Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2023: Full Schedule

Welcome to the 30th Pikes Peak Writers Conference!
You must be signed in to Sched to see the workshop handouts.
Note: The schedule is subject to change.

9:00am MDT

Becoming a Master Writer

Take your writing to the next level in this series of topic-specific workshops designed to deconstruct and demystify the novel-writing process for struggling and/or aspiring writers. We'll look at all the moving parts involved in how to write a novel, then drill deeper into the finer points of story telling. There will be writing exercises and opportunities to share your work and have it critiqued. By the end of the class, you’ll have the skills, confidence and strategies to take your writing to a professional level.

PART I:

Capturing Your Story: The Art of Memoir
Writing to Heal
Planning vs. Seat-of-the-Pantsing

Faculty

John DeDakis

Award-winning novelist, writing coach, and manuscript editor John DeDakis is a former editor on CNN's “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.” DeDakis is the author of five mystery-suspense-thriller novels. In his most recent novel, Fake, protagonist Lark Chadwick is a White House... Read More →

Thursday April 27, 2023 9:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Academy

Craft

Moderator Connie Noel

9:00am MDT

Everything You Need to Know to Write a Novel: A Beginning Writer’s Workshop

This intensive workshop provides a comprehensive overview of novel writing for beginning novelists. It covers the basics of novel conception, story structure, plotting/planning, character development and arc, tension, conflict, dialogue, point-of-view (POV), tense, voice, and setting. All ages, abilities, and fiction genres welcome.

Faculty

Chris Mandeville

Author

Chris Mandeville writes SF/F and nonfiction for writers, and has been teaching writing workshops for more than fifteen years. She’s the author of 52 Ways to Get Unstuck: Exercises to Break Through Writer’s Block, Seeds: a Post-apocalyptic Adventure, and the time travel adventure... Read More →

Thursday April 27, 2023 9:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Palmer

Craft

Moderator Cara Allen

9:00am MDT

Project Management for Writers

Learn how to juggle all the various pieces of being an author–from writing to design to marketing and more.

Faculty

Marie Whittaker

Director, Superstars Writing Seminars

Marie Whittaker enjoys teaching about publishing and project management for writers. She works as Associate Publisher at WordFire Press and Co director at Superstars Writing Seminars. She also puts in time as personal assistant to Kevin J. Anderson. In 2021, she co founded the epic... Read More →

Thursday April 27, 2023 9:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak

Writing Life

Moderator Bowen Gillings

12:00pm MDT

Lunch

Thursday April 27, 2023 12:00pm - 1:00pm MDT
Ballroom

1:00pm MDT

Becoming a Master Writer

Research: Writing What You Don't Know
Characterization Through Dialogue
Deep Listening for Writers

Faculty

John DeDakis

Thursday April 27, 2023 1:00pm - 4:00pm MDT
Academy

Craft

Moderator Connie Noel

1:00pm MDT

Self-Editing: Learn to Be Your Own Copy Editor

Many people love writing, but hate editing…and it shows in many published works. This session will discuss how to present your work professionally by the proper use of dialogue tips and tags, punctuation, writing tight, show versus tell, and, as a bonus, common word usage problems in print that you don’t want to make.

Faculty

Pam McCutcheon

Pam McCutcheon is the author of how-to books for writers and many kinds of romance novels (sweet, steamy, paranormal, romcom, Sci-Fi, etc.) under her own name, and the Demon Underground YA urban fantasy series under the name Parker Blue. She partners with Laura Hayden in Parker Hayden... Read More →

Thursday April 27, 2023 1:00pm - 4:00pm MDT
Palmer

Craft

Moderator Bailey Finn

1:00pm MDT

An Indie Plotter's Dream: Spreadsheets for Plotting, Writing, Editing, and Publishing Books

Plotters have a whole slew of tools to help them write. From project management software to mind maps and spreadsheets to Scrivener and the like, there are a multitude of ways plotters can, well, plot. Pantsers, not so much but that's the way they want it.

Faculty

Benjamin X. Wretlind

Author & Coach

Benjamin X. Wretlind is a speculative fiction author who writes science fiction, dark fantasy, magical realism, and some horror. He has been--at different times, of course–a fry cook, range boy, greens maintenance technician, reservations agent, room service attendant, editor, banquet... Read More →

Thursday April 27, 2023 1:00pm - 4:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak

Indie Publishing

Moderator Cara Allen

8:00am MDT

Newcomers Briefing

New to Pikes Peak Writers? New to writing conferences? New to writing, in general? Here's your chance to ask virtually everything about how to get the most out of your conference experience. There's etiquette, jargon, and a lot more to learn so that you present yourself in the very best light to our faculty and your fellow attendees. Learn what to do and what not to do by folks who have learned from their mistakes. You have questions? We have answers.

Faculty

Laura Hayden

Conference Administration (Con-Admin), PPWC

Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Laura Hayden began her reading career at the age of four. By the time she was ten, she'd exhausted the children's section in the local library and switched to adult mysteries. Laura always wrote as a youth, but became sidetracked in college... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2023 8:00am - 8:30am MDT
Palmer/Academy

8:30am MDT

Building Character

The heart of every story is the characters. No matter what type of fiction you’re writing–crime fiction, romance, women’s fiction, or mainstream novels–the best plots flow from the characters. Even in a mystery or a thriller, where the plot is critical to the success of the story, the characters are the key. When someone tells you about a book they read, they don’t say “it’s about a bomb….” They say “it’s about a guy who….” And when readers fall for series, they remember the characters as much as the individual plots–sometimes more. This program will look at several ways to dive into your characters, and discover what makes them tick. Writing exercises and a handout will be provided.

What you will learn:
- You will learn several methods for creating coherent, consistent, credible story people.
- You will learn how to think about the essential characteristics of a good character, how to identify critical character traits, and how to use such things as physical characteristics, social standing, personality traits and personality classification systems, and your own experience to deepen the people on the page.

Faculty

Leslie Budewitz

Mystery Writer

Leslie Budewitz blends her passion for food, great mysteries, and the Northwest in two cozy mystery series, the Spice Shop mysteries, set in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, and the Food Lovers’ Village mysteries, set in NW Montana. As Alicia Beckman, she writes moody suspense, beginning... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2023 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Douglas

Craft

Moderator Eleanore Trupkiewicz

8:30am MDT

Writing a Nonfiction Book Proposal

Non-fiction books usually sell for higher prices than fiction, as people are paying for information and an answer to a
specific question. Most of us are experts at one or more things.

A proposal is a selling tool. We’ll discuss commercial potential, whether you have enough material for a book, ways to research your subject. We’ll explore writer qualifications (including platform, unique voice, fresh slant on the subject and access to good interview subjects). Then we’ll get down to the nitty-gritty of writing the third person proposal: Introduction, Market, Promotion, Competitive Books, Author Bio, the Chapter-by-Chapter Outline, and Sample Chapter(s). We’ll study examples, how to brainstorm theme and structure. We’ll then discuss building your platform and marketing plan, including a sample marketing inventory one publisher uses. The New York Times reported that a survey found that ‘81% of people feel that they have a book in them...and should write it.’ If you do the math, that represents over 200 million people in the U.S. who want to write a book in their lifetime! One of the significant advantages of writing nonfiction is that it offers enormous potential for topic-related online discoverability. If you consider sharing your knowledge, this workshop will help you prepare to do so.

