WORKSHOPS
Ready to level up your newsletter game? This special two-hour class will guide you through getting started, how to grow your list using multiple streams, and how to convert those new subscribers to avid fans. We’ll cover how to know what your target reader wants from you, as well as mastering email campaigns that drive excitement for book launches. You’ll also learn how to ensure your emails land in inboxes, interpret campaign stats, and use your list as the foundation for a dynamic launch team. Perfect for authors at any stage, this class is packed with actionable tips to make your newsletter your most powerful marketing and reader connection tool.
If you’re a writer who doesn’t wrestle with doubt, one might wonder if you’re actually writing. The two are inseparable, it seems. How can we rewire our writer brains to convert those neuropathways of doubt into mental workout routines that help us fully step into the gifts God gave us while strengthening the muscles that need more development, so Doubt is hushed, and Determination speaks the loudest?
Understanding how Amazon works can transform your book’s visibility and sales. Learn how to master keywords and categories to get your book in front of the right readers. Discover how to supercharge Amazon’s recommendation engine during your book launch to keep sales momentum going for weeks, as well as best practices for creating effective A+ content pages. You’ll also learn how strategic sales pricing can help boost a series and engage Amazon’s algorithms to do the heavy lifting of promotion for you. Get ready to take your Amazon game to the next level!
Subplots are not just storylines to add interesting dynamics to your novel. They are critical pieces that, when removed from the novel, completely alter the plot. But how do you create those subplots that are effective and essential? You weave them in like a French braid. Come prepared with your story ideas as we learn how to braid our subplots into one cohesive story that readers can’t put down.
This interactive workshop will dive deep into the secrets of crafting compelling Instagram Reels and Stories that drive engagement, and promote your brand. This workshop will provide the practical knowledge and creative inspiration you need to take your Instagram game to the next level.
We’ll cover design and branding hacks, storytelling tactics, and how to use Instagram’s tools like stickers, cutouts, music, text, and filters to elevate your visuals. We’ll discuss the best times to tag others, how to create meaningful collaborations to boost your reach and engagement. Plus, discover creative strategies for increasing your story views, using polls, questions, and interactive elements to encourage participation. Create Reels and Stories that resonate with your audience, generate interaction, and elevate your Instagram presence using the tips and tricks provided in this workshop.
In this class, we’ll look at ways to distill your plot to the salient points, techniques for trimming your cast of characters to the chosen few, how to condense a timeline, and how to use these tools to create a complex, emotion-tugging read regardless of length. We’ll cover novella collections, who is publishing novellas currently, and how you can break into the novella market.
Without making false promises, let’s assume this will be not only insightful but an important and laugh-out-loud look at what would ordinarily sound like a stuffy subject. Stuffies are trendy, aren’t they? Come prepared with your questions, and sure, bring an emotional support stuffy if needed.
It’s no secret that good narrative description is one of the keys to excellent writing. But navigating the path between too much and too little detail isn’t always an easy task. In this workshop, best-selling author and award-winning editor Janyre Tromp will give you the keys to creating effective “Show Don’t Tell” descriptions, as well as concrete examples of how to put those keys into action without bogging down your manuscript.
Trevor is a pastor by day, musician and web designer by night, and husband and father 24/7. Cereal connoisseur, musical theater expert, and hoarder of all the great movie lines, Trevor pastors the Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church in Rochester, MN. When he’s not in the pulpit, he’s wrangling three high spirited children and two hilarious dogs, and designing websites, all while creating music to direct hearts to Jesus
Ever wondered how your novel could be transformed into a movie? In this workshop, you’ll discover the key principles of screenwriting and how to craft your book in a way that resonates with both readers and filmmakers. Discover the tools to adapt your story for the screen while keeping the heart of your story intact.
Explore the contrasting writing techniques between novels and screenplays. We’ll dive into how to trim down dialogue, convey emotions visually, and think in terms of scenes and sequences rather than chapters.
Gain a deeper understanding of screenwriting and leave with practical techniques to begin adapting your book into a screenplay. Whether you’re dreaming of seeing your work on the silver screen or simply want to improve your storytelling skills, this workshop will help you get one step closer to your goal.
Want to write romance that makes readers swoon but doesn’t cross historically-appropriate or Christian lines? In this workshop, we’ll talk about creating and intensifying chemistry between characters, from initial sparks to buzzing romantic tension, to believable, lasting bonds, by:
- Building deep connections that go beyond physical attraction, through shared values, interests, beliefs, humor, challenges, character development, and more.
- Creating realistic, meaningful conflict (faith differences, past trauma, moral dilemmas, cross-purposes) that doesn’t rely on miscommunication or petty drama.
- Using proximity, banter, flirtation, touch, kisses (or not), to give your readers a satisfying emotional payoff without being explicit.
Want your book to scream “Pick me!” to the right readers? In this session, you’ll learn what readers expect from covers in their favorite genres—and how to signal to your target reader that your book is exactly what they’ve been searching for. Discover the latest trends shaping cover design, uncover the secrets of color theory to boost purchases, and walk away with pro tips to create covers that sell. Whether you’re DIYing or collaborating with a designer, this class has everything you need to make your book cover shine.
Is AI coming for your creative soul—or just here to lend a hand?
In this lively, no-robots-required workshop, we’ll explore how fiction writers might use (or firmly avoid) tools like ChatGPT. From dodging writer’s block to dreaming up plot twists, we’ll test where AI can spark ideas—and where it just gets in the way. Expect demos, laughs, and honest conversation. No tech know-how needed—just curiosity, caffeine, and a healthy dose of skepticism.
Whether you’re AI-averse or AI-adventurous, come discover if this tool is your new best friend… or just plain creepy.
Writers and readers alike are spiritual beings created in the image of God. Whether the stories you write are blatantly Christian or the quiet whispers that reach audiences most Christian Fiction won’t, your story is going to have spiritual threads that weave throughout your story because we write from a Christian worldview. But how do we write natural spiritual threads that are subtle but substantive and fit our target audiences? That is what this workshop aims to answer. Not only will you find practical applications but we’ll play with those applications during the workshop.
Story is popular because it engages readers’ emotions. Novelists strive to create a powerful emotion experience to which the readers can relate. We’ve heard it said, “No conflict, no story” and that is very true, however this saying is just as true: “No emotion, no connection.” In this workshop, we’ll explore ways to get your readers to connect to a story emotionally. With examples from classic and current literature, we’ll find ways to bring empathy, anxiety, worry, nurture and other emotions into our stories to elicit a like response in our readers.
Want to expand your reach and grow your readership? This workshop dives into the power of author collaborations, from social media cross-promotion and newsletter swaps to group giveaways and joint events. Learn how to find the right partners, craft effective campaigns, and maximize your reach without doubling your workload.
