Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2025

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

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 →

Saturday May 3, 2025 7:30am - 8:30am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Writing Life

8:00am MDT

Newcomers Briefing

Saturday May 3, 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

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 →

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:00am - 8:30am MDT
Academy/Palmer

Conference

8:00am MDT

Zeb's Lounge

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:45am MDT

Welcome to Zeb’s Lounge, a cozy space where you can read, write, relax, and recharge your electronics.

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:45am MDT
Seven Falls

Conference

8:30am MDT

Market Awareness and Writing to Market

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT

Douglas

How do I use the data available to me through Amazon to understand my place in the market, and write to market? There are four different archetypal pathways you can use to write to market. This workshop will cover each of the four types and use the Kindletrends data analytics tools to help writers understand whether or not they should write to market, and how to do it.

Faculty

Becca Syme

Better-Faster Academy

Becca Syme (MATL) is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and has been coaching success alignment for more than a decade. She is the author of the Quitbooks for Writers series and the popular Write Better-Faster course. She also writes mystery novels in her spare time and lives on one... Read More →

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Douglas

Business of Writing

8:30am MDT

But Is It a Good Idea?

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT

El Paso

Do ideas matter? Are there new ideas? We will investigate how ideas are part of the creation process and look at skills to diagnose the ideas that are falling flat and what elements they may be missing before they are ready to become story.

Faculty

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 →

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
El Paso

Craft of Writing

8:30am MDT

Codes, Ciphers and Secret Messages

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT

As long as humans have been sharing ideas, they've also been finding ways to conceal them. Learn the history of secret messages and the methods used to craft them, and explore ways to add codes, puzzles, and spycraft to your storytelling—no matter what genre.

Faculty

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 →

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Craft of Writing

8:30am MDT

Weaponize Those 5 Love Languages to Develop Characters and Build Tension

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT

(For all genres—not just romance!) The bestselling The Five Love Languages book series introduced five ways people receive and express love in any relationship (romantic or non-romantic). Writers of all genres can use these love languages for devious intent! In this fast-paced workshop, we’ll explore the five love languages, evaluate published examples, and learn how to use love languages to fully develop your characters, build that all-important tension and conflict between characters, and weave new levels of emotion into your scenes.

Faculty

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 →

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Academy/Palmer

Craft of Writing

9:45am MDT

Drop-in Chat with Avery Flynn

Saturday May 3, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Faculty

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 →

Saturday May 3, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Seven Falls

Conference

9:45am MDT

Bangs & Booms 101: Technical Stuff That Writers Should Get Right

Saturday May 3, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Fiction readers are getting more sophisticated all the time, and it’s a writer’s job to get the details correct. New York Times bestselling author John Gilstrap brings his thirty years of experience as a firefighter, EMT, safety engineer and hazardous materials specialist to the classroom in a lively, interactive session to teach the basics of projectile ballistics, fire behavior, how explosives work, and how the human body functions. What actually happens when a person gets shot or stabbed? Do silencers really work? What’s the difference between a fire, a deflagration and a detonation? Was there really another shooter on the grassy knoll when JFK was shot? These and many other questions will be answered. Note: This presentation contains graphic imagery.

Faculty

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 →

Saturday May 3, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Academy/Palmer

Craft of Writing

9:45am MDT

Beyond the Bedroom: Using Physical and Emotional Intimacy to Create Authentic Character Relationships

Saturday May 3, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Intimacy isn't limited to romance. Authentic character relationships are crucial in all genres, whether you're telling a love story or building a friendship. This workshop will explore the progression from initial awareness to physical intimacy, as well as the emotional layers accompanying each stage of connection.

Faculty

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 →

Saturday May 3, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Craft of Writing

9:45am MDT

Short Story Generative Workshop (Part 1)

Saturday May 3, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Douglas

Split over two days, an hour each. Short stories have made a comeback. They're fun, but also beneficial to honing writing skills. Learn about the dynamics of short story writing then use prompts to start stories during the hour. Work on them overnight if you choose. Come back on day two to break into partners/groups to look over what you've started and get feedback. For the last twenty minutes we'll go over finding markets and submitting.

Faculty

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 →

Saturday May 3, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Douglas

Audience Beginner

9:45am MDT

The Author's Website

Saturday May 3, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

El Paso

This is arguably the most important promotional tool an author has. Unlike social media posts that "disappear" quickly, a website is a static resource that readers can return to for additional information on you and your literary work. Whether you create the website yourself (with a quick overview on how to do that) or hire a pro (ideas on what to look for beyond the price tag), this workshop will include suggestions and tools for you to make a strong permanent cyber presence that requires minimal maintenance after the initial setup.

