4-Hour Pre-conference Thursday Masterclass:
Anatomy of a Romance with Sherry Thomas
The story structure of a romance doesn't get talked about a lot, but structure is just as important in a romance as it is in a mystery or a work of speculative fiction. In this hands-on, example-driven workshop, we break down a romance into its essential skeletal blocks and then reconnect the bones to the sinews of the story (plot, character, motivation, etc) to show how all the components work together.
USA Today-bestselling author Sherry Thomas decided years ago that her goal in life is to write every kind of book she enjoys reading. Thus far she has published romance, fantasy, mystery, young adult, and three books inspired by the martial arts epics she grew up devouring. Her books regularly receive starred reviews and best-of-the-year honors from trade publications, including such outlets as the New York Times and National Public Radio.
A Study in Scarlet Women, A Conspiracy in Belgravia, and The Hollow of Fear, the first three entries in her gender-bending Lady Sherlock historical mystery series, are all NPR best books of the year.
Her latest releases are The Librarians, a contemporary mystery set in her neighborhood branch library in Austin, Texas and the novella Prima, set 800 years in the future on the western rim of the Pacific Ocean, as part of the After the End dystopian romance collection.
2-Hour Masterclasses
So You Want to Write Romantasy - Cheryl Kennedy and Eva Leigh
Romantasy is the new hotness, but what is Romantasy? Do I want to write it? And if so, where do I start?
7 Ways You're Leaving Money on the Table at Book Signings - Sara Fujimura
Learn 7 key strategies to boost sales, create a professional display on a tight budget and build your brand. Whether you're self-published or traditionally published this interactive intensive workshop helps authors connect with their ideal readers and land the sale.
Your First Five Pages - Jacquelin Cangro
Learn how to create a compelling opening that hooks readers from the first line, setting the stage for an unforgettable romantic journey. We'll explore the essentials of a powerful opening scene, common mistakes to avoid and have fun mastering the art of captivating storytelling.
Emotional Character Arcs - Jen Graybeal
Emotional arcs are the key to getting readers to empathize with your characters. In this session, we dive into the themes, ingredients and lies that put characters (and readers) on an emotional roller coaster they won't forget
The Notorious V.A.G. - Jillian David
Authors, it's time to push out some realistic medical scenes and rivet your readers! In this course, writers will research the truths -- and myths -- of all things reproduction and obstetrics. Physician and author Jillian David delivers an interactive workshop with her trademark hilarious and informative presentation style. This masterclass features racy pictures of spermatozoa swimming for their lives, media scenes about birth that are ridiculously awful, and a checklist for handling an obstetric emergency when you have zero medical training. We will also answer burning questions such as, “Will It Fit?” Stick around for Dr. Jill's world-premiere bonus talk, Hymenology: The tiny piece of anatomic real estate that changed history and confused millions.
Using Social Media & Networking to Launch a Bestseller - Kenya Goree-Bell
Learn how to leverage social media and networking to launch your next book to bestseller.
1-Hour Workshops
Genre bending and blending - Elizabeth Everett, Sarah Zachrich Jeng, Mia Manansala, Lyn Lao Butler
Four different authors offer unique insight on how to introduce romantic tension and sustain that momentum when writing in another genre.
The Roots of Worldbuilding: One principle that can shape your entire setting - Katarina Von Tobel
Worldbuilding is critical, but can be frustrating and time-consuming. Katarina von Tobel, published as J Von Tobel,will offer a technique to cut through the noise and help you create realistic, intriguing settings.
Say It Like You Mean It: Crafting Dialogue That Speaks - Marjorie Muller
In this interactive workshop, we'll explore how to write dialogue that's sharp, emotional and character-driven. With the help of live actors, participants can hear their words performed aloud and together, we can find where the dialogue flies and where it falls short.
