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. To view the conference floor plan, select or click on map from the menu.

8:00am MDT

Traditional Publishing Bootcamp ~ Block One: Traditional Publishing Overview

Thursday September 26, 2024 8:00am - 9:50am MDT

Conference Room VII

From idea to manuscript, from published novel to reverted rights, trace a story’s typical journey across the mountains and valleys of the traditional-publishing landscape.

Speakers

Angie Hodapp

Director of Literary Development, Nelson Literary Agency

As an active member of the Denver literary community, Angie Hodapp has served as a board member for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and she regularly teaches highly regarded writing and publishing workshops, including at Denver’s prestigious Lighthouse Writers Workshop. She is the... Read More →

Thursday September 26, 2024 8:00am - 9:50am MDT
Conference Room VII

Conference Room VII

Topic Restricted Event
Audience Beginner
Subject Publishing

8:00am MDT

Genre Fusion ~ Block One: Auto-Fiction: I is Another

Thursday September 26, 2024 8:00am - 9:50am MDT

Conference Room VIII

In this generative and discussion-based workshop, we will explore writing that fuses fiction with memoir. Through the lens of a variety of craft elements such as sequence of disclosure, intimacy & distance, persona, memory & truth, we will consider the rich constellations where self and character converge. Our guides will include Cindy Sherman, Frida Kahlo, Teresa Carmody, Steven Dunn, Addie Tsai, Selah Saterstrom, and Kathy Acker.

Speakers

Dr. Andrea Rexilius

Program Director, Regis University

Andrea Rexilius is the author of Sister Urn (Sidebrow, 2019), New Organism: Essais (Letter Machine, 2014), Half of What They Carried Flew Away (Letter Machine, 2012), and To Be Human Is To Be A Conversation (Rescue Press, 2011), as well as the chapbooks, Séance (Coconut Books... Read More →

Thursday September 26, 2024 8:00am - 9:50am MDT
Conference Room VIII

Conference Room VIII

Topic Restricted Event
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre, Craft

10:00am MDT

Traditional Publishing Bootcamp ~ Block Two: Contracts and Royalties: Know Your Rights, Manage Your Money

Thursday September 26, 2024 10:00am - 11:50am MDT

Conference Room VII

Angie will put into easy-to-understand language the major sections and clauses of a typical Big Five contract. Get a peek at the full laundry list of rights and subrights (including film/TV deals) on the table during a negotiation and learn to spot red flags that mean an author should walk away. Want to understand how the money moves in publishing and learn how to read a royalty statement to catch typical Big Five accounting errors? Be sure to catch this session!

Speakers

Angie Hodapp

Director of Literary Development, Nelson Literary Agency

Thursday September 26, 2024 10:00am - 11:50am MDT
Conference Room VII

Conference Room VII

Topic Restricted Event
Audience Beginner
Subject Publishing

10:00am MDT

Genre Fusion ~ Block Two: Effective Genre-Fusing Fiction

Thursday September 26, 2024 10:00am - 11:50am MDT

Conference Room VIII

Genre fusion isn’t new but with the rise of romantisies, fantasies set in space, and every burgeoning combination in-between it can be challenging for authors to combine their big, genre-spanning ideas successfully. This workshop will explore what makes genre-fusing fiction effective and how to avoid common pitfalls. We’ll also discuss where these unique works find their niche in the literary marketplace and how to play up the strengths of genre fusion when publishing.

Speakers

Alexandra Grana

Associate Literary Agent, Corvisiero Literary Agency

Alexandra Grana represents authors of science fiction, fantasy, and horror for middle grade, young adult, and adult readers. She holds a degree in professional writing from Miami University and a JD from The University of Toledo College of Law, and now uses her legal background to... Read More →

Thursday September 26, 2024 10:00am - 11:50am MDT
Conference Room VIII

Conference Room VIII

Topic Restricted Event
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre, Craft

1:00pm MDT

Traditional Publishing Bootcamp ~ Block Three: Agents and Editors: Hook ’em Deep and Reel ’em In

Thursday September 26, 2024 1:00pm - 2:50pm MDT

Conference Room VII

By this point in the day, you’ll already have a pretty good idea what agents and editors do—and what they don’t. Now we’ll cover not only how to land an agent or editor (which includes knowing how to craft compelling pitches, query letters, synopses, and opening pages), but also how to maintain these professional relationships as your career progresses…and how to know when it might be time to break up.

