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.

arrow_back View All Dates

8:00am MDT

The Right Mind For Self-Publishing

Saturday September 28, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am MDT

Conference Room I

There’s never been an easier time to self-publish—and that’s great! But with great ease comes great risk of mistakes or assumptions. Better expectations lead to better results! Let’s walk through the mindset minefield and talk about how best to approach the fantastic opportunities we have today.

Speakers

Laura VanArendonk Baugh

Award-Winning Author

Laura VanArendonk Baugh writes award-winning fantasy of many flavors as well as non-fiction. She has summited extinct, dormant, and active volcanoes, but none has yet accepted her sacrifice. She lives in Indiana where she enjoys Dobermans, travel, fair-trade chocolate, and making... Read More →

Saturday September 28, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am MDT
Conference Room I

Conference Room I

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Publishing
Area Hybrid

8:00am MDT

Writing Scenes With Multiple Characters

Saturday September 28, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am MDT

Conference Room II

This session will help participants understand how to craft scenes with multiple characters while also building plot and developing distinct character voices. Help your reader focus on your story, not on figuring out who is speaking!

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 →

Writing Scenes with Multiple Characters for RMFW 2024handout pdf

Saturday September 28, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am MDT
Conference Room II

Conference Room II

Topic Workshop
Audience Intermediate
Subject Craft
Area Hybrid

8:00am MDT

How to be an Author on Substack

Saturday September 28, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am MDT

Conference Room V

Jump start or refresh your writing career by publishing your novel or memoir on Substack.com. In this one-hour workshop, attendees will learn all about Substack, how to post your stories, and earn income. Plus, how using this platform can make you a better writer.

Speakers

Z.J. Czupor

Author

Z.J. Czupor is immediate past president of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and an active member of Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. In addition to writing monthly columns for Rogue Women Writers, his latest thriller, "Cut Right Through Me," and mystery... Read More →

Saturday September 28, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am MDT
Conference Room V

Conference Room V

Topic Workshop
Audience Advanced
Subject Other
Area Hybrid

9:00am MDT

Stay Connected to Your Readers: How to Build & Maintain a Successful Newsletter

Saturday September 28, 2024 9:00am - 9:50am MDT

Conference Room I

In this session, you’ll discover powerful techniques to grow and sustain your subscriber list effectively. In just two years, award-winning author, Kerrie Flanagan, took her newsletter list from 50 subscribers to over 5,000. Learn why newsletters are an author’s greatest asset and how to grow your list with reader magnets, newsletter swaps, list-building giveaways, and group promotions. Kerrie will also teach you how to create compelling content to keep your readers engaged and how to sustain a strong email list. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced author, this session will equip you with essential skills to build a thriving community of engaged readers through your author newsletter.

Speakers

Kerrie Flanagan

Event & Outreach Manager, Crave Books

Kerrie Flanagan is an accomplished author, writing consultant, instructor, and freelance writer with over 25 years of experience in the publishing industry. As the Event & Outreach Manager for CraveBooks, Kerrie works to connect authors with their readership and organizes CraveBooks... Read More →

Saturday September 28, 2024 9:00am - 9:50am MDT
Conference Room I

Conference Room I

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Marketing
Area Hybrid

9:00am MDT

Writing to Theme

Saturday September 28, 2024 9:00am - 9:50am MDT

Conference Room V

From the lighthouse of intent, to hard questions, symbols, subplots and echoes, the class will encourage the writer to plumb the depths of meaning, bleed a little, and create multiple strands of meaning in their work. Class will offer concrete examples and methods to tease out your ideas.

Speakers

Johnny Worthen

Award-Winning Author

Johnny Worthen is an award-winning, multiple-genre author of novels and short stories.His best-selling science fiction series Coronam, beginning with Of Kings, Queens & Colonies, then Of Civilized, Saved & Savages and now complete with Of Heroes, Homes & Honey, is an epic tale in... Read More →

Saturday September 28, 2024 9:00am - 9:50am MDT
Conference Room V

Conference Room V

Topic Workshop
Audience Advanced
Subject Craft
Area Hybrid

10:00am MDT

Direct Sales - Is It Right For You?

