Wednesday, August 23, 2023 | ||
| 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm | Registration Desk Come to the registration desk and pick up your registration packet. | Grand Ballroom Foyer |
| 10:00 am - 8:00 pm | Bookstore Books Dropoff Authors: If you signed up for the bookstore, feel free to come drop off your books at the bookstore. Please don't forget your inventory list that you printed out, as well as each book's BARCODE LABEL you inserted into the front of the book. Staff will set out books as they determine. Please don't move your books. If you purchased one of the bookstore promotional options, bring those items as well. The staff will set up all book displays. | Parkview |
| Thursday, August 24, 2023 | ||
| 8:00 am - 5:00 pm | Registration Desk | Grand Foyer |
| 8:00 am - 1:00 pm | Early Bird with Donald Maass Optional Early Bird Session: by Donald Maass Come ready to learn from one of the best of the best! Donald Maass founded the Donald Maass Literary Agency in New York in 1980. He is the author of The Career Novelist (1996),Writing the Breakout Novel (2001), Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook (2004), The Fire in Fiction (2009), The Breakout Novelist (2011), Writing 21st Century Fiction (2012) and The Emotional Craft of Fiction (2019). He is a past president of the Association of Authors’ Representatives, Inc. | Grand GH |
| 8:00 am - 11:59 pm | Prayer Room | Mills Studio 1 |
| 8:00 am - 3:00 pm and 6:45 pm - 10:00 pm | Bookstore | Parkview |
| 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm | Finalists/Semi-Finalists Reception (by invitation only) A private reception for our sponsors, our contest finalists, all agents, all editors, and media guests. | Private |
| 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm | First Time Attendees Orientation This session is designed not only to orient you to the conference but also help you meet others, all while having some fun. | Grand F |
| 3:15 pm - 4:00 pm | ACFW General Session/Official Conference Opening Welcome and introduction followed by prayer and worship. | Grand DE |
| 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm | Keynote Address: Charles Martin Charles Martin is a New York Times bestselling author of 16 previous novels, including his most recent, ‘The Record Keeper.’ His work is available in 35+ languages. He lives in Jacksonville, Florida with his wife and their three sons. | Grand DE |
| 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm | Milestones Celebration Dinner As we began with the 2018 conference, ACFW will bestow honors for member novelists whose careers have reached significant publishing milestones. Genesis finalists will be announced. | Grand DE |
| 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm | Agent Panel 1 A panel of agents who represent Christian fiction: Kristy Cambron, Linda Glaz, and Tamela Hancock Murray | Grand GH |
| 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm | Spotlight on…Barbour Publishing | Mills 7 |
| 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm | Spotlight On…HarperCollins Christian Publishing | Mills AB |
| 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm | Spotlight On…Love Inspired | Grand C |
| 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm | Spotlight On…Kregel Publishing | Mills 6 |
| 8:45 pm - 9:45pm | Agent Panel 2 A panel of agents who represent Christian fiction: Ali Herring, Steve Laube, Donald Maass, and Barb Roose. | Grand GH |
| 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm | Spotlight On…Bethany House Publishers | Grand C |
| 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm | Spotlight On…Revell Books, a Division of Baker Publishing Group | Grand F |
| 8:45 pm - 9:45 pm | Spotlight On….Scrivenings Press | Mills Studio 7 |
| 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm | Spotlight On…Tyndale House Publishers Hosted by Stephanie Broene and Elizabeth Jackson | Mills AB |
| Friday, August 25, 2023 | ||
| 8:00 am - 11:59 pm | Prayer Room | Mills Studio 1 |
| 8:00 am - 11:45 am & 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm | Registration Desk | Grand Foyer |
| 9:30 am - 11:45 am & 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm | Appointment Desk Look for the white board to sign up for extra appointments. Cancel any appointments you no longer need. | Sterling Studios Foyer on 2nd floor |
| 8:00 am - 8:45 am | Zone Breakfast | Grand DE |
| 8:45 am - 9:15 am | Announcements/Worship Announcements & Worship | Grand DE |
| 9:00 am - 11:45 am; 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm; 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm | Bookstore | Parkview |
| 9:30 am - 11:45 am | CE01 How to Write a Successful Novel Level: Freshman Presented by: Angela Hunt Description - You can’t perform successful brain surgery unless you’ve studied the brain. Likewise, you can’t write a successful novel unless you’ve studied what a novel is and how it works. Angela Hunt, who’s been writing for more years than she likes to admit, will teach you what a novel is, how to plot it, and how to create compelling characters. Learning what to do before you attempt to do it will save you time and heartache. | Mills Studio 6 |
| 9:30 am - 11:45 am | CE02 Exploring the Art of Plotting Level: Sophomore Presented by: DiAnn Mills Description - Plotting is a skillful expression of a writer’s creativity and imagination that sends a protagonist on an aesthetic, evocative, and emotional adventure through the actions of three-dimensional characters who strive to achieve a goal. | Grand GH |
| 9:30 am - 11:45 am | CE03 Help! How Do I Run My Launch Team? Level: Sophomore Presented by: Tammy Karasek Description - A successful launch of your book is possible and Tammy will share tools and tips to assist you in doing so. | Grand C |
| 9:30 am - 11:45 am | CE04 Successful Indie Publishing Level: Junior Presented by: Lisa and Scott Phillips Description - Business plus mindset makes a winning combination for the independent author—a writer, publisher, marketer, and small business owner all wrapped up in one package—so come and find out everything you need to know. | Grand F |
