Hosted by Selby Library
Selby Library takes registration on their own site
Your Famlo RSVP saves the date and reminds you — it does not hold a spot. Their programmes often fill up well before the date, so check whether places are left.
About This Event
Join us for a full day writers' conference! Please note, all events are free of charge except the food from the food trucks. 9 a.m. in the Rotunda Welcome, Networking, Author Fair, Breakfast Grab coffee or a frappe from the Rise N Grind Coffee truck, and check out our local author book fair! 9:30-10:15 a.m. in the Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium Keynote: The Second Act: Reinventing Yourself as a Writer with Glenn Schudel After two decades of working in theatre (and a handful of less glamorous jobs), Glenn Schudel rebuilt his creative life in his forties. Some writers assume there's a window for "making it," and that if you've missed it, you've missed it. Glenn's second act, spanning fiction, poetry, and playwriting, says otherwise. In this keynote, he offers a clearer, more forgiving definition of success—one that doesn't run on anyone else's timeline. 10:30-11:15 a.m. Panel: Pick Your Publishing Path: Big Publisher, Indie Press, or DIY in the Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium A clear-eyed, friendly look at today’s primary publishing routes. Perfect for writers deciding where—and how—to submit their work. Workshop: Fix Your Story’s Opening FAST in the upstairs Conference Room Make your first pages impossible to put down. Creative Writing Professor and author Glenn Schudel shares practical ways to sharpen tone, improve clarity and build momentum that keeps readers turning pages. Workshop: Five Things Every Author Should Know with the Poynter Institute in the SW Corner Join the Poynter Institute's Kristen Hare as she shares practical advice for authors. Pitch and Pro Connect in the upstairs Glass Block Room Get personalized feedback from publishing professionals during a 10-minute consultation. Come prepared with a 60- to 90-second verbal pitch, synopsis and first five pages, if available. Editor Ryan Van Cleave will be taking 10 minute pitch appointments for children's picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and critiquing adult nonfiction, adult fantasy & horror. Agent Amy Nielsen will be taking 10 minute pitch appointments for Board Books through Young Adult, and is looking for books in the following genres - Contemporary, Dystopian, Family, Horror, Humor, Romance, Sports. Sign up for agent/editor/coach appointments here. Publishing Day for Kids! with Stan Tucker of The Very Airy Library: Part I in the Teen Room This is your chance to bring your story to life! Join Stan Tucker, founder of Leap For Literacy and host of “The Very Airy Library,” for a fun, interactive workshop where young writers discover the power of their own voices and learn how they can become published authors. Recommended for ages 7-11 | First come, first seated Sign up for Publishing Day for Kids here. 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Panel: Writing for Local Media Outlets in the Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium Discover what makes a story resonate with local readers and how to successfully write for community publications. Moderator Cooper Levey-Baker leads a conversation with Kat Hughes of the Observer, Kim Doleatto of Sarasota Magazine and Merab Favorite of The Bradenton Times. Workshop: Get Paid to Write Books for Others: Ghostwriting, Work-for-Hire, and Educational Publishing in the SW Corner Learn how paid book assignments come together and what publishers and packagers seek. Ryan Van Cleave shares how to build the skills, samples and relationships that lead to this work. Workshop: From Idea to Episode: Write Your First Podcast in the upstairs Conference Room Turn your story idea into something listeners can hear. Robert Przekwas of State College of Florida introduces the essentials of developing, writing and shaping your first podcast episode. Pitch and Pro Connect in the upstairs Glass Block Room Get personalized feedback from publishing professionals during a 10-minute consultation. Come prepared with a 60- to 90-second verbal pitch, synopsis and first five pages, if available. Creative Wrting teacher and novelist Glenn Schudel will be conducting 10 minute critique appointments for memoir, literary & genre fiction, and adult nonfiction. Agent Ritu Anand will be taking 10 minute pitch appointments for picture books, middle grade, young adult, literary fiction, general fiction, and historical fiction. Sign up for agent/editor/coach appointments here. Publishing Day for Kids! with Stan Tucker of The Very Airy Library: Part II in the Teen Room First through fifth graders are invited to join Stan Tucker for the second part of their very own writing workshop. Sign up for Publishing Day for Kids here. 12:15-1:30 p.m. Lunch, Networking, Author Fair Take a break, meet participating authors and purchase lunch from Gia’s Food Truck Kitchen. 1:30-2:15 p.m. Panel: What Agents Wish Writers Knew (& Did!) in the Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium Want to make a stronger impression on a literary agent? Get an insider’s perspective on pitches, submissions and common missteps as Grier Ferguson of Sarasota Fiction Writers moderates a conversation with literary agents Ritu Anand and Amy Neilson. Workshop: From Zero to Readers: Build an Author Presence That Works with Lisa Daily in the Teen Room Your book is written, now how do you find your readers? Bestselling author Lisa Daily shares practical ways to build your author presence, connect with readers and get your work noticed. Workshop: Start Your Memoir: Turning Life Experience into a Compelling Story in the upstairs Conference Room Your life is full of stories worth telling. Discover how to turn meaningful memories and experiences into a memoir that draws readers in and brings your story to life. Workshop: Read Like a Writer: Steal the Techniques That Make Books Work in the SW Corner What makes a book impossible to put down? Glenn Schudel shows you how to read with a writer’s eye, spot techniques that work and apply them to your own writing. Teen Zine Making Workshop in the Creation Station Turn your ideas into something you can share. Teen Librarian Monika Hetzler helps you create your own mini publication using words, art and your unique point of view. 2:30-3 p.m. Business Card Swap, Networking and Refreshments in the Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium End the day by exchanging business cards, making new connections and continuing the conversation over refreshments.
