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

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

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

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

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

8:00am MDT

The Middle Edit: What Happens Between the First Draft and Line Edits - Master Class

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

Conference Room VIII

This intensive workshop addresses middle stage edits when you tighten characterization, layer in themes and symbols, mirror chapters, perfect plot threads, scenes, dialogue, narration, style, action, and more. Learn to test your chapters without combing out your voice. Exercises and interaction.

Speakers

Karen A. Lin

Award Winning Author, Coach, Writer's Launchpad

Karen is a pitch and writing coach for award-winning and bestselling authors. She teaches for cruise lines and writers conferences. Many of her stories are inspired by her experience marrying into a Taiwanese family. Food is often a subplot. Mu Shu Mac & Cheese and American Moon... Read More →

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

Conference Room VIII

Topic Restricted Event
Subject Publishing

1:30pm MDT

Grant Writing for Authors

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

Conference Room VIII

Learn to craft compelling grant proposals to support and sustain a writing career. Participants will develop their understanding of how grants work in the art and literary world and receive guidance on the skills necessary to research, plan, compose, and submit successful grant applications.

Speakers

Leanne Haase-Goebel

Award-Winning Author

Leanne Haase-Goebel is an award-winning writer. She’s written and published two art books, sixteen exhibition catalogs, fifty-seven magazine articles, and more than 200 profiles and stories. She’s been awarded multiple Top of the Rockies Excellence in Journalism awards. She was... Read More →

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

Conference Room VIII

Topic Workshop
Audience Everyone
Subject Other

2:30pm MDT

Unleash Your Inner Young Muse: Crafting Middle Grade Magic – A Novel Approach to Writing for Tweens!

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

Conference Room VIII

Bestselling authors like James Patterson, Rick Riordan, and John Grisham are flocking to write MG Books. Learn how it differs from adult books, get past gatekeepers, the essential rules for 8-12 years-olds, the art of choosing the right subject, characters, themes, AND MUCH MORE.

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 →

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

Conference Room VIII

Topic Workshop
Audience Intermediate
Subject Genre, Marketing

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

Critique Partner Speed Dating

Saturday September 28, 2024 8:00am - 9:50am MDT

Conference Room VIII

Whether you’re looking for a critique partner, a critique group or simply to network with other writers, the speed dating model is both a fun and effective way to meet new people. Spend five minutes getting to know another writer and their critique needs before moving on to the next in a safe space.

Speakers

Kate Jonuska

Author

In addition to serving as current RMFW Conference Co-Chair, Kate is a freelance writer, indie author, and part-time yoga teacher based in Boulder, CO. Her novel, Transference, was a finalist for the BookLife Prize and a Denver Post Staff Pick, and she often teaches workshops based... Read More →

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 →

Saturday September 28, 2024 8:00am - 9:50am MDT
Conference Room VIII

Conference Room VIII

Topic Workshop
Audience Everyone
Subject Other, Networking

10:00am MDT

Mastering The Art of Applying For Residencies For Writers

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

Conference Room VIII

A deep dive into the process, expectations, and benefits of applying for writer’s residencies. Participants will understand the purpose of residencies, learn how to find and select suitable options, and develop applications that increase their chances of acceptance.

Speakers

Leanne Haase-Goebel

Award-Winning Author

Leanne Haase-Goebel is an award-winning writer. She’s written and published two art books, sixteen exhibition catalogs, fifty-seven magazine articles, and more than 200 profiles and stories. She’s been awarded multiple Top of the Rockies Excellence in Journalism awards. She was... Read More →

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

Conference Room VIII

Topic Workshop
Audience Everyone
Subject Other

11:00am MDT

Self-Care For Writers

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

Conference Room VIII

It’s hard to write fun words others will enjoy if you’re not having fun as a writer. We’ll clarify what burnout is and what leads to it as well as how you can climb out of it even at your crispiest. We will also create a plan for how to bring more joy and calm to your writing.

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 11:00am - 11:50am MDT
Conference Room VIII

Conference Room VIII

Topic Workshop
Audience Everyone
Subject Productivity

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

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 →

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

Conference Room VIII

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Networking

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

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

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

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 →

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

Conference Room VIII

Topic Workshop
Audience Beginner
Subject Genre

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

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