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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.
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Friday, May 2
 

7:30am MDT

Morning Meditation
Friday May 2, 2025 7:30am - 8:30am MDT
The Dalai Lama said, "Don't learn Buddhism to be a better better Buddhist; learn Buddhism to be a better whatever you are." I am a writer.

Join author Johnny for discoveries in eastern philosophy with their application to the life of an author with its many disappointments. Sessions include directed mindfulness meditation and lecture on concepts that directly speak to the writer’s journey.
  • Day one: Basics - the Four Noble Truths and the Eight Fold Noble path
  • Day two: Blocks - The Five Hindrances and the power of RAIN
  • Day three: Third Person Limited - Non-Identity and the muse
Each class meets in the morning before regular programming Though classes are meant as a three-day seminar, attendees can come to any of them without prior or later attendance and still get useful information.
Faculty
avatar for Johnny Worthen

Johnny Worthen

Award-Winning Author
Johnny Worthen is an award-winning, multiple-genre author of novels and short stories. His best-selling science fiction series Coronam beginning with Of Kings, Queens & Colonies, then Of Civilized, Saved & Savages and now complete with Of Heroes, Homes & Honey, is an award-winning... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 7:30am - 8:30am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

8:00am MDT

Newcomers Briefing
Friday May 2, 2025 8:00am - 8:30am MDT
New to Pikes Peak Writers? New to writing conferences? New to writing, in general? Here's your chance to ask virtually everything about how to get the most out of your conference experience. There's etiquette, jargon, and a lot more to learn so that you present yourself in the very best light to our faculty and your fellow attendees. Learn what to do and what not to do by folks who have learned from their mistakes. You have questions? We have answers.
Faculty
avatar for Laura Hayden

Laura Hayden

Conference Administration (Con-Admin), PPWC
An early reader, Laura exhausted the children’s section of her local library by age ten. At that point, she switched to adult mysteries and science fiction and never looked back. Trained as an engineer, she continued to write “for fun” until one day, she decided to write “for... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 8:00am - 8:30am MDT
Academy

8:00am MDT

Zeb's Lounge
Friday May 2, 2025 8:00am - 9:45am MDT
Welcome to Zeb’s Lounge, a cozy space where you can read, write, relax, and recharge your electronics.
Friday May 2, 2025 8:00am - 9:45am MDT
Seven Falls

8:30am MDT

Read & Critique Session 1
Friday May 2, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Mystery/Thriller/Romance
Faculty
avatar for John Gilstrap

John Gilstrap

John Gilstrap is the Thriller Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of over two dozen thrillers, including Zero Sum, Harm’s Way, White Smoke, Deadly Game, Blue Fire, Stealth Attack, Crimson Phoenix, Hellfire, Total Mayhem, Scorpion Strike, Final Target, Friendly Fire... Read More →
Agents & Editors
avatar for Brenna English-Loeb

Brenna English-Loeb

Agent, Transatlantic Agency
Brenna English-Loeb joined Transatlantic in 2019 after working for several years at Janklow & Nesbit Associates and Writers House, where she had the pleasure of working with New York Times bestselling and award-winning authors across multiple genres. Brenna grew up in beautiful Upstate... Read More →
avatar for Leticia Gomez

Leticia Gomez

Editorial Director, Dafina/Kensington Books
Leticia Gomez is the Editorial Director for Dafina Books, an imprint of Kensington Publishing Corp., which focuses on high-quality fiction and non-fiction that centers on race, identity, and its impact on our experiences. Dafina’s carefully curated list is a home for dynamic stories... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Fremont

8:30am MDT

Assembling Your Publishing Dream Team
Friday May 2, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
A career writing books involves so much more than just writing. As indie authors, you’re expected to make all the decisions around editing, design, publishing, and marketing. While you can start on your own, you won’t go far without a proper team behind you.

But what work should you outsource first? Is it better to spend your money on editing or on covers? When is the right time to hire a virtual assistant? And how can you find these people who can help take your career to the next level?

In this presentation, Reedsy’s Ricardo Fayet will show you how to assemble your publishing dream team and turn your publishing business into a well-oiled machine.
Faculty
avatar for Ricardo Fayet

Ricardo Fayet

Reedsy
Ricardo Fayet is one of the four founders of Reedsy, a marketplace connecting authors to the world’s top publishing talent—from editors to cover designers, book marketers, or literary translators. He’s the author of two books on marketing: How to Market a Book: Overperform in... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

8:30am MDT

How to Pick Comps and Why They Matter
Friday May 2, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT

Comp Titles That Sell: Positioning Your Book for Success


Want to grab an agent’s attention? Nail your comp titles. The right comparative titles don’t just showcase where your book fits in the market—they make it irresistible. But finding the perfect comps? That’s where most writers get stuck.

In this power-packed, one-hour session, we’ll demystify the art of selecting comps that work for you—titles that highlight your book’s unique appeal while proving its marketability. You’ll learn:

  • Why comps matter—and how they can make or break an agent’s interest.
  • How to find the right comps (Hint: It’s not just picking your favorite books).
  • How to position your book as fresh, exciting, and sellable without forcing awkward comparisons.