Speakers

Angie Hodapp

Director of Literary Development, Nelson Literary Agency

Thursday September 26, 2024 1:00pm - 2:50pm MDT
Conference Room VII

Conference Room VII

Topic Restricted Event
Audience Beginner
Subject Publishing

1:00pm MDT

Genre Fusion ~ Block Three: Genre Fusion and Hybridization: Experimenting with Literary Art Forms

Thursday September 26, 2024 1:00pm - 2:50pm MDT

Conference Room VIII

The most important part of being comfortable experimenting with genre fusion is being brave and learning the writing tools to feel comfortable creating within the forms that work best for your writing. In this two-hour workshop, we’ll learn how to fuse your own fiction with plays, poems, essays, and epistolary forms by reading examples from various writers and practicing fusion with writing exercises that allow for play combined with learning. May this be an opportunity to experiment and create your own forms without rules!

Speakers

Hillary Leftwich

Author, Editor

Hillary Leftwich teaches contemporary and hybrid nonfiction; lyric essays: hermit crab, collage, segmented, braided; digital storytelling; documentary poetics; poetics; fiction; environmental studies, anti-racist and contemplative andragogy, narrative medicine, and empathetic medical... Read More →

Thursday September 26, 2024 1:00pm - 2:50pm MDT
Conference Room VIII

Conference Room VIII

Topic Restricted Event
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre, Craft

3:00pm MDT

Traditional Publishing Bootcamp ~ Block Four: You Be the Agent: Live Pitch Read

Thursday September 26, 2024 3:00pm - 4:50pm MDT

Conference Room VII

Don’t miss this fun, action-packed, end-of-day session wherein you’ll be the literary agents! Angie will read aloud pitches submitted anonymously, ahead of time, by you, the audience—and you, the audience, will decide which pitches would have you scrambling to offer representation. (Everyone who registers for the Thursday Intensive will receive an email from Angie with instructions for submitting your pitch.)

Speakers

Angie Hodapp

Director of Literary Development, Nelson Literary Agency

Thursday September 26, 2024 3:00pm - 4:50pm MDT
Conference Room VII

Conference Room VII

Topic Restricted Event
Audience Beginner
Subject Publishing

3:00pm MDT

Genre Fusion ~ Block Four: Love Makes the (Book) World Go ‘Round: Romance for Any Genre

Thursday September 26, 2024 3:00pm - 4:50pm MDT

Conference Room VIII

Readers love love stories. From mystery to science fiction to horror, adding a romantic subplot engages readers, deepens characterization, and ups the stakes of your conflict. Learn how to take your stories to the next level by weaving in romance with this workshop from a prolific, award-winning romance author.

Speakers

Cindi Myers

Award-Winning Author

Cindi Myers became one of the most popular people in eighth grade when she and a friend wrote and illustrated their first romance novel. It would be another couple of decades before Cindi saw her first novel published, but since then she has published over 100 novels -- historical... Read More →

Thursday September 26, 2024 3:00pm - 4:50pm MDT
Conference Room VIII

Conference Room VIII

Topic Restricted Event
Audience Beginner
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 →

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

How to Write a Synopsis Without Crying First

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

Conference Room I

It doesn’t have to be the “Dreaded Synopsis”. It can be the efficient, well-written synopsis that highlights your premise and stand-out voice, all without making you want to give up writing. We’ll cover a Synopses Writing Recipe using Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King as examples.

