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Friday, October 2
 

12:00pm CDT

Pre-Con Workshop: Pitch Perfect SOLD OUT
Friday October 2, 2026 12:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 5
This Class has SOLD OUTGet a jumpstart on the weekend and come perfect your pitch! Young adult authors, Katie Bernet and Dana Swift, will lead a speed-dating style pitch practice class alongside 10 agented members of the DFW Writers’ Workshop. You’ll learn how to pitch your book, how to query, then practice your pitch in person and receive feedback in real time.Katie and Dana have attended...
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Speakers
avatar for Dana Swift

Dana Swift

Dana started making up fantasy worlds when she was eleven years old and hasn’t stopped since. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned degrees in English and Advertising. Dana currently lives in Austin with her husband and her two dogs whose... Read More →
avatar for Katie Bernet

Katie Bernet

Katie is The New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Indie bestselling author of Beth Is Dead. She’s an award-winning creative director and a long-standing member of the DFW Writers’ Workshop. As the oldest of three sisters, she’s a diehard fan of Little Women.... Read More →
Friday October 2, 2026 12:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 5

5:00pm CDT

Attendee Pre-Conference Mixer
Friday October 2, 2026 5:00pm - 7:00pm CDT
Hilton Garden Inn Atrium
It's a proven fact that a few beverages can stamp out the stereotype of introverted writers. Be a part of this amazing transformation at the Friday Night Mixer. Hilarious games, tasty food and cocktails. Listen for the cowbell for your chance at door prizes. Join host Rebecca Paddock for the fun in the Atrium of the Hilton Garden Inn. 
Friday October 2, 2026 5:00pm - 7:00pm CDT
Hilton Garden Inn Atrium 1615 Campus Dr, Hurst, TX 76054, USA
  Event
 
Saturday, October 3
 

7:30am CDT

Conference Doors Open
Saturday October 3, 2026 7:30am - 5:15pm CDT
Hurst Conference Center

Saturday October 3, 2026 7:30am - 5:15pm CDT
Hurst Conference Center 1601 Campus Dr, Hurst, TX 76054
  Event

8:00am CDT

Welcome to DFWCon 2026
Saturday October 3, 2026 8:00am - 8:20am CDT
Ballroom
We'll kickoff DFWCon 2026 with key information about this year's conference, hosted as always by horror writer and emcee for the weekend, Russell Connor.
Speakers
avatar for Russell C Connor

Russell C Connor

Russell C. Connor has been writing horror since the age of five. His short fiction has appeared in such publications as Black Petals Magazine, Alien Skin, Burial Day, Sanitarium, Beware the Dark, and the Stupefying Stories Showcase, as well as the anthologies Roadkill: Tex... Read More →
Saturday October 3, 2026 8:00am - 8:20am CDT
Ballroom
  Event

8:30am CDT

Get Out of the Way: Writing First Person That Pulls Readers In
Saturday October 3, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT
Room 2
First-person POV can create an extraordinary bond between character and reader, but writing "I" doesn't automatically create intimacy. In fact, common first-person habits can unintentionally push readers away. In this practical, craft-focused workshop, literary agent Kelly Dyksterhouse explores narrative distance and the techniques that make first-person narration feel immediate, authentic, and...
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Speakers
avatar for Kelly Dyksterhouse

Kelly Dyksterhouse

Kelly Dyksterhouse is a literary agent with The Tobias Literary Agency.

She represents picture books, middle grade and young adult, both fiction and nonfiction, as well as graphic novels. She also represents illustrators.

For middle grade, she loves books with ensemble casts, books about good kids making bad decisions and then having to get themselves out of it, quests and hijinks, spooky stories and mysteries, and historical novels that feel relevant. For YA, Kelly is looking for much of... Read More →
Saturday October 3, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT
Room 2
  Business

8:30am CDT

Growing Up: Moving from Writing YA to Adult Fantasy
Saturday October 3, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT
Room 3
While YA books chronicle the trials and tribulations of adolescence, writing for adult readers has trials of its own, from exploring a different stage of life, to what content is allowed and expected and, especially for fantasy, making the magic feel 'grown up'. This class will cover a range of topics for those looking to make the switch, or write their first-ever adult fantasy. (Note, while my...
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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 →
Saturday October 3, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT
Room 3
  Business

8:30am CDT

Age Isn't Just a Number: Exploring Age Categories in KidLit
Saturday October 3, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT
Room 1
When it comes to kidlit, age is more than just a number. Our readers span the developmental stages from first steps to leaving the nest (with countless important moments in between) and our writing must keep pace. Understanding age categories is a vital part of our writing and illustrating practice, especially in the current climate of book banning. In this session, we’ll discuss the key...
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Speakers
avatar for Anna Lindsey
Saturday October 3, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT
Room 1
  Craft

8:30am CDT

How to Revise a Chapter: Let's Edit a Chapter Together (Live!)
Saturday October 3, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT
Room 6
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...
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Speakers
avatar for Kayla Olson
Saturday October 3, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT
Room 6
  Craft

8:30am CDT

✅ [START HERE] A FIRST-TIMER'S SURVIVAL GUIDE TO CON
Saturday October 3, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT
Room 5
Your first writers conference can feel like landing somewhere with no map. What do I say during my free agent pitch session, why is everyone buzzing about the Gong Show, and how does Read & Critique work? This survival guide session breaks down the conference’s structure, turns networking into something natural instead of forced, covers do’s and don’ts for pitching, and shows how to turn Con...
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Speakers
avatar for Hayley Bell Parker
Saturday October 3, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT
Room 5
  Event

8:30am CDT

Dear Agent: Querying, Pitching, And Slush Piles
Saturday October 3, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT
Room E-F
Ask the agents anything about querying, pitching, and how to get "the call."
Speakers
avatar for Christine Goss

Christine Goss

Christine Goss is a literary agent with FinePrint Literary Management.

She graduated from Lake Forest College with a BA in communications. Formerly a sales representative, her skills pair well with her love of reading and story development. As an author herself, the craft of writing is very important to her when she looks at manuscripts... Read More →
avatar for Kevin O'Connor

Kevin O'Connor

Kevin O’Connor has always worked at the intersection of business and creative. As an agent, Kevin takes on children's projects (Ziggy Marley's Pajammin') and serious adult nonfiction, Who We Are by Jeffery Robinson, with a forward by Tom Hanks.

Kevin is the founding director of The Center for Nonfiction, a Columbia University Community Scholars Project dedicated to helping journalists and scholars understand the formal needs of trade publishers. He is an adjunct professor at NYU and currently working on a maste... Read More →
avatar for Eloy Bleifuss Prados

Eloy Bleifuss Prados

Eloy Bleifuss Prados is a literary agent with Neon Literary.

