DFWCon 2026

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.

You have only 24 hours to make your Bookbub Deal a success; will you seize the day or let it go to waste? Learn the do's and don'ts of those hard-to-get spots on the Bookbub newsletter from horror author Russell C Connor, who jumpstarted his publishing career with one.

The independent publishing basics, practical tips, and tricks to help you get your book out into the world.

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.

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.