Saturday Business & General Workshops
How To Broaden Your Online Audience Using Google Analytics and Best SEO Practices
with Annette Marie Griffin
Millions of people are searching for solid answers to life’s deepest questions. But instead of looking to the Church or the Bible for spiritual guidance, today’s go-to source of enlightenment is Google. This class will teach Christian authors how to use best SEO practices and Google analytics to impact the world, grow their online audience, boost their online presence, and open the door for more writing and speaking opportunities.
Picture Your Path: Defining & Designing the Writing Journey Unique to You
with Shannon Leach
“What do you write?” This is usually the first question we are asked as writers, especially at conferences. Veteran authors may have confident answers, but many of us are still trying to define what our writing legacy looks like as we try to discern where God is leading us in our stories. Our tendency is to compare ourselves to others that are doing it well and absorb their choices as our own. However, our writing journey is a one-of-a-kind gift that was not meant for the shame of comparison. Join us for this interactive conversation about claiming and proclaiming the unique writing path God built just for us as we create a writing legacy coat of arms using the concepts of heraldry.
Your appearance should be as polished as your prose
with April Thompson
Writing is a solitary business. But when we have opportunities to appear in public, we want to look and sound professional. April Thompson, an Emmy-winning broadcast journalist, will share pro tips on public speaking including enunciation, and how to remain calm and poised when your knees are shaking. She will also offer suggestions for looking good while staying true to your own style
Book Cover Design: Putting a Face on Your Book
with Diane Turpin
DIY has become a lifestyle in the world around us. Everyone tries to do it themselves, from writing a book to creating a cover. But as with all DIY projects, there can be hidden potholes along the way. Join me for a session on cover design basics, including finding images and deciding whether to create your cover in Canva.
Saturday Fiction Workshops
Turning Back Time: Writing Fiction Rooted in the Past
with Johnnie Alexander
Do you love stories set in another era—where candlelight glows, secrets unfold, and the world feels just a little different? If so, this workshop is for you. Writing historical fiction doesn’t mean you need a degree in history—it just takes curiosity, imagination, and a few tools to get started.
In this session, you’ll learn how to choose the right time period for your story, build believable characters shaped by their world, and blend research into your writing without getting overwhelmed. We’ll also talk about common mistakes (like info dumps and modern thinking in old-fashioned clothes) and how to avoid them.
Whether you’re planning a sweeping historical romance or a cozy mystery set in the past, this workshop will give you the confidence and clarity to begin. Come ready to dream, discover, and start turning back time in your stories
Crafting engaging dialogue:
Moving beyond "he said, she said"
with Pat Bradley
Learn how to write authentic dialogue without sounding stilted or mechanical and discover how to slant your characters’ speech to reflect their unique personalities and backgrounds. This class will explore how to convey deeper meaning through what is unsaid and how body language can complement spoken words.
Four Goals to Achieve in writing fiction
with Loretta Eidson & Delores Topliff
The characteristics of good writing hold true across all genres. Authors Loretta Eidson and Delores Topliff will provide principles to hone your writing craft with these four building blocks:
- Theme– Establishing your clear Story Question
- Characters– Crafting believable and unforgettable characters
- Setting– Creating settings where your story and characters shine
- Point of View (POV)/Conflict– A look inside your character’s head. Internal & external conflicts.
Come with questions.
Writing personal tragedies with grace
with DiAnn Mills
Surviving life’s challenges takes courage. To write about the experience forces the writer to explore painful emotions and relive the tragedy repeatedly.
Our tragedy could be a death, divorce, betrayal, PTSD, abandonment, or a cauldron of more than one event. What makes us different is we feel it’s worth the heartache, and we’re willing to write about what happened to help someone else survive the same or similar ordeal.
This workshop explores the how to write the personal tragedy honestly and with understanding and compassion. Handout provided
Saturday Non-Fiction Workshops
How To Guarantee Your Manuscript Will Be Rejected or SMH (Shaking My Head)
with David Bennett
Learn the not-so-bright things to do to ensure your manuscript is first in line for the shredder. Rather than leaving an editor shaking their head, you can abide by a few simple things to help your lines avoid the circular file.
Writing for a Middle Grade Audience
(without sounding cheesy or Preachy)
with Annette Marie Griffin
If you’ve explored the middle-grade section of a library or bookstore lately, you know that the genre is inundated with dark literature. Now more than ever, Christian kid-lit writers need to be the light. But no one wants to read a cringe-worthy, preachy book—especially tweens. Whether you’re writing fiction or non-fiction for an ABA or CBA audience, this workshop will explore 5 keys to reach the heart of young readers.
Creative Ways to Supplement Your Writing Income
with Alycia Morales
Finances tight? Want to write your novel but need to work while you do? Want to work from home but need the second income? Most writers do. Some of us even need the second job because we need another creative outlet alongside our writing.
In this workshop, we’ll take a look at 15 creative jobs you can do from home to supplement your income. We’ll talk about the potential income, what resources you may need to get started, and what each job entails.
Pages of Wisdom: building authority & leaving a Legacy (Share what you know. Impact who you love)
with Dell Self
No matter who you serve—your clients, your church, your family—your story and insights are too valuable to stay tucked away. This workshop will show you how to turn your life lessons, faith, and expertise into a short, powerful book that positions you as the authority in your field and leaves a God-honoring legacy for generations to come.