As part of your conference registration options, you will be given the choice of one of the following Workshop Electives from each of the available time slots. Remember, all times are CDT! By registering for the virtual conference, you will also have access to all the workshop recordings for a limited time, post-conference.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You are encouraged to study the workshop sessions carefully before registering. ** ALL times are CENTRAL.
Workshop Elective Session 1: Friday - 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Location:
Presented By: Ann Byle
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: Creativity is more than creating Fine Art in all its forms. True creativity is about courage, curiosity, noticing, practicing empathy, moving past the inevitable nos, and so much more. Using Ann Byle’s book “Chicken Scratch,” we’ll learn how to live a truly creative life, from finding your flock to handling henpecking to learning to breathe. Creative activities and hands-on application will help you deepen your creativity and find your creative sweet spot.
Presented By: Ann Byle
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: Creativity is more than creating Fine Art in all its forms. True creativity is about courage, curiosity, noticing, practicing empathy, moving past the inevitable nos, and so much more. Using Ann Byle’s book “Chicken Scratch,” we’ll learn how to live a truly creative life, from finding your flock to handling henpecking to learning to breathe. Creative activities and hands-on application will help you deepen your creativity and find your creative sweet spot.
Workshop Outline:
Location:
Presented By: Donna Snow
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: "Your story matters, so it's important to tell it well. Let's learn how to shape your nonfiction idea into a clear, compelling Bible study, devotion, or journaling notebook. From the writing process to structure to voice, you'll gain the tools and confidence to turn your message into a manuscript that connects and inspires. The Basics of Excellent Writing ~Identify your genre and readers; state a clear goal/benefit upfront. ~Create a discernible beginning, middle & end. ~Arc your storyline, use action verbs, and put the power at the end of sentences. The Mechanics of Writing a Compelling Story ~How to find and write in your own voice: VITAL. ~Deploying emotional language by using imagery, metaphors, and humor. ~How to tell a memorable story: lessons from Jesus. ~Learning to use all five senses and descriptive words: no lazy writing! How and Where to Conduct Research and Find Sources ~The Internet: pros, cons, and how to find trusted resources. ~Social media: valuable for audience and a source of rich discussion groups. ~Libraries, seminaries, and trusted teachers/experts. ~Surprising resources. How to Outline and Write a Nonfiction Book/Bible Study ~Questions to pray through and ways to carve out appropriate writing time. ~How to structure the bones and frame of your book. ~How to engage your audience and keep them turning pages.
Presented By: Donna Snow
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: "Your story matters, so it's important to tell it well. Let's learn how to shape your nonfiction idea into a clear, compelling Bible study, devotion, or journaling notebook. From the writing process to structure to voice, you'll gain the tools and confidence to turn your message into a manuscript that connects and inspires. The Basics of Excellent Writing ~Identify your genre and readers; state a clear goal/benefit upfront. ~Create a discernible beginning, middle & end. ~Arc your storyline, use action verbs, and put the power at the end of sentences. The Mechanics of Writing a Compelling Story ~How to find and write in your own voice: VITAL. ~Deploying emotional language by using imagery, metaphors, and humor. ~How to tell a memorable story: lessons from Jesus. ~Learning to use all five senses and descriptive words: no lazy writing! How and Where to Conduct Research and Find Sources ~The Internet: pros, cons, and how to find trusted resources. ~Social media: valuable for audience and a source of rich discussion groups. ~Libraries, seminaries, and trusted teachers/experts. ~Surprising resources. How to Outline and Write a Nonfiction Book/Bible Study ~Questions to pray through and ways to carve out appropriate writing time. ~How to structure the bones and frame of your book. ~How to engage your audience and keep them turning pages.
