The Grand Canyon Writers Chapter of Sisters in Crime recently hosted a virtual writers conference. The advantage of a holding a conference on the internet rather than in person is that it allows worldwide participation and reduces costs. The disadvantage is that it eliminates the opportunity for networking. GCW’s last writers conference was held in person in Scottsdale, Arizona. This time, the Board elected to offer a virtual version.
The theme of the writing conference was “Revving Your Author Power!” It was an all-day event with back-to-back presentations by published authors and industry experts. The conference was videotaped and will be posted online for registrants for a limited time. Participants were able to pose questions for the speakers in the group chat, facilitating an interactive experience.
In the morning, New York Times Bestselling Author Hallie Ephron discussed “Writing the Wave: Establishing Narrative, Suspense, Action, and Reflection.” It was a fascinating presentation about the rhythm and key components of storytelling. Then Karen Odden, USA Today Bestselling Author, suggested ways to create unique voices for your characters and help bring them to life. Heather Weidner, acclaimed author and promotions expert, talked about websites, newsletters, and social media. She presented a wealth of information about the business of writing and promotional side of being an author.
In the afternoon, Agatha Award winner Simon Wood discussed “CONFLICT–The Fuel That Drives Every Story” and keeps the reader turning the page. And Ellen Byron, award-winning author and comedy writer, presented “Humor Hacks from a Sitcom Veteran!” She shared words of wisdom gleaned from her experience in both the television and publishing industries. The event concluded with a panel of industry experts who addressed the mistakes commonly made by authors. The panel included forensic pathologists, a DEA agent, a police officer, and a true crime writer. Their real-life experiences were fascinating. And the Q & A portion was invaluable.
The conference garnered a lot of positive remarks from the participants. I’m grateful that well-established published authors are willing to take time from their busy schedules to teach and inspire fledgling writers…like me.
