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Optional Early Bird Sessions
Thursday, August 27, 2026
This year, you will have two choices for your optional, pre-conference session. Please read the hours and pricing for each, as well as the description.
Early Bird #1: Donald Maass
Inner Story: Plot Meets Character
Powerful stories happen both inside and out. Character arc is just the start. The methods of highly-engaging inner journeys encompass interior narration, self-measurement, human longing, dual nature struggle, family shaping, social context, the influence of era, moral conflict and more. Deepen the other half of your work-in-progress with longtime master class instructor and agent Donald Maass.
8:00 am - 3:00 pm
$125.00
Early Bird #2: With USA Today Bestselling Author Susan May Warren & New York Times Bestselling Author Rachel Hauck
The Page-Turner Masterclass: Crafting Unputdownable Fiction
8:00 am - 1:30 pm
$75.00
Your readers deserve a book they can’t put down. You deserve to know how to write it. Flat characters? Sagging middles? Stakes that feel more like suggestions than life-or-death choices? If your manuscript is stuck in “almost great” territory, this intensive 4-hour masterclass will show you exactly what’s missing—and how to fix it. Join two powerhouse authors who’ve sold millions of books and taught thousands of writers for a surgical deep-dive into the craft elements that separate forgettable fiction from stories readers lose sleep over. In this intensive workshop, you’ll discover: The Story Equation – The proven formula for creating characters so vivid, so real, your readers will feel like they know them personally The Revolutionary 4-Act Plot – The structural secret powering today’s bestsellers (and why the traditional 3-act structure leaves readers cold) High-Stakes Scene Mastery – How to raise tension in every single scene so your story crackles with the kind of energy that makes readers cancel plans The 4 Pillars of a Super Novel – The essential elements every powerful, marketable book needs to stand out in a crowded marketplace Perfect for: First-time novelists ready to nail their debut, seasoned authors wanting to level up, and anyone tired of writing books readers forget by Tuesday. Walk away with: Battle-tested frameworks, practical tools, downloadable resources, and crystal-clear direction for your work-in-progress. Stop guessing. Start mastering. Your super novel is waiting.
Participation of an individual presenter, agent, editor, or publisher in the ACFW conference does not constitute endorsement by ACFW. Conference attendees are advised to use due diligence and take personal responsibility when choosing industry professionals with whom to schedule appointments or enter into agreement.