You can submit your presentation proposals here.
| your-name | your-title | your-description | avneeds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan Shumate | Lousy Book Covers: Learning From the Worst | Another installment of the worst of indie-published book covers, teaching valuable lessons by (bad) example. | projector |
| J.C. Chambers III | Magic as Observation: Bridging Religion and Science in Worldbuilding | Is your world’s magic mystical and awe-inspiring, or is it grounded in logic and repeatable laws? In this presentation, we’ll step away from the hard vs. soft magic debate and instead explore how to build magic systems that evoke specific responses from your readers by reflecting real-world practices. By understanding the relationship between religion and science, you’ll learn how to harness both ritual and reason to craft magic that feels both authentic and compelling. Whether you want sacred rites or lightning in a bottle, this session will equip you with new techniques to create magic that shapes your world—and captivates your readers. | Preferred, but probably not necessary. |
| John M. Olsen | Harnessing the Power of Words | Reading, study, and experience teach us words. Words give us the power to shape thought. Shaping thought changes everything. Let's talk about things you can do to improve your ideas through the words you choose. | projector |
| Joe Monson | Harnessing Your Online Presence Outside of Social Media | Social media is all the rage, but there are other tools and sites that can be beneficial to you as an author, editor, and artist if you know how to use them correctly. Learn how to effectively use ISFDB, Goodreads, Wikipedia, and more as you get the word out about your speculative fiction works. | Projector |
| Gordon Frye, Nancy Frye | Concealed Carry Through the Ages | Concealed Carry isn't a new idea, it's been around since the beginning of easily concealed weapons being carried in "non-permissive" environments. When Jesus asked his Apostles if any of them were carrying swords, he knew that he was asking if they were breaking the law, and was in full support of it. This presentation will be an overview of hide-out firearms (and a few other things) from the mid-16th Century through the 20th Century, displaying an assortment of actual items as well as a power-point presentation to show various other firearms not included in the collection. If you have a character who's packin' heat, find out what it might be. | We will bring our own projector, so no worries there. |
| Eric James Stone | Making Your Science-Fiction Science Believable | How do you make the science in your science fiction feel believable without overwhelming your story? This presentation explores techniques for grounding speculative concepts in reality while maintaining an engaging narrative. We’ll discuss how to extrapolate future technologies, conduct effective research, and apply thought experiments to create compelling what-if scenarios. You’ll also learn how to balance accuracy with storytelling, build reader trust, and seamlessly integrate scientific ideas without info-dumping. Whether you're writing hard science fiction or something more flexible, this session will provide practical tools to make your world feel both imaginative and plausible. | Projector |
| Janiel Miller | Insert Laugh Here: ______ Find and write with your natural humor | Are you dying to Make 'em Laugh, but can't figure out how? Welp, believe it or not every human being is wired for humor. And being funny can be learned! Come to this interactive class and discover where laughter originates, how the brain processes what it finds funny, and how laughter actually increases health and safety. We'll discover what makes the Hilarious Greats . . . hilarious and great--and how you can discover *your* personal greatness. In this class you'll learn to change your self-view and world view, thus opening yourself up to your natural funny-bone. We'll practice techniques and joke structure right in the classroom, and discuss how to apply your style to your characters and your narrative voice. Attendees will leave with suggestions and references to help them continue to develop their own brand of humor for writing, and for noticing and creating more joy in life. | Projector. I can bring my Macbook Air and an HDMI adaptor |
| Nancy E Frye | Hat's Incredible! | Hats started out as practical items to protect us from sun and rain...and probably evolved into fashion statements a week later. Like clothing in general, a hat (and how it's worn) says a lot about a character. Questions to be addressed: What's the difference between a hat and a cap? Why did men stop wearing hats in the 1960s? How does a hat pin work? From tricorns to trilbies to backward baseball caps. A history of head hiders. | Will have my own projector, so room choice is flexible. |
| Lance Conrad | Live a Great Story. Write a Great Story. | Wanna know where I got these scars? Join us for a funny, inspiring look at how active lifestyle choices can fuel creativity and authenticity in your work. | None. |
| Lance Conrad | Plot is stupid. How to focus on what matters in your story. | Timing problems. Reader fatigue. Lack of initial draw. These are all symptoms of a focus problem in your writing. Come along as we explore what actually keeps your readers turning pages. | None |
| Jared Garrett | Show and Tell on How to Show not Tell | You’ve been going to writers conferences for a couple millenia and you keep hearing you’re supposed to show not tell. But the explanations on what this means have never really stuck. This class will make it stick. Because it’s far more simple than you’ve been told. It’s a cross between understanding POV and cutting words. No, really. It’s that simple. | Projector |