By the end of this session, you’ll have a comp title strategy that strengthens your pitch, makes your book stand out, and gives you an edge in today’s competitive market.
Agents & Editors
avatar for Jessica Berg

Jessica Berg

Literary Agent, Rosecliff Literary
Jessica Berg is a literary agent at Rosecliff Literary. She leverages her extensive background as a developmental editor to champion new and emerging authors. She is actively building her list, focusing on compelling character-driven narratives with strong voices and unique settings. Known for her collaborative approach, Jessica works... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
El Paso

8:30am MDT

Just-In-Time Description and World Building
Friday May 2, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Whether you’re writing modern murder mysteries, historical rom-coms, urban fantasies, or space operas, your characters exist in a world that includes mundane features like geography, transportation, and money (does your protagonist need a MetroCard to hop the NYC subway?) and deeper aspects such as religion, politics, magic, bureaucracies, pandemics, or natural disasters. Learn how to avoid info-dumping while still creating a believable world that your characters inhabit and your readers will love.
Faculty
avatar for Kelley J. P. Lindberg

Kelley J. P. Lindberg

President, Blue Raven Services Inc.
Kelley J. P. Lindberg writes award-winning YA and adult fiction, and sometimes admits to having written several best-selling how-to books. Her fiction and essays have appeared in literary magazines, in anthologies including PPW’s Journeys into Possibility, and in the Tellables app... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Douglas

8:30am MDT

The Sequel to Every Scene
Friday May 2, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
If every action has an equal reaction, so should our scenes. That reaction is found in the sequel of our stories. We will cover the three steps of sequel, where is shows up in our scenes, and how it is the key to binding together the deeper aspects of storytelling like character growth, subtext, and theme.
Faculty
avatar for Callie Stoker

Callie Stoker

Callie Stoker is an editor with almost two decades experience. Her business The Manuscript Dr offers coaching and editing services. We believe that writing is a skill that can be taught through the application of individual tools. We love helping our clients elevate their abilities... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Academy

8:30am MDT

Pitch Like a Pro
Friday May 2, 2025 8:30am - 10:45am MDT
This workshop goes over everything you need to know to pitch your book articulately, enticingly, and successfully to editors and agents. Covers logline, genre, hook, questions to ask in a pitch, and what questions to prepare to answer. Includes multiple worksheets plus a customizable in-pitch guide.

A two-hour version of this workshop includes a pitch "demo", individual hands-on exercises like logline writing, and group brainstorming of “key words” to use in a pitch.
Faculty
avatar for Chris Mandeville

Chris Mandeville

Author
Chris Mandeville is an unrepentant coffee drinker, night owl, and binge writer. She’s been teaching writing workshops for 15+ years, and loves to attend reader/writer events alongside her service dog, Oski. Her publications include nonfiction for writers, as well as short and novel-length... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 8:30am - 10:45am MDT
Palmer

9:45am MDT

Read & Critique Session 2
Friday May 2, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Womens/Romance/Historical
Faculty
avatar for Avery Flynn

Avery Flynn

USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling romance author Avery Flynn has sold more than a million books, which have been translated into multiple languages. She has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee... Read More →
Agents & Editors
avatar for Christina Lopez

Christina Lopez

Assistant Editor, St. Martin’s Press
Christina Lopez is an associate editor at St. Martin’s Press, where she started as an intern in 2021. Her first love was romance novels, and she is thrilled that her list consists mainly of romance. However, in her time at SMP, she has worked on a wide array of books in several... Read More →
avatar for Jessica Berg

Jessica Berg

Literary Agent, Rosecliff Literary
Jessica Berg is a literary agent at Rosecliff Literary. She leverages her extensive background as a developmental editor to champion new and emerging authors. She is actively building her list, focusing on compelling character-driven narratives with strong voices and unique settings. Known for her collaborative approach, Jessica works... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Fremont

9:45am MDT

Marketing Your Book to Success: Before, During & After Publication
Friday May 2, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Authors know that marketing their books is 100% their responsibility but most don’t have the skillset or knowledge to create a winning marketing plan for their project. The truth is: everybody would like to have a plan that works, but getting it written, done, and executed properly out in the marketplace to attract attention and grow your sales can seem like it will take years. It’s time to build a plan to successfully market your book that can save you time, energy and money and can ensure you get results during the most pivotal times. In this presentation, Jennifer S. Wilkov, the founder of Your Book Is Your Hook, LLC, will show you how to master the art of determining what belongs in your marketing platform—and what doesn’t —before, during, and after your book has been published.

