9:30 a.m - 11:00 a.m.

PNWA SUCCESS STORIES
Presented by a panel of 2013 PNWA success stories: Stephanie Joyce Cole, Janet Fisher, Richard Hacker, Andie Newton, Ethan Reid, Jared John Smith and Tracy Weber.

This panel includes recent PNWA success stories. Attention will be given to information that might be helpful to attendees who are seeking their own success stories, illustrating the importance of networking at conferences, workshops, literary contests, and writer’s groups.


11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch Break with Richelle Mead, Margaret Stohl and Kimberly Derting


 
1:30 - 3:00 p.m.

Take Your Book from Concept to Completion (part 1)
Presented by Gerri Russell
The first session will cover the importance of a good editor, cover art, marketing strategy, and choosing the best self-publishing option for your project.


THE GROWTH OF SMALL PRESSES
Presented by Catherine Threadgold (Coffeetown Press) and Tawn Holstra (Brown Sparrow Publishers)

The Pacific Northwest has a rich history of small presses, so it's no wonder that their numbers and influence are increasing.  Legitimate small presses not only work with agents and established writers, but also offer first-time authors and those without agents personal attention and expert advice to ensure that their first steps into the marketplace will not be stumbles.  With so many national publishers merging into even larger entities, small presses offer the best chance for most new writers.


NAVIGATING THE SEAS OF EDITING: The Importance of a Good Developmental Editor
Presented by Jason Black, Mimi Munk, and Jenn Scott

Proofreading, copy editing, line editing, and developmental editing: who knew there were so many kids of editing? Hiring the wrong kind of editor is nothing but a waste of time, money, and irreplaceable opportunity. In this panel discussion, experienced editors will clear up any misconceptions about when to find which kind of editor and what value their skills add to your manuscript.


THE MANY WAYS TO BE A WRITER
Presented by Laurel Saville

Those of us with writerly aspirations have often been led to believe that there is a single path to the writer’s life: write great book, find agent, get publishing deal, get on Oprah. Maybe throw an MFA and a teaching gig in there somewhere for credibility. While this is a great road to travel if it gets you to the desired destination, more frequently it is filled with wrong turns and dead ends that cause good writers to give up hope. However, there are many other ways to be a writer – and even make a living at it. In this presentation, we will discuss the literary path, work-for-hire, corporate communications, self-publishing, essays, specialty publications, and more. You’ll also learn about managing your own expectations, getting started, being professional, promoting yourself, getting paid, and creating your very own writer’s life.


3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

Take Your Book from Concept to Completion (part 2)
Presented by Gerri Russell

 In this last session you will learn how to input your novel to a digital format.


THE ARC OF THE SCENE: A Beat-by-Beat Analysis of How Scenes Work
Presented by Scott Driscoll

A dramatic scene should be more than just an action moment with dialogue. Satisfying scenes have arcs, like stories. In this workshop, Scott Driscoll will examine the structure of a scene arc, beat by beat. Attendees will learn: how a scene arc is structured; how to develop scene beats as a series of action/reaction sequences that develop through increasing levels of risk toward and past a tipping point; how to identify and manage a scene’s pulse; and how to develop and maintain tension in a scene using dialogue, staging details, and subtext.


FROM SLUSH PILE TO PRINTED PAGE: Giving Your Poems, Short Stories, and Essays the Best Chance for Publication
Presented by Tanya Chernov

For the writer looking to build a platform, publishing work in literary magazines is an important step to building a nationally recognized name. Yet editors of national literary magazines receive thousands of submissions for each issue they compile, and breaking into quality journals can pose a hurdle for even the most talented writer. Why is one well-written piece accepted while another is rejected? How can a writer give his or her work the best chance for publication? In this workshop, one poetry editor explains what makes a submission — and a writer — stand out from the masses, how editorial decisions are often made, what editors love and what they loathe, how writers can significantly increase the chances that their work will gain acceptance, and how to build career-long relationships with editors.


5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

PRACTICE YOUR PITCH
Join your fellow attendees and practice your pitch in a group setting. This room is available to help guide you through the process of perfecting your pitch.


PITCH FEST
Presented by Gerri Russell



7:30 p.m. l KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

Keynote presentation from New York Times bestselling author JAMES ROLLINS
Enjoy a dessert during the presentation.

Book signing will follow event.