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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9:45am MDT

Freelancers: Building a Business Mindset

Friday April 17, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Academy

Owning and running your own business as a freelancer or an author is not only about the logistics of taxes, running a website, and marketing your business but also includes a foundational philosophy by which to focus the decisions that will affect your business and your brand.

Faculty

Callie Stoker

Owner, Managing Editor, The Manuscript Dr

Callie Stoker is an editor with almost two decades experience. Her business The
Manuscript Dr offers coaching and editing services. We believe that writing is a skill that
can be taught through the application of individual tools. We love helping our clients
elevate their abilities... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Academy

Business of Writing

Moderator Bill Bush

11:00am MDT

The Joy of Revision: Essential Self-Editing Strategies for Prose that Pops

Friday April 17, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Academy

This hands-on workshop teaches writers to look at their fiction or creative nonfiction as an editor would, on two levels: developmental editing (the big picture: characters, backstory, pacing, etc.) and line editing (the rhythm and flow of the prose). Participants will learn what agents and publishers consider red flags in a writing sample and how to avoid them; how to make their opening pages multi-task to capture a reader’s attention; and how to tighten their prose without losing its poetry. Targeted exercises will show how to recognize common pitfalls and craft a much stronger final draft. Along the way, writers will discover that revision can be fun!

Faculty

Anita Mumm

Anita Mumm is a writer and developmental editor based in Salida, Colorado. At her editorial firm, Mumm’s the Word, she supports first-time novelists and bestsellers alike. Her clients have earned top spots on The New York Times bestseller list and received acclaim from Publi... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Academy

Craft of Writing

Moderator Bill Bush

2:00pm MDT

Why the First 10 Pages Make or Break Your Novel (with Live Editing)

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

Douglas

What agents look for in the first 10 pages (and what makes them stop)
The 5 elements your opening must establish immediately
Common pitfalls that sink submissions in the first chapter
How to hook readers without gimmicks
Live editing session: real-time critique of opening pages
Takeaway checklist to self-evaluate your own first 10 pages

Agents & Editors

Jessica Berg

Literary Agent, Rosecliff Literary

Jessica Berg is the founder and agency director of Rosecliff Literary, a boutique agency built on the belief that ambitious writers deserve transparency, strategy, and a seat at the table. She earned her MFA from Spalding University and brings more than a decade of experience to her... Read More →

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

Craft of Writing

Moderator Bill Bush

4:45pm MDT

Time to Get Creative: Time Management and Productivity for Writers

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

Palmer

The business world is bursting with gurus hawking their systems and claiming they'll change your life. Many of them have useful ideas, but most of them aren't quite applicable to a creative lifestyle, especially for those of us who are neurodivergent, part-time writers with day jobs, primary caregivers, multi-passionate, or not quite raking in enough royalties to hire help. Learn what today's popular theories have in common and how to tweak useful systems to a creative lifestyle. Creatives aren’t always motivated the same way as business bros, and creative success isn’t measured by the same rubrics. Whether you’re hyper-focused or bouncing between projects, there are productivity methods to help you!

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 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Palmer

Writing Tools

Moderator Bill Bush

9:45am MDT

The Super Power of Writing Sprints: Smash Writer’s Block (2 hours)

Saturday April 18, 2026 9:45am - 12:00pm MDT

Palmer

For those of us who overthink our writing process, writing sprints can help us break through our writer’s block, self-doubt, and paralyzing perfectionism. In this improv-writing workshop, we’ll use writing sprints (timed writing exercises) to glide right past writer’s block, dive deeply into characters, and more. Bring pen & paper or your laptop, and be prepared to let your mind surprise you with fresh, uninhibited writing.

Faculty

Johnny Worthen

Award-Winning Author

Johnny Worthen grew up in the high desert snows and warm summer winds of the Wasatch Mountains. He graduated with a B.A. in English, minor in Classics and a Master's in American Studies from the University of Utah. After a series of businesses and adventures, including years abroad... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 9:45am - 12:00pm MDT
Palmer

Craft of Writing

Moderator Bill Bush
Audience Intermediate

9:00am MDT

A Feast for the Senses: Writing to Immerse Your Readers

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

Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Adding more sensory detail to your writing can take it from ordinary to exceptional. In this workshop you’ll learn to use mindfulness and amplified awareness techniques to experience your surroundings through each of the five senses. Then, using examples from contemporary writers in a variety of genres, we’ll explore ways to translate that sensory awareness onto the page to create vivid scenes, memorable characters, or a particular atmosphere. Novelists and short-form writers alike will gain tools for creating a richer experience for readers.

Faculty

Anita Mumm

Sunday April 19, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Craft of Writing

Moderator Bill Bush

10:15am MDT

Be the Author YOU Want to Be

Sunday April 19, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am MDT

Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

What does it mean to be an author? Learn to navigate the pressures of peers, marketplace, and the publishing industry to become not just the author you dream about, but more importantly, the author you can live with. We examine author lifestyle/work-life balance and explore expectations versus personal goals. Most workshops and writing books tell authors how to reach an industry defined version of success. This workshop guides writers to wrestle with their writing process, and to identify who they are as a writer without judgement. We look at publishing’s expectations of writers. The intent here is for writers to understand that success is a target THEY create.

Agents & Editors

Bowen Gillings

Associate Agent, Savvy Literary

Bowen Gillings joined Savvy Literary in 2025 and has nearly a decade of experience as an author and champion of authors. Currently building his list, Bowen seeks to partner with writers who possess a sense of professionalism and a sense of humor. He loves books with a strong narrative... Read More →

Sunday April 19, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Writing Life

Moderator Bill Bush

9:45am MDT

11:00am MDT

2:00pm MDT

4:45pm MDT

9:45am MDT

9:00am MDT

10:15am MDT

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