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Sunday, October 4
 

9:00am CDT

Home Is Where the Heart Is: Using the Setting Around You to Build Fantasical Worlds
Sunday October 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 2
Nothing is born from the void--and neither are the fantasy worlds we love to read about and create in our own work. This class is designed to help attendees use the world they know--their homes, the familiar streets, and the places they see everyday--to create grounded worlds in their fantasy genre pieces. After all, authors put in little bits of themselves in everything they create, and what better way to build a fictional world than one that includes the cracked tiles of their bathroom or the vaulted ceilings of their local city hall.
Speakers
avatar for Andy C. Naranjo
Sunday October 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 2
  Craft

9:00am CDT

Screen to Page: Screenwriting Techniques for Creating Dynamic Fiction
Sunday October 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 3
Master the art of cinematic storytelling by applying screenwriting principles like "show, don't tell," tight pacing, and high-stakes dialogue to your prose. This session teaches you how to translate visual storyboarding into rich narrative descriptions, ensuring your story or novel moves with the momentum and clarity of a blockbuster script.
Speakers
avatar for R.C. Bramhall
Sunday October 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 3
  Craft

9:00am CDT

You Can’t Always Leave the Past in the Past: Trauma, Flashbacks, and the Art of Backstory
Sunday October 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 1
The most compelling characters are shaped by what happened to them before the story begins. But how do writers reveal trauma without overwhelming the narrative? In this session, we’ll explore how memory, flashbacks, and emotional triggers can be used to build layered, psychologically authentic characters. Participants will learn how trauma realistically appears in behavior and relationships, when to introduce backstory, and how flashbacks can move the plot forward. Through a trauma-informed lens, writers will learn techniques for integrating memory and past experience in ways that feel organic, emotionally resonant, and dramatically effective. Participants will leave with practical tools for crafting characters whose past continues to shape the choices they make in the present.
Speakers
avatar for Duygu Balan

Duygu Balan

Duygu Balan is a psychotherapist, speaker, and author whose work centers on intimacy, trauma, identity, and the stories we tell about ourselves. She has authored Re-Write: A Trauma Workbook of Creative Writing and Recovery in Our New Normal (Routledge, 2023), Confidently Chill: A... Read More →
Sunday October 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 1
  Craft

9:00am CDT

✅ Writing Resources 101
Sunday October 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 6
In this practical session for new writers, you’ll learn about some of the best educational, motivational, editing and business resources to help you succeed as a writer. You’ll leave with a list of the most popular resources used by writers, a strategy for which tools to use when and suggestions for finding joy in the writing journey.

Is this your first writers conference? Classes with a ✅ in the title like this one are especially good for newcomers.


Speakers
avatar for Laura M. Johnson
Sunday October 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 6
  Craft

10:00am CDT

Strategic Dialogue Deployment: Subtext, Story Beats, and Other Things You Didn’t Know Dialogue Could Do
Sunday October 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 2
We hear a lot about what not to do in dialogue. But then, how *do* you tell the reader something that Bob already knows? Update the reader on a plot point without mentioning the plot? Give the reader a clue without the detective noticing (and vice versa)?  

Before the session ends, we’ll switch to advanced mode and see how dialogue can control pace and narrative rhythm, add subtext and characterization, and maximize story beats.

Speakers
avatar for Rosemary Clement
Sunday October 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 2
  Craft

10:00am CDT

Writing Middle Grade Books
Sunday October 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 3
Bring your questions and inner-child to this workshop where we will explore what constitutes a middle grade novel. Topics include age range, word count, voice, and acceptable (and unacceptable) topics. A recommended middle grade ‘to read’ list will also be provided with specific books within several middle grade genres.
Speakers
avatar for Kay Goodnight
Sunday October 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 3
  Craft

