Below is a list of our Panel and Workshop Programming for 2024!
Our Imaginarium 2024 Program is also available now for digital download at the following link, but you can see full descriptions of all panels and workshops on this page. To get the digital program, download from here:
Panels
Writing and Publishing Panels
A Discussion on Writing Software Packages. Moderator – Brian Haas. There are several writing softwares out there, like Scrivener to assist your writing process. We will discuss the pros and cons of these software aids. (Fri / 2:30 PM / Turfway (Stage) 60 min)
A Guide to Writing Fantasy: Moderator – Michael K. Falciani. Join in to hear fantasy authors, as they guide you through key aspects of fantasy writing. Learn why the setting is just as important, if not more important than your characters. (Sat / 10:15 AM / Ellis 60 min)
Audiobook Choices: Moderator – William Joseph Roberts. Listen to professional narrators and publishers as they discuss the best platforms to publish your audiobook on, how to choose a narrator, where to market your audiobook, and much more. (Sun / 11:30 AM / Carriage 60 min)
Captivating Crimes: Moderator Michael Houtchen. In this panel, we will be discussing pacing, releasing hints, planning methods of deaths, and the research required to write a captivating mystery or thriller. (Fri / 3:45 PM / Ellis 60 min)
Cover Critiques: Moderator Jake Clark. Attendees are asked to bring their book cover designs to receive detailed professional critiques from skilled cover designers. There will also be some critiques given on already selected published works. (Sat / 2PM / Ellis 60 min)
Creating an Anti-Hero: Moderator – Devon Eriksen. This panel will explore the creation of an anti-hero. What are some good examples in popular fiction? What makes for an effective anti-hero? How can you balance the good and bad in an anti-hero character? This discussion will answer these questions and much more! (Sat / 10:15 am / Claiborne 60 min)
Creating Critters: Moderator – Richard Cartwright. How to create believable critters blending mythos with reality. (Fri / 3:45 PM / Turfway 60 min)
Creating Historical Fiction: Moderator – J. Isenberg. We will explore what ground rules you should follow in creating historical fiction, what personality characteristics to follow depending on the period you are writing in, and creative ways to use actual characters from history. (Fri / 2:30 PM / Claiborne 60 min)
Creative Non-Fiction: Moderator – Alisa Childress. Discuss the many forms of creative non-fiction, such as journalism, travel writing, and personal essays. Learn how to add imagination and flare to building facts around your narrative. (Fri / 1:15 PM / Carriage 60 min)
Defining Different Genres of Writing: Moderator LMG Swain. We will discuss the difference between sword and sorcery versus high fantasy, urban fantasy/SciFi versus spec fiction, cyberpunk versus steampunk, the difference between a space opera and SciFi, and what makes something YA. Knowing the specifics of the genres your writing leads to more successful submissions and decreases the amount of misdirects when submitting. (Sun / 5 pm / Derby 60 min)
Gender Essentialism: Where We Can Go?: Moderator – Kevin A. Davis. Discussion of how we’ve changed some of the established roles through media, and what we might do moving forward. (Sat / 11:30 am / Carriage 60 min)
Kickstarting 101: Moderator – Marilyn Barr. Learn the do’s and don’ts to starting and running your own successful crowd funding. (Sat / 11:30 am / Claiborne 60 min)
Making a Trope Your Own: Moderator – Scott A. Bradley. How to put your signature on a trope and make it unique. (Sun / 4:30 PM / Carriage 60 min)
Merging Fantasy with Reality: Moderator Michael K. Falciani. Let’s discuss blending reality with fantasy to create the ultimate urban fantasy novel. (Fri / 1:15 PM / Ellis 60 min)
NaNoWriMo – Should I Stay or Should I Go?: Moderator – Carma Haley Shoemaker. The program allegedly ignored reports of minors possibly being exploited, going back 10+yrs, and chose to ignore it even, though one of their mods were involved. Should you to continue to participate? Well, let’s discuss this, so you can learn about what has been going down, and make your choice to stay or go. (Sat / 12:45 PM / Ellis 60 min)
Pitch to Publishers Session I: Publishers R. Kyle Hannah. Present your ready-to-go pitches to publishers who are open for submissions. All manuscripts being pitched in this session must be previously unpublished. (Sat / 10:15 am / Turfway 60 min)
Pitch to Publishers Session II: Moderator R. Kyle Hannah. Present your ready-to-go pitches to publishers who are open for submissions. All manuscripts being pitched in this session must be previously unpublished. (Sun / 10:15 am / Turfway (Stage) 60 min)
Poetic Trauma: Moderator Sheridan Hall. A discussion on how poetry can help heal past traumas, and give the silent a voice. Learn how poetry can stun listeners into silence. (Fri / 3:45 PM / Carriage 60 min)
Poetry Readings: Moderator – Tom Hunley. Bring your poems and share them with the attendees and other poets. This panel is not on a time limit and will end at the moderator’s discretion. (Sat / 8:30 PM / Calumet)
Publishing Platforms: Moderator – S. Cinders. Discuss the pros and cons of different publishing platforms, such as KDP, Ingram Spark, and Draft2Digital. (Fri / 2:30 PM / Carriage 60 min)
Romance Across Genres: Moderator Miranda Darrow. We will be discussing what makes a successful Romance novel and how it can be weaved into cross-genre prose, and talk about several of the most popular subgenres. (Fri / 5 PM / Derby 60 min)
Submitting Clean Copy: Moderator Randi Perrin. Learn from professional editors as they discuss tips, tricks, and insights, so you can submit a clean copy of your written work to the editor or publisher. (Sun / 10:15 AM / Carriage 60 min)
Tales from the Lemur Throne: Moderators Joe Isenberg, Clayton Barnett, and S. Donovan Croft. In this panel, Croft, Barnett, and Isenberg present samples of their recent work, illustrated by AI-generated art, as a means of showing what can be done with this emerging new technology. (Sat / 12:45 PM / Carriage 60 min)
Terrible Things I Wrote When I Was Young: Moderator – James Sabata. All writers create some pretty bad things, especially when they’re just starting out. And that’s okay. Panelists sift through their slush piles of bad memories to share with you some of the most inappropriate, asinine, and hilarious things they wrote when they were getting started, and how those things helped them become the writers they are today. (Sat / 5 pm / Claiborne 60 min)
Terrifying Thrillers: Moderator – Michael Houtchen. We will examine how to create a heart-stopping thriller; mixing the horrific with the thrilling. (Sun / 2 PM / Carriage 60 min)
Tips to Writing a Paranormal Romance. Moderator S. Cinders. A discussion on the 3 key elements to weave the perfect paranormal romance narrative; Romance, Paranormal, and Paranormal Romance. (Fri / 1:15 PM / Turfway 60 min)
Traditional & Current Media Marketing Trends: Moderator – Eva Vertrice. Utilizing media to market your title will help you reach a whole new audience and offer endless networking opportunities for future projects. (Sun / 3:15 PM / Carriage 60 min)
The Author – Editor Relationship. Moderator – John A. Bukowski. A talk about the relationship importance between the author and the editor and how it affects the outcome of your finalized manuscript. (Sat / 9 AM / Claiborne 60 min)
