Fiction and Novel Writing

This session will focus on the basics of getting started in historical fiction, as well as understanding the difference between fact and nostalgia. Author and screenwriter Juliet McDaniel will discuss tips and tricks for finding rich detail on everyday life in a bygone era, including how to learn more about marginalized people throughout history. 

Knowing what to fix and how to fix it can feel overwhelming when you're too close to your own work. In this workshop, Nicole Meier will reveal the ten most common manuscript mistakes she sees as a developmental editor—and how to solve them. She'll cover weak openings that fail to hook readers, underdeveloped characters, sagging narrative drive, and more. You'll leave with practical strategies to strengthen your story's foundation and the editorial instincts to revise with confidence.

The idea is always the easy part… So what happens when you’re inspired by real events or historical figures, and you want to turn fact into fiction? Author, editor, and educator Dayna Bennett will offers various ideas for blending those nonfiction elements with fiction to create a narrative that will captivate your readers. 

Have you ever wanted to write a Star Wars story? Or Superman, Star Trek, Marvel Superheroes? And, for pay –not as unpaid fan fiction. Media Tie-in writing is a lot of fun, a great way to stretch as a writer, and there’s a lot of it out there waiting for new writers. This fast-paced workshop explores working with license holders; finding work; multi-platform writing; and identifying markets tied to movies, TV, comics, games, and more! Jonathan Maberry, president of the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers, has worked with many top licenses, including Aliens, Predator, The Wolfman, True Blood, John Carter of Mars, Sherlock Holmes, GI Joe, Wizard of Oz, John Wick, Winnie the Pooh, and many other licenses.

Great films and television shows offer powerful lessons in momentum that translate directly to the craft of writing page-turning novels, short stories, and narrative nonfiction. In this practical, example-driven session, Hollywood screenwriter and television producer Jennifer Coté breaks down the techniques film and TV use to keep audiences engaged scene after scene. Attendees will learn how to: build momentum that keeps readers turning pages, craft tighter, more dynamic scenes, strengthen dialogue, and balance action with vivid detail to create immersive storytelling. Writers will leave with concrete tools they can apply immediately to deepen engagement and keep their readers hooked. No screenwriting experience required—all storytellers welcome.