Creative Technology

As an author, Colleen Paeff has utilized a number of tools and strategies to help with her writing. In this session, she will introduce attendees to a variety of tech tools to save time and lessen anxiety for writers who conduct research. From simple tips, like using the Library Extension App, to more complex ones, like using Obsidian to organize highlights from Kindle books and then creating individual notes, you’ll learn new ways to find information and keep it organized.

As a self-publishing professional who's tested AI tools across every stage of publishing, Brian Schwartz will help you cut through the noise and share what actually works. This isn't about replacing your creativity. It's about reclaiming your time. You'll learns shat AI can (and can't) do for authors right now; time-saving workflows that preserve your voice and vision; critical pitfalls to avoid that could damage your reputation or rights; practical dos and don'ts for experimenting safely, and where the technology is headed and what it means for your career. Whether you're AI-curious or AI-skeptical, you'll leave with a realistic roadmap for using these tools strategically without losing what makes your writing uniquely yours.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping every stage of the writing life — from research and outlining to editing, marketing, and even prose generation — and every writer must now answer a question the industry is still struggling to define: How much is too much? This candid panel brings together authors, editors, and publishing professionals to explore where useful tool ends and creative compromise begins, what readers deserve to know, and how to protect your voice and integrity in a landscape changing faster than anyone can regulate. Whether you’re AI-curious, AI-cautious, or somewhere in the middle, come ready for an honest reckoning — no manifestos, no easy answers.