Conference Information
PWC WORKSHOPS—SESSIONS CHART
THEME: JOIN THE WRITING EVOLUTION
65th Philadelphia Writers Conference
June 7, 8, 9 2013 * Wyndham Hotel (formerly Holiday Inn), 4th and Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
| Friday | Saturday | Sunday | ||
| 9:30 AM | Opening Remarks: Join the Writing Evolution (Ed Rendell) |
Writing Magazine Articles (Debra Wallace) Fostering Creativity: What Writers Can Learn Through Translation (Liz Chang) |
Social Media(Suzanne Kuhn) Writing Features/Columns (Naila Francis) |
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Screenwriting (Keith Strunk) |
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| 11:00 AM |
3 Day Workshops – 11:00 Sessions (Choose One) Short Story I (Carla Spataro) |
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| 1:30 PM |
3 Day Workshops – 1:30 Sessions (Choose One) Mystery/Thriller (Dr. Nelson Erlick) |
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| 3:00 PM |
3 Day Workshops – 3:00 Sessions (Choose One) Short Story II (Brian Francis) |
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| Friday | Saturday | Sunday | ||
| 4:15 PM | Blogging (Cecily Kellog) The Option of Self Publishing (Laura Wright) |
Trends in Publishing (Lynn Rosen) Feedback for Query Letters (Jonathan Maberry) |
Closing Sessions How Writers Learn, Philly Style: This panel of teachers and writers talk about the role of courses and writers’ clubs in the development of writers. |
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| 6:00 PM | Buffet – Agents and Editors Panel | Banquet/Keynote Address Speaker: George Anastasia |
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| 8:00 PM | Raps Poetry, Fiction, Juvenile |
Click here for a printable version of the schedule. | ||
Click HERE for Friday Agents and Editors Quick Pitch information.
Ready to Register? Start HERE
SPEAKERS
Opening Speaker – Ed Rendell
Former mayor of Philadelphia and governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell has long been a force in American politics. In addition to his political career, Mr. Rendell has been a frequent contributor to radio and television, including MSNBC, and is the author of “A Nation of Wusses: How America’s Leaders Lost the Guts to Make us Great”
Banquet/Keynote Speaker – George Anastasia
Whatever the medium, content is key.
George Anastasia is a crime reporter and author who has written six books, two anthologies and a novella. A Darthmouth College graduate, he began a freelance career in 2012 after 38 years with The Inquirer.
WORKSHOPS
Short Story I – - Carla Spataro
The plot thickens: Make stuff happen in your short stories that matter!
Carla Spataro is the Program Director of Rosemont College’s MFA program and is the Editorial Director of Philadelphia Stories. She has been published in Painted Bride, Baltimore Review, and others.
Novel: Focus on Plot – - Lauren B. Davis
The Building Blocks of Plot: desire and conflict.
Lauren B. Davis has published six critically-acclaimed novels, including OUR DAILY BREAD, named one of the “best books of 2011″ by the Boston Globe
Memoir – - Susan Gregory Thomas
Learn the art of translating your personal experiences into exceptional prose
Susan Gregory Thomas has written continuously for the nations top newspapers and magazines, written two novels, and launched the web versions of Time, Inc.’s flagship magazines.
Poetry I – - Leonard Gontarek
How to write a good title, opening, sound middle, and ending to a poem.
Leonard Gontarek is author of five books of poems. He has appeared in The American Poetry Review, Verse, The Best American Poetry. He was 2011 Philadelphia Literary Death Match Champion.
Mystery/Thriller – - Dr. Nelson Erlick
Learn how taut writing and memorable characters hold the key to unlocking an exceptional thriller.
Dr. Nelson Erlick is a an author of medical thrillers, and one of the original members of the International Thriller Writers Association. He has written two novels: The Xeno Solution and Germline.
Playwriting – - Susan Beth Lehman
Scriptwriting: How we tell intriguing stories in dialogue and pictures.
Susan Beth Lehman, MFA UCLA, Assistant Professor at DeSales University, 2008 Fellow PA Counsel of the Arts, author of Directors: From Stage to Screen and Back Again.
Act Like a Writer: Becoming the Face of your Writing Career – - Jonathan Maberry
There’s much more to being a writer than just writing.
Jonathan Maberry is a NY Times bestselling and multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning author and Marvel Comics writer.He is co-founder of the Liars Club and founder of the Writers Coffeehouse. His next novel, Fire and Ash is due out in August 2013, and his first YA novel, ROT & RUIN is in development for film.
Writing for Young Adults: Catherine Stine
Learn the essentials of writing, marketing, and publishing powerful Young Adult and Middle Grade Fiction.
