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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-One Meetings and Master Classes) need to be selected at the time of registration, you can decide which regular sessions to attend up until the day of the conference. Once you’ve registered, watch this website and your inbox for more conference fun and details, as well as tools to help you make the most of your experience! Schedule and speakers are subject to change.
Last day to register is September 29, 2025.
Friday, October 3, 2025 | ONLINE Pre-Conference Master Classes
9:00 am–4:00 pm Eastern | 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. You may choose to register for Master Classes as an add-on to your in-person ticket or a la carte, if you’re unable to attend the in-person offerings on Saturday and Sunday. We have nine online Master Classes to choose from
Saturday, October 4, 2025 | In-Person Schedule at the Greater Richmond Convention Center
8:00 am–8:30 am
Newcomers Welcome
Are you new to the James River Writers conference? Join us for a brief overview of what to expect during the conference weekend.
Room: E10D
8:45 am–9:15 am
Welcome and 2025 Awards Presentation
James River Writers Executive Director, Katharine Herndon, welcomes you to Richmond, Virginia, for the 23rd Annual Conference, followed by the presentation of JRW’s 2025 Awards. We will celebrate the Emyl Jenkins Award winner for inspiring a love of writing in others as well as the winner of the 2025 Best Self-published Novel contest.
Opening Poem
Room: E10AB
9:30 am–10:30 am | Breakout Sessions & Workshop
Revise and Conquer: How to Get the Most Out of Your Manuscript
This panel brings together a literary agent, a bestselling author, and an agent turned author to share their unique insights on the revision process from every angle. Learn how to see your work through an agent’s eyes while maintaining your creative vision. Our panelists will discuss how successful authors keep going through multiple drafts, as well as the ways the revision process differs between fiction and non-fiction.
Panelists: Kate McKean, Heather Osborn, Leslye Penelope
Moderator: Kris Spisak
Room: E10AB
Thrill Ride: Pacing That Propels
Want to write books that keep readers turning pages well past their bedtimes? Acclaimed thriller and horror writers share their insights on plotting a compelling read. Learn techniques for crafting scenes that increase tension and those that provide breathing room and find out how to balance the two.
Panelists: Clay McLeod Chapman, Lamar Giles, Angie Kim
Moderator: Melissa Sinclair
Room: E10C
Greater Than Its Parts: Assembling a Collection of Poems
Three accomplished poets will walk you through assembling a poetry collection, from identifying thematic threads and emotional arcs that tie your work together to making strategic decisions about which poems to include and which to save for later. Discover techniques for organizing your collection’s flow and pacing, choosing the perfect opening poem that draws readers in and the closing piece that leaves them satisfied, and creating sections or sequences that guide readers through a meaningful literary journey.
Panelists: Rosa Castellano, Steven Leyva, Gloria Muñoz
Moderator: Emily Okamoto-Green
Room: E10D
WORKSHOP: Book Launch Bootcamp with Heather Weidner
This hands-on workshop is designed for authors preparing for the arrival of their first book or for seasoned writers looking for fresh ideas to create meaningful buzz around their latest release. Leave with practical, actionable strategies you can implement immediately. Discussion topics include:
- Where Should I Start?
- Using Your Platform to Maximize the Buzz
- Creative Event Planning
- Low Cost/No Cost Ideas
- Some Gotchas to Consider
- What’s Next?
Room: E21A (second floor)
10:45 am–11:45 am | Breakout Sessions, Workshop
The Hybrid Hydra: Navigating Multiple Publishing Paths
In the ever-more-difficult world of publishing, indie publishing continues to be a game-changer, providing authors with unprecedented control over their creative works and the ability to reach readers directly. Hear from three authors who have published their works in a variety of different ways, and learn what each path has to offer. Find out if they’d do things differently and what their choices look like going forward.
Panelists: Leslye Penelope, Vanessa Riley, R.R. Virdi
Moderator: Bill Blume
Room: E10AB
From Page to Screen: Writing for Films
This panel brings together writers who’ve successfully navigated both literary and cinematic worlds, exploring how techniques from prose writing can enhance screenwriting and vice versa. Discover how visual storytelling differs from literary narrative and how working in film can sharpen your prose writing by teaching you to think in scenes, cut unnecessary exposition, and let action drive character development.
