Program / Curriculum ( subject to change for all the usual reasons)
The Annual Greater Los Angeles Writers Conference offers individual tracks for Aspiring, Active and Accomplished writers. Each workshop offers an educational and inspirational experience in a stream of learning that progresses all the weekend. This methodology allows you to participate and learn at a comfortable level and speed with peers of similar interests and disciplines. Jump from one track to another at any time, and experience as many topics as you can. It's your choice!
Walk-up
Registration, Pre-Registration pickup of credentials, badge, program, swag bag
1:30
Orientation Session Welcome, Introductions, What's New / Updated for the Weekend
2:00
You Are Here!
Opening Keynote
How lucky you are to be right here, right now, at this unique moment in time and space! This could be the moment that you becomes inspired to write a story that impacts tens of thousands of others. It may be turned into a series, made into a film, may even be taught in schools. It might make people cry and laugh and feel wonder and awe. It might change someone’s life.
Just 100 years ago, a fraction of a moment on the scale of time, you wouldn’t have had the benefit of a writers conference like this. You probably would be writing on a clunky typewriter, or even with pen and ink. Women, LGBTQ and many ethnicities would have a much harder time getting any kind of writing education and an even harder time getting published; and you certainly would have been restricted in writing about certain topics.
You are here, and that means your opportunities as a writer are virtually limitless.
Desireé Duffy, Founder Black Château
2:30
The 4 Paths to Publishing
Friday Keynote
Industry changes have made it one of the best times in history to be an author, but also one of the most confusing times with all of the different publishing options that are available. In this opening address, Author Learning Center President Keith Ogorek will review the four primary publishing paths and explain the benefits and challenges of each option. Learn the basics of DIY publishing, general contractor publishing, supported self-publishing, and traditional publishing. You'll discover how these book publishing options differ from another, the amount of responsibility and control you have with each, and ultimately, which path may be the best fit for you, your budget, and your book.
Keith Ogorek
3:30
How To Pitch an Agent or Publisher (Friday Edition)
You've spent a year or more working on a great novel and now you feel it's ready to be shared with the world. Naturally, the first step is to pitch literary agents and find one who shares your passion for the work and is willing to sign you. While many authors submit countless query letters and emails -- without result, a few wise souls know that agents often look to conferences as a source for new talented writers. It is a unique window to have your work considered firsthand. But what do you say? How do you present yourself and your manuscript in order to have them ask for more? This panel of agents, editors, and publishers du jour will discuss what they expect and answer your questions. This is an opportunity to hear what each agent needs in order to make a decision. Listen well, then rehearse before scheduling a pitch session with any or all of them later any day at the conference.
Literary Agents, Scouts, and Talent Managers du jour
Annie Bomke, Whitney Davis, Claire Gerus, Steven Hutson, Toni Robino, Paul S. Levine,
Tony N. Todaro (M)
Meet editors, agents and/or publishers for a personal consultation to pitch, discuss and improve pre-submitted pages of your manuscript. Schedule an appointment at the Registration Desk. Some editors may take new submissions on site. A separate fee applies to ProCritque and Masters ProCritique consultations. Some agents do not read or edit material in advance. Consult the wcwriters.com website for details. We recommend you attend the Saturday or Sunday "How to Pitch" session at 10:00 am in order to help identify the best professional for your individual genre and material.
SIGN UP at 1-on-1 Meetings Deskstarts after agent panel.
4:45
Things I wish a Pro Had Told Me When I First Started Writing
Many aspiring writers waste time and brain cells when they first enter the world of writing professionally. Becoming a writer and then a published author is a steep, steep learning curve. Even for those with prior experience and previously published books, the rapidly changing landscape of the industry means you can easily make mistakes; in your writing, pitching, marketing and certainly when it comes to finding and signing a deal with a publisher or entering the shark-infested waters of the self-publishing pool. The aim of this session is to keep you safe, strong and smart as you progress in your work and career. Learn from industry pros many of the things you can avoid to save years of frustration and yes, brain cells, too.
Brandie June, Neil V. Young, Michael Kouri, plus panel
Rise Above the Fray: In Defense of Quality
So many writers just rush to the market prematurely, and that is why self-publishing still is the step sister of traditional publishing. While Helga will be talking about craft, she will also talk about her version of MIT: Meaning, Insight and Talent.
Helga Schier, PhD
How to Conceptualize a Highly Marketable Nonfiction Book
Learn the essential steps to conceptualize and plan a nonfiction book that agents want to represent and publishers want to buy. These are the same steps used to create the concepts and outlines for New York Times bestsellers including The Male Brain: A Breakthrough Understanding of How Men and Boys Think and 100 Heartbeats: The Race to Save Earth’s Most Endangered Species.
