The Imaginarium 2020 Virtual Conference and Convention’s programming is among the best in the nation, featuring over 120 panels and workshops covering a wide range of creative topics.
Panels and workshops addressing the craft of writing, publishing, editing, blogging, screenwriting, film production, cosplay, game design, social media, poetry, various genres, and much, much more will be available for attendees of the Imaginarium 2020 Virtual Conference and Convention.
Be advise that programming times are on eastern standard time and may adjusted between now and the convention. Please check back, site will be updated accordingly.
Imaginarium 2020 Literary Workshops
Facebook Ads / Where to Start – Presented by Cassandra Morgan – Are you an author who keeps hearing about others’ success with Facebook Ads, but you have no idea where to start? Author Cassandra Morgan teaches you the basics of Facebook Ads. What is the Facebook Ads Manager? What are the types of ads? Targeting, Pricing, and Copy. This 1-hour workshop gives the author who knows nothing the confidence to dip their toe into this not-so-scary world and grow their author business. (60 min) Mon. 8pm
What is ASMR? – Presented by R.G. Westerman – Explaining what it is, answering questions, and perhaps a demo or two. (60 min) Mon. 9pm
Writing Effective Female Characters – Presented by Kristy Strouse – Strategies and lessons to create a realistic, compelling female role. (60 min) Tues. 6pm
A Writers look at Save the Cat – Presented by Larry Hoy – In this discussion, we’ll be reviewing common elements in a the three-act story build.We’ll also discuss the “Save the Cat” story beats. (60 min) Tues. 9pm
Amazon Ads – Presented by Cassandra Morgan – Are you an author who keeps hearing about others’ success with Amazon ads, but you have no idea where to start? Author Cassandra Morgan teaches you the basics of Amazon Ads. What are the 3 types of Amazon Ads? What is ACOS vs Cost per Click? How to write compelling copy that attracts readers. This 1-hour workshop gives the author who knows nothing the confidence to dip their toe into this not-so-scary world and grow their author business. (60 min) Wed. 6pm
Lions, Bears, and Werewolves, Oh My: The Universal Appeal of Shifters – Presented by Aimee Easterling – Humans that morph into animals abound in fantasy and romance and can even be found in literary fiction, science fiction, and horror. But which shifters appeal to which readers? From fated mates and found family to power dynamics and inner struggles, dive into the tropes and worldbuilding facets of werewolves and other shifters as they related to a variety of genres. (60 min) Wed. 7pm
How to Sell Your Books at Conventions – Presented by John Pyka – John teaches convention attendees how to sell their books in a tradeshow/convention/festival environment. He is a former tradeshow marketing director for Malaco Music Group, the worlds largest Gospel record label, and he shares his proven techniques to help you sell those books! (90 min) Thurs. 6pm
Combining YA with Adult Fiction – Presented by D.C. Grace – How combining the genres of YA with Adult Fiction allows you to reach a wider audience. (60 min) Thurs. 8pm
Building Scares – Presented by Kristy Strouse – A discussion on how to craft a successful, terrifying horror. (60 min) Thurs. 9pm
“Rhetoric in Fiction: Using the Art of Persuasion to Strengthen Your Creative Voice.” – Presented by Rebekah McAuliffe – While rhetoric is most famous in the world of persuasive and argumentative writing, you can adapt the tools and art of persuasion to bolster your theme, increase your credibility with readers, and appeal to the hearts and minds of your audience. All in all, utilizing the techniques present in argument can provide a strong foundation for your piece. (60 min Pre-Recorded) Fri. 10am
Amazon Ads for Romance Authors – Presented by Mysti Parker – How to place Amazon ads geared towards the Romance target audience. (60 min Pre-Recorded) Fri. 11am
‘Easy on the Editor’ – Presented by Herika R Raymer – Participate in an exercise in following the guidelines of a given work. As a content/structure editor, I will then walk through the process of what a content/structural editor does. I will also lightly cover the 5 types of editor: developmental, structural, content, line-by-line, and copy. (60 min) Fri. 12pm