Panelists: Gloria Chao, Clay McLeod Chapman, Laurie Gwen Shapiro
Moderator: Kristi Tuck Austin
Room: E10C
Deep Roots: Celebrating Cultural Identity in Writing
How do you tap into your cultural background to create rich, nuanced characters and settings that honor your heritage? Learn techniques for weaving family stories, traditions, language, faith, and community into your writing in ways that feel both organic and authentic. Discover how to illuminate your work’s themes with culturally specific details and how to center your authentic voice and perspective in your work.
Panelists: Stacy Hawkins Adams, Paloma Hernando, Etaf Rum
Moderator: Alethea McCollin
Room: E10D
WORKSHOP: Associative Connections in Essay Writing with April Sopkin
In this generative essay workshop and craft tutorial, we will get the associative brain working through rapid-fire prompts (some discussion-based!) and a related freewriting sprint, followed by a guided assessment intended to help students lean into their particular subject interests. Students will come away with brand new material and a refreshed understanding of intentional craft construction.
Room: E21A (second floor)
12:00 pm–1:15 pm | Lunch with Live Poetry Showcase
Grab your lunch and join us for poetry from our exciting slate of award-winning poets.
Poets: Fairouz Bsharat, Rosa Castellano, Tony Keith Jr, Steven Leyva, Gloria Muñoz
MC: Ty Phelps
Room: E10AB
1:30 pm–2:30 pm | Breakout Sessions & Workshop
Query Letter Critiques
Your query letter is your first chance to grab an agent’s interest and encourage them to read your work. In this panel, modeled on our popular first-pages critique, query-writing pros will review pre-submitted, anonymous letters and give their on-the-spot reactions to what works, what doesn’t, and whether they’d pass or read the author’s first pages. To submit your query for consideration, CLICK HERE.
Panelists: Agents Eloy Bleifuss, Heather Osborn, and Jade Wong-Baxter
Moderator: M. M. Finck
Room: E10AB
Mind the Gap: Filling the Holes in Your Research
What do you do when you can’t find a piece of information you need for a story? Put on your Sherlock Holmes deerstalker and dig deeper! These research experts will give you next-level tips on finding elusive information and creating appropriately complete stories, whether they’re historical fiction, nonfiction, or memoir.
Panelists: Vanessa Riley, Laurie Gwen Shapiro, Annabelle Tometich
Moderator: J. T. Glover
Room: E10C
Someone Else’s Sandbox: Writing Intellectual Property
So, you’d love 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: Clay McLeod Chapman, M.K. England, Lamar Giles
Moderator: Bill Blume
Room: E10D
WORKSHOP: Cash & Creativity with Angele McQuade
Wish you could earn more from your writing? Ever feel hopelessly trapped in creative quicksand? The problem might not be your creativity, but uncertainty or fear about your finances, which can shut down your creativity in unexpected ways. Learn how to tie up energy-draining financial loose ends, and use simple, effective strategies to organize and manage your money. You’ll also learn strategies for tying up your creative loose ends and prioritizing your projects, as well as dreaming big dreams and then crafting a plan to turn them into reality. Leave inspired to take deliberate, joy-filled action toward both your financial and creative goals.
Room: E21A (second floor)
2:45 pm–3:45 pm | Breakout Sessions
From Pitch to Publication: A JRW Success Story
Novelist Elizabeth Becker met her agent, Jessica Felleman, at a previous James River Writers Conference. Come hear what their journey has been like, from her conference pitch through to the publication of her debut, The Moonlight Healers, in February 2025. Learn about best practices for making the agent/author relationship successful and tips for how to hang in there for the long haul.
Panelists: Elizabeth Becker, Jessica Felleman
Moderator: Julie Valerie
Room: E10AB
Finding Your Lens: Identifying Your Memoir’s Central Focus
Unlike an autobiography, a memoir takes the reader on a journey informed by a particular moment or a specific theme. But how do you find the best focus for telling your personal story, and how do you winnow the illuminating incidents from the hubbub of life? Hear from a panel of memoirists on how they structured their work and the choices they made to help readers connect with their themes.
