42nd Annual Writers Conference
Christopher Newport University's annual Writers Conference brings together people who love words as a hobby and as a vocation so that they can learn from agents, editors, publishers, accomplished authors, poets, professional teachers and from each other.
The conference has a long tradition of helping writers learn the skills needed to transfer their thoughts and imagination with clarity and heart to the written page and to understand the many facets of professionally publishing and marketing their work in a fast-changing technological world.
Pricing
Registration includes conference & buffet lunch.
Early Bird Pricing until August 19!
The conference is free for CNU students (lunch is not included).
| Registration | Early Bird Pricing | Regular Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| General Registration | $125 | $150 |
| Military, age 60 and older, LifeLong Learning Society members & verified Muse students | $75 | $90 |
| Non-CNU full-time students | $50 | $60 |
| CNU Faculty & Staff | $25 | $30 |
| Book Signing Table (1/2 Table) | n/a | $25 |
Schedule
Saturday, September 14, 2024
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8 - 8:30 a.m. | Registration |
| 8:30 - 8:45 a.m. | Welcome and Opening Remarks |
| 9 - 10:20 a.m. | Early Morning Workshops #1: Panel Discussion: From Manuscript to Market / Mary Batten, moderator; Kerry D'Agostino, agent; John Hartness, Editor/Publisher You've worked hard on writing your book and you want to see it in print. These professionals will discuss the role of agents and editors in the submission and publication process in the children's, YA, and adult markets. #2: From Wounds to Words / Tina Carey From Wounds to Words is not just a poetry workshop; it is a refuge for the poetic soul. Here, participants are invited to delve into the art of poetic expression as a means of confronting and processing the complex emotions that stem from personal trauma. Through guided writing exercises, group discussions, and individual reflection, attendees will learn to craft their experiences into powerful verses that resonate with authenticity and courage. #3: Writing a Novel in a Year / Diane Zinna Join novelist Diane Zinna, author of The All-Night Sun (Random House, 2020), for an exciting exploration of how you might complete a full novel in one year's time. Diane has taught ten "book in a year" courses, and she'll share her most effective strategies for making the time; moving forward when it's so easy to get stuck; transforming the "mushy middle" of your manuscript; and writing a meaningful ending that makes it easy to edit your beginning. |
| 10:30 - 11:50 a.m. | Morning Workshops #4: Creating Vibrant Secondary Characters / Sylvia Liu When writing a novel, it's just as important to flesh out your secondary characters as your main characters. Middle grade author Sylvia Liu will share tips on how to create memorable and complex secondary characters; provide examples of successful secondary characters in middle grade, YA novels, and adult; and give writing exercises to help develop your secondary character. #5: Character as Voice, Voice as Story / Gavin Pate A character's voice is how we know the character. We will discuss first-person fiction, and how third-person can utilize first person techniques, with examples of distinct character voices. #6: Worldbuilding for Any Genre / Leslye Penelope Creating unique, fully realized environments that readers will want to get lost in is not just a skill for fantasy or science fiction writers. No matter what time period or location your stories are set in, mastering fictional worldbuilding is key to transporting readers into your story. In this workshop you’ll learn techniques and strategies to engage your audience and bring your fictional world to life. |
| noon - 1 p.m. | Lunch / Open Mic |
| 1 - 2:20 p.m. | Keynote: Leslye Penelope Leslye Penelope’s debut novel Song of Blood & Stone was chosen as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time. The novel also won the inaugural award for Best Self-Published Fiction from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association before it was picked up for publication by St. Martin’s Press. Her The Monsters We Defy won the 2023 Audie Award for Best Fantasy Audiobook. Equally left and right-brained, she graduated from Howard University, where she studied film production and computer science and sometimes dreams in HTML. Leslye is also an alumna of VONA/Voices and Hurston/Wright Writers Workshop. She has spoken, taught, and given keynotes at conferences and festivals around the country, including the National Book Festival, PEN/Faulkner Foundation, Writers Digest Annual & Novel Writing Conferences, and the Historical Novel Society to name a few. She hosts the My Imaginary Friends podcast, co-hosts the Ink & Magic podcast, and lives in Maryland with her feline dependents. |
| 2:30 - 3:50 p.m. | Afternoon Workshops #7: Broken Bindings: On Writing About Estrangement / Diane Zinna In this workshop, we will talk about how we can write about "grieving the living" in moving and truthful ways, without pretense or apology. We'll explore ways to write about lost relationships with friends, romantic partners, family members, and places we once loved. #8: Writing for Children and Teens: Craft Tips and State of Industry / Sylvia Liu Middle grade and picture book author Sylvia Liu will share her top craft tips for writing for children and teens. She will also provide a brief overview of the traditional publishing process in the children's and YA market, from querying agents to submission opportunities to an overview of current picture book, middle grade, and young adult markets. #9: Writing a Fantasy Novel / Kevin Shortsleeve Dr. Shortsleeve discusses genre and expectations regarding fantasy, as well as strategies to help create and complete a successful story. There will also be a focus on strategies for searching for an agent or a publisher. The last third of the session will be interactive, discussing story ideas and general Q and A. |
| 4 - 5:20 p.m. | Late Afternoon Workshops #10: The Magic of Opposites: Using Foil Characters to Ignite Conflict / Lydia Netzer What do Shrek and Donkey have in common with Holmes and Watson and Hermione and Ron? Learn how to create "foil characters" whose opposite traits drive a scene and story even when they're on the same side of a conflict. We'll analyze some literary examples, look at some pop culture favorites, and then do some hands-on development of our own odd couples. What can a pair of "foil characters" do for your work in progress? #11: The Second Draft & Beyond: Strategies for Revising Your Novel / Leslye Penelope The first draft of any novel is a unique challenge, but getting to that next draft (and the one after that) can tax a writer to their breaking point. In this workshop, you will learn to critically analyze the manuscript you’ve written, identify its weak spots, and develop an organized revision plan. You’ll also get insights on how to obtain and manage feedback on your work and the process towards transforming your draft into a polished novel. #12: A Slice of Life: How to Pitch and Publish for Lifestyle Magazines / Leona Baker The presentation will explore the essence of lifestyle magazines and their draw for readers, with a particular focus on city and regional lifestyle magazines. What does it mean to celebrate and examine the culture and lifestyle of city, state or region and its people? How do these publications reflect life in those places or parallel similar publications at a national level? What kinds of stories are their editorial teams looking for and how might writers go about pitching and partnering with them in both the traditional print space and its digital media complements? |
| 5:30 - 6 p.m. | Contest Winners and the Doris Gwaltney Award Announced & Closing Remarks |
| 6 - 7 p.m. | Networking Coffee Reception |
CNU Writer's Conference is Sponsored by:
CNU's LifeLong Learning SocietyCNU's English Department
Writers Advisory Council
The Muse Writers Center
Warwick Forest