Friday, September 27

Pre-Conference Masterclasses

(These are add-on events for conference registrants with an $85 additional fee. Non-conference registrants also may register for Tiffany Yates Martin's Masterclass ONLY for $85 by selecting that class as a "ticket type" in the registration form.)

1-3:30 p.m. - Masterclass #1: Renee Fountain: "From Query to Contract: Mastering the Submission Process"

Limit: 30 registrants

1-4 p.m. - Masterclass #2: Tiffany Yates Martin

Limit: 30 registrants (open to public for fee)

3-5:45 p.m. - Registration

3:45-4:45 p.m. - Mindy Friddle: "Write your novel: Tips to Propel You from Inspiration to Final Draft." Do you have a terrific idea for a novel but aren't sure how to proceed? Perhaps you are halfway through a draft and feel stuck? Maybe you're seeking ways to revise a baggy first draft into a cohesive narrative? This class will focus on ways to kickstart the writing and revising process to create a compelling novel. You'll learn about tools to structure your ideas and fine-tune the framework of your novel as well as discover techniques to help you channel your creativity – even when inspiration is running dry.

3:45-4:45 p.m. - Barbara V. Evers: "Crafting Critters as Characters"

6 p.m. - Welcome Remarks, SCWA President Ash Smith

6:15 p.m. - Dinner

7 p.m. - Keynote Address: Screenwriter Alan Roth, "AI and Current Trends in Writing"

(These authors/agents will offer individual critiques or pitch sessions on Saturday and Sunday for an extra fee of $75 for each session: Grady Hendrix, Amy Collins, Chad Rhoad, Alex Rath, Renee Fountain. Sign up for these add-ons at registration; you will be informed later of details for your submissions and the schedule for your session(s). You may register for as many as you wish for a $75 fee for each session.)

Saturday, September 28

8-9 a.m - Breakfast

9 a.m. - Keynote Address: Tiffany Yates Martin, "The Happy, Harsh Truths of a Writing Career"

10-11 a.m. - Breakout #1 / Book to Screen: Alan Roth

10-11 a.m. - Breakout #2 / Short Story Writing: Scott Gould

10-11 a.m. - Breakout #3 / Novel vs. Story Cycle: Andrew Geyer

11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. - Breakout #4 / Queryfest: Renee Fountain and Marisa Zeppieri-Caruana

11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. - Breakout #5 / Secrets, Twists and Reveals: Tiffany Yates Martin

11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. - Breakout #6 / Self-Publishing: Nicole Jock and Nicholas Read

12:15-1 p.m. - Lunch

1-2 p.m. - Keynote: Grady Hendrix

2-2:50 p.m. - Breakout #7 / Writing a Plot Synopsis Without Losing Your Mind: Amy Collins

2-2:50 p.m. - Breakout #8 / Today's Publishing World Panel with Grady Hendrix, Renee Fountain, Lynn Cullen, and Nicholas Read. Barbara V. Evers, facilitator.

2-2:50 p.m. - Breakout #9 / Query Writing: Marisa Zeppieri-Caruana

3-3:50 p.m. - Breakout #10 / Writing and Publishing Poetry: Jennifer Bartell Boykin

3-3:50 p.m. - Breakout #11 /Writing Sci-Fi and Apocalyptic: Alex Rath

3-3:50 p.m. - Breakout #12 / Writing Horror: Grady Hendrix

3:50-4:15 p.m. - Break/Exhibits

4:15-5:15 p.m. - Breakout #13 / Writing Historical Fiction: Lynn Cullen

4:15-5:15 p.m. - Breakout #14 / Speed Pitching: Kasie Whitener

4:15-5:45 p.m. (90-minute session)- Breakout #15 / Live Edits: Tiffany Yates Martin

5:15- 6 p.m. - Exhibits, Book Signings, Cocktails

6 p.m. - Dinner on your own

7:30-9:30 p.m. - Reading/Open Mic: Michael Murray, facilitator/host

Sunday, September 29

8-8:45 a.m. - Breakfast

8:15-9:15 a.m. - SCWA Membership Meeting

9:15-10 a.m. - Keynote Address: Lynn Cullen

10-10:50 a.m. Breakout #16 / Develop Your Memoir: Writing Prompts from a Memoirist and Developmental Editor: Cinelle Barnes

10-10:50 a.m. - Breakout #17 / Writing Children's Stories: Dinah Johnson

10-11:30 a.m. (90-minute session) - Breakout #18 / How to Train Your Editor Brain: Tiffany Yates Martin

11 a.m.-noon - Slushfest with Andrew Geyer, Chad Rhoad, Renee Fountain and Amy Collins

12:15-12:30 p.m. - Final Remarks: Ash Smith