PANELS
Panels are held throughout the conference (Check session schedule for times).
First Page Reads:
When an agent’s or editor’s inbox is overflowing and other responsibilities are calling, how far do they read a submitted first page before moving on to the next submission? Watch our industry experts respond to the anonymous first pages of conference attendees and find out if they stop reading—and why. (Ballroom—Friday & Saturday 12 to 1:30 pm)
Marketing to the Right Audience: Alba Arango, Andres Fragoso, Erick Mertz
Friday, Track 4, Session 9 – 4:00 – 4:30pm (+)
In this panel you can question the experts about whether your marketing efforts are reaching the right audience. You can ask and discuss with the experts what you should and should not do to reach the right readers for your work. Discuss the steps to proper marketing. Among other things, you should query your options for:
- How soon should I begin marketing my book?
- The advantages of starting a website?
- What would a mailing list do for me?
- What’s the best in-person marketing I can do to reach my audience?
Editing Panel: Jonathan Maberry, Maer Wilson, Eva Shaw, and Jo Wilkins
Saturday Session 13 2:00 – 2:50pm
Take this opportunity to ask what you always wanted to know about editing. Ask about why it’s necessary, what kind of editing you need, who should do your edits, and where to find appropriate editor for your work.
WORKSHOPS
Descriptions for each 50-minute conference workshop are listed below.
(Check session schedule for times).
Saturday Session 10 – 10:00 – 10:50am (+): How to Make Money with Your Writing: Eva Shaw
Are you already making some money from your writing, but you’d like to make more (you’d like to turn your passion into a career)? Or you might be making no money and would like to take your passion to the next level.
Either way, that’s what this class is all about—generating income from your writing.
Now I know this is taboo, discussing “how much” you can make with different types of writing. But we’re going to embrace it in this course. Money isn’t a dirty word. We all need it to make choices.
In this class, you’ll learn more about a dozen genres that can help you establish a sometime, part-time or full-time career as a writer. Along the way, you’ll learn methods to work faster, suffer less rejection, and bring home more bacon (and you know what I mean, even if you’re non-meat-eating writer like me).
If you’re here, we share the same goal: to discover writing fields to build and enjoy a solid, money-making career. You’re going to get facts on ghostwriting, finding niche markets, discussing roles of agents and publishers, learning to bulletproof your submission and getting organized.
Saturday Session 11 10:00 – 10:50(+): Naked Writing Workshop – Writing from Presence, Not Perfection: Marijke McCandless
Many writers struggle with perfectionism, self-censorship, and creative blocks. In this experiential workshop, you’ll explore Naked Writing-writing without judgment or editing. Through simple prompts, freewriting, and reflection, you’ll reconnect with your authentic voice and rediscover the joy of creative flow. This playful practice loosens the grip of the inner critic and invites spontaneity, surprise, and glow. You’re free to write the worst junk in the world-or be dazzled by your natural talent. This transformative session has helped many writers begin the work they truly long to write.
What You’ll Do:
- Freewrite to playful prompts that spark raw, uncensored expression
- Explore juicy techniques for deepening your connection with your voice
- Reflect on how presence can transform both your writing process and what appears on the page
Session 14 3:00 – 3:50(+/-) Sensory Awakening Workshop, Marijke McCandless
In this workshop, class participants will learn how to use all 5 senses to build a scene that every reader can relate to.