LA14 (Irvine) Schedule

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Tips

Click on any individual workshop title to view its summary. For specific instructions on how to navigate the interactive online schedule, or customize and print your own weekend itinerary, please go to the “Tips” tab above, where we also have a video tutorial. All workshops and events will take place at the conference hotel, the Wyndham Irvine, located at 17941 Von Karman Avenue, Irvine, CA 92614.

A summary of all workshops can be found on the Workshops and Events page. If you’re having a problem navigating the interactive schedule below, we also offer the Weekend-At-A-Glance.
- Friday, September 23th, 2016
- Saturday, September 24th, 2016
- Sunday, September 25th, 2016
- Scroll down to any given day by using your browser’s schroll bar on the right (or touch and drag).
- Position your mouse pointer over the timetable grids to scroll to the relevant timeframe using the horizontal scroll buttons that will appear.
- Click on the gray box with the title of the event you’re interested in to expand it and to view more information about the event.
- In an expanded event box, click the “Add to Program” button to highlight this event on the printable schedule (optional).
- Access a printable schedule (which also contains any highlighted events) by clicking the tiny, black printer icon at the upper-right of each day’s timetable (optional).
- Watch the video below for a tutorial that walks you through all of this functionality. Be sure to click the little “gear” icon and set the quality to “720p” HD for the best possible viewing experience.

Friday, September 23rd, 2016

September 23rd, 2016

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REGISTRATION DESK

Walk-in Registration

September 23rd 12:00pm - 8:00pm

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WORKSHOP

Read & Critique

Read, Critique & Live to Write Another Day

Melanie Hooks & Laura Perkins

Rogue Read & Critique(s)

Various

Read, Critique & Live to Write Another Day

September 23rd 2:00pm - 3:30pm

Melanie Hooks & Laura Perkins

Staff members and R&C vets Laura Perkins and Melanie Hooks walk you through critique-giving etiquette and their most helpful methods of interpreting ‘craft vs opinion’ notes, all while keeping your ego – and passion for your work – alive and well.

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All-Genre

September 23rd 3:40pm - 5:10pm

Maralys Wills

Troubleshoot potentially problematic aspects of works-in-progress.

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Rogue Read & Critique(s)

Sep 23rd 9:00pm - Sep 24th 12:00am

Various

All-Genre: Matthew J. Pallamary

All-Genre: Laura Taylor

Sci-Fi and Fantasy: Melanie Hooks & Laura Perkins

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WORKSHOP

Craft & Execution

Authorial Voice: Do You Have or Need One?

Claudia Whitsitt

Getting to the Heart of Women’s Fiction

Janis Thomas

Authorial Voice: Do You Have or Need One?

September 23rd 2:00pm - 3:30pm

Claudia Whitsitt

Writers often struggle with voice, that elusive element agents often refer to when rejecting manuscripts. In this hands-on workshop we will dissect mentor texts and learn the elements of voice, as well as practice developing distinct, relatable voices for unique and compelling characters.

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Getting to the Heart of Women’s Fiction

September 23rd 3:40pm - 5:10pm

Janis Thomas

Women’s Lit is a broad genre, but one of the most popular and best-selling forms of fiction today. In this workshop, we’ll explore the overall genre, its sub-genres and the commonalities they share; what makes women’s fiction work; interweaving plot and character to create a compelling story, and more.

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WORKSHOP

Craft & Execution

The Long and Short of Storytelling

Jeffrey J. Michaels

First Sight: Using Images to Evoke Emotion

Matthew J. Pallamary

The Long and Short of Storytelling

September 23rd 2:00pm - 3:30pm

Jeffrey J. Michaels

In this workshop author and editor Jeffrey J. Michaels will share insights and engage in lively discussion on the necessary elements of telling a worthy tale: long or short, fiction or nonfiction and their similarities and differences. Explore ways of connecting to your audience and creating the impact you envision from your story.

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First Sight: Using Images to Evoke Emotion

September 23rd 3:40pm - 5:10pm

Matthew J. Pallamary

“Show, don’t tell.” Everybody who claims to know anything about professional storytelling argues this maxim. Few, however, can really demonstrate the how and why of doing so. In this workshop, newer scribes will gain valuable techniques and more experienced writers will sharpen their existing skill set by evoking realistic emotional responses that genuinely put your audience “there” without overtly–and ultimately diluting the story negatively–simply telling them.

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WORKSHOP

Business & Alternative

The Agony-Free Artist Statement

Jenny D. Williams

Pitch Witches: What’s Your Book About?

