Below is a list of our Panel and Workshop Programming for 2024!
Please note that Imaginarium 2024 will feature over 130 Panel and Workshop sessions, so be sure to check back to see new additions throughout the coming months!
Panels
Writing and Publishing Panels
A Guide to Writing Fantasy: Moderator – TBA. Join in to hear fantasy authors, as they guide you through key aspects of fantasy writing. Learn why the setting is just as important, if not more important than your characters. (60 min)
Audiobook How-To: Moderator TBA. Learn from audiobook professionals how to create your own audiobook, search for narrators, and discuss the different platforms you can choose to upload your audiobook for sale. (60 min)
Cover Critiques: Moderator Jake Clark. Attendees are asked to bring their book cover designs to receive detailed professional critiques from skilled cover designers. There will also be some critiques given on already selected published works. (60 min)
Creating an Anti-Hero: Moderator TBA. This panel will explore the creation of an anti-hero. What are some good examples in popular fiction? What makes for an effective anti-hero? How can you balance the good and bad in an anti-hero character? This discussion will answer these questions and much more!
Creative Non-Fiction: Moderator TBA. Discuss the many forms of creative non-fiction, such as journalism, travel writing, and personal essays. Learn how to add imagination and flare to building facts around your narrative. (60 min)
Defining Different Genres of Writing: Moderator TBA. We will discuss the difference between sword and sorcery versus high fantasy, urban fantasy/SciFi versus spec fiction, cyberpunk versus steampunk, the difference between a space opera and SciFi, and what makes something YA. Knowing the specifics of the genres your writing leads to more successful submissions and decreases the amount of misdirects when submitting.
Gender Essentialism: Where We Can Go?: Moderator – Kevin A. Davis. Discussion of how we’ve changed some of the established roles through media, and what we might do moving forward.
Kickstarting 101: Moderator TBA. Learn the do’s and don’ts to starting and running your own successful crowd funding.
NaNoWriMo – Should I Stay or Should I Go?: Moderator – Carma Haley Shoemaker. The program allegedly ignored reports of minors possibly being exploited, going back 10+yrs, and chose to ignore it even, though one of their mods were involved. Should you to continue to participate? Well, let’s discuss this, so you can learn about what has been going down, and make your choice to stay or go. (60 min)
Poetic Trauma: Moderator TBA. A discussion on how poetry can help heal past traumas, and give the silent a voice. Learn how poetry can stun listeners into silence. (60 min)
Romance Across Genres: Moderator TBA. We will be discussing what makes a successful Romance novel and how it can be weaved into cross-genre prose, and talk about several of the most popular subgenres. (60 min)
Submitting Clean Copy: Moderator TBA. Learn from professional editors as they discuss tips, tricks, and insights, so you can submit a clean copy of your written work to the editor or publisher. (60 min)
Terrible Things I Wrote When I Was Young: Moderator – James Sabata. All writers create some pretty bad things, especially when they’re just starting out. And that’s okay. Panelists sift through their slush piles of bad memories to share with you some of the most inappropriate, asinine, and hilarious things they wrote when they were getting started, and how those things helped them become the writers they are today.
Unputdownable Openings: Moderator Miranda Darrow. A panel on the First Pages, where the panelists give their feedback on the first page of fiction manuscripts that authors submit in advance to the moderator or bring with them to the panel. (60 min)
Why Contribute to an Anthology: Moderator TBA. Hear from publishers, writers, and editors how contributing your story to an anthology can bolster your career. (60 min)
Wrestling & Writers: Moderator – Donald R. Guillory. Wrestling is the greatest form of theater, encompassing nearly every aspect of the creative arts. In this panel, we will discuss everything that you can learn from professional wrestling to develop your storytelling regardless of your area of concentration. (60 min)
Writing Faith-Based Stories in Different Genres: Moderator TBA. We will discuss the ways to approach writing faith-based stories in different genres and maintain the spiritual aspects of the story, while including the care elements for the specific genre you are writing in.
