Schedule

2026 Schedule - Shaping the Narrative

Friday, November 6, 7-9 pm

Doors open at 6:30 pm 

Welcome & Keynote with Suzanne Morrison

Saturday, November 7, 9 am-4:30 pm

Doors open at 8:30 am 

Main Class with Suzanne Morrison, The Importance of Being Baffled, 9am-10am

Every writer has experienced a block of one kind or another. Whether it’s not knowing how to structure your story, or what happens next in your plot; whether it’s fear of what you might write—and who might read it—or life pulling you away from your desk every time you try to focus, we’ve all had moments when we don’t know how our story is going to get told. But what if our blocks were teaching us something about what we have to say? What if an obstacle is actually a guidepost? As Wendell Berry wrote, “when we no longer know which way to go we have come to our real journey.” In this class we’ll go looking for pieces of our stories that haven’t revealed themselves to us yet, brainstorm strategies for getting to work when fear, confusion, or the outside world keeps getting in the way, and rediscover what we’ve wanted to write all along. 

Workshop session blocks begin at 10:15am

Lunch on Your Own break 12:30pm-1:30pm

Doors close at 4:30pm 

(Schedule is subject to change, more detailed schedule will be posted in the days leading up to the conference.)

 

Workshop Title	Workshop Description	Presenter Name	Audience	Category
Explore Ways to Make Sure Your Secondary Charcter is Earning Their Keep	We'll discuss the six secondary character archetypes and strategies for making them effective tools for driving your story forward while being three-dimensional entities of their own. We will cover strategies for effective usage along with writing prompts and tests you can use.	Bronwyn Scott	Beginner/Intermediate	Craft
Writing the Second Novel: Overcoming the Sophomore Slump	This workshop is designed to discuss common hurdles for authors writing their next book and tips to overcome them. Apply all that you learned from writing your prior book without second guessing yourself, suffering burnout, and/or toggling between your second book while promoting the first.	Andy Becker	Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced	Motivation
Writing from the Archive	Writing from the Archive explores how archival voices can disrupt narratives and open new imaginative futures. Participants will write in direct response to a series of brief audio excerpts from literary icons, experimental writers, and radical poets allowing the voices to shape and expand the work on the page.	HR Hegnauer	Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced	Craft
Who's in Charge?	When strong characters take charge of your story, anything is possible. This class explores keys to creating unique and well-developed personalities through dialogue, pacing, plus broadening the characters' goals and struggles. We’ll discuss ways to build multilayered, memorable individuals that move the plot forward and leave the reader wanting more.	Denise Frisino	Beginner/Intermediate	Craft
The Trials and Tribulations of a First-Time Novelist	Finally, you're done! You've managed to get that long-cherished novel on paper. Now you've got to sell it to an agent or publisher or self-publish. How do you make that decision and cope with rejection?  David Jepsen experienced the best and worst in writing his novel. For every right turn he made a wrong turn. He has a story to tell that will benefit all aspiring novelists.	David Jepsen	Intermediate	Craft
Fighting for Fiction	Learn background knowledge needed to craft characters who fight and break down the structure of a fight scene to help you create fast-paced, understandable action sequences.	Bethany Maines	Intermediate	Craft
First Person Point of View (POV)	Many writers struggle to master writing in first person POV. In this session, students will learn how to determine if first person POV is right for their project, how to deploy it, and gain experience writing in first person.	Robin Jeffrey	Beginner/Intermediate	Craft
Final Draft Editing	This presentation demystifies Final Draft Editing. Attendees will learn how to perform a final draft developmental edit that preserves and enhances their story’s creative vision, while ensuring narrative clarity, coherence, and reader trust.	Wendy Kendall	Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced	Craft
Imagining the Future: A Speculative Fiction Writing Workshop	Developments in science and technology affect people of all genders, races, and nationalities, so we should have a voice in exploring the changes we’ll face. This interactive workshop will empower participants to start imagining—and writing—the world of the future.	Tara Campbell	Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced	Craft
Partnering with AI as a Research Assistant	This workshop is designed to take the mystery out of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Discover how tools like ChatGPT and Claude can act as your personal, around-the-clock research assistants. Learn how to work with AI, which will enable you to focus on writing.	Laurinda Bellinger	Beginner	Motivation
Not Frankenstein's Monster: How to Give and Receive Feedback	Implementing feedback is one of the most effective tools a writer has for shaping their unique narrative into their best writing. Discover methods for creating and delivering specific feedback that is both useful and kind, plus how to synthesize and incorporate—or thoughtfully reject—feedback you receive.	Star Wuerdermann	Beginner/Intermediate	Craft
Avoiding Burnout for Writers: Learning to Thrive Before you Burnout	Managing time and tasks is important to do our best work. Running on adrenalin, sleep deprivation, and imposter syndrome can derail our plans. Let’s slow down and create processes and plans to help us identify burnout before it combusts.	Leslie Hall	Beginner/Intermediate	Motivation