Marla Miller & Jennifer Silva Redmond

How to Make the Most of the Conference

Wes Albers

The Agony-Free Artist Statement

September 23rd 2:00pm - 3:30pm

Jenny D. Williams

It’s the rare writer who loves crafting an artist statement–but if you’re interested in pursuing grants, residencies, fellowships, or MFA programs, being able to articulate your core values as a writer and why you do what you do is often a critical element of your applications. Using a step-by-step approach, by the end of this workshop, participants will complete a draft artist statement, free of pesky art-speak. Open to all levels, genres, and disciplines.

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Pitch Witches: What’s Your Book About?

September 23rd 3:40pm - 5:10pm

Marla Miller & Jennifer Silva Redmond

Whether you’re an author-publisher or are querying agents and editors, knowing how to summarize your story in as few words as possible is key to selling it. Commonly referred to as your “elevator pitch,” write it down and bring your best so “Pitch Witches” Marla Miller and Jennifer Silva Redmond can work their “magic” to make it even shine.

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How to Make the Most of the Conference

September 23rd 1:00pm - 1:50pm

Wes Albers

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WORKSHOP

Business & Alternative

Master Class: Editors’ Tricks To Grow Your Writing

Jean Jenkins

Master Class: Editors’ Tricks To Grow Your Writing

September 23rd 3:40pm - 5:10pm

Jean Jenkins

If your manuscript keeps getting turned down with comments like “it’s not quite there” or “your characters need deepening” or “it didn’t catch my interest”, this workshop will help sharpen your work with ways to improve your story. If you’ve ever wondered how an agent or editor knows within the first two or three pages whether or not they want to read on, we’ll talk about what they’re hoping to find–and what turns them off. There is no magic formula. The trick is to learn to read—and write—with an eye toward story, character and situation. If you can put your reader in the story early, chances are you’ll keep them there. This workshop will help you fill your bag of storytelling tricks with tips on topics like: Building a Followable Character, Point of View, Tension, Motivation, Deepening Your Story, and Pace.

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PANELS & SPECIAL EVENTS

No-host Mixer & Booksigning

Welcome & Intros

Michael Steven Gregory

No-host Mixer & Booksigning

September 23rd 5:15pm - 7:15pm

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Welcome & Intros

September 23rd 7:15pm - 8:00pm

Michael Steven Gregory

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SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER

Gwendolyn Womack

THE MEMORY PAINTER

Gwendolyn Womack

September 23rd 8:00pm - 8:45pm

THE MEMORY PAINTER

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Saturday, September 24th, 2016

September 24th, 2016

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REGISTRATION DESK

Walk-in Registration

September 24th 7:00am - 6:00pm

Add to Program

WORKSHOP

Read & Critique

Pitch Witches: Query Letter Critique

Marla Miller & Jennifer Silva Redmond

All-Genre

Maralys Wills

All-Genre

Marla Miller

All-Genre

Judy Reeves

Rogue Read & Critique(s)

Various

Pitch Witches: Query Letter Critique

September 24th 9:00am - 10:30am

Marla Miller & Jennifer Silva Redmond

An exceptional query letter is what lands a manuscript request from an agent or acquisitions editor. But is the book you’re pitching in it an accurate description of the book you’ve written? Is it too long or filled with superfluous information that actually undermines a reader’s confidence in your potential? Bring in your no-more-than-1-page query letter and let the “Pitch Witches” work their “magic” to make it the best it can be.

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All-Genre

September 24th 10:40am - 12:10pm

Maralys Wills

Troubleshoot potentially problematic aspects of works-in-progress

Add to Program

All-Genre

September 24th 1:00pm - 2:30pm

Marla Miller

Troubleshoot potentially problematic aspects of works-in-progress.

Add to Program

All-Genre

September 24th 2:40pm - 4:10pm

Judy Reeves

Troubleshoot potentially problematic aspects of works-in-progress.

Add to Program

Rogue Read & Critique(s)

Sep 24th 9:00pm - Sep 25th 12:00am

Various

All-Genre: Matthew J. Pallamary

All-Genre: Laura Taylor

Sci-Fi and Fantasy: Melanie Hooks & Laura Perkins

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WORKSHOP

Craft & Execution

Turning Your Real-life Experiences into a Book

Maralys Wills

Dreaming of Publication: Not Just for Sleeping

Marlene Wagman-Geller

Speak Memory

Judy Reeves

Accidental Anchors

Jenny D. Williams

Turning Your Real-life Experiences into a Book

September 24th 9:00am - 10:30am

Maralys Wills

Memoir and personal-experience stories continue to do well today. However, three crucial factors are necessary to succeed: a unique and interesting story; superb writing; near-obsessive determination. Where editors were once prejudiced against the first-person viewpoint readers always responded favorably, resulting in a need to meet unusually high standards for the genre. In this workshop, learn what essential decisions must be made before tackling this type of book.