Faculty

Karen A. Lin

Writer-Coach-Speaker, Writer's Launchpad

Karen is a hopeless foodie, award-winning novelist, produced screenwriter and writing coach. Many of her stories are inspired by her experience marrying into a Taiwanese family. Mu Shu Mac & Cheese and American Moon: A Chinese Immigrant Story are available on Amazon. She, her husband... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2023 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
El Paso

Craft

Moderator Tori Fox-Phillips

8:30am MDT

Facing Your Writing Fears

We've all faced and overcome fear in our lives, but for some reason a writer's fear of failure is especially terrifying. Writing exercises will tap into the personal reasons behind the fears—and help discern what can be done about it.

Faculty

John DeDakis

Friday April 28, 2023 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Palmer/Academy

Writing Life

Moderator Bailey Finn

8:30am MDT

Inspirations—How to Generate Book Ideas

Some writers are idea factories—premises for novels seem to fall out of the sky, so many it would take lifetimes to write them all. Others have the passion and desire to write but can’t seem to come up with a story-worthy idea to save their lives. You don’t have to wait for inspiration to strike—conjuring story ideas is a skill you can learn and hone. In this you’ll learn how to:

• use podcasts, news items, people’s cocktail-party stories, and simple exercises to generate novel plots
• choose from among your own experiences and fictionalize them to add depth and richness to your manuscripts
• mine brainstorming sessions to come up with unique plot points that don't strain credibility
• avoid boilerplate situations, scenarios, and plots

Come away from this workshop with at least one story idea that can grow into a novel you’ll be excited to write—and readers will be eager to read!

Faculty

LS Hawker

LS Hawker is the author of the thrillers THE DROWNING GAME, BODY AND BONE, END OF THE ROAD, and THE THROWAWAYS. THE DROWNING GAME is a USA Today bestseller and finalist in the ITW Thriller Awards in the Best First Novel category. Her novels have been translated into eight languages... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2023 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Writing Life

Moderator James Sams

8:30am MDT

Speed Pitch

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. 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.

Attendees, faculty, and VIPs alike, rave about how much fun they’ve had at this event.

Faculty and VIPs, feel free to drop in and coach attendees on their pitches. The more, the merrier, and you are sure to have a great time.

Faculty

Deborah L Brewer

Zeb’s Lounge Facilitator

Deborah Brewer joined Pikes Peak Writers a decade ago, seeking help writing a mystery. When the novel was completed, she stayed for the camaraderie. Now she’s writing short stories. An editor for the PPW anthologies Dream and Journeys into Possibility, Debby is also a contributing... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2023 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Fremont

Writing Life

Moderator AJ Metzger

9:45am MDT

Read & Critique Session 2

Faculty

Carol Berg

Author - Faculty

Carol Berg writes epic, mythic, and adventure fantasy novels and short fiction under her own name and her pseudonym, Cate Glass. Her eighteen novels have won national and international awards, including four Colorado Book Awards and the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature... Read More →

Agents & Editors

James Abbate

Assistant Editor, Kensington Publishing,

James Abbate is an Assistant Editor at Kensington Publishing, the largest independent and family-owned publisher in the nation, based in New York. A graduate of SUNY Binghamton and Pace University, he has been working at Kensington for over a decade in both the editorial and sales... Read More →

Savannah Brooks

Agent, KT Literary

Savannah Brooks started in agenting as an intern with the Jennifer De Chiara team in 2017, moving to associate agent in 2018. In 2022, she joined the incredible team at KT Literary as an agent, where she represents all of kid lit and adult contemporary fiction, romcoms, thrillers/mystery/suspense... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2023 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Fremont

Agent/Editor/Author

Moderator Chris Mandeville, Roberta Crownover

9:45am MDT

10 Ways You Can Leverage Draft2Digital for Your Author Success

A look at the free tools from Draft2Digital that authors can leverage to assist with both the logistics of publishing and selling more of their digital and print books. Whether it's creating an eBook and deciding upon distribution options and strategies, learning about global pricing strategies to optimize your revenue and margin, or a combination of DIY and coordinated author promotions to help you sell more books, there's a little bit of something for everyone here, regardless of how you are going about your writing and publishing career.

Faculty

Mark Leslie Lefebvre

Director of Business Development, Draft2Digital

Mark Leslie Lefebvre is the Director of Business Development for Draft2Digital, a free and author-centric platform that is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2022. Mark has worked in the book industry since 1992, the same year his first short story sale appeared in print. His past... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2023 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Business

Moderator Bowen Gillings

9:45am MDT

Agent Panel

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.

Agents & Editors

Rachelle Gardner

Agent, Gardner Literary

Rachelle Gardner is a literary agent and owner of Gardner Literary, representing fiction and nonfiction. She has worked inside two publishing houses in sales, marketing, and editorial. Rachelle has been an agent for 15 years and currently represents an impressive list of about 50... Read More →

Roma Panganiban

Agent, Janklow & Nesbit

Roma Panganiban joined Janklow & Nesbit in 2019 after getting her start in publishing at The Gernert Company. She graduated from Allegheny College with a degree in English and Psychology before taking on graduate studies in Modern and Contemporary Literature & Culture at the University... Read More →

Stacey Kondla

Agent, The Rights Factory

Stacey Kondla is a literary agent with The Rights Factory. She represents a variety of clients with works that include adult literary fiction, science fiction & fantasy, rom-coms, historical, nonfiction science, and children's picture books, middle grade, and young adult titles. Her... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2023 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Douglas

Business

Moderator Johnny Worthen

9:45am MDT

PUBLISHING = IMPACT

Authors have more options than ever. How do you publish for the biggest reach and impact and also your own happiness and creative flow?

Agents & Editors

Deb Werksman

Editorial Director, Sourcebooks

Deb Werksman has been at Sourcebooks for the past twenty-four years, before which she had her own publishing company. She is the editorial director of romance fiction and acquires single title romance in all subgenres, along with women’s fiction and commercial/literary speculative... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2023 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Palmer/Academy

Business

Moderator Jodi Anderson

9:45am MDT

How to Finish the Darn Book!

Are you struggling to finish your WIP? Carly Stevens will walk you through a variety of ways to break through that wall and finally finish your book. It doesn’t matter if your problem is time, writer’s block, or something else. In this session, you’ll gain the tools to finally type “The End.”

Faculty

Carly Stevens

Carly Stevens' life revolves around stories. She fell in love with stories as a child watching Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, majored in English, has taught high-school English for ten years, and published her first novel in 2019. Since then, she has written a complete YA fantasy... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2023 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
El Paso

Writing Life

Moderator Esther Stenersen

9:45am MDT

A Round Table Discussion Dave Chesson

Ask publishing expert Dave Chesson about trends in self-publishing. Get your questions answered. This event is limited to 10 attendees at a time. Deborah Brewer will facilitate the discussion.