Expect to learn:
  • Set goals for your marketing by taking the time to plan your efforts before you start executing them
  • How to use digital marketing to leverage the internet, build awareness online, and generate more sales before, during, and after your book is published
  • Proven techniques for offline strategies to get your message out
  • Measure, correct and keep your marketing momentum going, no matter what
  • Key reasons why you must measure and track your performance
  • Fool-proof ways to master your book marketing efforts to take control of your project’s success
Faculty
avatar for Jennifer S. Wilkov

Jennifer S. Wilkov

Book & Creative Consultant, Your Book Is Your Hook!
Jennifer S. Wilkov is a multi #1 international best-selling award-winning author, an award-winning freelance writer, and a respected book business and Hollywood story consultant in her business called “Your Book Is Your Hook.” She supports first-time writers and seasoned authors... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
El Paso

9:45am MDT

Antagonists
Friday May 2, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Writers focus much of their development and planning for their next work on their protagonist and often fail to fully develop the "bad guy." Understanding the role of the antagonist, and how to create conflicts with the protagonist, is an essential tool for writers of all genres. This class focuses on aspects of development specifically for antagonists which ensure the antagonist is powerful, committed, and the perfect foil to your protagonist.
Faculty
avatar for Kevin Ikenberry

Kevin Ikenberry

Author, Speaker
Kevin Ikenberry is a life-long space geek and retired Army officer. As an adult, he managed the U.S. Space Camp program, two Challenger Learning Centers, and served on active duty in space operations before Space Force was a thing. He’s an international bestselling science fiction... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Academy

9:45am MDT

Starting Your Story in the Right Place
Friday May 2, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
One of the most challenging goals in commercial fiction is knowing what to include and what to exclude in a first chapter. In this craft-oriented workshop we'll focus on examples that strike the right balance between exposition and action (in medias res).
Faculty
avatar for David R. Slayton

David R. Slayton

David R. Slayton (He/Him) grew up in Guthrie, Oklahoma, where finding fantasy novels was pretty challenging and finding fantasy novels with diverse characters was downright impossible. Now he lives in Denver, Colorado and writes the books he always wanted to read. His debut, White... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Douglas

9:45am MDT

Story Blueprint: Using Tropes to Build the Infrastructure of Your Story
Friday May 2, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Hook readers and elevate your storytelling skills with a story blueprint based on tropes for genre fiction. This session will define what tropes are (and aren't) and how they can be used in your story. Attendees will learn the expectations and implications of several tropes, how to deconstruct the framework, and how to seamlessly integrate tropes across genres. Dawn Alexander and Jessica Snyder will: - define what a trope is (and isn't) and why they are useful in fiction - deconstruct the framework, expectations and implications of a trope - show you how to utilize them across genres - provide plenty of examples so you can implement them in your own writing.
Faculty
avatar for Dawn Alexander

Dawn Alexander

Dawn Alexander Books
Dawn Alexander is a developmental editor and story coach who collaborates with both emerging writers and accomplished authors to strengthen their stories and refine their voices. Her clients have appeared on the *New York Times* and *USA Today* bestseller lists, as well as the Amazon... Read More →
avatar for Jessica Snyder

Jessica Snyder

HEA Author Services
Jessica Snyder is an editor, author coach, and the host of The HEA Club, a community for romance authors. As the owner of HEA Author Services, she specializes in romance fiction and her clients range from best-selling authors like Pippa Grant and Lucy Score to new authors who are... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

9:45am MDT

Group Storytelling
Friday May 2, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Join us in an informal group storytelling session in Zeb's Lounge. This session allows attendees the opportunity to practice the oral tradition of telling stories. Come prepared to share a story (ghost stories, adventures, or whatever else you can think of).
Agents & Editors
avatar for Steve Saffel

Steve Saffel

Editor
STEVE SAFFEL has been an editor at Marvel Comics, Del Rey Books, Perseus Books, and Titan Entertainment, working on science fiction, fantasy, horror, and licensed fiction, with a focus on the author’s voice, pacing, clarity, career path, concept development, and creating fiction... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Seven Falls

10:45am MDT

Zeb's Lounge
Friday May 2, 2025 10:45am - 3:15pm MDT
Welcome to Zeb’s Lounge, a cozy space where you can read, write, relax, and recharge your electronics.
Friday May 2, 2025 10:45am - 3:15pm MDT
Seven Falls

11:00am MDT

Speed Pitch
Friday May 2, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Welcome to Speed Pitch!
Here you are at PPWC 2025 where everybody is curious to learn about you and your book. Nevertheless, people have short attention spans and lots of other writers to meet. Can you explain the highlights of your project without confusing, or worse, boring your listeners? Speed Pitch Practice is here to help.

How the Session Works
Participants will wait “quietly” in line for a turn to speak one-on-one for five minutes with a randomly assigned published author, seasoned writer, or maybe a VIP. You will verbally pitch your book and your coach will ask you questions to refine it. When the time is up, you’re done! But you’re welcome to get back in line for another go.
Faculty
avatar for AJ Metzger

AJ Metzger

AJ Metzger retired from the Navy in 2023 and now plans Wargames for US Space Command. She has been writing all her life and in the last few years published multiple academic papers for law enforcement. She is branching out into fiction writing using some of the more comical and unique... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Fremont

11:00am MDT

Treating Publishing Like Tinder
Friday May 2, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
It's so easy in the digital age to get caught up in the little things, especially when it comes to your career. In this workshop we'll go over sweating the small stuff, handling rejections, and what's better left for the group chat.
Agents & Editors
avatar for Sheyla Knigge