The Ultimate Guide to Worldbuilding: Presenter – Michael K. Falciani. Learn how to establish parameters for your fictional world. Learn the key steps to create an engaging world. (Sat / 9 am / Ellis 60 min)
Unputdownable Openings: Moderator Miranda Darrow. A panel on the First Pages, where the panelists give their feedback on the first page of fiction manuscripts that authors submit in advance to the moderator or bring with them to the panel. (Sun / 9 AM / Carriage 60 min)
Victorian Visions: Moderator Richard Cartwright. Tips to writing your perfect steampunk story. (Sun / 12:45 PM / Carriage 60 min)
Why Contribute to an Anthology: Moderator Michael K. Falciani. Hear from publishers, writers, and editors how contributing your story to an anthology can bolster your career. (Sun / 10:15 AM / Ellis 60 min)
Wrestling & Writers: Moderator – Donald R. Guillory. Wrestling is the greatest form of theater, encompassing nearly every aspect of the creative arts. In this panel, we will discuss everything that you can learn from professional wrestling to develop your storytelling regardless of your area of concentration. (Sat / 3:15 PM / Carriage 60 min)
Writing & Mental Health: Moderator – Alisa Childress. There is scientific proof of the benefits writing has for your mental health. If you’re having mental health issues it can also affect your writing and block creativity. We will discuss a creative’s isolation and depression. (Sat / 8:30 PM / Derby 60 min)
Writing Appealing Literary Fiction: Moderator – Tommy B. Smith. Learn how to make your book more appealing to a broader audience, successfully marketing your title, eye-catching cover ideas, and other insights to raising awareness on a literary fiction novel! (Sun / 11:30 AM / Claiborne 60 min)
Writing Faith-Based Stories in Different Genres: Moderator J. Patrick Lemarr. We will discuss the ways to approach writing faith-based stories in different genres and maintain the spiritual aspects of the story, while including the care elements for the specific genre you are writing in. (Sun / 9 AM / Ellis 60 min)
Writing for Children: Moderator Daniel Bautz. An in-depth conversation on writing age-appropriate prose for children. What do you need to be conscious of? What boundaries should you not cross? How to you handle difficult subjects? Join us and share your thoughts! (Sun 9 AM / Claiborne 60 min)
Writing Nature Settings: Moderator – Alan Goldstein. A discussion on writing nature settings within the genre of creative fiction. (Fri / 12 PM / Ellis 60 min)
Writing Prompts and Inspiration: Moderator – Devon Eriksen. A discussion on getting the writing motor kickstarted through writing prompts and sources of inspiration. This panel will take a look at how to use writing prompts to help get the creative juices flowing, as well as suggestions for bringing inspiration to your creative mind. (Fri / 12 pm / Carriage 60 min)
Writing Stellar Science Fiction: Moderator Page Zaplendam. In this panel, we will be discussing the key elements that must be included to write a stellar science fiction story. Learn how to weave your scientific passion into a captivating story. (Sat / 2 PM / Carriage 60 min)
Filmmaking and Screenwriting Panels
Creating Relatable LGBTQ+ Characters in Film and Books: Moderator Jennifer Noran. A discussion on hollow representation of the LGBTQ+ community in books and film. We will discuss the forced checkmark boxes that writers/screenwriters are using and truly not creating relatable LGBTQ+ characters. (Sat / 11:30 AM / Ellis 60 min)
Dramatic Technique: Moderator Stephanie Lanham. Filmmakers and screenwriters will discuss dramatic technique and how to captivate your audience by emphasizing a particular moment in your narrative. (Sun / 10:15 AM / Claiborne 60 min)
A Guide to Guerilla Filmmaking: Moderator – Banning K. Lary. Learn what guerilla film is all about and the steps involved for you to make a film of your own. (Fri / 8 PM / Ellis)
It’s All Horror: Moderator Donald R. Guillory. Romance? Comedies? Drama? Sci-Fi? Biopic? Cartoons? Action? What if I told you that it’s all horror? Join us for a panel where SA Bradley, Brian Haas, and Donald R. Guillory debate and discuss why so many films and tv shows can fall under the umbrella of horror. (Sun / 3:15 PM / Claiborne 90 min)
Let’s Talk Film: Moderator Drew Graber. Have you written a screenplay and need help figuring out where to go from here? Curious about a film career? Do you want to be an actor but need help figuring out where to start? Here is your chance to question film industry professionals. (Fri / 1:15 PM / Claiborne 60 min)
Screenwriting Basics: Moderator Tom Hunley. In this panel, you will learn the basics of screenwriting. Take your novels or games to new exciting heights in an adaptation, or you may just have a great idea for a film or series. Join us as we discuss how to weave those ideas into a screenplay. (Sat / 2:30 PM / Claiborne 60 min)
Screenwriting Tips for Dialogue: Moderator – Evan Cook . Creative solutions will be discussed among screenwriters to improve the dialogue in any screen and script. (Fri / 8 PM / Calumet 60 min)
Streaming Distribution: Moderator – John Pyka. Learn how to submit your work, how they work, and what deals you can obtain from the plethora of streaming services. We will discuss how streaming options allow more opportunities for diverse voices and perspectives to be heard. This leads to an increase in the variety of productions, leading to an increase in consumer views. (Fri / 5 PM / Claiborne 60 min)
Tips on How to Pitch Your Film Successfully: Moderator Chase Dudley. Learn tips from industry professionals on how to pitch your project, and advice on where to find the right investors for your film. (Sun / 2 PM / Claiborne 60 min)
Music and Songwriting Panels
Horror & Heavy Metal: Moderator – Jayson William Allen. Join us for an entertaining look into blending songwriting with the horror genre and being inspired by it. (Fri / 2:30 PM / Ellis 60 min)
Lyrical Creation: Moderator Stephanie Lanham. Learn the basics of creating lyrics for your songwriting, and also how you can use these skills to elevate and promote your film, game, or books. (Sun / 12:45 PM / Claiborne 60 min)
Gaming and Pop Culture Panels
Creating Comics: Moderator John B. Pyka. Comic book artists and writers come together to give you a detailed plan on how to create your very own comic book. (Sun / 3:15 PM / Ellis 60 min)
Marvel Vs DC: Moderator David Mattingly. A discussion on the creative worlds of Marvel and DC! Where they are now, where you think they are headed, what they are getting right, and what they are getting wrong. (Fri / 5 PM / Turfway-Stage 60 min)
RPG Design & Storytelling: Moderator Joe Isenberg. The narration and world-building are the foundation of any compelling RPG. We will cover the design, history, and storytelling aspects of the creation of RPGs. (Fri / 12 PM / Turfway (Stage) 60 min)
Today’s Gaming: Moderator Renmeleon: Let’s talk about how far we have come in graphics, technology, and storytelling in video game development, and how our evolving culture has affected today’s gaming scene. (Sun / 2 PM / Ellis 60 min)
Miscellaneous Panels
3D Printing Possibilities: Moderator – David Sheridan. Learn how you can have your characters from books, films, and games created into physical creations that you can utilize to market your product(s), use for game pieces, make props for your films, make a passive income from creations, etc… (Sun / 5PM / Claiborne 60 min)
