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

Unlock Your Story's Inciting Incident

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

Conference Room IV

Do you know the event that kickstarts your story? Do you worry that there isn’t enough tension or conflict? In this workshop, we’ll review techniques to develop an engaging and compelling inciting incident — the crucial scene that serves as a catalyst for your protagonist.

Speakers

Jacquelin Cangro

Independent Developmental Editor & Book Coach

Jacquelin Cangro worked at Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster for more than twenty years. Now, as an independent developmental editor and book coach, she’s reviewed hundreds of novel manuscripts, providing writers with feedback to revise their stories. Her areas of interest... Read More →

Unlock Your Story's Inciting Incident Handout pdf

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

Conference Room IV

Topic Workshop
Audience Intermediate
Subject Craft

9:00am MDT

Writers Who Read: Language & Grammar

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

Conference Room IV

We’ve all heard that reading improves our writing. But *how* we read is just as important as *what* we read. This 1-hour workshop covers Literary Forensics techniques to analyze language and grammar found in novels, with a focus on discovering techniques we can apply to our own writing.

Speakers

Gary McBride

Author

Gary McBride produces Writers Who Read, a podcast based on the novels covered at Writers Who Read LIVE!, a monthly workshop for writers in Boulder that Gary founded in May 2018. WwR applies Literary Forensics analytical reading on novels published within the past 18 months in order... Read More →

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

Conference Room IV

Topic Workshop
Audience Intermediate
Subject Productivity

10:00am MDT

Showing Emotions on the Page

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

Conference Room IV

Showing emotion creates a strong bond between your characters and readers. We will review core emotions and show how those emotions increase in intensity, depending on the situation. From there, we’ll break down ways to write facial expressions, body language and vocals for a more emotional read.

Speakers

Peggy Waide

Bestselling Author

#1 Amazon bestselling author Peggy entered her first book in the Colorado Gold. The editor offered a contract. She has published four romances with Dorchester. Montlake now publishes her books. She is shopping an amateur sleuth and a romantic suspense. She’s also been a trainer... Read More →

THE ART OF SHOWING EMOTION FINAL pw docx

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

Conference Room IV

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Craft

11:00am MDT

Improv-ing Your Networking

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

Conference Room IV

What if networking could actually be fun? Improv helps us navigate the unknown with a sense of play. Join an improv actress for a interactive session of learning a few tried and true tactics so even the most reluctant networker will be able to work a room like the best of ‘em!

Speakers

Sandra Murphy

Award-Winning Actress

Sandra Murphy is an award-winning actress who has narrated over 100 audiobooks across a wide range of genres, authors, and accents. She is sought-after for embodying uncomfortable topics, such as human trafficking, mental health issues and domestic violence. On the lighter side, Sandra... Read More →

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

Conference Room IV

Topic Workshop
Audience Everyone
Subject Networking

1:30pm MDT

Writers Who Read: Layering & Symbolism

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

Conference Room IV

Speakers

Gary McBride

Author

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

Conference Room IV

Topic Workshop
Audience Intermediate
Subject Other

2:30pm MDT

Daemons, Witches, and the Occult (For Writers)

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

Conference Room IV

If you’re writing supernatural horror, or anything paranormal – chances are you’re incorporating some elements of the occult. Learn to blend occult fact with occult fiction without offending actual real-world witches or occult practitioners. Bring your most difficult questions and an open mind.

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 2:30pm - 3:20pm MDT
Conference Room IV

Conference Room IV

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre

3:30pm MDT

Do "I" or Don't "I"? Using First Person in Fiction

Saturday September 28, 2024 3:30pm - 5:20pm MDT

Conference Room IV

Dramatic and immediate when it’s done right, excruciating when it’s done poorly, the first person point of view should be a tool in every writer’s toolbox. Some popular genres almost demand it. Learn and practice techniques, pleasures, and pitfalls of writing in first person.

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 →

Do I or Don't I 2024 Handout docx

Saturday September 28, 2024 3:30pm - 5:20pm MDT
Conference Room IV

Conference Room IV

Topic Workshop
Audience Intermediate
Subject Craft