For fiction, he is especially interested in literary fiction along with character-driven, elevated genre fiction. His favorite novels are ones that bridge the high and the low, the real and the imaginary, the trashy and... Read More →
avatar for Eva Scalzo

Eva Scalzo

Eva Scalzo is the Agency Director and Senior Literary Agent at Speilburg Literary. A lifelong romance reader—ever since discovering Sweet Valley High in the fifth grade—she proudly inherited her grandmother’s collection of vintage Harlequins and never looked back.

She gravitates toward voice-driven YA and romance with heart, humor, and hope—stories where falling in love leads to self-discovery. She loves high-concept premises, lush and escapist settings, sharp banter, and joyful tones that embrace emotional depth. Eva actively... Read More →
Saturday October 3, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT
Room E-F
  Panel

8:30am CDT

Read & Critique
Saturday October 3, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT
Room 4
Read a short piece of your writing, then get feedback from published writers and industry professionals. 
Speakers
avatar for John Bartell

John Bartell

John Bartell is a past president of the Fort Worth Poetry Society and of the DFW Writer’s Workshop. His poems can be found in various journals, including The Orchards Poetry Review, Canyon Voices, The Loch Raven Review, Horror Writers Association Poetry Showcase X and XI, and... Read More →
avatar for Brooke Fossey

Brooke Fossey

Brooke Fossey was once an aerospace engineer with a secret clearance before she traded it all in for motherhood and writing. She’s a past president and an honorary lifetime member of DFW Writers’ Workshop. Her work can be found in numerous publications, including Ruminate Mag... Read More →
avatar for Helen Dent

Helen Dent

Helen Dent's career as a writer began at age nine, when her grandfather paid her a dollar a page for what turned into quite a lengthy story. She studied monster theory (among other things) in graduate school, taught English at a Chinese university, and toured the Scottish Hebrides... Read More →
Saturday October 3, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT
Room 4
  Read & Critique

9:30am CDT

Creating An Online Presence As An Author
Saturday October 3, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT
Room 5
One of the most daunting things for authors in today's world of publishing is how to create an online presence. Whether you're still drafting, already agented, on submission, have a book deal, or are already published, there will be tips, tricks, and suggestions to help you through the process.
Speakers
avatar for Nikki Carrero

Nikki Carrero

Nikki is a literary agent with The Rights Factory and has a background in education and in publishing.

Her love for the written word began when her grandmother brought her to the bookstore as a kid to pick out new books. She's currently looking for adult or young adult fiction in the following genres: mystery, thriller, romance, romantic suspense, magical realism, women’s... Read More →
Saturday October 3, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT
Room 5
  Business

9:30am CDT

Bridge Over Troubled Water II
Saturday October 3, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT
Room 1
Last year, I discussed how using a "Bridge," like those used in music, can keep your story from sagging in the middle. This year, I'm going further. I'm explore the structure holding that bridge up. It's called a Problem Nest: The problems that the protagonist faces as they move from the midpoint to the final act of the story. We'll analyze the Problem Nests of popular movies and, more...
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Speakers
avatar for Brian Tracey
Saturday October 3, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT
Room 1
  Craft

9:30am CDT

Navigating Literary and Revelatory Poetry
Saturday October 3, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT
Room 2
This class seeks to create a distinction between two types of poetry, the literary and the revelatory, and how a healthy approach to that dichotomy can benefit all writers. With the former challenging poets to stress the boundaries of the poem and the latter teaching writers to capture the integrity and honesty of a first draft, the ability to recognize each camp and master their benefits...
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Speakers
avatar for Moon Abbas
Saturday October 3, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT
Room 2
  Craft

9:30am CDT

Your First Five Pages
Saturday October 3, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT
Room 6
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...
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Speakers
avatar for Jacquelin Cangro
Saturday October 3, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT
Room 6
  Craft

9:30am CDT

✅ Understanding and Utilizing Narrative Position
Saturday October 3, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT
Room 3
Narrative position is one of the fundamental building blocks of storytelling, yet many authors struggle with to grasp it. Going beyond a simple matter of point-of-view, narrative position adds incredible layers to a story. In this class, I will teach narrative position by studying examples of effective and ineffective narrative position and equipping authors with the tools they need to deepen...
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Speakers
avatar for Meg Blasingame
Saturday October 3, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT
Room 3
  Craft

9:30am CDT

Love Hurts: Conflict, Separation, And Angst In Romance
Saturday October 3, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT
Room E-F
How does conflict, separation, and emotional tension deepen a romance and make the eventual reunion more satisfying? Panelists will discuss balancing angst with hope, raising the emotional stakes, and creating obstacles that strengthen the love story rather than simply delay the happy ending.
Speakers
avatar for Sydney Applegate
avatar for Katherine Center

Katherine Center

BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s The New York Times bestselling author of over half a dozen books, including How to Walk Away, Things You Save in a Fire, and What You Wish For. Her latest, The Shippers, was released on May 19, 202... Read More →
avatar for Kayla Olson
avatar for Lauren Lanza Osias
avatar for Madeline Warthan
Saturday October 3, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT
Room E-F
  Panel

9:30am CDT

So Here's My Problem: FIction
Saturday October 3, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT
Room 4
Everyone gets stuck. Ask published writers and industry professionals how they’ve worked through similar problems.

We have several So Here’s My Problem sessions, each covering a different topic.
This one focuses on Fiction.
Speakers
avatar for Dana Swift

Dana Swift

Dana started making up fantasy worlds when she was eleven years old and hasn’t stopped since. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned degrees in English and Advertising. Dana currently lives in Austin with her husband and her two dogs whose... Read More →
avatar for Katie Bernet

Katie Bernet

Katie is The New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Indie bestselling author of Beth Is Dead. She’s an award-winning creative director and a long-standing member of the DFW Writers’ Workshop. As the oldest of three sisters, she’s a diehard fan of Little Women.... Read More →
avatar for Sarah Mensinga
avatar for Andy C. Naranjo
Saturday October 3, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT
Room 4
  Read & Critique

10:30am CDT

Book Signing: Sydney Applegate, Kayla Olson, Brian Tracey, Madeline Warthan
Saturday October 3, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Bookstore

Speakers
avatar for Sydney Applegate
avatar for Kayla Olson
avatar for Brian Tracey
avatar for Madeline Warthan
Saturday October 3, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Bookstore
  Book Signing

10:30am CDT

Reels, SEO & Carousels, Oh My! Intermediate Social Media Tips
Saturday October 3, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Room 3
In this class, two social media professionals will teach you not what and when to post, but tips and tools to build your author presence online without wasting all of your time.
Speakers
avatar for Lauren Lanza Osias
avatar for Karoline Chapman
Saturday October 3, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Room 3
  Business

10:30am CDT

Character Assassination: How to Torture Your Characters with Their Past
Saturday October 3, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Room 6
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.
Speakers
avatar for Jennifer Moorhead
Saturday October 3, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Room 6
  Craft

10:30am CDT

How to Hide Research in Historical Fiction
Saturday October 3, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Room 5
We love our research, but when it comes to writing historical fiction, we have to fight the urge to show it all off. Learn specific strategies for invisibly weaving facts into your fiction so the plot will keep moving, characters will keep developing and readers will keep reading.
Speakers
avatar for Laura M. Johnson
Saturday October 3, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Room 5
  Craft

10:30am CDT

✅ Mind Your Mannerisms
Saturday October 3, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Room 1
When first writing, everyone imitates, but how do we get past that to create interesting stories? What’s the difference between an homage, a pastiche, a ripoff? Everybody borrows. Discover how to put your own spin on tired old cliches.

