OCLS Writers Conference

Friday 1/28/22        

• 1pm  —  Research for Fiction by Valerie Willis: How to stay out of the Rabbit Hole! by Valerie Willis: It's easy to use research as a means to procrastinate, or even wander down rabbit holes that end up far off topic for your current book's needs. Here's some tips and tricks to stay on course, keep yourself focused, and organize that new flow of information so it works for you and keeps you writing!
• 2pm  —  10 Things You Can Do to Save Your Editor's Sanity by Jen Paquette: Sending your work to an editor can be a nerve-wracking experience, but it is possible to make the moment more celebratory than terrifying when you have confidence in your writing quality. You don't have to be an English major to edit your work for the most common issues that plague manuscripts. Follow these 10 steps before hitting send and your editor will thank you!
• 3pm  —  Reconnect with Your Writing Life by Alli Martin: Coming back to writing after a prolonged absence, especially one caused by depression or anxiety, can be frustrating and disheartening. Learn strategies to get back to the page without berating yourself and find ways to stay engaged as you increase your productivity.
• 4pm  —  Publishing Speculative Short Fiction by Mari Ness: Your short story is finally finished. Now what? The pluses and minuses of different publishing approaches. 
• 5pm  —  Binge-Write Your Novel in 5 Steps by Kerry Evelyn: Short on writing time but long on ideas? Learn strategies for plotters, pantsers, and plansters alike, as well as helpful  “binge” tips and a library of resources to get your book done. Learn how to get the most out of sporadic writing sessions to take your story from concept to completion. 
• 6pm  —  Genre-Focused Networking Hour: Young Adult, Adult Fantasy, Adult Science-Fiction, Adult Romance

        
Saturday 1/29/22    

• 10am  —  Writing for Emotional Impact by by Elle E. Ire and José Iriarte: Learn how to make readers feel what the characters feel.
• 11am  —  Five Ways to Show Instead of Tell by Karen Price and Holly Tavel: This workshop will present examples that "tell" and show how they can be turned into vibrant pieces of writing that "show." The session will focus on five techniques writers can use to do this.
• 12pm  —  Character Creation and Development by Jennie Jarvis: Are you in the planning stages of your novel, short story or screenplay? Want to make sure the characters that populate your story are filled with life? Learn tips and tricks on how to craft characters that connect with your readers!
• 1pm  —  Edit Yourself Like a Pro by Alli Martin: This workshop from a professional editor covers basic and advanced tips for how to take your self-editing to the next level. Learn the difference between objective and subjective edits and how to identify elements to edit or revise in your next draft. 
• 2pm  —  Plotting & Story Structure by Rebecca Petruck: Called a "plot wizard" by no less than Joy McCullough and others, Petruck will save you a draft or three by suggesting a few high-level questions to ask yourself before you begin writing as well as outline a Big Picture approach that is structured enough for plotters while loose enough for pantsers. 
• 3pm  —  Shameless Self Promotion by Erika L Lance: Shameless Self Promotion is something even represented authors need to master. We are in a time when it is not simply enough to be a great author, you need to be able to get yourself in front of your readers without breaking the bank. I will show you some fun tips and must do's. 
• 4pm  —  How to Get a Literary Agent by Michael Mammay: Many major publishers don't accept books directly from authors, instead requiring submissions from literary agents. But how do you get an agent? In this seminar, we will discuss what agents are and what they do, how you find them, how you determine which are a good fit for you and which aren't, and how you go about trying to secure their services via the querying process. 
• 5pm  —  Ask the Agents Panel with Saritza Hernandez, Cassie Mannes Murray, & Emily S. Keyes
• 6pm  —  Genre-Focused Networking Hour: Non-fiction, Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Horror, Contemporary/Commercial/Women's Fiction, Picture Books & Childrens (excluding Middle Grade & Young Adult)

        
Sunday 1/30/22

• 1pm  —  Crafting and Revising Dialogue by Allen Gorney: Learn a simple approach that is appropriate for prose writers, screenwriters, and playwrights. Learn the four traits of dialogue and an actionable revision tactic that includes examining dialogue from an actor’s perspective. 
• 2pm  —  Sensitivity Reads: The What, Who and Why? by L.E. Perez: Whether you want to publish your work independently or traditionally, depending on the subject matter and targeted audience, sensitivity reads are necessary. Sensitivity readers can give you insight and offer suggestions about how to present certain topics, peoples, and views more authentically. 
• 3pm  —  The Plot Embryo: A New Take on the Hero's Journey by Jennie Jarvis: Looking for a new way to structure your story? Love some of the guidelines created by the Hero's Journey but it feels a little archaic? This workshop will walk you through the hottest new plot structure, which is a new take on an old classic.  
• 4pm  —  Excavating a Protagonist's Inner Wounds by Meredith Doench: We will examine the types of inner wounds that may be festering in different characters. These wounds have the power to influence a protagonist's thoughts and behavior. Understanding how these manifest in a character's life is a strong tool of the writer's toolbox.
• 5pm  —  Writer's Block by Heather Startup: Explore the causes of writer's block and what to do about it. This session will show you how other writers have successfully overcome writer's block and why it's worth it to try several solutions in your journey to writing more and enjoying what you've written.
• 6pm  —  Genre-Focused Networking Hour: Poetry, Short Stories, Middle Grade, Historical & Literary Fiction