Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2026 has ended

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Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2026

Sched is sponsored by Reedsy.
The 2026 Pikes Peak Writers Conference is in the books!
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8:30am MDT

Emotional Resonance: Or How I Made My Dad Not Talk to Me for a Week Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeKevin Ikenberry Fact vs. Fiction: Writing Authentic Investigations PalmerDavid Lyons Make It Make Sense: Logic, Logical Fallacies and Character Motivations AcademyTaryn Skipper

9:45am MDT

Q&A with Reavis Wortham Cherry Creek/Cripple CreekReavis Z. Wortham Scene and Sequel El PasoPam McCutcheon

11:00am MDT

0 to 60: Write Pacing Your Readers Won’t Forget PalmerStant Litore The Joy of Revision: Essential Self-Editing Strategies for Prose that Pops AcademyAnita Mumm Turn That Spark Into a Blaze: 7 Steps to Craft Compelling Conflict El PasoDawn Alexander

2:00pm MDT

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

3:15pm MDT

Short Stories: Good for the Novelist, Good for the Career, Good for the Soul DouglasSam Knight Ten Editing Hacks El PasoJessica Snyder Words, Words, Words PalmerCarol Berg

4:45pm MDT

Beyond the Bedroom: Using Physical and Emotional Intimacy to Create Authentic Character Relationships El PasoDawn Alexander Middles and Try-Fail Cycles DouglasMary Robinette Kowal

9:00pm MDT

Sandboxes: Building Castles with Co-Writing PalmerH.Y. Gregor Write Drunk, Edit Sober FremontDeb Courtney

8:30am MDT

Critique Like a Boss: Get the Most from Your Critique Group Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeKelley J. P. Lindberg Don't Break the Spell:Protecting Reader Trust El PasoCallie Stoker ♪ ♫ Do You Want to Kill a Snowman? ♪ ♫ DouglasSam Knight

9:45am MDT

Beat Writer’s Block and Reignite Your Creativity DouglasStant Litore Brainstorming Using the Plotting Board AcademyPam McCutcheon MICE Quotient Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeMary Robinette Kowal Q&A with Pippa Grant Cherry Creek/Cripple CreekPippa Grant The Super Power of Writing Sprints: Smash Writer’s Block (2 hours) PalmerJohnny Worthen

11:00am MDT

Lost in Translation: Writing distinct cultures, languages, accents, and soundscapes in your worldbuilding (Or: I Guess the Elves are British) DouglasAaron Fors The Human Side of Crime: Survivors, Detectives, and Emotional Intelligence AcademyDavid Lyons Through Animal Eyes: Adventures in Writing the Nonhuman El PasoAnita Mumm

2:00pm MDT

Back Cover Copy That Sells El PasoJessica Snyder Strong Character Voice: What It Is, What It’s Not, and How to Achieve It AcademyTaryn Skipper Write Drunk, Edit Sober Follow-up BallroomDeb Courtney

3:15pm MDT

From Cardboard Cutouts to Compelling Characters: Using Authentic Action to Bring Life to Your Story DouglasDawn Alexander Protagonists: The Center of Your Story AcademyKevin Ikenberry Q&A with Mary Robinette Kowal Cherry Creek/Cripple CreekMary Robinette Kowal

4:45pm MDT

Editing Beyond “Gut Feel”: A Checklist for Success PalmerKelley J. P. Lindberg

9:00am MDT

A Feast for the Senses: Writing to Immerse Your Readers Pikes Peak/Royal GorgeAnita Mumm Baby Got Back(story) DouglasChris Mandeville The Ins and Outs of Writing Series El PasoCarol Berg Story Structure: A Master-Level Class in One of Writing’s Most Daunting Subjects (2 hours) AcademyKevin Ikenberry

10:15am MDT

Tell Me a Secret: How to Interview Anyone About Anything to Strengthen Your Fiction El PasoKelley J. P. Lindberg Write Lore Your Readers Won’t Forget (2 hours) DouglasStant Litore

11:30am MDT

The Six Foundational Elements of Romance Fiction El PasoJessica Snyder Tough Talk: Writing Effective Dialogue AcademyLaurie Marr Wasmund