10:00am CDT

Writing Suspense, Mysteries, and Thrillers
Sunday October 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 6
This class explores which writing elements are most effective when writing in these genres. We break down and explain each one, emphasizing the reader's expectations and how to best achieve them. Examples from books and movies are used to clarify to the author which techniques work best and why, to accomplish the desired result.
Speakers
avatar for Larry Enmon
Sunday October 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 6
  Craft

10:00am CDT

✅ Feed Your Readers: All About Social Media Content For Authors
Sunday October 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 5
Tired at staring at a blank post wondering what to share? Let’s fix that! This class will help you up your social media game and tackle the creative side of author marketing. We’ll break down your brand, brainstorm content, and craft a content strategy that connects with your ideal audience—without draining your writing time.

Is this your first writers conference? Classes with a ✅ in the title like this one are especially good for newcomers.

Speakers
avatar for Sydney Applegate
avatar for Madeline Warthan
Sunday October 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 5
  Craft

11:00am CDT

Andor: A Study in Adding Politics to Your Plot
Sunday October 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 2
Star Wars: Andor is more than just a rebellion story–it’s a masterclass in political fiction that resonates with fans well beyond the galaxy far far away. In this class, we’ll break down how Andor integrates systems of control, class struggle, surveillance, and revolution into every layer of the narrative–and how you can do the same in your own work. You’ll learn to use political conflict to shape character arc, turn institutions into narrative engines, balance individual stakes with systemic commentary, and make your world’s politics feel real. No matter your genre, come learn to write stories that interrogate the world around us, in a way that readers truly connect to. (Don’t worry - you don’t even need to know the show.)
Speakers
avatar for Caitlin Jacobs
Sunday October 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 2
  Craft

11:00am CDT

Grammar AMA
Sunday October 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 5
(Ask Me Anything) Let’s face it: grammar isn’t everybody’s strong suit. So come field all your grammar questions and concerns with someone who has taught language, usage, and mechanics for over a decade, because I know there’s that one grammar rule you’re ashamed you’ve never learned. Is it the Oxford comma (I’ve used one in this course description)? Is it the proper use of the semicolon? Subjunctive mood? Predicate nominatives? Passive voice? Participles?! We can discuss it all without shame and without judgment, and I’ll give you tips for using these concepts to elevate your writing!
Speakers
avatar for Mark Dye
Sunday October 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 5
  Craft

11:00am CDT

How To Revise Like An Editor
Sunday October 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 6
Self-editing tips from macro to micro.
Speakers
avatar for Kelsey Evans

Kelsey Evans

Kelsey began as an editor, helping writers shape their work through developmental feedback, query critiques, and revision guidance.

Later, she moved into agenting, interning with Triada US and Creative Media Agency (CMA), where she gained hands-on experience in manuscri... Read More →
Sunday October 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 6
  Craft

11:00am CDT

✅ Scene Structure
Sunday October 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 3
A scene can come out of inspiration or careful design. But what should you do when your words aren't working? Come learn the secret ingredients to crafting a compelling scene!

Is this your first writers conference? Classes with a ✅ in the title like this one are especially good for newcomers.



Speakers
avatar for Matthew Rollins
Sunday October 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 3
  Craft

1:40pm CDT

How to Plot a Romance Arc That Complements the External Plot
Sunday October 4, 2026 1:40pm - 2:30pm CDT
Room 1
Everything you've ever wanted to know about how to create a romance arc that feels cohesive with—and essential to—the external plot! In romances that do this well, the internal emotional arc and external plot are inextricably linked, each propelling the other. In this class, we'll talk about practical ways to achieve that goal, including tips to keep in mind while brainstorming, writing the first draft, and going deeper in revision.
Speakers
avatar for Kayla Olson
Sunday October 4, 2026 1:40pm - 2:30pm CDT
Room 1
  Craft

