Imaginarium 2024 is proud to announce the addition of one new Panel and three new Workshops to our growing list of 2024 Panel and Workshop Programming! There will be over 130 panels and workshops hosted in our 11th year, so make sure to check back regularly on our official site to see all new additions!
The titles, moderators, and descriptions for these new programming additions are as follows:
New Panel Additions:
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. (60 min)
New Workshop Additions:
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. (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. (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. (60 min)