Writing for Children: Moderator TBA. An in-depth conversation on writing age-appropriate prose for children. What do you need to be conscious of? What boundaries should you not cross? How to you handle difficult subjects? Join us and share your thoughts! (60 min)
Writing Nature Settings: Moderator – Alan Goldstein. A discussion on writing nature settings within the genre of creative fiction. (60 min)
Writing Prompts and Inspiration: A discussion on getting the writing motor kickstarted through writing prompts and sources of inspiration. This panel will take a look at how to use writing prompts to help get the creative juices flowing, as well as suggestions for bringing inspiration to your creative mind.
Filmmaking and Screenwriting Panels
It’s All Horror: Moderator Donald R. Guillory. Romance? Comedies? Drama? Sci-Fi? Biopic? Cartoons? Action? What if I told you that it’s all horror? Join us for a panel where SA Bradley, Brian Haas, and Donald R. Guillory debate and discuss why so many films and tv shows can fall under the umbrella of horror. (90 min)
Screenwriting Basics: Moderator TBA. In this panel, you will learn the basics of screenwriting. Take your novels or games to new exciting heights in an adaptation, or you may just have a great idea for a film or series. Join us as we discuss how to weave those ideas into a screenplay.
Creating Relatable LGBTQ+ Characters in Film and Books: Moderator TBA. A discussion on hollow representation of the LGBTQ+ community in books and film. We will discuss the forced checkmark boxes that writers/screenwriters are using and truly not creating relatable LGBTQ+ characters. (60 min)
Music and Songwriting Panels
Lyrical Creation: Moderator TBA. Learn the basics of creating lyrics for your songwriting, and also how you can use these skills to elevate and promote your film, game, or books.
Gaming and Pop Culture Panels
Creating Comics: Moderator TBA. Comic book artists and writers come together to give you a detailed plan on how to create your very own comic book. (60 min)
Marvel Vs DC: Moderator TBA. A discussion on the creative worlds of Marvel and DC! Where they are now, where you think they are headed, what they are getting right, and what they are getting wrong.
Today’s Gaming: Moderator TBA: Let’s talk about how far we have come in graphics, technology, and storytelling in video game development, and how our evolving culture has affected today’s gaming scene. (60 min)
Miscellaneous Panels
3D Printing Possibilities: Moderator – David Sheridan. Learn how you can have your characters from books, films, and games created into physical creations that you can utilize to market your product(s), use for game pieces, make props for your films, make a passive income from creations, etc… (60 min)
AI Ethics Across all Mediums: Moderator – Renmeleon. This will be an overall discussion of how we can navigate creatively, protect our work and jobs in an AI heavy world, and the ethics of using AI across all mediums. (90 min)
AI In the Arts, Evil or Good?: Moderator TBA. A panel discussion on the implications of using AI in film, writing, gaming, and art. Is it a tool or is it theft of others creative works? (60 min)
Dr. Moreau’s Laboratory: Moderator – Barbara V. Evers. Using an animal mashups card deck, panelists are presented with 2 (or 3 or 4) animals to mashup. They are given a few minutes to create a name for the animal and determine its characteristics (appearance, habitat, food, etc). These descriptions are briefly written and handed to a moderator who reads them out anonymously. The audience votes on their favorites. We run several rounds, keeping score, and the winner gets bragging rights. (90 min)
Horrors Against Humanity: Moderator – James Sabata. Hello, horror fan. I want to play a game. The rules are simple: In this horror-themed version of the ultra-popular Cards Against Humanity game, the announcer will read questions from the black cards and authors will answer with their funniest white card. The audience will judge each round and declare a winner. (90 min)
Horror Speed Dating Game (18+): Moderator – Donald R. Guillory. Ever wonder what it would be like to date the wolfman, Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, or hey.. maybe Godzilla or Cthulhu are more your speed? What questions would you ask of them? What would make each one an ideal date? Join us as we play “Horror Speed Dating” where audience members get to ask questions of our horror icons and monsters to determine which is the best possible fit for that missing piece of your heart… (90 min)
How Important are Awards?: Moderator – TBA. Listen as creative industry professionals discuss how important winning an award is for your brand, book, game, and ultimately your sales, and how to use that award or finalist/nominee designation effectively. We will also talk about the mental health aspects of winning or losing an award. (60 min)