Is this your first writers conference? Classes with a ✅ in the title like this one are especially good for newcomers.
Speakers
avatar for A Lee Martinez
avatar for Sally Hamilton
Saturday October 3, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Room 1
  Craft

10:30am CDT

✅ Read Like You Write: Unlocking the Wisdom of Your Literary Heroes
Saturday October 3, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Room 2
We all recognize writing that makes our hearts soar and our pulses race, but how do we make that happen on our own page? Set the craft books to the side for an hour, and let's talk about strategies for finding practical answers to your thorniest writing questions, all within the pages of your favorite books.Is this your first writers conference? Classes with a ✅ in the title like this one...
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Speakers
avatar for Laura DuPuy
Saturday October 3, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Room 2
  Craft

10:30am CDT

Beyond The Default: Representation, Inclusion, and Authentic Storytelling
Saturday October 3, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Room E-F
How can writers create stories that reflect the richness and complexity of the world around them? Panelists will discuss writing characters across identities, cultures, abilities, and lived experiences; avoiding stereotypes and tokenism; researching beyond one’s own perspective; and approaching representation with empathy, specificity, and care.
Speakers
avatar for Jade Wong Baxter

Jade Wong Baxter

Jade Wong-Baxter is a literary agent with the Frances Goldin Literary Agency.

She's looking for adult literary and upmarket/bookclub fiction, as well as narrative nonfiction. She particularly enjoys coming-of-age narratives; novels exploring queer identity; stories set within a specific subculture or hidden world; grounded speculative (no high fantasy... Read More →
avatar for Nikki Carrero

Nikki Carrero

Nikki is a literary agent with The Rights Factory and has a background in education and in publishing.

Her love for the written word began when her grandmother brought her to the bookstore as a kid to pick out new books. She's currently looking for adult or young adult fiction in the following genres: mystery, thriller, romance, romantic suspense, magical realism, women’s... Read More →
avatar for Nicole Luongo

Nicole Luongo

Nicole Luongo is an Associate Editor at Grand Central Publishing (GCP), part of Hachette Book Group. At GCP, Nicole acquires a wide range of edgy, voice-driven upmarket fiction, with a particular emphasis on amplifying marginalized voices.

Her editorial interests include upmarket speculative fiction (especially with a feminist bent); genre-subverting psychological thrillers (think cunning female perpetrators and unreliable narrators); select coming-of-age stories; and satire or dark comedy (she’s a sucker... Read More →
avatar for Andy C. Naranjo
Saturday October 3, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Room E-F
  Panel

10:30am CDT

Read & Critique
Saturday October 3, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Room 4
Read a short piece of your writing, then get feedback from published writers and industry professionals. 
Speakers
avatar for Mark Dye
avatar for Larry Enmon
avatar for Blair Lovern

Blair Lovern

Blair was a reporter when newspapers roamed the earth. Now he writes silly ghost stories.
Saturday October 3, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Room 4
  Read & Critique

11:30am CDT

Book Signing: Sean Fletcher, A. Lee Martinez, Jennifer Moorhead
Saturday October 3, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm CDT
Bookstore

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 →
avatar for A Lee Martinez
avatar for Jennifer Moorhead
Saturday October 3, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm CDT
Bookstore
  Book Signing

11:30am CDT

How To Hook An Agent – From The Query Letter Through The Opening Pages
Saturday October 3, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm CDT
Room 2
From the query letter through the opening pages: An agent must sift through hundreds, even thousands of queries. Learn what makes an effective query letter and how to write a compelling opening for your sample pages. We will discuss how to write a grabby opening while avoiding the dreaded white room and its evil twin, the cliffhanger opening.
Speakers
avatar for Michael Carr

Michael Carr

Michael Carr is a literary agent with the Veritas Literary Agency.

With a strong background in editing and writing, Michael enjoys teaching at workshops and conferences to help develop emerging writers. He is fluent in Spanish and speaks conversational French. Before joining Veritas, Michael had professions as diverse as programming simulators... Read More →
Saturday October 3, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm CDT
Room 2
  Business

11:30am CDT

How the Door Swings: A Guide to Writing Romance Heat Levels
Saturday October 3, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm CDT
Room 6
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.
Speakers
avatar for Sydney Applegate
avatar for Madeline Warthan
Saturday October 3, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm CDT
Room 6
  Craft

11:30am CDT

Micro Expressions, Macro Impact: Writing Body Language That Speaks
Saturday October 3, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm CDT
Room 5
Facial expressions and body language are some of the most powerful tools in a writer’s arsenal—but they’re also some of the easiest to overuse. In this class, we’ll talk about how to write meaningful nonverbal communication without falling back on repetitive gestures, empty actions, or bloated stage direction. Learn how to assess the emotional undertones of a scene to choose movements,...
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Speakers
avatar for Amber Helt
Saturday October 3, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm CDT
Room 5
  Craft

11:30am CDT

Writing Human Women
Saturday October 3, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm CDT
Room 1
Female characters written to be strong are often swinging a sword, or wearing a pantsuit, or girl bossing it up. And that’s wonderful. But we can go further. We can reflect a whole range of female strength in our writing. In this class, we will explore different forms of strength, and complex traits, you can give your female characters. Come learn how to get your leading lady leaping off the...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Caitlin Jacobs
Saturday October 3, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm CDT
Room 1
  Craft

11:30am CDT

✅ Treat Every Book Like a Thriller: Tips for Writing Page-Turners in Any Genre
Saturday October 3, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm CDT
Room 3
Join NYT bestselling author Katie Bernet for tips on how to write an “unputdownable” story in any genre.


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


Speakers
avatar for Katie Bernet

Katie Bernet

Katie is The New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Indie bestselling author of Beth Is Dead. She’s an award-winning creative director and a long-standing member of the DFW Writers’ Workshop. As the oldest of three sisters, she’s a diehard fan of Little Women.... Read More →
Saturday October 3, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm CDT
Room 3
  Craft

11:30am CDT

The Poet’s Eye: How Poetic Techniques Strengthen Every Writer's Work
Saturday October 3, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm CDT
Room E-F

Speakers
avatar for Moon Abbas
avatar for John Bartell

John Bartell

John Bartell is a past president of the Fort Worth Poetry Society and of the DFW Writer’s Workshop. His poems can be found in various journals, including The Orchards Poetry Review, Canyon Voices, The Loch Raven Review, Horror Writers Association Poetry Showcase X and XI, and... Read More →
avatar for Brooke Fossey

Brooke Fossey

Brooke Fossey was once an aerospace engineer with a secret clearance before she traded it all in for motherhood and writing. She’s a past president and an honorary lifetime member of DFW Writers’ Workshop. Her work can be found in numerous publications, including Ruminate Mag... Read More →
avatar for Leslie Lutz
Saturday October 3, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm CDT
Room E-F
  Panel

11:30am CDT

So Here's My Problem: Indie Marketing
Saturday October 3, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm CDT
Room 4
Everyone gets stuck. Ask published writers and industry professionals how they’ve worked through similar problems.