1:40pm CDT

No Small Parts: Big Worlds Built with Minor Characters
Sunday October 4, 2026 1:40pm - 2:30pm CDT
Room 6
Genre SFF authors have no shortage of big ideas, but they can fall into the trap of hampering their writing's impact by sacrificing depth for breadth in their worldbuilding. In this hands-on session, Aleese Lin will show how strategic side character development can effect high-impact worldbuilding without padding word count or sacrificing reader interest. This craft discussion will be paired with an audience-participation exercise and an opportunity for attendees to tinker with their own not-so-small side characters.
Speakers
avatar for Aleese Lin
Sunday October 4, 2026 1:40pm - 2:30pm CDT
Room 6
  Craft

1:40pm CDT

Revision as Momentum Engineering: Building a Revision Roadmap That Actually Works
Sunday October 4, 2026 1:40pm - 2:30pm CDT
Room 3
“Fix the pacing.” “Strengthen the character arc.” “Raise the tension.” Writers often receive revision feedback that identifies a problem without explaining how to practically solve it. In this class, we’ll break down how to transform broad editorial feedback into intentional revision passes that strengthen the momentum of your story rather than sending you into endless drafting loops. Learn how to evaluate your novel through the lens of setup, payoff, escalation, and genre expectation so that your plot points, character arcs, thematic throughlines, and craft choices build upon one another with purpose. We’ll discuss how to identify the structural pressure points of your manuscript, revise backward from major payoff moments, and use tools like the seven-point plot structure to create stories that feel cohesive, emotionally satisfying, and earned from beginning to end.
Speakers
avatar for Amber Helt
Sunday October 4, 2026 1:40pm - 2:30pm CDT
Room 3
  Craft

1:40pm CDT

Write a Picture Book with Me!
Sunday October 4, 2026 1:40pm - 2:30pm CDT
Room 5
Team up with author/illustrator Sarah Mensinga to write an amazing picture book. As you and other class attendees combine forces to create a brand-new story, you’ll explore theme and plot, craft unique characters, discuss potential illustrations, and consider what makes picture books appealing to young readers… as well as agents, editors, and booksellers. Become a better picture book author through hands-on creative collaboration.
Speakers
avatar for Sarah Mensinga
Sunday October 4, 2026 1:40pm - 2:30pm CDT
Room 5
  Craft

1:40pm CDT

✅ Brick House Chapter Building
Sunday October 4, 2026 1:40pm - 2:30pm CDT
Room 2
Every chapter of a novel should have a firm foundation built on goal-conflict-outcome.

Is this your first writers conference? Classes with a ✅ in the title like this one are especially good for newcomers.

Speakers
avatar for BJ Sloan
Sunday October 4, 2026 1:40pm - 2:30pm CDT
Room 2
  Craft

2:40pm CDT

The Art of the Breakup
Sunday October 4, 2026 2:40pm - 3:30pm CDT
Room 5
In romance writing, breakups and major conflicts aren’t just dramatic twists; they’re essential turning points that test your characters and make the happily-ever-after truly satisfying. This beginner-friendly class will help you understand how to write emotionally impactful breakups that deepen your story rather than derail it. We’ll explore the role of the breakup in romance: what drives it, how to make it believable, and why it’s crucial for character growth. If you've ever struggled with writing the “breakup beat” or feared pulling your couple apart, this workshop will give you tools to craft breakups that feel earned, while avoiding melodrama or cliché, and you’ll learn how to rebuild the relationship in a way that reflects growth, trust, and lasting connection.
Speakers
avatar for Jacquelin Cangro
Sunday October 4, 2026 2:40pm - 3:30pm CDT
Room 5
  Craft

2:40pm CDT

The Greatest Duos of All Time: How to Craft Killer Character Foils
Sunday October 4, 2026 2:40pm - 3:30pm CDT
Room 3
Batman and Joker. Mulder and Skully. C3P0 and R2D2. Elsa and Anna. Dive into archetypes, arcs, and foils to learn how to craft complex and complementary characters that enrich narratives and bring stories to life.
Speakers
avatar for Jalyn Renae Fiske
Sunday October 4, 2026 2:40pm - 3:30pm CDT
Room 3
  Craft

