The Dark Sire presents The Creative Quill Writing Conference
Thanks for joining us at The Creative Quill!
This event was a huge success, and we're now considering doing another conference in the future.
Although this event is over, you can browse what we presented on Jan 22, 2022, so you can get excited
for future conferences we hold.
Keep writing!
To celebrate a new year, TDS is hosting a 1-day writing conference that will bring the traditional, small press, and independent publishing industries together for networking opportunities and skill growth. The conference will have different sessions focusing on the craft of writing (characterization, world building, dialogue, unique voices), publishing (traditional vs small press vs indie publishing, current writing trends, querying agents), and genre writing (gothic and horror). And, Literary Agent Bre Stephens will be presenting, taking pitches, and doing 1-page critiques (see bottom of schedule).
Registration is now closed. Questions? Email: [email protected], Subject: TDS Conference. |
Conference Schedule
11:30
Sign-In
12-12:10
S.M. Cook (TDS EIC) & Bre Stephens (TDS Founder)
Opening remarks
12:15-12:45
Nancy Holzner
Creating atmosphere in speculative fiction. Images used for exercises with Q&A.
12:50-1:20
Caleb Kelly
Camelot's Reckoning: A discussion on publishing, the experience, and what it takes to self-publish.
1:25-1:55
Panel
Nancy Holzner, S.M. Cook, and Bre Stephens: Writer’s Block and how to overcome it. Personal stories and tips included.
2-2:30
Bre Stephens
The Craft of Writing: The importance of world building, characterization, dialogue. Exercises given for world building and characterization, with some illustration of Show Don’t Tell. Q&A.
15 Minute Break
2:45-3:15
Kaleb Tutt & S.M. Cook (Ascension Poetry Magazine)
Poetry discussion, different poetic styles, and tips on writing poetry. Plus, info on Ascension Poetry Magazine & submissions.
3:20-3:50
John Kiste & Gwendolyn Kiste
Gothic Writing: A discussion of gothic literature, Poe, and writing prompts. Q&A.
3:55-4:25
Panel
Nancy Holzner, Caleb Kelly, Villimey Mist, and Bre Stephens
Publishing trends, publishing models (Traditional vs Small Press vs Independent Publishing), and getting published.
4:30-5
Bre Stephens
Agents: What they do and how to get one. Tips on how to write a query letter. Q&A.
5:05-5:35
Writing Organizations
Cherie Meeryman Kail - Tusc. County Writers Guild
Shari Heinrich – Ohio Fiction Writers
Rami Ungar – Ohio Horror Writers Association (OH HWA)
5:40-6
S.M. Cook & Bre Stephens
Closing Remarks
PITCHES AND CRITIQUES with Literary Agent Bre Stephens
To sign up for pitches and critiques, email Bre directly: [email protected].
Critiques: Please send Bre the first page of chapter 1 via email.
Authors will meet Bre in a private one-on-one Zoom; link will be sent closer to conference.
*Space is limited; we will try to accommodate as many authors as possible.
12:15-1:15 Agent Pitches
2:45-3:45 Agent Critiques
NEW! Pitches and Critiques with Courtney Kelly, Associate Editor at BSC Publishing Group
To sign up for pitches and critiques, email Courtney directly: [email protected].
Critiques: Please send Courtney the first page of chapter 1 via email.
Authors will meet Courtney in a private one-on-one Zoom; link will be sent closer to conference.
*Space is limited; we will try to accommodate as many authors as possible.
1:30-2:30 Editor Pitches
2:45-3:45 Editor Critiques
Sign-In
12-12:10
S.M. Cook (TDS EIC) & Bre Stephens (TDS Founder)
Opening remarks
12:15-12:45
Nancy Holzner
Creating atmosphere in speculative fiction. Images used for exercises with Q&A.
12:50-1:20
Caleb Kelly
Camelot's Reckoning: A discussion on publishing, the experience, and what it takes to self-publish.
1:25-1:55
Panel
Nancy Holzner, S.M. Cook, and Bre Stephens: Writer’s Block and how to overcome it. Personal stories and tips included.
2-2:30
Bre Stephens
The Craft of Writing: The importance of world building, characterization, dialogue. Exercises given for world building and characterization, with some illustration of Show Don’t Tell. Q&A.
15 Minute Break
2:45-3:15
Kaleb Tutt & S.M. Cook (Ascension Poetry Magazine)
Poetry discussion, different poetic styles, and tips on writing poetry. Plus, info on Ascension Poetry Magazine & submissions.
3:20-3:50
John Kiste & Gwendolyn Kiste
Gothic Writing: A discussion of gothic literature, Poe, and writing prompts. Q&A.
3:55-4:25
Panel
Nancy Holzner, Caleb Kelly, Villimey Mist, and Bre Stephens
Publishing trends, publishing models (Traditional vs Small Press vs Independent Publishing), and getting published.
4:30-5
Bre Stephens
Agents: What they do and how to get one. Tips on how to write a query letter. Q&A.
5:05-5:35
Writing Organizations
Cherie Meeryman Kail - Tusc. County Writers Guild
Shari Heinrich – Ohio Fiction Writers
Rami Ungar – Ohio Horror Writers Association (OH HWA)
5:40-6
S.M. Cook & Bre Stephens
Closing Remarks
PITCHES AND CRITIQUES with Literary Agent Bre Stephens
To sign up for pitches and critiques, email Bre directly: [email protected].
Critiques: Please send Bre the first page of chapter 1 via email.
Authors will meet Bre in a private one-on-one Zoom; link will be sent closer to conference.
*Space is limited; we will try to accommodate as many authors as possible.
12:15-1:15 Agent Pitches
2:45-3:45 Agent Critiques
NEW! Pitches and Critiques with Courtney Kelly, Associate Editor at BSC Publishing Group
To sign up for pitches and critiques, email Courtney directly: [email protected].
Critiques: Please send Courtney the first page of chapter 1 via email.
Authors will meet Courtney in a private one-on-one Zoom; link will be sent closer to conference.
*Space is limited; we will try to accommodate as many authors as possible.
1:30-2:30 Editor Pitches
2:45-3:45 Editor Critiques