2024 Colorado Gold Writers Conference: Full Schedule

Welcome, writers! If you have any questions about the schedule or the conference at large, please refer to the conference website at rmfw.org/conference or email conference@rmfw.org.

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8:00am MDT

Novels 101 - Master Class

Friday September 27, 2024 8:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Conference Room III

Inspired by Discovering Story Magic, developed by Robin Perini and Laura Baker. Great stories have 12 elements this workshop identifies and draws together to create compelling fiction. Participants are encouraged to bring their own work-in-progress to use as a basis for applying the material.

Speakers

Sharon Mignerey

Author

Sharon Mignerey is one of the founding members of RMFW, which has been her writing home since the beginning. She is the author of thirteen novels in romance and women's fiction, and one non-fiction title. She holds an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction. A frequent presenter at local and... Read More →

novel writing 101 worksheet mignerey pdf

Novel Writing 101 Mignerey pdf

Friday September 27, 2024 8:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Conference Room III

Conference Room III, Pre-pay Only

Topic Restricted Event
Subject Craft

8:00am MDT

Adrenaline Rush: How to Write Suspense Fiction - Master Class

Friday September 27, 2024 8:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Conference Room VI

John Gilstrap presents a four-hour-long seminar on the construction of intelligent suspense fiction. Through lively lectures and writing exercises, students get a peek at the skeleton that gives structure to the stories that keep us reading long into the night.

Speakers

John Gilstrap

NYT Bestselling Author

When John Gilstrap's first novel, Nathan's Run, hit the market in 1996, it set the literary world on fire. Publication rights sold in 23 countries, the movie rights were scooped up at auction by Warner Brothers, and John changed professions. A safety engineer by training and education... Read More →

Friday September 27, 2024 8:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Conference Room VI

Conference Room VI, Pre-pay Only

Topic Restricted Event
Subject Genre, Craft

1:30pm MDT

Horror Comedy: Make Your Readers Laugh & Scream

Friday September 27, 2024 1:30pm - 2:20pm MDT

Conference Room VII

Horror and comedy are both about tension, the build up and the payoff. When we meld the two together, we get the fear of the scare and the release of the laugh. Using recent TV and movies as examples, we’ll walk through how to write horror comedy. Learn to leave your readers terrified and giggling.

Speakers

Angela Sylvaine

Author

Angela Sylvaine is a self-proclaimed cheerful goth who writes speculative fiction and poetry. Her debut novel, Frost Bite, a ‘90s sci-fi horror comedy, and her debut short story collection, The Dead Spot: Stories of Lost Girls are out now. Her short fiction and poetry have appeared... Read More →

Horror Comedy Make Your Readers Laugh and Scream Handout pdf

Friday September 27, 2024 1:30pm - 2:20pm MDT
Conference Room VII

Conference Rom VII

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre, Craft

1:30pm MDT

Unsilent Screams: Maintaining Voice and POV in Action Scenes

Friday September 27, 2024 1:30pm - 2:20pm MDT

Conference Room II

Don’t let your character lose their voice while running from monsters! We’ll go beyond the basics of good action scenes and delve into how we balance action, narration, and perspective as well as use transitions to keep the momentum up.

Speakers

Kendra Griffin

Author

Kendra Griffin is a professor, developmental editor, and author who has never met a good dog or a good underdog she didn’t love. Kendra has an MA in literature, teaches creative writing for Aims Community College, is a member of RMFW and Borderlands Writers, and edits for Status... Read More →

Unsilent ScreamsRMFW24handout pdf

Friday September 27, 2024 1:30pm - 2:20pm MDT
Conference Room II

Conference Room II

Topic Workshop
Audience Intermediate
Subject Craft
Area Hybrid

1:30pm MDT

Worldbuilding Through Combat

Friday September 27, 2024 1:30pm - 2:20pm MDT

Conference Room III

Conflict is the backbone of storytelling, and that building tension often erupts into fights. Learn how to utilize combat to reveal more of your world, its characters, and their values.

Speakers

J.E. Zarnofsky

Author

J.E. Zarnofsky is a writer, costumer, larper, and devotee of dark and heartfelt fantasy. Her debut novel, Tides of Blood, will be published in 2024 by Raven Canticle Press. Apart from her day job in software, she can be observed in her natural habitats of coffee shops, ice rinks... Read More →

Worldbuilding Through Combat pdf

Friday September 27, 2024 1:30pm - 2:20pm MDT
Conference Room III

Conference Room III

Topic Workshop
Audience Advanced
Subject Craft

1:30pm MDT

Written in The Blood

Friday September 27, 2024 1:30pm - 2:20pm MDT

Conference Room IV

Blood spatter analysis reveals information. An investigator may detect participants’ locations, weapons, direction of travel of actors, suspect’s handedness, and the ‘excitement’ of victim. This workshop will primarily focus on the basics revealed to investigators via observation.