Win, Lose, or Get Drawn Into the Abyss: Moderator – James Sabata. An audience participation panel based on the classic game show. In this version, 2 teams of five will take turns drawing and guessing horror-related items and characters. If you lose the round and the other team gets it right, a player on your team will be taken into the abyss and you will continue… without them. Prizes will be awarded. (90 min)
Workshops
Writing and Publishing Workshops
6-Step Revision Process: Presenter – Miranda Darrow. Miranda Darrow’s Six-Step Revision Process: How to revise from 1st draft to polished! In this presentation, I walk authors through my six-step process. The steps are: 1) The Big Chart – map out scenes, plot, & character arcs in a big chart. I provide templates in multiple formats (Word, Docs, Excel, Charts, whiteboards, Kanban, etc.) 2) Work The Chart – Follow your plotlines to find gaps, fill plotholes, and kill darlings that don’t tie into the main story or major subplot. 3) Add Depth – Next is another round of editing to add setting, active voice, spruce up dialogue. 4) Get Feedback – Time to reach out to beta readers, crit partners, and/or editor, and incorporate this feedback. 5) Line Level Edits – One more round of edits for spelling, usage, awkward sentences (read it aloud, use a grammar checker, etc.). 6) Next Steps – A checklist to help prep for querying or indie pub. Learning objectives: 1. Authors will know the value of starting their revisions with the highest level of edits, to not waste time copyediting pages that might not survive the plot-level edits. 2. Authors will learn how to make a scene chart/reverse outline in which they map out all of the scenes in their manuscript and then evaluate whether they are advancing the main plot, major subplots, and/or character growth arcs. I have templates available and examples for this “big chart” in various formats. 3. Authors will know a recommended timeline to get feedback from other authors (critique partners) or beta readers with a strategy for what to do with conflicting feedback and an action plan for addressing the issues raised. 4. This presentation includes access to templates (in Word, Google Docs, Excel, and Google Charts) for the “Big Chart” and a detailed Checklist for the Six Steps, all as free downloads (no newsletter signup required). (60 min)
A Dash of Love: Presenter – Miranda Darrow. Adding a Romantic Subplot to Novels of Any Genre. Mystery/thrillers, speculative, historical – novels of any genre can appeal to more readers (who beg for a sequel) with a solid romantic subplot (see “romantasy”). Learn tips and tricks from the romance genre to make sure your subplot is enhancing the story, adding tension, and not landing flat. (60 min)
Authors Selling Direct: Presenter – Hallee Bridgeman. We’ll go over how an author can sell ebooks, paperbacks, and even audiobooks direct – and why an author should.
Workshop Outline –
- What does selling direct mean?
- What are the benefits of selling direct?
- What are the disadvantages?
- What are the tools needed for selling direct?
- What is this going to cost me?
- How do I make selling direct worth it for me?
- Let’s look at some author shops in different platforms.
(60 min)
Avoid Boring Character Development: Let’s Make Them Interesting: Presenter – Barbara V. Evers. Writers have the freedom to create anyone they want as their story’s protagonist. Often first-time writers create a character loosely based on their own personality. Although an easy approach, this pitfall can make your writing boring and, unless you’re writing a series about this character, it doesn’t help you when it’s time to write your next book.
Stepping beyond a familiar character and creating someone new–maybe even drastically different from you–can be a lot of fun. When creating your character, you need to know more about the character than the character knows about herself. Which is one reason why creating a fictional “you” as the protagonist gets boring. You have to get outside the character to create a full personality.
This workshop will discuss a coaching and psychology tool called the Johari Window to explore the Open Self, Hidden Self, Blind Self, and Unknown Self of your protagonist. Then, we’ll apply this tool to Harry in HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCEROR’S STONE to see how it works. Time will be provided during this workshop to give participants an opportunity to create a Johari Window for one of their characters. (60 min)
Benefits to Writing and Publishing Across Genres: Presenter – Malinda Andrews. Breaking through the stigma of only publishing one genre with each “pen name”. The benefits of writing across genres, effective marketing for each genre, and creating longevity in your writing career. There will be built-in time for questions and discussion.