Faculty

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 →

Saturday May 3, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
El Paso

Writing Tools

11:00am MDT

Seven Screenwriting Strategies to Elevate Your Script

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

El Paso

Stories hit the page as screenplays, scripts or books viewed by eager theatergoers and read by avid readers. Many writers want to raise their story to the big screen, whether they start with a book they believe is a film or with the film in mind. However, understanding what it takes to actually write the story for the screen can seem like a mystery of its own, especially for book writers. In this presentation, Jennifer S. Wilkov, multi #1 international best-selling author, award-winning freelance writer, and Hollywood story consultant, will share seven screenwriting strategies to elevate your script. Break through the screenwriting static, streamline your screenplay, and craft it with ease. Expect to learn:

The basics for writing your screenplay
How to properly format your screenplay
Fool-proof ways to structure your storytelling
Proven techniques to use to craft it
Top strategies to elevate your script

Faculty

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 →

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
El Paso

Audience Beginner

11:00am MDT

Write Drunk Edit Sober Follow-up

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm 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

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 →

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Seven Falls

Craft of Writing

11:00am MDT

Write What You Feel: Emotion in Fiction

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Fiction that doesn't make us feel something is fiction we fail to remember. This workshop will focus on techniques to help writers show not tell and get in touch with their emotions.

Faculty

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 →

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Academy/Palmer

Audience Intermediate

11:00am MDT

Crafting a Cozy Mystery

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Are you interested in crafting captivating mysteries wrapped in the warmth of small-town charm? Dive into the world of cozy mystery writing with award-winning and USA TODAY Bestselling author, Jennie Marts, as she teaches you what it takes to write in this beloved subgenre of crime fiction. Learn how to create a story with a charming setting, an intriguing murder, a quirky cast of characters—some of whom will be the amateur sleuths trying to solve the mystery—and that a red herring is more than just a smoked piece of fish.

Faculty

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 →

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Genre-specific

11:00am MDT

The Happily Ever After Business Plan

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Douglas

Skyrocket your career by creating goals that stick, getting clear on your plan, and achieving all the things. The framework and strategies in this course are applicable to most small businesses and industries, but the examples we present are tailored to writers and editors at all levels of their careers. If that sounds like you, you’re definitely in the right place!

Faculty

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 →

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Douglas

Writing Tools

12:00pm MDT

Zeb's Lounge

Saturday May 3, 2025 12:00pm - 3:15pm MDT

Welcome to Zeb’s Lounge, a cozy space where you can read, write, relax, and recharge your electronics.

Saturday May 3, 2025 12:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Seven Falls

Conference

12:15pm MDT

Lunch with Keynotes

Saturday May 3, 2025 12:15pm - 1:45pm MDT

Ballroom

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

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 →

Alexandra Diaz

Author

David R. Slayton

Avery Flynn

John Gilstrap

Saturday May 3, 2025 12:15pm - 1:45pm MDT
Ballroom

Meal

2:00pm MDT

How to Choose a Hybrid Publisher That Meets Expectations

Saturday May 3, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Douglas

Michelle, an experienced hybrid publisher and industry expert, will guide you through the key factors to consider when selecting a hybrid publishing partner. From evaluating distribution options, presale strategies, and print runs versus POD (Print on Demand), Michelle will share her exclusive 27-point checklist designed to help you make the best decision for your publishing journey. Whether you’re a first-time author or looking for a better fit, this session will empower you to choose a publisher that aligns with your creative vision and goals for success.

Faculty

Michelle Vandepas

CEO, GracePoint Publishing

Michelle Vandepas' upcoming book, Divine and Dangerous: A Radical Guide to Living Your Most Powerful Purpose, is scheduled for trade release in Fall 2025. Her entrepreneurial journey has led her into publishing, where she is also a captivating speaker known for her empowering message... Read More →

Saturday May 3, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Douglas

Business of Writing

2:00pm MDT

The Six Marketing Principles That Should Guide Your Writing Career

Saturday May 3, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

El Paso

Why do some books perform so much better than others? What marketing strategies offer the best ROI? Why do some advertising platforms suddenly stop working? You'll find out the answers to these fundamental marketing questions (and much more) in this workshop celebrating Reedsy's 10th anniversary.

Since co-founding Reedsy in 2014, Ricardo has spent the past decade helping authors navigate the complex world of book marketing. In this workshop, he will distill the knowledge and experience that helped him write a popular book marketing series into six key lessons. With a mix of high-level marketing principles, as well as practical tips you can implement right away, you'll leave with a clear roadmap for the future.

Faculty

Ricardo Fayet

Reedsy

Saturday May 3, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
El Paso

Business of Writing

2:00pm MDT

Secrets of Pacing and Clarity

Saturday May 3, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

This workshop focuses on the nuts and bolts of dramatic structure and learning from other media to create the most polished fiction and target the broadest possible audience.