Catherine Stine’s novels include Refugees, a NYPL Best Book; Fireseed One; A Girl’s Best Friend. She’s taught at Push to Publish, The New School, Missouri University abroad and at PWC.
Short Story II – - Brian Francis
Five elements your story MUST have to get published.
Brian Francis is the author of The Trail, a dark fiction novel set in central Pennsylvania. He has written feature articles, humor blogs, and reviews. His next novel, AxMas, will be released on December 1, 2013.
Novel: Focus on Character – - Solomon Jones
Learn how to develop extraordinary characters that resonate in your work
Solomon Jones is an award winning journalist and the author of eight novels. He is the creator of Words on the Street, which partners educational, corporate, non-profit, and media entities to impact literacy through the power of writing
Nonfiction Book – - Ellie Slott Fisher
Success with Non-Fiction – the proposal to the promotion
A freelance journalist, Ellie Slott Fisher is the author of three books of non-fiction including, It’s Either Her or Me. Her work has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies
Poetry – - Ethel Rackin
Writing love poems that sing!
Ethel Rackin is the author of the poetry collection, The Forever Notes (Parlor Press, 2012). Her work has been published widely in journals such as The American Poetry Review, Colorado Review, Court Green, Evergreen Review, Poetry East and Volt.
MASTER CLASSES
Master Class: Poetry – - JC Todd
From Basement to Rooftop: poems that engage buried memories and sky-high wisdoms.
J. C. Todd is author of 3.5 volumes of poetry, including What Space This Body, and poems in The Paris Review, APR, and anthologies. She teaches at Bryn Mawr College and Rosemont’s MFA Program.
Master Class: Screenwriting – - Keith Strunk
Create scripts that bring characters to life through their words.
Keith Strunk is Managing Director of River Union Stage and an award winning scriptwriter with over 20 years of experience writing artistic and corporate scripts for video and live venues.
FEATURES
Blogging – - Cecily Kellogg
Ways to make your blog stand out in a crowded field.
Cecily Kellogg is a professional blogger who has founded the blog Uppercase Woman and has a column Uppercase Lowdown on Babble.
The Option of Self-Publishing – - Laura Wright
Take the wheel and publish NOW: Your book, your way.
Laura Wright is the senior Author Advocate for Infinity Publishing of Conshohocken. Laura educates new authors on self-publishing and guides them down the pathway to achieving their goal of becoming a published author.
Writing Magazine Articles – - Debra Wallace
The Recipe for Successful Magazine Writing. Tips from a pro on how to break in, and stay in, the difficult world of writing magazine articles on-line and for small and large circulation local, regional, national, and international publications.
Debra Wallace is an award-winning magazine writer with 30 years of experience who specializes in entertainment and pop culture, and has published numerous cover stories and features in British Cosmo, Family Circle, Fitness, Direct TV Guide, and Australian Woman’s Day. Her work on film, TV, and trends is published on-line and syndicated in more than 45 countries. Her work can often be found at www.popculturemadness.com.
Fostering Creativity – - Liz Chang
What writers of all kinds can learn through the art of literary translation.
Liz Chang is the 2012 Montgomery County Poet Laureate. She published a collection of original poetry and translations in 2012 entitled, What Ordinary Objects. Her translations appeared previously in The Adirondack Review.
Trends in Publishing – - Lynn Rosen
The publishing world is in a constant state of flux, discuss what might be next.
Lynn Rosen has spent her career in the publishing industry as an editor, literary agent, book packager, and author of Elements of the Table: A Simple Guide for Hosts and Guests.
Feedback for Query Letters – - Jonathan Maberry
Join NY Times Best Selling author Jonathan Maberry as he discusses keys to writing an amazing query letter.
Social Media – - Suzanne Kuhn
Social media techniques focused on engagement and expanded fan base.
After working in bookstore retail and event sales, Suzanne Kuhn launched SuzyQ, a full-service author promotion firm coordinating events and training authors in reader engagement.
Writing Features and Columns – - Naila Francis
Feature writing success: It all begins with the interview!
Naila Francis is an arts and entertainment writer for Calkins Media, Inc which includes columns with the Intelligencer, the Bucks County Courier Times and the Burlington County Times. Her focus is music, theater and lifestyle features. She also writes a biweekly column, Life in LaLa Land.
Agents and Editors Quick Pitch
Friday (between 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.): Agents and editors will be on hand for interviews with registered conferees. The sessions will be five minutes each, and conferees may sign up for only ONE session on a first-come, first-serve basis. Sign-up begins at 9:00 a.m. on June 7. Conferee badge is required.
Please DO NOT bring manuscripts. DO bring questions and be prepared to discuss your work. Condense your proposal to take no more than the five minutes allotted.
Agents and Editors are:
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