Get plugged into the publishing industry and learn how to grab an agent’s or editor’s attention with your young adult manuscript. This workshop will explore the current trends, challenges, and opportunities in the YA market and discuss how to make your work-in-progress stand out from the competition.

Discover the basics of what any author needs to know to successfully write for children. In this workshop, authors will learn some of the general norms and trends in all of the children’s book categories, including board books, picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and young adult (YA). If you’re looking to gain a better understanding of the needs of today's market so you can successfully navigate the world of children's publishing, come join the conversation!

Our goal as Christian writers is to inspire and encourage kids in the Lord. But that won't happen if they stop reading the story. In this workshop we'll discover three ways to add adventure to every page—for every age. Bring a flashlight!

You can write for middle graders if you can imagine possibilities—just like they do. Preteens are wet cement, still forming beliefs while asking lots of questions. If your WIP seems over-the-top, too funny, too action-packed, or even ridiculous, it's probably perfect for the Mighty Middle. Come find out why.

We all start somewhere, but no one wants their writing to look amateurish when they approach publishers. We’re going to talk about ten rookie mistakes many new fiction writers make. Identifying and fixing these simple problems will help your manuscript stand out from the crowd.

In fiction there are archetypes of stories that readers love to see. From the hero’s journey and rites of passage to buddy love, there are many tried-and-true plot patterns that readers love to devour. We’ll look at 10 well-known story archetypes found in books and movies.

World-building is how your characters see your story world and how it, in turn, reflects them. Their environment influences and changes them, and they change their environment throughout the plot. Discover how to build a setting from the top down and the inside out so your world becomes as much a character as your people.

“I felt like I was there!” As writers, we want to engage our readers and immerse them so deeply in our stories that they forget the world around them. In this workshop, we’ll explore methods to draw readers in—and avoid pitfalls that yank readers out!

Gripping novels invite readers into the action by placing them deep inside the character's head. In this session, we'll discuss deep POV techniques, including show-don't-tell, sensory detail, distancing words, character voice, and emotional tells.

For millennia, narratives have featured archetypes—characters built on specific and identifiable traits. The heroes and villains of today’s books and films may be based on the same heroic and villainous archetypes found in fairy tales, Charles Dickens novels, and the theaters of the ancient Greeks. Let’s look at characters.

Do you love tracking down old stories and meeting new people? This workshop covers all aspects of book research including how to effectively gather and organize relevant information without drowning in the details. We'll discuss interview tips, research trips, artificial intelligence, libraries, living history museums, and reputable online resources.

In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn how to storyboard an entire book using sticky notes. The activity starts with free-form brainstorming and then shifts to organizational strategies to discover chapter topics and the elements that could fill them. Those whose books are storyboarded will leave with their whole book outlined.

Whether urging your reader deeper into your story or into the content of your nonfiction, that important connection may make the difference in the reader purchasing your next book or embracing the truths and hope your writing offers. Learn how relatively simple tweaks can change how shallow a reader wades or how deep they plunge.

Come learn how to self-edit your manuscript into a lean storytelling project by removing the superfluous, thus giving yourself more words for emotions, descriptions, and delivering a more satisfying experience for the reader.

When I begin work on a memoir with someone, we sit down and start to talk. I ask questions, and I listen. Imagine that right now—we’re sitting down to coffee, and I’m going to ask you a few questions. Then I’ll suggest some next steps, and explain why I’m doing it this way. Are you game?

Learn to share the story of God's love, faithfulness, and saving help (Ps. 40:9-10) in your life with intentionality and focus so that it ministers deeply to your readers. You'll also receive a practical tool to help you discern when you're ready to tell which parts of your story.

If you journey through different Bible studies, you quickly discover they are not all created equal. Some have the power to transform lives—and those are the ones we remember. In this workshop, we will explore the seven essential elements for writing Bible studies that truly draw our hearts closer to God.

Whether writing a devotional or crafting a historical fiction book, everyone needs to know how to write an article. There are three vital components to a well-crafted article: SETTING the HOOK, NAVIGATION, and NET. This interactive class gives valuable insight to writers of all genres.

Writing devotions is one of the most satisfying projects a Christian writer can undertake. In this workshop, I'll share the steps to creating a devotion that is both heartfelt and enlightening—and marketable!

Having an online presence isn’t just a marketing strategy, it’s a ministry tool. Whether you’re developing a new website or improving an existing one, this workshop will help you reach your audience effectively. We’ll cover topics like domains and hosting, site builders, form and function, and basic search engine optimization.

