July 18-20, 2025 | Grand Rapids, MI

Pre-Conference Session with Seth Ring and Erin (E.A. Winters)

Dreams are all well and good, but what code have successful authors cracked to craft not only their stories, but their dreams—and turn them into reality?

Dive into this high-level workshop and take your author business to the next level, analyzing how to turn a dream into a sustainable career from two professionals who have done just that. From overview to granular, gather the tools, habits, mindset, and kick in the rear you need to accelerate in a specific direction to skyrocket your chances of success.

Continuing Sessions

Each continuing session twice during the conference, for a total of 4 hours of content. The classes are designed that the second session builds upon the first.

Quadrant 1: Elements of Science Fiction
Quadrant 2: The Science in Science Fiction
Quadrant 3: Multidimensional, Intricate Layering
Quadrant 4: Mash-Up and Marketing with Kathy Tyers Gillin and Ronie Kendig

Award-winning authors Kathy Tyers and Ronie Kendig explore how to craft intricate, compelling science fiction with emphases on the “science” in science fiction, the delicate art of complex layers, and the impact of these advanced worlds on characters and plot.

The Flow of Writing with Jeff Wheeler

A full-time writer must produce hundreds of thousands of words crafted to make a reader keep turning the pages. A brilliant researcher named Czikszentmihalyi figured out the optimal conditions that make this creative state possible and repeatable. Join me as we explore what a “FLOW” state is and how you can learn to get there faster and reliably, even when it’s crunch time. You’ll learn some new tips on how to eliminate distractions, tame your monkey mind, how to harness boredom, and why making your bed might be a secret ingredient to your success.

The How of Creativity

Is creativity just a magical thing that happens randomly in some people and not at all in others? Or is it, like a muscle, something you can practice and develop into a consistent thing? Yes, it’s more like a muscle and yes, there are exercises you can do to develop it. In this class you’ll learn creativity tips from the author of the Hunger Games, Pixar Studios, Stephen King, Andrew Carnegie, and one of the most famous fighter pilots in history that you’ve never heard of before (no it’s not Tom Cruise—I said you’ve never heard of him before). And me, of course, a bestselling author who writes 3-4 books a year. Come learn the secrets of where creativity comes from.

The Story Cube with Steven James

The Story Cube: An in-depth exploration of what truly lies at the heart of all great stories

Ever since Aristotle, story theorists have been looking at story through a temporal lens—beginning, middle, and end, or first act, second act, and third act. But what if there was another way of conceptualizing story on a more elemental level? What if there was a way of understanding story that was easy to visualize and remember and that would apply to any genre you write? Well, there is, and in this two-part seminar you’ll learn how it can transform your writing and storytelling forever.

Spiritually & Emotionally Thriving in the Publishing Wilderness with Lindsay A. Franklin

No matter what stage of the journey you’re in, publishing can feel like an uncharted wilderness. This unique industry is full of thrilling discoveries alongside challenges, setbacks, and even heartbreak. At times, the demands seem never-ending, far exceeding what we feel we have to give. The result? Exhausted writers who feel chewed up and spat out. In these two sessions, we’ll explore practical strategies for maintaining your spiritual and emotional health while navigating the highs and lows of the writer’s life. Together, we’ll discuss how to find joy in the journey and stay grounded in your calling and creative purpose—even when the path gets rocky.

Teen Track with Wayne Thomas Batson

Party Up: Questing For Identity

Teen Attendees will explore the multifaceted dimensions of identity, complete a fantasy identity profile, and party up with other Teen Trackers to complete character-creation quests.

Level Up: Character Buffs for Plotting, Gaming, & Life

Teen Attendees will delve deeply into identity by “cold-dropping” characters into hilariously awkward situations, watching them squirm, and receiving a world-changing buff that can crush writer’s block once and for all.

Elective Sessions

Classes taught by Sarah Arthur

On Getting It Done

While many of us would like to wait for inspiration to strike, the truth is that writing is work. And we need to honor the process by bringing to it all our skills. Whether it’s organizing materials, narrowing your focus, setting goals and deadlines, pacing the process, or simply getting the words out, veteran writer Sarah Arthur will help you identify what’s keeping you from moving forward as well as some practical tools for pushing through.

How to Write Like Madeleine L’Engle

“Don’t think: WRITE.” Madeleine L’Engle was the bestselling author of 60+ titles, including the Newbery winner A WRINKLE IN TIME. She was also relentless and super opinionated. As her friend and fellow writer, Philip Yancey, said, “She tended to make pronouncements”–including about writing. Sarah Arthur has compiled ten of Madeleine’s writing practices (some of which Sarah has found helpful and others, not so much) to help us understand what makes a great writer tick. Which of those practices will you try in your own work?

Classes taught by Matt Yocum

Comics – From Concept to Creation

Learn how to turn an idea into a comic. We’ll discuss how to develop your idea, how to find a team (artist, colorist, letterer, etc), how to navigate working with this team, and venue options for publication. This is a broad overview of how to create a comic and bring it to life.

Comics – Developing a Powerful Scene

This is a more in-depth session on how to craft a powerful scene. Through the magic of the comic book medium – using a combination of words and images combined – you have options not available through prose or art alone. The challenge is: how do you combine these to maximum effect on the reader. Dive into how to use the comic book medium and build a scene to achieve its greatest impact.

Classes taught by Donald Maass

TBA

Classes taught by Carla Hoch

Fight Scenes: From Practical to Tactical

Need to see the fight in real life? Learn the basics of fighting through live demonstration and hands-on instruction, including hand-to-hand fighting and weapons basics and open Q&A. This class is audience driven and never the same class twice

Fight Scenes 101

Students will learn to write a fight scene from start to finish with FightWrite’s quick and dirty guide. Bring your fight scenes!

Classes taught by Lisa Mangum

Say What? How to Make Your Dialogue Meaningful

Characters in books don’t talk like people in real life—but should they? This class will offer a deep dive into the do’s and dont’s of dialogue to help writers craft compelling conversations that drive plot, learn how to create tension through the careful use of questions, and write banter between friends, enemies, and lovers. We will also touch on the importance of “author voice” and “character voice” that can help your story speak to your reader’s heart.

Setting the Stage on the Page: Making the WHERE Matter

A good story can transport us to another place. A great story can use setting to develop character, advance a plot, and highlight themes. We’ll discuss some basic principles of world-building and then explore ways to help describe a setting without getting bogged down in the details, how to keep track of characters as they move through the geography, and the power that can come when the exterior landscape reflects the internal dynamics of a character.

Class taught by Steve Laube

The Maze of Contracts and Negotiations

Selling Subsidiary Rights

Classes taught by Sarah Rubio

Real Talk about Platform and discoverability

What Publishers Are Looking for in a New Author