2025 Conference Workshop Electives

Writers explore practical strategies to overcome perfectionism, celebrate their unique journey to publication, and cultivate a life of balance and joy.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor 5:21

Objective: Explore practical strategies to overcome perfectionism that limits productivity and celebrate your unique publication journey, while cultivating a remarkable writer’s life with balance and joy.
Group Craft exercise:
Group Share: What did you learn?
Presentation: (Adage) Perfect is the enemy of good
Takeaways:
1. Only God is perfect
2. We are uniquely made to need one another. Where you are weak, someone else is strong, and vice versa. Therefore, working together is the perfect solution to the world’s problems.
3. God, in His perfect will, can take our good and put it to great use.
Journal: Journal your experience and state the 1 takeaway you will focus on going forward and how you will implement the concept into your daily routine.
Share Session:
Closing Remarks.

No matter what genre you write, humor can add a spark of life to your manuscript that will gain an editor’s notice and win your readers’ hearts.

I. Stories sharing the relatable realities of comparison, imposter syndrome, measuring up, and other joy-stealers
1. Big Picture - Plotting a. Tropes that lend themselves to humor b. Using a humorous central conflict
2. Quirky Secondary Characters - Crotchety Elders and Precocious Children and everything in between. a. Fewer boundaries than primary characters. They can be outlandish, cantankerous, cute, or silly. They can break social conventions. b. Give them quirks that serve as natural foils to your main characters. c. Children and the elderly can add humor with their lack of filters. d. Utilize unusual occupations or hobbies to set up humorous situations.
3. Zoom in on the Details a. Opening lines b. Ground humor in universal human experience c. The meet cute d. Create situations rich in embarrassment, unexpected trouble, and erroneous assumptions
4. Banter and witty dialogue a. Set up the punch line. b. Create private jokes between your hero and heroine. c. Play on words that tap into your character’s idiosyncrasies. d. Teasing e. Sarcasm f. Banter needs to flow naturally and fit with the character’s voice and personality.
5. Humorous Character Voice - Deep POV. a. Self-deprecating humor. b. Sarcastic thoughts, wild misunderstandings, humorous observations. c. No two characters should have the same humorous voice. d. Timing is everything. Pay attention to the story arc. e. Humor can be romantic.
6. Other Ways to Add Humor a. Funny analogies b. Use unexpected elements c. Running gags d. Add light to a dark moment

Setting the Stage for a Dynamic Character Journey

Using elements of the Hero’s Journey, the Story Equation provides tools for authors to build real, empathic characters who have a strong character arc. This inner journey is moved along by the external journey. Elements of the class will be: the dark moment story, the wound, lie, fear, the secret desire and flaw. Also elements such as competence and super power. Asking the big “Why?” Attendees will leave with tools and how to use them.

Effective critiquing or beta-reading a manuscript is as much an art as it is a science.

Have you ever had an awkward experience critiquing another author’s work? Having your own work critiqued? Have you ever had a great experience with either of these? What made the difference? We’ll talk about the nuances of constructive critiquing, share our experiences, and hear what other experts in the field have to say (including a surprise guest from ages past!). We’ll discuss the balance between providing and receiving meaningful—even tough—feedback, plus delivering and accepting it in the most effective and beneficial way.

A hands-on introduction to (1) realistic self defense for your characters and (2) caring for and training with swords to enhance accuracy and sensory detail in your writing.

In this “touch-and-try” fast-paced workshop, we will focus on self-defense for your characters based on their level of defense knowledge and physical training. After walking through realistic techniques to enhance the accuracy of your action scenes, we’ll move to weapons! After an overview of the forging and terms for the sword comes 10-second blitz demos of Korean and samurai techniques, followed by hands-on (no contact between partners!) practice with a sparring sequence. Finally, to gather sensory details to enhance your writing, a mini “touch and feel museum” will be available with real samurai swords (unsharpened for safety), archery equipment, and other weapons and sparring gear.

Learn ten techniques screenwriters rely on to upgrade dialogue from blah to quotable.

We’ve all slogged through novels with boring, predictable, or chit-chat dialogue. In many genres, dialogue makes up half of the novel. It can make or break your bond with readers. This workshop offers ten practical techniques used by award-winning screenwriters to apply immediately to a scene or chapter in your work in progress or to an example scene. Learn how to show, not tell. Discover how to make your dialogue quotable. Discover when and when not to use dialogue Infuse each scene with the right level of conflict Employ text and subtext Create suspense Transform the predictable Cut to the chase, when to show and when to tell Individualize characters through speech markers Apply the stimulus/response pattern for clarity Use three types of tags to reveal goals, motivations, and conflict Format and punctuate dialogue properly.