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Dreaming of Publication: Not Just for Sleeping

September 24th 10:40am - 12:10pm

Marlene Wagman-Geller

Devoid of Ivy League credentials or publishing contacts, and despite a full-time day job, in 2008 Penguin/Perigree published three of my nonfiction books. My fourth sold to Source Books in 2015. And my debut historical novel will be released by Bleeding Heart Publications in 2017. In this workshop we will explore how writers can still break into 21st century mainstream publishing, by devising unique concepts which literary agents cannot resist, regardless of your lack of social media followers or marketing expertise.

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Speak Memory

September 24th 1:00pm - 2:30pm

Judy Reeves

Whether you’re in the midst of creating a memoir, or thinking about writing one, this workshop will show you ways to enter your own rich storehouse of material and excavate memories. We’ll explore ways to discover not just the facts of what happened, but the telling details that make a story come to life. We’ll also look for memories that hold an emotional truth that will give your story meaning beyond the facts. Fiction writers can use the memory excavations for transplanting into novels or short stories.

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Accidental Anchors

September 24th 2:40pm - 4:10pm

Jenny D. Williams

Sometimes, when we get stuck on one piece, it’s because we’ve become overly attached to certain aspects of our character, setting, plot, or structure, even when those things are no longer serving the work. In this session, participants will be guided through exercises that prove for potential “accidental anchors” in a current work-in-progress and offer permission to slash those ropes and move forward.

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WORKSHOP

Craft & Execution

Novel Intensive: Concept and Genre

Ara Grigorian & Janis Thomas

Novel Intensive: Structure and Beats

Ara Grigorian & Janis Thomas

Novel Intensive: Opening, Act II, Midpoint and Closing

Ara Grigorian & Janis Thomas

Novel Intensive: Dialogue, Character, Theme and Arc

Ara Grigorian & Janis Thomas

Story Lab: Applying Novel Intensive Concepts to Your Work

Ara Grigorian & Janis Thomas

Novel Intensive: Concept and Genre

September 24th 9:00am - 10:30am

Ara Grigorian & Janis Thomas

Open to all conferees, the Novel Intensive ia a 5-workshop track devoted to crafting your novel in its entirety, from concept through completion. >>Details

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Novel Intensive: Structure and Beats

September 24th 10:40am - 12:10pm

Ara Grigorian & Janis Thomas

Open to all conferees, the Novel Intensive ia a 5-workshop track devoted to crafting your novel in its entirety, from concept through completion. >>Details

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Novel Intensive: Opening, Act II, Midpoint and Closing

September 24th 1:00pm - 2:30pm

Ara Grigorian & Janis Thomas

Open to all conferees, the Novel Intensive ia a 5-workshop track devoted to crafting your novel in its entirety, from concept through completion. >>Details

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Novel Intensive: Dialogue, Character, Theme and Arc

September 24th 2:40pm - 4:10pm

Ara Grigorian & Janis Thomas

Open to all conferees, the Novel Intensive ia a 5-workshop track devoted to crafting your novel in its entirety, from concept through completion. >>Details

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Story Lab: Applying Novel Intensive Concepts to Your Work

Sep 24th 9:00pm - Sep 25th 12:00am

Ara Grigorian & Janis Thomas

Open to all conferees, the Novel Intensive ia a 5-workshop track devoted to crafting your novel in its entirety, from concept through completion. >>Details

Add to Program

WORKSHOP

Path to Publication

Self-Publishing from A to Z: The Nuts and Bolts of Making Your Own Way

Gayle Carline

The Tao of Book Publicity: Book Promotion Strategies that Work!

Paula Margulies

Something to Talk About: Speaking Publicly About Your Book

Gayle Carline

Indie Excellence: Glocalization and the Key to Survival

Laura Taylor

Self-Publishing from A to Z: The Nuts and Bolts of Making Your Own Way

September 24th 9:00am - 10:30am

Gayle Carline

Self-publish or go traditional? If you’re sitting on the fence, this workshop will help you make an informed decision. A primer for the basics of being an author-publisher, in it we’ll start with questions to determine whether your book is a good candidate, then move on to the details of releasing a finished product and finding readers.

