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Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2026

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8:30am MDT

Emotional Resonance: Or How I Made My Dad Not Talk to Me for a Week

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

Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Readers connect through emotion. This class explores how to use tropes, the mirror effect, self-realization, and comparison to foster emotional depth and connection. Examples will focus on popular literary and cinematic characters and why these "tricks of the trade" work so well, and how writers can use them to great effect.

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 →

Friday April 17, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Craft of Writing

Moderator Sam Knight

8:30am MDT

Fact vs. Fiction: Writing Authentic Investigations

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

• Understanding the basics of criminal investigations and avoiding the “TV version” of crime.
• Using real case files, FOIA requests, and verified sources for accuracy.
• Q&A: How can writers responsibly use real case material without risking harm to survivors or investigations?

Faculty

David Lyons

David Lyons is a former homicide detective and retired police commander, living in central Kentucky. In retirement, he focuses on two passions. One, his role as a faculty member with FBI-LEEDA (the Law Enforcement Executive Development Association), the other, producing The Murder... Read More →

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

Craft of Writing

Moderator Catherine Dilts

8:30am MDT

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

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

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

9:45am MDT

Q&A with Reavis Wortham

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

Cherry Creek/Cripple Creek

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 →

Friday April 17, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Cherry Creek/Cripple Creek

Craft of Writing

Moderator Sam Knight

9:45am MDT

Scene and Sequel

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

Writing an entire novel can be intimidating. But if you remember that a book is a series of connected scenes, writing one scene at a time is much less daunting. Once you master scene structure, you have mastered one of the basics of storytelling. To help with this, Pam McCutcheon explains what scene and sequel are and how to structure them with maximum effect, then uses movie examples and interactive story development to drive the point home.

Faculty

Pam McCutcheon

Pam McCutcheon writes a variety of romance subgenres under her own name, and urban fantasy under the name Parker Blue. She also writes nonfiction books for writers, including the popular Writing the Fiction Synopsis and The Writer's Brainstorming Kit.

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

Craft of Writing

Moderator John Neal

11:00am MDT

0 to 60: Write Pacing Your Readers Won’t Forget

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

Keep your readers on the edge of their seats. You've got great characters and a good idea for your plot, but your story builds tension too slowly; even you get bored in the middle, and you're the one writing it. How do you avoid the slow start, the overly predictable middle, the boggy subplots, and the unsatisfying ending? Pacing is not just about action. It's about the way you dance with the reader–where you drop clues, where you misdirect, where you cut between scenes, when you throw in unexpected complications, and how you raise the stakes. It's about knowing when to delay and when to deliver. So how do you rev up the speed at just the right moments, give just the right amount of pause for breath, and play with readers’ expectations in ways that build suspense and give your readers surprises they'll be discussing for days? Jump into Stant Litore’s exhilarating crash course on pacing in fiction.

Faculty

Stant Litore

Stant Litore is the author of Ansible, The Screaming of the Tyrannosaur (recently adapted into an Emmy-nominated episode of Love, Death, and Robots), The Zombie Bible, and Dante’s Heart. Besides science fiction and fantasy, he has written the writers’ toolkits Write Wo... Read More →

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

Craft of Writing

Moderator Catherine Dilts

11:00am MDT

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

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

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

11:00am MDT

Turn That Spark Into a Blaze: 7 Steps to Craft Compelling Conflict

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

Conflict ignites every scene in your novel. But how do you stoke those fires to keep your readers engaged and your plot moving? In this workshop, you'll learn that conflict isn't about confrontation; it's about character choices. This 7-step method will guide you in turning up the heat on your characters with intense stakes and escalating tension. Get ready to light up your manuscript with the tools to craft a story so powerful, it will burn in the minds of your readers long after they turn the final page.

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 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
El Paso

Craft of Writing

Moderator John Neal

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

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

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

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

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

3:15pm MDT

Words, Words, Words

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

Words are the building blocks of prose. Vivid, precise nouns and verbs imbue prose with energy and originality, help create a believable fictional setting, and bring flat characters to life. But how do you choose the right words? We will address how to find and select nuanced words, as well as how to avoid those that sap prose of energy and drive readers crazy. We’ll address the sensitive topics of adverbs, anachronisms, and weasel words, and explore the role of word choice in persona voice and fictional world building.

