Conference Sessions

Friday, February 21
SESSION 1
 Friday - Intensive, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Ghosted
     Who are you? It’s hard to say in a world where doors keep closing. Maybe you’re a student who is flourishing in school and social activities, then a pandemic or act of violence sends you home. Maybe you’re a satisfyingly minor influencer, then your platform is taken away. Maybe you’ve landed solidly in the world of work, then you can’t afford a place to live. Your words, though, will never leave. Explore how to use words as tools for creating a go-to reminder of who you truly are.
Presented by Dana Wildsmith
SESSION 2
 Friday - Intensive, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Which Publishing Option is Best?
     The publishing industry continues to change, creating a growing number of options for today’s writers looking to publish their work. It can be overwhelming! With so many options, how is a writer to know which path makes the most sense for their unique situation? This session breaks down the options and gives the pros and cons of each potential path to help writers get a clear idea of the direction they should pursue.
Presented by Angela DeCaires
SESSION 3
 Friday - Intensive, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
The Two-Headed Monster:
Two Authors, Two Approaches to Revision
     Manuscript revision is a process. Some writers love it, others dread it, but every working writer knows that a polished manuscript has undergone multiple rounds of revision. But what revision approaches suit you and your work? How do you begin to literally “see again?” In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore two specific revision methods designed to reveal a variety of options for content and structural revision in their prose narratives. Please bring between five and ten single-sided, printed draft manuscript pages of your own work. This workshop will include generative prompts, discussion, and hands-on revision of each participant’s draft work. Participants will leave with reading suggestions and actionable ideas for further revisions. Prose writers of all levels and all genres are welcome.
Presented by Jessica Handler & Mickey Dubrow
OPENING ​RECEPTION
 Friday - 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Meet & Greet • Book Readings
Book Sales
Saturday, February 22
SESSION 4 - KEYNOTE
Saturday - Keynote Address, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Write Like a Wild Thing:
Crafting an Unforgettable Story
Children’s literature has a lot to teach all writers about what makes a story captivating. Using Sendak’s classic, Where the Wild Things Are, learn powerful tools for transforming your writing and your writing practice.
Presented by John Claude Bemis
SESSION 5
Saturday - 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Inside the Outline
     Are you a pantser or a plotter? A "pantser" is a writer who prefers to write without previous planning. They write by the seat of their pants and discover the story as they write. A "plotter" creates an outline beforehand to act as a road map for their novel. No matter which kind of writer you are, making an outline can help you point the way forward. An outline makes it easier to keep track of chapters, change focus if necessary, and establish a theme. Too often, writers lose interest, forget the story they’re trying to tell, or have trouble finding time to write, especially when careers, family, and other obligations keep them from writing. An outline provides a road map so that when the writer is ready to sit down to write, they can easily pick up where they left off. In this workshop, students will learn about four methods to outline a novel and will practice each one to discover which method suits them best. Those four methods are Mind Map, Step Outline, Skeleton, and Timeline. The instructor will provide index cards and handouts. Come discover what kind of novelist you are or want to be.
Presented by Mickey Dubrow
SESSION 6
Saturday - 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Creating a
​Writing Practice
     Author and poet Dana Wildsmith has just completed the Stafford Challenge – inspired by the legendary poet William Stafford – to write a poem a day for a year. Listen to her story about this dedicated exercise, and discuss how to establish a writing practice that will best serve your needs as you work through the (oh-so-many!) obstacles life puts in your path.
Presented by Dana Wildsmith
SESSION 7
Saturday - 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
It's the Little Things:
Exploring Sensory Detail that Brings Characters to Life
     Your everyday life is filled with details - everything from the sound of a loved one’s laugh to the logo on a faded band t-shirt. Specifics like these are true of the lives of the characters in your prose. When an author deploys sensory detail, they create characters and situations that readers can’t forget. In this prompt-driven workshop, we will explore how writing about sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell are key to bringing characters to life in fiction and nonfiction. We’ll look at examples from published work and try some of our own. In this workshop, writers will: 
  • Explore the ways that commonplace moments offer exceptional detail.
  • Develop insight into crafting memorable, realistic characters.
  • Enrich the crafted world on the page.
  • Learn to engage your readers on a dynamic level.
Presented by Jessica Handler
SESSION 8
Saturday - 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Critiques &
​Office Hours
Presented by John Claude Bemis
SESSION 9
Saturday - 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
eBook Basics
     What is an eBook? What are the formats and types? What is NOT considered an eBook? How does an eBook look when compared to a printed book? What are the digital protections? How should they be priced? You have questions. Let’s discuss the answers.
Presented by Angela DeCaires
SESSION 10
Saturday - 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Unpack Your Back Story
     How much does your reader need to know about your character in the first paragraph? In the first chapter? What details will provide context without slowing the story? In this interactive workshop, learn how to avoid info dumps and offer context clues that are clear, relevant, and intriguing.
Presented by Carol Crawford
SPEAKER PANEL
Saturday - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Writers Conference Speaker Panel
Audience Q&A and Conference Highlights
Presented by John Claude Bemis, Mickey Dubrow, Dana Wildsmith, Jessica Handler, Angela DeCaires, and Carol Crawford
SPONSORED BY
Hosted by the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association
420 West Main Street, Blue Ridge, GA  30513
(706) 632-2144     www.BlueRidgeArts.net​
​​Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit equal opportunity organization. We do not and shall not discriminate in any of our activities or operations on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religious affiliation, nationality, or ethnic origin. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, artists, clients, volunteers, vendors and guests.