Sheyla Knigge

Agent, High Line Literary Collective
Sheyla Knigge (SHAY-luh KUH-nig-gee)is a budding publishing professional who comes to the industry with a lifelong love of reading under her belt. Having worked under Victoria Marini since 2021 she has had the immense pleasure of perusing a variety of books that have gone on to do... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

11:00am MDT

Non-verbal Communication in Fiction
Friday May 2, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Explore 5 areas of non-verbal communication, from physical interaction to how people inhabit the space around them, and how each can contribute to writing more realistic scenes and characters.
Faculty
avatar for Deb Courtney

Deb Courtney

President, Pikes Peak Writers
Deb Courtney holds a degree in Fiction from the University of South Florida, where she was a Saunders Scholar in Fiction. She has had numerous short stories published and has worked as a freelance journalist, creativity coach and freelance editor. Her background also includes more... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Douglas

11:00am MDT

Using Outlines and Synopses as Tools for Revision
Friday May 2, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Using common drafting tools like outlining and synopses in new ways, learn how to better visualize your novel's pacing and structure to make it an even more engaging read. We will discuss how to group the action by section, character, and theme to better identify weak spots and under-utilized connections, as well as other techniques like timelines and even graphs. This workshop will be ideal for those working in genre spaces.
Agents & Editors
avatar for Brenna English-Loeb

Brenna English-Loeb

Agent, Transatlantic Agency
Brenna English-Loeb joined Transatlantic in 2019 after working for several years at Janklow & Nesbit Associates and Writers House, where she had the pleasure of working with New York Times bestselling and award-winning authors across multiple genres. Brenna grew up in beautiful Upstate... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Academy

11:00am MDT

Whose Story Are You Telling?
Friday May 2, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Choosing the correct point of view is one of the key elements of dramatic storytelling. Bestselling author John Gilstrap has been praised by Publishers Weekly for “flawless characterization” in his books, and in this interactive session, he’ll walk you through the critical decisions that help you propel your story through the most dramatic set of eyes. Bring paper and a pen, because there’ll be a writing exercise.
Faculty
avatar for John Gilstrap

John Gilstrap

John Gilstrap is the Thriller Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of over two dozen thrillers, including Zero Sum, Harm’s Way, White Smoke, Deadly Game, Blue Fire, Stealth Attack, Crimson Phoenix, Hellfire, Total Mayhem, Scorpion Strike, Final Target, Friendly Fire... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
El Paso

11:00am MDT

Unleash Your Inner Author Confidence: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Friday May 2, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Do you ever find yourself doubting your abilities as a writer—even in the midst of your accomplishments? Whether you’re an aspiring author or a seasoned pro, many of us struggle with imposter syndrome, a common but often hidden challenge in the writing world. Join award-winning and USA TODAY Bestselling author, Jennie Marts, in this workshop designed to help you recognize, confront, and triumph over imposter syndrome. She'll teach you how to recognize the signs of imposter syndrome and offer strategies to silence your inner critic and boost your confidence to overcome self-doubt and unleash your full creative potential.
Faculty
avatar for Jennie Marts

Jennie Marts

Jennie Marts is the USA Today Best-selling author of award-winning books filled with love, laughter, and always a happily ever after. Readers call her books “laugh out loud” funny and the “perfect mix of romance, humor, and steam.” Fic Central claimed one of her books was... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Palmer

12:15pm MDT

Welcome Lunch
Friday May 2, 2025 12:15pm - 1:45pm MDT
Faculty hosted tables. Host names will be posted on tables and a seating chart in the hallway outside the ballroom. Attendees, please feel free to sit wherever you don’t see a reserved table sign or a reserved seat name card. Attendee entrance doors will be opened at the time listed on the schedule.
Faculty
avatar for Avery Flynn

Avery Flynn

USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling romance author Avery Flynn has sold more than a million books, which have been translated into multiple languages. She has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 12:15pm - 1:45pm MDT
Ballroom

2:00pm MDT

Read & Critique Session 4
Friday May 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Mystery/Thriller/Kids
Faculty
avatar for Alexandra Diaz

Alexandra Diaz

Author
Alexandra Diaz is the author of several award-winning books for children and teens, including The Only Road (Pura Belpré Honor and Américas Award), The Crossroads (New Mexico’s Great Read at the National Book Festival), and Santiago’s Road Home (ALA Notable Children’s Books... Read More →
Agents & Editors
avatar for Melissa Rechter

Melissa Rechter

Editor and Acquisitions Manager, Crooked Lane
Editor and Acquisitions Manager Melissa Rechter joined Crooked Lane Books in 2019. She has had the pleasure of working with ITW nominees, New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors, as well as a myriad of talented writers.For Crooked Lane, she is looking for cozy mysteries... Read More →
avatar for Sheyla Knigge

Sheyla Knigge

Agent, High Line Literary Collective
Sheyla Knigge (SHAY-luh KUH-nig-gee)is a budding publishing professional who comes to the industry with a lifelong love of reading under her belt. Having worked under Victoria Marini since 2021 she has had the immense pleasure of perusing a variety of books that have gone on to do... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Fremont