“Writing Outside Your Identity Group” – Presented by Lynn Slaughter – Currently, there is a huge controversy in YA world (and in the publishing field at large) about whether or not writing outside your racial/ethnic/gender/sexual orientation group constitutes “cultural appropriation.” I’d love to talk about notable controversies and the ongoing debate about this issue. I’d like to present my own viewpoint that we not only need more “own voices’ in writing but we need to give writers permission to write outside their own identity group. With the latter, however, comes great responsibility to do the job respectfully, accurately, and empathetically. I’d love to discuss strategies for doing the research to “get it right.” (60 min) Fri. 1pm
Writing for Children – Presented by Penny Pearson – Join Penny as she explains her experience in writing for children. What has worked, and was has not. (15 min Pre Recorded) Fri. 1pm
Historical Romance – Presented by Chasity Bowlin – Do’s and Don’ts in a lucrative but competitive market. (60 min) Fri. 2pm
How to Create and Publish Coloring Books – Presented by Penny Pearson – Join author Penny Pearson as she teaches you, how to create your own coloring book. (15 min Pre-Recorded) Fri 5pm
Marketing Today – Presented by Abigail Keam & Teresa Reasor – Spend an hour with two award winning best selling authors, as they share some of their trade secrets into the world of marketing. (60 min) Sat. 10am
Crafting Cross-Genre – Presented by Sara Marian – Explaining how to craft a cross genre story or novel. (60 min) Sat. 10am
How to Improve Your Chances of Getting an Anthology Acceptance – Presented by Michael Knost Description: Bram Stoker Award winning Editor Michael Knost, will offer you advice and show you ways to improve your chances of acceptance into and anthology series. (60 min) Sat. 11am
Paranormal Touring – Presented by John Pyka – John has tapped into a new way to hone your storytelling ability, find creative inspiration, sell books, get in shape and make money doing it; Paranormal Tours! for the last year John has carved out a great income leading tours of historically haunted places in Nashville, Gallatin, and Murfreesboro and he will teach you every minute detail you need to create your own touring opportunities! (60 min) Sat. 11am
Law in SFF Worldbuilding – Presented by J.R.H. Lawless – This workshop will dive into why identifying the legal systems behind a fictional world, especially in Science Fiction and in Fantasy, is essential for both world creators and for fans. J.R.H. Lawless is both a bestselling Science Fiction author and a lawyer, and has designed this workshop to convey the key concepts and provide examples that will give you a clearer vision of the varied possibilities legal systems offer to enrich your creative worlds and provide meaningful conflict for your characters. (90 min) Sat. 12pm
Outlining Workshop – Presented by J.D. Astra – I was once a pantser but Shadow Alley showed me the way. I’d like to share some of my knowledge in how to develop an outline you can stick to. (60 min) Sat. 12pm
Finding and Working with Book Bloggers – Presented by Kriti Khare – How to find and utilize book bloggers. (90 min) Sat. 2pm
“Writing Killer Openings” – Presented by Lee Martindale – No matter the genre, medium, or whether you’re writing short form or long, a killer opening line and a solid hook can grab the attention and increase the odds of making a sale. Writer, editor, and publisher Lee Martindale will help you develop that ‘killer opening’ with live exercises & professional critiques. (Attendees please have writing supplies with you) (2hrs) Sat. 3pm
Dialogue – Presented by Leah Pugh – How to write strong and believable dialogue. (60 min Pre-Recorded) Sat. 6pm
How to Edit Your Manuscript – Presented by Christina Kaye – A hour-long workshop that will go over all the basic techniques of self-editing your manuscript once you’ve finished writing it and before you work with a professional editor. I’ll go over some basic things to look for on both line editing and content editing levels, including proper sentence structure, word choice, pacing, passive voice, character development, plot inconsistencies, and more. (60 min) Sat. 6pm