AI Ethics Across all Mediums: Moderator – Renmeleon. This will be an overall discussion of how we can navigate creatively, protect our work and jobs in an AI heavy world, and the ethics of using AI across all mediums. (Fri / 8 PM / Claiborne 90 min)
AI In the Arts, Evil or Good?: Moderator Kelly Ferguson. A panel discussion on the implications of using AI in film, writing, gaming, and art. Is it a tool or is it theft of others creative works? (Sun / 12:45 PM / Ellis 60 min)
Dr. Moreau’s Laboratory: Moderator – Barbara V. Evers. Using an animal mashups card deck, panelists are presented with 2 (or 3 or 4) animals to mashup. They are given a few minutes to create a name for the animal and determine its characteristics (appearance, habitat, food, etc). These descriptions are briefly written and handed to a moderator who reads them out anonymously. The audience votes on their favorites. We run several rounds, keeping score, and the winner gets bragging rights. (Sat / 8:30 pm / Claiborne 90 min)
Horrors Against Humanity: Moderator – James Sabata. Hello, horror fan. I want to play a game. The rules are simple: In this horror-themed version of the ultra-popular Cards Against Humanity game, the announcer will read questions from the black cards and authors will answer with their funniest white card. The audience will judge each round and declare a winner. (Fri / 8 pm / Carriage 90 min)
Horror Speed Dating Game (18+): Moderator – Donald R. Guillory. Ever wonder what it would be like to date the wolfman, Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, or hey.. maybe Godzilla or Cthulhu are more your speed? What questions would you ask of them? What would make each one an ideal date? Join us as we play “Horror Speed Dating” where audience members get to ask questions of our horror icons and monsters to determine which is the best possible fit for that missing piece of your heart… (Sat / 12:45 pm / Claiborne 90 min)
How Important are Awards?: Moderator – Marilyn Barr. Listen as creative industry professionals discuss how important winning an award is for your brand, book, game, and ultimately your sales, and how to use that award or finalist/nominee designation effectively. We will also talk about the mental health aspects of winning or losing an award. (Sun / 4:30 PM / Ellis 60 min)
Monster Members (18+): Moderator – James Sabata. Two teams will face off in a race against the clock, armed with nothing but a whiteboard, markers, and their dirty, dirty minds. With frenzied strokes, the appointed artist of the round will conjure an image of a monster or creature, while their partner tries to decipher which monster is being drawn. But here’s the twist: the monsters will be drawn in their birthday suits. We’re stripping down the terror while you identify each Bare Witch Project or Naked Nessie presented to you. It’s the game where we truly prove the PEN IS mightier than the sword. Audience participation is highly encouraged. (Sat / 8:30 pm / Carriage 90 min)
Workshops
Writing and Publishing Workshops
6-Step Revision Process: Presenter – Miranda Darrow. Miranda Darrow’s Six-Step Revision Process: How to revise from 1st draft to polished! In this presentation, I walk authors through my six-step process. The steps are: 1) The Big Chart – map out scenes, plot, & character arcs in a big chart. I provide templates in multiple formats (Word, Docs, Excel, Charts, whiteboards, Kanban, etc.) 2) Work The Chart – Follow your plotlines to find gaps, fill plotholes, and kill darlings that don’t tie into the main story or major subplot. 3) Add Depth – Next is another round of editing to add setting, active voice, spruce up dialogue. 4) Get Feedback – Time to reach out to beta readers, crit partners, and/or editor, and incorporate this feedback. 5) Line Level Edits – One more round of edits for spelling, usage, awkward sentences (read it aloud, use a grammar checker, etc.). 6) Next Steps – A checklist to help prep for querying or indie pub. Learning objectives: 1. Authors will know the value of starting their revisions with the highest level of edits, to not waste time copyediting pages that might not survive the plot-level edits. 2. Authors will learn how to make a scene chart/reverse outline in which they map out all of the scenes in their manuscript and then evaluate whether they are advancing the main plot, major subplots, and/or character growth arcs. I have templates available and examples for this “big chart” in various formats. 3. Authors will know a recommended timeline to get feedback from other authors (critique partners) or beta readers with a strategy for what to do with conflicting feedback and an action plan for addressing the issues raised. 4. This presentation includes access to templates (in Word, Google Docs, Excel, and Google Charts) for the “Big Chart” and a detailed Checklist for the Six Steps, all as free downloads (no newsletter signup required). (Sat/ 8:30 PM/Triple Crown 60 min)
10 Keys to a Sensational Short Story: Presenter – Paul Stansbury. Distilling the essence of a whole universe into a few pages of prose is one of the great joys of short story writing. In addition, short story writing is a great way to hone your writing prowess whether you are writing short stories, plays, or novels. This presentation will present ten essential keys to sensational story writing at any level. (Sat/ 3:45 PM Claiborne 60 min)
A Dash of Love: Presenter – Miranda Darrow. Adding a Romantic Subplot to Novels of Any Genre. Mystery/thrillers, speculative, historical – novels of any genre can appeal to more readers (who beg for a sequel) with a solid romantic subplot (see “romantasy”). Learn tips and tricks from the romance genre to make sure your subplot is enhancing the story, adding tension, and not landing flat. (Fri/ 12 PM Claiborne 60 min)
Anticipation, Confrontation, Point, and Aftermath: Presenter – Tim Waggoner. Learn the three key elements of horror/suspense/thriller fiction from Bram Stoker Award-winning author Tim Waggoner! ( Sat / 2:45 PM / Derby 90 min)
The Art of Legal Prostitution: Selling Your Books at Cons and Signings. Presenter – Elizabeth Donald. From Dragoncon to the local swap meet, in 20 years Elizabeth Donald has set up to sell her books and art in a wide variety of environments. Find out how to make cons and workshops work for you, how to choose events that will pay off and the best general practices for selling your work without being That Writer. Survive panels, dealer’s rooms, swag, money management, booth design, obnoxious patrons (and other writers) and keep your sanity. Kinda. ( Fri / 12 PM / Calumet 60 min)
Audiobook How-To: Presenter – J.L. Hutchins. This presentation will cover things you need and need to know on how to create your own audiobook! We’ll cover equipment like microphones, software, computers and everything else needed. Jeffery will present a quick overview of the entire process and about how long it may take you to finish you audiobook. We’ll also talk about marketing, ACX – Audible, and other platforms where you can sell your audiobook. Followed by a Q&A session. ( Sun / 3 PM / Calumet 60 min)
Authors Selling Direct: Presenter – Hallee Bridgeman. We’ll go over how an author can sell ebooks, paperbacks, and even audiobooks direct – and why an author should.