Speakers

Mira Landry

Associate Literary Agent, Corvisiero Literary Agency

Mira Landry is an associate literary agent with Corvisiero literary agency, currently acquiring upmarket and literary YA and Adult fiction. After a decade building her own business as a photographer, she’s eager to help authors turn their art into a career. As a chair on the Rocky... Read More →

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

Conference Room I

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Publishing
Area Hybrid

1:30pm MDT

What Makes a Story a Romance? A Beginners Guide to the Most Popular Fiction Genre

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

Conference Room VI

What makes Romance a Romance, and why are stories like Gone With The Wind, Anna Karenina, and books by Nicolas Sparks not considered Romance? Join Beverly for an introductory deep dive into the genre, to include subjects like popular tropes, sub genres, characters, themes, readers, writers, the changes the genre has gone through since the early ‘90s, whether the genre is feminist or not, and why it’s the best selling genre in publishing.

Speakers

Beverly Jenkins

USA Today Bestselling Author

Although she was the editor of her elementary school’s newspaper in the 4th grade – The Myra Jones Elementary School COMET – Bev had no dreams of being a writer. Her dream job was to work in a library.She was living that dream when Avon Books called on June 3, 1993 – her husband’s... Read More →

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

Conference Room VI

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre

2:30pm MDT

A Survivor’s Guide to Pitching: Before, During, and After the Pitch

Friday September 27, 2024 2:30pm - 3:20pm MDT

Conference Room I

Pitching your novel to an agent or editor? Great! But how should you prepare for this nerve-wracking meeting? And what happens afterwards? In this presentation, a pitch survivor reveals secrets of what to do before, during, and after your pitch to take your pitch session from awkward to awesome.

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 →

Friday September 27, 2024 2:30pm - 3:20pm MDT
Conference Room I

Conference Room I

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Publishing
Area Hybrid

2:30pm MDT

The Truth About Swords & Armory

Friday September 27, 2024 2:30pm - 3:20pm MDT

Conference Room VII

Swords too heavy to swing? Studded leather armor? Pop culture is filled with misconceptions about armored combat throughout the ages. Learn how to defeat these fallacies and create consistency in your worldbuilding when it comes to combat, weapons, and armor.

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 →

Friday September 27, 2024 2:30pm - 3:20pm MDT
Conference Room VII

Conference Room VII

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre

3:30pm MDT

Multi-Layered Editing: The Various Stages and Why They’re All Important

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

Conference Room I

You’ve written your first draft. Now what? If you’ve ever wondered what to do after typing “The End” or have found yourself scratching your head at the many different kinds of edits available, this workshop is for you.

Speakers

Amber Herbert

Conference Admin, Author

Amber Herbert is a (mostly) speculative fiction author living in Colorado Springs. She holds a BA in English Literature and has worked as a freelance editor for seven years. Lipstick Covered Magnet was her first novel. She is also the current RMFW technology chair and conference admin... Read More →

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 →

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

Conference Room I

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Craft
Area Hybrid

3:30pm MDT

The Quintessential Query

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

Conference Room VII

This workshop outlines the dos and don’ts of the query process. It includes (1) an overview of the querying process and how it works, (2) how to find an agent, (3) how to format a query letter, (4) what information should and should not be included in a query letter, (5) and a step-by-step walk-through a sample query letter.

Speakers

Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong

Literary Agent, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency

Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong is a Literary Agent at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, and is a member of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA). With eight years of industry experience and a published author herself, Cathie has been on both sides of the querying process and takes... Read More →

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

Conference Room VII

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Publishing

3:30pm MDT

Order in The Court

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

Conference Room III

Court proceedings are presented: Arrest, bail, preliminary hearings, voir dire, the actual trial. Also covered expert witnesses, cross-examination, when hearsay is allowable. One should avoid counterfactual situations, although there can be excitement and plot twists in the proceedings above.