Takeaways:
*Strengthening components of story
*Writing process changes between genres
*Productivity Increase
*Marketing each genre
*Not to limit your creativity
(60 min)
Better Beta Reading: Both Sides of the Pen: Presenter – Morgan Hazelwood. So you’ve been asked (or offered) to beta read for someone Or maybe *you’re* the one looking for beta readers. As the writer: Where do you find them and how do you get the feedback you’re looking for. As the beta readers: how to give feedback that helps — and stay on speaking terms with the author.
OPTIONAL: Bring a single writing sample to have beta read live. (90 minutes)
Build Out Your Book: Make Your Promotion Uniquely Yours: Presenter – Renmeleon. Invent new, creative ways to market your book using alternative approaches to social involvement. Learn to conceptualize and create unique promotional materials your readers will love. Worksheets provided. All attendees will receive thank-you gifts.
Led by illustrator, author, and designer, Ana Maria Selvaggio, with more than three decades of professional experience under the name Renmeleon, this one-hour workshop is followed up with a one-hour, hands-on group brainstorming session. Come for the workshop and stay for the brainstorming (optional) afterward.
If booked during Imaginarium, Renmeleon is also offering individual, private sessions for 30.00/hour (normally 60.00) that include access to her resources and manufacturing information. (2 hours)
Covers that Click: Presenter Jake Clark. Learn from a professional cover designer what it takes to create a visually striking cover that will get clicks. This workshop will include all genres. (60 min)
Creating Graphics Using BookBrush: Presenter – Barbara V. Evers. Social media remains a major aspect of marketing, and striking graphics can make a huge difference. Several applications provide the tools, but Bookbrush is designed specifically for authors. This workshop will: Provide an explanation of the basics of visual design theory Explore the different tools in Bookbrush Demonstrate creating Graphics, Cover Reveals, Animations, Book Covers, Book Trailers Suggest some creative ways to use Bookbrush A computer with projection would be required to demonstrate the tool in an effective way. Note: I know Canva has a free access, but I find Bookbrush easier to use as an author. It’s important to note that Bookbrush is a fee-based application. (60 min)
Critique Groups: A Writer’s Friend or Waste of Time?: Presenter – Alan Goldstein. Writer’s groups are often cited in the acknowledgements of books, including by many successful authors. But can you benefit? This workshop explores the many faces of critique groups, how they function, frequency of meetings, factors to measure success, and determining whether their goals and objectives mesh with yours. (60)
Discovering Your Write Path to Publishing Success: Presenter – Maddie James. Provides information for authors who are stuck, stalled, or slow to get started. The workshop talks in brief about finding the “write path,” nurturing ideas and creativity, developing habits and routines, finding your sweet spot, and choosing publishing paths. (90 min)
DIY Book Promo: How To Get Your Book Into Readers’ Hands Without Spending Money: Presenter – Dan Klefstad. Learn ways for you to promote and sell your book without spending money. (60 min)
Draw Me a Story: Presenter – J.C. Daniels/Shiloh Walker. How to use visual aids (pictures) to craft compelling characters for your next story. This workshop is suitable for any character-driven stories. (60 min)
Effective Research in Fiction: Presenter – John Bukowski. Learn my 6 tips for effectively reasearching your novel. Like an actor researching a role, you uncover a lot more backstory than you ever put on the page. (60 min)
Efficient Editing: Presenter – Angie Andriot. Editing can be tough. Whether you’re facing your own sloppy first draft or sitting in a critique group reading someone else’s pages, it can be hard to know where to start. This workshop offers a structured approach to editing by presenting a hierarchy of editorial concerns. Following this framework enables you to pinpoint and address the most significant issues in a piece, resulting in more efficient and effective editing. From understanding what ‘show don’t tell’ really means, to using dialogue effectively, you will leave this workshop armed with a comprehensive checklist of key considerations for enhancing your fiction editing endeavors. (60 min)
Exploring Sexuality Through Poetry: Presenter – Erynn Crittenden. Learn how poetry can help you explore, affirm, and express your sexual orientation as it has for Sappho, Shakespeare, and more. (60 min)
Fast First Draft: How I Cut My Drafting Time By 95%: Presenter – Jessica Minyard. Learn some tips and tricks from a slow writer on how to decrease the time it takes from blank page to a finished first draft. (60 min)
