Afternoon Workshops 2024
Three plenary speakers each day | Hands-on Workshops (HOWs)| Break-out sessions
All presented by published authors, agents, and editors
Afternoon Only:
$150 (early bird)
$165 (after March 31st)
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Afternoon Workshops are included in the Morning Workshop prices
Registration begins January 1, 2024
Full Schedule 2024
Coming Soon!
Plenaries
Why We Torture Ourselves by Being Writers
You've heard it before and maybe even have thought it yourself—I write because I have to. But do we have to write? Or are there other compelling reasons we torture ourselves by doing this often lonely and very frustrating job?
Carol Lynch Willliams
Beautiful Language: Why We Need It
The substance of the talk is how writers can contribute to Culture (with a capital "C") by using language beautifully, telling stories with carefully-crafted language. I will give examples of the best of the best, from both classic literature to contemporary classics. It's a call to elevate our thoughts and the words that express them.
Stephen Fraser
John Bennion
25 Writing Tips for 25 Years of WIFYR
In honor of WIFYR’s 25th birthday I will demonstrate 25 tips for writing fiction. These will be pithy, generative ways of improving characterization, story, setting, and language. Each tip will be dramatized on stage through images, actions, and other sensory experiences. I can’t wait to see your faces when you experience this tip: “Make your language as crisp and evocative as the sound of a coyote trap snapping shut.”
Plenary
Coming soon!
J. Scott Savage
Plenary
Coming soon!
Heidi Taylor Gordon
Plenary
Coming soon!
John Cusick
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Plenary
Coming soon!
Chris Crowe
Plenary
Coming soon!
David Miles
Plenary
Coming soon!
Ally Condie
Plenary
Coming soon!
Joy Peskin
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Plenary
Coming soon!
Ann Dee Ellis
Plenary
Coming soon!
Jawad Arash
Hands-On Workshops (HOW)
I’ve Lost the Plot: Discovering Your Story Through Outlining
Writing is hard, and it can be easy to get lost in your story—having a map can help. Learn how outlining can unlock your creativity while keeping track of your pacing, plot, and character motivations.
Alex Sousa
Susan Cady Allred
Self-Publishing
Coming soon!
HOW
Coming soon!
Spencer Hyde
Break-Out Sessions
Ali Cross
Your Writing Journey: How to Thrive When Plans Go Awry
As aspiring writers, we often begin our careers with grand visions and high expectations. But what happens when reality veers from our well-laid plans? How do we embrace the unexpected twists and turns that come with a writing career?
In this class, we'll explore the art of resilience, self-discovery, and understanding the unique path of your own writing journey.
Learn to recognize where you are, manage expectations, embrace the unpredictable, and to celebrate the path you are on.
Join Ali for an inspiring and practical class that will empower you to not just survive but thrive when your writing career takes unexpected turns. Come prepared to gain a new perspective, connect with fellow writers, and find your own path to success.
Celesta Rimington
Unleash the Power of Setting
Unleash an often-untapped force within your story by powering your setting with character status. When the setting takes on a life of its own and even becomes part of the controlling system of power in your plot, it increases your readers' connection and investment in the story. A well-designed setting contributes to tone, theme, character growth, increased tension, and emotional resonance that you can shape with intention. Most of all, a well-written setting can make your readers fans for life!
Samantha Millburn
The Storytelling Past Can Be Perfect
“Verb tenses are so hard! And now you’re telling me there’s a tense called past perfect? As far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing perfect about verb tenses,” the frustrated writer says.
The editor lovingly puts an arm around the writer and says, “Hey, sit down with me in this class, and we’ll explore the mysterious past perfect tense together so you can discover how easy it is to use. Learn how this verb form expresses to the reader a crucial time stamp in your story to convey sequence, establish timelines, and add depth to character experiences. You can’t just not use it and hope you’re okay—as far too many authors believe is the case—so let me guide you through practical applications and offer insights and techniques to seamlessly incorporate past perfect into your writing to elevate your storytelling prowess.”
The writer and editor skip happily off into the past-perfect sunset.
Pick up the Pace
Pacing is critical to grabbing your reader and taking them on an adventure with your characters. If it’s too slow you lose them. If it’s too fast you lose them. So how do you know when to go fast and when to go slow? Join author Chad Morris for some practical advice on how to decide what pacing goes where and how to apply that knowledge to your manuscript.
Chad Morris
How to Funny
Writing humor sure seems a lot easier than it ever ends up being. But boy is it critical holding your audience, allowing them to feel, and breaking up the more intense emotions in a story. Come get some tips and tricks for adding humor to any genre of story. And hopefully chuckle a little while doing it.
Shelly Brown
Break-out Session
Coming soon!
Amy Jameson
Break-out Session
Coming soon!
Lisa Mangum
Break-out Session
Coming soon!
Kelsy Thompson
Break-out Session
Coming soon!
Kyra Leigh