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 3:30pm - 5:20pm MDT
Conference Room III

Conference Room III

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre

4:30pm MDT

Using Project Management to Write Your Novel

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

Conference Room I

Learn how to organize your writing life using skills and techniques corporations spend millions on to complete their projects If you can’t finish your novel, don’t know where to start, or you just want to organize your life like a pro, this class was made for you.

Speakers

A. Z. Sultana

Author

A.Z. Sultana has been writing for ten years. She has a bachelor's in marketing and a master's in library science. She has had over 80 paying jobs (not gigs, actual w2 jobs or under the table) which lends her a wealth of experience in many fields as well as a misspent youth. She is... Read More →

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

Conference Room I

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Productivity
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

4:30pm MDT

Punched Up Pitches: Better Blurbs and Queries

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

Conference Room VIII

Whether you are writing a query letter or back cover copy, it’s important to know how to sell your book through a concise, exciting blurb. We’ll look at winning examples and techniques to help you write a blurb that sells.

Speakers

David R. Slayton

Author

David R. Slayton (He/Him) grew up in Guthrie, Oklahoma, where finding fantasy novels was pretty challenging and finding fantasy novels with diverse characters was downright impossible. Now he lives in Denver and writes the books he always wanted to read. His debut, White Trash Warlock... Read More →

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

Conference Room VIII

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Publishing

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

The Power of Now

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

Conference Room VII

What is the white-hot core of character motivation? What sets your characters in motion? Why does anybody do anything? How does ink on the page make us feel something? How do we build empathy for fictional characters, both good and bad? How do you help readers connect a plausible, grounded story?

Speakers

Mark Stevens

2023 Writer of The Year

Author of The Fireballer and five books in The Allison Coil Mystery Series. Short stories in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Mystery Tribune, two RMFW anthologies, and others. Host of the Rocky Mountain Writer podcast. RMFW Writer of the Year (2016 and 2023). Previous RMFW President... Read More →

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

Conference Room VII

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Craft

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

Developmental Editing Concepts

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

Conference Room VI

Editing isn’t just spelling and commas. Developmental editing looks at “big picture” concepts in your manuscript and tackles topics like plot, pacing, proportion, and POV, as well as character arcs and genre norms. Get an overview of these topics and a behind-the-scenes look at a developmental edit.

Speakers

Miranda Darrow

Author, Editor

Miranda Darrow is a freelance editor, #RevPit board member, and writer. After graduating with a degree in English (and then a law degree), she became a practicing attorney but never lost the urge to read and write fiction. Taking an in-house counsel position fifteen years ago allowed... Read More →

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

Conference Room VI

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Editing

9:00am MDT

The Science of Magic

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

Conference Room VII

If magic doesn’t have consistency and limits, then it can hurt your storytelling more than help it. When readers choose immersion in speculative fiction, they crave both grounding and imagination. Science can provide both.

Speakers

Kim Lajevardi

Award-Winning Author

I'm a former teacher who traded the insanity of middle school science for that of working all day, every day with my family. What could go wrong? I've written two upmarket books both of which have either won or been recognized in Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer's Gold, Pikes Peak's... Read More →

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

Conference Room VII

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre

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

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 →

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

Conference Room IV

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Craft

10:00am MDT

Illustrating & Publishing Your Book

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

Conference Room VI

In this session, I’ll talk about how to organize ideas, research your subject, and turn your idea into a finished project you can publish. Whether you’re writing and illustrating a children’s book, a textbook, or a comic, the creative process is the same.

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 →

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

Conference Room VI

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre, Craft, Publishing

10:00am MDT

Memoir Mastery - How to Write Your Story so it Sells

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

Conference Room VII

Writers with an incredible personal story often struggle with where to start their tale and how to share it effectively with an agent/publisher/reader. Discover how to present your amazing story, determine where to begin it on the first page, and start using it to attract more readers, agents, producers, publicists, press, and clients.