Panelists: Tony Keith Jr, Jessica Hendry Nelson, Annabelle Tometich
Moderator: DaNika Robinson
Room: E10C
One Writer, Many Hats: Building a Career in Multiple Genres
What happens when your creative mind refuses to stay in one lane? This panel brings together versatile writers who’ve successfully navigated the challenges of writing across multiple genres, formats, and age groups. Discover strategies for maintaining your authentic voice while adapting to different genre conventions, learn how to build and maintain multiple readerships without confusing your brand, and explore the creative and practical considerations of being a writer who refuses to be boxed into a single category.
Panelists: Eloy Bleifuss, Gloria Chao, M.K. England
Moderator: Laura Q. Jimenez
Room: E10D
Worldbuilding for All Genres
Worldbuilding isn’t just about creating magical systems or alien planets—it’s about understanding how environment, culture, politics, and social structures shape your characters and drive conflict in any genre. Learn to build worlds that influence decisions, create obstacles, and generate the tensions that move your plot forward, regardless of whether your story takes place in medieval England, modern-day Chicago, or a galaxy far, far away.
Panelists: Leslye Penelope, R.R. Virdi, Mia Sosa
Moderator: Phil Hilliker
Room: E21A (second floor)
4:00 pm–5:00 pm | Keynote
KEYNOTE with ANGIE KIM
How It Started and How It’s Going: Coming to Writing Later in Life
Angie Kim published her debut novel, Miracle Creek, the week she turned fifty, and it went on to win numerous awards (including the Edgar Award), it was translated into twenty languages, and became one of Time’s 100 best mysteries and thrillers of all time. Four years later, she published her second novel, Happiness Falls, which became an instant New York Times bestseller, winner of the Virginia Literary Award, Oprah Daily’s #1 novel of 2023, and book club pick for Good Morning America and Barnes & Noble, among others.
In her keynote, Angie will tell us how, starting in her forties and after four other wildly divergent career paths (lawyer, management consultant, dot-com entrepreneur, and stay-at-home mother to three boys), she’s built a highly successful writing career. She’ll share how she learned to write fiction through local and online workshops, how she built a community of supportive writing friends, how she queried and found an agent, and how she managed (and sometimes failed) to balance the business of publishing and the intensity of writing with raising kids. Angie’s talk will blend practical advice and inspiring stories, and will include a frank AMA (ask me anything) Q&A session.
Room: E10AB
Sunday, October 5, 2025 | In-Person Schedule at the Greater Richmond Convention Center
8:45 am–9:00 am
Welcome and Announcements
with poetry from Hannah Rouse
9:00 am–10:30 am | Plenary Session
First Pages Critique
The lively 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: Agents Jessica Felleman, Paloma Hernando, Helen Masvikeni
Moderator: Bill Blume
Reader: Phil Hilliker
Room: E10AB
10:45 am–11:45 am | Breakout Sessions, Workshop
Tips for Traditional Publishing
Two agents and a New York Times bestselling author share what you need to know about traditional publishing and how best to navigate the industry. From what to expect from contracts and promotion to real talk on book debuts and beyond, get the inside scoop from experts, including one who literally wrote the book. (Agent Kate McKean’s Write Through It: An Insider’s Guide to Publishing and the Creative Life came out this year.)
Panelists: Angie Kim, Kate McKean, Jade Wong-Baxter
Moderator: Patty Smith
Room: E10AB
The Heroes of Their Own Stories: Writing Protagonists & Antagonists
What turns a protagonist into a character readers will follow anywhere, and how do you create antagonists who aren’t just monologuing, mustache-twirling caricatures? Learn essential techniques for developing multi-layered characters who possess motivations and flaws that don’t make readers roll their eyes. Discover how to give both your heroes and villains enough backstory, relatability, and complexity that readers can’t put down their stories.
Panelists: Vanessa Riley, Etaf Rum, John Copenhaver
Moderator: Ty Phelps
Room: E10C
Power to the Podcast
Find out how to transform your ideas into audio content that builds a loyal audience. Industry professionals will talk you through the essential elements of podcast production, from crafting scripts and engaging in dynamic conversations to mastering recording techniques and post-production editing. Get tips on how to make your storytelling stand out in a crowded field.
Panelists: Clay McLeod Chapman, Chioke I’Anson, Leslye Penelope
Moderator: Terry Menefee Gau
Room: E10D
WORKSHOP: “When the Poems Do What They Do” with Nick George the Poet
Surrealist blues poet aja monet released her debut album of original poems in 2023 entitled “when the poems do what they do.” This project explored a variety of themes, containing poems that are at once calls-to-action, love sonnets, and private diary entries, all written by the hand of someone in love with their community and the skin they possess. This amended workshop is inspired by this album, and invites participants to define the experience when poetry is able to function the way it is supposed to. With discussion questions, writing exercises, and prompts, we will create poems that inspire and inquire.
Room: E21A (second floor)
12:00 pm–1:15 pm | Genre Networking Lunch
Are you looking for some like-minded writers and poets to share your successes and challenges? We’ll provide areas for different genres of writers to gather during lunch as well as several friendly, somewhat extroverted individuals to help get the conversation started. Grab your lunch and bring it with you!
Room: E10C Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Room: E10D Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Poetry, Romance
Room: E21A (second floor) Creative Nonfiction, Memoir, History, Screenwriting
1:15 pm–2:15 pm | Breakout Sessions
What’s It Going To Be: Finding the Right Vehicle for Your Writing
Short story? Novel? Essay? Poem? Screenplay? Is there a way to decide the best form for a piece of writing before you spend hours trying to fit it into a mold? This panel will explore how to recognize the natural architecture of your idea—whether it’s a flash of insight perfect for a poem or short story, a layered world you could expand to novel-length, a human story suited to essay, or something that needs to be experienced on screen. We’ll examine how elements like scope, structure, and theme can help guide your decision.
Panelists: Angie Kim, Gloria Muñoz, Laurie Gwen Shapiro
Moderator: Alethea McCollin
Room: E10AB
Short and Sweet: Writing Compelling Short Stories
Explore the essential techniques for crafting compelling short fiction, from choosing the perfect moment to begin your story to creating characters who feel fully realized despite minimal page time. Our panelists will share strategies for making every word count, from building tension within tight constraints, steadily advancing the plot, and crafting endings that feel both surprising and inevitable in a form that allows no room for navel gazing.
Panelists: Lamar Giles, J. T. Glover, R.R. Virdi
Moderator: Ty Phelps
Room: E10C
Strength in Numbers: Building or Finding Your Literary Community
Writing may be a craft that’s solitary in nature, but that doesn’t mean you have to be! Whether it’s finding a critique group, connecting with a mentor, or joining an organization of 500 other writers, your writing burdens will be much lighter if you don’t carry them by yourself. Our panelists share their personal experiences of finding or creating the communities they need, as well as advice on being a good literary citizen.
Panelists: Rosa Castellano, Tony Keith Jr, Brynn Markham
Moderator: Dae Newman
Room: E10D
Putting the Com in RomCom: Techniques for Writing Humor 
Lighthearted and laugh-out-loud writing has become more popular than ever, but it’s not easy to land a punch line. A lot of work goes on behind-the-scenes to build to that pay off. Three authors using humor to great effect in their work will share their processes and recommendations for getting the laughs.
Panelists: Gloria Chao, M. K. England, Mia Sosa
Moderator: Julie Valerie
Room: E21A (second floor)
2:30 pm–3:30 pm | Breakout Sessions
Thicker Than Water: Writing Complicated Family Dynamics
With apologies to Tolstoy, all families—happy, sad, or something in between—are both alike and unalike. How do you capture your story’s uniquely tangled family while hooking readers who may have vastly different experiences? Hear our accomplished panelists talk about portraying complex family relationships that feel both specific and universal, and get tips for your own intergenerational sagas, whether you’re writing about nuclear families, chosen families, or blended households in fiction or nonfiction.
Panelists: Etaf Rum, Mia Sosa, Annabelle Tometich
Moderator: Clarissa Bannor
Room: E10AB
Keeping Your Promises: Writing for Younger Audiences
Books for young people have to be both engaging and unflinchingly honest. How do you hook readers who expect fast-paced storytelling and still make good on the unspoken promise to deal authentically with identity, relationships, and coming-of-age struggles? Our panelists will share how they combine realistic teen and pre-teen voices and compelling plots to engage an audience navigating some of life’s most pivotal moments.
Panelists: Gloria Chao, Lamar Giles, Meg Medina
Moderator: Camille DeAngelis
Room: E10C
Taking Creative Liberties: Fact vs Fiction in Historical Fiction
You can approach writing historical fiction on a spectrum, from faithfully representing the facts to capturing the essential flavor of an era while taking significant liberties with reality. Hear how our panelists navigate this balance, and get insight into when rigorous authenticity serves your story and when your own imaginative interpretation can add important elements.
Panelists: Elizabeth Becker, Gloria Muñoz, Vanessa Riley
Moderator: Patty Smith
Room: E10D
All the World’s a Stage: Performing Your Work for an Audience
How do you transform words on a page into a captivating live experience that connects with your audience? Two accomplished poets and an actor/playwright will share their expertise on bringing the written work to life through voice, movement, and stage presence. Learn techniques for overcoming stage fright, using your body and voice as storytelling tools, adapting different types of writing for live performance, and creating that electric connection between performer and audience.
Panelists: Tony Keith Jr, Steven Leyva, Alethea McCollin
Moderator: Rosa Castellano
Room: E21A (second floor)
3:45 pm–4:45 pm | Breakout Sessions & Workshop
Choosing Your Story: Journalistic Techniques for Getting the Scoop
Do you choose your story, or does your story choose you? Three journalists walk you through the steps they take when deciding what story to tell. Get tips on brainstorming, following leads, and on the questions to ask to get the most out of an interview.
Panelists: Elizabeth Becker, Laurie Gwen Shapiro, Annabelle Tometich
Moderator: Melissa Sinclair
Room: E10AB
Sublime Subplots: Layering Your Story
How do you create compelling subplots that enhance rather than distract from your central story? Learn to identify which character arcs, relationships, and conflicts deserve subplot treatment versus a brief mention, and discover techniques for braiding multiple narrative threads together so they support and amplify your main plot. Determine whether or not your subplots need to resolve satisfyingly or if they only need to contribute to your story’s overall themes and emotional impact.
Panelists: Camille DeAngelis, Harry Szabo, Heather Weidner
Moderator: Phil Hilliker
Room: E10C
Staying the Course: Nurturing Your Creative Spark
This panel addresses the unique challenges writers face during times of personal, political, or global upheaval, exploring strategies for protecting your mental health while honoring your commitment to your craft. Our panelists will share techniques for setting boundaries with news consumption and social media, finding ways to channel anxiety and anger into productive creative energy, and giving yourself permission to write when the world’s problems feel enormous and all-consuming.
Panelists: Dr. Mariel Herbert, Chioke I’Anson, Angele McQuade
Moderator: Terry Menefee Gau
Room: E10D
WORKSHOP: ETHICAL AI TOOLS FOR WRITERS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE with Shannon Layne Lilburn
This session will help you navigate the AI landscape ethically and effectively. Learn to distinguish between conversational AI, specialized writing tools, and research platforms. We’ll cover practical applications for fiction and non-fiction writers, plus time-saving strategies for marketing and administrative tasks. Through live demos and interactive discussions, you’ll leave with a clear action plan for integrating AI into your writing workflow while maintaining your creative integrity.
Room: E21A (second floor)
5:00 pm–5:30 pm | Closing/Weekend Wrap-Up!
Some of our most beloved moderators from the conference will wrap things up for us, sharing their favorite tidbits from the weekend and offering their best advice for next steps as we say goodbye (for now!).
Room: E10AB