Faculty

Dave Chesson

Keynote Speaker, Kindlepreneur

Dave Chesson is the guy behind Kindlepreneur.com, a website devoted to teaching authors about book marketing. Recommended by Amazon KDP as the place where you can learn how to “optimize marketing for your books,” Kindlepreneur has grown to be one of the largest book marketing... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2023 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Seven Falls

Zeb's Lounge

11:00am MDT

Read & Critique Session 3

Faculty

Barbara O'Neal

Keynote Speaker

Barbara O'Neal (also known as Barbara Samuel) is the bestselling author of more than 70 books, including 17 works of women's fiction. Her book When We Believed in Mermaids has sold more than a million copies and has been translated into twenty languages, and was one of Amazon's Most... Read More →

Agents & Editors

Laura Cifelli

Independent Editor, LCS EDITORIAL SERVICES

Laura Cifelli is a veteran editor, having been a senior editor for many years in traditional publishing before making the change to freelance. Laura's focus has always been commercial fiction, particularly romance in all its shapes and forms as well as suspense, mystery, erotica... Read More →

Rachelle Gardner

Agent, Gardner Literary

Friday April 28, 2023 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Fremont

Agent/Editor/Author

Moderator Tori Fox-Phillips, James Sams

11:00am MDT

Writing as Business: A Tax Perspective

Title 26 of the US Tax Code Section 183 forbids the deduction of expenses for activities not engaged in for profit. Since writing can and is engaged in by some people as a pleasure activity, writers may find themselves in a position where they have to prove it is a business. This talk will explain how to prove that you are a professional to the IRS and what is and is not deductible as an expense for a writer. We will also cover the life cycle of a writer and how to treat income after you have decided to rest on your laurels.

Faculty

Beth Hancock

Tax Manager, Fiducial Expertise Arvada

Beth Hancock started preparing taxes for H&R Block in 1993 and passed the IRS Enrolled Agent's exam in 1996. She taught tax preparation classes from beginning level through advanced for H&R Block from 2005 until 2016 when she went to work with BF Borgers CPA. From 2017-2021 she was... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2023 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
El Paso

Business

Moderator Kim Lajevardi

11:00am MDT

Assessments for Your Character Sheets: A Guide to Being True to Your Characters

Looking through the character sheet templates of many different authors, there appear to be several ways to assess a character's personality and behavior. Chief among these is Myers-Briggs, but there are many more from DiSC to the Big Five, Enneagrams, 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire, CliftonStengths, etc. In the U.S. alone, there are about 2,500 personality tests on the market. That's great for having a choice in real life as assessments are often used for various purposes from team building to job placement to psychological evaluations and diagnoses. But for authors of fiction, which is best? Selecting the right assessment can help you keep the characters you invented true. How agreeable are they? Are they more introverted or extroverted? What is their inclination toward stability or neuroticism? This workshop will compare several different personality and behavioral assessments and list their pros and cons as it relates to your character sheets. It will also show you how you can give your characters assessments without breaking the bank. You are the writer, and while your characters may subconsciously include some of your traits, you really want them to be different. After all, having a cast of twenty "yous" running around your novel might make a strange story.

Faculty

Benjamin X. Wretlind

Author & Coach

Friday April 28, 2023 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Douglas

Craft

Moderator Chelsea Harper

11:00am MDT

Novel Weave: A Visual Tool for Plotters and Pantsers

A tool for plotting a novel to avoid sloppy beginnings, boring middles, and unsatisfying endings—and how to reverse engineer that kind of novel if you've already pantsed the first half. We'll explain it, run through an example (spoilers for The Witcher, Season One Episode One), then try it live!

Faculty

Levi Jacobs

Levi Jacobs was born in North Dakota and grew up in Japan and Uganda, so he was bound to have a speculative take on modern life. Hybrid author of the Empire of Resonance and Tidecaller Chronicles epic fantasy series, he runs a small fruit company to pay the bills.

Friday April 28, 2023 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Palmer/Academy

Craft

Moderator Eleanore Trupkiewicz

11:00am MDT

Building A Profitable Self Publishing Business Using the BEN-P Method

Many self-published authors invest thousands of dollars into crafting their first novel before they have an understanding of the publishing industry, their genre’s tenets, or a long-term book selling strategy. This presentation is an overview of business decisions to consider when launching your self-publishing career and crafting your novel.

Faculty

Siera London

Featured Author, Siera London Books

Siera writes heroines you know, heroes you love, and romance you feel.USA Today Bestselling & Award-winning author, Siera London pens contemporary and paranormal romance, romantic suspense, and crime fiction. She crafts stories of diverse characters navigating their journeys to love... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2023 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Indie Publishing

Moderator Bowen Gillings

11:00am MDT

Zeb’s Lounge

Welcome to Zeb’s Lounge, a cozy space where you can read, write, and relax. Unwind with a jigsaw puzzle or writing prompt, and recharge your electronics.

Friday April 28, 2023 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Seven Falls

Zeb's Lounge

12:15pm MDT

Lunch

Friday April 28, 2023 12:15pm - 1:45pm MDT
Ballroom

2:00pm MDT

Read & Critique Session 4

Faculty

Johnny Worthen

Author

JOHNNY WORTHEN is an award-winning, multiple-genre, tie-dye-wearing author, voyager, and damn fine human being! Trained in literary criticism and cultural studies, he writes upmarket fiction, long and short, mentors others where he can, and teaches writing at the University of Utah... Read More →

Agents & Editors

Alice Jerman

Senior Editor, HarperCollins Childrens

Alice Jerman is a senior editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books. She acquires and edits commercial YA and MG, some of her authors are New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard, Ciannon Smart, June CL Tan, Hanna Alkaf, and Erica Waters. She lives in Queens and when she’s... Read More →

Roma Panganiban

Agent, Janklow & Nesbit

Friday April 28, 2023 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Fremont

Agent/Editor/Author

Moderator Chelsea Harper, Hal Greene

2:00pm MDT

Editor Panel

Learn more about our attending editors, how they work, what they want, and tips on submissions.

Agents & Editors

Alicia Clancy

Senior Editor, Lake Union Publishing

Lake Union Publishing (an Amazon imprint) Senior Editor Alicia Clancy works with a wide range of fiction authors including USA Today bestselling author Barbara O’Neal, Goodreads Choice Finalist and bestselling author Glendy Vanderah, and bestselling author Suzanne Redfearn. She... Read More →

Deb Werksman

Editorial Director, Sourcebooks

James Abbate

Assistant Editor, Kensington Publishing,

Laura Cifelli

Independent Editor, LCS EDITORIAL SERVICES

Melissa Rechter

Editor, Crooked Lane Books, Alcove Press

Editor Melissa Rechter joined Crooked Lane Books in 2019, after graduating with a BA in English Literary Studies from York College of Pennsylvania and a MS in Publishing from Pace University. For Crooked Lane, she is looking for cozy mysteries, suspense and thrillers, horror, historical... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2023 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Douglas

Business

Moderator Deb Courtney

2:00pm MDT

All the World's a Stage: Writing Vivid Settings

Settings get us into the story by grounding the reader in a time and place. But they can also serve to deepen and enrich the story by setting a mood, making action real and unique, revealing character, creating or enhancing tension, and revealing the wider world. This workshop approaches how to create settings that immerse the reader in the story in these ways by choosing details such as sensory input, weather, religious references, clothing, architectural spaces, history, character activity, the natural world, appropriate metaphors, physical objects that reflect era or location, character and location names. Through examples and brainstorming, the attendees will learn how choosing the right details can dramatically alter a scene.

