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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.
Venue: Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge clear filter
Friday, May 2
 

7:30am MDT

Morning Meditation
Friday May 2, 2025 7:30am - 8:30am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
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
  Writing Life

8:30am MDT

Assembling Your Publishing Dream Team
Friday May 2, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
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
  Business of Writing

9:45am MDT

Story Blueprint: Using Tropes to Build the Infrastructure of Your Story
Friday May 2, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
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
  Craft of Writing

11:00am MDT

Treating Publishing Like Tinder
Friday May 2, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
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
  Business of Writing

2:00pm MDT

Neurodivergence & Writing
Friday May 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
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
  Writing Life

3:15pm MDT

Writing in the Age of TikTok: Ultra Short-Form Storytelling
Friday May 2, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
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
  Craft of Writing

4:45pm MDT

Agent Panel
Friday May 2, 2025 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
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
  Business of Writing

9:00pm MDT

Marketing Tips and Tricks
Friday May 2, 2025 9:00pm - 10:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
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
  Business of Writing
 
Saturday, May 3
 

7:30am MDT

Morning Meditation
Saturday May 3, 2025 7:30am - 8:30am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
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 →
Saturday May 3, 2025 7:30am - 8:30am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
  Writing Life

8:30am MDT

Codes, Ciphers and Secret Messages
Saturday May 3, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
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
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 →
Saturday May 3, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
  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
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
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
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 →
Saturday May 3, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
  Craft of Writing

11:00am MDT

Crafting a Cozy Mystery
Saturday May 3, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
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
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 →
Saturday May 3, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
  Genre-specific

2:00pm MDT

Secrets of Pacing and Clarity
Saturday May 3, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
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
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 →
Saturday May 3, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
  Craft of Writing

3:15pm MDT

Map Out Your Plot Using Story Structure
Saturday May 3, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
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
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 →
Saturday May 3, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
  Craft of Writing

4:45pm MDT

The Writer’s Career Path
Saturday May 3, 2025 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
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
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 →
Saturday May 3, 2025 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
  Business of Writing
 
Sunday, May 4
 

8:00am MDT

Morning Meditation
Sunday May 4, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
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 →
Sunday May 4, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
  Writing Life

9:00am MDT

The Allegory in Your Subtext
Sunday May 4, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
We review the concepts of allegory, archetypes, tropes and other story templates and how they can be used to shortcut what we are trying to deliver in our writing and create depth and subtext to our themes and characters. In the last hour we brainstorm characters using archetypes then allow writing time in the class to show off our new skills.
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 →
Sunday May 4, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
  Craft of Writing

10:15am MDT

Microflashbacks as a Plot Device
Sunday May 4, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
Understand how micro-flashbacks differ from regular flashbacks (it's more than just length!), and how to decide when a micro-flashback is the right choice.
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 →
Sunday May 4, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
  Craft of Writing

11:30am MDT

Kid Lit 101
Sunday May 4, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
Want to write for kids? If you're used to the norms of the adult publishing landscape, moving into children's literature requires understanding a whole different set of rules. This overview of the current children's literature landscape, from picture books to YA, highlights unique considerations for writing, querying, publishing, and marketing kids' books.
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 →
Sunday May 4, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
  Genre-specific
 
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