Faculty

Carol Berg

Carol Berg, former software engineer, never expected to write epic fantasy novels. Nor did she expect to win the Colorado Book Award four times or hear that her books had been read on the slopes of Denali, in the war zone of Iraq, or underneath the Mediterranean. She certainly never... Read More →

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

Craft of Writing

Moderator Kaitlyn Price

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

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

4:45pm MDT

Middles and Try-Fail Cycles

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

Middles are often seen as the sagging portion of any story line, when in reality most of any piece of writing is spent in the middle. In this workshop, we learn how to set up and depict interesting try-fail cycles for your characters.

Faculty

Mary Robinette Kowal

Keynote

Mary Robinette Kowal is the author of the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus award winning alternate history novel The Calculating Stars, the first book in the Lady Astronaut series which continues in 2025 with The Martian Contingency. She is also the author of The Glamourist Histories series, Ghost... Read More →

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

Craft of Writing

Moderator Pam McCutcheon

9:00pm MDT

Sandboxes: Building Castles with Co-Writing

Friday April 17, 2026 9:00pm - 10:00pm MDT

This workshop will explore co-writing! This endeavor is both trickier and easier than you're initially imagining. Come find out some of the best ways to outline and prepare for writing with a co-author, various techniques to splitting the workload, and the “yes, and” mindset that helps make these stories shine their brightest. We'll also discuss how to find these opportunities and what to do to make the most of them.

If you’ve ever written a book but didn’t have the expertise to flesh it out the way you wanted, want to write in another author’s IP, or just want to write a novel with your best buddy, we’ve got you covered.

Faculty

H.Y. Gregor

Author

H.Y. Gregor was born in Portland, Oregon, but will always call the mountains of Colorado home. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science but put it down often enough to narrowly avoid law school. Now she spends her free time weaving fantasy tales and battling plot gremlins... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 9:00pm - 10:00pm MDT
Palmer

Craft of Writing

9:00pm MDT

Write Drunk, Edit Sober

Friday April 17, 2026 9:00pm - 10:00pm MDT

The first session, Write Drunk, has you writing to various prompts while drinking. The follow-up Edit Sober session takes you through examining what you wrote and how to edit it into shape.

This workshop has an extra charge. Add via registration form.

Faculty

Deb Courtney

Past President, Pikes Peak Writers

Deb Courtney holds a degree in Fiction from the University of South Florida, where she was a Saunders Scholar in Fiction. She has had numerous short stories published and has worked as a freelance journalist, creativity coach and freelance editor. Her background also includes more... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 9:00pm - 10:00pm MDT
Fremont

Craft of Writing

8:30am MDT

Critique Like a Boss: Get the Most from Your Critique Group

Saturday April 18, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am MDT

Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

A constructive, positive critique group may be the most overlooked (and free!) way to make your manuscript stand out in this ultra-competitive market. Learn the types of critique groups, guidelines for review sessions, tips for being an effective reviewer, and why critiquing others’ writing is one of the best ways to improve your own skills.

Faculty

Kelley J. P. Lindberg

President, Blue Raven Services Inc.

Kelley J. P. Lindberg writes adult and YA fiction, but her writing history is littered with dozens of how-to books (including several bestsellers) and hundreds of articles. Her fiction and essays have appeared in literary magazines, in anthologies including PPW’s Journeys into... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Craft of Writing

Moderator Kaitlyn Price

8:30am MDT

Don't Break the Spell:Protecting Reader Trust

Saturday April 18, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am MDT

All storytelling requires a "suspension of disbelief," but within the first paragraphs of your novel, the words, character, and promises there will flag to your reader if that suspension can continue and if they trust you to pay off what has been set up. Learn to think like your reader in order to identify small breaks in trust that will keep them from DNF-ing your book.

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 →

Saturday April 18, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
El Paso

Craft of Writing

Moderator John Neal

8:30am MDT

♪ ♫ Do You Want to Kill a Snowman? ♪ ♫

Saturday April 18, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am MDT

We don’t buy the book because the protagonist is a twenty-something drop-out who no one believes in. We buy it because we want to see the monster! What makes a great monster? Its strengths and weaknesses–in other words, how to kill it!