| Christine Nielson | How to Write Fight Scenes | Put some literary power behind your imaginary punch and learn to use the aftermath of a knife wound to kick up the emotional impact of your story with this ultimate guide to writing fight scenes. Christine Nielson is a second degree black belt in Shotokan Karate, a traditional Okinawan hard style of karate based on the philosophy of ‘one punch kill.’ She draws on her years of teaching writing and fighting, and her experience as a rental ninja for top-tier authors, to help you improve your action-packed storytelling craft. This presentation includes a cheat sheet guide and a whole lotta sass. | |
| Christine Nielson | Fight Scenes Rental Ninja | Here's the pitch--I just want a space to hang out with my weapon props where authors can come individually or in small groups to workshop their fight scenes in real time and space. I can be available there, and they can come between other panels/presentations they're attending. As far as I'm concerned, this can be a public-ish space. I'm not shy, and we get more out of the multi-mind. | |
| Holli Anderson | First Round Edits | This is an in-depth presentation about what to look for when doing the first round of edits on your own manuscript -- before sending it to a real editor (hopefully) or your beta readers. | Power point presentation. |
| Bryce Beattie | The Critical Details | In this workshop-style class, we will practice sharpening descriptions to craft more impactful fiction in less words. We will draw on the wisdom of some of the greatest authors and writing instructors of all time. | Projector would be great, but not strictly needed. |
| Janiel Miller | "I Have To TALK To Them? (Conversation and Public Speaking Hacks for Writers Who Don't Want To) | As a writer the need to speak--either face-to-face or to a crowd--can present itself almost daily: telling someone about your book, giving a public reading, pitching an agent. All of these require some level of comfort in conversing, especially when its about the work you've put your heart and soul and guts into. But 75% of people are terrified of public speaking, and 71% of Americans would rather sit in silence than engage in small talk. Luckily, there are ways for the conversation-averse to get less averse. Or at least to make it easier. In this course we'll discuss where fear of talking to people comes from, how your brain works to protect you, and how we can hack that response and turn it into something good, and possibly, dare I say... enjoyable. We'll discuss how to relate to your adversary... er... um...conversation partner or audience, strategies for coping with the stress, and how to utilize your passion for your stories to make connections without sacrificing peace (too much.) | Projector |
| Janiel Miller | How to Suck At Stuff (and other ways to improve) | My kid said to me a while back when I was whining about how freaking long it was taking me to transition from humor column writer to novel writer: "Mom, knowing how to suck at stuff is the best way to get better." Well. I raised a genius. Who also said I suck at writing. But, he had something. And now I have something. A question: when something doesn't just immediately click, how do you push through it? What do you do when you manage the push-through and it still doesn't work? Is there an undiscovered shortcoming ? A tiny adjustment needed? Or is it just time for a solid de-stress and perspective-shift? In this course I'll happily share what I've learned through some deep life experiences that have both traumatized and informed my writing, and taught me strategies for learning, leveraging, and pivoting to better practices. Attendees will leave the class armed with life hacks and hosts of tips for staying balanced and mentally healthy, while learning from Sucking At Stuff. | Projector |
| Michael Haspil | Deep Immersion & Distraction Free Writing | In this engaging presentation, explore how writing transcends mere words to become a powerful transmission of thoughts, emotions, and sensations directly into the reader’s mind. Delve into the science of brainwave states—Beta, Alpha, and Theta—and learn how vivid, precise storytelling can guide readers into a hypnotic Alpha or Theta state, fostering visceral experiences and a shared cultural connection. Discover practical tools to enhance your craft, from leveraging specificity and sensory detail to avoiding clichés, all while maintaining the fragile "flow state" essential for deep immersion. This session also offers actionable strategies for distraction-free writing, including mental techniques like the Pomodoro Method and hardware solutions like the Alphasmart Neo2. Perfect for fiction authors seeking to captivate readers, this panel combines neuroscience insights with hands-on advice to elevate your storytelling and keep audiences willingly suspended in disbelief. Slides and further resources, including a referenced podcast episode, will be available to attendees. | Projector (powerpoint presentation) |
| Michael Haspil | Scene, Sequel, and Action/Reaction Units. | Unlock the secrets of dynamic storytelling using the building blocks of fiction through Action/Reaction units—where characters act and the world responds—fueling compelling Scenes that drive goals, conflict, and disaster, followed by Sequels that process emotion, reflection, and decision-making. Learn how to structure these elements to maintain pacing and reader engagement. Discover how to resolve scenes with purpose using four powerful options: "Yes, And" to escalate success, "Yes, But" to introduce twists, "No, And" to deepen setbacks, and "No, and Furthermore" to amplify stakes. Ideal for writers aiming to craft gripping narratives, this session offers practical frameworks to balance action and introspection, ensuring every scene propels your story forward. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to apply these time-tested methods to their own work. | Projector |