Toni Robino
Fundamentals of Story
Learn how to integrate classic story principles into every aspect of your writing, so you can embrace revision and develop a critical eye for your own work. John Henry teaches screen and TV writing at UCLA Extension.
John Henry
6:00
Writing a Best-Selling Memoir That More Than Just Your Family Will Read.
Description
Marlan Warren, Madeline Sharples, plus panel
The Hero's and Heroine's Journeys
Description
Alexis Krasilovsky, Professor Dept. of Cinema & TV Arts, California State University, Northridge
The Author / Agent Relationship
A presentation focused on the author/agent relationship, detailing the literary agent's role at every stage of the publishing process, how to find an agent, and what makes for a strong author/agent relationship.
Annie Bomke, Literary Agent
How to Be A Winning Speaker -- Get Your Audience to Sit Up and Listen
Description
Ester Shifren
7:30
"A
Gathering of Writers" No-host cocktail party with the speakers and agents All attendees and guests are welcome to meet and network with
the agents, speakers and special guests.
Location: Lobby Bar (Attend Orientation Session for details)
Literary Breakfast with Art Holcomb Join this popular author/editor/educator/screenwriter for a round-table discussion
+ Q&A on the craft of writing. No host breakfast. $25 participation. Limited space in Share Restaurant, DoubleTree lobby. Please RSVP
9:00
Walk-up
Registration, Pre-Registration pickup of credentials, badge, program, swag bag
9:30
Orientation Session Welcome, Introductions, What's New / Updated for the Weekend
10:00 - 11:00
How To Pitch an Agent or Publisher (Saturday Edition)
You've spent a year or more working on a great novel and now you feel it's ready to be shared with the world. Naturally, the first step is to pitch literary agents and find one who shares your passion for the work and is willing to sign you. While many authors submit countless query letters and emails -- without result, a few wise souls know that agents often look to conferences as a source for new talented writers. It is a unique window to have your work considered firsthand. But what do you say? How do you present yourself and your manuscript in order to have them ask for more? This panel of agents, editors, and publishers du jour will discuss what they expect and answer your questions. This is an opportunity to hear what each agent needs in order to make a decision. Listen well, then rehearse before scheduling a pitch session with any or all of them later any day at the conference.
Annie Bomke, Whitney Davis, Claire Gerus, Steven Hutson, Toni Robino, Paul S. Levine, Ken Sherman,
Meet editors, agents and/or publishers for a personal consultation to pitch, discuss and improve pre-submitted pages of your manuscript. Schedule an appointment at the Registration Desk. Some editors may take new submissions on site. A separate fee applies to ProCritque and Masters ProCritique consultations. Some agents do not read or edit material in advance. Consult the wcwriters.com website for details. We recommend you attend the Saturday or Sunday "How to Pitch" session at 10:00 am in order to help identify the best professional for your individual genre and material.
SIGN UP at 1-on-1 Meetings Desk
11:15 - 12:15
Writing for the Short Story Market
Learn what publishers are looking for, how to submit, and how to profit from your writing.
Neil V. Young, Chrome Oxide, Elizabeth Eve King, plus panel
The Three Pillars of Book Success™: The Trifecta You Need to Win
The industry is more complex than ever before. There is a lot of mediocre books being published. Why blend in with the bunch when you can stand out as the best?
In order to win, you need the Three Pillars of Author Success™. Find out what publishers want to see from you in this conversation featuring agents, editors, and PR/Marketing experts. By working together, they are the team you need behind you to win.
• Elaine Ash, development editor and author of Bestseller Metrics • Steven Hutson, literary agent and consultant, WordWise Media
• Desireé Duffy, founder of Black Château and Books That Make You, and organizer for TEDxResedaBlvd
• Moderated by Phil Giangrande
Beyond Cliffhangers: Tips to Thrill, Titillate and Turn the Pages
Description
Helga Schier, PhD
How the Hero’s Journey Revolutionized Genre Fiction
When writing genre fiction, it’s important to understand how the Hero’s Journey plays into the structure of your story. By analyzing six popular films, (Harry Potter, Star Wars, The Matrix, Spider Man, The Lion King and Lord of the Rings), we will discuss how you can use Joseph Campbell’s infamous journey template and make it your own. This class will give you a fresh perspective on your story!
Most authors know book marketing is key to their success, but don’t often feel equipped to do it effectively. In this seminar, Keith Ogorek, President of The Author Learning Center, provides an easy to understand framework and way to build a marketing plan that will give you confidence in your book marketing efforts. The method he will share is based on the acronym POEM and includes all the elements of an integrated marketing campaign: Publicity. Online. Events. Multi-media.
Don’t miss this practical and helpful seminar that will help you become an even better book marketer.