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 →

Saturday April 18, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Douglas

Craft of Writing

Moderator Jodi Anderson

9:45am MDT

Beat Writer’s Block and Reignite Your Creativity

Saturday April 18, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Unblock your writing and recapture the playfulness of fiction. Maybe you just can't start. Maybe you complete a first draft only to discover that it feels like a betrayal of your vision, a pale imitation of the story you had in mind. Maybe your drive toward perfection keeps you continuously editing the same scene; you just can't get it right. Maybe you don't know where your story is going anymore, or maybe you're waiting for time to get magically freed up so that you can devote long afternoons or long days to creating your story. In this class, Stant Litore shares approaches that will help you unblock your writing and rekindle your creativity. What we forget easily is that storytelling is play!

Faculty

Stant Litore

Stant Litore is the author of Ansible, The Screaming of the Tyrannosaur (recently adapted into an Emmy-nominated episode of Love, Death, and Robots), The Zombie Bible, and Dante’s Heart. Besides science fiction and fantasy, he has written the writers’ toolkits Write Wo... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Douglas

Craft of Writing

Moderator Bailey Finn

9:45am MDT

Brainstorming Using the Plotting Board

Saturday April 18, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Have you ever wanted to brainstorm a new story with a critique group (or even just with yourself), but find it's difficult to keep track of everything? If so, the plotting board can help give you a very visual picture of how your characters and plot work together to show you what you have, but also what may be missing in your story. Join Pam McCutcheon as she explains how to use the plotting board and works through a story with the audience to demonstrate.

Faculty

Pam McCutcheon

Pam McCutcheon writes a variety of romance subgenres under her own name, and urban fantasy under the name Parker Blue. She also writes nonfiction books for writers, including the popular Writing the Fiction Synopsis and The Writer's Brainstorming Kit.

Saturday April 18, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Academy

Craft of Writing

Moderator DJ Cochran

9:45am MDT

MICE Quotient

Saturday April 18, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

In this workshop, we learn about the simple organizational structure of the MICE Quotient. Pretty much every story, fictional or nonfictional, can be explained through this fairly simple organizational structure. Together we learn how to make this structure work for you when writing.

Faculty

Mary Robinette Kowal

Keynote

Mary Robinette Kowal is the author of the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus award winning alternate history novel The Calculating Stars, the first book in the Lady Astronaut series which continues in 2025 with The Martian Contingency. She is also the author of The Glamourist Histories series, Ghost... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Craft of Writing

Moderator Deb Courtney

9:45am MDT

Q&A with Pippa Grant

Saturday April 18, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Cherry Creek/Cripple Creek

Faculty

Pippa Grant

Keynote

Pippa Grant wanted to write books, so she did.Before she became a USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling romantic comedy author, she was a young military spouse who got into writing as self-therapy. That happened around the time she discovered reading romance novels, and the two eventually... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Cherry Creek/Cripple Creek

Craft of Writing

Moderator Torie Fox-Phillips

9:45am MDT

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

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

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

11:00am MDT

Lost in Translation: Writing distinct cultures, languages, accents, and soundscapes in your worldbuilding (Or: I Guess the Elves are British)

Saturday April 18, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Let's talk about building speech differences, accents, culture and the whole aural landscape into your writing from the outset. Our speech shapes the way we see the world, our choices, our beliefs, and our sense of identity. This can all feel intimidating! Often writers leave this rich well untapped and vague or end up with confusing inconsistencies because they never considered it. Let's dig deep and see what treasures lie in really thinking about the way our diverse peoples speak, how language and accents evolve over time, and what shapes them. Jargon, socio-economic and temporal differences, alien and fantasy species, and how to translate all of this into an edible experience for the reader.

Faculty

Aaron Fors

Aaron Fors is an author, actor, filmmaker, creator thingy! An obsessive collector of obscure skills and knowledge, they love infusing their passion for the niche into their works. Aaron writes scifi, fantasy, and whatever fills their heart up and makes them feel like they’re going... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Douglas

Craft of Writing

Moderator Chris Mandeville

11:00am MDT

The Human Side of Crime: Survivors, Detectives, and Emotional Intelligence

Saturday April 18, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

• The impact of homicide cases on survivors and the concept of “no closure”.
• Using emotional intelligence to write believable investigators, villains, and survivors.
• Q&A: How do you create characters who feel real while drawing from real human suffering?