Novelists will learn how to use Pinterest as a powerful marketing tool by creating engaging boards, eye-catching pins, and reader-focused strategies that attract book lovers and drive long-term traffic to their books.

Pinterest Marketing Strategies (Outline)
1. Why Pinterest? A Goldmine for Fiction Writers * Unlike social media, Pinterest is a visual search engine (not a feed-based platform). * Readers browse Pinterest looking for inspiration, aesthetics, and book recommendations. * Your pins can drive long-term traffic to your books, website, and mailing list.
2. Board Strategy: Organizing Your Content for Maximum Engagement * Thematic Boards Work Best * Creative Board Ideas for Novelists * Live Demo: Optimize a board in real time.
3. Pin Strategy: What to Post to Attract Readers * More than “Buy My Book” Pins! Give the reader an experience. * Types of Engaging Pins:
4. Growth Strategy: How to Gain Followers from Scratch * Leverage Your Existing Readers * Join Collaborative Boards i * Consistency is Key: Pin 10–15 times per day * Engage & Repin
5. SEO Strategy: Keywords & Search Optimization * Pinterest is a visual search engine * Board Title Optimization: * Pin Description Best Practices: * Pinterest Trends & Analytics
6. Engaging Your Readers Beyond Pinterest * Create interactive pins. * Use Pinterest to build your newsletter list. * Encourage Pinterest-based book clubs.
7. Q&A + Actionable Takeaways * Attendee Challenge. * Hand out a Pinterest Starter Checklist to take home.

Promote your writing and build your author platform by creating high-quality graphics, posts, QR codes, and more in Canva.

1. Overview: This workshop will include both basic and advanced areas of Canva. Whether the attendee has never used the program or is familiar with it but wants to dive deeper, everyone should come away with a new tool they can use to help promote their writing. Treat designing like a game. Canva is fun to play with.
2. Basic Tools
A. Using Templates - Let the Canva designers do all the hard work of choosing fonts and colors.
B. Shortcut Keys - Save valuable time with the click of a few keys.
C. Creating Letter Frame Art with Book Covers
3. Intermediate Tools
A. Eye Dropper - Choose a specific color from your image to use in your design.
B. Image Upscaler - Sharpen images and give them a “glow up.”
C. Mock-ups - Make your book cover look like it’s on a tablet, mug, wall ad, etc.
D. QR Codes - Create QR codes to help readers find your website or books.
E. Background Remover - Remove the background from images.
4. Advanced Tools - Where the “magic” happens
A. Magic Erase - Remove elements from photos.
B. Magic Expand - Use AI to make a picture bigger.
C. Resize - Create a design for multiple social media platforms.
D. Magic Grab - Pull specific elements from a picture without disturbing the background.
E. Dream Lab - Utilize AI to create pictures of your characters, settings, and scenes.
5. Canva Pricing
Free, Monthly Paid, and Yearly Paid Versions
6. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
A. There are a bounty of YT vids and web articles available to continue your Canva education.
B. Contact info for Shannon
C. Be sure to ask the Ultimate Creator for help.

From her own experience, Tracey shares how to recognize when Godly dreams become corrupted by vain ambition and what steps a new to publishing author can take to avoid the traps.

Introduction: Personal Publishing Story
 God’s plans are always good. My heart became corrupted

Writing Pursuit: Selfish Ambition or Hopeful Humility?
 Lust of the flesh as it pertains to vain ambition
 Lust of the eyes, as it pertains to envy Comparison is the thief of joy
 Pride of life—finding worth in what we attain and the admiration of others (1 Sam. 9-11)
 Personal Story: Ambition and insecurity fueling foolish decisions

Writing Mindset: Surrender or Striving? (2 Cor. 5:14)
 Writing for approval strangles authentic creativity
 Purpose over popularity. Write the story God gave you to write
 Are You Okay with ordinary? What if what everyone else sees as ordinary, God sees as extraordinary? God’s Kingdom operates in a whole other mindset
 Personal Story: Ignoring the nudge to take a less attractive contract because I didn’t want to disappoint—and also, I wanted a car

Writing For God: First Fruits or Leftovers? (John 15:4-5)
 Writing Christian content doesn’t equal abiding in Him. First things first
 Corporate and one-on-one accountability with believers is key
 Personal Story: When I stopped assigning value to church, I lost discernment and conviction

Conclusion
 Laying aside every weight and the sin that comes easy to me so that I may run the race set before me with patience knowing that He who began a good work in me will continue it until all of my imperfections and struggles are melted away by one look at the face of Jesus
 Surrendering to His plan every day is key. Not my will but Yours be done. Some of us will become best sellers. Others may never be contracted. The assignment is to write for his pleasure and leave the outcome to Him
 Closing prayer

In this workshop, we’ll explore five ways we can choose to respond to rejection and even discover why we, as writers, should be proud of (and even grateful for) our mountains of “thanks, but no thanks” letters.