2:00pm MDT

Traditional Publishing vs. Independent Publishing
Friday May 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
The desire to be published is more prevalent than ever. A record- breaking number of CEOs, entrepreneurs, business professionals, and aspiring writers from all walks of life dream about becoming published authors but are stumped about which road to publication they would like to travel on. Filled with real-life stories, humor, and practical advice Leticia’s workshop will give aspiring and seasoned authors alike the good, bad, and ugly of these two methods of publication. By the end of the presentation, attendees will have gained the clarity needed to decide whether they have the stomach to take the traditional publishing route with the help of a literary agent or strike out on their own to publish their literary masterpiece.
Agents & Editors
avatar for Leticia Gomez

Leticia Gomez

Editorial Director, Dafina/Kensington Books
Leticia Gomez is the Editorial Director for Dafina Books, an imprint of Kensington Publishing Corp., which focuses on high-quality fiction and non-fiction that centers on race, identity, and its impact on our experiences. Dafina’s carefully curated list is a home for dynamic stories... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Academy

2:00pm MDT

Capturing the Elusive Voice
Friday May 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
What is voice? It is often talked about but rarely clearly described. This presentation will break down what voice is and how it functions in prose. The tools taught will help you shift generic exposition and prose into character-driven voice with the use of language, metaphor, simile, and character point-of-view. It will cover how voice functions in first person vs. third person, and include exercises to help you discover your own unique voice for your writing.
Faculty
avatar for Callie Stoker

Callie Stoker

Callie Stoker is an editor with almost two decades experience. Her business The Manuscript Dr offers coaching and editing services. We believe that writing is a skill that can be taught through the application of individual tools. We love helping our clients elevate their abilities... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Douglas

2:00pm MDT

When You See It: A Practical Guide to Show, Don’t Tell
Friday May 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Show! Don't Tell! You've heard it, but how are you supposed to use it? What does it really mean? How do you actually do it? In this workshop, we will break down the basics of this common writing advice as well as revise sections from actual works-in-progress.
Faculty
avatar for Dawn Alexander

Dawn Alexander

Dawn Alexander Books
Dawn Alexander is a developmental editor and story coach who collaborates with both emerging writers and accomplished authors to strengthen their stories and refine their voices. Her clients have appeared on the *New York Times* and *USA Today* bestseller lists, as well as the Amazon... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
El Paso

2:00pm MDT

Neurodivergence & Writing
Friday May 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Neurodivergent brains are wired differently, so tips for writing don't always work the same for NDs. Often, the standard tips just need to be tweaked to find productive approaches. Learning how to adapt NT methods to your needs can go a long way in helping you find the best way forward so you can stop worrying about how to get things done and start writing.
Faculty
avatar for Shannon Lawrence

Shannon Lawrence

A fan of all things fantastical and frightening, Shannon Lawrence writes primarily horror and fantasy. Her short stories can be found in over sixty anthologies and magazines in addition to her collections. Her nonfiction title, The Business of Short Stories, and debut urban fantasy... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

2:00pm MDT

Do Your Settings Work as Hard as You Do? (2 Hours)
Friday May 2, 2025 2:00pm - 4:15pm MDT
(2-Hour Workshop) If your settings aren’t doing double duty (or even triple duty), they’re not working hard enough. Explore how your settings can go beyond location and time to reveal your character's personality, enhance or instigate conflict, and establish tone, mood, and atmosphere—all without slowing down your story. Discussion, examples, and hands-on writing exercises will help you make settings an important tool in your “show, don't tell” toolbox.
Faculty
avatar for Kelley J. P. Lindberg

Kelley J. P. Lindberg

President, Blue Raven Services Inc.
Kelley J. P. Lindberg writes award-winning YA and adult fiction, and sometimes admits to having written several best-selling how-to books. Her fiction and essays have appeared in literary magazines, in anthologies including PPW’s Journeys into Possibility, and in the Tellables app... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 2:00pm - 4:15pm MDT
Palmer

3:15pm MDT

Read & Critique Session 5
Friday May 2, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
SF/Horror/Fantasy
Faculty
avatar for David R. Slayton

David R. Slayton

David R. Slayton (He/Him) grew up in Guthrie, Oklahoma, where finding fantasy novels was pretty challenging and finding fantasy novels with diverse characters was downright impossible. Now he lives in Denver, Colorado and writes the books he always wanted to read. His debut, White... Read More →
Agents & Editors
avatar for Caitlin McDonald

Caitlin McDonald

Agent, Donald Maass Literary Agency
Caitlin McDonald joined DMLA in 2015, after five years at Sterling Lord Literistic. She represents adult and young adult speculative fiction, primarily science-fiction, fantasy, horror, and related subgenres. She is also seeking graphic novels along the same lines as above. Caitlin... Read More →
avatar for Steve Saffel

Steve Saffel

Editor
STEVE SAFFEL has been an editor at Marvel Comics, Del Rey Books, Perseus Books, and Titan Entertainment, working on science fiction, fantasy, horror, and licensed fiction, with a focus on the author’s voice, pacing, clarity, career path, concept development, and creating fiction... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Fremont

3:15pm MDT

Q&A with John Gilstrap
Friday May 2, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Faculty
avatar for John Gilstrap