Workshop Outline:
Location:
Presented By: Rachel Hauck & Joy Massenburge
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: You’ve got a story to tell—but the noise of comparison and envy can get loud. It’s no wonder you feel overwhelmed or stuck. This workshop is for writers who want to create with God. So we're pairing soul-care with story craft to help you write from freedom instead of pressure. Phase One: We’ll talk about journaling as a release valve to “declutter the soul,” quiet the noise, and make space for His voice in your creativity. Phase Two: We'll pivot to the craft side and how to translate spiritual truth into powerful fiction without forcing it. We’ll unpack the spiritual arc of the writer as well as the characters. You’ll learn how to weave faith into story through theme, symbol, imagery, and beauty. You’ll leave this workshop with an encouraged heart and practical tools for your creative journey.
Presented By: Rachel Hauck & Joy Massenburge
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: You’ve got a story to tell—but the noise of comparison and envy can get loud. It’s no wonder you feel overwhelmed or stuck. This workshop is for writers who want to create with God. So we're pairing soul-care with story craft to help you write from freedom instead of pressure. Phase One: We’ll talk about journaling as a release valve to “declutter the soul,” quiet the noise, and make space for His voice in your creativity. Phase Two: We'll pivot to the craft side and how to translate spiritual truth into powerful fiction without forcing it. We’ll unpack the spiritual arc of the writer as well as the characters. You’ll learn how to weave faith into story through theme, symbol, imagery, and beauty. You’ll leave this workshop with an encouraged heart and practical tools for your creative journey.
Workshop Outline:
Location:
Presented By: Ami McConnell
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: After decades as a book editor, I’m still in awe of novelists! What you do is courageous. It takes grit. It takes skill. It takes faith. It’s miraculous, really. A finished manuscript is wonderful, but it’s not the end of the process. Your manuscript must be edited. The prospect of an edit can feel scary. For me, editing is an act of love. When author and reader choose to step into a covenant of empowered vulnerability, a sort of second miracle happens. Join me as we explore my editorial point of view. I’ll challenge conventional thinking about editorial process, illuminating how this process can be satisfying, freeing your writing to be all that it can be.
Presented By: Ami McConnell
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: After decades as a book editor, I’m still in awe of novelists! What you do is courageous. It takes grit. It takes skill. It takes faith. It’s miraculous, really. A finished manuscript is wonderful, but it’s not the end of the process. Your manuscript must be edited. The prospect of an edit can feel scary. For me, editing is an act of love. When author and reader choose to step into a covenant of empowered vulnerability, a sort of second miracle happens. Join me as we explore my editorial point of view. I’ll challenge conventional thinking about editorial process, illuminating how this process can be satisfying, freeing your writing to be all that it can be.
Workshop Outline:
Workshop Elective Session 2: Friday - 3:15 pm - 4:15 pm
Location:
Presented By: Rebecca Reed, Rebecca Yauger, and Melissa LaShure
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: This session explores how podcasting serves as a powerful career accelerator for authors by creating industry connections, and professional opportunities beyond book sales, with actionable steps to launch your own show aligned with your career goals.
Presented By: Rebecca Reed, Rebecca Yauger, and Melissa LaShure
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: This session explores how podcasting serves as a powerful career accelerator for authors by creating industry connections, and professional opportunities beyond book sales, with actionable steps to launch your own show aligned with your career goals.