Speakers

Laura Manuel

Retired Law Enforcement Officer

Laura Manuel was a law enforcement officer (LEO) for 21 years in Virginia & Colorado. She was a patrol officer and later an investigator in Person's crimes. Her B.A. was from the University of Michigan, M.A. and Ph.D. from UNC in Psychology. She taught Psychology and Criminal Justice... Read More →

Friday September 27, 2024 1:30pm - 2:20pm MDT
Conference Room IV

Conference Room IV

Topic Workshop
Audience Advanced
Subject Genre, Craft

1:30pm MDT

Stories in a Flash

Friday September 27, 2024 1:30pm - 3:20pm MDT

Conference Room V

Flash Fiction challenges writers to include all elements of a satisfying story but at a greatly reduced word count, leaving consumers with a whirlwind read and a memorable ending. By the end of this workshop, participants will create a work of fiction worthy of editing for possible publication.

Speakers

Laurel McHargue

Author

Laurel McHargue—a West Point grad raised near Boston—lives and laughs and publishes and podcasts in the breathtaking beauty of Colorado's Rocky Mountains. After years as an Army Officer, a mother of two sons, and an English teacher, Laurel abandoned paid employment to concentrate... Read More →

McHargue Flash Fiction Citation List RMFW 2024 Gold Conference docx

McHargue Flash Fiction Decisions to Make RMFW 2024 Gold Conference docx

McHargue Flash Fiction Genre Definitions RMFW 2024 Gold Conference docx

McHargue Flash Fiction Sentence Rewrites RMFW 2024 Gold Conference docx

McHargue Flash Fiction NYCMidnight Prompts RMFW 2024 Gold Conference docx

McHargue Flash Fiction Words to Avoid RMFW 2024 Gold Conference docx

Friday September 27, 2024 1:30pm - 3:20pm MDT
Conference Room V

Conference Room V

Topic Workshop
Audience Advanced
Subject Genre, Craft
Area Hybrid

3:30pm MDT

Writing about Trauma Without Triggering the Victim

Friday September 27, 2024 3:30pm - 4:20pm MDT

Conference Room I

Reading about violence and sexual assault is difficult for readers. As authors, we hope to draw readers closer to our characters and their pain. But how can we create empathy with our readers without distressing them?In this workshop, we will discuss non-graphic approaches to triggering content.

Speakers

Nanette Gamily

Author

Nanette Gamily’s debut Native American crime fiction novel, CRY FOR THE CHILD, is represented by Josh Getlzer at HG Literary. She’s an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation, a Tin House Finalist, a Regis University MFA graduate, and a guest blogger for Rocky Mountain Fiction... Read More →

Friday September 27, 2024 3:30pm - 4:20pm MDT
Conference Room I

Conference Room I

Topic Workshop
Audience Intermediate
Subject Craft, Genre

3:30pm MDT

The 5 Sentence Method

Friday September 27, 2024 3:30pm - 5:20pm MDT

Conference Room V

Curious about the 5 Sentence plotting method sweeping TikTok? This plotting approach is perfect for pantsers who want to plot, or plotters who want to cut back on extensive outlines. Learn how to choose your book’s 5 sentences, then tie them to word count goals for flawless pacing. Simple and easy!

Speakers

Rebecca Thorne

Author

Rebecca Thorne has published both traditionally and independently, and uses her social media platform to educate about publishing and writing. She is best known for her sapphic cozy fantasy novel "Can't Spell Treason Without Tea." https://www.tiktok.com/@rebecca.thorne

The 5 Sentence Method Write Up docx

Friday September 27, 2024 3:30pm - 5:20pm MDT
Conference Room V

Conference Room V

Topic Workshop
Audience Advanced
Subject Craft
Area Hybrid

4:30pm MDT

Intimacy, Consent & Sex in Fiction

Friday September 27, 2024 4:30pm - 5:20pm MDT

Conference Room II

Are you interested in writing better romantic relationships? In this session, you will learn why love, intimacy, and consent go hand in hand to build healthier, happier characters your readers will care about.

Speakers

Rachael Bush

Author

Rachael Bush published her fourth book, Love on Location, with The Wild Rose Press in 2018 under her pen name, September Roberts. As September, she writes romance that's smoking hot and always happy ever after. As Rachael, she writes the Botany for Everyone series, because everyone... Read More →

Intimacy consent and sex in fiction handout pdf

Friday September 27, 2024 4:30pm - 5:20pm MDT
Conference Room II

Conference Room II

Topic Workshop
Audience Intermediate
Subject Genre, Craft
Area Hybrid

4:30pm MDT

Level Up Your Writing Craft

Friday September 27, 2024 4:30pm - 5:20pm MDT

Conference Room VII

The first step toward writing success is not brand or publishing choice, but producing a story that engages, satisfies, and delights readers. Let’s look at five solid techniques to take our writing to the next level, avoiding common pitfalls and separating our fiction from the common run.

Speakers

Carol Berg

Award-Winning Author

Carol Berg writes epic, mythic, and adventure fantasy novels and short fiction under her own name and her pseudonym, Cate Glass. Her eighteen novels have won national and international awards, including four Colorado Book Awards and the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature... Read More →

Friday September 27, 2024 4:30pm - 5:20pm MDT
Conference Room VII

Conference Room VII

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Craft