How a writer chooses to handle rejection will often play a major role in what comes next…after rejection. In this fun and practical workshop, we’ll examine the five options all writers have when deciding how to respond to rejection:
1. We can choose to quit.
2. We can choose to quit submitting.
3. We can choose to blame.
4. We can choose to ignore.
5. We can choose to learn, keep going, and even celebrate.
Over the course of the hour, participants will be given some valuable tools and taught how to use them. We’ll also set out to not only alleviate the pain of rejection but actually come to see that a pile of rejection letters can be something to celebrate—and, in fact, may be one of the most powerful tools in our arsenal as we journey toward publication.

Calling all romance writers—this is your opportunity to pick the brain of three award-winning romance authors on the pros and cons of writing romance and if time permits, on-the-spot opening-paragraph critiques and paperback giveaways plus free e-copy of Julie Lessman’s writer’s workbook, ROMANCE-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Inspirational and Sweet Markets. (Note: If interested in a possible critique, please send your paragraph to Julie Lessman via her website no later than August 31.)

Workshop in which three award-winning romance writers answer questions on the romance-ology of writing successful romance. If time permits, includes opening-paragraph on-the-spot critiques and paperback giveaways plus free e-copy of Julie Lessman’s writer’s workbook, ROMANCE-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Inspirational and Sweet Markets. (Note: If interested in a possible critique, please send your paragraph to Julie Lessman via her website no later than August 31)

Creating a five-year writing plan will help writers define their writing goals and show how to turn their long-term writing dreams into a clear, actionable plan with achievable steps so they will have a clear roadmap for their writing journey as they build a sustainable career.

dream of finishing books, getting published, and growing a sustainable writing career, but those dreams can feel overwhelming without a plan. This hands-on workshop is designed to help writers transform their long-term dreams into achievable goals with a clear five-year plan. Writers will define their writing vision, determine the number of books they can write, evaluate what skills they need to develop, and envision the kind of writer they aspire to be. They will break down their objectives into manageable quarterly and yearly milestones, using SMART goals to guide their progress. Writers will also create a realistic writing schedule with achievable daily word counts to meet weekly and monthly goals. The workshop will offer resources for tracking methods and accountability tools that will help writers stay motivated, especially when life intervenes. Writers will create a reflection for each year and leave with a concrete roadmap for their writing journey, ready to turn their dreams into reality.

Learn the pluses and pitfalls of switching from one genre to another, and discover how to make the move as seamless as possible.

Switching Genres & Staying Sane
1) Famous authors who switched
2) Why would anyone switch genres?
3) Questions to ask yourself before the switch
4) Immediate problems that arise
5) What’s in a name? Pen name pros & cons
6) Consider this before you switch
7) Some things never change, despite the genre
8) Tips for the “after” when you switch genres

Unlock the secret power of subtext in fiction—learn how to craft dialogue, action, and setting that reveal hidden emotions, unspoken tensions, and deeper meaning without saying a word.

Great fiction isn’t just about what’s on the page—it’s about what lingers beneath it. The best stories are filled with unspoken tension, hidden desires, and truths that remain just out of reach. In this workshop, we’ll explore how subtext creates depth in dialogue, character interactions, and setting. You’ll learn how to let your readers “read between the lines” and feel the emotional weight of a scene without spoon-feeding them. Through hands-on exercises and close reading of masterful examples, you’ll walk away with practical tools to elevate your writing by harnessing the power of what’s left unsaid.

A series is a great way to hook readers. This workshop by multipublished author Cara Putman will help you figure out what to include in your series bible to make sure you get your details right.

How to leverage the power of group promotions as part of your marketing strategy.

I. Why participate in group promotions
II. An overview of group promotions run by someone else
a. Booksweeps https://booksweeps.com/
b. Authors XP/ https://authorsxp.com/
c. Celebrate Lit https://www.celebratelit.com/19-2/
III. Running Your Own Group Promotions
a. Control over who joins
b. Ability to tailor to your audience
c. Allow your creativity to shine
d. Give back to the author community
IV. Tools useful for giveaways/promotions
a. Bookfunnel
b. King Sumo
c. Rafflecopter
d. Gleam
e. Promo Simple
V. Multi-Author Promotion Ideas
a. Author newsletter swaps
b. Blog tours—round robin with contests, like genre, authors create schedule where each author shares another author each month,
c. Bookfunnel group promos
d. Themed giveaways
e. Examples

Join bestselling author Robin Jones Gunn and her longtime literary agent Janet Grant for an exclusive “Ask Us Anything” writers workshop! With over 100 books and 6.5 million copies sold, Robin, alongside Janet’s expert guidance from Books & Such Literary Management, will pull back the curtain on their decades-long partnership. From crafting unforgettable stories to navigating the publishing world, this dynamic duo will answer your burning questions, share insider tips, and inspire you to take your writing journey to the next level. Whether you’re an aspiring author or a seasoned scribe, don’t miss this chance to learn from two trailblazers who’ve turned dreams into page-turning reality!