Workshop Outline:
Are you ready to discover how podcasting can become your most powerful career development tool—not just for selling books, but for opening doors you didn't know existed? This dynamic session reveals how strategic podcasting creates multiple pathways to author success beyond traditional book marketing. You'll learn how podcasting positions you as an authority in your niche, builds meaningful industry relationships, and generates diverse income streams including sponsorships, speaking engagements, coaching opportunities, and even new publishing deals. Whether you write fiction or non-fiction, are traditionally published or indie, this presentation provides a practical framework for launching and growing a podcast aligned with your unique career goals. You'll discover how to choose the right format for your objectives, create content pillars that showcase your expertise, and build a sustainable production system that fits into your writing life. We'll explore real-world success stories of authors who've transformed their careers through podcasting—from romance writers who built six-figure coaching businesses to historical fiction authors who landed consulting gigs for television. You'll see concrete examples of how podcasters monetize their shows, attract speaking opportunities, and leverage guest relationships into career-changing connections. This isn't about creating more marketing work for yourself. It's about building a body of work that demonstrates your expertise, creates genuine connections with readers and industry professionals, and compounds in value over time. Every episode becomes a permanent asset working for your career 24/7. You'll leave with a clear 90-day launch plan, realistic expectations for growth, equipment recommendations for every budget, and actionable strategies to avoid common pitfalls. Whether you're podcast-curious or ready to hit record tomorrow, this session provides the roadmap to make your author podcast a career accelerator. Your voice is one of your most powerful assets. It's time to share it strategically.Workshop Elective Session 3: Friday - 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Location:
Presented By: Allie Plieter
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: Info coming soon
Presented By: Allie Plieter
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: Info coming soon
Workshop Outline:
Location:
Presented By: Dr. Ronda Wells
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: Come and be walked along the bumpy road to independent publishing with a detailed step-by-step approach, and how to avoid the potholes!
Presented By: Dr. Ronda Wells
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: Come and be walked along the bumpy road to independent publishing with a detailed step-by-step approach, and how to avoid the potholes!
Workshop Outline:
You've finished your draft, even had it edited perhaps. What's next? Let author Ronda Wells walk you through the process of publishing your first independent book from start to finish, because if there was a place to make a mistake--she found them. The truth? You need an honest self-assessment before even starting. A detailed handout including dashboards will be included, along with a list of file formats needed. Despite employing other professionals along the way, Ronda managed to find issues to stymie her and others. Come have fun learning how NOT to do Ingram or KDP. No such thing as a dumb question, either!
Location:
Presented By: Angela Hunt
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: Did you know that editors and agents and book buyers often make decisions about whether or not to purchase a manuscript or book after reading only the first five pages? Those pages are the most crucial in any novel, so are yours the absolute best they can be? The first five pages have so much work to do—hook the reader, establish your protagonist, identify the genre, POV, and tense, and reveal the writer’s voice. Most important, the first five pages must prove that you know the craft and can tell a terrific story. Angela Hunt, author of more than 170 books, knows the power of those first five pages, and she will help you make yours the best they can be!
Presented By: Angela Hunt
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: Did you know that editors and agents and book buyers often make decisions about whether or not to purchase a manuscript or book after reading only the first five pages? Those pages are the most crucial in any novel, so are yours the absolute best they can be? The first five pages have so much work to do—hook the reader, establish your protagonist, identify the genre, POV, and tense, and reveal the writer’s voice. Most important, the first five pages must prove that you know the craft and can tell a terrific story. Angela Hunt, author of more than 170 books, knows the power of those first five pages, and she will help you make yours the best they can be!
Workshop Outline:
Location:
Presented By: Jennifer Jahn
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: This session is designed to introduce attendees to the importance of mastering the book proposal, removing the intimidation factor, tips for finding book comps, and beefing up the “network and promotion” section.
Presented By: Jennifer Jahn
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: This session is designed to introduce attendees to the importance of mastering the book proposal, removing the intimidation factor, tips for finding book comps, and beefing up the “network and promotion” section.
Workshop Outline:
Attendees will learn that a book proposal is a tool that can benefit the author. It is a document to show agents, editors, and publishers to prove that their book is important to readers right now. Attendees will receive a copy of a book proposal geared towards children’s books, discuss each section of a proposal, preview helpful websites for finding book comps, and learn how to ask others to help promote their book. We will go through each section of a proposal. I will teach which sections are the easiest to tackle. Discuss why the target audience for a children’s book is not the child. The session will also address why a book proposal is not a query letter. This session will be useful for freshman writers because it will build knowledge and confidence about what is ahead for their writing journey. Sophomores will also appreciate the session because it will address questions they may currently have about their proposals and confirm the work they’ve already completed.Workshop Elective Session 4: Saturday - 10:15 am - 11:15 am
Location:
Presented By: Rick Acker & Steve Laube
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: Veteran agent Steve Laube and attorney & author Rick Acker team up to provide an overview of key contract provisions for both traditional and indie authors.