In this class, I’m going to take you through some mock interviews and questions you will be asked by publishers, both early on and later as you promote your book. As a publicist booking authors on media and also as an author, I will share what the media is looking for and how to take your message and turn it into an angle rather than just pitching your book. We’ll also look at how to pitch articles so that you are delivering content that’s needed, not just trying to get a review of your book.

Transform your book into an engaging online discussion or Bible study. Discover how to create interactive sessions and thought-provoking questions tailored to your readers' interests. Gain insights on promoting effectively, fostering stronger connections, and enriching your audience's understanding of your book. This workshop is ideal for broadening your evangelism reach and cultivating a community around your book and brand.

Do you wonder why more people aren’t buying your book or signing up for your newsletter? You likely have fantastic content but not effective copy. Learn the common mistakes most writers make when promoting their work and how to start thinking like a conversion copywriter so you can get your message to the people who need it.

Explore the importance of mastering newsletters, even if your first readers are family. Learn the art of setting deadlines, building your email list from the ground up, and creating a month's worth of engaging content. This class will enhance your writing skills and reveal the far-reaching impact of effective communication.

Tackle social media stress in this workshop by crafting a 30-day content plan. Gain skills in idea generation, organization, and timely posting of captivating content. Simplify your social media approach, save time, and enhance audience engagement.

Building personal and project mission statements is an important tools for every writer's toolbox. Being able to concisely capture your mission statement can also serve as an “Elevator Pitch” and is part of a good foundation for your queries, podcast guest appearances, and book proposals.

After the thrill of getting and signing a book deal, authors tend to feel a little unsure of what to do next. This workshop will cover the process authors and books go through after the contract is signed, including some tips on how to prepare for marketing your book release.

First impressions are everything. For many magazines, the query is your first—and last—chance to seal the deal. Come learn the mechanics of writing queries that will have editors lining up to publish what you write.

What makes publishers say yes, and conversely, why do they say no? In this workshop, you'll get an inside look into a publications review committee meeting.

Getting published is hard, but there’s help! Books & Such literary agent Barb Roose shares four areas for you to prioritize in your quest to get published. As a traditionally-published author herself, Barb will also share specific and practical tools to equip your next steps in your publishing journey.

In this workshop, we'll deconstruct several types of co-creative relationships—including co-authoring and manuscript development teams—examining what works, what doesn't work, and why. We'll discuss necessary precautions while focusing on the many benefits of wise, intentional collaborations and how they live out the message 1 Corinthians 12.

Everyone loves a good story. But why is it that sometimes a story just falls short? In this workshop, we will discuss the top ten (or more) most common mistakes that I see in movie scripts every day as as script consultant.

In this workshop, we'll study God's movement in our lives—the successes and challenges we've faced. Together, we’ll focus on using these experiences to fulfill His will for our writing. The result? Projects brimming with genuine power and vulnerability, and deeply satisfied readers.

We will almost always regret writings we created from a reactive and dysfunctional place. Although some great angst art has been produced throughout history, as a Christian, art is not simply about expression but expression that is ultimately good. Whether we are writing fantasy fiction about dragon riders, or a memoir on a life of depression, it’s critical that we write from a place of relative health. This workshop will focus on: the art of healthy authenticity; appropriately using righteous anger to bring change; intentional quirkiness; proper envelope pushing; and more.

While it is rare to make a living on book sales, many authors can earn income doing work-for-hire, writing devotions, creating professional content, and even publishing books. Through this workshop, writers will learn what work-for-hire is and isn't, recognize if this kind of writing is for them, and discover how to find opportunities in the publishing industry and their own community.

Embrace the power of artificial intelligence to make your writing process smoother and your business operations more efficient. This interactive workshop will teach you how to smartly and ethically incorporate AI into your writing life, from generating ideas to automating mundane tasks, freeing you to focus on your creative and entrepreneurial goals.

In this spiritual and transformational talk, you will be inspired to grow in hearing God’s voice, dialoguing and journaling with Him, aligning your heart with His, and making confident decisions with Him as you write.

It finally happened. A publisher wants your book and sent you a contract. The deadline date seems totally doable. Until you actually have to meet it amidst the chaos of family needs, illness, and your brain occasionally refusing to cooperate. How do authors keep up? When is it okay to ask for more time? Whether you have a looming deadline now or want tools for the future, this workshop will help you create a plan for getting your book competed and sent.