When the Romance Isn't the Plot-Writing Love Stories in Women's Fiction - Kelly Garcia
Learn how to craft emotionally satisfying love stories that support, rather than overshadow, a heroine's personal journey in women's fiction with strong romantic threads
Publishing A to Z for Beginners! - Sarah Anderson
Everyone has to start somewhere and in this fun, fast-paced presentation, Sarah M Anderson will explain the difference between ARC and WIP and everything in between
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Diving Deeper into GMC - Kathy Wheeler
This workshop goes deeper into Goal, Motivation, and Conflict with very specific examples of drawing the reader in via their fears and the lies a character tells themselves. It also touches on Turning points, structure and trope.
Consent is Sexy! - Sarah Anderson, Liz Lincoln
Join Sarah M. Anderson, Liz Lincoln and others as they define consent, how to establish it in a romance and when it is absent, as well as what the gray areas of consent (non-consent, dubious consent, BDSM play) mean for your stories. Questions welcome!
Finding Your Writing Niche - Tere Michaels
In this workshop, we will examine what we write best (and why) and decide how to focus our energy and creativity into shaping the writing career we long to have
Preventing Sexual Stigmas - Ana Lopez
This workshop helps authors recognize, challenge and prevent sexual stigma in their writing to create more sex positive, inclusive, empowering stories
Ship Happens: Navigating Romantic Chemistry - Hollie Smurthwaite
Tools to ensure romantic chemistry on the page
Say "Yes, and..." to Your Writing - Kelly Farmer
Use acting and improvisation techniques to strengthen your fiction writing
From Book One to Beyond: Mastering the Art of Writing a Series - Julie Navickas
Learn how to craft compelling multi-book narratives in this hands-on workshop that teaches you how to plan, write and sustain a successful book series from start to finish
Trick Your Brain: the Very Best Way to Self-Edit - Julia Ganis
Although every writer needs an editor, sometimes you need to make your work as clean as it can be without the assistance of a professional. Editor Julia Ganis will teach you why our pesky human brains make mistakes in the first place....
Write Page-Turning Fiction with Action Scenes and Love Scenes - Jeannie Lin
Action scenes and love scenes share many of the same mechanics and pitfalls so this workshop digs into the craft of how to make both more heart-pounding and heart-wrenching on the page.
Raiders of the Lost Archives - Jeannie Lin and Shawntelle Madison
Discuss the logistics of setting up research visits to universities, libraries, and special collections, along with tips for uncovering storytelling gold.
Advance, acclaim, or agency--nobody writes for free - Maggie Wells
A frank discussion about the costs and benefits of various paths to publication and how authors must determine what they value most in a business where we often get the smallest cut
But Why: Digging Deep into Character Motivation - Juliette Hyland
At the end of the workshop each participant will have a better grasp on character motivation and a way ahead to fix motivation issues in their current work in progress
Write What You WANT to KNOW: Research Techniques for Contemporary Romance - Chandra Blumberg
This presentation will give contemporary romance writers the tools to confidently approach background research for their novels(s)
Breaking Into Category Romance - Anna Grace
Breaking into category romance is an engaging presentation exploring the industry of category romance and features a five-step plan for getting manuscripts ready for the category market
How to Capitalize on Your Character's Core Wounds, Fears & Dreams - Jeanine Englert
Explore how you can capitalize on your character's core wounds, fears and dreams to enhance your story
Handcuffs Teach Trust: Writing the Best BDSM of Your Life - Linda Mercury
The erotic games of BDSM add depth, passion and deep emotions to your story with scenes that reveal your characters and excite your readers. This workshop shows writers how to plumb the depths of both darkness and light to create works that linger in the reader's imagination
60 Minutes to Your Author Business Plan - Tanya Agler
Authors will write a vision statement, interweaving that into their brand and business details and leaving with a template to organize their plan in one place for easy access
Hooks and How to Use Them: Pantser's Guide to Plotting - Terri Brisbin