Saturday September 28, 2024 10:00am - 10:50am MDT

Conference Room I

Direct sales are being touted as one of the best ways to make money for writers, but is it true for your work? In this workshop, we’ll talk about the ins and outs of direct sales and you’ll find out if it’s the right model for your work.

Speakers

Stephanie Reisner

Award-Winning Author

Stephanie Reisner makes her living as a full-time writer/publisher and is published both traditionally and independently, but with focus on her successful indie career. With four pen names, she has over 40 published novels in various genres to her credit and even more novellas and... Read More →

Saturday September 28, 2024 10:00am - 10:50am MDT
Conference Room I

Conference Room I

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Marketing
Area Hybrid

10:00am MDT

Back to The Past: Writing Backstory

Saturday September 28, 2024 10:00am - 10:50am MDT

Conference Room II

Backstory can be a powerful tool in fiction, creating empathy with readers. It can also drain the energy from a piece, creating unnecessary complications and confusion. In this session, we’ll look at how to choose details from a character’s past and smoothly incorporate them into your work.

Speakers

Laurie Marr Wasmund

Author

LAURIE MARR WASMUND has worked as an editor, community college instructor, and writing workshop presenter. Her short stories have appeared in magazines such as CIMARRON REVIEW and WEBER STUDIES. She is the author of MY HEART LIES HERE, a novel of the Ludlow Massacre; CLEAN CUT, A... Read More →

Back to the Past handout docx

Saturday September 28, 2024 10:00am - 10:50am MDT
Conference Room II

Conference Room II

Topic Workshop
Audience Intermediate
Subject Craft
Area Hybrid

10:00am MDT

Marketing in 2024 & Beyond: Leverage Your Assets

Saturday September 28, 2024 10:00am - 10:50am MDT

Conference Room V

You can write, you can run ads, and you can burn out. What’s changed since we started publishing books is the way readers consume our content. Are you taking full advantage of that? Are you reaching them exactly where they are, with exactly the formats they want? Time to think bigger, broader. Here’s how.

Speakers

Nick Thacker

Founder, Book Career In a Year

Nick Thacker is the USA Today Bestselling Author of action-adventure thrillers and mysteries, including the Harvey Bennett Thrillers series. Often mentioned as a cross between Clive Cussler and James Rollins, his stories are written in a fast-paced, punchy style. Nick likes to build... Read More →

Saturday September 28, 2024 10:00am - 10:50am MDT
Conference Room V

Conference Room V

Topic Workshop
Audience Advanced
Subject Marketing
Area Hybrid

11:00am MDT

Creativity & The Writer's Mind

Saturday September 28, 2024 11:00am - 11:50am MDT

Conference Room I

This class explores how the brain functions and where creativity comes from. Writers in the class will be given methods and tips to re-open their creative minds and foster a lifestyle that gets them into the chair and blooming with ideas.

Speakers

Sarah Reichert

Author

Sarah Reichert (S.E. Reichert) is a novelist, poet, blogger, writing mentor, and herder of cats. She’s the Youth Coordinator for the Writing Heights Writers Association. She is also the webmaster for WyoPoets and a member of Wyoming Writers, Inc. Her Sweet Valley Series, a contemporary... Read More →

Saturday September 28, 2024 11:00am - 11:50am MDT
Conference Room I

Conference Room I

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Productivity
Area Hybrid

11:00am MDT

Focusing Your Audience

Saturday September 28, 2024 11:00am - 11:50am MDT

Conference Room II

Audience focus techniques with brand marketing profesh and novelist, Oliver Blakemore.

Speakers

Oliver Blakemore

Author

Oliver has been writing novels since he was twelve. He’s written fifteen books, and two of them may even be worth reading. He spent four years as a technical writer and six years in brand marketing as a content writer. His credentials include a hard head and nine Honorable Mentions... Read More →

Saturday September 28, 2024 11:00am - 11:50am MDT
Conference Room II

Conference Room II

Topic Workshop
Audience Intermediate
Subject Marketing
Area Hybrid

11:00am MDT

How to Use Hollywood Scene Writing Techniques For Your Novel

Saturday September 28, 2024 11:00am - 11:50am MDT

Conference Room V

What do we love about a good movie or TV show? Great scenes that move the story along and keep us glued to the screen. This workshop will show you how to use proven screenwriting techniques to write scenes for your novel to ensure that your audience (and agent!) will turn every page.

