New Attendee Orientation
A welcoming, introductory session designed to help first-time attendees navigate the conference. We will cover logistics, networking opportunities, and strategies for maximizing your experience.
Working with Criticism (Without Taking It Personally)
Feedback is crucial to a creative career, yet even helpful critique can sometimes be hard to hear. "Just grow a thick skin!" is not useful advice and does nothing to…
Demystifying Anime: Help for Parents and Writers
Parents, wonder what this Japanese animation is all about? Writers, want a way to learn storytelling while watching what you love? Come learn from a parent and author who love…
Should you use AI as a writer?
A panel of experts will debate the pros and cons of using AI as a writer. We'll have technical experts as well as writing experts to get a well-rounded view…
Cosplay 101
Wanting to get into cosplay but don't know where to start? Jess Luttrell of Cosplay For Christ and Author and Film Maker Laura Farrar will go over the basics for…
From Tolkien to Star Wars: Why We Crave Mythic Stories
Why do stories like The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Dune captivate audiences across generations? In a world flooded with cynicism, people still hunger for stories of sacrifice,…
Writing for Wonder: The Heart, Craft, and Future of Children’s Publishing
Discover the heartbeat of the resilient children’s market and how to craft stories that spark wonder in today’s readers. This session combines a practical industry snapshot with expert guidance on…
From Script to Panel: Making Your Own Graphic Novel or Webtoon — with Kaylah, Webtoon author/illustrator of ‘Jesus and Me’
Learn to develop your own visual storytelling process for graphic novels and webcomics — from script to storyboard to character design — using Scrivener, Clip Studio Paint, and Adobe. Your…
A Wizard Did It! Magic Systems as Science
Magic is both character and setting in fantasy, and as soon as you have someone deliberately using a magic system, you have a science, too. Just as there are many…
Writing while working and when retired
Berry Tripp wrote a million words WHILE working seventy hours a week and running a thriving and growing business. Then he retired and took up writing full time. Both can…