We have several So Here’s My Problem sessions, each covering a different topic.
This one focuses on Marketing for Indie Authors.
Speakers
avatar for Russell C Connor

Russell C Connor

Russell C. Connor has been writing horror since the age of five. His short fiction has appeared in such publications as Black Petals Magazine, Alien Skin, Burial Day, Sanitarium, Beware the Dark, and the Stupefying Stories Showcase, as well as the anthologies Roadkill: Tex... Read More →
avatar for Kay Goodnight
avatar for Matthew Rollins
avatar for Shawn Warner
Saturday October 3, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm CDT
Room 4
  Read & Critique

12:30pm CDT

Lunch: Keynote Speaker Katherine Center
Saturday October 3, 2026 12:30pm - 2:00pm CDT
Ballroom

Saturday October 3, 2026 12:30pm - 2:00pm CDT
Ballroom
  Event

2:10pm CDT

Book Signing: Katherine Center, Katie Bernet, Amber Helt
Saturday October 3, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
Bookstore

Speakers
avatar for Katie Bernet

Katie Bernet

Katie is The New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Indie bestselling author of Beth Is Dead. She’s an award-winning creative director and a long-standing member of the DFW Writers’ Workshop. As the oldest of three sisters, she’s a diehard fan of Little Women.... Read More →
avatar for Katherine Center

Katherine Center

BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s The New York Times bestselling author of over half a dozen books, including How to Walk Away, Things You Save in a Fire, and What You Wish For. Her latest, The Shippers, was released on May 19, 202... Read More →
avatar for Amber Helt
Saturday October 3, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
Bookstore
  Book Signing

2:10pm CDT

The Art Of The Elevator Pitch (Editor's Edition)
Saturday October 3, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 6
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...
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Speakers
avatar for Nicole Luongo

Nicole Luongo

Nicole Luongo is an Associate Editor at Grand Central Publishing (GCP), part of Hachette Book Group. At GCP, Nicole acquires a wide range of edgy, voice-driven upmarket fiction, with a particular emphasis on amplifying marginalized voices.

Her editorial interests include upmarket speculative fiction (especially with a feminist bent); genre-subverting psychological thrillers (think cunning female perpetrators and unreliable narrators); select coming-of-age stories; and satire or dark comedy (she’s a sucker... Read More →
Saturday October 3, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 6
  Business

2:10pm CDT

The Art of Truth: Writing Nonfiction They Can't Put Down
Saturday October 3, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 1
This session teaches writers how to borrow narrative techniques from fiction—like pacing, tension, and "the hook"—to build a compelling structure that keeps readers turning pages. Learn how to bridge the gap between raw research and a finished manuscript that anchors every chapter.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Kimberlee Mendoza
Saturday October 3, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 1
  Craft

2:10pm CDT

You Think That’s Funny?
Saturday October 3, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 2
Exploring the many styles and uses of humor in writing such as satire, dark humor, slapstick, and sarcasm. How and when each each of these humorous style additions can add depth to make characters unforgettable.
Speakers
avatar for BJ Sloan
Saturday October 3, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 2
  Craft

2:10pm CDT

✅ Book Balderdash: Play a Game, Fool Your Friends & Improve Your Writing!
Saturday October 3, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 3
Bluff your way to convention glory in a big game of book-themed Balderdash! Write short descriptions of imaginary plots and attempt to convince others you’re describing real, published books. The goal? Become a more concise writer who communicates ideas effectively, and explore how simple, direct writing makes for stronger storytelling. Oh, and be sure to bring your A-game because there will be...
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Speakers
avatar for Sarah Mensinga
Saturday October 3, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 3
  Craft

2:10pm CDT

✅ Workshop: Top 5 Lessons from Self-Editing for Fiction Writers and How to Implement Them Now
Saturday October 3, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 5
Not every craft book is created equal, and Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King is a treasure of a book loaded with advice that can transform your book on every level. Bring a scene and work with a partner under the guidance of Kate Khavari, USA Today Best selling author and craft book snob, whether you think it just needs polishing or a total overhaul.Is this your first...
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Speakers
avatar for Kate Khavari
Saturday October 3, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 5
  Craft

2:10pm CDT

Literary Smackdown
Saturday October 3, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room E-F

Speakers
avatar for John Bartell

John Bartell

John Bartell is a past president of the Fort Worth Poetry Society and of the DFW Writer’s Workshop. His poems can be found in various journals, including The Orchards Poetry Review, Canyon Voices, The Loch Raven Review, Horror Writers Association Poetry Showcase X and XI, and... Read More →
avatar for Mark Dye
avatar for A Lee Martinez
avatar for Lauren Lanza Osias
Saturday October 3, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room E-F
  Panel

2:10pm CDT

Read & Critique
Saturday October 3, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 4
Read a short piece of your writing, then get feedback from published writers and industry professionals. 
Speakers
avatar for Leslie Lutz
avatar for Moon Abbas
Saturday October 3, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 4
  Read & Critique

3:10pm CDT

Book Signing: Kate Khavari, Sarah Mensinga, BJ Sloan
Saturday October 3, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Bookstore

Speakers
avatar for Kate Khavari
avatar for Sarah Mensinga
avatar for BJ Sloan
Saturday October 3, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Bookstore
  Book Signing

3:10pm CDT

The Untraditional Choice: Indie Press or Self-Pub?
Saturday October 3, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Room 2
Lone wolf? Independent spirit? You're not alone! More and more authors begin their publishing careers with something non-traditional. Come learn the whys and why nots of going the indie press or self-published route to publication.
Speakers
avatar for Matthew Rollins
avatar for Shawn Warner
Saturday October 3, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Room 2
  Business

3:10pm CDT

Banter and Barbs
Saturday October 3, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Room 5
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...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Dana Swift

Dana Swift

Dana started making up fantasy worlds when she was eleven years old and hasn’t stopped since. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned degrees in English and Advertising. Dana currently lives in Austin with her husband and her two dogs whose... Read More →
avatar for Andy C. Naranjo
Saturday October 3, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Room 5
  Craft

3:10pm CDT

Character Driven Fiction
Saturday October 3, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Room 6
Discover how to use your main character's goal, motivation, and conflict to drive and enhance the plot of your novel.
Speakers
avatar for Madelyn Knecht
Saturday October 3, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Room 6
  Craft