Firearms Primer for Fiction Writers: Presenter – John Bukowski. This workshop will teach you the basics for the firearms novice that you can include in your writing; long guns versus handguns, revolvers versus semiautomatic, types of repeating firearms, parts of the gun, shotgun shot sizes, etc. (60 min)
How to Become a Better Poet: Presenter – Lee Pennington. This will be a hands-on workshop. Participants should submit one printed poem (no more than two pages long) for possible use during the session. The first part of the workshop will cover some very specific ways to become better at your craft; the second half will make use of the submitted poems to show how they can be improved to make them more professional. (information on submitting poems will be updated here shortly). (2 hours)
How to Plot Out Your First or Next Best Seller: Presenter – Eva Vertrice. Participants will explore various types of plotting that are out there, and then I will detail out my method of plotting. I will walk participants through my process and discuss how I found it to be more practical & easier to follow as a writer, particularly if you have multiple characters & storylines.
Handouts will be provided to guide participants through the process. (60 min)
How to Utilize Scrivener: Presenter – Dave Weller. Dave will show how he has used Scrivener for blog posts, articles, short stories, and a novel. This will be a real-world look at how Scrivener can help many types of writers. (60 min)
How to Write Book 2 (or 3) Without Getting Harassed by Code Enforcement (beginner to intermediate): Presenter – Sandy Lender. Award-Winning Author Sandy Lender has fun and real-world examples of how to market Book One while writing books two and three—all while keeping wacky neighbors from sending code enforcement to your property. It’s about balance, sure, but Sandy can offer you more than platitudes because she’s been in the trenches for years now, fighting some crazy neighbors. You CAN juggle a fulltime job, marketing, writing, housekeeping, and sleep. Join this workshop for insight on: • writing the second book in a trilogy vs a series vs multiple stand-alones; • applying your “why” to how you approach book two; • the planning behind rapid-release; • stellar time-management tips, tools, and “cheats”; and • a synopsis of the incredible story bible. Your key takeaways from this workshop: 1. Time-management tricks/cheats 2. How your “why” guides your “how” 3. Ways to ward off neighbors 4. Strategies to stay sane while writing books two, three, four…”
Interviewing Your Characters: Presenter – Lynn Tincher. Interviewing Your Characters is a hands on writing workshop. Writers will work together to learn how to conduct an interview of their main characters. The interview fleshes out character details and provides a place to keep the facts straight. Writers will then write a short story based on the character the class has created. (60 min)
It’s All a Matter of Perspective: Presenter – Devon Eriksen. How to uncover the Tense & Perspective your story demands. Join Devon Eriksen, author of Theft of Fire, to sharpen your saw, and understand the toolbox of tense & perspective. If you can’t answer WHY McInerney’s “Bright Lights, Big City” requires a second-person perspective, this workshop is for you! (60 min)
The Jagged Edge of Story: Presenter – LMG Swain. This workshop encourages the writer to Think in Terms of the Natural Structure of the Problem in the Story, of two opposing forces: Threat (Antagonist) and Anti-Threat (Protagonist). Don’t think in terms of Good versus Evil; rather, think in terms of each Main Character’s aspirations, wants, objectives, and desired End Results. Each Opposing Character wants something—to stop the other Opposing Character. “Jagged Edge” emphasizes beginning with the Threat and the Problem the Threat creates. Without the Threat (Antagonist), the Anti-Threat (Protagonist) has nothing to do. No Problem. No Story. (60 min)
Make a Point Without Preaching: Presenter – Virginia Smith. Is there a market for religious fiction? Absolutely! According to Publisher’s Weekly, Christian fiction readers buy more books than the national average, with over 50% reading 10 or more books per year, compared to 36% nationally. That makes religious fiction a significant contributor to overall fiction sales. But what makes an appealing religious novel? The techniques of writing a great story are the same as other genres – but with an added element. Veteran author Virginia Smith will unveil tips and techniques for writing books that include an integral spiritual element without beating readers over the head with a sermon. (60 min)
Marathonarium 2 Premium Workshop (requires additional fee to participate, see the link below): Presenter – Stephen Zimmer. Get ready for a new 3-Hour Short Story Marathon at Imaginarium 2024, where your completion of a short story gets you published in the second volume of our Imaginarium Convention Marathonarium Anthologies!
