Keynote Presenter
Hank Phillippi Ryan
USA Today Bestselling and Award Winning Author
USA Today bestselling author HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN has won six Agatha Awards in addition to Anthony, Macavity, Daphne du Maurier, and Mary Higgins Clark Awards. As on-air investigative reporter for Boston’s WHDH-TV, she’s won 37 Emmys and many more journalism honors. A past president of National Sisters in Crime and founder of MWA University, Ryan lives in Boston. Her most recent novels include Her Perfect Life, The House Guest, and the forthcoming One Wrong Word.
Workshops and Presenters
You can download a preliminary schedule at https://www.libertystatesfictionwriters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Schedule_2024_Amended_A.pdf. Schedule may be subject to change.
Please note that due to anticipated interest in Hank Phillippi Ryan’s morning workshop on “Great Beginnings”, only the first fifty (50) registered attendees will receive tickets for this morning workshop. All registered conference attendees may attend all other workshops, keynote, lunch, and game night without additional sign-ups. Published authors who wish to sign at the book fair may register at https://www.libertystatesfictionwriters.com/bookfairregistration/.
Craft Workshops
Great Beginnings
Hank Phillipi Ryan
You know the great opening lines: Ishmael, Manderley, the last camel. Why do those work? And how can you create one for your own novel? And then–what about that crucial first paragraph? And a first page that will entice editors and enchant readers? How can you set the proper expectations for the story to come—and make every word work?
In this class, suitable for any genre, we will dissect and analyze acclaimed first lines and opening paragraphs, and reveal the writing secrets these brilliant examples offer. If you are brave enough–Please bring your own first line! Hank and the class will offer advice and guidance—to set you and your book off in the right direction.
6 Steps For Writers For Overcoming Overwhelm
Paula Chaffee Scardamalia
Many of us feel stress and get overwhelmed not because we’re taking on too much, but because we’re taking on too little of what really strengthens us. ~ Marcus Buckingham ~
Overwhelm seems to be an ever-present malaise affecting writers, especially since the advent of diminished marketing support from traditional publishers and the rise of self-publishing. In addition to writers now needing to wear so many hats, there are the personal, family, and societal challenges of recent years, as well as the endless to-do lists and the race to keep up with the craft, marketing, technology and more. Overwhelm is described as feeling buried or drowned beneath a huge mass of…something, everything. It can lead to stress, anxiety, and procrastination. In this workshop, you’ll learn what leads to overwhelm, six steps to overcome it, and additional ideas for setting yourself up to keep overwhelm and its buddies, stress, anxiety, and procrastination, at a minimum. You’ll also learn a few tips for coping with it in the writing process itself. If you’re feeling buried beneath it all, or daydreaming of escaping to the nearest beach, then this workshop is for you.
10 Editing Tricks to Bring Your Work Alive
Debra Mullins
Want to speed up the pace to your action scenes? Slow down those romantic love scenes?
Subtly direct your reader's attention to critical phrases? Tighten that manuscript for submission to a contest, editor or agent? Multi‐published, award-winning author Debra Mullins takes you through a list of ten editing tricks that can help you polish up your work to make your words come alive. Tips that will be discussed:
- 1. Read your work out loud
2. Scene and Sequel
3. Dialogue tags
4. Save the best for last
5. Short sentences vs. long sentences
6. Passive verbs vs. active verbs
7. Onomatopoeia
8. Alliteration
9. Pronouns during love scenes
10. Be true to your voice and the rule of three
Bringing Characters to Life Through Words
K.M. Fawcett
In this workshop, we’ll discuss ways to use motivation, fear, conflict, flaws, backstory, belief systems, and more to write vivid, unforgettable characters that will come alive for your readers.
Deepening POV for Emotional Impact
Yvonne Ventresca
How do readers become immersed in stories? Often, it’s through a sense of connection to the main character. This workshop explains specific techniques for deepening point of view. Learn how to create more immediacy in your storytelling by adding effective interior monologue, eliminating filter words, and avoiding common pitfalls that lessen emotion. Yvonne will share specific examples and provide tools you can use immediately to deepen the impact of your own work.
Uh Oh. Your Middle is Sagging!
Stacey Wilk
Authors at all levels can face a weak middle—the part in the story that dies out and leaves you wondering why you began the journey in the first place. Come learn why that happens, why you don’t need to abandon this book for a different, more exciting story, and how to give the center of your book the thing it needs to keep readers turning pages till the end.
Work in Limbo: When your WIP is stalled
Marina Antropow Cramer
An interactive session to help push through difficult parts of the work in progress. How to take the work in new directions, using POV, adding or subtracting characters and plot lines, and other techniques.
Business, Marketing, and Technology
Choosing the Right Path to Publication
Caridad Pineiro
Choosing the right path to publication is an important decision. NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Caridad Pineiro will discuss the three most common types of publishing, the pros and cons, and the money factor.
Crowdsourcing Your Career
Samantha Ann
Not sure what crowdsourcing is and how to use it? Amazon Bestselling Author Samantha Ann will discuss the different platforms you can use and what you can do to bolster your publishing career with crowdsourcing.
Developments in AI
Caridad Pineiro
It’s the buzzword on everyone’s lips: AI. What is it and how can you use it during your publishing journey? NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Caridad Pineiro will discuss the different platforms available as well as the pros, cons, and ethical considerations of using AI.
Influencing the Influencers
Samantha Ann
Social media influencers can sometimes make or break the release of your book. Amazon bestselling author Samantha Ann will discuss how to find the right influencers and what you can do to help them help you make the most of your book release.
Experiences in Publishing
Samantha Ann, Caridad Pineiro, Stacey Wilk
Three authors discuss the pros and cons of traditional publishing, independent presses, self publishing, and crowdsourcing. The authors will provide their insights and experiences and encourage participants to ask questions that will help guide them along their publishing journey.