Faculty

Carol Berg

Author - Faculty

Friday April 28, 2023 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
El Paso

Craft

Moderator Joe Lenhoff

2:00pm MDT

The First 100 Pages

Every book needs a number of important things to get the reader involved and invested, and get the action moving forward. Join Barbara O'Neal to study examples of current novels and find out how to do it in your own.

Faculty

Barbara O'Neal

Keynote Speaker

Friday April 28, 2023 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Palmer/Academy

Craft

Moderator Jodi Anderson

2:00pm MDT

Building Your Self-Publishing Team

You want to self-publish, and do it right, but how do you know what to hire out and what to do yourself so that your book is the best it can be? This presentation clearly lays out the team members you'll need and where to find them. It steps you through how to hire them and what to do when it all goes wrong and gives you a clear understand of what earnings in self-publishing look like and how to make this career work best for you.

Faculty

Callie Stoker

Callie Stoker is an editor with over fifteen years of experience and a knack for knowing what makes a story shine. Her business The Manuscript Dr supports writers by teaching skills to improve craft through coaching and editing services. Callie has three children on the Autism Spectrum... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2023 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Indie Publishing

Moderator Craig (C.E.) Barnes

2:00pm MDT

Zeb’s Lounge

Welcome to Zeb’s Lounge, a cozy space where you can read, write, and relax. Unwind with a jigsaw puzzle or writing prompt, and recharge your electronics.

Friday April 28, 2023 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Seven Falls

Zeb's Lounge

3:15pm MDT

Read & Critique Session 5

Faculty

Siera London

Featured Author, Siera London Books

Agents & Editors

Melissa Rechter

Editor, Crooked Lane Books, Alcove Press

Stacey Kondla

Agent, The Rights Factory

Friday April 28, 2023 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Fremont

Agent/Editor/Author

Moderator Karen Fox, Hal Greene

3:15pm MDT

Advanced Keywords and Categories: Get More Shoppers to Your Book

Learn the secrets behind a keyword and category strategies that is so good, even Amazon promoted it and changed they way they discuss keywords to authors. With this strategy, you'll learn how to generate keyword ideas for books that buyers not only use, but aren't competitive and can help get your book in front of more readers. This workshop is a deep dive into proven strategies for increasing sales and getting discovered on Amazon.

Faculty

Dave Chesson

Keynote Speaker, Kindlepreneur

Friday April 28, 2023 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Business

Moderator Jeff Schmoyer

3:15pm MDT

How Do I Decide? Traditional vs. Indie Publishing

There is plenty of information available on both traditional and self-publishing. But how do you choose between the two? This workshop will guide writers through the decision, allowing them to ignore the noise and hype and focus on their personal path. It’s a fair and balanced approach that avoids favoring one choice over the other—and instead teaches how to determine which choice best fits each individual’s situation.

Agents & Editors

Rachelle Gardner

Agent, Gardner Literary

Friday April 28, 2023 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Palmer/Academy

Business

Moderator Johnny Worthen

3:15pm MDT

How to Market Your Book

Ditch all the "do everything" marketing advice and focus on the most effective tactics to build your readership and sell books. Learn exactly how to develop the best content and where to use it.

Faculty

Jenny Kate

Pikes Peak Writers Conference

Jenny Kate has been a communicator, marketer and public relations professional since 2001. She has party-planned for US ambassadors, written speech inputs for the President (of the United States), eaten Taco Bell with Jimmy Kimmel and danced with Willy Nelson. She has been quoted... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2023 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Douglas

Business

Moderator Kim Lajevardi

3:15pm MDT

So You Want to Put Together an Anthology...

If you've been thinking, "Hey! I know a lot of authors. I should put together an anthology!" then this is the place to be! Sam Knight has put together at least 12 anthologies and been publisher of 8 of them (probably more by now), and he has a partial list of the infinite hells you should be aware of before you jump into the abyss. From slush pile nightmares and contract headaches to figuring out how to publish it and how to pay the authors, Sam will point out pitfalls as he presents a rough roadmap for you to follow. No author is too big! No story is too small! Come find out if he can talk you out of doing it! Come ask questions and find out if you don't know what you know!

Faculty

Sam Knight

Author/Publisher, Knight Writing Press

Sam Knight is publisher of Knight Writing Press and author of six children’s books, five short story collections, three novels, and over 75 short stories, including three co-authored with Kevin J. Anderson. A Colorado native, Sam spent ten years in California’s wine country before... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2023 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
El Paso

Craft

Moderator Bailey Finn

3:15pm MDT

Drop-in Chat

Drop in and chat with Deb Courtney about Project Management for writers. Get your questions answered.

Faculty

Deb Courtney

Deb Courtney holds a degree in Fiction from the University of South Florida, where she was a Saunders Scholar in Fiction. She has had numerous short stories published and has worked as a freelance journalist. Her background includes more than 20 years in Technical Project Management.Her... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2023 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Seven Falls

Zeb's Lounge

4:45pm MDT

Read & Critique Session 6

Faculty

Fleur Bradley

Fleur Bradley is the author of numerous books for kids, including the (scary) middle-grade mystery Daybreak on Raven Island, and CO Book Award-winning Midnight at the Barclay Hotel (Viking). Fleur regularly does school visits and educator conference talks on reaching reluctant readers... Read More →

Agents & Editors

Alicia Clancy

Senior Editor, Lake Union Publishing

Deb Werksman

Editorial Director, Sourcebooks

Friday April 28, 2023 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Fremont

Agent/Editor/Author

Moderator Chris Mandeville, Tori Fox-Phillips

4:45pm MDT

The Muddled Middle

It’s the hardest part. You know the beginning, it flowed like water, you know the end, it’ll be breathtaking, now you just have to write the connecting bit, the eighty percent between the two. No problem, but your Muse is on vacation, another project beckons and there’s little enthusiasm for the next chapter. Could this be writer’s block? This is the muddled middle. Class will explore this terrible phenomenon and offer concrete tools to overcome it and return the writer to the rails.

Faculty

Johnny Worthen

Author

Friday April 28, 2023 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Craft

Moderator Roberta Crownover

4:45pm MDT

Troubleshooting Fiction: Developmental, Middle, and Line Edits

Learn efficient ways to troubleshoot your book’s big picture elements, analyze your scenes, and massage the minutia. Each level (in this order) is essential to whipping your book into shape before seeking an agent or self-publishing.

