Do you love reading movies? Have you ever thought about creating a novel based on a movie script? Then this is the workshop for you!
Description:
Want to turn a movie into a book? Join Tim Waggoner's workshop to learn how! Topics covered include: What a novelization is and isn’t. How novelizations are born. Current attitudes toward novelizations. How are writers for novelizations chosen? Working with editors and IP holders. Adding material vs not adding material. How much freedom does the author have? Techniques for writing novelizations. Landing novelization gigs. Trad publishing novelizations vs indie novelizations.
Gamemastering for the Writer, Writing for the Gamemaster
Summary:
Author, TwitchTV host, and online/offline DM Gregory A. Wilson draws on 40 years of game mastering experience to discuss how to integrate writing and game mastering techniques to benefit both.
Learn how to write a great story opening that includes character, setting, conflict, tone, and mystery. All skill levels. Optional: bring the first page of your story/novel. Led by Kelli Fitzpatrick.
Description:
Learn how to write a great opening for a short story or novel. Stuck on where your story or novel should start? What goes on the very first page? In the first paragraph? How do you make the right impression with the reader? This workshop will cover the elements of an engaging opening, including how to quickly establish character, setting, conflict, tone, and mystery. We will look at examples from published stories, engage in interactive practice, do Q&A, and as time permits, the instructor will offer feedback on volunteer participant openings. Appropriate for beginners through experienced writers. Bring pen and paper or a charged device, and the opening page of your story/novel in progress if you have one (not required). Taught by sci-fi author Kelli Fitzpatrick who has written a novel for Marvel and over twenty short stories published.
Award-winning author Jason Sanford will explore tips and strategies that help neurodiverse writers along with how typical writing advice and expectations can sometimes be harmful.
Description:
Neurodiverse writers have always been around and frequently approach the art of fiction in different ways from neurotypical people. For authors who are on the autistic spectrum, have ADHD, anxiety, dyslexia, bipolar disorder, and other unique ways of experiencing the world, traditional advice on how to write fiction may actually be harmful or counterproductive. In this workshop, award-winning author Jason Sanford will explore the tips and strategies that help him create his fiction, including new advice on dealing with issues such as brain fog and neurodiverse pacing. In addition, he'll also cover how some of the typical advice given to writers, such as "put your butt in a chair and write" or "write 1000 words each day," can actually be harmful to neurodiverse authors. Jason's booklet "Tips and Strategies for Neurodiverse Writers" will be provided to all attendees.
Passion Into Profit: Business Fundamentals for Creatives
Summary:
For beginners and seasoned creatives, join James P. Nettles to learn how to turn passion into profit; expand your reach, earn sustainably, and protect your work with practical business fundamentals.
Description:
The moment you decide to earn from your passion, you have a business. Drawing on his book Business Essentials for Writers and 35+ years of consulting experience in media, entertainment, business, and technology, this workshop delivers practical frameworks to help you build a sustainable business around your creativity. Learn how to develop the systems that support your work, protect your intellectual property, and use storytelling as a powerful marketing tool. We’ll cover how to apply core business principles to grow both your creative output and your income without losing your voice or your creative soul. The session also explores how Generative AI is reshaping the landscape, and what creatives need to know to adapt, protect themselves, and stay competitive. Taught by James P. Nettles.
Pitch Us and Refine Your Game is a targeted, four-hour workshop with Scott Lynch, Brandon O'Brien, and Monica Valentinelli to help you polish and present your drafted game.
Description:
In this session, you and your peers will be pitching the judges your game, receive feedback, and then get help to polish and present your drafted game. This is a crash course in how to take your existing game's draft to the next level by learning how to present your game, how to pitch to game companies, when to decide whether or not to self-publish, how to teach new players your rules, and more! Pending the number of attendees, this workshop may also include a breakout session to help you finalize the parts you're having trouble with.
In this workshop you will: learn playwriting basics, engage in quick writing prompts, and play theatre games to help get you out of your head and put your full body into your creative work!
Description:
If you're a playwright, or ever wanted to try your hand at writing for the stage, you've got to be able to keep your words "Active." You've got to feel the emotions in your body as you commit words to page. Join Ashley Lauren Rogers in this interactive workshop.
Press, Public Relations and Marketing for Authors & Creators
Summary:
Writing the book is only half the battle - the other half is promoting it! Join author, editor and publicist Sean CW Korsgaard who will guide you through selling your books and yourself!
Description:
"You've written your book, found a publisher, and have a release date - now comes the hardest job yet, selling your book AND yourself to the public!
Luckily, your host and instructor Sean CW Korsgaard has been there before, first having spent a decade as a reporter, and then having spent three years building Baen Books' media and marketing department from the ground up, then launching a pair of magazines of his own! He will teach you how to build a promotion kit, how to punch up your bios and promos, handle reviewers and interviewers, and how to get the right kind of attention from both, and help you to put your very best foot forward as a writer in the public eye.
You've already got a story to tell - from this workshop, you'll come away with the tools, knowledge and confidence to share them with the world!"
Jennifer Brozek teaches you how to manage your job, house, family, and get creative work done, all at the same time, without burning out.
Description:
Jennifer Brozek’s popular workshop is back by demand! How do you stay on top of the daily tasks of being a writer or a creator of any stripe? How do you plan—and carry out that plan—for a novel? A podcast? A painting? How do you make sure one aspect of your creative endeavor doesn’t swallow up all the rest? Basically, how can a creator stay in control of the daily chaos of existence even when you have multiple projects going at once? Not to mention that Life keeps happening? Learn the tips and tricks that keep a creator organized and on top of things from someone who has been in the creative trenches for almost two decades. All questions are welcome.
Join literary agent Gabrielle Harbowy for insider info and Q/A about the querying process, the submissions package, and how it all works.
Description:
Gabrielle Harbowy is an Associate Literary Agent at Corvisiero Literary Agency. An award-nominated editor, author, and anthologist, she is the author of the novel Pathfinder Tales: Gears of Faith, and has written game adventures for Pathfinder PFS and D&D Adventurers League. For more information, including her MSWL (manuscript wish list), visit her online.