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 10:00am - 10:50am MDT
Conference Room VII

Conference Room VII

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre

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

Let's Get Cozy: Plotting Your Cozy Mystery Series

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

Conference Room III

Even if you’re not a plotter, get ready to learn how to plot a great cozy mystery and learn how to drop popular genre tropes into your story line to create a book and series the readers will return for again and again.

Speakers

Stephanie Reisner

Award-Winning Author

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

Conference Room III

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre

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 →

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

Conference Room V

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Craft
Area Hybrid

11:00am MDT

Help Me, Obi-Wendig You're My Only Hope

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

Conference Room VI

A Q&A where audience members come prepared with questions about their stories or their writing careers (or, one supposes, about LIFE ITSELF if they are so troubled) and Chuck Wendig attempts to answer their questions and grease the wheels of progress. So to speak.

Speakers

Chuck Wendig

NYT Bestselling Author

Chuck Wendig is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Star Wars: Aftermath, as well as the Miriam Black thrillers, the Atlanta Burns books, Zer0es/Invasive, Wanderers, and the upcoming Book of Accidents (July 2021). He’s also worked in a variety of other formats... Read More →

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

Conference Room VI

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Other

11:00am MDT

Kink & BDSM: Beyond The Stereotypes

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

Conference Room VII

50 Shades gave an impression of kink that irks kinksters as much as Glocks with safeties does gun experts. This session will dispel misunderstandings and answer questions.

Speakers

Veronica R. Calisto

Author

Veronica R. Calisto (she/her) is an alto, a writer of speculative fiction, and a big nerd. One of those rare Colorado natives, she has a degree in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and is a two-time American Idol reject. She is the author of several books, including Diary... Read More →

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

Conference Room VII

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre

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

The Year of 100 Rejections

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

Conference Room VII

This class will focus on a 100-rejection challenge, how to face and use rejection, how to choose submissions, how to read and follow guidelines, and how to track your submissions. We’ll also look at rejections as a tool for improvement and how to separate ourselves and our worth from rejection.

Speakers

Sarah Reichert

Author

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

Conference Room VII

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Publishing

1:30pm MDT

Finding Your Inner Extrovert

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

Conference Room VIII

Writing is a lonely process. When it comes time to sell your work, you’ll need social skills to help you interact with agents, editors, and readers. This workshop will focus on communication techniques and help you learn to network without burning out.

Speakers

David R. Slayton

Author

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

Conference Room VIII

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Networking

1:30pm MDT

Characterization Through Orientation & Identity

Saturday September 28, 2024 1:30pm - 3:20pm MDT

Conference Room III

Writing different genders, gender identities, and sexual orientations can seem like a minefield. But writing LGBTQ+ representation in a respectful manner isn’t as scary as it seems. During this workshop, we’ll dive into identity spectrums, inherent gender bias in English, and more.

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 1:30pm - 3:20pm MDT
Conference Room III

Conference Room III

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Craft

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

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

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

Conference Room IV

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre

2:30pm MDT

Becoming a Plotter

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

Conference Room VII

If you’ve ever set down to write with a pocket full of vibes, you may be a pantser. But what feels good in the moment can cause you to curl into the fetal position when complicated revisions come knocking. What can a pantser do? Plot. No, seriously. Let me show you plot is not a four-letter word.

Speakers

Kim Lajevardi

Award-Winning Author

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

Conference Room VII

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Craft

2:30pm MDT

Kid Lit 101

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

Conference Room VIII

Want to write for kids? Here’s everything you’ll need to know to get started. This overview of the current children’s literature landscape, from picture books to YA, highlights unique considerations for writing, querying, publishing, and marketing kids’ books.

Speakers

Christina Allen

Award-Winning Author

Christina Allen (publishing as C.W. Allen) is a Midwestern transplant to rural Utah where she serves as the President-Elect of the League of Utah Writers. She writes long stories for children and short stories for former children. She is also a frequent guest presenter at writing... Read More →

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

Conference Room VIII

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre

3:30pm MDT

Ink and Syntax: Mastering Grammar for Fictional Impact

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

Conference Room I

The advent of spell check, grammar check, and AI makes knowing grammar as obsolete as rotary phones, right? Wrong! Grammar’s more than a set of rules—it’s the backbone of written storytelling. We’re not talking never end a sentence with a preposition, we’re talking about making your writing sparkle.