Maslow’s Hierarchy – Presented by R.G. Westerman – A discussion on Maslow’s Hierarcy of Needs. (60 min) Sun. 10am
Career Planning for the Newbie Author – Presented by Chasity Bowlin – How to phase out the day job. (60 min) Sun. 12pm
Character Creation – Presented by Cassandra Morgan – Cassandra Morgan takes you step by step through creating compelling characters for your story. Wants vs Needs, Archetype, Character Arcs, and Stakes. Explore the 6 elements of character creation, and take your good characters to great. (60 min) Sun. 1pm
You as Your Brand – Presented by Donna Dull – Helping authors figure out what their brand should be, leading them through steps and exercises I use as a cover artist when I create the physical branding. (60 min) Sun 4pm
“My Book is Finished–What Now?” – Presented by Justine Manzano – Writing your book is only the beginning of your journey to becoming a published author. Writer and Editor Justine Manzano leads attendees in an information session that starts with understanding the different types of editing and what they entail, takes you through query writing and your synopsis, and closes out with the discussion between self-publishing and traditional publishing. This workshop includes a Q&A session. (2 hrs) Sun. 5pm
Imaginarium 2020 Film Workshops
HOW TO SURVIVE YOUR FIRST INDIE FILM – Presented by Antonio Pantoja – How to write, shoot, edit, and leverage your resources to make your first indie film a success! (60 min) Mon. 7pm
“How to do Sci-Fi Makeup for Film” – Presented by Demetrius Witherspoon & Julie Power – A make up presentation presented by filmmaker Demetrius Witherspoon & professional make-up artist Julie Powers. Among her many prefessional credits, she has done make-up for actor Danny Glover. (60 min Pre-Recorded) Tues. 7pm
How to Get into Acting – Presented by Les Murphy & Rose Marie Machario – Discussion with seasoned Indie actors, Les Murphy and Rose Marie Marchario. Learn the ways to enter the exciting world of acting. (60 min Pre-Recorded) Fri. 12pm
“Dreaming Up Your Best Life:The art of filmmaking and independent publishing” – Presented by August Aguilar – This workshop invites individuals who are interested in pursuing creative careers or hobbies with little to no experience of how to do so. With an open discussion of ideas and sharing of personal stories, this can be not only an insight for tips and tricks to get started, but a friendly and encouraging environment that everyone is welcome to be a part of….The intention of this workshop is to discuss creative ideas and share a personal insight of how I got started with no experience, yet making the accomplishments come to life. I plan on sharing a lot of my work as examples, things that inspired me, resources you can pursue for help and learning, as well as providing a positive and inspiring voice for everyone to believe they can literally “dream up their best life”. (60 min) Fri. 3pm
Screen Accurate – Presented by John Gritton – A workshop about costuming, from research to completion. (60 min) Sat. 5pm
Guide to Anime – Presented by The Night Sabers – School’s in session, and it’s time to learn about the greatest anime from the past to present. At least, it’s the greatest anime according to the greatest nerd pop band ever, Night Sabers. Welcome weebs! (60 min) Sun. 11am
Imaginarium 2020 Special Presentation Gaming Workshop
Making History by Killing an Industry, creating the E.T. video game – Presented by Howard Scott Warshaw – Howard Scott Warshaw, MA, ME, LMFT was the sole designer and programmer of one of the greatest flops in video gaming history. He will discuss the behind the scenes machinations and shenanigans which led to turning one of the most coveted licenses in video game history into a dynasty crushing disaster and ultimately the sub-flooring of the New Mexico desert. He will also discuss his experience carrying the moniker “maker of the worst game ever” for three decades. It’s a tale of hubris, triumph, blind ambition and in the end… resiliency. (2 hrs) Sat. 1pm in room Stage.