Workshop Outline –
- What does selling direct mean?
- What are the benefits of selling direct?
- What are the disadvantages?
- What are the tools needed for selling direct?
- What is this going to cost me?
- How do I make selling direct worth it for me?
- Let’s look at some author shops in different platforms.
( Sat / 5:15 PM / Calumet 60 min)
Avoid Boring Character Development: Let’s Make Them Interesting: Presenter – Barbara V. Evers. Writers have the freedom to create anyone they want as their story’s protagonist. Often first-time writers create a character loosely based on their own personality. Although an easy approach, this pitfall can make your writing boring and, unless you’re writing a series about this character, it doesn’t help you when it’s time to write your next book.
Stepping beyond a familiar character and creating someone new–maybe even drastically different from you–can be a lot of fun. When creating your character, you need to know more about the character than the character knows about herself. Which is one reason why creating a fictional “you” as the protagonist gets boring. You have to get outside the character to create a full personality.
This workshop will discuss a coaching and psychology tool called the Johari Window to explore the Open Self, Hidden Self, Blind Self, and Unknown Self of your protagonist. Then, we’ll apply this tool to Harry in HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCEROR’S STONE to see how it works. Time will be provided during this workshop to give participants an opportunity to create a Johari Window for one of their characters. ( Fri / 12 PM / Derby 60 min)
Being Creative During Times of Grief or Trauma. Presenter – Tim “Cajun” Bischoff. Making progress on your writing during times of Grief or Trauma does not look the same for everyone. It’s ok that writers deal with difficult times in different ways. As the old saying goes “When it Rains it Pours”, can be overwhelming. Sometimes it’s better “To Dance Between the Raindrops” and focus on the smaller things. to continue forward while dealing with the deluge of Grief or Trauma. Come join me to share experiences, remedies and support with fellow authors. ( Sat / 9:30 PM / Derby 60 min)
Benefits to Writing and Publishing Across Genres: Presenter – Malinda Andrews. Breaking through the stigma of only publishing one genre with each “pen name”. The benefits of writing across genres, effective marketing for each genre, and creating longevity in your writing career. There will be built-in time for questions and discussion.
Takeaways:
*Strengthening components of story
*Writing process changes between genres
*Productivity Increase
*Marketing each genre
*Not to limit your creativity
( Fri / 1:15 PM / Restaurant (Winner’s Circle) 60 min)
Better Beta Reading: Both Sides of the Pen: Presenter – Morgan Hazelwood. So you’ve been asked (or offered) to beta read for someone Or maybe *you’re* the one looking for beta readers. As the writer: Where do you find them and how do you get the feedback you’re looking for. As the beta readers: how to give feedback that helps — and stay on speaking terms with the author.
OPTIONAL: Bring a single writing sample to have beta read live. ( Sun / 12:45 PM / Derby 90 minutes)
Blood, Guts, Sex, and Violence: Presenter – Tim Waggoner. Join Bram Stoker Award-Winning Author, Tim Waggoner as he discusses the craft of writing extreme Horror. Don’t forget, many of these elements can be used in other genres of writing! (Fri / 5 PM / Carriage 90 min)
Build Out Your Book: Make Your Promotion Uniquely Yours: Presenter – Renmeleon. Invent new, creative ways to market your book using alternative approaches to social involvement. Learn to conceptualize and create unique promotional materials your readers will love. Worksheets provided. All attendees will receive thank-you gifts.
Led by illustrator, author, and designer, Ana Maria Selvaggio, with more than three decades of professional experience under the name Renmeleon, this one-hour workshop is followed up with a one-hour, hands-on group brainstorming session. Come for the workshop and stay for the brainstorming (optional) afterward.
