OCLS Writers Conference
The annual OCLS Writers Conference is back in person for 2023!
Make 2023 the year you finish and publish a novel. The OCLS Writers Conference will provide the tools and knowledge you need to reach your writing and publishing goals this year. Authors and publishing professionals will teach workshops on both craft and business topics. Free basic headshots will be provided by our Melrose Center Photography Instructors.
This conference is free to the public, but registration is required for all attendees.
Please see other upcoming writing workshops at www.ocls.info/writerscorner.
Schedule
10:00 — 10: 30 AM
- Check-In & Register for Headshot Time Slot
10:30 AM
- 10 Things to Cut from Your Manuscript Right Now - Kerry Evelyn - It’s the little things that make difference between a mature and immature writer. Bring a chapter from your manuscript and put your readability to the test. Learn what to cut and how to tighten your prose to take your writing to the next level.
- Pre-Writing Strategies - Jennie Jarvis - Whether you are writing a novel, screenplay, short story or any other form of narrative content, the stuff you do before you type in "Chapter One" can determine your writing success. We will cover various strategies for the work you can get done before the work begins, including outlining, idea development, setting a realistic writing schedule, and more!
11:30 AM
- Getting the Right Pace in Your Scenes and Novels - Michael Mammay - How do you keep a reader interested and keep your story moving? In this session we'll explore pace in both scenes and in your overall novel -- how to write that scene that has people frantically turning the pages, and how to slow it down to give the reader a rest.
- Storytelling Collaboration - Vivi Barnes, Christina Farley, Amy Christine Parker - Have you ever thought about storytelling collaboration? Gain tips on how to create a writers' room and tap into each others' strengths to help with your own novel as well as group projects. Discover how to take your project to the next level through idea generation, plotting, editing, peer mentorship and more.
12:30 PM
- Understanding the Scene - Janice Hardy - Learn the mechanics of scene and its troublesome partner, the sequel, and how to use this pairing to drive your story. You'll also learn how to develop scenes and weave them together to build strong and focused plots, as well as what to do when you story grinds to a halt and you don't know why.
- How to Edit Like an Agent - Kait Ballenger - Learn how to polish your work in progress to get it submission ready.
1:30 PM
- Finding, Vetting, and Working with an Agent - Saritza Hernandez - Where do you find a reputable literary agent? How do you vet that person? What even IS a literary agent and why do I need one? Get your answers and learn some tips from literary agent Saritza Hernandez.
- Top Twenty Must-Have Writing and Publishing Tools - Arielle Haughee - From drafting to formatting to marketing and everything in between. You’ll learn about which tools are worth the investment and others that are the best price…free!
2:30 PM
- Writing Your Synopsis - Kaitlyn Katsoupis - Learn the do's and don'ts of writing a proper synopsis and how to know what is best to include to catch an agent.
- Publishing Poetry for Fun and (a tiny bit of) Profit - Mari Ness - Your poems are finally finished. Now what? Discover the pluses and minuses of different publishing approaches.
3:30 PM
- Ask the Agents & Editors Panel - Saritza Hernandez, Kaitlyn Katsoupis, Arielle Haughee
Free Headshots
Photography instructors from the Dorothy Lumley Melrose Center for Technology, Innovation and Creativity will be providing free digital headshots to attendees between 1:30pm and 3:30pm in the Melrose Center photography studio on the 2nd floor. Attendees will be accommodated on a first come, first served basis. Signup will begin at 10 a.m.
You must bring a USB flash drive to store your photos. Do not wear a solid black or white shirt. Please be photo-ready when you arrive to the studio; there will be no space for grooming at the studio.
Conference Faculty (Subject to Change)
Kerry Evelyn is a multi-genre author, mentor, writing instructor. and contest judge. In addition to her nonfiction titles, she writes sweet small-town romances with heart, healing, and happily-ever-afters.
A Literary Agent at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Saritza is a self-professed geek with a love for genre fiction in adult and children’s categories.
Jennie Jarvis is an award-winning screenwriter, novelist, story consultant, and college educator. Her textbook, Crafting The Character Arc, is used in creative writing classrooms around the world.
Michael Mammay is the author of the military sci-fi Planetside series and sci-fi adventure The Misfit Soldier.
Mari Ness has published poetry and short fiction in numerous publications, including Tor.com, Clarkesworld, Lightspeed, Uncanny, Strange Horizons, Nightmare, and Apex.
Arielle Haughee (Hoy) is a seven-time RPLA-winning author, editor, speaker, and publisher. She is the owner of the small press Orange Blossom Publishing.
Janice Hardy spins tales of adventure to enchant teens and adults, and teaches others how to spin their own wonderous tales of adventure.
Christina Farley is a best-selling novelist, world-wide speaker, and writing coach ready to help you take your next adventure.
Kait Ballenger is the author of the Seven Range Shifter and The Rogue Brotherhood paranormal romance series, where she weaves captivating tales of dark, sexy alpha heroes and the independent women who bring them to their knees.
After receiving a BA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College, Kaitlyn refused to leave the concept of nightly homework behind. A literary agent for Belcastro Literary Agency, she is also a freelance editor at her own company, Strictly Textual.
Amy Christine Parker is the author of the young adult thrillers: Gated, Astray, and Smash & Grab and most recently, the horror novel, Flight 171.