Imaginarium 2020 Music & Performance Art Workshops
Adventure Time Sing Along – Presented by The Night Sabers – Join Night Sabers for an interactive, sing along Adventure Time party! Marceline might night be here in person, but at least we have a song about her! Let’s sing and dance together! (60 min) Sat. 12pm
Live Songwriting Session – Presented by Regdar and the Fighters – Join Ragdar and the Fighters for this live interactive event! Help to create a new tune. (60 min) Sat. 4pm
Exploring Creativity through Dance with Safiya Nawaar – A spellbinding journey into the traditional stylings of Raqs Sharqi Belly Dance with widely acclaimed performer and instructor, Safiya Nawaar. Drawing on her 20 years of experience as a professional performer, teacher and choreographer, she will introduce participants to her signature styles of dance hailing from Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey, Persia, as well as modern fusion genres she uses in her cosplay performances. A fun energetic class combining stagecraft and emoting, internalizing your movements, and creating beautiful lines through posture and arms. We will work on traveling steps, combinations, and how to be dynamic on stage through use of flow and energy. This workshop will be appropriate for all levels of dancers. We will work through each movement from the ground up, discussing posture, leg placement, center of balance, arm positions, and attitude. For the more experienced dancers we will be adding more challenging combinations and layering. Then we will change them up so you can see how the same moves may be used to different styles of music, and how the energy and personality change. “If you want to start loving your body, teach it to move in ways you never thought that it could…” (90 min) Sun. 2pm
Imaginarium 2020 Literary Panels
All Bloggers are Welcome – Discussing trends, topics, and tips to start your own blog and reasons why you should. (60 min) Sat. 11am
Anthology Pros and Cons – Discussion on the pros and cons, including royalty splits, of writing great anthology. (60 min) Mon. 9pm
So, You Want to be a Film Critic? – Presented by Kristy Strouse – A conversation about the film journalism industry and the craft of criticism. (60 min) Tues. 8pm
Audiobooks – Tips and tricks to putting your book on audio. (60 min) Tues. 6pm
Author Finances – What you can expect to earn when starting your career in writing. (60 min) Fri. 6pm
Books & Booze IV – 21 yrs + Grab a drink and join the discussion. Tune in as a group of writers enjoy some adult beverages and talk about the world of writing. (60 + min) Sat. 6pm
CO-OP Indie Marketing – Discussing cooperative marketing as competition grows and indie authors find creative ways to gain an edge. (60 min) Mon. 6pm
Character Development – Learn how to create intriguing characters for your story. (60 min) Tues. 7pm
Child’s Play – A panel discussion on writing for children. (60 min) Sun. 10am
Choosing Your Editor – Tips on choosing the right editor for your project. (60 min) Sun. 10am
Crossing the Streams – Discussing the art of cross-genre writing. (60 min) Sun. 11am
“Contracts: The Good, The Bad, And the Oh-HECK-No” – Even with an agent, one should read the contract for a sale for it’s signed. The panel offers tips and cautions about the kind of clauses that should be included and clauses that should prompt negotiation or a hasty retreat. (60 min) Sun. 1pm
Differences in Punctuation – Looking into the differences in punctuation; comparing British English & American English. (60 min) Mon. 6pm
“How To Be A Good Panelist” – Many writers will tell you that being on a panel is great in terms of gaining new readers. Being a good panelist does the same for gaining new fans and a go-to reputation among convention-runners. Our experienced panelists offer hints, tips, and things to avoid for those new or newish to being a panelist. (60 min) Fri. 10am
Email List Back in Play – Discussing the decline in organic reach, spending money on ads becoming a requirement, and collaboration increasing in popularity, an author’s email list becomes an incredibly valuable asset. (60 min) Sun. 2pm