If booked during Imaginarium, Renmeleon is also offering individual, private sessions for 30.00/hour (normally 60.00) that include access to her resources and manufacturing information. ( Sat / 12 PM / Restaurant (Winner’s Circle) 2 hours)
The Business End of Publishing: Presenter – Lynda Rees. Authors and Creative Business Owners, You are completing a story or creating your product. Now, you must take your author hat off and don your CEO hat. You are the owner of your business. You are your Brand. What do you do now? What options do you have? How do you take charge of your career? It isn’t complex, but there is a learning curve. (Sat / 4:30 PM / Derby)
Covers that Click: Presenter Jake Clark. Learn from a professional cover designer what it takes to create a visually striking cover that will get clicks. This workshop will include all genres. ( Sunday / 10:15 AM / Triple Crown 60 min)
Creating Graphics Using BookBrush: Presenter – Barbara V. Evers. Social media remains a major aspect of marketing, and striking graphics can make a huge difference. Several applications provide the tools, but Bookbrush is designed specifically for authors. This workshop will: Provide an explanation of the basics of visual design theory Explore the different tools in Bookbrush Demonstrate creating Graphics, Cover Reveals, Animations, Book Covers, Book Trailers Suggest some creative ways to use Bookbrush A computer with projection would be required to demonstrate the tool in an effective way. Note: I know Canva has a free access, but I find Bookbrush easier to use as an author. It’s important to note that Bookbrush is a fee-based application. ( Sun / 10:45 AM / Derby 60 min)
Creating the Antagonistic Setting: Presenter – DiAnn Mills. Setting is the physical environment where a story takes place. A strong setting challenges character, plot, dialogue, and narrative by adding a twist in the protagonist’s journey. The literary technique makes the goal harder to obtain, an unforeseen means of driving plot and raising the stakes. Setting is vital and full of spirit, but an antagonistic setting means shaky ground for the protagonist. Survival extends beyond defeating a villain, either physical, mental, or spiritual. This hands-on dive into an antagonistic setting shows the writer how to use fears, challenges, and weaknesses to add impact to story. Handouts provided. ( Sun / 11:30 AM / Ellis 60 min)
Critique Groups: A Writer’s Friend or Waste of Time?: Presenter – Alan Goldstein. Writer’s groups are often cited in the acknowledgements of books, including by many successful authors. But can you benefit? This workshop explores the many faces of critique groups, how they function, frequency of meetings, factors to measure success, and determining whether their goals and objectives mesh with yours. ( Sunday / 11:30 AM / Calumet 60 min)
Death, Taxes and Freelancing: Presenter – Elizabeth Donald. Let’s face it, if we were good with money, would we be writers? Learn how to manage the money side of being a writer and file with Uncle Sam in ways that helps keep you from paying too much while also not going to prison. Elizabeth Donald is not a tax professional, so don’t sue, but she’s been doing her own bookkeeping and taxes for freelance writing and other entrepreneurial misbehavior since 1994 and knows ways to help the math-challenged figure out the money stuff. ( Sat / 11;30 AM / Calumet 60 min)
Dialogue – The Fizz in Fiction: Presenter – Ann H. Gabhart. Dialogue is more than talk. It needs to tell more about the characters, advance the story, and so much more. Hints and examples from published works about how to write dialogue so natural the reader will think he or she is right there listing to the characters talking. ( Sat 9 AM / Calumet 60 min)
Discovering Your Write Path to Publishing Success: Presenter – Maddie James. Provides information for authors who are stuck, stalled, or slow to get started. The workshop talks in brief about finding the “write path,” nurturing ideas and creativity, developing habits and routines, finding your sweet spot, and choosing publishing paths. ( Fri / 5 PM / Calumet 90 min)
DIY Book Promo: How To Get Your Book Into Readers’ Hands Without Spending Money: Presenter – Dan Klefstad. Learn ways for you to promote and sell your book without spending money. ( Sat / 2:30 PM / Calumet 60 min)
Draw Me a Story: Presenter – J.C. Daniels/Shiloh Walker. How to use visual aids (pictures) to craft compelling characters for your next story. This workshop is suitable for any character-driven stories. ( Fri / 2:30 PM / Triple Crown 60 min)
Effective Research in Fiction: Presenter – John Bukowski. Learn my 6 tips for effectively reasearching your novel. Like an actor researching a role, you uncover a lot more backstory than you ever put on the page. ( Fri / 1:15 PM / Calumet 60 min)
Efficient Editing: Presenter – Angie Andriot. Editing can be tough. Whether you’re facing your own sloppy first draft or sitting in a critique group reading someone else’s pages, it can be hard to know where to start. This workshop offers a structured approach to editing by presenting a hierarchy of editorial concerns. Following this framework enables you to pinpoint and address the most significant issues in a piece, resulting in more efficient and effective editing. From understanding what ‘show don’t tell’ really means, to using dialogue effectively, you will leave this workshop armed with a comprehensive checklist of key considerations for enhancing your fiction editing endeavors. ( Sun / 9 AM / Calumet 60 min)
Exploring Sexuality Through Poetry: Presenter – Erynn Crittenden. Learn how poetry can help you explore, affirm, and express your sexual orientation as it has for Sappho, Shakespeare, and more. ( Fri / 8 PM / Triple Crown 60 min)
Exploring the Art of Character I (A two-part workshop): Presenter – DiAnn Mills. The purpose of a story is for the reader to hook arms with a character and walk together into an adventure—to imagine, envision, care, and feel. The writer journeys a character from an ordinary world into an extraordinary tale, one in which a challenge is accepted, paving the road for potential growth in one scene after another. The problems encountered along the way initiate a desire for the character to rectify a situation. These two workshops show the writer how to develop a well-rounded character, the power of backstory, relationships, self-preservation, betrayal, love languages, lies, sacrifice, and more. This hands-on exploration of character shows the writer how to create unique and memorable characters no matter the genre. Handouts provided. ( Sat / 9 AM / Derby 90 min)
Exploring the Art of Character II: Presenter – DiAnn Mills. This is a continuation of Exploring the Art of Character I, description above. ( Sat / 3:45 PM / Calumet 90 min)
Exploring the Art of Emotion and Symbolism. Presenter – DiAnn Mills. Emotion, one of the building blocks of story construction, ushers in sensory perception and gathers word choices, symbols, body language, and various literary devices to show a distinct character embracing a story world. The core of our story is the intimacy of a character internalizing and processing the world around them. The various changes in a character’s life produces psychological reactions and responses connected to feelings, memories, and behavior. This hands-on exploration of emotion and symbolism shows the writer how to incorporate emotion in every line by using psychology and various literary techniques. Handouts provided. ( Fri / 5 PM / Ellis 60 min)
Fast First Draft: How I Cut My Drafting Time By 95%: Presenter – Jessica Minyard. Learn some tips and tricks from a slow writer on how to decrease the time it takes from blank page to a finished first draft. ( Sun / 3:45 PM / Derby 60 min)
Firearms Primer for Fiction Writers: Presenter – John Bukowski. This workshop will teach you the basics for the firearms novice that you can include in your writing; long guns versus handguns, revolvers versus semiautomatic, types of repeating firearms, parts of the gun, shotgun shot sizes, etc. ( Sun / 12:45 PM Calumet 60 min)
The Fun of Making Stuff Up and Infecting Other With the Weird Stuff Inside Our Brains: Presenter – Anton Cancre. We all want to sell our work. We want to improve our work. We want to get our work into the eyes of readers. That’s why we’re here. But, in the process, we tend to get caught up in the mechanics of it. We worry about meeting word counts and deadlines and figuring out what we can write that meets the desires of certain publishers or certain markets of readers. Then we fixate on promotion. Then we start in on the whole commodification process again. There is nothing at all wrong with that. Writing is a business and we all strive to be professionals within that business. We know going in that it will be work.