| Michael Haspil | Scene, Sequel, and Action/Reaction Units. | This panel explores the building blocks of fiction through Action/Reaction units—where characters act and the world responds—fueling compelling Scenes that drive goals, conflict, and disaster, followed by Sequels that process emotion, reflection, and decision-making. Learn how to structure these elements to maintain pacing and reader engagement. Discover how to resolve scenes with purpose using four powerful options: "Yes, And" to escalate success, "Yes, But" to introduce twists, "No, And" to deepen setbacks, and "No, and Furthermore" to amplify stakes. Ideal for writers aiming to craft gripping narratives, this session offers practical frameworks to balance action and introspection, ensuring every scene propels your story forward. | projector |
| Jay Barnson [repeat request] | Confessions of a Pulp Writer | ||
| Jana Brown [repeat request] | Self-Editing For Writers | ||
| C.J. Workman [repeat request] | Fantasy Cartography : Filling In the In-Betweens | [requested possibly with an in-class demonstration or practical] | |
| Alexander Rob | Building Confidence as a New Writer | I will be discussing 6 things that will help new writers build confidence in their own writing. This is meant to be a crash course, rather than an in-depth exploration. 1). Setting goals. Goals are the lifeblood of progress. We will discuss the various different types of success, such as personal, business, and monetary, what to expect and what to shoot for. We will discuss when comparison is useful, when it isn't and how to avoid unhelpful comparisons. 2). Finishing projects. The best thing an author can do to build confidence while starting is to finish. I will relay my own experience about my first project, and will also be sharing examples from Brandon Sanderson's, Larry Correia's, and a few other author's careers. 3). Practice. The most important thing any aspiring author can do is practice. We'll discuss daily word counts, editing goals, and timelines, and use examples from Ernest Hemingway, Tolkien, Sanderson, Dave Farland and other authors. 4). Networking. Writing can be a lonely profession, particularly when you don't know anyone, and your family/friends don't support you. We'll talk about how to make friends, how to support others in their own writing so they can support you, and some of the pitfalls that may come with networking (such as being part of a poor writing group). 5). Your own style. You have your own voice that you will discover, and the odds are in your favor that their will be a market for it. We'll be looking at authors such as Glenn Cook, Cormac Mcarthy, Pierce Brown, and others that succeeded because of their unique voices, and not in spite of them. 6). Lastly, developing the toolbox. It is never a bad idea to add more tools to your repertoire. With experience will come the wisdom to know when and where to use these tools. We will briefly touch on different writing tools (3rd person vs 1st person, foreshadowing, implicit promises), and when to use these tools and when to break them. 10 minutes will be left at the end for questions. | Projector. I will be providing my own laptop/powerpoint software. If no projector is available, I will bring o Expo markers to use on a white board. |
| Angie Lofthouse | Nurturing Your Creativity | Let’s face it, life is tough and usually not conducive to being creative. Barriers to creative expression seem almost innumerable. In this class, we’ll explore ways to help your creativity blossom and thrive amid the stresses and challenges of life. | None |
| Jana S. Brown | Author Aware: Avoiding Bad Actors in the Industry | For as long as there have been creatives there have been those willing to prey on their hopes and dreams and drain their bank accounts. Join Jana S. Brown to review some of the most common scams and bad actors and how to avoid the heartbreak and the financial losses these scams represent. | Projector please. |
| Blake Casselman, Scott Taylor | Screenwriting for Novel and Short Story Writers: A Guide to Successful Adaptations | An award-winning screenwriter who is a published short story writer and a novelist who is a produced screenwriter take you into the world of adaptating a novel to screenplay and/or screenplay to novel. Learn the differences between narrative prose writing and screenplay writing, and what a novelist and short story writer may need to know about the business of screenplays. There will be trivia questions and prizes as part of the presentation. Note for programming: Nate, you are welcome to join Scott and me on this. | Not critical, but I would put together a Power Point to enhance the conversation/presentation if a screen and projector were available to us. |
| Blake Casselman, DJ Butler | Engaging Your Audience: The First 5 Pages of Your Novel, the First 10 Pages of Your Screenplay | An Indie Film Producer and Screenwriter, along with an Author and Aquisitions Editor, will discuss what's needed in the opening pages of your novel and screenplay to help catch the attention of agents, editors, and other decision-makers, along with engaging your audience. | Not critical, but I can create a Power Point as part of the conversationa and presentation if a projector and screen are available. |