“Everything You Wanted To Know About The Writing Business And Weren’t Afraid To Ask” – A panel of 4-5 experienced writers, editors and publishers answers questions from the audience. (60 min) Sun. 3pm
Faith Based Lit – The twist and turns of writing a faith based story. (60 min) Sat 12pm
Foundational Fantasy – Tips on the art of writing a fantastic fantasy. (60 min) Sat. 10am
Freelancing Tips – Discuss different freelancing opportunities and how to get started. (60 min) Wed. 6pm
Full Steam Ahead – A dialogue on writing in the genre of steampunk. (60 min) Fri. 5pm
How Erotic – Tips on writing erotica, the world of BDSM, and more… (60 min) Sat. 5pm
Humor Me – Integrating a bit of comedy into your writing. (60 min) Sun. 1pm
Importance of Cover Art – Learn how to make the right choices when choosing the perfect cover art, from the artists and authors. (60 min) Tues. 9pm
Inspiration – Writers sharing places that they go to to find inspiration (museum, park, coffee shop, etc.). (60 min) Mon. 7pm
Interview with a Writer – Join in this discussion to hear the hardest and greatest aspects about being a writer. Questions from the audience are welcome. (60 min) Sat. 11am
Live Q&A with the Bourbon Brothers, Knost & Zimmer. Mod Holly Phillippe – (60 min) Fri. 6pm
“Purge the Toxicity” – How to cope with a lack of a support structure, while maintaining belief in your creative endeavors and goals. Finding your tribe. (60 min) Sun. 5pm
Romancing Your Audience – Discussion on enticing and keeping your readers enthralled. (60 min) Sun. 2pm
Scared to Death – The art of writing horrific horror. (60 min) Sat. 2pm
“Stranger Things” – Come enjoy a chit chat about all things stranger! (60 min) Sat. 12pm
SFWA – Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association members discuss writing SCIFI for today’s audience. (60 min) Sun. 4pm
Supernaturally Sexy – Join a discussion on the art of writing a supernatural romance tale. (60 min) Fri. 5pm
“The Mystery Machine” – Listen in while seasoned authors discuss the ins and outs of writing a great mystery. (60 min) Thurs. 9pm
“Thrill Me” – Spend an hour listening in on a ‘thrilling’ discussion of writing in this genre. (60 min) Sat 3pm
To Tale the Truth – A dialogue concerning non-fiction storytelling. (60 min) Thurs. 8pm
Marketing – How to market your books, films, games, to your target audience. Discussing placing ads within various platforms. (60 min) Mon. 9pm
Marvel Vs DC – Panelist face off in a discussion between the worlds of Marvel & DC. (60 min) Sat. 4pm
Narrate This – Finding the right narrator or narrating yourself? Creating the best sound for your audiobook. (60 min) Fri. 4pm
Urban Fantasy is Lit – The craft of writing an entertaining urban fantasy. (60 min) Sat. 3pm
Lit Fiction – Join in on a discussion of crafting a fresh literary fiction novel. (60 min) Sun. 3pm
Tips from an Editor – Learn editing tips from seasoned editors and why not to self edit. (60 min) Sun. 5pm
To Poe or Not to Poe – A panel covering the aspects of poetry. (60 min) Tues. 8pm
So You Wanna Narrate – Discover the ins and outs of narrating a great audiobook. (60 min) Sat. 1pm
Submissions – How to submit to a press, writing the perfect cover letter, pitches, and much more. (60 min) Mon. 8pm
The Indie Bookmarket – Learn marketing tips and tricks from seasoned authors on ways to market to today’s readers. (60 min) Sun. 4pm
NanoWriMo – Discussing what is NanoWriMo and why you should try it. (60 min) Fri. 3pm
Networking – Discuss the importance of networking to build your brand. (60 min) Fri. 4pm
Self – Care – Authors will share their healthy routines to fight the mental and physical toil the sedentary lifestyle poses. (60 min) Wed. 8pm
Self Publishing – Discussion on how to self publish and tips if you already have. (60 min) Mon. 6pm
Spiritual Stories – Advice on weaving faith elements into your craft of storytelling. (60 min) Sun. 11am
“Research Is Not A Four-Letter Word” – In fiction, not everything comes fully-fabricated from the writer’s mind. Getting the details right makes the story more solid. Getting the details wrong can throw a reader right out of the story and often comes up to bite the writer. Panelists discuss some of the classic fails, when and how they research, and offer tips on resources and methods of research. (60 min) Mon. 8pm
