Workshop Schedule — Saturday Morning
Please note this is a preliminary workshop schedule. A final list will be available on-site in the conference program.
Saturday, August 2
8:30-9:30 a.m.
Free Falling: Strategies for Turning a Failure to Your Advantage (CAREER) — Jodi Thomas
RWA Hall of Fame and New York Times best-selling author Jodi Thomas shares how to turn failures into triumphs.
Making a Splash, Even If You’re Waiting to Sell (CAREER) — Theresa Meyers, Gina Black, Ruth Kaufman, Gerri Rusell, and Michele Ann Young
The American Title 2 sisters share their insights and tips on starting your career now, including: ways to promote even without a book to sell, create a brand and image, use contests, get cover quotes, Web sites and online promotion, set a promotion budget, and how to make your author brand more attractive to agents or editors. (2 hours)
My Writing May Be Art…but My Kids Need Braces (WRITER’S LIFE) — Holly Jacobs and Nancy Warren
Two best-selling, award-winning authors who’ve never missed a deadline share secrets for writing even when you don’t feel like it.
Save the Cat! (SPECIAL) — Blake Snyder
Screenwriter and producer Blake Snyder shares his secret weapon for creating dynamic stories that sell. (2 hours)
Spotlight on Harlequin Single Titles
The Hybrid Hype: Genre-defying Blends That Hit the Mark (CRAFT) — Leah Hultenschmidt, Christie Craig, Jana DeLeon, Gemma Halliday, Leslie Langtry, and Bethany True
Authors from Killer Fiction, and an editor who loves mixing things up, discuss how to achieve the perfect mix of romantic subgenres without driving readers crazy.
Voice: What Are They Talking About? (CRAFT) — Virginia Kantra
What is voice? How do I get one? Using examples from best-selling authors, six-time RITA Award finalist Virginia Kantra examines the factors that influence author and character voice and shares tips for defining and refining your own voice.
Writing the Hot Historical (CRAFT) — Janet Mullany, Helen Breitweiser, and Pam Rosenthal
An agent and two authors guide you to creating a convincing historical world (while turning up the heat), with a glance at the market today.
Saturday, August 2
9:45-10:45 a.m.
Everything Agent: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (CAREER) — Alesia Holliday and Steven Axelrod
RITA-winning author Alesia Holiday and agent Steven Axelrod share everything you should know about finding and working with your dream agent.
Making a Splash, Even If You’re Waiting to Sell (CAREER) — continued
Plotting for Erotica (CRAFT) — Cathy Yardley
Romance and chick-lit author Cathy Yardley shares how to develop a plot that creatively and satisfactorily sustains the intense level of sensuality today's erotic romance demands.
Pump Up Your Productivity (WRITER’S LIFE) — Cindi Myers
This award-winning author shows you how to identify what’s keeping you from being effective and how to increase your productivity. The workshop will provide tips for carving out writing time and for producing not only more writing, but quality writing in that time.
Save the Cat! (SPECIAL) — continued
Scene and Sequel (CRAFT) — Pam McCutcheon
Writing an entire novel can be intimidating, but once you master scene structure, you have mastered one of the basics of storytelling. Find out how with an award-winning, multipublished author.
Spotlight on New American Library
Writing Regency Historicals in the Here and Now: Research, Relevance & World Building (PUBLISHING) — Stephanie Laurens, Jacquie D’Alessandro, and Candice Hern
New York Times best-selling author Stephanie Laurens along with award-winning authors Jacquie D’Alessandro and Candice Hern talk about writing regency historical romances in today’s market.
Saturday, August 2
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
10 Things We Love About Writing YA Romance (CRAFT) — Shelley Adina, Carol Grace Culver, Kelly Parra, and Jennifer Jackson
A multipublished, category, and single-title romance author, a RITA award–winning inspirational author, a debut multicultural author, and a New York agent share tips and writing how-to’s for and selling in the increasingly popular genre of YA romance.
Confessions of a Bionic Author: Insider Tips I Learned as a Bookseller, Editor, and Author (CAREER) — Wendy Corsi Staub
A former bookseller, editor, and now New York Times best-selling author shares insider tips about writing and selling.
From Cover Concept to Finished Cover: an Overview of the Cover Process (PUBLISHING) — Kate Duffy, Audrey LaFehr, John Scognamiglio
Veteran editors from Kensington Publishing offer a behind-the-scenes peek at how cover art is created.
It's My Process and I'll Cry If I Want To (CRAFT) — Jane Porter and Lilian Darcy
While you can't always control, or even love, your writing process, getting a handle on it will significantly increase your odds of success. Two highly successful authors help you stay on target.
Romancing the Internet: Simple Ways to Boot-up Your Writing Career by Blogging (CAREER) — Fronnie Lewis, Jina Bacarr, HelenKay Dimon, and Charlene Sands
Learn how to blog your way to a better writing career—from basic skills to advanced techniques. Learn about blogging, the benefits and drawbacks, and how blogging creates opportunities.
Spotlight on Sourcebooks, Inc.
Theft of Creative Property (PUBLISHING) – Dr. John Barrie, Jane Litte, and Nora Roberts
Join Dr. John Barrie, of iThenticate and Turnitin, attorney and blogger Jane Litte, and best-selling author Nora Roberts as they discuss plagiarism. Special moderator: Sarah, from Smart Bitches, Trashy Books.
What Takes So Long? What Happens to Your Manuscript from Signed Contract to Store Shelves (PUBLISHING) — Deanne Gist
Would you like to be a fly on the wall and see exactly the steps your manuscript goes through in production? Join best-selling, award-winning, Christian fiction author Deeanne Gist as she tracks the process.
Writing Romantic Suspense: Some Basic Stuff (CRAFT) — Karen Rose
A RITA-winning author shares practical tips for creating fast-paced, hold-your-breath suspense.
View Friday afternoon workshops
View Saturday afternoon workshops