John Gilstrap

John Gilstrap is the Thriller Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of over two dozen thrillers, including Zero Sum, Harm’s Way, White Smoke, Deadly Game, Blue Fire, Stealth Attack, Crimson Phoenix, Hellfire, Total Mayhem, Scorpion Strike, Final Target, Friendly Fire... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Seven Falls

3:15pm MDT

Contemporary World Building: Tips and Tricks to Giving Readers the Full Experience
Friday May 2, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Think you can avoid world building in contemporary stories? Think again. USA Today Best Selling Author Avery Flynn shares tips and tricks to building a fully imagined contemporary world that will give readers the full experience and keep them coming back for more.
Faculty
avatar for Avery Flynn

Avery Flynn

USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling romance author Avery Flynn has sold more than a million books, which have been translated into multiple languages. She has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Academy

3:15pm MDT

Writing in the Age of TikTok: Ultra Short-Form Storytelling
Friday May 2, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
According to Orson Welles, "The enemy of art is the absence of limitations." In this interactive workshop, we'll explore how ultra short-form storytelling (think a one-minute TikTok video or a 100 word story) can expand a writer's creativity by forcing them to think outside the box—or, more accurately, inside a very small box. We will look at examples of exceptional short-form storytelling in video and in print, discuss strategies for fitting big ideas in small packages, and each write our own tiny tale.
Faculty
avatar for Caris Pasch-Cooper

Caris Pasch-Cooper

Caris Pasch-Cooper was voted "Most Dramatic" in her high school class, so it only made sense for her to become a writer. Originally from Denton, Texas, she holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from the University of North Texas. She now works as a writer, editor, and researcher specializing... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

3:15pm MDT

The Six Foundational Elements of Romance Fiction
Friday May 2, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Conquer the structural elements of character-driven fiction to write romance novels that readers love. This presentation teaches romance fiction from a structural standpoint. You’ll learn about goal, motivation, and conflict, which are the cornerstones of fiction writing. But then we dive deeper to cover character arcs, flaws and stakes, which are vital in character-driven stories like romance. You’ll understand how each element hinges on the others to build the infrastructure of your story, and you’ll gain the confidence to utilize these elements to improve your own books.
Faculty
avatar for Jessica Snyder

Jessica Snyder

HEA Author Services
Jessica Snyder is an editor, author coach, and the host of The HEA Club, a community for romance authors. As the owner of HEA Author Services, she specializes in romance fiction and her clients range from best-selling authors like Pippa Grant and Lucy Score to new authors who are... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
El Paso

3:15pm MDT

Refilling Your Creative Well
Friday May 2, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Productivity gurus talk about time management, but we don’t often talk about ENERGY management, especially when it comes to the chaotic and unpredictable energy of creativity. Even if you’re a master of scheduling your life and have set aside plenty of time for writing, what happens when you find your creative well has run dry? How often do we hear writing advice about putting your butt in the chair, your hands on the keyboard, and making sure inspiration strikes from 9 to 5 every day? While that advice is well-intentioned, it treats writers like machines and can easily lead to burnout. Learning to manage your energy and refill your creative well is an essential skill for any writer who wants to make it in this New-York-hustle industry—without running themselves into the ground.
Faculty
avatar for James Persichetti

James Persichetti

Editor, Author, Lost Hat Editorial Services
James Persichetti is a writer, freelance editor, and rock climber who enjoys writing about queer characters going on adventures. He earned an English degree at Regis University and studied Arthurian legends, where he drew inspiration for his debut graphic novel, A Tale of Two Knights... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Douglas

4:15pm MDT

Snack Break
Friday May 2, 2025 4:15pm - 4:45pm MDT
Friday May 2, 2025 4:15pm - 4:45pm MDT
Ballroom

4:15pm MDT

Zeb's Lounge
Friday May 2, 2025 4:15pm - 5:45pm MDT
Welcome to Zeb’s Lounge, a cozy space where you can read, write, relax, and recharge your electronics.
Friday May 2, 2025 4:15pm - 5:45pm MDT
Seven Falls

4:45pm MDT

Agent Panel
Friday May 2, 2025 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Agents & Editors
avatar for Brenna English-Loeb

Brenna English-Loeb

Agent, Transatlantic Agency
Brenna English-Loeb joined Transatlantic in 2019 after working for several years at Janklow & Nesbit Associates and Writers House, where she had the pleasure of working with New York Times bestselling and award-winning authors across multiple genres. Brenna grew up in beautiful Upstate... Read More →
avatar for Caitlin McDonald

Caitlin McDonald

Agent, Donald Maass Literary Agency
Caitlin McDonald joined DMLA in 2015, after five years at Sterling Lord Literistic. She represents adult and young adult speculative fiction, primarily science-fiction, fantasy, horror, and related subgenres. She is also seeking graphic novels along the same lines as above. Caitlin... Read More →
avatar for Jessica Berg

Jessica Berg

Literary Agent, Rosecliff Literary
Jessica Berg is a literary agent at Rosecliff Literary. She leverages her extensive background as a developmental editor to champion new and emerging authors. She is actively building her list, focusing on compelling character-driven narratives with strong voices and unique settings. Known for her collaborative approach, Jessica works... Read More →
avatar for Sheyla Knigge