Presented By: Rick Acker & Steve Laube
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: Veteran agent Steve Laube and attorney & author Rick Acker team up to provide an overview of key contract provisions for both traditional and indie authors.
Workshop Outline:
Location:
Presented By: Angie Hunt
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: Our heroes panel will feature real life Memphis heroes—people who know about being a detective, a cop, a mayor, a prison warden, a paramedic, a firefighter, and more! Come with your questions and get real answers from authentic experts. It would be helpful if you submitted your questions early to Angie Hunt (hunthaven@gmail.com). Don’t worry about getting the details wrong—get your answers from genuine heroes. (If you submit your question early, be sure to mention the heroes panel in your email.)
Presented By: Angie Hunt
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: Our heroes panel will feature real life Memphis heroes—people who know about being a detective, a cop, a mayor, a prison warden, a paramedic, a firefighter, and more! Come with your questions and get real answers from authentic experts. It would be helpful if you submitted your questions early to Angie Hunt (hunthaven@gmail.com). Don’t worry about getting the details wrong—get your answers from genuine heroes. (If you submit your question early, be sure to mention the heroes panel in your email.)
Workshop Outline:
Location:
Presented By: Pepper Basham & Bethany Turner
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: In this lively workshop, award-winning authors Pepper Basham and Bethany Turner will explore the polarizing art of kissing (in our writing, that is) by teaching seven essential guidelines for writing kisses that matter.
1. Establishing the Emotional Stakes
2. Building the Anticipation
3. Earning the Payoff
4. Anchoring it in Emotion
5. Making Sure it Changes Something
6. Keeping it in Character
7. Exploring the Aftermath With practical examples, fun exercises, and at least a little bit of swooning, Pepper and Bethany will help demystify this love-it-or-hate-it plot device. If you use them properly, kisses can be one of the most powerful tools in a writer’s toolbox—and not only for romance writers. To (very badly) paraphrase Rhett Butler, you should write kisses, and often…and you should be someone who knows how.
Presented By: Pepper Basham & Bethany Turner
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: In this lively workshop, award-winning authors Pepper Basham and Bethany Turner will explore the polarizing art of kissing (in our writing, that is) by teaching seven essential guidelines for writing kisses that matter.
Workshop Outline:
Some writers dread them. Others look forward to writing them and giddily obsess over every breath…every pulse…every nuance. We’re talking, of course, about kissing scenes. In what promises to be a fun-for-some, torture-for-others workshop, Pepper Basham and Bethany Turner (two romance writers who fall happily into the #WeLoveWritingKisses category) will break down seven practical guidelines for writing kisses that matter:1. Establishing the Emotional Stakes
2. Building the Anticipation
3. Earning the Payoff
4. Anchoring it in Emotion
5. Making Sure it Changes Something
6. Keeping it in Character
7. Exploring the Aftermath With practical examples, fun exercises, and at least a little bit of swooning, Pepper and Bethany will help demystify this love-it-or-hate-it plot device. If you use them properly, kisses can be one of the most powerful tools in a writer’s toolbox—and not only for romance writers. To (very badly) paraphrase Rhett Butler, you should write kisses, and often…and you should be someone who knows how.
Location:
Presented By: Carol Post
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: Grip your readers with stories that radiate energy and emotion and don’t let them go, even long after “The End.”
1. Voice (tone, choice of words, choice of content, even punctuation) Besides author voice, each character has a unique voice, which comes across in their thoughts, their dialogue and the way they observe the world around them.
2. Description (Too much is boring; too little and story doesn’t have originality or impact) • Incorporate the senses/make it vivid – Choose two or three striking details. • Use strong words • Write it in a way that it reflects the character’s emotion • The same principles apply to character description
3. Dialogue • No-no’s (filler words, hesitation sounds, unnecessary adverbs, long explanations, greetings and farewells, overusing slang) • Purposes (All dialogue should accomplish two or three of these things: Advance the plot, show a power shift, create intimacy, reveal character, create emotional impact, begin or heighten conflict, accelerate the pace.)