The Marathonarium 2 workshop will be conducted by award-winning author and editor Stephen Zimmer, and will include a short presentation focusing on marathon-style writing and the craft of writing short stories.
At the end of the presentation, the three-hour creative writing adventure begins! Special guests will be invited to join us for sensory inspiration.
The presentation will begin at 5 PM on July 18th.
At 5:30 PM, we begin writing.
By 8:30 PM, each participant will transmit his or her story to Stephen for the next steps, which will include editing and time for you to make any needed corrections or revisions to your short story.
Then, the stories will be published in the Marathonarium Anthology Volume 2, which will be released in both print and digital formats, with proceeds supporting the Imaginarium Convention.
Special note: This is a Premium Exclusive workshop that requires a small additional fee to participate and it is strictly limited to 15 participants. Spots are reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis to registered attendees of Imaginarium 2024 until all spots are filled. To see full information and to reserve a spot, visit: https://www.entertheimaginarium.com/marathonarium-2-premium-workshop-registration-form/
Marketing and Ads on a Shoestring Budget: Presenter – S. Cinders. For the passionate writer, eager to expand their reach and impact without breaking the bank. “Pen & Penny” is a comprehensive marketing and ads workshop tailored for creative minds navigating their author career.This workshop is designed to equip budget-conscious writers with the essential skills to effectively market their work and build their author platform. (60 min)
Never Let the Readers See Your Words: Presenter – Theodora Bryant. Newer Authors this is your chance to get the hints and no-no’s in a fun way that shows you the errors that you are making before you submit your manuscript to agents or publishers and certainly long before you decide to self-publish. I’m a developmental editor and after 30 years, I’ve seen just about every mistake newbies make, and even authors who’ve got many books out still make. My two authors, James Grubbs and David Mucci will be there to tell you how getting a developmental edit is invaluable. (60 min)
Paranormal Storytelling and Touring for Fun & Profit: Presenter – John Pyka. How to turn your storytelling abilities into a 6-figure revenue-generating source of income!
Pitching Your Book: A Home Run or a Foul?: Presenter – Michael F. Blake. Pitching a book to a publisher is one of the most important things for a writer. A good pitch can interest the publisher to read your manuscript, and — hopefully — lead to a contract. Your pitch letter is just as important as a well-written manuscript. The “devil is in the details.” Michael F. Blake will show you how he pitched his books and what led them to be published. (60 min)
Plot Like a Pantzer: Presenter – Maddie James. Plotters plot. Pantsers get dizzy and head-spinny over the notion of plotting. There is no right or wrong way to write a novel—there is only your way. This workshop shares ways plotters and pantsers can use discovery tools—genre, tropes, conflict, characters, setting, and more—to plan their stories. Once discovery happens, the writer can dig deeper into the story—by detailed plotting or simply jumping in and writing. (60 min)
Seven Layers of Plotting: Presenter – Kerrie Faye. Whether you are a charts and spreadsheets plotter or a creative that writes by the seat of their pants, all stories need structure. In this workshop, participants will be introduced to the Seven Layers of Plotting which melds Dan Wells’ story matrix with Jessica Brody’s Save the Cat! Writes a Novel method. This comprehensive, layered approach will save you time and elevate your craft. Participants will understand the basic process of creating their own seven-layered plot using examples from popular books to films, such as Harry Potter and The Hunger Games while also receiving handouts illustrating each of the seven layers necessary for plotting. This workshop is ideal for those at the beginner level of writing a novel. (60 min)