We’ll outline differences between developmental revision, meso-editing, & line edits.

We’ll discuss gaining perspective, mindset, perception, author’s compass. Understand and improve using an eagle’s eye. Before putting your words under the microscope, tackling BIG-PICTURE EDITS, working title, word count, POV, pacing, genre needs, plot (boring beginnings, sagging middles, weak endings) subplots, storyline, character strengths, weaknesses, arcs, themes, motifs. Dispassionately use tools such as mapping your story, charting your emotional beats.

Then drill down to scenes and other MESO-EDITING. Creating powerful, forward-leaning scenes, tricks of the trade like log-line/blurb/1-page synopses, story mapping, and emotional beat charts.

When the developmental edits and meso-revisions are finished, LINE EDIT without losing voice. Scrutinizing sentence structure, rhetorical devices, word usage, expected punctuation, grammar, accidental uses of homonyms, etc.

Faculty

Karen A. Lin

Writer-Coach-Speaker, Writer's Launchpad

Friday April 28, 2023 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Palmer/Academy

Craft

Moderator Kaelyn Daughetee

4:45pm MDT

Wallop Your Word Count

Do you need to scale back your WIP to meet industry standards for word count? Looking to write tighter, more concrete prose in general? This workshop will discuss tricks for helping authors reduce wordiness throughout their novels as well as engage participants with hands-on exercises at the sentence level. You'll evaluate a sample of your work to look for patterns, common pitfalls, and stylistic repetition. Participants will benefit from having access to a WIP for this session.

Faculty

Kendra Griffin

Kendra Griffin is a professor, developmental editor, and author who has never met a good dog or a good underdog she didn’t love. Kendra has an MA in literature, teaches creative writing for Aims Community College, is a member of RMFW and Borderlands Writers, and edits for Status... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2023 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
El Paso

Craft

Moderator Connie Noel

4:45pm MDT

Help! I'm Overwhelmed

When there are so many decisions we need to make as authors, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with everything. Come and join Better-Faster Academy coach Nikki Haverstock as she covers the rubric for how to handle author overwhelm. If you are overwhelmed by choices, please join Nikki to learn easy ways to feel more secure and sane in your career.

Faculty

Nikki Haverstock

Better-Faster Academy

Nikki Haverstock has been a full-time writer for over seven years who lives on a small ranch high in the Rocky Mountains. She has studied comedy at Second City and Groundlings and has published over twenty cozy, space, and paranormal mysteries that are heavy on the humor.In twenty... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2023 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Douglas

Writing Life

4:45pm MDT

Zeb’s Lounge

Welcome to Zeb’s Lounge, a cozy space where you can read, write, and relax. Unwind with a jigsaw puzzle or writing prompt, and recharge your electronics.

Friday April 28, 2023 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Seven Falls

Zeb's Lounge

Moderator Bill Bush

7:30pm MDT

Dinner

Faculty

Dave Chesson

Keynote Speaker, Kindlepreneur

Friday April 28, 2023 7:30pm - 9:00pm MDT
Ballroom

Meal

9:00pm MDT

Write Drunk, Edit Sober

This event must be purchased separately.

Come and enjoy some wonderful, guided improv writing prompts while you sample different beers (included in the price) and a discussion the following day about what those prompts produce.

Faculty

Deb Courtney

Friday April 28, 2023 9:00pm - 10:00pm MDT
Fremont

Meal

8:00am MDT

Newcomers Briefing

Faculty

Laura Hayden

Conference Administration (Con-Admin), PPWC

Saturday April 29, 2023 8:00am - 8:30am MDT
Palmer/Academy

Meal

8:30am MDT

Zeb's Lounge

Welcome to Zeb’s Lounge, a cozy space where you can read, write, and relax. Unwind with a jigsaw puzzle or writing prompt, and recharge your electronics. This session will end early, at 9:15, to prepare for a special event in the following session hour.

Saturday April 29, 2023 8:30am - 9:15am MDT
Seven Falls

Zeb's Lounge

8:30am MDT

The Publishing Revolution: Riding the Wave and The Impact of Audio

Hang on to your pens, writers! The publishing industry is riding a tsunami. AI, Publishing, Self Publishing, and Audio are all going through major shifts. The emergence of AI-powered publishing tools is changing the way books are being produced and distributed. Whether you love AI or hate it, it’s here to stay.

What can you do? What will you do?

Maybe you don't even read any longer (gasp!) but listen—Audible has been the king of the jungle, but things are a changing. One of the most significant trends in publishing today is the rise of audiobooks. More and more people are turning to audiobooks for their entertainment and educational needs, and this trend is expected to continue growing in the future.

In this presentation, Michelle Vandepas, Co-Founder of local publishing house, GracePoint Publishing, will expand on how the industry is facing many changes during this “Publishing Revolution” and how authors can embrace the changes, and ride that publishing wave to success instead of getting washed away.

Faculty

Michelle Vandepas

Gracepoint Publishing

Michelle is the co-founder of GracePoint Publishing, a multi-media publishing company that includes traditional publishing, digital media and audio production, located in Colorado Springs, CO. As an entrepreneur she always has her ear to the ground and her sights set on the fastest... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2023 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Business

Moderator Chelsea Harper

8:30am MDT

The First Page

A craft-focused workshop centering on three integral elements for a memorable first page. Using the first page of three acclaimed books as examples, we'll look at how tension, motivation, and voice weave together to create a first page agents won't be able to put down. We'll also cover generative writing prompts and common first page don'ts.

Agents & Editors

Savannah Brooks

Agent, KT Literary

Saturday April 29, 2023 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Palmer/Academy

Craft

Moderator Kaelyn Daughetee

8:30am MDT

Write Drunk, Edit Sober Followup

The follow-up "edit" portion of last night's Write Drunk.

Faculty

Deb Courtney

Saturday April 29, 2023 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Douglas

Craft

Moderator Kim Lajevardi

8:30am MDT

Resiliency for Writers: Nobody Tells You When You’re Good Enough

This session will help participants draw from their resources of creative energy and confidence to push through writing blocks, publish their books, and/or market themselves. We’ll discuss how resilience is not just about being tough, but making good intuitive choices for where to best focus your time and energy. Attendees will be encouraged to discuss, free-write, and brainstorm action plans.

Faculty

Kendra Griffin

Saturday April 29, 2023 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
El Paso

Writing Life

Moderator Esther Stenersen

9:45am MDT

Marketing Panel

Marketing is a complicated subject. Everyone is telling you how to do it, but there are so many different ways. Which is right? How does each work? This panel of experts will share their advice on creating marketing for your novel that actually works.

Faculty

LS Hawker

Mark Leslie Lefebvre

Director of Business Development, Draft2Digital

Fleur Bradley

Siera London

Featured Author, Siera London Books

Saturday April 29, 2023 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Douglas

Business

Moderator Deb Courtney

9:45am MDT

The LoC: What Can the Library of Congress Do for You?

