Quills Class List

Observations on how the act of writing and publishing powerfully combats our solitude in a world that increasingly compounds it.

Sometimes people denigrate books with "happy endings" as light, predictable fare. But fighting for happy endings dovetails with positive action. This so called "light" fare helps inspire authors and readers to build a better world.

We will deep dive into what hope means for a writer and how to connect with your audience on a deeper level. We will explore the different relationships created through writing and how hope and despair work hand in hand when creating a good story.

Learn the basic tenants and skills needed to survive in the wilderness with minimal gear. A great overview for those writing about surviving in the wilderness. Learn about making shelters, procuring/purifying water, building fires, procuring food, and the survival mindset.

Brief background and description of my work history and specialties within policing. Answering any questions needed.

This class will offer a deep dive into the do’s and dont’s of dialogue to help writers craft compelling conversations that drive plot, learn how to create tension through the careful use of questions, and write banter between friends, enemies, and lovers.

Got a book idea? Eager to start, but worried you might sink before you're half way there? What you need is a pre-writing checklist to verify you’re ready, that your is hold is full, your ship intact, and your destination sure. We will laden you with sharpened harpoons for the literary leviathans that await.

In this seminar you will learn how to plot a series, how to use basic structures to create an ongoing saga, and in which ways your short fiction, novellas and novelettes can create a new audience for your longer-form fiction.

Learn how to make your characters jump off the page so that readers will love to spend time with them. Develop your characters to go hand-in-hand with your conflict, genre, and plot so that readers will want to spend time with them and return to your stories again and again.

For better or for worse, all great protagonists undergo a change. Use these character arc strategies in your own work to build relatable, sympathetic, and above all, memorable protagonists.

Learn the art of Word Economy—conveying your ideas in the most efficient way possible. Word economy can help you cut down a bloated wordcount, streamline clunky sentences, give your words more impact, and craft a unique narrative voice.

Learn how to craft short and flash fiction that aligns with anthology themes and appeals to editors, along with a behind-the-scenes overview of story selection and how to position your submission for acceptance.

This seminar will provide you with a tool kit which will allow you to break down your novel, diagnose issues and substantially improve your next draft. This includes the basics from how to know if you want to do one more draft, on through how to produce and package your book for sale.

If your story lacks energy, you might be overlooking your stakes. The WHAT of the story matters, but the WHY is what grips your reader. This presentation is for writers of all experience levels, covering the importance of stakes, both big and small, and how goals and stakes work together to enhance emotional connection.

Between the thrill of the opening scenes and the rush of the final showdown, a novel’s middle 50% can be a challenge even for seasoned writers. Learn how to tie beginning and end together with these midpoint strategies to keep you (and your readers) hooked.

As writers, what can we learn from feedback? From critique? We look at real Amazon Reviews and mine them for the things readers love and hate most in the books they read. Some are funny, some are angry, others hold some golden clues to what we can catch in our own novels before releasing them into the jungle.

Michael Stackpole, Katherine Monasterio, and Bryan Young will help you diagnose your story problems. Come to this panel and briefly explain your story issue and they will help solve them in front of an audience.

Good scenes take more than scenery. Readers want that, but they want it with feeling. Let's talk about doing a specific kind of edit pass to add both sensory and emotional resonance.

The YA marketplace has grown exponentially over the few decades, and the audience is not only teens! With so many adults reading YA, what sets it apart from the adult marketplace? In this class we'll discuss the hallmarks of the young adult genre, debunk pervasive myths, and demystify writing for hungry YA readers.

Do ideas matter? Are there new ideas? We will investigate how ideas are part of the creation process and look at skills to diagnose the ideas that are falling flat and what elements they may be missing before they are ready to become story.

Collaborative writing can be rewarding, but also has unique challenges and pitfalls. Come learn from experienced collaborator Janci Patterson how to realize your team potential while keeping your relationships and sanity intact.

Knowing What You Write, Who It's For, and How To Deliver the Goods. Building a career as a fiction writer is just like building a career in any other field: success comes with knowing your customers and delivering a product or experience that exceeds their expectations and keeps them coming back for more. So how do you begin? In this class, we’ll define top-level categories—commercial, upmarket, and literary—and then drill down to dozens of genres and subgenres. Why do these labels exist? Does your book really have to fit into a neat little box? What about cross-genre novels or those breakout genre-busters that defy all categorization? Next we’ll examine tropes and talk about how to use them to attract readers without lapsing into cliché or derivation. Finally, we’ll look at target word counts for each major genre and talk about why word count matters. Whether you’re seeking a traditional publishing deal or planning to publish independently, knowing how to talk about where your work sits on the vast literary landscape will not only help you find readers, it will help readers find you.

