DFWCon 2026

If you've ever wanted to see how real editor feedback shapes an author's work, this is the class for you! In this session, I'll share how the opening chapter of THE GREAT OUTDOORS iterated into its final, published version—including actual feedback I got from my editor at Simon & Schuster during the revision process! We'll do a live edit during class, which will include a mix of big-picture issues all the way down to tiny line edit tweaks, with bonus thoughts on "How do I know which notes I should take?" that you can apply to your own projects.

Your first five pages are the seeds of your story—the moments that will hook readers and make them eager to turn the page. In this class, you’ll learn how to cultivate a compelling opening that sets the stage for an unforgettable narrative journey. We’ll review the essentials of an opening scene, common pitfalls, and what goes into a powerful beginning—all while having fun planting ideas you can grow in your own work. We’ll put these techniques into practice through writing prompts. This class is intended for writers who already have a firm story idea and are actively drafting, rather than those exploring new concepts.

Build likable, relatable, and flawed characters who your readers will root for on every page. Use backstory and internals to dive into their troubled pasts without slowing the pace of your novel. Dig deep into why your characters act they way they do.

Whether you keep the door closed, leave it cracked, or blow it off the hinges, there's an art to mastering the different heat levels in romance novels. This class is all about how you navigate which heat level best fits your brand and how to make it authentic for you and your readers.

An editor-led workshop and deep dive into how editors pitch their books in-house — from editorial board meetings to formal sales presentations — feat. a group activity at the end of the session, "Pitch Wars," in which attendees will split into teams and role play as editors pitching a book internally.

Workshop goals: Offers insight into the kinds of questions editors ask themselves before pitching a book to an editorial board meeting or sales launch, and how this informs our acquisitions process. Authors will walk away from workshop with newfound tips/tricks on how to make your pitch stick and stand out on the publisher's side.

Discover how to use your main character's goal, motivation, and conflict to drive and enhance the plot of your novel.

Conflict ignites every scene in your novel. But how do you stoke those fires to keep your readers engaged and your plot moving?
In this workshop, you'll learn that conflict isn't about confrontation; it's about character choices. This 7-step method will guide you in turning up the heat on your characters with intense stakes and escalating tension.
Get ready to light up your manuscript with the tools to craft a story so powerful, it will burn in the minds of your readers long after they turn the final page.