The following schedule is subject to change.
8:30 a.m.
Gathering at the Frankfort Country Club
Check in at the registration desk, shop in the conference bookstore, grab a cup of coffee, and chat with your fellow writers.
9:00 a.m. -
9:15 a.m.
Welcome, Housekeeping, and Introduction of Guests
Emcee Ginny Smith will welcome all attendees to BWC's third Conference of Writers.
​
9:15 a.m. -
10:15 a.m.
Breakout Session #1
"From Poetry to Children's Books"
Long before she wrote books for children, George Ella Lyon was a poet. The author of numerous books for readers of all ages, she was named Kentucky Poet Laureate for 2015-2016. Ms. Lyon will present a session on transitioning from poetry to children’s literature.
​
Breakout Session #2
"Ten Keys to a Sensational Short Story"
Distilling the essence of a whole universe into a few pages of prose is one of the great joys of short story writing. In addition, short story writing is a great way to hone your writing prowess whether you are writing short stories, plays, or novels. This presentation will present ten essential keys to sensational story writing at any level.
​
Appointments with Alice Spielburg and Virginia Underwood will be conducted during this time period. Pre-registration is required.
10:20 a.m -
11:20 a.m.
Breakout Session #3
The Elusive Literary Agent: How to Find and Secure Your Publishing Representative
Authors looking to publish their work with large, commercial publishers often find that most of these publishers do not accept any submissions without a literary agent. Literary agent Alice Speilburg will discuss with attendees why publishers often establish that rule, what services an agent can provide to an author, and how each person might find the perfect agent who will guide their career where they want it to go. As most encounters with a literary agent involve a query or pitch, this class will also cover the basic structure for a query letter, tips and tricks for improving an elevator pitch, and tactics to avoid.
​
Breakout Session #4
The Heart of Fiction - People
Characters are at the heart of all fiction. Writers need to create and develop characters who can jump off the pages of your story and into your readers’ hearts. Ann H. Gabhart will share what she’s learned walking story trails with the many characters she’s brought to life in the more than 35 published books to her credit. Points covered in her workshop will be why we remember some famous characters we’ve all met, how to visualize and name your characters, and ways to come up with answers on why characters do what they do. She'll leave time for character brainstorming and Q&A.
​
Appointments with Virginia Underwood will be conducted during this time period. Pre-registration is required.
11:30 a.m. -
12:30 p.m.
Breakout Session #5
FINISH THAT BOOK with The Chunky Method
Do you feel like you can never find the time to write? Have you been chipping away at the same manuscript forever without much progress? Do you need a system that can get you to typing “The End” with success and satisfaction? Wrangling a fickle muse to meet a deadline—or just to get rid of that looming blank page—is a life-skill for everyone who wants to get serious about their writing. Allie Pleiter, the bestselling author of over 60 books, shares the nuts and bolts of how to manage your muse. You'll learn how to set goals and deadlines that reflect your personal writing style and speed--and smart ways to get faster when you need it. Join the thousands of other writers who have mastered the writing process using Pleiter's popular Chunky Method. With a useful mix of the practical, the inspirational, and the nitty-gritty real life of it all, this workshop gives aspiring or working writers the tools they need to make the magic happen.
​
Breakout Session #6
From Page to Stage: Scriptwriting
Jerry Deaton is a Frankfort writer, by way of Breathitt County, Ky, and has been involved in all forms of writing. Jerry started out as a writer/researcher for the Kentucky General Assembly, and from there went on to write two books on his eastern Kentucky heritage. He has written/directed/produced two documentary films for KET and has written/directed/produced four stage plays. Jerry will share his journey from business writer to the world of script and dialogue writing.
​
Appointments with Alice Spielburg and Virginia Underwood will be conducted during this time period. Pre-registration is required.
12:30 p.m. -
1:45 p.m.
Lunch and Shopping
Lunch will be served in the main conference room and is included in the conference fee. After the meal, browse through the conference bookstore and select your next awesome read!
1:45 p.m. -
2:00 p.m.
Brain Break
A quick, fun game designed to engage your senses and release your creativity!
​
2:00 p.m. -
3:00 p.m.
General Session
Pulitzer Prize finalist Maurice Manning will talk about the connections between music and poetry. Using his guitar and banjo, he will discuss his approach to narrative poetry, and his use of the 4-beat line and how it can "work" in varying contexts and modes. You don't want to miss this informative and highly entertaining session!
3:00 p.m. -
3:15 p.m.
Snack Break
Grab a cookie and shop in the conference bookstore
3:15 p.m. -
4:15 p.m.
Breakout Session #7
How to Approach a Publisher
You’ve finished your book. Congratulations! Now it’s time to find a publisher. Ms. Underwood will outline the things you need to know when approaching an acquisition editor, the elements publishers like to see in a book proposal, and common mistakes authors make
​
​Breakout Session #8
Crafting Independence: Unraveling the Secrets of Self-Publishing
Are you considering self-publishing? In this session USA Today bestselling author Shannon McRoberts will present the ins and outs of indy publishing. She’ll outline the mechanics and point out the pitfalls to avoid.
​
Appointments with Alice Spielburg will be conducted during this time period. Pre-registration is required.
4:15 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Ginny Smith