Keith Ogorek
"To Live and Write in LA"
Do you know how lucky you are to be right here among other creatives, the entertainment industry, and among so many other writers and people to network with? We discuss the challenges and opportunities for writers that are unique to those in Los Angeles and Southern California.
Topics will include: Writing about Hollywood and writing FOR Hollywood; How growing up here shapes your creativity; The people you meet and network with in this creative hub are unlike any other city; Using your location—the fact that you are a writer in LA—to your advantage; Adapting your writing for film, TV and more
Sheryl Benko, screenwriter, post-production supervisor, and author of The Last of Will
Tara Botel Doherty, author of Bread for the Table and Growing Up Hollywood
Naomi Brett Rourke, author and contributor to anthologies Straight Outta Tombstone, The Saturday Evening Post and others
Ray Richmond, journalist, author and founder of Family Sleuth Memoirs
Moderated by Phil Giangrande
TBD
The Greater Los Angeles Writers Society
Member Mixer
This is an opportunity for GLAWS members to meet and mingle with your fellow writers, plus meet some of our executive officers and committee chairs who will share the many opportunities of our dynamic society with you. Most of all, we want you to feel welcome by your peers and enjoy your new membership. Please wear your GLAWS badge.
3:45 - 4:45
THE CPR TECHNIQUE: Avoiding the Mid-Story Slump.
We’ve all been there. You are writing, the ideas are flowing like honey…until you hit the middle of your story. And the flow stops. While the “Mid-Story Slump” or “Second Act Sag” has happened to the best of us (even when we have a well-outlined plan), it doesn’t have to be your fate. All stories can be revived through this session which will offers ways to breathe life back into your story and your writing career as a whole!!
Oz Monroe, plus panel
Plotting Versus "Pantsing": Learning how to 'plot' and 'pants' your way to a great book
Description
Whitney Davis, Mike Robinson, plus panel
The 10 Steps to Building Your Story
With all the advice floating around about structure, plot and character development, it's easy to get lost in your own writing. But the creation of a compelling, dynamic and interesting novel or screenplay need not be so complex. Acclaimed writer and writing teacher Art Holcomb can show you the 10 steps it takes to quickly and powerfully create a step-by-step plan for your next book or film, cutting weeks or months off the creative process. (Each participant will receive a workbook that they can use over and over again to create great stories).
Art Holcomb
You see, there's a Tornado, and it's full of Sharks...!
An interview with Anthony C. Ferrante, the writer/director of the popular series "Sharknado". How he pitched the concept, sold it, and directed the movies.
Anthony C. Ferrante, interviewed by Joel Eisenberg
5:00 - 6:00
Women Rule!
Learn the secret to compelling female characters, and guarantee your woman-driven stories connect to audiences. For decades women characters have been the square-peg in the round-hole. Since the release of Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces, authors have conformed their feminine characters to the Hero’s Journey mythic structure. But women have their own mythic structure called The Queen’s Path, that guarantees readers, viewers, and audiences connect to your female characters. This mythic structure shows up in everything from The Bible to Legally Blonde, Game of Thrones, and Captain Marvel. Learn about this mythic structure and how to construct protagonists or villains that move audiences, and keep them talking.
Dr. Stacy Simmons
The Importance of Being Arthur
The author of nine books will discuss how a minor character in Welsh mythos was picked up by various cultures and how the stories grew, changed, and spawned everything from opera to science fiction to comic books. There are motifs in everything from Star Wars to Aquaman which can be directly traced back to King Arthur. Knowing where and how to look may even inspire you as a writer to find another minor character in mythology and expand that story into who knows what.
S.P. Hendrick, plus panel
Writer's Rights
Join publishing lawyer Greg Victoroff, Esq. for an interactive, multimedia presentation teaching authors, illustrators and photographers to protect their work through contracts, copyright, trademark, and trade secret law, and protect themselves from unscrupulous agents, consultants, publishers and collaborators.
Greg Victoroff, Esq.
Structure in Storytelling
Creating crises and turning points for central characters and how to craft great beginnings and endings.
John Henry, Tim
6:15 - 7:15
Aspiring Writers
Description
Speaker / Faculty, plus panel
Ghostwriting & Collaboration as Your New Day Job
Thousands of people have great ideas for books they’ll never have the time or skills to write. Learn how to break into the collaboration business, connect with existing networks, get your first clients, make great money and sidestep the perils that many first-time collaborators make.
Toni Robino, Sara Anne Fox
Promoting Your Book Before You Even Finish It
Gayl Murphy, plus panel
Would My Novel make a Good Movie? Secrets to Adapting your Novel to Film
Description
Dan Watanabe, Christine Conradt, Sara Anne Fox, Art Holcomb, plus panel
Renegade Late Night Read and Critique Workshopwith tba
An after hours opportunity for registered attendees to bring work-in-progress and participate in a late night live editing. Would you like feedback on your work additional to the quick pitch meeting? What is it like to work with a critique group of good, focused writers? Fuel up on caffeine, drink and words, and join us for Renegade Late Night Read & Critique. It is an amazing creative experience — not to be missed. Bring 3 to 5 pages of your manuscript to read and share, and enjoy the feedback exchange! (Hurry and sign up! Limited seating.)