4. Emotion • Make characters sympathetic/relatable. • Make sure the reader identifies with the character before trying to portray deep emotions. • Give characters wounds and fears. • Show characters' feelings with action and response. • Choose words with deliberation. • Cut unrelated detail to keep focus on the emotion. • Use setting to deepen the reader’s emotional response. • Use sensory details to mire the reader in the reality of the scene. • Tap into your own emotions.
5. Word choice (Replace clichés and overused phrases with original writing, and make use of literary devices) Lots of examples are provided to illustrate each of the points. (PowerPoint presentation will be made available to attendees.)
Presented By: Carol Post
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: Grip your readers with stories that radiate energy and emotion and don’t let them go, even long after “The End.”
Workshop Outline:
What makes some writing leap off the page and other prose fall flat?1. Voice (tone, choice of words, choice of content, even punctuation) Besides author voice, each character has a unique voice, which comes across in their thoughts, their dialogue and the way they observe the world around them.
2. Description (Too much is boring; too little and story doesn’t have originality or impact) • Incorporate the senses/make it vivid – Choose two or three striking details. • Use strong words • Write it in a way that it reflects the character’s emotion • The same principles apply to character description
3. Dialogue • No-no’s (filler words, hesitation sounds, unnecessary adverbs, long explanations, greetings and farewells, overusing slang) • Purposes (All dialogue should accomplish two or three of these things: Advance the plot, show a power shift, create intimacy, reveal character, create emotional impact, begin or heighten conflict, accelerate the pace.)
4. Emotion • Make characters sympathetic/relatable. • Make sure the reader identifies with the character before trying to portray deep emotions. • Give characters wounds and fears. • Show characters' feelings with action and response. • Choose words with deliberation. • Cut unrelated detail to keep focus on the emotion. • Use setting to deepen the reader’s emotional response. • Use sensory details to mire the reader in the reality of the scene. • Tap into your own emotions.
5. Word choice (Replace clichés and overused phrases with original writing, and make use of literary devices) Lots of examples are provided to illustrate each of the points. (PowerPoint presentation will be made available to attendees.)
Workshop Elective Session 5: Saturday - 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Location:
Presented By: Joni Fisher
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: This workshop is a crash course in investigative journalism, examining the importance, methods, and sources of research, combined with the application of memory and imagination to deepen storytelling
Presented By: Joni Fisher
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: This workshop is a crash course in investigative journalism, examining the importance, methods, and sources of research, combined with the application of memory and imagination to deepen storytelling
Workshop Outline:
This workshop approaches research like an investigative journalist, through online sources, fieldwork, and interviewing experts. This workshop provides practical advice and free resources to empower writers to find accurate and interesting information to use in their stories. From online research to interviewing experts, we learn how to uncover insider information to make the story believable and compelling. Next, we explore how to apply memory and imagination to create authenticity for a deep point of view. This workshop comes with a 13-page handout.
Location:
Presented By: Tara Johnson
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: This workshop delves into the tools of psychology to craft a new alternative to creating riveting plots and complicated characters. Explore the third strand of the story braid —character wounds and the spiritual thread— that will make your story shine.
External plots- Internal plots- G M C For the Christian writer, a huge component, and one that can totally create the perfect conflict and redemption for your characters is found in your story’s spiritual thread. This is the spark that gives your story eternal impact.
When you identify the spiritual thread of your story, you can create everything from the ______________________ ___________________.
Emotional wound definition: Key to character (and their internal conflict) is found in their ____________________.
Common Wounds: Knowing your characters’ wound(s), will greatly affect their internal and external goals, motivation and conflict.