Speakers

LS Hawker

USA Today Best Selling Author

LS Hawker is the author of the thrillers THE DROWNING GAME, BODY AND BONE, END OF THE ROAD, and THE THROWAWAYS. THE DROWNING GAME is a USA Today bestseller and finalist in the ITW Thriller Awards in the Best First Novel category. Her novels have been translated into eight languages... Read More →

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

Conference Room I

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Craft
Area Hybrid

3:30pm MDT

Going Pro With Your Mad Reading Skillz

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

Conference Room III

Do you demolish books? Are your friends constantly hitting you up for book recommendations? You might have superpowers that can lead to book review opportunities, reading for literary magazines and other amazing things. Best of all: these opportunities mean publication and free books.

Speakers

Amy Armstrong

Author

Amy Armstrong loves to dabble with ideas and occasionally gets a good story out of her dabbles. She loves to read and serves as a volunteer reader for The Masters Review. Amy managed social media for Pikes Peak Writers and received the Volunteer of the Year Award. She often moderates... Read More →

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

Conference Room III

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Other

3:30pm MDT

Conjuring Up The Past: Character Development in Historical Fiction

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

Conference Room VIII

The writer of historical fiction faces an added element when developing a character: the historical landscape. How do sometimes cataclysmic world events affect a character’s everyday life? In this intensive workshop, we will look at the skills needed to create memorable historical characters.

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 →

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

Conference Room VIII

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre

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

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

How to Write Compelling Villians

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

Conference Room VI

You can write great stories, but if you want to take your writing to the next level, you need a compelling villain. From intergalactic wizards to high school mean girls, a great villain will move your story like no other character can. Come and bring something to take notes with!

Speakers

Jason Evans

Author

Jason Henry Evans has been an active member in the Colorado Writing community for over ten years. He has published four novels, including his debut, the Gallowglass, which was released in July of 2019 to much acclaim. He has had a dozen short stories published and has taught writing... Read More →

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

Conference Room VI

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre

8:00am MDT

Scene Construction

Sunday September 29, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am MDT

Conference Room I

Scenes are the stepping stones of a story that keep the reader turning the page. A character acts and reacts to the other characters on stage, the place or the events to advance the plot and develop character. This workshop will break down all the elements needed to construct a strong scene.

Speakers

Peggy Waide

Bestselling Author

Sunday September 29, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am MDT
Conference Room I

Conference Room I

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Craft
Area Hybrid

8:00am MDT

How to Work With an Editor

Sunday September 29, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am MDT

Conference Room VI

Whether you’ve just signed with a publisher or you’re submitting to an anthology, this presentation will show you what to expect from your editor, the differences between the types of editors, and will remind you to be patient and professional through it all.

Speakers

Rachael Bush

Author

Sunday September 29, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am MDT
Conference Room VI

Conference Room VI

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Editing, Publishing

8:00am MDT

Playing God for Fun and Profit - Building Worlds your Readers will Love

Sunday September 29, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am MDT

Conference Room VII

Worlds are big, and building them can be daunting. Learn how to build a fantastic setting, whether modifying our world to include magic and dragons, building a new secondary world, or constructing an entire galaxy to explore. What pitfalls do many authors fall into, and how can one avoid them?

Speakers

Calvin Studzinski

Author

Calvin Studzinski is an award-winning aerospace engineer, amateur historian, role-playing game designer, and aspiring author. As a child, Calvin was an avid reader, consuming the works of Jules Verne and J.R.R. Tolkien with equal voracity, before reading everything he could get his... Read More →

Sunday September 29, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am MDT
Conference Room VII

Conference Room VII

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre

8:00am MDT

Horror Writing 666 (aka 101)

Sunday September 29, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am MDT

Conference Room VIII

Horror is part of our real world, make it part of your fiction. Readers love to experience dread, gore, and terror, and you can be the one to deliver it. Learn why and how to write stories that terrify!