Writing for middle-grade readers means balancing adventure, relatability, and life lessons. This session explores their needs and interests while teaching you to craft engaging, age-appropriate stories. Learn strategies to create narratives that resonate and inspire young readers to connect with your characters and themes.

Death can happen nearly anywhere in your plot, but there are some places better suited to drop a body: the inciting incident, the “death of the mentor,” the climactic finale. Death can also be a powerful motivator (no fridging!) and can provide a strong emotional payoff (earn that emotion!).

Michael A. Stackpole, Bryan Young, Katherine Monasterio and other special guests come to the fabled "Mimosa" panel, a staple at Quills. Industry professionals offer the unvarnished truth while answering your publishing and craft questions. BYOM.

If you have ever felt pummeled by pilcrows, held captive by commas, or haunted by hyphens, this class will help you make sense of those pesky dots and dashes and teach you to put punctuation in its place—the RIGHT place.

BattleTech and MechWarrior have been around for more than 40 years, a popular gaming universe in tabletop and videogames. More than 100 novels have been written and two of the most popular authors in its history, Michael A. Stackpole and Bryan Young, will be on hand for a special signing and gaming session. Learn how to play BattleTech, get your books signed (BattleTech or otherwise) and, if you want, get a brand new BattleTech book signed.

Ever feel like those commas got sprinkled into your document at random by an editor? Want to know how to produce cleaner copy that will save on editing costs and time? Let’s go over some basics of copy editing and bulk up your writing toolbox.

How to edit your first draft into a third draft upon writing. Learn how to cut your edit time down by looking for key things while writing your first draft

Learn the differences between writing short fiction vs. long fiction and how to best prepare and execute both.

Even established writers dread the synopsis. Why not get it out of the way BEFORE you write the book? Whether you’re a plotter or prefer to discover the story as you go, starting off with a solid synopsis will set you up for success and save editing time down the road.

Don’t let your character lose their voice while running from monsters! We’ll go beyond the basics of good action scenes and delve into how we balance action, narration, and perspective as well as use transitions to keep the momentum up.

In this session, we’ll discuss horizontal and vertical storytelling techniques, how to identify them, and when to use these modes to improve the pacing and perspective in your scenes.

If you’ve written at any level, you know the rules: Avoid passive voice. Don’t over-rely on adverbs. The problem? Any rule without a valid reason behind it becomes a limitation. This presentation encourages all writers to look at the “why” behind common guidelines and explore ways to liberate their unique writing voices.

Want to learn how to captivate attendees at a public reading? Engaged readers buy books and it all starts with your excerpt. In this hands-on workshop, you will craft an elevator pitch, select a book excerpt, and work on narrating techniques to wow your audience.

Ghostwriting is about capturing voices, crafting compelling narratives, and building trust. It teaches you to deeply understand and embody other people's perspectives, improving empathy, adaptability, and storytelling skills. Discover how these experiences can enhance your writing craft and help you succeed in the field.

Designed to help you refine your poetic craft. Through practical techniques, you will explore imagery, rhythm, word choice, and structure, learning how to create more powerful, evocative poems that resonate with readers and deepen emotional impact.

Learn how and where to publish your poetry, from preparing your manuscript right down to the submission process. This session will guide you through the key steps of selecting the right literary magazines to publishing collections, and building your literary presence, empowering poets in getting their work published.

A workshop focused on refining your poetic work. Learn essential revision techniques to enhance imagery, word choice, and rhythm. Through guided exercises, attendants will transform their drafts into polished, powerful poems that resonate deeply with readers.

All too often, newer writers rush to publish their manuscripts as soon as possible. However, developing a book fully often takes much more patience and persistence than we think. In this presentation, learn the perils of rushing, release the hurry-up mindset, and discover the rewards of taking your time.

Join author Johnny for discoveries in eastern philosophy with their application to the life of an author. Sessions include directed mindfulness meditation and lecture on concepts that directly speak to the writer’s journey. Classes build upon previous one, but all are welcome to each and all. There’s much to gain.