3:10pm CDT

Me Write Pretty One Day
Saturday October 3, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Room 1
How do some authors do it? In just a few sentences, they evoke a kaleidoscope of emotions, set the mood, or draw an entire character. After dissecting the work of some incredible authors, this class will exercise their own writing abilities by workshopping a few underdeveloped passages into powerful ones. In the process, you’ll fill your sentence structure toolbox to improve your flow, style,...
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Speakers
avatar for Brooke Fossey

Brooke Fossey

Brooke Fossey was once an aerospace engineer with a secret clearance before she traded it all in for motherhood and writing. She’s a past president and an honorary lifetime member of DFW Writers’ Workshop. Her work can be found in numerous publications, including Ruminate Mag... Read More →
avatar for Helen Dent

Helen Dent

Helen Dent's career as a writer began at age nine, when her grandfather paid her a dollar a page for what turned into quite a lengthy story. She studied monster theory (among other things) in graduate school, taught English at a Chinese university, and toured the Scottish Hebrides... Read More →
Saturday October 3, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Room 1
  Craft

3:10pm CDT

✅ Writing in the Margins
Saturday October 3, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Room 3
We've all seen how writing looks in the movies—aesthetic writing desk, soothing soundtracks, and perfect weather. But what happens when real life (neurodivergence, disabilities, parenthood, night shifts, etc.) gets in the way? This session explores practical ways to build a writing practice that fits your brain, your schedule, and your reality so you can hit your writing goals.Is this your first...
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Speakers
avatar for Madeline Warthan
Saturday October 3, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Room 3
  Craft

3:10pm CDT

Trust No One: Building Dread and Suspense in Thrillers and Mysteries
Saturday October 3, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Room E-F
Explore how thriller writers create unease, escalate tension, and keep readers anticipating what might happen next. Panelists will discuss pacing, atmosphere, foreshadowing, psychological pressure, and the careful release of information that turns danger into dread.
Speakers
avatar for Katie Bernet

Katie Bernet

Katie is The New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Indie bestselling author of Beth Is Dead. She’s an award-winning creative director and a long-standing member of the DFW Writers’ Workshop. As the oldest of three sisters, she’s a diehard fan of Little Women.... Read More →
avatar for Larry Enmon
avatar for Stacey Graham

Stacey Graham

Stacey Graham is a literary agent with 3 Seas Literary Agency.

Stacey has worked both sides of the literary door as a humor writer with the wickedly funny Zombie Tarot, screenwriter, ghostwriter, short story writer, and specializes in offbeat nonfiction.

She loves working with writers at all stages of their careers, representing talented authors and illustrators from around the globe in picture books, middle grade, romance, graphic novels, and nonfiction. She is a member of the Association of American Literary Agents... Read More →
avatar for Brian Tracey
Saturday October 3, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Room E-F
  Panel

3:10pm CDT

So, Here's My Problem: Querying
Saturday October 3, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Room 4
Everyone gets stuck. Ask published writers and industry professionals how they’ve worked through similar problems.

We have several So Here’s My Problem sessions, each covering a different topic.
This one focuses on Query Letters.
Speakers
avatar for Rosemary Clement
avatar for Sally Hamilton
avatar for Lauren Lanza Osias
avatar for Rebecca Seifert

Rebecca Seifert

Rebecca Seifert is an author living in Dallas, Texas, and the 2026 DFW Writers’ Conference Director.
Saturday October 3, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Room 4
  Read & Critique

4:10pm CDT

Book Signing: Helen Dent, Brooke Fossey, Matthew Rollins, Shawn Warner
Saturday October 3, 2026 4:10pm - 4:25pm CDT
Bookstore

Speakers
avatar for Brooke Fossey

Brooke Fossey

Brooke Fossey was once an aerospace engineer with a secret clearance before she traded it all in for motherhood and writing. She’s a past president and an honorary lifetime member of DFW Writers’ Workshop. Her work can be found in numerous publications, including Ruminate Mag... Read More →
avatar for Helen Dent

Helen Dent

Helen Dent's career as a writer began at age nine, when her grandfather paid her a dollar a page for what turned into quite a lengthy story. She studied monster theory (among other things) in graduate school, taught English at a Chinese university, and toured the Scottish Hebrides... Read More →
avatar for Matthew Rollins
avatar for Shawn Warner
Saturday October 3, 2026 4:10pm - 4:25pm CDT
Bookstore
  Book Signing

4:10pm CDT

✅ Long Story Short: Tips On Writing The Synopsis
Saturday October 3, 2026 4:10pm - 5:00pm CDT
Room 5
If you’ve struggled to explain your many thousand word book in a few hundred words, you’re not alone! This workshop will cover tried and true tricks on getting the most important story beats into your synopsis.  

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

Speakers
avatar for Eva Scalzo

Eva Scalzo

Eva Scalzo is the Agency Director and Senior Literary Agent at Speilburg Literary. A lifelong romance reader—ever since discovering Sweet Valley High in the fifth grade—she proudly inherited her grandmother’s collection of vintage Harlequins and never looked back.

She gravitates toward voice-driven YA and romance with heart, humor, and hope—stories where falling in love leads to self-discovery. She loves high-concept premises, lush and escapist settings, sharp banter, and joyful tones that embrace emotional depth. Eva actively... Read More →
Saturday October 3, 2026 4:10pm - 5:00pm CDT
Room 5
  Business

4:10pm CDT

Anatomy of the Unreliable Narrator
Saturday October 3, 2026 4:10pm - 5:00pm CDT
Room 2
We all love a good anti-hero character, but what about the unreliable narrator? What IS an unreliable narrator and why would a writer choose that approach? This class helps writers understand the purpose of the unreliable narrator by looking at successful examples in literature and film and dissecting the methods and outcomes that make it such a compelling point of view.
Speakers
avatar for Jalyn Renae Fiske
Saturday October 3, 2026 4:10pm - 5:00pm CDT
Room 2
  Craft

4:10pm CDT

The Editorial Escape Room: Curse on a Doomed Draft
Saturday October 3, 2026 4:10pm - 5:00pm CDT
Room 3
Something has gone terribly wrong with this manuscript. Legend has it the draft is cursed—and only a team of sharp-eyed writers can break the spell. In this hands-on, fast-paced workshop, participants will work in small groups to solve a series of editorial “puzzles” designed to rescue a story before time runs out. Equal parts craft lesson, puzzle room, and collaborative chaos, this session...
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Speakers
avatar for Aubrey Green
Saturday October 3, 2026 4:10pm - 5:00pm CDT
Room 3
  Craft

4:10pm CDT

Turn That Spark into a Blaze: 7 Steps to Crafting Compelling Conflict
Saturday October 3, 2026 4:10pm - 5:00pm CDT
Room 6
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...
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Speakers
avatar for Dawn Alexander
Saturday October 3, 2026 4:10pm - 5:00pm CDT
Room 6
  Craft