Agents & Editors

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 →

Saturday May 3, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Craft of Writing

2:00pm MDT

Strong Language: For and Against Swearing in Fiction

Saturday May 3, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Dig into connotative and denotative meanings and a discussion of what being a 'bad' word really means—and why we may or may not choose to use them.

Faculty

Deb Courtney

President, Pikes Peak Writers

Saturday May 3, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Academy/Palmer

Craft of Writing

3:15pm MDT

Drop-in Chat with David R Slayton

Saturday May 3, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT

Faculty

David R. Slayton

Saturday May 3, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Seven Falls

Conference

3:15pm MDT

Book to Film Strategies to Sell Your Story in a Single Sentence, Treatment, Pitch Deck or Bible

Saturday May 3, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT

Douglas

Stories go beyond the pages of a book in the form of screenplays and scripts that are marketed and viewed by eager theatergoers and read by avid readers. Many writers want to raise their story to the big screen, whether they start with a book they believe is a film or with the film in mind. However, understanding what it takes to actually pitch the story for the screen and take it from book to film, television or streaming can seem like a mystery of its own. In this presentation, Jennifer S. Wilkov, multi #1 international best-selling author, award-winning freelance writer, and Hollywood story consultant, will share book to film strategies so you can take your story to multiple media. Break through the pages of your book, streamline your pitch for Hollywood with these documents, and craft them with ease. Expect to learn:

The basics for selling your story in a single sentence
Treatments, pitch decks and bibles: what to include and what not to
Fool-proof ways to structure your storytelling in your pitch documents
Proven techniques to use to craft these essential pitch documents
Top strategies to sell your story from book to film

Faculty

Jennifer S. Wilkov

Book & Creative Consultant, Your Book Is Your Hook!

Saturday May 3, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Douglas

Audience Beginner

3:15pm MDT

Map Out Your Plot Using Story Structure

Saturday May 3, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT

Story structure can be a powerful tool to help you map out the plot of your novel. This workshop provides a high-level overview of a variety of different “mapping” options, including Three-Act Structure, the Hero’s Journey, GMC (Goal, Motivation & Conflict), and the Plotting Grid. Explore different structures to see what might work best for you via participatory exercises, examples from popular fiction, and a take-home list of resources. Terrific for beginning writers, as well as seasoned “pantsers” who want to learn what all the plotting fuss is about.

Faculty

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 →

Saturday May 3, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Craft of Writing

3:15pm MDT

Thrills, Chills...and Ills? What Makes a Story Horror?

Saturday May 3, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT

El Paso

Horror is more than a genre—it's a feeling that grows in the pit of your stomach and spreads until you have to turn on the lights and check the locks. We'll dissect the horror "genre" and go over tricks and tips to create your own terrifying tales.

Faculty

Shannon Lawrence

Saturday May 3, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
El Paso

Genre-specific

3:15pm MDT

What are Mentors Meant For?

Saturday May 3, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT

What does it mean to "stand on the shoulders of giants?" Mentors in writing, as much as in our daily lives, are tremendously important. How do you find a mentor? What does a mentor/mentee relationship look like? This presentation walks participants through defining mentors, their relationships, and how to find them.

Faculty

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 →

Saturday May 3, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Academy/Palmer

Writing Life

4:15pm MDT

Snack Break

Saturday May 3, 2025 4:15pm - 4:45pm MDT

Ballroom

Saturday May 3, 2025 4:15pm - 4:45pm MDT
Ballroom

Meal

4:15pm MDT

Zeb's Lounge

Saturday May 3, 2025 4:15pm - 5:45pm MDT

Welcome to Zeb’s Lounge, a cozy space where you can read, write, relax, and recharge your electronics.

Saturday May 3, 2025 4:15pm - 5:45pm MDT
Seven Falls

Conference

4:45pm MDT

Swipe Write: How to Match with Your Perfect Editor

Saturday May 3, 2025 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT

Douglas

Learn what aspects to look for when researching the right freelance editor for you and your story, create your own plan for self-editing and revising, and master a few mindset tips that will help you throughout your author career.

Faculty

Jessica Snyder

HEA Author Services

Saturday May 3, 2025 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Douglas

Business of Writing

4:45pm MDT

The Writer’s Career Path

Saturday May 3, 2025 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT

Helping writers establish the foundation upon which they can build their lists and projects, grounded in their unique strengths and background, paving a career path that builds their successes with each creative move.

Agents & Editors

Steve Saffel

Editor

Saturday May 3, 2025 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Business of Writing

4:45pm MDT

Make ‘Em Laugh: How Bringing the Humor Heightens All Other Emotions

Saturday May 3, 2025 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT