James River Writers Conference Schedule

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The James River Writers Conference is designed to help you reach your writing goals, whatever they may be. We have included a mix of sessions that cover both the business side of writing, as well as craft. Tailor the conference offerings to your needs. While the conference add-ons (Agent One-on-Ones, Master Classes, and the ShopTalk Pass) need to be selected at the time of registration, you can decide which regular sessions to attend up until the day of the conference, just like you would if you were attending in person. Once you’ve registered, watch this website and your email inbox for more conference fun and details, as well as tools to help you make the most of your experience! Exact times are subject to change, but we will make every effort to keep the offerings the same for each day.

Check out the 2021 Conference Schedule…

 

Friday, October 8, 2021 Pre-Conference Offerings

9:00 am–4:00 pm  Master Classes (Premium Add-On)

See schedule and pricing for Pre-Conference Master Classes HERE.  Please be prepared to make your Master Class choices when you register. You must register for these ahead of time to secure your spot.

Conference Attendees are Invited to Join Us for FREE, Pre-Conference Networking and Fun on Friday Evening!!

4:30 pm–5:30 pm  Pre-Conference Networking Opportunities

4:30 pm – 5:00 pm Conference Newcomers If this is your first time attending a James River Writers Conference, this is an opportunity to ask questions about the conference and learn what to expect. James River Writers Staff members and volunteers will be there to help! Join us in the “Writers Den!”

5:00 – 5:30 pm Networking for All All Conference Registrants are welcome to drop in to the “Writers Den” to network with other writers. We will put people in breakout rooms to enable mixing and mingling in smaller groups, and allow attendees to meet like-minded people in the writing community.

Facilitated by: James River Writers Staff and Conference Committee Members

6:00 pm–6:30 pm  Readings by Richmond Young Writers – FREE

Join us as we invite teens from Richmond Young Writers to share the pictures books they’ve authored with area illustrators!  

MC: Bird Cox

6:45 pm–8:15 pm  An Evening of Poetry – FREE

Join us as we invite our accomplished conference poets to share their creative works!  In addition, we will present the winner of the 2021 Shann Palmer Poetry Contest, Michael Jones.

Featuring Award-Winning Author/Poet/MFA Shonda Buchanan, RVA Poet Laureate Roscoe Burnems and Youth Poet Laureate of the West Coast Mila Cuda.

MC: Rosa Castellano

8:30 pm–9:30 pm  Bedtime Stories – FREE

Conference speakers and writers from the James River Writers Community will read excerpts from works that will inspire, provoke thought, or make you laugh! 

Featuring David Bowles, Sarah Glenn Marsh, and Eric Smith

Host: Conference Chair Anne Marie Mahler

*Panels and panelists are subject to change due to occasional unforeseen circumstances. 

Saturday, October 9, 2021 

8:00–8:30 am  Networking in the Writers Den

All Conference Registrants are welcome to drop in to the “Writers Den” to network with other writers. We will put people in breakout rooms to enable mixing and mingling in smaller groups, and allow attendees to meet like-minded people in the writing community.

Facilitators:  James River Writers Staff and Conference Committee Members

8:45–9:00 am  WELCOME

9:00–10:00 am  Breakout Sessions | ShopTalk

  • Romance Across Genres

Do you need a romance in your story, and if so, how do you make sure it’s effective? Learn how to build romantic relationships into your plot so they don’t feel tacked on or two-dimensional.

Panelists: Kosoko Jackson, Tracey Livesay, Latoya Smith

Moderator: Rebekah Pierce

  • Working with Bookstores & Libraries

Whether you’re traditionally published, self-published, or some combination of the two, you won’t have much success if your books don’t find their readers. Hear from authors with experience on the front lines, and learn key points for building relationships with some of the most important people in the business.

Panelists: Alechia Dow, Christina Rosso, Laurel Symonds

Moderator: DaNika Robinson

10:15–11:15 am  Breakout Sessions | ShopTalk

  • Film Adaptations

Books being made into movies is one the hottest trends in publishing. In this panel, authors with experience writing for the screen share their tips for hitting the beats and working in this popular medium.

Panelists: Kirk Ellis, Robin Farmer, Astrid Scholte

Moderator: Terry Menefee Gau

  • Unforgettable Main Characters

We all have characters we remember long after a story is over. Our experts share tips for creating dramatis personae who carry their own weight, advance your plot, and connect with your readers to make lasting impressions.

Panelists: Sadeqa Johnson, Ruta Sepetys, Laurel Snyder

Moderator: Maya Smart

11:30 am – 12:30 pm  Keynote with David Bowles

Overcoming Obstacles in Publishing to Become a Force for Change

Award-winning author and activist David Bowles mines his own experiences to share ways in which writers can use their work, their platforms, and their publishing networks to promote the literary dignity of under-represented communities. From anchoring texts in place and culture to crafting diverse fictional worlds and being active allies in the real one, David’s talk will advocate for the key role of creatives in bringing about equity in our field.

12:30–1:30 pm  Lunch Break

1:30–2:30 pm  Intensives  |  Networking in the Writers Den

  • Writing About Food with Author & Pastry Chef Alechia Dow

You love food and you love writing fiction. Combining the two should be easy, right? Not always! Let’s talk about how to create a sensory experience that engrosses the reader and allows your inner foodie to shine through the page.

  • Self-Publishing with Steven Smith

Writing a great book is hard, but publishing has never been more accessible. Learn how to bypass the traditional industry gatekeepers and take the reins of your writing career with independent publishing. Join Steven K. Smith, local author of more than fifteen indie-published books, as he provides a high-level overview of best practices in formats, finding editors and designers, working with partners and distributors, marketing, and advertising. You can get your words out to the masses without having to ask permission or wait endlessly for a response. What you do with that opportunity is up to you. Make the most of it.

  • Networking in the Writers Den

All Conference Registrants are welcome to drop in to the “Writers Den” to network with other writers. We will put people in breakout rooms to enable mixing and mingling in smaller groups, and allow attendees to meet like-minded people in the writing community.

Facilitators:  James River Writers Staff and Conference Committee Members

2:45–3:45 pm  Breakout Sessions | ShopTalk

  • Inclusive Worldbuilding

Sponsored by Robert Sexton in loving memory of Emyl Jenkins

When you get to create the world your characters and readers experience, how do you choose the most effective details? How do your personal experiences and the story you want to tell shape what you include or leave out? Hear from our experts on the decision-making that goes into creating believable, impactful environments–whether they’re realistic representations of our own history or worlds we’ve never seen.

Panelists: Mike Chen, Kelly McWilliams, Ruta Sepetys

Moderator: Melissa Sinclair

  • What an MFA Can (and Can’t) Do For You

There are a variety of ways a writer can extend their education, from in person residencies to online options to hybrid experiences. What can you gain from getting this degree, and what doors will it open? Authors with MFAs discuss the pros and cons.

Panelists: Shonda Buchanan, Christina Rosso, Laurel Snyder

Moderator: Rebekah Pierce

4:00 pm–5:00 pm  Breakout Sessions

  • Comedy in Writing

We know you think you’re funny, but does anybody else? You’ve got a great joke, but bad timing can make it fall flat. Join our conference chair, Anne Marie Flynn, and Emmy-nominated comedy writer Kevin Seccia for a discussion on tips and tricks to keep your audience in stitches.

Presenter: Kevin Seccia

Moderator: A.M. Mahler

  • Speculative Fiction

When you’re working with elements beyond reality, human history, nature, or even the known universe, are there any rules? Expert storytellers share their tips on how to make the unreal so real that readers don’t even know they’re suspending disbelief.

Panelists: Erica Bauman, Mike Chen, and Kosoko Jackson

Moderator: Phil Hilliker

5:15 pm–6:15 pm  Breakout Sessions

  • Creating Your Author Street Team

How excited are your readers for a new book from you? Readers love to help their favorite authors any way they can, so put them to work doing some free marketing by building your street team! Our experts will share how you can up your exposure by getting your readers excited to share the buzz about you and your work.

Panelists: Dawn Michelle Hardy, Kosoko Jackson, Astrid Scholte

Moderator: Sharvette Mitchell

  • ‘I’dentity in Poetry

We each contain within ourselves multitudes and yet, we often try to squeeze all of the different aspects of self into a singular ‘I’. This panel will examine what poets pack into that ‘I’, from performance to our personal histories, by looking at the elements and connections that frame how we see ourselves and how we’re seen by the world.

Panelists: Shonda Buchanan, Roscoe Burnems, Mila Cuda, Michael Jones

Moderator: Rosa Castellano

6:15 – 7:00 pm  Evening Break

7:00 pm–8:00 pm Never Have I Ever! (A Writer’s Version)

Grab a favorite beverage and join us for some after-conference fun. We’ll play this perennial favorite game that will ask you – our writing community – what you have, or haven’t, ever done during your writing journey. Along with a panel of writing experts playing the game, YOU will be asked to answer from the comfort of your own home, anonymously. We venture to guess that writers are less alone in their quirks and habits than we think we are. Come and find out!

Participants: Mila Cuda, Kosoko Jackson, A.M. Mahler, Kevin Seccia

MC: DaNika Robinson

Sunday, October 10, 2021 

8:00–8:30 am  Networking in the Writers Den

  • Networking in the Writers Den

All Conference Registrants are welcome to drop in to the “Writers Den” to network with other writers. We will put people in breakout rooms to enable mixing and mingling in smaller groups, and allow attendees to meet like-minded people in the writing community.

Facilitators:  James River Writers Staff and Conference Committee Members

8:45 am – 9:00 am WELCOME

9:00–10:00 am  First Pages

The First Pages Critique has become one of the conference’s best-loved sessions. Agents and editors are swamped with submissions. How can your writing get their attention? Pre-selected first pages will be read aloud anonymously, and our experts will give on the spot feedback. Does the action start too early? Can the reader tell what genre or time period they’re in on page one? Find out what a good hook looks like and common errors to avoid.

More on submitting YOUR First Page HERE.

Panelists: Erica Bauman, Heather Carr, Dawn Michelle Hardy

Moderator: Bill Blume

10:15–11:15 am  Breakout Sessions | ShopTalk

  • Join the Rebellion

Readers and their fandoms can be a powerful force for change when they unite over a cause. Join our panelists as they discuss how their characters, and their favorite fandoms, have taken a stand and shaken things up to create lasting changes. By the time you leave, you’ll be prepared to operate a lightsaber and fight the Empire…or at least feel inspired to make your voice heard!

Panelists: Alexandra Christo, Alechia Dow, Mark Oshiro

Moderator: Patty Smith

  • Writing Your Identity

With the advent of We Need Diverse Books and #OwnVoices, the publishing industry began paying more attention to providing a wider representation of authors and stories, particularly focusing on marginalized writers telling their own stories. Now, however, authors sometimes find themselves pressured to prove their connections to their characters and narratives. Where’s the line between authenticity and an author’s right to privacy, and how do you best incorporate your personal experiences in your work?

Panelists: Rebecca Podos, Eric Smith, Latoya Smith

Moderator: Rosa Castellano

11:30 am–12:30 pm  Breakout Sessions | ShopTalk

  • No Damsels in Distress: Feminism in Fiction

Often when critics talk about “strong women” in fiction or film, they mean women who can withstand abuse or women who take on the world in traditionally male ways. Hear from a trio of authors on how their feminism has influenced their writings, and get tips for creating womxn who exist on their own terms and tackle the world, and their narrative arcs, in a wealth of different ways.

Panelists: Alexandra Christo, Kelly McWilliams, Christina Rosso

Moderator: Karen A. Chase

  • Kickstarting an Anthology

 Crowdsourcing is a relatively new way to gauge interest and raise funds for a writing project. What should you know before you jump in, and what should you expect? Hear from Mike Chen, organizer of the successfully funded “Don’t Touch That – An Anthology of Parenthood in SFF” and two of the authors submitting short stories.

Panelists: Mike Chen and Mark Oshiro

Moderator: Kristi Tuck Austin

12:30–1:00 pm  Lunch Break

1:00–2:30 pm  Grammartopia®

Grab lunch and join us for some fun with Grammartopia®

Strong grammar is essential to powerful communication, no matter the form or genre. Grammartopia® is a playful, game-show style panel, where contestants battle it out for grammar prowess. Nine lucky conference attendees will be chosen ahead of time to be contestants, while three additional audience members will be chosen at random, live. Prizes for savvy audience members include tickets to James River Writers programming, free books sure to help you in your writing journey, and more! Conference registrants should watch their email for instructions on how to put their name in the running to be a Grammartopia® contestant!

MC: Grammartopia® Creator, Kris Spisak

2:45–3:45 pm  Breakout Sessions | ShopTalk

  • Making Tropes Work for You

You’re always told to avoid clichés in your writing, but what about the tropes your readers love and expect? From happily ever after to defeating the evil empire to the plucky orphan destined for fame, tropes can be both desirable and comforting. Find out how you can use tropes to write a story your readers will want to enjoy again and again.

Panelists: Kosoko Jackson, Kevin Seccia, Laurel Snyder

Moderator: Patty Smith

  • Working Past Writers Block

What do you do when the blank page or blinking cursor is staring you down? How do you get out of your own way and get back in the groove? Our panelists will share strategies for dusting yourself off when the world is weighing you down.

Panelists: Mila Cuda, Kelly McWilliams, Christina Rosso

Moderator: Sonia Johnston

4:00–5:00 pm  Intensives | Breakout Session/Panel

  • INTENSIVE Life Cycle of a Book: I’m Published – What Comes Next? with Literary Agent April Eberhardt

You’ve done the hard work and you think you’ve crossed the finish line once your book is published, right? Not so fast! Literary Agent April Eberhardt discusses next steps to ensure success beyond publication.

  • INTENSIVE The Funny Thing About Memory: Writing the Memoir with Shonda Buchanan

“That’s not the way I remember it.” How many times have writers described an incident or moment in their lives only to have that memory be challenged by friends and family members? That’s the nature of the memoir beast and this intensive will explore the function of memory in writing memoir and ways you can practice temporal transition techniques to access, recover, and structure memory to propel your narratives forward, plus how to craft your story in a way that leaves no doubt that it’s your story.

  • PANEL Intellectual Property – Creating Works for Established Brands

 So you want to write a Star Wars book, or you have your heart set on penning the next Marvel spin off. How do you get your foot in the door, and what rules do you have to follow once you’re in? Hear about writing for someone else’s intellectual property from our experienced panelists.

Panelists: Mike Chen, Eric Smith

Moderator: Bill Blume

5:15 pm–6:00 pm  Sunday Send Off | Presentation of Emyl Jenkins Award

As the conference comes to an end, we’ll talk to writing experts that will offer their advice and experience to keep writing as the world offers so many barriers to doing so. In addition, we will present the winner of JRWs annual Emyl Jenkins Award to an outstanding individual who inspires a love of writing, and writing education in Virginia.

Participants: Dawn Michelle Hardy, Kelly McWilliams, Rebecca Podos

Moderator: Melissa Sinclair