Speakers

Kevin Campbell

Author

A 40-year television, film, and education veteran, Kevin Campbell started his career as a TV news journalist. He produced hundreds of news stories as well as TV commercials, marketing videos, and education/training content. He also taught video production for high school and college... Read More →

Ultimate Scene Card pdf

Saturday September 28, 2024 11:00am - 11:50am MDT
Conference Room V

Conference Room V

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Craft
Area Hybrid

1:30pm MDT

Let's Get Down to Business: How to Start a Business For Your Writing/Editing

Saturday September 28, 2024 1:30pm - 2:20pm MDT

Conference Room I

It may seem silly that you need to learn business, taxes, and finances as an author but it is crucial to understand business essentials. All self-published, traditionally published, hybrid authors, and editors must know how to register a business, licenses, and file with the IRS.

Speakers

Melissa Koons

Award-Winning Author

Melissa Koons has a passion for books and creative writing. She has won the Editor’s Choice Award for both her novel, Orion’s Honor, and her poetry. Melissa writes in various genres but primarily publishes historical fiction, short story horror, and poetry. Melissa works as a... Read More →

Saturday September 28, 2024 1:30pm - 2:20pm MDT
Conference Room I

Conference Room I

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Other
Area Hybrid

1:30pm MDT

Marketing Your Book to Success: Before, During, & After Pubilcation

Saturday September 28, 2024 1:30pm - 2:20pm MDT

Conference Room II

Authors know that marketing their books is 100% their responsibility but most don’t have the skillset or knowledge to create a winning marketing plan for their project. In this presentation, Jennifer S. Wilkov, the founder of Your Book Is Your Hook, LLC, will show you how to master the art of determining what belongs in your marketing platform – and what doesn’t – before, during, and after your book has been published.

Speakers

Jennifer S. Wilkov

Creative Consultant, Your Book is Your Hook

Jennifer S. Wilkov is a multi #1 international best-selling award-winning author, producer, an award-winning freelance writer, The Literary Agent Matchmaker™ and a respected book, business and entertainment creative consultant for nearly 20 years. Jennifer was selected as the Error... Read More →

Saturday September 28, 2024 1:30pm - 2:20pm MDT
Conference Room II

Conference Room II

Topic Workshop
Audience Intermediate
Subject Marketing
Area Hybrid

1:30pm MDT

80,000 Words in a Day

Saturday September 28, 2024 1:30pm - 2:20pm MDT

Conference Room V

Write faster, better. Use dictation to smash your word count goals — with a system that’s proven to work.

Speakers

Nick Thacker

Founder, Book Career In a Year

Saturday September 28, 2024 1:30pm - 2:20pm MDT
Conference Room V

Conference Room V

Topic Workshop
Audience Advanced
Subject Productivity
Area Hybrid

2:30pm MDT

Building a Platform With Facebook Ads

Saturday September 28, 2024 2:30pm - 3:20pm MDT

Conference Room I

Have you wanted to try Facebook Ads, but are get turned off by how daunting they seem? Come learn the basics of getting started and see that it’s not all that bad. You’ll learn how to set up an ads account and launch your very first ad with a spend as low as $2 per day.

Speakers

Andre Gonzalez

International Bestselling Author

Andre Gonzalez is the author of all things thriller and horror. He has penned the Wealth of Time series and the Insanity trilogy. You’ll likely find him buried under a long to-do list or his three young (and energetic) children.

Saturday September 28, 2024 2:30pm - 3:20pm MDT
Conference Room I

Conference Room I

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Marketing
Area Hybrid

2:30pm MDT

Successful TikTok Sales

Saturday September 28, 2024 2:30pm - 3:20pm MDT

Conference Room II

TikTok Shop is officially here and people are buying in! Whether you’re a debut author trying to come out the gates swinging, or you have a great backlist to offer readers, the time to start sell books on TikTok Shop is now. Come learn the ins and outs of TikTok shop and how to sell loads of books!

