Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2025

Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2025

Registration for the 2025 Pikes Peak Writers Conference is now open!
The current schedule, like much of our writing, is a work-in-progress and is subject to change.
Sched is sponsored by Reedsy.

7:30am MDT

Morning Meditation Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeJohnny Worthen

8:00am MDT

Newcomers Briefing AcademyLaura Hayden Zeb's Lounge Seven Falls

8:30am MDT

Read & Critique Session 1 FremontJohn Gilstrap • Brenna English-Loeb • Leticia Gomez Assembling Your Publishing Dream Team Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeRicardo Fayet How to Pick Comps and Why They Matter El PasoJessica Berg Just-In-Time Description and World Building DouglasKelley J. P. Lindberg The Sequel to Every Scene AcademyCallie Stoker Pitch Like a Pro PalmerChris Mandeville

9:45am MDT

Read & Critique Session 2 FremontAvery Flynn • Jessica Berg • Christina Lopez Marketing Your Book to Success: Before, During & After Publication El PasoJennifer S. Wilkov Antagonists AcademyKevin Ikenberry Starting Your Story in the Right Place DouglasDavid R. Slayton Story Blueprint: Using Tropes to Build the Infrastructure of Your Story Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeDawn Alexander • Jessica Snyder Group Storytelling Seven FallsSteve Saffel

10:45am MDT

Zeb's Lounge Seven Falls

11:00am MDT

Speed Pitch FremontAJ Metzger Treating Publishing Like Tinder Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeSheyla Knigge Non-verbal Communication in Fiction DouglasDeb Courtney Using Outlines and Synopses as Tools for Revision AcademyBrenna English-Loeb Whose Story Are You Telling? El PasoJohn Gilstrap Unleash Your Inner Author Confidence: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome PalmerJennie Marts

12:15pm MDT

Welcome Lunch BallroomAvery Flynn

2:00pm MDT

Read & Critique Session 4 FremontAlexandra Diaz • Sheyla Knigge • Melissa Rechter Traditional Publishing vs. Independent Publishing AcademyLeticia Gomez Capturing the Elusive Voice DouglasCallie Stoker When You See It: A Practical Guide to Show, Don’t Tell El PasoDawn Alexander Neurodivergence & Writing Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeShannon Lawrence Do Your Settings Work as Hard as You Do? (2 Hours) PalmerKelley J. P. Lindberg

3:15pm MDT

Read & Critique Session 5 FremontDavid R. Slayton • Caitlin McDonald • Steve Saffel Q&A with John Gilstrap Seven FallsJohn Gilstrap Contemporary World Building: Tips and Tricks to Giving Readers the Full Experience AcademyAvery Flynn Writing in the Age of TikTok: Ultra Short-Form Storytelling Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeCaris Pasch-Cooper The Six Foundational Elements of Romance Fiction El PasoJessica Snyder Refilling Your Creative Well DouglasJames Persichetti

4:15pm MDT

Snack Break Ballroom Zeb's Lounge Seven Falls

4:45pm MDT

Agent Panel Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeJessica Berg • Brenna English-Loeb • Sheyla Knigge • Caitlin McDonald Editor Panel AcademyLeticia Gomez • Christina Lopez • Melissa Rechter • Steve Saffel Speed Pitch FremontAJ Metzger Decoding Blockbuster Plots and Synopses DouglasSusan Mitchell Deviously Twisted Mystery Endings PalmerKim Olgren A Crash Course on Critique El PasoChristina Allen

7:30pm MDT

Dinner Ballroom

9:00pm MDT

Entering New Markets Through Literary Translations AcademyRicardo Fayet Marketing Tips and Tricks Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeSusan Mitchell • Jenny Kate Instant Slushpile DouglasLou J Berger Write Drunk Edit Sober FremontDeb Courtney Mysteries, Monsters & Mayhem El PasoMB Partlow • Shannon Lawrence

7:00am MDT

Breakfast Ballroom

7:30am MDT

Morning Meditation Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeJohnny Worthen

