Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2025

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.

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.

(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.

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.