Organically increase your newsletter subscribers who will want to stick around.

Struggling to grow your newsletter with engaged subscribers who want to stick around? This workshop will explore how to organically expand your email list using the Round Robin method. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to revamp your newsletter strategy, this workshop will equip you with the tools to build your audience.

In this presentation we will cover:
- Definition of Marketing
- Marketing Tips for Your Author Website
- Leveraging Social Media for Marketing
- Creating and Utilizing a Mailing List

This workshop will discuss many of the typical ups and downs that occur in a writer’s life to prepare that creative soul mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for both the challenges and blessings.

1.Challenges and Blessings of the Writing Life — Whether you write full-time or part-time, you can expect countless ups and downs in your writing journey. Not so much a how-to session, during this time we will discuss typical experiences that can discourage or uplift writers. Considering these realities in the company of sympathetic colleagues, we will prepare in advance to cope mentally, emotionally, and spiritually with both defeats and victories.

This session aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the advantages podcasts offer to authors, encouraging them to explore this dynamic medium, as well as practical tips on hosting and setting up a new podcast and the ins and outs of being a sought-after guest.

Leveraging Podcast Appearances and Hosting to Expand Your Reach
In today’s digital age, podcasts have emerged as a powerful platform for authors to engage with audiences, expand their reach, and build a personal brand. This session outlines the myriad benefits authors can gain from both appearing as a guest on existing podcasts and hosting their own shows.
Benefits of Being a Podcast Guest Increased Visibility
Introduces you to a broader audience that you might not reach through traditional means. Podcasts often have dedicated listener bases, and being featured can significantly increase visibility.
Audience Connection
A unique opportunity to connect with listeners on a personal level. Allows for deeper storytelling, share insights about your writing process, inspirations, and personal anecdotes. Expert Positioning Guest appearances can establish you as an expert, build credibility and authority, and encourage listeners to seek out your work.
Networking Opportunities
Engaging with podcast hosts and other guests can lead to collaborations, speaking engagements, or even future projects.
Benefits of Hosting Creative Control
Provides the creative freedom to explore topics that interest you and align with your brand. Tailor content to reflect your unique voice and perspective.
Brand Building
A powerful tool for building your personal brand. By consistently delivering valuable content, you can develop a loyal audience that associates your name with quality and expertise.
Direct Audience Engagement
Create an interactive community around your work.
Content Repurposing Interactive
Participants will practice mock interviews and be guided through a podcast planning handout, be invited to share experiences, and ask questions. This session aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the advantages podcasts offer to authors, encouraging them to explore this dynamic medium, as well as practical tips on hosting and setting up a new podcast and the ins and outs of being a sought-after guest.

Let’s tackle some of the hurdles we face as career authors—many that change rapidly in our ever-changing industry.

Career Writing
Navigating the Business of Writing for a Long-term Career
Planning
Hiring Help
Keeping stories fresh after 10+, 20+, 30+ (more) books
Balancing history, authenticity, and the culture of today
Writing in multiple genres
Indie or Trad or hybrid?
AI tools available - pros/cons

Practical insights and methods for developing and deploying stories from a veteran of experiential and media forms. This is a presentation and conversational workshop designed to inspire and inform with a veteran creator and producer, touching on the timeless art of narrative and the latest tech, including thoughts on AI. The session will include an overview of key concepts Mr. Monroe has developed over nearly 40 years working at the highest levels of narrative industries, with suggestions and feedback to help others bring new ideas into the world.

In this hands-on workshop, we’ll go over simple tips and tricks to line edit your own writing and bring it up to the next level to impress agents and editors.

We’ll start this workshop with a brief overview of the different types of editing and when it might be beneficial to hire an outside editor. Then we’ll move into the meat of the session and go through a series of simple, easy-to-apply editing tips to dramatically improve your prose. We’ll discuss using strong verbs and nouns instead of adjectives/ adverbs, cutting filler words, avoiding distancing words to maintain a deeper POV, and tips for tightening dialogue. We’ll also talk about how to strengthen paragraphs through varying sentence structure and how to increase or slow the story’s pacing through sentence and paragraph length. We’ll take a look at some examples together, and then attendees will have time to use a checklist to edit a small section of their own work. We’ll wrap up the session with time for questions.