Loading…
Venue: Room 3 clear filter
Saturday, October 3
 

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 primary expertise in this regard centers around fantasy, I can and will include topics that cover the differences between the YA and adult genres overall, regardless of genre.)
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

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 their story through their narrative position.

Is this your first writers conference? Classes with a ✅ in the title like this one are especially good for newcomers.
Speakers
avatar for Meg Blasingame
Saturday October 3, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT
Room 3
  Craft

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

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

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 PRIZES!!!

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


Speakers
avatar for Sarah Mensinga
Saturday October 3, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 3
  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 writers conference? Classes with a ✅ in the title like this one are especially good for newcomers.
Speakers
avatar for Madeline Warthan
Saturday October 3, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
Room 3
  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 transforms the editing process into an adventure. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned writer, you’ll sharpen your editorial instincts, learn how to identify (and fix) common manuscript mishaps, and have more fun editing than you thought possible.
Break the curse. Save the story. Escape the draft — if you can.
Speakers
avatar for Aubrey Green
Saturday October 3, 2026 4:10pm - 5:00pm CDT
Room 3
  Craft
 
Sunday, October 4
 

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

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

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

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

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

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
 

Get help with the event

Contact event planner Event login
View support guides Find upcoming events
Create an event you'd love to attend!
Explore why organizers choose Sched • Success stories
Event App • Event scheduling • Event registration • Event ticketing • Sched forms • Call for papers • Badges • Conferences
© 2026. SCHED LLC - All rights reserved - Helping events since 2008
Meeting Planning Software • Privacy • Terms
Share Modal

Share this link via

Or copy link

Filter sessions
Apply filters to sessions.
Friday, October 2
Saturday, October 3
Sunday, October 4
Ballroom
Bookstore
Hilton Garden Inn Atrium
Hurst Conference Center
Room 1
Room 2
Room 3
Room 4
Room 5
Room 6
Room E-F
TBA
  • Book Signing
  • Business
  • Craft
  • Event
  • Panel
  • Read & Critique
  • Skill Level
  • ✅ New Attendees
  • Popular