This talk goes through how best to work with the LoC, and when to do it.

Faculty

Marie Whittaker

Director, Superstars Writing Seminars

Saturday April 29, 2023 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
El Paso

Business

Moderator Joe Lenhoff

9:45am MDT

How to Write a Key Scene

A hands-on exploration of how to create a scene—and then rewrite it.

Faculty

John DeDakis

Saturday April 29, 2023 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Craft

Moderator Johnny Worthen

9:45am MDT

Make Your Fantasy World Come Alive

From Tattooine to Hobbiton, New Beijing to Hogwarts, we love getting immersed in new worlds. But how can you make a place feel real enough to come home to, or to fight for? In this session, Carly Stevens will share what she has learned about creating a complex yet believable fantasy world that will leave your readers wanting more.

Faculty

Carly Stevens

Saturday April 29, 2023 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Palmer/Academy

Craft

Moderator Tori Fox-Phillips

9:45am MDT

A Round Table Discussion with Barbara O’Neal

Ask author Barbara O’Neal about her experiences with writing and publishing. Get your questions answered. This event is limited to 10 attendees at a time. Deborah Brewer will facilitate the discussion.

Faculty

Barbara O'Neal

Keynote Speaker

Saturday April 29, 2023 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Seven Falls

Zeb's Lounge

11:00am MDT

Deepening Description

Description is what injects our brain with the images, tastes, and smells of what we read. Learn the skills of deepening description with actionable writing tools to ground the reader in a setting, and help them see your story.

Faculty

Callie Stoker

Saturday April 29, 2023 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
El Paso

Craft

Moderator Craig (C.E.) Barnes

11:00am MDT

Things to Consider Before You Submit to an Editor—ANY Editor

So you think you have finally finished your story. Before you decide to submit it to an editor (acquisitions or copy editor), here are some things you should consider.

Faculty

Sam Knight

Author/Publisher, Knight Writing Press

Saturday April 29, 2023 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Craft

Moderator Jeff Schmoyer

11:00am MDT

Writing Characters That Live

What makes a character live on in a reader’s mind after the book is closed? Names, physical description, and job description do not characters make, not for walk-on characters and especially not for heroes, heroines, and villains. Learn techniques for inventing a person, ways to get into your characters’ heads and give them an inner life that motivates their actions. Reveal your characters to the reader with narrative, voice, and point-of-view, at the same time using the developing story to expand your own understanding of your characters.

Faculty

Carol Berg

Author - Faculty

Saturday April 29, 2023 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Palmer/Academy

Craft

Moderator Connie Noel

11:00am MDT

Mystery Panel

A lot goes into crafting a mystery novel—clues, red herrings, fascinating characters and a moving plot. This panel of mystery authors will help untangle some of those aspects and guide you on writing a great mystery novel.

Faculty

Leslie Budewitz

Mystery Writer

Robert Crais

Keynote Speaker

Robert Crais is the author of the best-selling Elvis Cole novels. A native of Louisiana, he grew up on the banks of the Mississippi River in a blue collar family of oil refinery workers and police officers. He purchased a secondhand paperback of Raymond Chandler’s The Little Sister... Read More →

LS Hawker

Johnny Worthen

Author

Saturday April 29, 2023 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Douglas

Genre

Moderator Laura Hayden

11:00am MDT

Zeb’s Lounge

Welcome to Zeb’s Lounge, a cozy space where you can read, write, and relax. Unwind with a jigsaw puzzle or writing prompt, and recharge your electronics.

Saturday April 29, 2023 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Seven Falls

Zeb's Lounge

12:15pm MDT

Lunch

Faculty

Dave Chesson

Keynote Speaker, Kindlepreneur

Robert Crais

Keynote Speaker

Barbara O'Neal

Keynote Speaker

Saturday April 29, 2023 12:15pm - 1:45pm MDT
Ballroom

Meal

2:00pm MDT

Zeb’s Lounge

Welcome to Zeb’s Lounge, a cozy space where you can read, write, and relax. Unwind with a jigsaw puzzle or writing prompt, and recharge your electronics. This session will end early, at 2:45, to prepare for a special event in the following session hour.

Saturday April 29, 2023 2:00pm - 2:45pm MDT
Seven Falls

Zeb's Lounge

2:00pm MDT

Online Book Marketing Made Easy

Book buying habits and the way people read books has changed. Ebooks continue to gain popularity, and more than half of all print books are bought online. Because of this, it makes sense for authors to focus their marketing efforts online. The good news is there are many options beyond just social media for authors to use to build their audience. This workshop provides ideas for strengthening your author platform, stacking promotions, building a newsletter list and using your strengths. After this session, you will have practical strategies you can implement right away with the goal of reaching more readers and ultimately, more sales.

Faculty

Kerrie Flanagan

CraveBooks

Kerrie Flanagan is in charge of Author Relations for CraveBooks in addition to being an author,writing consultant, writing instructor with Stanford Continuing Studies, and freelance writer with20+ years’ experience in the publishing industry. She’s the author of The Writer's... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2023 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
El Paso

Business

Moderator Bill Bush

2:00pm MDT

How to Plot Using Sequences

Using a sequence method used by scriptwriters, author Fleur Bradley will show you how to take a logline/concept and characters to build to a strong outline, while still leaving plenty of room to color outside the lines. This is a dynamic, interactive workshop where you'll see this plotting method in action, including how to use theme and character to create depth. Attendees will leave with a new outline for their project.

Faculty

Fleur Bradley

Saturday April 29, 2023 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Craft

Moderator Eleanore Trupkiewicz

2:00pm MDT

The Secret Life of Fairy Tales

Have you read the original Cinderella? What about Sleeping Beauty? Do you know where they came from and why they permeate our current society? To understand the effect fairy tales have on stories today, you have to understand why they were created in the first place. Secrets, warnings, and entertainment led to most fairy tales. This workshop covers some of the more common fairy tales, their secret messages, and how they have evolved overtime. We’ll look at examples and write as well.

Faculty

Caitlin Berve

Ignited Ink Writing

Caitlin Berve is the multi-award-winning author of When Magic Calls: A Collection of Modern Fairy Tales, available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. Through her company Ignited Ink Writing, she edits novels, creates video tutorials, teaches creative writing, and writes... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2023 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Palmer/Academy

Craft

Moderator James Sams

2:00pm MDT

Romance Panel

Faculty

Siera London

Featured Author, Siera London Books

Barbara O'Neal

Keynote Speaker

Agents & Editors

Deb Werksman

Editorial Director, Sourcebooks

Saturday April 29, 2023 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Douglas

Genre

Moderator Deb Courtney

3:15pm MDT

Authors & Agents: Inside This Important Partnership

Do all writers need agents? This workshop begins by discussing who needs an agent and why. You’ll learn how to decide whether you need an agent, how to research literary agents, and how to determine the right agent for you. We’ll discuss what to expect from an agent and what not to expect. Finally, we’ll talk about how to do your part in building and maintaining a successful long-term relationship with an agent. This workshop will dispel the mystique surrounding agents (no – we are not all sharks!) and help you make the best decision for your writing career.

