UPDATE: The conference has been rescheduled for Saturday, January 30, due to an expected snowstorm.
The 2016 Roanoke Regional Writers Conference is on Saturday, January 23, at Hollins University. (For details, schedule and to register, go here.)
Twenty or so writers, authors, journalists and publishing professionals will speak and teach classes on a range of topics, including yours truly. This is the ninth edition of the popular writers conference.
More from conference director Dan Smith:
The conference, which has been held over two days for the past eight years and has featured 24 classes each year, has slimmed down in every respect for the coming year. The entire conference will be contained on Saturday and the number of classes will be trimmed to a more manageable 18. The cost of the conference has also been reduced to $65, including lunch on Saturday in the Hollins dining room.
This year’s featured topic is blogging and there will be three classes held for those interested in beginning a blog or improving the one they have (including increasing the following). Other classes will deal with storytelling, fiction, biography, memoir, converting a manuscript to the stage, editing, publishing (traditional and self-publishing), and poetry.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Saturday, January 23, 2016 [snow date January 30]
All classes will be held in the Dana Science Building.
[#12 on the campus map]
7:45 – 8:15 a.m.
Registration :: Lobby, Dana Science Building
8:15 – 9:15 a.m.
Welcome, teacher introductions, scholarship award, music (Dan Smith, moderator; music by Greg Trafidlo) :: Babcock Auditorium
9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Saundra Kelley:: “Putting the ‘Tell’ in Storytelling” :: Babcock Auditorium
Janeson Keeley, Dan Smith :: “How to Charge for Your Writing and Why” :: Room 102
Andrea Brunais :: “Editing: Vital to a Book’s Acceptance—Tips from a Pro” :: Room 114
10:45 – 11:45 a.m.
Karen Prior :: “All the Memories Fit to Print: The Craft of Memoir” :: Babcock Auditorium
Diane Fanning :: “Compelling Truth: Using Fiction Lessons to Empower Your Nonfiction Writing” :: Room 102
Alice de Sturler :: “Tips to Gain Readers for Your Blog” :: Room 114
Noon
Lunch, Hollins Dining Hall, Moody Center [#23 on the campus map]
Please remember to bring your meal ticket
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Neil Sagebiel :: “The Unstoppable Writer: Blog Your Way to Writing and Literary Success” :: Babcock Auditorium
Todd Ristau :: “Instant Playwriting: Just Add Time and Effort” (Students should bring laptops) :: Room 102
Leah Weiss :: “Polishing the Silver: The Secrets for Writing a Book That Inspires an Agent to Call” :: Room 114
2:15 – 3:15 p.m.
Ed Falco :: “The Character Driven Story” :: Babcock Auditorium
Joe Cobb :: “Writing from the Margins” :: Room 102
Liz Long :: “Beating the Self-Publishing Stigma” :: Room 114
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Terri Leidich :: “Publishing Options: Choosing the Best One for You and Your Book” :: Babcock Auditorium
Ran Henry :: “Nonfiction Friction: How to Tell a True Story that Withstands the Subject’s Wrath” :: Room 102
John Ketwig :: “Getting to the Truth: Writing Memoir and Social History” :: Room 114
4:45 – 5:45 p.m.
Sarah Beth Jones :: “Self-Sabotage: How to Cut It Out, Create Internal and External Support, and Get to Work” :: Babcock Auditorium
Felicia Mitchell :: “Write Where You Are: Creating Strong Images in Poetry” :: Room 102
Paul Sorrentino :: “Tips on How to Write a Biography” :: Room 142
For more information, please contact the conference organizer, Dan Smith, at pampadansmith@gmail.com.
Neil Sagebiel 