing

While authors can hope for good sales online or through bookstores, trade shows and conventions offer another venue for book sales. You can interact with fans and meet other authors and creatives. In this presentation, learn what you can expect as a vendor at trade shows. DIscover the differences between selling at a local craft fair, a large comic convention, or a book festival. What do you need to know? What kind of people will you encounter? And how many sales can you expect?

Edward Swing is a writer of stories, software developer, avid gamer, and otaku. He has published seven novels, including the New Pantheon series (3 books), the Gozen Saga (2 books), and the Adventures of Gavin Greene (2 books). The father of three young adults, he lives in Maryland with several pampered cats.

exploring the drabble: how to sharpen your writing skills with microfiction — stephania thompson

 This workshop will focus on creating compelling 100-word stories (known as drabbles). During the session, participants will learn techniques for efficient character development, concise narrative, and more focused plot. There will be group exercises and opportunities for questions and feedback. Attendees will leave with practical tips and tools for crafting brief, yet impactful microfiction. This workshop is perfect for writers looking to sharpen their storytelling skills.

Stephania Thompson is the award-winning author of Woven (Charm City Threads Book One). Her short stories and poetry are featured in multiple print and online anthologies. A CPA turned multi-genre writer, she and her husband are living the dream in a modern-day money pit outside Washington D.C. with four kids, a dragon, and one very spoiled aussiedoodle. Find out more and connect with her online at www.stephaniathompson.com.

author pr Essentials: 4 must-haves — cherrie woods

This micro-workshop will familiarize attendees with the four toolkit components all authors need: headshot, book cover, bio and book synopsis.

Veteran communications professional Cherrie Woods is widely known as a book publicist and a workshop facilitator who has presented at libraries, writing centers and conferences throughout the U.S. Woods is also an award-winning poet and the author of Where Do I Start?10 PR Questions and Answers to Guide Self-Published Authors.