How to manage the business of being a writer: everything from keeping receipts, planning for taxes, knowing when to spend money, knowing when (or if) to quit your day job, and finally, how to treat your employee (that's you) in a kind and humane fashion.

Learn how to organize and run a writing critique group. We'll go over how to give/receive feedback, how to keep meetings organized and running smooth, and what to expect during critique sessions.

Reading is the most surefire way to grow as a writer, so why not become a more effective bookworm? Learn how to use your genre tastes to clarify your vision, make time in a busy schedule for reading, analyze what works in classic works, and learn lessons from even the books that you DON’T like. Craft lessons surround us!

Part of making writing a career is being able to hit your deadlines. And sometimes creativity isn’t all that easy to tap into on the clock. Bryan Young will teach you how to schedule and structure your writing life to help you meet your deadlines no matter what with proven techniques.

In the back of any good book, you'll see the author thanking all the people who made their book possible. A well-rounded writer's community is an important part of building a successful writing career. From cheerleaders to editors, learn about the 5 types of people you'll need to succeed as an author and how to find them.

A writer must handle many negative emotions, from disappointment and exhaustion to downright despair. Some think it's best to grow a thicker skin, but there's a better, healthier way. Come learn information and skills that will empower you to help your nervous system instead of fight it. Your mental health will thank you!

Need to practice your pitch and ask questions of professionals before you make your pitch to an agent or editor? This is your chance to do so from someone who has been through the process and scored an agent and a publishing deal! They're here to help you score that for yourself!

Have you been considering the serial market? Looking to improve a current serial? We'll discuss the pros and cons of the career, up-and-coming platforms, and how serial-writing differs from novel writing. I'll also share and demonstrate best practices for hooking the reader in those opening episodes.

Discover the benefits and challenges of being both an indie and traditionally published author. Learn to balance creative control with professional resources, navigate contracts and royalties, and build a sustainable career by leveraging the strengths of both paths for your writing journey.

Audiobook popularity is increasing, and now AI could make them ubiquitous. Is this a good thing? What is the impact of using AI narration on your copyright, author brand, the listener, and bottom line? Delve into a discussion on the ever changing digital narration landscape with audiobook narrator, Sandra Murphy.

From polishing your manuscript and proofing your query letter to researching agents and knowing how and when to follow up, this presentation will set you up for submissions success.

So, you finished your manuscript. Now what? If querying an agent is next, then this workshop is for you! Agent Bonnie Swanson of FinePrint Literary shares tips, formulas, dos, and don’ts for the art that is query writing. Bring your questions and leave with a plan you can use. Handouts and worksheets provided.

Details of the submission process. Markets, rejection, edit requests, tracking submissions, scams to avoid.

Congratulations! You have finished your novel and are ready to submit to the Baen slush pile. But so are hundreds of other authors… so how can you stand out in a sea of novels in the infamous slush pile? What’s going to make your novel join those who have been selected from the slush pile in the past? Join Baen Books Associate Editor Jason Cordova as he walks you through the ins and outs of how to make your novel shine and stand out in the Baen slush pile, as well as explain the just what publisher Toni Weisskopf means when she says, “just tell me a good story.”

Whether you’re formatting your own books or want to start formatting for others, learn why Vellum is the top choice for easily creating beautiful print and ebooks. Learn the ins and outs of formatting with Vellum from author and publisher Caryn Larrinaga, as well as universal best practices for formatting with any program.

Creating an audiobook is not intimidating once you know the basics. This workshop will cover top audiobook trends, writing with speaking in mind, hiring a compelling narrator, ACX, and best practices. We'll discuss all the details needed to help you give your book a voice and secure more lifetime fans of your work.

A fun, interactive session on improving character motivations, plot, and dialogue using the famously bad 1987 cult film, Miami Connection. Attendees will analyze weak scenes, rewrite them, and learn to assess their own scripts with a critical yet loving eye. Perfect for writers looking to sharpen their storytelling!

A screenplay may limit prose, but it doesn’t have to be dull. This presentation will help you craft sharp character introductions, vivid action lines, and dynamic dialogue. Through hands-on exercises and real script examples, you’ll learn to infuse your screenplay with a distinct style that makes it uniquely yours.

In this hands-on workshop, learn what makes books adaptable, screenplay formatting basics, and how to take “show don’t tell” to the next level. Whether you want to adapt your completed literary work for the screen or write books with movie potential, you’ll leave with tools to start crafting compelling, visual stories.