Sheyla Knigge

Agent, High Line Literary Collective
Sheyla Knigge (SHAY-luh KUH-nig-gee)is a budding publishing professional who comes to the industry with a lifelong love of reading under her belt. Having worked under Victoria Marini since 2021 she has had the immense pleasure of perusing a variety of books that have gone on to do... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

4:45pm MDT

Editor Panel
Friday May 2, 2025 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Agents & Editors
avatar for Christina Lopez

Christina Lopez

Assistant Editor, St. Martin’s Press
Christina Lopez is an associate editor at St. Martin’s Press, where she started as an intern in 2021. Her first love was romance novels, and she is thrilled that her list consists mainly of romance. However, in her time at SMP, she has worked on a wide array of books in several... Read More →
avatar for Leticia Gomez

Leticia Gomez

Editorial Director, Dafina/Kensington Books
Leticia Gomez is the Editorial Director for Dafina Books, an imprint of Kensington Publishing Corp., which focuses on high-quality fiction and non-fiction that centers on race, identity, and its impact on our experiences. Dafina’s carefully curated list is a home for dynamic stories... Read More →
avatar for Melissa Rechter

Melissa Rechter

Editor and Acquisitions Manager, Crooked Lane
Editor and Acquisitions Manager Melissa Rechter joined Crooked Lane Books in 2019. She has had the pleasure of working with ITW nominees, New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors, as well as a myriad of talented writers.For Crooked Lane, she is looking for cozy mysteries... Read More →
avatar for Steve Saffel

Steve Saffel

Editor
STEVE SAFFEL has been an editor at Marvel Comics, Del Rey Books, Perseus Books, and Titan Entertainment, working on science fiction, fantasy, horror, and licensed fiction, with a focus on the author’s voice, pacing, clarity, career path, concept development, and creating fiction... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Academy

4:45pm MDT

Speed Pitch
Friday May 2, 2025 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Welcome to Speed Pitch!
Here you are at PPWC 2025 where everybody is curious to learn about you and your book. Nevertheless, people have short attention spans and lots of other writers to meet. Can you explain the highlights of your project without confusing, or worse, boring your listeners? Speed Pitch Practice is here to help.

How the Session Works
Participants will wait “quietly” in line for a turn to speak one-on-one for five minutes with a randomly assigned published author, seasoned writer, or maybe a VIP. You will verbally pitch your book and your coach will ask you questions to refine it. When the time is up, you’re done! But you’re welcome to get back in line for another go.
Faculty
avatar for AJ Metzger

AJ Metzger

AJ Metzger retired from the Navy in 2023 and now plans Wargames for US Space Command. She has been writing all her life and in the last few years published multiple academic papers for law enforcement. She is branching out into fiction writing using some of the more comical and unique... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Fremont

4:45pm MDT

Decoding Blockbuster Plots and Synopses
Friday May 2, 2025 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Use the tools, tips, tricks and formulas for movies and television series to engineer or reverse engineer your plot and perfect the points to address for a compelling synopsis.
Faculty
avatar for Susan Mitchell

Susan Mitchell

Susan Mitchell embraces folklore, ghosts and monsters. She tunes into that wavelength to write dark fiction, horror and thrillers. Her work has appeared in literary magazines and can be found in the upcoming anthology Open-Hearted Horizon from University of New Mexico Press. Originally... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Douglas

4:45pm MDT

Deviously Twisted Mystery Endings
Friday May 2, 2025 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Mystery is one of the hardest genres to write because of the myriad of moving parts in play at any given time. Then you have to make the ending a dramatically satisfying event for the reader. One way to do this is with a twist ending. Learn how to determine if a twist ending is the right ending for your story, the different kinds of twist endings, and how to ensure it will be satisfying for your reader.
Faculty
avatar for Kim Olgren

Kim Olgren

Kim Olgren is a Book Fest award-winning, internationally-selling author and author of the cozy mystery, Flipped – A Jillian McElroy Flipping Mystery (written as Kimberly Olgren). Flipping houses can be murder. As Jillian soon finds out when she buys her first house for renovation... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Palmer

4:45pm MDT

A Crash Course on Critique
Friday May 2, 2025 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Every writer needs a good editing team. Learn how to get the advice that gets results, and how to help other writers make their work shine.
Faculty
avatar for Christina Allen

Christina Allen

President-Elect, League of Utah Writers
Christina Allen (publishing as C.W. Allen) is a Midwestern transplant to rural Utah where she serves as the President-Elect of the League of Utah Writers. She writes long stories for children and short stories for former children. She is also a frequent guest presenter at writing... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
El Paso

7:30pm MDT

Dinner
Friday May 2, 2025 7:30pm - 9:00pm MDT
Faculty hosted tables. Host names will be posted on tables and a seating chart in the hallway outside the ballroom. Attendees, please feel free to sit wherever you don’t see a reserved table sign or a reserved seat name card. Attendee entrance doors will be opened at the time listed on the schedule.