8:00am MDT

Newcomers Briefing Academy/PalmerLaura Hayden Zeb's Lounge Seven Falls

8:30am MDT

Market Awareness and Writing to Market DouglasBecca Syme But Is It a Good Idea? El PasoCallie Stoker Codes, Ciphers and Secret Messages Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeChristina Allen Weaponize Those 5 Love Languages to Develop Characters and Build Tension Academy/PalmerKelley J. P. Lindberg

9:45am MDT

Drop-in Chat with Avery Flynn Seven FallsAvery Flynn Bangs & Booms 101: Technical Stuff That Writers Should Get Right Academy/PalmerJohn Gilstrap Beyond the Bedroom: Using Physical and Emotional Intimacy to Create Authentic Character Relationships Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeDawn Alexander Short Story Generative Workshop (Part 1) DouglasShannon Lawrence The Author's Website El PasoAlexandra Diaz

11:00am MDT

Seven Screenwriting Strategies to Elevate Your Script El PasoJennifer S. Wilkov Write Drunk Edit Sober Follow-up Seven FallsDeb Courtney Write What You Feel: Emotion in Fiction Academy/PalmerDavid R. Slayton Crafting a Cozy Mystery Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeJennie Marts The Happily Ever After Business Plan DouglasJessica Snyder

12:00pm MDT

Zeb's Lounge Seven Falls

12:15pm MDT

Lunch with Keynotes BallroomRicardo Fayet • Alexandra Diaz • David R. Slayton • Avery Flynn • John Gilstrap

2:00pm MDT

How to Choose a Hybrid Publisher That Meets Expectations DouglasMichelle Vandepas The Six Marketing Principles That Should Guide Your Writing Career El PasoRicardo Fayet Secrets of Pacing and Clarity Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeSteve Saffel Strong Language: For and Against Swearing in Fiction Academy/PalmerDeb Courtney

3:15pm MDT

Drop-in Chat with David R Slayton Seven FallsDavid R. Slayton Book to Film Strategies to Sell Your Story in a Single Sentence, Treatment, Pitch Deck or Bible DouglasJennifer S. Wilkov Map Out Your Plot Using Story Structure Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeChris Mandeville Thrills, Chills...and Ills? What Makes a Story Horror? El PasoShannon Lawrence What are Mentors Meant For? Academy/PalmerKevin Ikenberry

4:15pm MDT

Snack Break Ballroom Zeb's Lounge Seven Falls

4:45pm MDT

Swipe Write: How to Match with Your Perfect Editor DouglasJessica Snyder The Writer’s Career Path Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeSteve Saffel Make ‘Em Laugh: How Bringing the Humor Heightens All Other Emotions Academy/PalmerAvery Flynn Plotting Your Character's Demise El PasoJames Persichetti

6:00pm MDT

Booksigning Fremont

7:30pm MDT

Banquet BallroomJohn Gilstrap

7:30am MDT

Breakfast Ballroom

8:00am MDT

Morning Meditation Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeJohnny Worthen

8:30am MDT

Zeb's Lounge Seven Falls

9:00am MDT

Boost Your Book Sales with Amazon Ads Academy/PalmerJennie Marts Sandboxes: Shared Universes and Co-writing DouglasDavid Shadoin • H.Y. Gregor The Allegory in Your Subtext Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeCallie Stoker There's No "Right" Way to Write El PasoAlexandra Diaz Full-on Fight Scenes: Tools and Tips to Fit Your Tale FremontBowen Gillings • AJ Metzger

10:15am MDT

Book Cover Design and Positioning for Authors DouglasNick Thacker The Pitfalls of Literary Contracts El PasoKevin Ikenberry Microflashbacks as a Plot Device Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeDeb Courtney Short Story Generative Workshop (Part 2) Seven FallsShannon Lawrence Excavating Inspiration in Unlikely Places Academy/PalmerSusan Mitchell

11:15am MDT

Zeb's Lounge Seven Falls

11:30am MDT

Pre-Writing Checklist Academy/PalmerJohnny Worthen Write Towards the Ending El PasoJames Persichetti Kid Lit 101 Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeChristina Allen So You Went to a Writers Conference, Now What? DouglasKim Olgren

12:45pm MDT

Lunch BallroomDavid R. Slayton