Misbelief Definition: What is your character’s wound? 3 pivotal beliefs in your character’s past: 1. 2. 3. Manifesting Behaviors: Most of the bad decisions we make are rooted in a fear we've never confronted. The same is true for our characters. How to craft the spiritual plot: 1. Identify the Wound 2. Identify your main characters’ deepest fears 3. Know what lie your characters believe about themselves. 4. Create conflict to force them to confront their wound. 5. Reveal God’s light to them during their darkest moment. 6. Pull from your own life experience. 7. The external plot and internal struggle are birthed from knowing your story’s spiritual spark, and is the perfect way to craft a redemptive story without being preachy.
Presented By: Tara Johnson
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: This workshop delves into the tools of psychology to craft a new alternative to creating riveting plots and complicated characters. Explore the third strand of the story braid —character wounds and the spiritual thread— that will make your story shine.
Workshop Outline:
Story Spark How are stories created?External plots- Internal plots- G M C For the Christian writer, a huge component, and one that can totally create the perfect conflict and redemption for your characters is found in your story’s spiritual thread. This is the spark that gives your story eternal impact.
When you identify the spiritual thread of your story, you can create everything from the ______________________ ___________________.
Emotional wound definition: Key to character (and their internal conflict) is found in their ____________________.
Common Wounds: Knowing your characters’ wound(s), will greatly affect their internal and external goals, motivation and conflict.
Misbelief Definition: What is your character’s wound? 3 pivotal beliefs in your character’s past: 1. 2. 3. Manifesting Behaviors: Most of the bad decisions we make are rooted in a fear we've never confronted. The same is true for our characters. How to craft the spiritual plot: 1. Identify the Wound 2. Identify your main characters’ deepest fears 3. Know what lie your characters believe about themselves. 4. Create conflict to force them to confront their wound. 5. Reveal God’s light to them during their darkest moment. 6. Pull from your own life experience. 7. The external plot and internal struggle are birthed from knowing your story’s spiritual spark, and is the perfect way to craft a redemptive story without being preachy.
Location:
Presented By: Sara Turnquist
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: Indie Publishing has become a viable way of getting your story out into the world, but there are some things you need to know to put your best foot (or book) forward.
a. What are the different types of publishers?
b. Where does indie publishing fit in?
c. What are some of the numbers/stats?
II. The “hats” of the indie publisher
a. Author-preneur
b. Writer
c. Marketer/promoter
d. Web Design
e. Publisher
III. Decisions are up to the author
a. Budgeting concerns
b. What to farm out and what to learn
IV. How to interact with creative partners and where to find them
a. Cover artist
b. Editor(s)
c. Narrator
V. Questions you want to ask
a. Wide vs. exclusive
b. Ebook and paperback?
c. Audiobooks
VI. Conclusion
a. Questions
b. Resources
Presented By: Sara Turnquist
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: Indie Publishing has become a viable way of getting your story out into the world, but there are some things you need to know to put your best foot (or book) forward.
Workshop Outline:
I. What is indie publishing?a. What are the different types of publishers?
b. Where does indie publishing fit in?
c. What are some of the numbers/stats?
II. The “hats” of the indie publisher
a. Author-preneur
b. Writer
c. Marketer/promoter
d. Web Design
e. Publisher
III. Decisions are up to the author
a. Budgeting concerns
b. What to farm out and what to learn
IV. How to interact with creative partners and where to find them
a. Cover artist
b. Editor(s)
c. Narrator
V. Questions you want to ask
a. Wide vs. exclusive
b. Ebook and paperback?
c. Audiobooks
VI. Conclusion
a. Questions
b. Resources
Location:
Presented By: Stephanie Alton & Linda Kozar
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: Agent Stephanie Alton with The Blythe Daniel Agency, Inc. and Author Linda Kozar offer an inside look at the ten things agents and authors work through day to day and book to book.
Presented By: Stephanie Alton & Linda Kozar
Level:
Prerequisites:
Full Description: Agent Stephanie Alton with The Blythe Daniel Agency, Inc. and Author Linda Kozar offer an inside look at the ten things agents and authors work through day to day and book to book.