4:10pm CDT

Writing for Kids These Days
Saturday October 3, 2026 4:10pm - 5:00pm CDT
Room 1
WRITING FOR KIDS THESE DAYS examines current reading/publishing trends in the YA spaces through research data and anecdotes from 7th grade readers. This class is designed to equip authors with the tools needed to create a youthful engaging voice to write a story “kids these days” are interested in reading.
Speakers
avatar for Meg Blasingame
Saturday October 3, 2026 4:10pm - 5:00pm CDT
Room 1
  Craft

4:10pm CDT

Here Be Dragons: Making Exposition in Your Fantasy Invisible
Saturday October 3, 2026 4:10pm - 5:00pm CDT
Room E-F
How do you pitch fantasy without explaining the whole world? How much does a reader truly need to understand in the opening chapters? What are your favorite ways to reveal worldbuilding through action rather than explanation? What are the clearest signs that exposition has become an info dump? When can dialogue carry exposition successfully, and when does it sound like characters explaining things...
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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 →
avatar for Sally Hamilton
avatar for Kate Khavari
avatar for Chelsea Moyer

Chelsea Moyer

Chelsea Moyer is a literary agent with the Raven Quill Literary Agency.

She loves genre fiction (especially mashups), speculative fiction, as well as contemporary. She's looking for stories that are fantastical, fierce, and filled with “big feelings" in Middle Grade, YA, and Adult categories. Prior to Raven Quill, Chelsea graduated with her M... Read More →
Saturday October 3, 2026 4:10pm - 5:00pm CDT
Room E-F
  Panel

4:10pm CDT

Read & Critique
Saturday October 3, 2026 4:10pm - 5:00pm CDT
Room 4
Read a short piece of your writing, then get feedback from published writers and industry professionals. 
Speakers
avatar for Karoline Chapman
avatar for A Lee Martinez
avatar for Sarah Mensinga
Saturday October 3, 2026 4:10pm - 5:00pm CDT
Room 4
  Read & Critique

7:00pm CDT

Cocktail Reception
Saturday October 3, 2026 7:00pm - 10:00pm CDT
Hurst Conference Center
Join us in the Hilton Garden Inn grand ballroom for the Saturday night cocktail party. This is your opportunity to rub elbows with our literary agents in a relaxed atmosphere. Listen for the cowbell for your chance at door prizes!
Saturday October 3, 2026 7:00pm - 10:00pm CDT
Hurst Conference Center 1601 Campus Dr, Hurst, TX 76054
  Event
 
Sunday, October 4
 

7:30am CDT

Conference Doors Open
Sunday October 4, 2026 7:30am - 5:15pm CDT
Hurst Conference Center

Sunday October 4, 2026 7:30am - 5:15pm CDT
Hurst Conference Center 1601 Campus Dr, Hurst, TX 76054
  Event

8:00am CDT

Dawn Of The Gong! The Query Gong Show
Sunday October 4, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Ballroom
It’s one of the highlights of DFWCon. What do agents really think about your query letter? Host Russell C. Connor will be joined by George Goldthwaite, who will read letters at random in his velvety voice. Author names will be withheld, so the whole ballroom isn't staring at you. A panel of agents will listen, and they’ll bang a gong when they've had enough. Three gongs and the letter is out....
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Speakers
avatar for Russell C Connor

Russell C Connor

Russell C. Connor has been writing horror since the age of five. His short fiction has appeared in such publications as Black Petals Magazine, Alien Skin, Burial Day, Sanitarium, Beware the Dark, and the Stupefying Stories Showcase, as well as the anthologies Roadkill: Tex... Read More →
avatar for George Goldwaithe
Sunday October 4, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Ballroom
  Event

9:00am CDT

Publishing 101
Sunday October 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 5
How publishing works: basic jobs, P&Ls, advances, contracts, royalties, marketing, and publicity.
Speakers
avatar for Kevin O'Connor

Kevin O'Connor

Kevin O’Connor has always worked at the intersection of business and creative. As an agent, Kevin takes on children's projects (Ziggy Marley's Pajammin') and serious adult nonfiction, Who We Are by Jeffery Robinson, with a forward by Tom Hanks.

Kevin is the founding director of The Center for Nonfiction, a Columbia University Community Scholars Project dedicated to helping journalists and scholars understand the formal needs of trade publishers. He is an adjunct professor at NYU and currently working on a maste... Read More →
Sunday October 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 5
  Business

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

9:00am CDT

On the Same Page: The Author-Agent Partnership
Sunday October 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room E-F
Exploring the author/agent relationship and what to look for in an agent.
Speakers
avatar for Sydney Applegate
avatar for Kelly Dyksterhouse

Kelly Dyksterhouse

Kelly Dyksterhouse is a literary agent with The Tobias Literary Agency.

She represents picture books, middle grade and young adult, both fiction and nonfiction, as well as graphic novels. She also represents illustrators.

For middle grade, she loves books with ensemble casts, books about good kids making bad decisions and then having to get themselves out of it, quests and hijinks, spooky stories and mysteries, and historical novels that feel relevant. For YA, Kelly is looking for much of... Read More →
avatar for Brooke Mondor

Brooke Mondor

Brooke Mondor is a literary agent with Miller Bowers Griffin Literary Management. She previously interned at Folio Literary Management. While she primarily represents non-fiction writers, she is excited to build her adult fiction list.

In fiction, Brooke is particularly intereste... Read More →
avatar for Dana Swift

Dana Swift

Dana started making up fantasy worlds when she was eleven years old and hasn’t stopped since. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned degrees in English and Advertising. Dana currently lives in Austin with her husband and her two dogs whose... Read More →
avatar for Haley Warrington

Haley Warrington

Haley Warrington is a iterary agent with The Booker Albert Literary Agency.

Haley is a fan of all things romance—bring the heat or leave it at the door. She’s also interested in representing Adult or New Adult fiction. Some of her favorite novels include The Match by Sara... Read More →
avatar for Madeline Warthan
Sunday October 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room E-F
  Panel

9:00am CDT

Read & Critique
Sunday October 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 4
Read a short piece of your writing, then get feedback from published writers and industry professionals. 
Speakers
avatar for Laura DuPuy
avatar for ChristaCarol Jones
avatar for Hayley Bell Parker
avatar for BJ Sloan
Sunday October 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 4
  Read & Critique

10:00am CDT

Book Signing: Duygu Balan, RC Bramhall, Andy C. Naranjo, Dana Swift
Sunday October 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Bookstore

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 →
avatar for R.C. Bramhall
avatar for Andy C. Naranjo
avatar for Dana Swift

Dana Swift

Dana started making up fantasy worlds when she was eleven years old and hasn’t stopped since. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned degrees in English and Advertising. Dana currently lives in Austin with her husband and her two dogs whose... Read More →
Sunday October 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Bookstore
  Book Signing

10:00am CDT

The Art of the BookBub Deal
Sunday October 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 1
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.
Speakers
avatar for Russell C Connor

Russell C Connor

Russell C. Connor has been writing horror since the age of five. His short fiction has appeared in such publications as Black Petals Magazine, Alien Skin, Burial Day, Sanitarium, Beware the Dark, and the Stupefying Stories Showcase, as well as the anthologies Roadkill: Tex... Read More →
Sunday October 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 1
  Business

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

10:00am CDT

Queerly Beloved: LGBTQIA+ Romance
Sunday October 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room E-F
Why does queer romance matter?  Does every queer romance need to address homophobia? How do you balance queer joy with queer reality? How do you avoid sterotypes?  Who is "allowed" to write queer stories? What are the trends with queer romance in the industry? 
Speakers
avatar for Nikki Carrero

Nikki Carrero

Nikki is a literary agent with The Rights Factory and has a background in education and in publishing.

