Young Writer Retreat Sessions

You’re working so hard, but you still feel behind. The comparison game is killing your confidence. How do you keep going when happily ever after seems so far away? In this opening keynote, Brett Harris will help you fight the comparison game and find contentment where you are.

Who else wants to write a novel that readers can’t put down? In this session, Candace Kade will help students learn how to write fast-paced novels and realistic action scenes. As a certified krav maga assistant instructor who’s trained in various martial arts, she has a lot to share. Come ready to learn how to craft scenes that leave readers’ hearts pounding.

Worldbuilding matters, a good plot is important, but for the majority of readers, character is king. Join author & editor Lauren Hildebrand as she walks through the fundamentals of crafting characters who are vivid, engaging, sympathetic, and unique. She’ll unpack what it takes to create memorable characters who readers will love long after they’ve turned the final page.

Writers often draw from their own experiences when writing a story. This can create a lot of depth in our stories–but it can also be painful and at times, even dangerous. In this session, Kara Swanson will dive into the dynamics of crafting a soulful story that pulls from scars that have started to heal, instead of tearing open a wound again. She will not only discuss how to craft stories that resonate with readers and become a safe place for an author to be vulnerable, but also how to navigate comparison and self-doubt in light of deeply personal stories.

Many young writers eventually want to explore publication options. But for writers considering that step, standing out from the crowd can feel intimidating. What qualities actually attract publishers to writers? In this session, Talia Messina, an acquisitions editor for Tyndale Publishing, will help you gain deep insights about the skills, knowledge, and personality traits that will make publishers want to work with you.

Good writing springs from a life well-lived… but a well-lived life sometimes makes it hard to get any writing done. How can you live a balanced life that still enables you to write? In this session, YWW Community Manager and author Rachel Scheller will explore how to achieve balance and what to do when balance seems out of reach.

What in the world is our purpose for writing? Do we have a calling? Or is writing merely a way to exercise our talents and a path to significance? In this talk, Bryan Davis will describe his own experiences, both positive and negative, as a professional writer. He will also provide insights to help aspiring writers discern their own vision and set a path forward in their writing journeys.

Writers are often eager to create stories and articles that convey truthful messages. But if a writer hasn’t made sure they’re first asking the right questions, their words may fall flat or feel trite and inadequate. In this session, Josiah will help writers dig deep to find the big questions that lead to meaningful words.