Faculty

David Lyons

David Lyons is a former homicide detective and retired police commander, living in central Kentucky. In retirement, he focuses on two passions. One, his role as a faculty member with FBI-LEEDA (the Law Enforcement Executive Development Association), the other, producing The Murder... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Academy

Craft of Writing

Moderator John Neal

11:00am MDT

Through Animal Eyes: Adventures in Writing the Nonhuman

Saturday April 18, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

This workshop will help writers explore ways to bring animals and other non-human subjects into their adult, young adult, or middle grade fiction. A series of exercises help participants connect more deeply with the natural world and share your insights and experience with others.

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 →

Saturday April 18, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
El Paso

Craft of Writing

Moderator Joe Lenhoff
Audience Intermediate

2:00pm MDT

Back Cover Copy That Sells

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

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

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.

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

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

2:00pm MDT

Write Drunk, Edit Sober Follow-up

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

The first session, Write Drunk, has you writing to various prompts while drinking. The follow-up Edit Sober session takes you through examining what you wrote and how to edit it into shape.

This workshop has an extra charge. Add via registration form.

Faculty

Deb Courtney

Past President, Pikes Peak Writers

Deb Courtney holds a degree in Fiction from the University of South Florida, where she was a Saunders Scholar in Fiction. She has had numerous short stories published and has worked as a freelance journalist, creativity coach and freelance editor. Her background also includes more... Read More →

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

Craft of Writing

Moderator John Neal

3:15pm MDT

From Cardboard Cutouts to Compelling Characters: Using Authentic Action to Bring Life to Your Story

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

What can movement reveal to the reader about a character's personality, emotional turmoil, or deep feelings? How do body language and action beats round out a character? How do you transform your characters from action figures and puppets to engaging, believable beings? In this workshop, we’ll actually walk through scenes to show how actions and reactions can enrich your characterization. You'll learn to ensure every movement—from the way a character holds a coffee cup to how they throw a punch—is intentional and authentic.

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 →

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

Craft of Writing

Moderator Debby Brewer

3:15pm MDT

Protagonists: The Center of Your Story

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

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

3:15pm MDT

Q&A with Mary Robinette Kowal

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

Cherry Creek/Cripple Creek

Faculty

Mary Robinette Kowal

Keynote

Mary Robinette Kowal is the author of the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus award winning alternate history novel The Calculating Stars, the first book in the Lady Astronaut series which continues in 2025 with The Martian Contingency. She is also the author of The Glamourist Histories series, Ghost... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Cherry Creek/Cripple Creek

Craft of Writing

Moderator John Neal

4:45pm MDT

Editing Beyond “Gut Feel”: A Checklist for Success

Saturday April 18, 2026 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT

Revising your work (or critiquing others’) can be overwhelming. Without specific elements to look for, it’s easy to fall back on our “gut feel,” which is hard to articulate and even harder to trust. Learn to evaluate 17 storytelling aspects to edit and strengthen any manuscript, including your own!

Faculty

Kelley J. P. Lindberg

President, Blue Raven Services Inc.

Kelley J. P. Lindberg writes adult and YA fiction, but her writing history is littered with dozens of how-to books (including several bestsellers) and hundreds of articles. Her fiction and essays have appeared in literary magazines, in anthologies including PPW’s Journeys into... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Palmer

Craft of Writing

Moderator Joe Lenhoff

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

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 →

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

Craft of Writing

Moderator Bill Bush

9:00am MDT

Baby Got Back(story)

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

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

9:00am MDT

The Ins and Outs of Writing Series

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

Whether mysteries, romance, fantasy, science fiction, or historicals, readers love a great series. What does a writer need to keep in mind when deciding whether a WIP is a standalone, or a classic trilogy, or one episode of a never-ending adventure? We’ll look at what distinguishes each type of series, and how we can make sure our readers will have a satisfying experience with each book, while eagerly anticipating the next installment. We will look at the importance of endings and beginnings, points of view, and character issues, information tracking, and how to keep plots going from book to book without frustrating readers. With plentiful examples and some interactive exercises and brainstorming, we will explore the ins and outs of developing a vibrant series.