But, in the process of all of this, we tend to forget why we started doing this in the first place: THE FUN OF MAKING STUFF UP AND INFECTING OTHERS WITH THE WEIRD STUFF INSIDE OUR BRAINS! So, let’s pause in pursuit of grandeur. Let’s pump the brakes on filling our heads with techniques to make our products more pleasing to others. Let’s get together, try to forget about the business end of this business and just have a little fun. ( Fri / 8 PM / Derby 60 min)
Haiku & You: Presenter – Anton Cancre. This workshop is for poets of all levels, from pros to people who have never strung together a haiku. We will play several writing games to kickstart your creativity. Time will be given to write, then we will share the joy of creation. No critiquing. No rewrites. No workshopping. No stress. ( Sun / 12:45 PM / Triple Crown 60 min)
How to Become a Better Poet: Presenter – Lee Pennington. This will be a hands-on workshop. Participants should submit one printed poem (no more than two pages long) for possible use during the session. The first part of the workshop will cover some very specific ways to become better at your craft; the second half will make use of the submitted poems to show how they can be improved to make them more professional. (information on submitting poems will be updated here shortly). ( Sat / 12:30 PM / Derby 2 hours)
How to Become a Podcast / Radio Guest: Presenter – John Pyka. How to get booked on podcasts and radio to promote your book(s) and the benefits to you and your brand. ( Sun / 9 AM / Turfway 60 min)
How to Plot Out Your First or Next Best Seller: Presenter – Eva Vertrice. Participants will explore various types of plotting that are out there, and then I will detail out my method of plotting. I will walk participants through my process and discuss how I found it to be more practical & easier to follow as a writer, particularly if you have multiple characters & storylines.
Handouts will be provided to guide participants through the process. ( Sun / 10:15 AM / Calumet 60 min)
How to Utilize Scrivener: Presenter – Dave Weller. Dave will show how he has used Scrivener for blog posts, articles, short stories, and a novel. This will be a real-world look at how Scrivener can help many types of writers. (Sat / 1:30 PM / Triple Crown 60 min)
How to Write Book 2 (or 3) Without Getting Harassed by Code Enforcement (beginner to intermediate): Presenter – Sandy Lender. Award-Winning Author Sandy Lender has fun and real-world examples of how to market Book One while writing books two and three—all while keeping wacky neighbors from sending code enforcement to your property. It’s about balance, sure, but Sandy can offer you more than platitudes because she’s been in the trenches for years now, fighting some crazy neighbors. You CAN juggle a fulltime job, marketing, writing, housekeeping, and sleep. Join this workshop for insight on: • writing the second book in a trilogy vs a series vs multiple stand-alones; • applying your “why” to how you approach book two; • the planning behind rapid-release; • stellar time-management tips, tools, and “cheats”; and • a synopsis of the incredible story bible. Your key takeaways from this workshop: 1. Time-management tricks/cheats 2. How your “why” guides your “how” 3. Ways to ward off neighbors 4. Strategies to stay sane while writing books two, three, four…” ( Fri / 2:30 PM / Calumet 60 min)
Interviewing Your Characters: Presenter – Lynn Tincher. Interviewing Your Characters is a hands on writing workshop. Writers will work together to learn how to conduct an interview of their main characters. The interview fleshes out character details and provides a place to keep the facts straight. Writers will then write a short story based on the character the class has created. ( Sun / 2 PM / Calumet 60 min)
It’s All a Matter of Perspective: Presenter – Devon Eriksen. How to uncover the Tense & Perspective your story demands. Join Devon Eriksen, author of Theft of Fire, to sharpen your saw, and understand the toolbox of tense & perspective. If you can’t answer WHY McInerney’s “Bright Lights, Big City” requires a second-person perspective, this workshop is for you! ( Sun / 11:30 AM / Triple Crown 60 min)
The Jagged Edge of Story: Presenter – LMG Swain. This workshop encourages the writer to Think in Terms of the Natural Structure of the Problem in the Story, of two opposing forces: Threat (Antagonist) and Anti-Threat (Protagonist). Don’t think in terms of Good versus Evil; rather, think in terms of each Main Character’s aspirations, wants, objectives, and desired End Results. Each Opposing Character wants something—to stop the other Opposing Character. “Jagged Edge” emphasizes beginning with the Threat and the Problem the Threat creates. Without the Threat (Antagonist), the Anti-Threat (Protagonist) has nothing to do. No Problem. No Story. ( Sat / 2:45 PM / Triple Crown 60 min)
Make a Point Without Preaching: Presenter – Virginia Smith. Is there a market for religious fiction? Absolutely! According to Publisher’s Weekly, Christian fiction readers buy more books than the national average, with over 50% reading 10 or more books per year, compared to 36% nationally. That makes religious fiction a significant contributor to overall fiction sales. But what makes an appealing religious novel? The techniques of writing a great story are the same as other genres – but with an added element. Veteran author Virginia Smith will unveil tips and techniques for writing books that include an integral spiritual element without beating readers over the head with a sermon. ( Sun / 9 AM / Derby 60 min)
Marathonarium 2 Premium Workshop (requires additional fee to participate, see the link below): Presenter – Stephen Zimmer. Get ready for a new 3-Hour Short Story Marathon at Imaginarium 2024, where your completion of a short story gets you published in the second volume of our Imaginarium Convention Marathonarium Anthologies!
The Marathonarium 2 workshop will be conducted by award-winning author and editor Stephen Zimmer, and will include a short presentation focusing on marathon-style writing and the craft of writing short stories.
At the end of the presentation, the three-hour creative writing adventure begins! Special guests will be invited to join us for sensory inspiration.
The presentation will begin at 5 PM on July 18th.
At 5:30 PM, we begin writing.
By 8:30 PM, each participant will transmit his or her story to Stephen for the next steps, which will include editing and time for you to make any needed corrections or revisions to your short story.
