Attend Educational Seminars on Writing
Taught by Industry Professionals
Eight educational sessions will cover topics of importance to authors and writers. Most will last 90 minutes and include up to 20 minutes for Q&A. Among the topics are sessions on the mechanics of writing and how to promote your book. Meet and listen to literary agents discuss what they are looking for now. Background credentials on speakers can be found on Speakers Page.
Each session costs $25 and seating is limited.
Tickets are still available and can be purchased onsite.
Advanced registration is now closed.
Tickets are still available and can be purchased onsite.
Advanced registration is now closed.
5 Things You Need to Know to Get PublishedTime: 10 to 11 am
Shelly Lowenkopf will demonstrate the five essential tools a writer needs to master before she has any hopes of publication. Among these are the basic unit of drama, the scene, and how to construct it. He will pay particular attention to dialogue which is NOT conversation; it is a language all its own. He'll also lean heavily on the gap between what a character says and what she truly means: the hidden agenda, and reversal of fortunes. He will also demonstrate how every scene is in some form or other a power play.
Speaker: Shelly Lowenkopf, Legendary Editor, Author of 31 books, and Writing Mentor Plotting Through CharactersTime: 1:30 to 3 pm
What makes a character believable? Bigger than life? Why do some characters jump off the page? This workshop will help you identify the sixteen hero archetypes that have entertained readers for centuries. You’ll learn how to build a character from the ground up by constructing history (childhood), mannerisms, dress, speech patterns and interests. Finally, you’ll learn to create the all important character arc (growth) by charting your protagonist’s journey from vice to virtue. Her latest book A Log Cabin Christmas is on the NY Times Best Sellers List.
Speaker: Margaret Brownley, Award-winning author of over 28 books Comedy Writing—Mastering
| Your Life, Your Story: Writing the New MemoirTime: 11:30 to 1 pm
Many believe today's memoirs are more personal and revealing than the auto-biographies of the past. Rainer defines this genre of writing as a blend of literature and myth that emphasizes self-discovery. She will outline the nine items of story structure using illustrative material. After summarizing the many genres of your life as story, Rainer will get down to a nuts-and-bolts discussion of meaning vs. reminiscence, finding your voice, dealing with your dark side, and more.
Speaker: Tristine Rainer, Author and Director of the Center for Autobiographic Studies, Pasadena, CA Growing Pains In Young Adult FictionTime: 3:30 to 4:30 pm
We've all heard about the phenomenal growth of Young Adult fiction in the last few years. Catherine Ryan Hyde, bestselling author of Pay It Forward and 17 other novels, made the shift to YA at the end of an era that saw crossing over to YA as an author "demotion.” Now YA is where everybody seems to want to be. But does that kind of rush come with a price? And, if so, what can new authors expect as they approach the burgeoning genre for the first time? Catherine says, "I crossed into YA fiction just as the genre began to experience land office growth. But with change comes new challenges …including many of the issues I thought I was escaping by leaving adult fiction behind."
Speaker: Catherine Ryan Hyde, Bestselling author of over 20 books and short story writer What Literary Agents are Looking for NowTime: 3:30 to 4:30 pm
Hear from top Southern California agents what genres of fiction and nonfiction are selling now and what they see coming on the horizon. Meet them and participate in an extensive Q&A session.
Speakers: Angela Rinaldi, Literary Agent, Beverly Hills Toni Lopopolo, Literary Agent, Santa Barbara Kate Sexton, Moderator Self-Publishing -
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