Faculty

Carol Berg

Carol Berg, former software engineer, never expected to write epic fantasy novels. Nor did she expect to win the Colorado Book Award four times or hear that her books had been read on the slopes of Denali, in the war zone of Iraq, or underneath the Mediterranean. She certainly never... Read More →

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

Craft of Writing

Moderator Jeff Schmoyer

9:00am MDT

Story Structure: A Master-Level Class in One of Writing’s Most Daunting Subjects (2 hours)

Sunday April 19, 2026 9:00am - 11:15am MDT

Whether a writer is a plotter or a "pantser", the task becomes easier with a clear grasp of story structure. This course compares ancient and modern structural techniques, showing their similarities and differences in order to simplify the writing process and find the necessary beats all powerful and resonant stories contain. The course breaks down the most common frameworks and provides insight to story flow, character growth, and the emotional connection to readers.

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 →

Sunday April 19, 2026 9:00am - 11:15am MDT
Academy

Craft of Writing

Moderator DJ Cochran

10:15am MDT

Tell Me a Secret: How to Interview Anyone About Anything to Strengthen Your Fiction

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

Google’s fine for the basic facts, but you’re not writing a basic story. First-person interviews help you uncover the realistic details, unexpected twists, unique perspectives, and heart that can elevate your story. Learn how to painlessly interview anyone about anything, from private investigators, to scientists, to rock stars.

Faculty

Kelley J. P. Lindberg

President, Blue Raven Services Inc.

Kelley J. P. Lindberg writes adult and YA fiction, but her writing history is littered with dozens of how-to books (including several bestsellers) and hundreds of articles. Her fiction and essays have appeared in literary magazines, in anthologies including PPW’s Journeys into... Read More →

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

Craft of Writing

Moderator Bailey Finn

10:15am MDT

Write Lore Your Readers Won’t Forget (2 hours)

Sunday April 19, 2026 10:15am - 12:30pm MDT

Our mythologies shape and define us. Explore techniques for designing the stories behind the story you’re telling – the stories that your characters either carry in their hearts or resist with all their capacity. Lore is the engine that your characters (and readers) use to interpret the story they're in and the life they're living. Come join Stant Litore in exploring how to share the lore of your fictional world with the reader in entertaining and surprising ways.

Faculty

Stant Litore

Stant Litore is the author of Ansible, The Screaming of the Tyrannosaur (recently adapted into an Emmy-nominated episode of Love, Death, and Robots), The Zombie Bible, and Dante’s Heart. Besides science fiction and fantasy, he has written the writers’ toolkits Write Wo... Read More →

Sunday April 19, 2026 10:15am - 12:30pm MDT
Douglas

Craft of Writing

Moderator Pam McCutcheon

11:30am MDT

The Six Foundational Elements of Romance Fiction

Sunday April 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT

This course teaches romance fiction from a structural standpoint. You’ll learn about goal, motivation, and conflict, which are the cornerstones of fiction writing. But then we dive deeper to cover character arcs, flaws and stakes, which are vital in character-driven stories like romance. You’ll understand how each element hinges on the others to build the infrastructure of your story, and you’ll gain the confidence to utilize these elements to improve your own books. Recommended prework is to watch the 2010 film The Proposal, starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. It's not required, but that's the film we'll use for a deep analysis at the end of the presentation.

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.

Sunday April 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT
El Paso

Craft of Writing

Moderator Jodi Anderson

11:30am MDT

Tough Talk: Writing Effective Dialogue

Sunday April 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT

Dialogue is a powerful writing tool; however, literary dialogue isn't the same as day-to-day speech. Learn techniques used by dramaturges to develop effective dialogue, ratchet up tension through dynamic speech, and make dialogue sound realistic to your readers' ears. Find out how to manage dialogue "tags" for effect and "invisibility." Participants are encouraged to bring works in progress that they can edit during the session.

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 →

Sunday April 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT
Academy

Craft of Writing

Moderator Joe Lenhoff