We will identify and review various hooks, plot points and methods of plotting, discuss their importance and how to use them to strengthen the pacing and structure throughout your book to the last word
Gamify Your Writing to Level Up Productivity & Reader Engagement - Miranda Darrow
Kanban boards, pomodoro timers, SMART goals, and fancy notebooks with gel pens and more are all tools we can use to increase our writing productivity by gamifying getting words on the page. Find out what motivates you with tips and tools to level up your writing productivity
That Time of Year: The Challenges and Rewards of Writing Holiday Romance - Noelle Douglas, Stacey Agdern, Kelly Farmer, Stephanie J Scott
Gain insight into writing in the popular subgenre of holiday romance. We will discuss building a diverse reading list, with examples of books from across different holidays and traditions
The Sisterhood of Archetypes - Elizabeth Boyle
A deep dive into a paradigm of female archetypes that will breathe new life into our female characters and give writers a more layered framework from which to start creating their story arcs
Kama Sutra Choreography: 5 Ways to Write More Creative Sex - Michelle Hazen
Gain confidence in your sex scene writing by adding unique options to your tool box, whether you're startin your first spicy novel or scraping up new ideas for your 30th
WRITE IT ANYWAY - Melonie Johnson, Chandra Blumberg, Adriana Herrera, Danielle Jackson
A conversation about how authors strive to keep writing the stories they want to see in the world, and how they manage to keep listening to their muse and tuning out the negative noise (no matter how loud it might get).
Bosses and Family and Chores, Oh My! Finding Time to Write in a Distracting World - Michelle McCraw
Explore ways to make time to write and better focus, along with strategies for building a sustainable writing life.
Romance Mixology: Shaking Up the Tropes with other Genres - Megan Bannen
This workshop focuses on the why and wherefore of blending genres and how mixing other genres into romance both subverts and enhances the tropes we know and love
I Sing the Body Positive - Fat Representation in Romance - Mary Morris
In literature and on film, there has been a tendency to equate fatness with evil, ridiculousness, gluttony, degeneracy, and other negative traits of humanity. However, like so many other marginalized groups, fat women are finally seeing themselves as the main characters in romance thanks to authors like Julie Murphy, Rebekah Witherspoon, Olivia Dade, and Talia Hibbert.
The Hot Seat: Podcasts, Panels & Print - Laura Ridgefield and Jessica Mayle
Make the most of your next interview or public speaking opportunity to showcase your book (and why people should read it). Jessica Mayle and Laura Ridgefield (real-world spokespeople) will help you craft a solid message house, learn how to keep your interviews on track and use time-tested professional hacks to overcome your fear of the hot seat
Blow (Up) Your Cover: When, Why and How of Re-covering Your Books - Sara Whitney
Wondering if your back catalogue needs a makeover? This workshop will offer best practices for evaluating your current covers, brainstorming new concepts, discovering new artists and designers, and marketing your new books as well as your OG stash.
Taming the Big, Scary Self-Publishing Monster - Kelly Farmer, Melonie Johnson, Shannyn Schroeder, Stephanie Scott, Sara Whitney, Danielle Jackson
This panel of authors who've taken the plunge into self-publishing is here to dispel some of the myths surrounding self-publishing and aim to ease fear and anxiety for authors who're interested but overwhelmed by the possibilities
Black Soldiers in the British Military - John D. Ellis
Whilst the service of Black and Asian soldiers in the West India Regiments and Indian Army is well known, less well known is that between 1715 and 1860 the Crown (or King’s) regiments of the British Army also employed Black men as enlisted military musicians.
18th-19th Century Weapons—Guns, Swords and Knives - Bill Haggart
This is a survey of the black powder and blade weapons used during the early 19 th century in Europe and America. The presentation will include pictures, videos and a replica flintlock pistol for the participants to handle to see how a flintlock operated. [the barrel is plugged] The presentation will examine both military and civilian weapons. This includes weapons for self-defense, hunting and sport, as well as duels.