Speakers

Z.S. Diamanti

Award-Winning Author

Z.S. Diamanti is the award-winning author of the Stone & Sky series, an epic fantasy adventure and the result of his love for fun and fantastical stories. His short works have been published in magazines, literary journals, newspapers, and books. He went to college for a very long... Read More →

Saturday September 28, 2024 2:30pm - 3:20pm MDT
Conference Room II

Conference Room II

Topic Workshop
Audience Intermediate
Subject Marketing
Area Hybrid

2:30pm MDT

How to Show & Sell Books at Events

Saturday September 28, 2024 2:30pm - 3:20pm MDT

Conference Room V

Ready to hand sell your at live events like cons, library fairs, festivals, and more? No, you don’t need to be pushy, you don’t need to be “salesy,” and you don’t need to give up your soul. Though a midwesterner and congenitally allergic to hard sales, Laura has event success to share with you.

Speakers

Laura VanArendonk Baugh

Award-Winning Author

Selling Books at Live Events pdf

Saturday September 28, 2024 2:30pm - 3:20pm MDT
Conference Room V

Conference Room V

Topic Workshop
Audience Advanced
Subject Marketing
Area Hybrid

3:30pm MDT

Editing Beyond "Gut Feeling"

Saturday September 28, 2024 3:30pm - 4:20pm MDT

Conference Room II

Revising your work (or critiquing others’) can be overwhelming. Without specific elements to look for, it’s easy to fall back on our “gut feel,” which is hard to articulate and even harder to trust. Learn to evaluate 17 storytelling aspects to edit and strengthen any manuscript, including your own!

Speakers

Kelley Lindberg

Award-Winning Author

Kelley J. P. Lindberg writes award-winning fiction for adults and young adults, with stories appearing in literary magazines such as The Baltimore Review and The Citron Review, anthologies such as RMFW’s Bizarre Bazaar and Pikes Peak Writers’ Journey into Possibility, and in the... Read More →

Lindberg Editing Beyond Gut Feel Handout pdf

Saturday September 28, 2024 3:30pm - 4:20pm MDT
Conference Room II

Conference Room II

Topic Workshop
Audience Intermediate
Subject Editing
Area Hybrid

3:30pm MDT

Is Your Book Packaging Hurting Your Sales?

Saturday September 28, 2024 3:30pm - 4:20pm MDT

Conference Room V

People read your books and love them! So why is it so hard to generate more sales? You must treat your book as a product and understand how it’s packaged and presented to potential readers. Come learn how to analyze market trends and how they relate to the product you are offering.

Speakers

Andre Gonzalez

International Bestselling Author

Saturday September 28, 2024 3:30pm - 4:20pm MDT
Conference Room V

Conference Room V

Topic Workshop
Audience Advanced
Subject Marketing
Area Hybrid

4:30pm MDT

Neurodivergency & The Creative Process

Saturday September 28, 2024 4:30pm - 5:20pm MDT

Conference Room I

Some of the best creators have ADHD or ASC/D (Autism). But with different brains come different problems — the common writing ‘rules’ sometimes just don’t work! Learn different ways to work more productively and more often, while falling in love with writing all over again – for neurospicy brains.

Speakers

October K Santerelli

Author

October K Santerelli is a local author from Denver, Colorado. He identifies as queer and disabled, and writes characters that share his life experiences. His works are primarily fantasies, ranging from dark to epic and everything in between. His debut novel, City of Day (Nightfall... Read More →

Saturday September 28, 2024 4:30pm - 5:20pm MDT
Conference Room I

Conference Room I

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Productivity
Area Hybrid

4:30pm MDT

Heinlein's Five Rules of Writing

Saturday September 28, 2024 4:30pm - 5:20pm MDT

Conference Room II

A discussion of Robert Heinlein’s famous “Five Rules of Writing.” These pragmatic, practical and practiced directives are for the working author and are the very career-enabling tips that steered a blue collar scribbler to becoming one of the seminal voices of his age. But are they still valid?

Speakers

Johnny Worthen

Award-Winning Author

Saturday September 28, 2024 4:30pm - 5:20pm MDT
Conference Room II

Conference Room II

Topic Workshop
Audience Intermediate
Subject Craft
Area Hybrid