Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2026: Full Schedule

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The 2026 Pikes Peak Writers Conference is in the books!
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3:15pm MDT

Short Stories: Good for the Novelist, Good for the Career, Good for the Soul

Friday April 17, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT

Douglas

Short stories are an oft overlooked gateway to many advantageous things in a writer's career. I will offer up some really good reasons to consider publishing a few: making new connections, learning new genres, experimenting with (and improving) writing styles, and more.

Faculty

Sam Knight

Author/Publisher, Knight Writing Press

Sam Knight is the owner/publisher of Knight Writing Press and author of six children’s books, four novels, and over 80 short stories, including three co-authored with Kevin J. Anderson. Though he has written in many cool worlds, such as Planet of the Apes, Wayward Pines, and... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Douglas

Craft of Writing

Moderator Lin Faloon
Audience Beginner

3:15pm MDT

Ten Editing Hacks

Friday April 17, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT

El Paso

This presentation puts self-editing tasks into an easy-to-follow list format. You can check off each item before submitting your manuscript to anyone from critique partners to agents and editors. Most of the tasks are quick and use shortcuts in Word such as Find and Replace. Others are a bit more work-intensive, like culling extraneous adverbs or removing filter words and writing in deeper POV but will ultimately strengthen your story.

Faculty

Jessica Snyder

Jessica Snyder is a romance editor, author coach, and digital nomad traveling the US with her giant dog, Arrow. She's a Gallup Strengths enthusiast who loves kickass heroines, tropes flipped on their heads, rotisserie chicken, and getting stamps in her passport.

Friday April 17, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
El Paso

Craft of Writing

Moderator Mike Torreanno
Audience Beginner

2:00pm MDT

Back Cover Copy That Sells

Saturday April 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

El Paso

Write your back cover copy using the plug-and-play elements that hook readers like character, conflict, stakes, tropes and even psychology. We’ll dig into best-selling blurbs to see what makes them work and you'll leave with a template to follow for future blurbs.

Faculty

Jessica Snyder

Saturday April 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
El Paso

Craft of Writing

Moderator Jodi Anderson
Audience Beginner

2:00pm MDT

Strong Character Voice: What It Is, What It’s Not, and How to Achieve It

Saturday April 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Academy

Maybe you’ve heard an agent or editor ask for stories with strong voice. But what on this blue-green Earth are they talking about? After briefly defining Authorial Voice vs. Narrative Voice vs. Character Voice, we’ll demystify what agents and editors mean when they talk about “voicey” characters, and focus on how to infuse more character voice into our manuscripts. We’ll study examples of strong voice and learn to create distinguishable voice for each character without going overboard and veering into caricature. You'll come away with clear, actionable steps they can take to spot opportunities to add voice and to develop and improve character voice in their stories.

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 →

Saturday April 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Academy

Craft of Writing

Moderator Joe Lenhoff
Audience Beginner

3:15pm MDT

Book Fair Business

Saturday April 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT

Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Congratulations! You book has been published, and you’re ready to sell at your first book fair. Whether it’s local with only a few authors or one of the major “cons” or regional events, you’ll want your work to stand out from the crowd. How do you draw attention to yourself and your book(s)? What kind of sales pitch will bring and keep customers at your table? How do you speak about your book to the general public? In this workshop, we’ll discuss the secrets of successful sales at book fairs.

Faculty

Laurie Marr Wasmund

Author, lost ranch books

Laurie Marr Wasmund holds an M.A. in literature from the University of Denver. She has been an editor, community college instructor, and national writing workshop presenter. Her short stories have appeared in literary magazines such as Cimarron Review and Weber Studies. She is... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Business of Writing

Moderator Bailey Finn
Audience Beginner

3:15pm MDT

Protagonists: The Center of Your Story

Saturday April 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT

Academy

A protagonist drives the story and is the center of everything. This session teaches how to build a protagonist from backstory through emotional journey, assembling a cast that supports their arc while making them sympathetic, believable, and charismatic.

Faculty

Kevin Ikenberry

Author

Kevin Ikenberry is a life-long space geek and retired Army officer. As an adult, he managed the U.S. Space Camp program, two Challenger Learning Centers, and served on active duty in space operations before Space Force was a thing. He’s an international bestselling science fiction... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Academy

Craft of Writing

Moderator Torie Fox-Phillips
Audience Beginner

9:00am MDT

Baby Got Back(story)

Sunday April 19, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT

Douglas

Learn how to create complex, multi-dimensional characters by developing their backstories. This class introduces tools and techniques for building backstory and includes interactive group exercises so attendees can “try on” the methods presented.

Faculty

Chris Mandeville

Author

Chris Mandeville is an unrepentant coffee drinker, night owl, and binge writer. She can write anywhere, but her usual spot is a comfy chair at home in the Rocky Mountains with her service dog, Oski, snoozing by her feet. When she isn't writing, she loves to cook, travel, and teach... Read More →

Sunday April 19, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
Douglas

Craft of Writing

Moderator John Neal
Audience Beginner

3:15pm MDT

3:15pm MDT

2:00pm MDT

2:00pm MDT

3:15pm MDT

3:15pm MDT

9:00am MDT

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