2024 Colorado Gold Writers Conference

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2024 Colorado Gold Writers Conference

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

How to Self Publish Your Novel on a Budget - Master Class

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

Conference Room IV

Independently published Novels are now the norm. But how does a writer navigate the ins and outs of putting a professional-looking product on the market? More importantly, how does a writer complete this project in a timely manner without being taken advantage of, going crazy, or breaking the bank?

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 →

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 →

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

Conference Room IV

Topic Restricted Event
Subject Publishing

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

2:30pm MDT

Commercial, Upmarket, or Literary: Analysis of the Differences From Line Level to Marketing

Friday September 27, 2024 2:30pm - 4:20pm MDT

Conference Room IV

It’s often said “you know it when you read it”, but what really is the divide between calling something literary or commercial fiction? And how can you determine if your fiction manuscript hits one or the other, or falls in that coveted space of “Upmarket”?

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 2:30pm - 4:20pm MDT
Conference Room IV

Conference Room IV

Topic Workshop
Audience Intermediate

4:30pm MDT

Keeping It Real: How Much Fiction Belongs in Historical Fiction?

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

Conference Room IV

If your details are inaccurate, it will affect the reading experience for certain readers. But can’t some details be invented? How do you determine whether to fictionalize or be factual? Writers of historical fiction, mystery/thriller/suspense, or romance set in earlier times, let’s talk about it!

Speakers

Cynthia Swanson

NYT Bestselling Author

Cynthia Swanson is the Denver-based author of the psychological suspense novels The Bookseller (an Indie Next selection, New York Times bestseller, and winner of the WILLA Literary Award) and The Glass Forest (USA Today bestseller and noted in Forbes as being one of “Five Novels... Read More →

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

Conference Room IV

Topic Workshop
Audience Intermediate
Subject Genre

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 →

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 & Grammer

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 →

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

Writer's Who Read: Layering & Symbolism

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

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

Conference Room IV

Topic Workshop
Audience Intermediate
Subject Craft

8:00am MDT

Beyond Romance: Crafting Character Relationships That Win Readers

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

Conference Room IV

This one-hour session will teach the skills to construct dynamic, multi-dimensional connections between characters. We’ll delve into leveraging relationships for plot development, creating suspense, emphasizing the role of dialogue, and establishing connections with readers.

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 →

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

Conference Room IV

Topic Workshop
Audience Intermediate
Subject Craft

9:00am MDT

Comedy (Seriously.)

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

Conference Room IV

No matter your audience, genre, or format, applying the principles that make comedy writing work can take any project from predictable to un-put-downable! This presentation is geared toward writers of any level of experience, with writing from laugh out loud to deathly dramatic.

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 →

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

Conference Room IV

Topic Workshop
Audience Intermediate
Subject Craft, Genre

10:00am MDT

Techniques and Tools for the Prolific Writer

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

Conference Room IV

If you want to write more, write better —and balance all that with a life outside of writing—this workshop is for you. An author of more than 100 published novels gives you tips, tools, and techniques for increasing productivity, and balancing the demands of writing with the rest of your life.

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 →

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

Conference Room IV

Topic Workshop
Audience Everyone
Subject Productivity