| 9:30 am - 11:45 am | CE05 The Author-Preneur Level: Senior Presented by: Tracy Higley Description - Turn your writing into a business, by learning the marketing strategies and advertising techniques that will help you sell more books and keep more revenue. | Grand AB |
| 9:30 am - 11:45 am | CE06 Mentor/Critique Group Presented by: Rick Acker and Gayle Roper Description - You’ve been working on your novel & you like what you’ve got—but you’re not sure it’s good enough. It’s time to be courageous and share it with a group of your fellow writers. See your classmates’ reactions and get the professional input and suggestions of your group leader and multi-published writer, Rick Acker or Gayle Roper. Each group will be limited to ten participants, so every manuscript will get time to be the star. This is a hands-on bootcamp with limited seats, based on first pay, first served. | Mills Studio 7 |
| 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm | Lunch | Grand DE |
| 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm | Keynote Address: Charles Martin | Grand DE |
| 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm | WS01 Demystifying the Synopsis | Grand C |
| 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm | WS02 Your Author Website as Your Bestseller | Grand AB |
| 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm | WS03 Your Messy Best: Juggling Writing, Family, and Other Things | Grand F |
| 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm | WS04 SHOW ME A STORY—WRITING CINEMATICALLY | Grand GH |
| 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm | WS05 Paths to Publication | Mills Studio 7 |
| 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm | WS06 Writing Fiction Worth Thinking About | Mills Studio 6 |
| 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm | WS07 Mastering the Rewrite | Grand AB |
| 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm | WS08 Disciplined Author Life Formula | Mills Studio 6 |
| 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm | WS09 Selling Direct | Grand GH |
| 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm | WS10 Author’s Secret Weapon | Grand C |
| 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm | WS11 No Sagging Middle | Grand F |
| 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm | WS12 Writing Children’s Books | Mills Studio 7 |
| 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm | Optional Fun & Games | Grand DE |
| 9:30 pm - 10:30 pm | Worship & Write (optional musical worship/writing) | Grand DE |
| Saturday, August 26, 2023 | ||
| 8:00 am - 11:59 pm | Prayer Room | Mills Studio 1 |
| 8:15 am - 12:15 pm & 1:45 pm - 4:30 pm | Registration Desk ALL Gala-Only tickets must be picked up by 4:30 pm | Grand Ballroom Foyer |
| 8:30 am - 9:15 am | Worship, Devotions, and Announcements | Grand DE |
| 9:30 am - noon & 1:45 pm - 4:45 pm | Appointment Desk | Sterling Studios Foyer on 2nd floor |
| 9:30 am - 12:15 pm & 1:30 pm - 5:00 pm & Immediately after the gala until 10:00 pm | Bookstore | Parkview |
| 9:30 am - 10:30 am | WS13 Newbie in a Nutshell | Mills Studio 7 |
| 9:30 am - 10:30 am | WS14 Can You Hear Me Now? | Grand GH |
| 9:30 am - 10:30 am | WS15 Welcome to the Jungle | Mills Studio 6 |
| 9:30 am - 10:30 am | WS16 Spilling Secrets : Panel | Grand C |
| 9:30 am - 10:30 am | WS17 Market a New Book Release | Grand AB |
| 9:30 am - 10:30 am | WS18 Why You’re Getting Rejected | Grand F |
| 11:00 am - 12:00 noon | WS19 The Importance of Community | Mills Studio 6 |
| 11:00 am - 12:00 noon | WS20 Conquer the Chaos, Writer! | Mills Studio 7 |
| 11:00 am - 12:00 noon | WS21 The “Tea” on Social Media Grand AB | Grand AB |
| 11:00 am - 12:00 noon | WS22 Plotting 101 | Grand F |
| 11:00 am - 12:00 noon | WS23 Building Your Newsletter and Creating Superfans | Grand GH |
| 11:00 am - 12:00 noon | WS24 Learning the Arcs at the Arch | Grand C |
| 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm | Lunch | Grand DE |
| 1:45 pm - 2:00 pm | Awards Ceremony Rehearsal ALL Carol and Genesis finalists are to attend | Grand DE |
| 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm | WS25 Will You Marry Me? Creating an Irresistible Proposal | Grand AB |
| 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm | WS26 Writing When Life Gets in the Way | Grand C |
| 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm | WS27 Writing to Market | Grand F |
| 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm | WS28 Hit and Run Romantic Suspense Panel | Grand GH |
| 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm | WS29 Listen Up! Audio Books | Mills Studio 7 |
| 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm | WS30 Podcasting for Writers | Mills Studio 6 |
| 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm | Final Booksigning | Parkview |
| 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm | ACFW Awards Gala Awards finalists will be allowed to enter first | Grand DE |
| Sunday, August 27, 2023 | ||
| 8:00 am - 10:30am | 2023 Post Conference Session Optional, add-on session to help you take home and put into action all that you've learned. Presented by Angela Hunt. You’re Energized—Now What? Coming home after an ACFW conference can be an emotional experience—the shock of reality after being inspired, challenged, and delighted by the conference can leave you feeling discouraged. Take heart! Angela Hunt will give you practical plans and processes to put those bewildering emotions on the shelf and energize you for the work ahead. After writing more than 155 books, she knows how to get the job done . . . and so can you! | Grand H |
| 8:00 - noon | Bookstore Close Out and Book Pickup We will begin book pickup and bookstore close-out on Sunday morning, beginning at 8:00 am. To expedite your pickup, please bring your inventory sheet, and be prepared to sign the accounting/inventory sheet. Please do not attempt to box the books yourself, as staff requires certain information and counts and will box your books. Books will NOT be available for pickup prior to Sunday morning at 8:00 am. IF your flight is prior to that, you MUST notify the staff at cd@acfw.com and ct@acfw.com prior to August 14, 2023. If books are not picked up by Sunday at 12:00 pm noon, they will be considered donated to hotel staff. | Parkview |
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.