2:40pm CDT

✅ The Writing Habit: How to Create Routines That Reduce Writing Anxiety and Produce Better Work
Sunday October 4, 2026 2:40pm - 3:30pm CDT
TBA
Have you found that your desire to write has plummeted, even though you have big dreams about publication? Does dragging yourself to the writing desk now feel like a punishment? In this workshop, learn the brain science behind habit formation and how you can achieve peach through the writing process. By the end of this interactive workshop, you will have developed a new weekly writing plan that will help you achieve your writing goals and enjoy your craft.

Is this your first writers conference? Classes with a ✅ in the title like this one are especially good for newcomers.


Speakers
avatar for Leslie Lutz
Sunday October 4, 2026 2:40pm - 3:30pm CDT
TBA
  Craft

3:40pm CDT

From Badge to Courtroom: Understanding the Layers of Criminal Investigation
Sunday October 4, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Room 2
Criminal investigations don't happen in a single office or by a lone detective—they move through distinct layers of responsibility, each with its own role in building a prosecutable case. This session traces how cases progress through the system: patrol officers who respond first and establish probable cause, detectives who conduct follow-up investigations and gather evidence, and district attorney investigators who help prosecutors determine what charges can actually be filed. Drawing on real-world examples from theft to homicide, we'll explore how responsibility shifts at each stage, what triggers a case to move from one layer to the next, and how coordination between these roles determines whether a case makes it to court. Attendees will gain practical insight into the decision-making and accountability that define each phase of the investigative pipeline.
Speakers
avatar for Amanda Arista
Sunday October 4, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Room 2
  Craft

3:40pm CDT

The Art of the Memoir: Telling Your Story
Sunday October 4, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Room 5
Many aspiring memoirists begin with journals of their personal stories, but a memoir is more than a record of what happened. While a journal is written for the writer, a memoir is crafted for the reader! The difference lies in structure, scene selection, pacing, and emotional resonance. In this class, we'll explore how to transform real-life experiences into a compelling narrative that remains authentic while keeping your reader hooked! Learn how to identify the heart of your story and shape meaningful life events into a cohesive narrative arc that balances vulnerability and authenticity with the craft of storytelling. Whether you're writing about grief, faith, family, healing, or personal transformation, this session will empower you to write a memoir that honors your experience while grabbing your reader.
Speakers
avatar for Carrie Turner
Sunday October 4, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Room 5
  Craft

3:40pm CDT

Time Travels — A Fiction Workshop on the Clock
Sunday October 4, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Room 3
Time is constant in practice—though not in perception (to readers of fiction, or fictional characters!). This workshop shines light on exercises and techniques available to writers to advance, compress, divide and retreat seasons and seconds to your narrative advantage. Ultimately, using these strategies effectively rewards our readers, and makes them more likely to view time spent in our worlds as time well spent.
Speakers
avatar for Matthew Pitt
Sunday October 4, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Room 3
  Craft

3:40pm CDT

When to Rework It and When to Kill It: Revising vs Rewriting
Sunday October 4, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Room 1
It's said that editing is the real writing, when a book becomes a draft to something publishable. But how do you know when to revise what's already there, or when to scrap part (or more!) of your book and start from scratch? This class will go over evaluating signs of where your book's working (or not), revision vs rewriting, and what both looks like.
Speakers
avatar for Sean Fletcher

Sean Fletcher

Sean Fletcher is the award-winning, bestselling author of a number of fantasy series, such as the Savage Wilds, My Dearest Monster, Legacy of Dragons, Heir of Dragons, and more, in addition to forthcoming books whose characters will not give him a moment's peace until they get their turn in the spotlight. When not making up highly-enjoyable lies and putting them down on paper, he's often doing something most people find masochistic, like cyclin... Read More →
Sunday October 4, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Room 1
  Craft
 

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