I am excited to share the news that my local freelancers’ group is once again hosting an in-person conference for writers! While last year’s virtual sessions were informative, it will be exciting to see fellow writers and editors face-to-face as we work together to hone our craft. The conference is held in Raleigh, North Carolina, and tickets are still available.
Saturday, April 30, 2022
McKimmon Conference & Training Center
@ NC State
1101 Gorman Street, Raleigh NC
Schedule
8 a.m. — Registration, coffee, and mingling
9 a.m. — Opening keynote with children’s author Kelly Starling Lyons
10 a.m. — Morning sessions (2)
12 p.m. — Lunch and book sales
1 p.m. — Afternoon sessions (2)
3 p.m. — Closing keynote with award-winning journalist Philip Gerard
Sessions
Each visitor will attend the four sessions of their choice, with most offering a fiction and non-fiction option.
10:00 – 10:50 a.m.
Nonfiction Book Proposals That Compel and Sell—Author and NCSU journalism professor Cat Warren covers the basics of what agents and trade publishers want to see in a successful nonfiction book proposal and offers tips on finding the best literary agent for your project.
– or –
Feeling Stories: Creating Picture Books That Pack an Emotional Punch—Children’s author Kelly Starling Lyons offers personal insight, advice and tips on how to give your picture books charm and emotional impact that will have young readers clamoring for more.
11:00 – 11:50 a.m.
Food Writing: A Recipe for Publishing Success—Join renowned food writers Sandra Gutierrez, Deanna Martinez-Bey and Brian Adornetto as they discuss the print and online opportunities available to aspiring food writers, how to break into the top food-writing markets, and the secrets to getting your cookbook published.
– or –
The Full Story: Developing a Deeper Narrative—Award-winning journalist and author Philip Gerard offers techniques to help you find a personal way into the story, create an engaging story arc, and craft original structures and language that turn your story into “news that stays news.”
1:00 – 1:50 p.m.
Book Narration 101—Audible book narrators Becket Royce and Talmadge Ragan offer fascinating insights on what separates good narration from bad and how self-published writers can take advantage of this increasingly popular format.
– or –
Art of the Interview—Journalist Scott Mason discusses the books that set him on a path to write, the nuances of an effective interview, helping sources feel comfortable enough to open up, and making stories work that don’t always want to work.
2:00 – 2:50 p.m.
Future Visions: Writing and Selling Science Fiction and Fantasy—Award-winning authors A.G. Riddle, Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon survey current trends and those on the horizon, as well as the opportunities in print and online markets. They also will reflect on publishing their own novels and short stories and how you can find success in those genres.
– or –
Dramatic Writing for the Screen and Stage—Dana Coen, playwright, writer for the TV hits “Bones,” “JAG” and “NCIS,” and the director of UNC’s Writing for Screen and Stage Program, delves deep into the concepts, techniques and structural ideas that will help script writers, novelists, and short story writers bring their characters and scripts to life.
I’ll be attending the sessions that lean toward fiction writing:
— Feeling Stories
— Book Narration
— The Full Story
— Future Visions
I hope I’ll get to meet you there!
Your ticket allows you to meet other writers but also learn new ways to hone your craft, start a new one, or find new avenues for writing.
Your purchase also supports the wonderful organization of the Triangle Association of Freelancers, a nonprofit organization serving independent nonfiction and fiction writers throughout North Carolina. Founded in 2003, TAF is committed to educating, mentoring, and promoting both aspiring and established writers by connecting them with fellow writers and the vital resources and services available to them. TAF advocates for fair compensation of writers and content creators, as well as the ongoing professional development of those in the writing profession.