Her love for the written word began when her grandmother brought her to the bookstore as a kid to pick out new books. She's currently looking for adult or young adult fiction in the following genres: mystery, thriller, romance, romantic suspense, magical realism, women’s... Read More →
avatar for Christine Goss

Christine Goss

Christine Goss is a literary agent with FinePrint Literary Management.

She graduated from Lake Forest College with a BA in communications. Formerly a sales representative, her skills pair well with her love of reading and story development. As an author herself, the craft of writing is very important to her when she looks at manuscripts... Read More →
avatar for Madelyn Knecht
avatar for Eva Scalzo

Eva Scalzo

Eva Scalzo is the Agency Director and Senior Literary Agent at Speilburg Literary. A lifelong romance reader—ever since discovering Sweet Valley High in the fifth grade—she proudly inherited her grandmother’s collection of vintage Harlequins and never looked back.

She gravitates toward voice-driven YA and romance with heart, humor, and hope—stories where falling in love leads to self-discovery. She loves high-concept premises, lush and escapist settings, sharp banter, and joyful tones that embrace emotional depth. Eva actively... Read More →
Sunday October 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room E-F
  Panel

10:00am CDT

So Here's My Problem: Fiction
Sunday October 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 4
Everyone gets stuck. Ask published writers and industry professionals how they’ve worked through similar problems.

We have several So Here’s My Problem sessions, each covering a different topic.
This one focuses on Fiction.
Speakers
avatar for Moon Abbas
avatar for A Lee Martinez
avatar for Kayla Olson
avatar for Brian Tracey
Sunday October 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 4
  Read & Critique

11:00am CDT

Book Signing: Kay Goodnight, Rosemary Clement
Sunday October 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Bookstore

Speakers
avatar for Rosemary Clement
avatar for Kay Goodnight
Sunday October 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Bookstore
  Book Signing

11:00am CDT

Welcome to the Indie Author Trenches
Sunday October 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 1
The independent publishing basics, practical tips, and tricks to help you get your book out into the world.
Speakers
avatar for ChristaCarol Jones
Sunday October 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 1
  Business

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...
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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...
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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

11:00am CDT

Truth Be Told: Memoir And Creative Nonfiction
Sunday October 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room E-F
Explore how writers shape lived experience, memory, and research into compelling narratives. Panelists will discuss finding the heart of a true story, balancing honesty with craft, handling gaps or conflicting memories, and turning real events into meaningful memoir and creative nonfiction.
Speakers
avatar for Michael Carr

Michael Carr

Michael Carr is a literary agent with the Veritas Literary Agency.

With a strong background in editing and writing, Michael enjoys teaching at workshops and conferences to help develop emerging writers. He is fluent in Spanish and speaks conversational French. Before joining Veritas, Michael had professions as diverse as programming simulators... Read More →
avatar for Harry Hall

Harry Hall

Harry Hall spent 11 years traveling the country, researching an obscure group of a handful of women athletic pioneers who, 150 years ago, made their own rules and set standards that even today, seem impossible. Although around only a few years, the pedestriennes contributed to the... Read More →
avatar for Christina Lopez

Christina Lopez

Christina Lopez is an editor with St.Martin's Press, where she started as an intern. 

She's passionate about giving a voice to writers of underrepresented backgrounds, with interests in adult and YA commercial fiction, women’s fiction, historical fiction, romance/rom-com, speculative fiction/ magical realism, and some non-fiction focused on pop culture and... Read More →
avatar for Carrie Turner
Sunday October 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room E-F
  Panel

11:00am CDT

Read & Critique
Sunday October 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 4
Read a short piece of your writing, then get feedback from published writers and industry professionals. 
Speakers
avatar for Dana Swift

Dana Swift

Dana started making up fantasy worlds when she was eleven years old and hasn’t stopped since. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned degrees in English and Advertising. Dana currently lives in Austin with her husband and her two dogs whose... Read More →
avatar for Katie Bernet

Katie Bernet

Katie is The New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Indie bestselling author of Beth Is Dead. She’s an award-winning creative director and a long-standing member of the DFW Writers’ Workshop. As the oldest of three sisters, she’s a diehard fan of Little Women.... Read More →
avatar for Lauren Lanza Osias
avatar for Sally Hamilton
Sunday October 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 4
  Read & Critique

12:00pm CDT

Lunch: Keynote Speaker Natalie Sue
Sunday October 4, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
Ballroom
DFWCon Director Rebecca Seifert will host a Q&A with internationally bestselling author Natalie Sue. Natalie's debut novel, I Hope This Finds You Well, was the winner of the 2025 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour and the Alberta Literary Award for Fiction, and was a finalist for the Amazon Canada First Novel Award. Her latest book, You’ll Love It Here, was released August...
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Speakers
avatar for Natalie Sue

Natalie Sue

Natalie Sue is the Canadian internationally bestselling and award-winning author of her debut novel, I Hope This Finds You Well. She is of Iranian and British descent.

Her latest book, You’ll Love It Here, was released August 11, 2026.

I Hope This Finds You Well was the winner of... Read More →
avatar for Rebecca Seifert

Rebecca Seifert

Rebecca Seifert is an author living in Dallas, Texas, and the 2026 DFW Writers’ Conference Director.
Sunday October 4, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
Ballroom
  Event

1:40pm CDT

Book Signing: Natalie Sue, Matthew Pitt, Harry Hall
Sunday October 4, 2026 1:40pm - 2:30pm CDT
Bookstore

Speakers
avatar for Harry Hall

Harry Hall

Harry Hall spent 11 years traveling the country, researching an obscure group of a handful of women athletic pioneers who, 150 years ago, made their own rules and set standards that even today, seem impossible. Although around only a few years, the pedestriennes contributed to the... Read More →
avatar for Matthew Pitt
avatar for Natalie Sue

Natalie Sue

Natalie Sue is the Canadian internationally bestselling and award-winning author of her debut novel, I Hope This Finds You Well. She is of Iranian and British descent.

Her latest book, You’ll Love It Here, was released August 11, 2026.