“Review This!” – The importance of reviews for books, screen, and beyond. Learn ways to increase reviews. (60 min) Fri. 2pm
Using Patreon – How to start using Patreon and secure donations and early sales for all types of work, and to solicit donations and subscriptions for newsletter content. (60 min) Sat. 2pm
Using a Pseudonym – Pros, cons, and how to use a pseudonym. (60 min) Sat. 1pm
Website Building is Genius – Discussing the ins and outs of building your own website to promote your brand and increase sales. (60 min) Sat. 11am
“Well that was Short” – Writing the perfect story, that is short and leaves the readers wanting more. (60 min) Thurs. 7pm
Why KDP – Pros and cons of using KDP. (60 min) Sat. 4pm
Welcome to the Wild West – Writing exciting westerns including cross genres, in film and print. (60 min) Wed. 9pm
Working with a Virtual Assistant – Administrative, Transcription, Marketing, Website Edits and Development, Graphic Design, Social Media Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Copywriting, Human Resources Support, Bookkeeping, Content Development, Video Editing, WordPress/Web Design and much more. (60 pm) Sun. 6pm
Working with an Agent – Discuss the complexities of obtaining and working with an agent. (60 min) Fri. 2pm
Writing in First Person – Discussion on the technical aspects and maintaining tense when writing in first person. (60 min) Sat. 10am
Writing Historical Fiction – A discussion on the craft of writing a fresh historical fiction story. (60 min) Sat. 10am
Writing Through a Pandemic – Keeping the juices flowing through these difficult times. (60 min) Fri. 11am
Writer’s Toolbox – Authors will discuss what is in their toolboxes, for example: what computer they use, do they longhand, do they use pens or software, and so forth. (60 min) Sun. 12pm
YA Today – A dialogue on writing great stories to entice the younger readers. (60 min) Sat. 1pm
YouTube for You – Building your brand and increasing readers/fans using YouTube. (60 min) Fri. 6pm
Imaginarium 2020 Film Panels
Creating an Exciting Web Series – Learn how to make your own web series that will attract an audience. (60 min) Thurs. 6pm
Film Composition / Scoring – Discussing the art and craft or writing music in sync to visuals. (60 min) Sat. 12pm
Screenwriting – Learn how and where to start writing a screenplay. (60 min) Wed. 7pm
“Oh Shoot!” – Cinematography: The importance of finding the right cinematographer for your project. (60 min) Sat. 2pm
Creating Characters for Film – Developing exciting characters for film or television. (60 min) Sun. 6pm
Sound in Motion – Tips and tricks to achieve the perfect sound for your project. (60 min) Sat. 3pm
The Making of a Documentary – Learn the ins and outs of documentary filmmaking. (60 min) Sun. 12pm
Indie Film – A discussion with seasoned filmmakers on the art of indie filmmaking. (60 min) Fri. 1pm
Podcasting – Discuss how to start up an entertaining and or educational podcast. (60 min) Fri. 3pm
Multimedia Panel – Join a discussion on music, audio, video, editing, 3D rendering, and more… (60 min) Fri. 5pm
Novelist Turned Screenwriter – Discussing the craft of taking your novel and adapting it into a screenplay. (60 min) Fri. 6pm
Imaginarium 2020 Game Panels
Game Design – Learn how to design your own game for digital, RPG, board and beyond. (60 min) Sat. 5pm
Virtual Gaming – Learn ways to play your favorite RPG virtually. (60 min) Wed. 8pm
RPG – A Discussion on Role Play Gaming and how trends have changed. (60 min) Mon. 7pm
Imaginarium 2020 Music Panels
Audio Production – A discussion on Music Production for Film & TV & Music (Post Production) categories, where the end result of our recording is a tangible, deliverable product. When talking about music production, we can think of late nights in the studio, long hours trying to get that perfect sound. (60 min) Sat. 5pm
Music Video Production – Discuss how to make a visually appealing music video. (60 min) Sat. 6pm
Songwriting – A fun discussion on songwriting for film or song. (60 min) Wed. 9pm
Imaginarium 2020 Cosplay Panels
Cosplay – Discussing the world of cosplay. (60 min) Fri. 4pm
Larping – What it is, how to join a group, different genres, and much more… (60 min) Wed. 7pm