Agents & Editors

Rachelle Gardner

Agent, Gardner Literary

Saturday April 29, 2023 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
El Paso

Business

Moderator Connie Noel

3:15pm MDT

Creating an Author Brand

Do you really know what an author brand is and how to develop it? This workshop will teach you everything you need to know to build an effective author brand. You'll build a strong foundation and leave with a good understanding of what that brand can do for you.

Faculty

Jenny Kate

Pikes Peak Writers Conference

Saturday April 29, 2023 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Palmer/Academy

Business

Moderator Kaelyn Daughetee

3:15pm MDT

Common Mistakes Writers Make About the Law

A legal thread runs through the fictional world. Writers of all varieties of fiction often find that a plot or subplot involves legal issues. But the law is complex. It varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and sometimes changes. And too many people, including writers, are TV-educated, unaware that the terminology used in New York on Law & Order does not apply to a story set in Virginia or Montana. Taught by a lawyer with more than 35 years of experience who is also an award winning mystery writer, this workshop will address 10 common mistakes fiction writers make about the law and provide some simple research tools for getting the facts about the law right.

Faculty

Leslie Budewitz

Mystery Writer

Saturday April 29, 2023 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Craft

Moderator Craig (C.E.) Barnes

3:15pm MDT

Fantasy Panel

What goes into writing a fantasy novel? Learn how veteran fantasy authors craft their best-selling books—the worlds, the characters, the mythology, and more.

Faculty

Marie Whittaker

Director, Superstars Writing Seminars

Carol Berg

Author - Faculty

Caitlin Berve

Ignited Ink Writing

Carly Stevens

Saturday April 29, 2023 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Douglas

Genre

Moderator Bowen Gillings

3:15pm MDT

A Round Table Discussion with Siera London

Ask author Siera London about her experience writing and selling her books. Get your questions answered. This event is limited to 10 attendees at a time. Deborah Brewer will facilitate the discussion.

Faculty

Siera London

Featured Author, Siera London Books

Saturday April 29, 2023 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Seven Falls

Zeb's Lounge

4:45pm MDT

Marketing Strategies & Options for Authors

My book is planned or even published—so how do I market it? What are some of the options available to me? And how do I decide what works best? Mark Leslie Lefebvre, Director of Business Development for Draft2Digital, and an author with 30 years of experience in both traditional and indie publishing, will outline strategies, services, and tools available to help authors with marketing their books.

Faculty

Mark Leslie Lefebvre

Director of Business Development, Draft2Digital

Saturday April 29, 2023 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
El Paso

Business

Moderator Jeff Schmoyer

4:45pm MDT

Let Me Tell You a Story: Mastering Point of View

Narration is your reader’s doorway into the story, so how can you make the most of it? In this session, we’ll examine the merits and limitations of different types of narration, as well as cool tricks to completely immerse your audience in the story (even if your narrator can’t be trusted…).

Faculty

Carly Stevens

Saturday April 29, 2023 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Douglas

Craft

Moderator James Sams

4:45pm MDT

The History of Mystery

A literary survey of this most modern genre. Crime, class and creative license. How dreadful pulp became acclaimed literature and then the most popular genre in the world. Crime pays and entertains. How did we get here? What are the elements that define the current meta? A who dunnit and a how dunnit.

Faculty

Johnny Worthen

Author

Saturday April 29, 2023 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Genre

Moderator Roberta Crownover

4:45pm MDT

DIY Audiobooks: Yes We Can!

Audiobooks: the fastest growing market in reading, the best way to leverage your existing books to find more readers/make more money, and...so dang expensive to make. Unless you do it yourself! In this workshop I'll show you step by step how I've narrated, recorded, and produced audiobooks that meet Audible's exacting standards (and are currently for sale there), from studio set up to recording equipment to software to mastering and distribution options. The short story? It's easier than you think! And cheaper. Let's record some books!

Faculty

Levi Jacobs

Saturday April 29, 2023 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Palmer/Academy

Indie Publishing

Moderator Esther Stenersen

4:45pm MDT

Zeb’s Lounge

Welcome to Zeb’s Lounge, a cozy space where you can read, write, and relax. Unwind with a jigsaw puzzle or writing prompt, and recharge your electronics.

Saturday April 29, 2023 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Seven Falls

Zeb's Lounge

6:00pm MDT

Book Signings

Pikes Peak Writers Anthologies signing is in the hall across from the bookstore. All other signings are in Fremont.

Saturday April 29, 2023 6:00pm - 6:45pm MDT
Fremont

Meal

7:00pm MDT

Banquet

Faculty

Robert Crais

Keynote Speaker

Saturday April 29, 2023 7:00pm - 10:00pm MDT
Ballroom

Meal

9:00am MDT

Zeb’s Lounge

Welcome to Zeb’s Lounge, a cozy space where you can read, write, and relax. Unwind with a jigsaw puzzle or writing prompt, and recharge your electronics. This session will end early, at 9:45, to prepare for a special event in the following session hour.

Sunday April 30, 2023 9:00am - 9:45am MDT
Seven Falls

Zeb's Lounge

9:00am MDT

And... Action! Fighting and Fight Scenes 101

5-time martial-arts black-belt and award-winning author 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.

Faculty

Bowen Gillings

Bowen Gillings is an Amazon.com bestselling and award-winning author writing to bring fun back to fiction. His latest release is the humorous paranormal thriller Exceptionals. Bowen has been featured in Journeys into Possibility and Fresh Starts anthologies, Allegory e-zine, and on... Read More →

Sunday April 30, 2023 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
El Paso

Craft

Moderator Eleanore Trupkiewicz

9:00am MDT

Who's Telling Your Story: Perspective and Point of View in Creative Writing

Have you ever read a story where the characters seemed to be speaking directly to you or you felt intimately connected to the plot? That author took the time to find the right point of view and perspective for that story. The choice between first person and third isn’t simply a matter of pronouns. The point of view you choose will determine who tells your story, who the main characters are, how close to the characters and plot your readers feel, and more. This workshop will not only cover the pros and cons of different points of view, but also how to decide which point of view and perspective is right for your piece.

Faculty

Caitlin Berve

Ignited Ink Writing

Sunday April 30, 2023 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
Palmer/Academy

Craft

Moderator Tori Fox-Phillips

9:00am MDT

Writing To Theme

Raise your work to literary levels by consciously incorporating themes. Learn how to identify what you’re trying to say and actively nurture the subtler but greater questions you’re addressing. Enhance writing with symbols as signposts, layers of grays and depths of meaning. Give the literary critics something to enjoy, Class will study the therapeutic qualities of writing and ask the author to consciously incorporate ideas of theme into their work, exploring the human condition through parallel plots, symbols, conflict, and alternative points of view to address lingering questions and personal issues. From the lighthouse of intent, to hard questions, symbols, subplots and echoes, the class will encourage the writer to plumb the depths of meaning, bleed a little and create multiple strands of meaning in their work.