Speakers

Angela Sylvaine

Author

Sunday September 29, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am MDT
Conference Room VIII

Conference Room VIII

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre

9:00am MDT

Professional Marketing

Sunday September 29, 2024 9:00am - 9:50am MDT

Conference Room I

Many authors are new to marketing but it is an established field for other products. Oliver brings his expertise in brand marketing to show how professional techniques that are used to sell anything from concerts to perfume can work for books too.

Speakers

Oliver Blakemore

Author

Sunday September 29, 2024 9:00am - 9:50am MDT
Conference Room I

Conference Room I

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Marketing
Area Hybrid

9:00am MDT

True Crime to Novel: Turn Headline News into Page-Turning Fiction

Sunday September 29, 2024 9:00am - 9:50am MDT

Conference Room VIII

Ever wonder how to turn an astonishing, newsworthy story into juicy crime fiction? In this workshop, we will talk about how authors turn true crime stories into fiction. Together, we will review examples of contemporary novels and the techniques authors use to make readers turn the page.

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 →

Sunday September 29, 2024 9:00am - 9:50am MDT
Conference Room VIII

Conference Room VIII

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre, Craft

10:00am MDT

Is That Scary? Writing Horror in 2024

Sunday September 29, 2024 10:00am - 10:50am MDT

Conference Room III

What scared people in the late 20th century was totally different than what scares most people today. Participants can expect to learn the current popular tropes of the genre, as well as how to build tension in stories meant to terrorize the reader and leave them shaken.

Speakers

Stephanie Reisner

Award-Winning Author

Sunday September 29, 2024 10:00am - 10:50am MDT
Conference Room III

Conference Room III

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre

10:00am MDT

Precise Openings: A Study of What Makes an Iconic First Sentence

Sunday September 29, 2024 10:00am - 10:50am MDT

Conference Room VI

We know them when we read them, right? Those classic, compelling opening lines of lauded literary and commercial fiction alike. Together we’ll look at great, good, and just okay opening lines and see what makes one stand out and others forgettable.

Speakers

Mira Landry

Associate Literary Agent, Corvisiero Literary Agency

Sunday September 29, 2024 10:00am - 10:50am MDT
Conference Room VI

Conference Room VI

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Craft

10:00am MDT

Exoplanetary Exploration - Realistic Methods for Visiting Alien Worlds

Sunday September 29, 2024 10:00am - 10:50am MDT

Conference Room VII

Science fiction often resorts to fantastical technologies to reach other stars, but could we do it in real life? Explore the real science we would use to explore exoplanets, the dangers involved, and how the restrictions of sub-luminal space travel should inspire gripping sci-fi narratives.

Speakers

Calvin Studzinski

Author

Sunday September 29, 2024 10:00am - 10:50am MDT
Conference Room VII

Conference Room VII

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre

10:00am MDT

Unlocking Tween Book Marketing: Unique Tactics for Middle Grade Success

Sunday September 29, 2024 10:00am - 10:50am MDT

Conference Room VIII

Is marketing Middle Grade Books the same as for Adult Books? While many strategies overlap, there are exciting opportunities exclusive to MG Books to boost sales—and have more fun! Join me as we explore the distinctive approaches that differentiate Tween Book Marketing from its adult counterpart.

Speakers

Mariko Tatsumoto

Author

Mariko Tatsumoto emigrated from Japan at the age of eight and was detoured from her love of books by becoming the first Asian woman attorney in Colorado. But she found her way back to writing historical novels. AYUMI'S VIOLIN, her Middle Grade novel, and her YA novel, SWEPT AWAY... Read More →

Sunday September 29, 2024 10:00am - 10:50am MDT
Conference Room VIII

Conference Room VIII

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre, Marketing