You love writing. You’re super-passionate about it. You spend countless hours working on your projects and learning all you can. But what if you just aren’t gifted enough to succeed? What if no matter how passionate you are, you just don’t have what it takes to be great? Join Brett Harris as he delves into the science of mastery and makes his case to you, your parents, and anyone else who questions your potential that “the passion is the gift.”

Author Chuck Black, with 23 published books, shares essential advice for new writers he wishes he’d known before penning his first book. In this session, he covers practical steps, preparation techniques, publisher expectations, idea development, outlining, and building sustainable writing habits. He also explains the pros and cons of traditional publishing, self-publishing, and print-on-demand to help you start your writing journey with confidence.

We need bones for support and movement, and structure provides a similar skeleton for our stories. Why do we need it, what does it look like, and what are common plotting pitfalls?

AKA How to Win the Costume Competition

“What’s your book about?” In this session we’ll be learning how to answer that notoriously tricky question with professional pizzaz. Because whether you’re explaining your book to a friend or a publisher, it doesn’t have to be a struggle—it can be easy and fun! Plus, it may even help you understand your story a bit better…or make a splash in this year’s costume contest.

Whether you’re writing middle grade, young adult, or adult, determining your target reader is vital to writing a story that will resonate and leave a lasting impact on the hearts of your readers. In this interactive session, Kara will deep dive into how to identify who God has put on your heart to write for, and how to serve them well.

It’s easy to compare your writing journey to someone else’s and grow discouraged or defeated. But God is writing a special story in your life that simply can’t be compared with anyone else’s. In this session, Jaquelle will break down practical ways to fight comparison and embrace the journey God has called you to walk with peace and joy.

No one means to write stereotyped characters! But somehow, we end up doing so anyway. In this session, Josiah will break down five sneaky character cliches to watch out for–and share practical tips for how to replace them with more realistic depictions.

We’ve all been there. You’ve written your first draft of a short story or novel, and you can already sense something feels “off” with the story. But you can’t identify what the specific issue is—yet. Join the Author Conservatory’s Head Fiction Editor Jennifer Lindsay in an interactive workshop where we’ll identify 5 common issues developmental editors often identify in early drafts. Learn how to identify and problem solve those pesky story issues before you tear the entire manuscript apart, attempt to revise, or set it aside.

What is science fiction, really? How is this genre different from fantasy, and how is it similar? And do you need a PhD in astrophysics to write it well? (Hint: No, you don’t.) Whether you’re a dedicated sci-fi writer or you’re thinking about dabbling in it for the first time, this session will show you just how wide-ranging and fun science fiction can be!

Hey, shouldn’t you be working on some real writing? Whether you love it, dismiss it, or just don’t understand it, fan fiction can be an incredible place to build your craft as a writer. Join us for an interactive session where we’ll get into the ways fan fiction has shaped storytelling throughout history, how it can strengthen your writing skills, and some pitfalls to watch out for if you’re a fanfic writer transitioning to original stories! We’ll go through the pros, cons, and everything in between. Bring your favorite fandoms and your imagination—there will be plenty of opportunities to brainstorm!