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The Tao of Book Publicity: Book Promotion Strategies that Work!

September 24th 10:40am - 12:10pm

Paula Margulies

In this workshop, we’ll cover techniques that help authors successfully promote their books. Topics include: how to build an author platform, guidelines for creating blog tours, how to set up a successful speaking tour, and how to obtain interviews with the media. Social media, book pricing and promos, building an engaging author website, along with how to develop targeted publicity material, including front and back cover text, press releases, Q&As, and tips for creating newsletter and media lists will also be discussed, along with practical topics such as publicity costs, timing, and considerations when hiring a publicist.

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Something to Talk About: Speaking Publicly About Your Book

September 24th 1:00pm - 2:30pm

Gayle Carline

Social media is good, but sooner or later, an author must add public speaking to their toolkit, in order to increase their visibility. This workshop will offer ideas for organizing material and overcoming fear when making presentations to an audience, as well as a chance to practice in a supportive environment. Events from launch parties to sharing a spot on a panel, to being a guest speaker will be covered.

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Indie Excellence: Glocalization and the Key to Survival

September 24th 2:40pm - 4:10pm

Laura Taylor

Two issues loom large on the Independent Author-Publisher horizon once a writer produces a beautifully written, skillfully edited book and makes it available for purchase: diversification and discoverability. This workshop is geared for writers who wish to globally expand their readership beyond Amazon and gain royalty income from a wide range of sources.

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WORKSHOP

Business & Alternative

First Pages Forward

Claudia Whitsitt

Best Foot Forward: Polishing to Impress 1

Jean Jenkins

Killer Queries & Snappy Synopses: The Key to Getting a Request

Maralys Wills

Transformative Narrative: A Shamanic Approach to Story

Matthew J. Pallamary

First Pages Forward

September 24th 9:00am - 10:30am

Claudia Whitsitt

Writers of every genre will appreciate delving into the complexities of first pages, those words that either tie a reader to a story or turn them away. Learn how to make your first pages dynamic, page-turning hooks that grab your reader and won’t let go. Bring the first three pages of your current WIP with you, as this is a hands-on workshop with time for revision and feedback.

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Best Foot Forward: Polishing to Impress 1

September 24th 10:40am - 12:10pm

Jean Jenkins

Limited to 12 participants, in this two-part workshop freelance editor Jean Jenkins analyzes your story idea, writing style, character motivation, sense of setting, character commitment, and all the other little things that agents and editors look for when reviewing pages. Submission of material prior to conference required.

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Killer Queries & Snappy Synopses: The Key to Getting a Request

September 24th 1:00pm - 2:30pm

Maralys Wills

TBA

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Transformative Narrative: A Shamanic Approach to Story

September 24th 2:40pm - 4:10pm

Matthew J. Pallamary

Though based on the essence of what a story is, fiction, nonfiction, and memoir writers will benefit from this workshop which will bring a new perspective to understanding the elements that make solid, well-paced stories that promise to grab your audience and pull them all the way through to a satisfying climax and resolution. Learn how to bring your writing process into focus by demonstrating a unique method of comprehending the energetic dynamics that make up a well structured narrative.

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PANELS & SPECIAL EVENTS

Lunch

On Your Own

Agents Panel: State of Publishing

Various

SCWC Banquet

Lunch

September 24th 12:10pm - 1:00pm

On Your Own

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Agents Panel: State of Publishing

September 24th 4:15pm - 5:30pm

Various

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SCWC Banquet

September 24th 6:30pm - 8:00pm

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SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS

Lisa Brackmann

GO-BETWEEN

Matthew Quirk

COLD BARREL ZERO

Lisa Brackmann

September 24th 8:00am - 8:45am

GO-BETWEEN

Add to Program

Matthew Quirk

September 24th 8:00pm - 8:45pm

COLD BARREL ZERO

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ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATIONS

Advance Submissions

Appointments

Advance Submissions

Appointments

Advance Submissions

Appointments

Advance Submissions

Appointments

Advance Submissions

September 24th 9:00am - 10:30am

Appointments

Add to Program

Advance Submissions

September 24th 10:40am - 12:10pm

Appointments

Add to Program

Advance Submissions

September 24th 1:00pm - 2:30pm

Appointments

Add to Program

Advance Submissions

September 24th 2:40pm - 4:10pm

Appointments

Add to Program

Sunday, September 25th, 2016

September 25th, 2016

7:00am
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REGISTRATION DESK

Walk-in Registration

September 25th 8:30am - 12:00pm

Add to Program

WORKSHOP

Read & Critique

All-Genre

Jennifer Silva Redmond

All-Genre

TBA

All-Genre

TBA

All-Genre

September 25th 7:00am - 8:45am

Jennifer Silva Redmond

Early morning opportunity to troubleshoot potentially problematic aspects of works-in-progress.

