Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2025

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

There are hundreds of ways to kill a character, but there’s usually just one PERFECT way for them to meet their demise. Looking at character traits, revelations, and more, this course will discuss the six most important elements to consider when crafting a character death that will have the greatest impact on the story.