Then, the stories will be published in the Marathonarium Anthology Volume 2, which will be released in both print and digital formats, with proceeds supporting the Imaginarium Convention. ( Thurs / 5 PM / Turfway 3 hours )
Marketing and Ads on a Shoestring Budget: Presenter – S. Cinders and Marilyn Barr. For the passionate writer, eager to expand their reach and impact without breaking the bank. “Pen & Penny” is a comprehensive marketing and ads workshop tailored for creative minds navigating their author career.This workshop is designed to equip budget-conscious writers with the essential skills to effectively market their work and build their author platform. ( Sat / 9 AM / Carriage 60 min)
Nevermore: Edgar Allan Poe and The Raven: Presenter – Elizabeth Donald. Join Elizabeth Donald for a look at Poe’s life and work, and how the tragedies that followed him influenced his most famous poem to the extent that it is carved on his tombstone. ( Sat / 4 PM / Triple Crown 60 min)
Paranormal Storytelling and Touring for Fun & Profit: Presenter – John Pyka. How to turn your storytelling abilities into a 6-figure revenue-generating source of income! ( Sat / 2:15 PM / Restaurant (Winner’s Circle) 60 min)
Pitching Your Book: A Home Run or a Foul?: Presenter – Michael F. Blake. Pitching a book to a publisher is one of the most important things for a writer. A good pitch can interest the publisher to read your manuscript, and — hopefully — lead to a contract. Your pitch letter is just as important as a well-written manuscript. The “devil is in the details.” Michael F. Blake will show you how he pitched his books and what led them to be published. ( Sat / 10:15 AM / Calumet 60 min)
Plot Like a Pantzer: Presenter – Maddie James. Plotters plot. Pantsers get dizzy and head-spinny over the notion of plotting. There is no right or wrong way to write a novel—there is only your way. This workshop shares ways plotters and pantsers can use discovery tools—genre, tropes, conflict, characters, setting, and more—to plan their stories. Once discovery happens, the writer can dig deeper into the story—by detailed plotting or simply jumping in and writing. ( Fri / 3:45 PM / Calumet 60 min)
Romance Sub-Genres and Tropes and How to Market Them: Presenter – Chasity Bowlin. USA Today Best Selling Author Chasity Bowlin will explain and define the different trends in Contemporary Romance tropes and subgenres and to market them. ( Sat / 10:15 AM / Carriage 60 min)
Selling Your Books at Cons and Signings. Presenter – Elizabeth Donald. From Dragoncon to the local swap meet, in 20 years Elizabeth Donald has set up to sell her books and art in a wide variety of environments. Find out how to make cons and workshops work for you, how to choose events that will pay off and the best general practices for selling your work without being That Writer. Survive panels, dealer’s rooms, swag, money management, booth design, obnoxious patrons (and other writers) and keep your sanity. Kinda. ( 60 min)
Seven Layers of Plotting: Presenter – Kerrie Faye. Whether you are a charts and spreadsheets plotter or a creative that writes by the seat of their pants, all stories need structure. In this workshop, participants will be introduced to the Seven Layers of Plotting which melds Dan Wells’ story matrix with Jessica Brody’s Save the Cat! Writes a Novel method. This comprehensive, layered approach will save you time and elevate your craft. Participants will understand the basic process of creating their own seven-layered plot using examples from popular books to films, such as Harry Potter and The Hunger Games while also receiving handouts illustrating each of the seven layers necessary for plotting. This workshop is ideal for those at the beginner level of writing a novel. ( Fri / 5 PM / Triple Crown 60 min)
Showing Vs Telling: Presenter – Rebecca Johnson. So often this practice is misunderstood, leading to broken dialogue, camouflaged exposition, and long, dry stretches of description. Discussed will be how to use showing in your overall character arc, to create emotional impact, and how to recognize when you’re using telling as a crutch. ( Sun / 4:30 PM / Calumet 60 min)
So You’re a Brand New Author! How do I Submit a Story?: Presenter – Jonna Hayden. Come learn from the gang at Raconteur Press about following guidelines and the reasons behind them. ( Sun / 2:30 PM / Derby 60 min)
SoulCollage (Writing Prompts): Presenter – Lisa M. Miller. SoulCollage, an internationally celebrated process for accessing intuition’s deepest creative muscle. Using images and matching writing prompts, participants will discover a fantastic new way of accessing the characters and stories living just below conscious awareness, ready to be discovered and voiced. For first time participants, the process is often surprising and deeply meaningful while the tools of the method can be used again and again to access more creative wingspan. While SoulCollage®️ is useful for discovering inner poems, characters and stories, this technique is especially useful for breaking out of writing blocks, stagnation and boredom—and great for preventing writing lulls. ( Sat / 10:45 AM / Derby 90 min)
Storytelling Through Tarot: Presenter – Sako Tumi. Cass Voit, horror author, will walk you through the creation of characters and run said characters through an outline using the Biddy Tarot meets the Hero’s journey. See what elements we pull from the tarot, and still manage to keep it a low stress system while making an exciting story. (60 min)
Structuring Stories Around Strong Character Arcs: Presenter – Megan Redmon. Learn basic strategies for setting up a story around strong characters using memorable elements and learn how to practically apply your personal inspiration to your story. ( Sat / 5 PM / Carriage 60 min)
The Care and Feeding of an Author/Editor Relationship: Presenter – Wendee Mullikin. Are you an author secretly terrified of finding a tyrannical editor who makes you break out in a cold sweat an hour before a virtual meeting starts? Or an editor striving to forge stronger connections with your clients and make your work together smooth as silk? You’re in luck. This one-hour session, “The Care and Feeding of an Author–Editor Relationship,” is designed to equip you with the tools and insights to cultivate a collaborative and rewarding partnership.
Afraid to reveal you’re neurospicy* but know things will be SO MUCH BETTER if everyone’s on the same page? You’ll want to join us for supportive language to talk about your needs during the editing process.
Join us for an interactive session where you’ll uncover the secrets to a strong author/editor partnership based on trust, communication, and respect. Wendee Mullikin, a freelance editor and veteran teacher, will guide you through the art of establishing clear expectations, fostering flexibility, and embracing constructive feedback—in a style that resonates with you—with grace and professionalism.
You’ll also embark on the journey of creating your own Author (or Editor!) Manual—a personalized roadmap that will streamline your collaboration with editors (or authors!) and ensure a seamless editorial experience. By the end of our hour together, you’ll have a solid understanding of the framework, and be ready to tailor it to your unique needs and preferences.
* “Neurospicy” is a new term taking off among people who are neurodivergent—whether or not they have an official diagnosis. People who are neurodivergent have brains that work differently from the way other brains work. Their brain chemistry may be different and require medication or specific therapeutic practices. ( Fri / 2:30 PM / Derby 60 min)
The Threes Cs of Fiction: Conflict, Crisis, and Climax: Presenter – Kathy L. Brown. In addition to their Ps & and Qs, storytellers must mind their Cs: Conflict, Crisis, and Climax. But how can these concepts help us create convincing and captivating conundrums for our characters? You’ll leave this practical workshop with concrete ideas for your creative crafts. ( Fri / 12 PM / Restaurant (Winner’s Circle) 60 min)
Tips for Writing Fiction: Presenter – Colleen Green. This seminar by author and writing mentor Colleen Green will cover a variety of subjects including dialogue, plot, and character. (Fri / 3:45 PM / Claiborne 60 min)
We Are Not All the Same: Tips for Writing Diverse Characters: Presenter – Lisette Blythe. We will talk about avoiding writing stereotypes, tips to seek out diverse voices as well as listening to those voices when telling the story you seek to tell. ( Fri / 1:15 PM / Derby 60 min)
Websites for Authors: Presenter – Sako Tumi. Learn the importance of creating your own website and how to go about doing so. ( Fri / 12 PM / Triple Crown 60 min)
Woohoo, You’re a Published Author! You’re Living the Dream … or Are You?: Presenter – Randi Perrin. What is the dream anyway? Is it financial freedom? The need to no longer have a day job? The desire for complete creative control over your work?