For this fun Friday night dinner and live auction, wear a sci-fi costume if you like.
Friday May 2, 2025 7:30pm - 9:00pm MDT
Ballroom

9:00pm MDT

Entering New Markets Through Literary Translations
Friday May 2, 2025 9:00pm - 10:00pm MDT
A workshop on getting translated into other languages, including:
  • Selling rights vs exploiting them yourself (and tips for both)
  • What markets to focus on first (depending on genres)
  • Average costs per language (and potentially genre)
  • Leveraging AI: yes or no?
  • What it’s like to work with a literary translator
  • Tips for marketing/promotion in the local market
Faculty
avatar for Ricardo Fayet

Ricardo Fayet

Reedsy
Ricardo Fayet is one of the four founders of Reedsy, a marketplace connecting authors to the world’s top publishing talent—from editors to cover designers, book marketers, or literary translators. He’s the author of two books on marketing: How to Market a Book: Overperform in... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 9:00pm - 10:00pm MDT
Academy

9:00pm MDT

Marketing Tips and Tricks
Friday May 2, 2025 9:00pm - 10:00pm MDT
Jenny and Sue shine a light on marketing trends, tips and tricks in a casual setting. Join the conversation and we'll chat about what's working in the industry, the direction digital is taking and how you can get your name and your work out there for readers and the writing community.
Faculty
avatar for Susan Mitchell

Susan Mitchell

Susan Mitchell embraces folklore, ghosts and monsters. She tunes into that wavelength to write dark fiction, horror and thrillers. Her work has appeared in literary magazines and can be found in the upcoming anthology Open-Hearted Horizon from University of New Mexico Press. Originally... Read More →
avatar for Jenny Kate

Jenny Kate

Jenny Kate has been a communicator, marketer and public relations professional since 2001. She has party-planned for US ambassadors, written speech inputs for the President (of the United States), eaten Taco Bell with Jimmy Kimmel and danced with Willy Nelson. She has been quoted... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 9:00pm - 10:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

9:00pm MDT

Instant Slushpile
Friday May 2, 2025 9:00pm - 10:00pm MDT
If you’ve never caught this workshop at, say, MileHiCon, Bubonicon, FyreCon, or at COSine, the premise is absurdly simple:

Attendees bring an anonymized, 300-word story opening, either short story or novel, and drop it in front of Lou at the beginning of the workshop. He will peruse the audience and select INSTANT EDITORS from those gathered and bring them up front.

For each manuscript, in randomized order, he will read aloud until three of the Instant Editors raise their hands, signifying that they would not publish the story. If he completes the story with fewer than three hands raised, consider that a success!

Each Editor will then share what they liked about the story, and then Lou gives his own thoughts. The author, who is still anonymous at this point, is invited to reveal themselves. Sometimes, Lou reads a ringer, a manuscript from a previously-published work, by a noted author, just to keep the Instant Editors guessing.

If you find that you have the time and inclination to participate, please consider joining Lou and his INSTANT SLUSHPILE WORKSHOP with your anonymized manuscript in hand!
Faculty
avatar for Lou J Berger

Lou J Berger

Author, Lou J Berger, Author
Lou J Berger lives in Littleton, Colorado with his high-school crush and two rescue dogs. A member of SFWA, he has been published in Clarkesworld, Galaxy’s Edge magazine, and a host of anthologies. He is STILL working on his first novel.Although a fan of science fiction since he was a small boy, reading Tom Corbett, Space Cadet, and of course the Heinlein juveniles, Lou also enjoys... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 9:00pm - 10:00pm MDT
Douglas

9:00pm MDT

Write Drunk Edit Sober
Friday May 2, 2025 9:00pm - 10:00pm MDT
The first session Write Drunk has you writing to various prompts while drinking. The follow-up Edit Sober session takes you through examining what you wrote and how to edit it into shape.
Faculty
avatar for Deb Courtney

Deb Courtney

President, Pikes Peak Writers
Deb Courtney holds a degree in Fiction from the University of South Florida, where she was a Saunders Scholar in Fiction. She has had numerous short stories published and has worked as a freelance journalist, creativity coach and freelance editor. Her background also includes more... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 9:00pm - 10:00pm MDT
Fremont

9:00pm MDT

Mysteries, Monsters & Mayhem
Friday May 2, 2025 9:00pm - 10:00pm MDT
Ever wanted to see a podcast recorded in real time? Join Shannon & MB as we record an episode of our true crime podcast with an author guest from PPWC 2025.
Faculty
avatar for MB Partlow

MB Partlow

MB Partlow is a Colorado transplant who has written for the CS Indy, the Gazette, and Pikes Peak Parent, most prolifically in the area of food reviews, and also writes for Rocky Mountain Reader. She is co-host of the Mysteries, Monsters, & Mayhem podcast with Shannon Lawrence, which... Read More →
avatar for Shannon Lawrence

Shannon Lawrence

A fan of all things fantastical and frightening, Shannon Lawrence writes primarily horror and fantasy. Her short stories can be found in over sixty anthologies and magazines in addition to her collections. Her nonfiction title, The Business of Short Stories, and debut urban fantasy... Read More →
Friday May 2, 2025 9:00pm - 10:00pm MDT
El Paso
 
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