I Hope This Finds You Well was the winner of... Read More →
Sunday October 4, 2026 1:40pm - 2:30pm CDT
Bookstore
  Book Signing

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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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

1:40pm CDT

Own The Process: Building a Career in Self-Publishing
Sunday October 4, 2026 1:40pm - 2:30pm CDT
Room E-F
Panelists will discuss producing a professional book, finding readers, managing the business side of authorship, and creating a sustainable path that fits each writer’s goals.
Speakers
avatar for Russell C Connor

Russell C Connor

Russell C. Connor has been writing horror since the age of five. His short fiction has appeared in such publications as Black Petals Magazine, Alien Skin, Burial Day, Sanitarium, Beware the Dark, and the Stupefying Stories Showcase, as well as the anthologies Roadkill: Tex... Read More →
avatar for Kay Goodnight
avatar for ChristaCarol Jones
avatar for Matthew Rollins
Sunday October 4, 2026 1:40pm - 2:30pm CDT
Room E-F
  Panel

1:40pm CDT

So Here's My Problem: Querying
Sunday October 4, 2026 1:40pm - 2:30pm CDT
Room 4
Everyone gets stuck. Ask published writers and industry professionals how they’ve worked through similar problems.

We have several So Here’s My Problem sessions, each covering a different topic.
This one focuses on Query Letters.
Speakers
avatar for Brooke Fossey

Brooke Fossey

Brooke Fossey was once an aerospace engineer with a secret clearance before she traded it all in for motherhood and writing. She’s a past president and an honorary lifetime member of DFW Writers’ Workshop. Her work can be found in numerous publications, including Ruminate Mag... Read More →
avatar for Leslie Lutz
Sunday October 4, 2026 1:40pm - 2:30pm CDT
Room 4
  Read & Critique

2:40pm CDT

Book Signing: Amanda Arista, CCS Jones, Aleese Lin
Sunday October 4, 2026 2:40pm - 3:30pm CDT
Bookstore

Speakers
avatar for Amanda Arista
avatar for ChristaCarol Jones
avatar for Aleese Lin
Sunday October 4, 2026 2:40pm - 3:30pm CDT
Bookstore
  Book Signing

2:40pm CDT

How to Self-Publish with Amazon: From Start to Finish
Sunday October 4, 2026 2:40pm - 3:30pm CDT
Room 2
Take the guesswork out of Amazon’s KDP publishing platform with this "start-to-finish" technical walkthrough. We’ll cover everything from interior formatting, cover design, ISBNs category selection, and the final upload process. Perfect for the author ready to take full control of their publishing career and see their book live on the world's largest retailer.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Kimberlee Mendoza
Sunday October 4, 2026 2:40pm - 3:30pm CDT
Room 2
  Business

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

2:40pm CDT

The Speed Editing Event
Sunday October 4, 2026 2:40pm - 3:30pm CDT
Room 6
(capped: 10 submissions, viewers welcome) Is your work ready to be submitted? Have you crossed your T’s and dotted your I’s? Come join Helen Dent and Brooke Fossey to find out. Submit up to three double-spaced pages of your best (or most troublesome) work and watch as they do a fast and furious line-level edit. Beyond writing convention, you’ll get a fly-on-the-wall opportunity to see how...
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Speakers
avatar for Helen Dent

Helen Dent

Helen Dent's career as a writer began at age nine, when her grandfather paid her a dollar a page for what turned into quite a lengthy story. She studied monster theory (among other things) in graduate school, taught English at a Chinese university, and toured the Scottish Hebrides... Read More →
avatar for Brooke Fossey

Brooke Fossey

Brooke Fossey was once an aerospace engineer with a secret clearance before she traded it all in for motherhood and writing. She’s a past president and an honorary lifetime member of DFW Writers’ Workshop. Her work can be found in numerous publications, including Ruminate Mag... Read More →
Sunday October 4, 2026 2:40pm - 3:30pm CDT
Room 6
  Event

2:40pm CDT

The Young and the Restless: Exploring the Heart of Young Adult Fiction
Sunday October 4, 2026 2:40pm - 3:30pm CDT
Room E-F
What makes young adult fiction resonate with teen readers? From authentic voice and emotional immediacy to identity, relationships, and the uncertainty of becoming, panelists will discuss writing young protagonists with depth, balancing universal themes with distinctly teen experiences, and creating stories that honor who young people are while imagining who they might become.
Speakers
avatar for Olivia Emerick

Olivia Emerick

Olivia Emerick is a literary agent with the Metamorphosis Literary Agency.

A Boston College graduate with a background in English and Classics, Olivia has always had her nose in a book. With her experience in the literary and theatrical spaces, she values collaboration, communication, and human stories. She is passionate about advancing authors... Read More →
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 →
avatar for Anna Lindsey
avatar for Dana Swift

Dana Swift

Dana started making up fantasy worlds when she was eleven years old and hasn’t stopped since. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned degrees in English and Advertising. Dana currently lives in Austin with her husband and her two dogs whose... Read More →
Sunday October 4, 2026 2:40pm - 3:30pm CDT
Room E-F
  Panel

2:40pm CDT

Read & Critique
Sunday October 4, 2026 2:40pm - 3:30pm CDT
TBA
Read a short piece of your writing, then get feedback from published writers and industry professionals. 
Speakers
avatar for Matthew Rollins
avatar for Brian Tracey
avatar for Caitlin Jacobs
Sunday October 4, 2026 2:40pm - 3:30pm CDT
TBA
  Read & Critique

3:40pm CDT

Book Signing: Jalyn Renae Fiske, Leslie Lutz, Dr. Kimberlee Mendoza
Sunday October 4, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Bookstore

Speakers
avatar for Jalyn Renae Fiske
avatar for Leslie Lutz
avatar for Dr. Kimberlee Mendoza
Sunday October 4, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Bookstore
  Book Signing

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...
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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...
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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...
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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

3:40pm CDT

✅ Let's Chat: An Overview & Celebration of DFWCON 2026!
Sunday October 4, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Room E-F
Whoo, it's been a long, exciting weekend at DFWCon 2026! So let's celebrate and debrief. This class is a community open forum discussion of what attendees learned at DFWCon, what marketing and craft tactics they plan on implementing, and overall the biggest take-aways and celebrations of the art of writing. Consider it a nice wrap-up catch all, where you can ask Dana Swift any last questions about...
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Speakers
avatar for Dana Swift

Dana Swift

Dana started making up fantasy worlds when she was eleven years old and hasn’t stopped since. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned degrees in English and Advertising. Dana currently lives in Austin with her husband and her two dogs whose... Read More →
Sunday October 4, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Room E-F
  Event

3:40pm CDT

So Here's My Problem: Fiction
Sunday October 4, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Room 4
Everyone gets stuck. Ask published writers and industry professionals how they’ve worked through similar problems.

We have several So Here’s My Problem sessions, each covering a different topic.
This one focuses on Fiction.
Speakers
avatar for BJ Sloan
avatar for Laura DuPuy
avatar for Mark Dye
Sunday October 4, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Room 4
  Read & Critique
 

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