Some people say you’ll make more money self-pubbing. You don’t have to split your royalties with a publishing house anymore. BUT… there’s also an investment you have to make. (Trade-offs – we have them.)
We will talk about when it’s time to jump from traditional publishing to self-publishing and what you need to do now, beyond just writing the book. There are a bunch of hidden surprises and you need to be prepared for them.
Topics we’ll discuss: ·
- Why authors go traditional publishing vs self-pub ·
- Going wide versus Amazon only ·
- Things you need beyond writing a good book ·
- Picking keywords to make your book easy to find ·
- Book Marketing (high level – if you want more in-depth information, please check out the other workshops/panels regarding marketing strategies.) ( Fri / 2:30 PM / Restaurant (Winner’s Circle) 60 min)
Write to the Point: Presenter – Page Zaplendam. The idea being that just like the book, every chapter has a point. Whatever that point is has to leave us with a tie in to the next chapter or the next place in the character’s story. Also, efficiency – that each scene must be as concise as possible owing to limitations. The reader will only accept the length of the book for you to explain, so each scene has to work multiple angles. ( Sat / 5 PM / Triple Crown 60 min)
Writing Historical Fiction: Presenter – Donald R. Guillory. History is how we understand change throughout the existence of the world. How do we incorporate history into our writing and how do we make it matter for our readers? “Writing Historical Fiction” seeks to teach attendees the methods and significance of using real world events to shape their narratives for their audiences. ( Sun / 11:30 AM/ Derby 60 min)
Writing to Market: Presenter – William Joseph Roberts. Not sure why your story isn’t getting picked up? Join us for this discussion of writing to market and how to hit the mark with your audience. ( Fri / 3:45 Pm / Derby 60 min)
Your Circle Matters: Presenter – Martha Haynes. When you’re a creative, networking can be one of the most difficult challenges to face. There always seems to be a lack of time and energy, the dreaded “How do I even start the conversation?” and the doom scrolling through Fiverr and Upwork desperately looking for help. If this sounds like somewhere you’ve been before, then the good news is that you’ve already taken a step in the right direction. How? By attending an event like Imaginarium! There is no better place to find like-minded and passionate people. So come on in and let’s tackle this thing together as I take you through the fundamentals of networking. Maybe you’ll find yourself walking out with more friends than you walked in with. ( Fri / 1:15 PM / Triple Crown 60 min)
Film Workshops
Expedited Video Editing: Using Adobe Premiere Pro. Presenter – Banning K. Lary. The session will show how to open a file, import visual and audio elements, arrange timelines and transitions, adjust speed, use character generation, music, pacing, aesthetics, and export and transcode for various delivery platforms, best ways to find stock footage, easy talent releases, and distribution. Q&A immediately following. ( Sun / 2 PM / Triple Crown 90 min)
Firearms & Film: Presenter – Silvio Wolf Busch. Learn from Silvio Wolf Busch, a tactical expert, filmmaker, actor, and director on the importance of firearm training and safety on the film set. You want your film to present realistic and during this workshop you will learn safe and effective techniques, for you as a filmmaker to implement and ensure all of your cast and crew stay safe. ( Sat / 12:45 PM / Calumet 90 min)
Live Performance: Adversary & Mini-Workshop: New Life 4 Old Lit: Presenter Bill Oberst, Jr. Emmy Award winner and Imaginarium 2024 guest Bill Oberst Jr. presents a live performance of his new solo show about Satan (https://AdversaryShow.com) followed immediately by a mini-workshop on the vast world of public domain classic literature available to creators. It’s not required, but Bill suggests those planning to attend the performance and workshop sample his short gothic fiction podcast, Gothic Goodnight, especially Ep. 11, “All The Wounded Monsters,” beforehand, as an example of using old lit in fresh ways. The performance will include many examples, too; the script for Adversary is drawn almost entirely from ancient and classic literary sources. ( Sat / 2 PM / Turfway (Stage) 90 min)
Mock Writers Room: Breaking Stargate SGU Season 3: Presenter – James Fox. Dive into the heart of TV storytelling with our interactive workshop, led by the acclaimed screenwriter, James Fox. Here, you’ll experience the thrill of a TV writers’ room, contributing to the narrative of “Stargate SGU’s” next season. James brings his award-winning expertise to guide your journey through this collaborative and creative process. No previous writing experience? No problem! This workshop is designed for enthusiasts of all skill levels. It’s a unique opportunity to learn from a seasoned storyteller, expand your skills, and potentially shape the future of a beloved sci-fi series. Join us for a session of imagination, teamwork, and storytelling magic! ( Sat / 9 AM / Triple Crown 3 hours)
Gaming Workshops
Creative Writing for Games: Presenter Brent Campbell. Learn when you’ve gone too far and when you haven’t gone far enough in writing people, places, and things in your game. Brent will discuss how much to put into characters and places, and when you’ve gone too far. ( Sat / 12:15 PM / Triple Crown 90 min)
Networking Activities and Other Events!
Guest of Honor Q&A Session: Moderator -Virginia Smith Join us for the open Q & A Session with our Guest of Honor DiAnn Mills! (30 min Sat / 11:30 am / Turfway (Stage) )
Hillbilly Court / Bar Con – Hosted by Three Ravens Publishing A time to hang out, grab some drinks, meet other attendees, and network! (60 min Sat 8:30 pm / Bar Area)
Imaginators Open Q & A Session: Moderator – Michael Knost. Join us for the open Q&A sessions with our Imaginator Guests: Bill Oberst Jr, Steve Jackson, and Michael Blake! (90 min Sat / 12 pm / Turfway (Stage) )
Kaffee Klatsch I – Hosted by Three Ravens Publishing. Grab a cup of coffee or tea, wake up, hang, out, and network! (60 min Sat 8am)
Kaffee Klatsch II – Hosted by Three Ravens Publishing. Grab a cup of coffee or tea, wake up, hang, out, and network! (60 min Sun 8am