Faculty

Johnny Worthen

Author

Sunday April 30, 2023 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Craft

Moderator Bill Bush

9:00am MDT

Your Author Podcast: What, Why and How

As readers increasingly shift to listening rather than 'reading' ebooks or paperbacks, authors are turning to podcasts to reach their audiences. We look at why to do it, which formats are working, what results to expect, who's had results, and (maybe most importantly), how to do it yourself (it's less expensive than you think). Then we put our theory to practice, by walking you through each step as we record, edit, master, and upload a podcast live in the workshop.

Faculty

Levi Jacobs

Sunday April 30, 2023 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
Douglas

Indie Publishing

Moderator Bailey Finn

10:15am MDT

"I Felt Like I Was There:" Setting the Scene

The most compelling stories take us somewhere, introducing us to places we’ve never been or giving us a new view of familiar ground. In this workshop, we’ll look at what makes a place come alive on the page, whether it’s the main location for your story or a side trip. We’ll dive into the emotional connections between people and places, and look at how your choices as a writer can create characters and plot so deeply integrated with setting that the story could take place nowhere else.

What you will learn:
- Ways to portray a scene through the POV character’s lens, identify the telling details, and deepen your description with sensory touches.
- How the emotional relationships between people and place influence what your characters do, how they speak, how they respond to conflict, and more.
- Practical tips and tricks for taking the reader on a trip without giving them a travelogue, and research tools for thinking outside the map.

Faculty

Leslie Budewitz

Mystery Writer

Sunday April 30, 2023 10:15am - 11:15am MDT
Palmer/Academy

Craft

Moderator Kim Lajevardi

10:15am MDT

Developing Your Story Organically

Are you a pantser or an outliner? It’s one of the most common questions any professional novelist hears. But there is a lot of room between starting with a detailed outline of every event in the story and starting with a blank page with no end in sight but the end of the book. In this workshop we will explore one middle way. The premise is that you can create a tight and well well-plotted story without knowing everything that happens before you start writing. Indeed, the very fact that you don’t know everything can help you make your characters live and breathe, the settings become a meaningful part of your story, and the action a logical outgrowth of character interaction and setting. A character, a situation, a setting, and a short term destination can be the seed to grow an organic story.

Faculty

Carol Berg

Author - Faculty

Sunday April 30, 2023 10:15am - 11:15am MDT
El Paso

Craft

Moderator Joe Lenhoff

10:15am MDT

Identifying and Eliminating Your Manuscript's Achilles Heel

As writers, we often become unnaturally attached to various elements of our stories that don't work, whether they be characters, plot elements, or even lines of description or dialogue. Learning to identify these and then let them go (i.e., killing your darlings) can mean the difference between a manuscript that's publishable and one that sits in a bottom drawer for all eternity. When I turned in book two of my three-book non-series contract, my editor told me that the story didn't work. There was an element in the story—specifically, a canoe with clues in it—that made no sense, that didn't fit with the story, but I held onto it, made excuses for it like a bad boyfriend. I had to learn to let it go, and once I did, the manuscript came together.

Faculty

LS Hawker

Sunday April 30, 2023 10:15am - 11:15am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Craft

Moderator Roberta Crownover

10:15am MDT

Writing Children as Characters

Are you thinking of writing a book for kids or teens, or are you simply looking at adding a kid character to your story? Join author of numerous children’s books Fleur Bradley for this interactive workshop, where we’ll build a cast of kid characters together. By the end of this workshop, you’ll have the framework you need to build children’s characters for your WIP.

Faculty

Fleur Bradley

Sunday April 30, 2023 10:15am - 11:15am MDT
Douglas

Craft

Moderator Esther Stenersen

10:15am MDT

A Round Table Discussion with Kerrie Flanagan and Cary Bergeron of Crave Books

Ask experts from Crave Books about book marketing. Get your questions answered. This event is limited to 10 attendees at a time.

Faculty

Kerrie Flanagan

CraveBooks

Sunday April 30, 2023 10:15am - 11:15am MDT
Seven Falls

Zeb's Lounge

11:30am MDT

Connect the Dots: Genealogies and Genograms for World Building

Depending on the breadth of your novel, you may not think about developing a genealogy for your characters. However, if you're writing a space opera that spans centuries, an Elven quest to take seven thousand acolytes across a frozen wasteland, or a complicated historical romance, you might need to know—and keep track of—a few details. Developing a genealogy for your novel doesn't need to be difficult, and there are tools out there to help you. Consider it a part of your Story Bible, a reference you can use to remember who's who and where they came from. By adding in a genogram, you can visually keep track of more than just names and birthdays. A genogram will not only show you character lineages, but how these characters interact with each other and those who are significantly involved in their lives (clan or tribe members, tutors, godparents, live-in nannies, etc.). This interactive workshop will show you how to build a genealogy from scratch and then how to create a genogram to graph both social and emotional relationships, medical histories, behavioral patterns and more. Who knows? After developing a genogram for one story, five more may pop out at you.

Faculty

Benjamin X. Wretlind

Author & Coach

Sunday April 30, 2023 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Craft

Moderator Kaelyn Daughetee

11:30am MDT

Spreadsheet Editing

Self-editing can be daunting, but if you like spreadsheets, you’ll love this method. This class will break down a plot into graph form to help identify plot holes or problems and weak character arcs, help you ensure that each scene is purposeful, and help you quickly identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Faculty

Callie Stoker

Sunday April 30, 2023 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT
Douglas

Craft

Moderator Craig (C.E.) Barnes

11:30am MDT

Supplementing Through Serials

This session will help you decide if using serial platforms such as Vella and Wattpad is the right choice for you, your WIP, and your creative process.

Faculty

Kendra Griffin

Sunday April 30, 2023 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT
El Paso

Craft

Moderator Chelsea Harper

11:30am MDT

Undercurrent: Using Subtext to Pull Readers Into Your Story

One of the most nuanced and captivating writing techniques is getting the readers to move toward the writer so they’re more engaged. We’ll talk about how to give credit where credit is due, infer, how to avoid filtering devices, scratching the same nerve and spoon feeding. Make characters extend beyond what we see on the page using negative space and their unreliability, also affecting emotions without broadcasting, and creating unmet needs to keep your readers engaged. Seduce and meld with your reader. There are many strategies for making your readers eager to hear everything you have to say. Get the reader to take steps toward you with skillful use of subtext.

Faculty

Karen A. Lin

Writer-Coach-Speaker, Writer's Launchpad

Sunday April 30, 2023 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT
Palmer/Academy

Craft

Moderator Jeff Schmoyer

11:30am MDT

Zeb’s Lounge

Welcome to Zeb’s Lounge, a cozy space where you can read, write, and relax. Unwind with a jigsaw puzzle or writing prompt, and recharge your electronics.

Sunday April 30, 2023 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT
Seven Falls

Zeb's Lounge

12:30pm MDT

Lunch

Faculty

Barbara O'Neal

Keynote Speaker

Sunday April 30, 2023 12:30pm - 2:00pm MDT
Ballroom

Meal