BREAKFAST

• 7 to 8 a.m. Hearty Breakfast in the Hotel Event Center.

 

MORNING SESSIONS

• 8 to 9 a.m. Designing a Framework for Your Genre Fiction - Summer Hanford - Coyle Room

  • In this workshop, participants will focus on well-crafted work and maintaining the joy of creating. By the end of this workshop, attendees will have the tools they need to properly research their genre of choice, a broad framework for their novel, and a strong understanding of what goes into a well-rounded, well-crafted work that other people will enjoy reading.

• 9:05 to 10:05 a.m. - Historical Fiction - Merrill Davies - Skylight Room

  • Historical Fiction has its own challenges. What must be correct historically? If you’re basing the novel on a real person, how much of it must be true to his/her life? This session explores several guidelines for creating a realistic scene in historical novels. Those attendees who are working on a historical fiction project, please be prepared to share a little about it with other workshop participants.

• 10:10 to 11:10 a.m. - Characteristics of Literary Fiction - Dr. Sherry Robinson - Coyle Room

  • This workshop will explore the characteristics of literary fiction. What makes fiction literary? Can fiction be both literary and genre? Does literary fiction deserve the perception that it is “boring” or “pretentious”? How do you tell a compelling story using literary characteristics? The workshop will provide several examples of literary fiction's characteristics and allow participants to explore their own use of the characteristics.

• 11:15 to 12:15  a.m. Optimize Your Genre Fiction - Summer Hanford - Skylight Room

  • In this workshop, we’ll go step by step from concept to starting your novel, all while keeping an eye on the end goal of creating a ‘sellable’ book, whether direct to consumers via self-publishing, to agents or agents, or to a publishing house. And, almost as importantly, you will better understand the steps required to get your work in front of readers.

 

LUNCH

• 12:30 to 2 p.m. Lunch in Hotel Event Center

In Conversation with Robert Dean Johnson, "So You Think You Want To Be A Writer?" Rob and conference host, Melissa Newman, will chat about writing courses, the path to publishing, and navigating a path to teaching creative writing. Rob is the Director of the Bluegrass Writer's Studio at Eastern Kentucky University's MFA program, and author of Delicate Men: Stories (Alternative Book Press) and Californium (Plume). His essays and stories have appeared in several national literary journals, including Ascent, Natural Bridge, New Orleans Review, Santa Clara Review, and The Southern Review.

 

AFTERNOON SESSIONS

• 2 to 3 p.m. - Poetry Workshop - Merrill Davies - Coyle Room

  • At Poets.org, a section of A Poet’s Glossary by Edward Hirsch is quoted in which he says that “Poetry is a human fundamental, like music. It predates literacy and precedes prose in all literature. There has probably never been a culture without it, yet no one knows precisely what it is.” During this workshop participants will explore their understanding of what poetry is and how to better use their skills to write poetry that connects with our culture.

• 3:05 to 4:05 p.m.  – Literary Fiction - Characters and Setting - Dr. Sherry Robinson - Skylight Room

  • This workshop will concentrate on characters and setting in literary fiction. This workshop will dig deeper into creating compelling characters that will drive action within the story. Participants will learn how to create vivid settings. This will be an active workshop with significant interaction with participants. 

Special Session Alert!

• 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. - "The Common Mystics" - Coyle Room

  • Psychic sisters Jennifer James & Jill Stanley of the Common Mystics podcast share tips and techniques for opening up to Spirit and recognizing how Spirit engages with them in everyday life. Let the sisters inspire you to trust your own intuitive gifts as inspiration for your creative work. 

 

CONFERENCE BANQUET

• 6 p.m. Banquet Begins in Hotel Event Center (please be seated by 6:30 p.m.)

• 6:30 p.m. Psychic Sisters Jennifer James & Jill Stanley explain the concept behind the Common Mystics podcast and its origins and share stories of their favorite travel experiences uncovering the stories of the voiceless dead. The sisters will perform a stage adaptation of a story not included in their book or on their podcast.

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NIGHTCAP ON THE PORCH & PATIO - Conference Closing Event

• 8 p.m. “Writer’s Night Cap on the Porch & Patio" Boone Tavern. Enjoy famous Kentucky Bourbons, a glass of local wine, or a Southern Sweet Tea at The Frost Cafe located inside the hotel.

• Cash Bar Featuring Signature Drink "The Writer's Muse"