Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2026: Full Schedule

Sched is sponsored by Reedsy.
The 2026 Pikes Peak Writers Conference is in the books!
You must be logged into Sched to see the handouts.

arrow_back View All Dates

8:30am MDT

Make It Make Sense: Logic, Logical Fallacies and Character Motivations

Friday April 17, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am MDT

Academy

Get into the head of your evil mastermind villain and use logic to help shape your protagonist's arc. We’ll learn the basic structure of an argument, the difference between validity and soundness, and why it matters to build believable characters with motivations we don’t second guess. I’ll introduce several logical fallacies---ways people make illogical arguments sound good---so that your characters can act illogically in a believable way and justify bad (perhaps valid, but unsound) choices or manipulate others.

Faculty

Taryn Skipper

Author/artist Taryn Skipper’s publications include her science fiction novel for young adults, Between Tungsten and Gold (Sept. 2025, Splinter Press), picture and activity books for children, short stories and poetry in anthologies, cover art, and a decade of commissioned portraits and paintings. She enjoys presenting and volunteering at writing events and conferences and sits on the Storymakers G... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Academy

Craft of Writing

Moderator Jodi Anderson

2:00pm MDT

Read & Critique Session 4

Friday April 17, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Fremont

Historical/Horror/Western

Faculty

Reavis Z. Wortham

Keynote

NYT Bestselling author, Reavis Z. Wortham, is the recipient of many awards, including two Spur Awards from the Western Writers Association, and six Will Rogers Medallions. Kirkus Reviews listed his first novel in the historical Red River series, The Rock Hole, as one of their Top... Read More →

Agents & Editors

Casey Cowan

Roan & Weatherford Publishing Associates

Casey Cowan began his career in graphic design, shaping projects across a wide range of industries for nearly two decades before finding his niche and co-founding Roan & Weatherford Publishing Associates in 2013. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a successful, award-winning... Read More →

Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong

Literary Agent, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency

Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong is a literary agent at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency with
nearly a decade of industry experience. A life-long lover of books, Cathie enjoys
vivid memories of the exact moment she unlocked the secret code behind the
letters that, when combined, form words. Sinc... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Fremont

Business of Writing

Moderator Chris Mandeville, Jodi Anderson

4:45pm MDT

Beyond the Bedroom: Using Physical and Emotional Intimacy to Create Authentic Character Relationships

Friday April 17, 2026 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT

El Paso

Creating authentic character relationships is essential in every genre—whether you're crafting a swoon-worthy romance, developing a fierce rivalry, or building a deep friendship. In this workshop, we'll explore how to layer both physical and emotional intimacy from first glance to Happily Ever After. You'll leave with a clear guide for developing believable relationships that resonate with readers and intensify the emotional engagement of your story.

Faculty

Dawn Alexander

Dawn Alexander Books

Dawn Alexander is a developmental editor and story coach who collaborates with both emerging writers and accomplished authors to strengthen their stories and refine their voices. Her clients have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists, as well as the Amazon... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
El Paso

Craft of Writing

Moderator Jodi Anderson

Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2026

8:30am MDT

Taryn Skipper

2:00pm MDT

Reavis Z. Wortham

Casey Cowan

Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong

4:45pm MDT

Dawn Alexander

Get help with the event