CONCURRENT WORKSHOP SESSIONS
9:00-10:15 a.m.
Building An Unsinkable Character Arc
Sandra McDonald
A published author once said, "Characters are just the clothespins that I hang the plot on." Alas, his clothesline fell down. He should have thought of his characters as the mast and sails of a fine sailing ship. Build them well, and the winds of the plot can carry you across the world. Build them poorly, and your boat sinks. Join us for this workshop on building character arcs and arks, with lots of sea tales and fishy analogies.
9:00-10:15 a.m.
Oh, the Places You'll Go – What You Should Know About Publishing Your Children's Book
Frances Keiser and Jane R. Wood
The dos and don'ts, the wouldn'ts and won’ts. You'll learn all about each one of them here. Follow the steps, and believe in yourself. The outcome is bright — your book's on the shelf!
9:00-10:15 a.m.
Jump-Starting a Poem
Liz Robbins
Bring a pen and paper to this workshop and you’ll leave with a draft of a new poem you’ll write in the classroom. This is a writing exercise and feedback workshop led by Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL, Liz Robbins.
9:00-10:15 a.m.
Writing an Irresistible Query Letter
Jennifer Nelson and Diane Faulkner
In this query letter clinic learn how to make your query letters stand out. Included is a presentation on what makes a good query letter, what to include and the ten things that every writer must know to write a good query. Handouts included. Special Note: Jennifer Nelson and Diane Faulkner will be available for 15-minute, one-on-one query letter consultations after their workshop ends. The fee is $25 per consultation.
10:15-10:30 a.m. BREAK
10:30-11:45 a.m.
Writing Compelling Dialogue
Elizabeth Sinclair
Dialogue is the voice of the characters as they actively engage in conversation within the story. Each character's voice should be distinctive, a personal signature strong enough to be heard in the reader's mind. This workshop will cover the nuts and bolts of writing effective dialogue.
10:30-11:45 a.m.
So You Want to Write Romance?
Laura Parker Castoro
Romances plumb the emotional depths of the main characters as they center on their loving relationships. This is not easy. It’s a combination of a writer’s inspiration, willingness to write and rewrite, and a positive perspective on life. This workshop is designed to help beginning and professional writers hone their skills at telling interesting, unique and compelling love stories that have a happy ending: the definition of a romance.
10:30-11:45 a.m.
Manuscript to Movie –
Converting Your Book to a Screenplay
John Boles
Have you ever thought that your novel, or even your memoir, would make a great movie? If so, then why not turn your manuscript into a screenplay? Then you can market the same story to both publishers and producers. However, before you begin the process, you need to know the rules. When writing for the screen, the adage “show, don’t tell” is more important than ever. This workshop will cover the best approach to take, along with the all-important dos and don’ts. You will come away with secrets of how to avoid the inherent pitfalls in the process, and you’ll be ready to write your first adaptation.
10:30-11:45 a.m.
Book Signings & Marketing from a Barnes & Noble Perspective
Jamie Williams
A Barnes & Noble Community Relations Manager provides an insider's look at what it takes to be considered for distribution with Barnes & Noble as well as how to go about scheduling your book signings. This is invaluable information to any author, traditionally published, self-published or e-published.
LUNCH
12:00-1:30 p.m.
Lunch & Writers Pitch Book Workshop
Conference Director Sharon Y. Cobb leads this exciting workshop about how to get your pitch to agents, editors and producers through the Writers Pitch Book. You will learn to write a concise logline for your books and scripts, understand how the Writers Pitch Book works and have an opportunity to ask questions.
CONCURRENT WORKSHOP SESSIONS RESUME
1:30-2:45 p.m.
How to Avoid Common Mistakes:
Self-Editing for Writers
James M. Wilson
Too many manuscripts are tossed into the rejection pile not because of the story, but because of careless errors and poor editing. Maybe you can't afford an editor, but you can train yourself to see and think like one. Dr. Wilson will provide you with the skills to further improve your writing and stay off the rejection pile.
1:30-2:45 p.m.
How to Keep Your Mystery Moving
Glynn Marsh Alam
Learn to maintain suspense through words, setting and action. All mysteries must contain movement toward solution. Suspense is the element that forces the reader to continue toward that end. Through exploration of successful mystery writers and analysis of one's own work, the workshop will focus on the writer's ability to provide suspense. Bring paper and pen and join in the various ways to create a suspenseful journey.
1:30-2:45 p.m.
Women’s Fiction: How to Develop Your Own
Bestselling Ideas
Kristin Harmel
Jodi Picoult. Emily Giffin. Anita Shreve. Jennifer Weiner. All bestselling authors, all standouts in women's fiction, one of the fastest-growing and most profitable branches of fiction. Join Kristin Harmel, whose fifth women's fiction book comes out in the spring, for a discussion about the genre, how to come up with your own bestselling idea, and how to mine rich emotional territory without going overboard. In this workshop, you'll also learn the difference between women's fiction and other female-oriented genres such as romance; what sets the good books apart from the great ones; and why stories with richly drawn families stand out on the shelf.
1:30-2:45 p.m.
Tool Kit for Platform-Building
Carol O’Dell
Agents and publishers are looking for more than a good book. They want authors with a platform, authors who can command a room when they speak, and know their way around social marketing skills. Here’s how authors can build a platform, raise their professional bar and gain the attention of the publishing world.
2:45-3:00 p.m. BREAK
3:00-4:15 p.m.
Writing the Short Story
Sohrab Homi Fracis
Writing a successful short story requires a mastery of both art and craft. As the winner of the nationwide Iowa Short Fiction Award, Fracis discusses the keys to an effective short story.
3:00-4:15 p.m.
The Nuts & Bolts of Writing Novels
for Young Readers
Adrian Fogelin
Find your voice as a middle grade or YA novelist. Master tone, language, pace, character and plot development that speaks to young readers in one of the few areas of publishing that is actually growing.
3:00-4:15 p.m.
The Essentials of Writing Science Fiction
Chris Berman
Science fiction can be divided into two sub-genres, hard and soft science fiction. Soft science fiction is not overly concerned with the technology of the story, while hard science fiction is technology driven and encompasses the sub-genre of military science fiction. This workshop will explore both genres with the emphasis on theme and story line, character development, and consistent world building. Learn to craft characters and stories built within these scifi frameworks that captivate the reader and draw him or her into a universe of your own creation.
3:00-4:15 p.m.
ePublishing 101
Victor DiGenti
When it comes to eBooks, the future is now. In this introductory survey of the digital book revolution, you'll learn how and why the experts are predicting that eBooks will be 50% of the U. S. book market by 2015. More importantly, you'll learn how authors are turning their manuscripts into dollars, and what you need to do to climb aboard the eBandwagon. ePublishing 101 will help you prepare for Sunday's more intensive ePublishing A to Z Seminar. Welcome to the future.
4:15-5:15 p.m.
How I Got My Agent
Panel discussion with Laura Parker Castoro, Kristin Harmel and Adrian Fogelin addressing the question every new writer wants answered: How did you get your agent? And how can I find one? Time for you to ask questions and get the answers from seasoned authors. Panel moderated by Victor DiGenti.
BOOK SIGNINGS & WINE/CHEESE RECEPTION
5:30-6:30 p.m.
Book Signings & Wine/Cheese Reception
Everyone is invited to attend this social hour with book signings by published authors serving on the conference faculty. Featuring wine and cheese and making new friends.
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