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All-Genre

September 25th 9:00am - 10:30am

TBA

Troubleshoot potentially problematic aspects of works-in-progress.

Add to Program

All-Genre

September 25th 10:40am - 12:10pm

TBA

Troubleshoot potentially problematic aspects of works-in-progress.

Add to Program

WORKSHOP

Craft & Execution

To Be Announced

TBA

Backstory: Employing Expository Like a Screenwriter

Jennifer Silva Redmond

To Be Announced

September 25th 9:00am - 10:30am

TBA

Add to Program

Backstory: Employing Expository Like a Screenwriter

September 25th 10:40am - 12:10pm

Jennifer Silva Redmond

Learning how and when to give readers information about what came before page one. Clunky, obvious, “on the nose” expository is the bane of agents and editors—not to mention readers—and one of the chief reasons that manuscripts and books get put down, never to be picked up again. Readers want (and need) to learn about characters and situations as they go along, much as we learn about people and situations in real life. In this workshop you’ll learn how to integrate the backstory into your story by employing “character reveals,” “visual expository,” and some other screenwriting tricks. Bring the first two pages of your manuscript, short story, essay, or article—you may be called upon to share.

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WORKSHOP

Craft & Execution

Memoirs, Privacy and Family Matters

Tom Huth

Nonfiction for Newbies: Is it a Book or Not?

Marla Miller

Memoirs, Privacy and Family Matters

September 25th 9:00am - 10:30am

Tom Huth

The only memoir that will sell is one that’s ruthlessly candid, one that doesn’t pull its punches. We writers have a sacred obligation to tell the truth, about ourselves and others. When we write about our friends and loved ones, though, our pungent perspectives might not be universally appreciated. Sometimes honesty hurts. It’s a tricky question with no one answer: Where do we writers draw the line between our professional ideals and our personal loyalties?

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Nonfiction for Newbies: Is it a Book or Not?

September 25th 10:40am - 12:10pm

Marla Miller

Not every good idea, nor fascinating subject, makes for a great book. In this workshop we’ll take steps to determine whether your subject matter might in fact be better explored as a terrific feature-length article for magazines, newspaper or other periodicals publication.

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WORKSHOP

Business & Alternative

The Science of Storytelling: How Neuroscience Can Help Us Tell Better Stories

Oz Monroe

Best Foot Forward: Polishing to Impress 2

Jean Jenkins

The Science of Storytelling: How Neuroscience Can Help Us Tell Better Stories

September 25th 9:00am - 10:30am

Oz Monroe

Why pick one word over another? Why write a sentence in this order instead of that? What exactly makes a story engaging? Research into Cognitive Linguistics may have the answer. In this workshop we will learn how to choose words to trigger specific regions of the brain, how to structure sentences based on the brain’s image building capabilities, and how to utilize typical reading speeds and retention to control the pace of the narrative.

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Best Foot Forward: Polishing to Impress 2

September 25th 10:40am - 12:10pm

Jean Jenkins

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WORKSHOP

Path to Publication

$0 to Six-figures in 7 'Not-So-Easy' Steps

Teresa Burrell

Write from the Heart

Jeffrey J. Michaels

$0 to Six-figures in 7 'Not-So-Easy' Steps

September 25th 9:00am - 10:30am

Teresa Burrell

Writing as a business or a hobby? Learn how to make writing your day job. This workshop is for writers who want to make money. If you have multiple books or are just starting your first one, you need to know the “business” of being an author, and the sooner you start the better. Writing is fun, but making a living at it is totally awesome!

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Write from the Heart

September 25th 10:40am - 12:10pm

Jeffrey J. Michaels

Successful creative writers rely on the ability to consistently access clear inspiration in their works. The word “inspiration” shares its origins with the words “breath” and “spirit.” The development of this creative spirit must become as natural as breathing in your evolving skills as a writer. This workshop will assist in integrating the diverse elements and experiences of the weekend, and encourage you to re-ignite your creative spirit by Writing from the Heart.

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