Mikado Hotel Lobby.
Walk-up
Registration, Pre-Registration pickup of credentials, badge, program, swag bag
10:00 am - 12:15 pm
Great Beginnings for Novels – Your First Line, First Pages
You've heard that if the first paragraph of your novel isn't strong enough, agents and publishers won't read the first page, let alone the first fifty. Now you can learn how to separate fact from fiction and remain true to your story. Learn to draft a first line that will grab an acquisition editor and announce your authority as an author. This will cover first pages, first chapters, and first characters. This is a unique opportunity for you to learn how pros consider the merits of the material and the intent of the author, then offer improvements covering everything from glaring grammar errors to story-structure flaws to the overall storytelling and more.
Bring six (6) copies of your first 2 pages. Selected works will be read aloud, so the audience can follow along and learn how an agent or publisher reviews a manuscript. Time permitting, they may suggest improving the samples.
A panel of professional editors including: Annie Bomke, Helga Schier, PhD, Mike Robinson, Elaine Ash, Marlan Warren, Marco Subias (M)
Great Beginnings for Nonfiction Books – Your First Line, First Pages
You've heard that if the first paragraph of your novel isn't strong enough, agents and publishers won't read the first page, let alone the first fifty. Now you can learn how to separate fact from fiction and remain true to your story. Learn to draft a first line that will grab an acquisition editor and announce your authority as an author. This will cover first pages, first chapters, and first characters. This is a unique opportunity for you to learn how pros consider the merits of the material and the intent of the author, then offer improvements covering everything from glaring grammar errors to story-structure flaws to the overall storytelling and more.
Bring six (6) copies of your first 2 pages. Selected works will be read aloud, so the audience can follow along and learn how an agent or publisher reviews a manuscript. Time permitting, they may suggest improving the samples.
A panel of professional editors including: Claire Gerus, Deanna Brady, Robin Quinn,
10:00 am - 12:15 pm
Great Beginnings for Screenplays– Your First Line, First Pages
You hear that if the first paragraph of your script isn't strong enough, the studios and producers won't read the first page, let alone the first fifty. Now you can learn how to separate fact from fiction and remain true to your story. Learn how to grab the attention of an agent and announce your authority as an screenwriter. This workshop will cover first pages, first chapters, and first characters. This is a unique opportunity for you to learn how pros consider the merits of the material and the intent of the writer, then offer improvements covering everything from story-structure flaws to the overall storytelling and more.
Bring 5 copies of your first 2 pages. Selected works will be read aloud by actors or audience members for each part, so the audience can follow along and learn how a producer or agent reviews. Screenwriters are advised to network with fellow attendees to read "sides" of the script live for the panel. Time permitting, they may suggest improvements for the samples.
A panel of screenwriters, studio veterans, and special guests including: Saran Fox, Dan Watanabe, Whitney Davis,
10:00 am - 12:15 pm
Great Query Letters
Bring six (6) copies of your one-page letter. Selected works will be read aloud, so the audience can follow along and learn how an agent or publisher considers the query. Time permitting, they may suggest improving the samples.
A panel of agents, editors, and publishers
12:30
Closing Keynote Address
Topic
Sponsored by the Greater Los Angeles Writers Society
and featuring an all-pro industry panel.
You are here, and that means your opportunities as a writer are virtually limitless.
Literary Breakfast with Art Holcomb
Keynote Speaker: 
The Greater Los Angeles Writers Society
"A
Gathering of Writers"
Renegade Late Night Read and Critique Workshop with tba
You've heard that if the first paragraph of your novel isn't strong enough, agents and publishers won't read the first page, let alone the first fifty. Now you can learn how to separate fact from fiction and remain true to your story. Learn to draft a first line that will grab an acquisition editor and announce your authority as an author. This will cover first pages, first chapters, and first characters. This is a unique opportunity for you to learn how pros consider the merits of the material and the intent of the author, then offer improvements covering everything from glaring grammar errors to story-structure flaws to the overall storytelling and more. 
You hear that if the first paragraph of your script isn't strong enough, the studios and producers won't read the first page, let alone the first fifty. Now you can learn how to separate fact from fiction and remain true to your story. Learn how to grab the attention of an agent and announce your authority as an screenwriter. This workshop will cover first pages, first chapters, and first characters. This is a unique opportunity for you to learn how pros consider the merits of the material and the intent of the writer, then offer improvements covering everything from story-structure flaws to the overall storytelling and more. 