Showing Vs Telling: Presenter – Rebecca Johnson. So often this practice is misunderstood, leading to broken dialogue, camouflaged exposition, and long, dry stretches of description. Discussed will be how to use showing in your overall character arc, to create emotional impact, and how to recognize when you’re using telling as a crutch. (60 min)
So You’re a Brand New Author! How do I Submit a Story?: Presenter – Jonna Hayden. Come learn from the gang at Raconteur Press about following guidelines and the reasons behind them. (60 min)
SoulCollage (Writing Prompts): Presenter – Lisa M. Miller. SoulCollage, an internationally celebrated process for accessing intuition’s deepest creative muscle. Using images and matching writing prompts, participants will discover a fantastic new way of accessing the characters and stories living just below conscious awareness, ready to be discovered and voiced. For first time participants, the process is often surprising and deeply meaningful while the tools of the method can be used again and again to access more creative wingspan. While SoulCollage®️ is useful for discovering inner poems, characters and stories, this technique is especially useful for breaking out of writing blocks, stagnation and boredom—and great for preventing writing lulls. (90 min)
The Renaissance of the New Gothic Romantic Period: Presenter – William Bove. A discussion on the rebirth and resurgence of Gothic Horror, vampires, and horror. All for the celebration of horror, terror, and romanticism. (60 min)
The Threes Cs of Fiction: Conflict, Crisis, and Climax: Presenter – Kathy L. Brown. In addition to their Ps & and Qs, storytellers must mind their Cs: Conflict, Crisis, and Climax. But how can these concepts help us create convincing and captivating conundrums for our characters? You’ll leave this practical workshop with concrete ideas for your creative crafts. (60 min)
The Ultimate Guide to Worldbuilding: Presenter – Michael K. Falciani. Learn how to establish parameters for your fictional world. Learn the key steps to create an engaging world. (60 min)
Utilizing Life Experiences: Presenter – Dr. Dawn Menge. How to turn your life experiences into award winning books and sharing your passions with the world. (60 min)
We Are Not All the Same: Tips for Writing Diverse Characters: Presenter – Lisette Blythe. We will talk about avoiding writing stereotypes, tips to seek out diverse voices as well as listening to those voices when telling the story you seek to tell. (60 min)
Websites for Authors: Presenter – Sako Tumi. Learn the importance of creating your own website and how to go about doing so. (60 min)
Write to the Point?: Presenter – Page Zaplendam. The idea being that just like the book, every chapter has a point. Whatever that point is has to leave us with a tie in to the next chapter or the next place in the character’s story. Also, efficiency – that each scene must be as concise as possible owing to limitations. The reader will only accept the length of the book for you to explain, so each scene has to work multiple angles. (60 min)
Writing Historical Fiction: Presenter – Donald R. Guillory. History is how we understand change throughout the existence of the world. How do we incorporate history into our writing and how do we make it matter for our readers? “Writing Historical Fiction” seeks to teach attendees the methods and significance of using real world events to shape their narratives for their audiences. (60 min)
Your Circle Matters: Presenter – Martha Haynes. When you’re a creative, networking can be one of the most difficult challenges to face. There always seems to be a lack of time and energy, the dreaded “How do I even start the conversation?” and the doom scrolling through Fiverr and Upwork desperately looking for help. If this sounds like somewhere you’ve been before, then the good news is that you’ve already taken a step in the right direction. How? By attending an event like Imaginarium! There is no better place to find like-minded and passionate people. So come on in and let’s tackle this thing together as I take you through the fundamentals of networking. Maybe you’ll find yourself walking out with more friends than you walked in with.
*Introduction Icebreaker ( Why are you attending Imaginarium, what is your profession?)
*The Importance of Networking (Share personal experience)
*Types of Networking: Operational, Personal and Strategic
*Networking In Person
*Networking Online
*How To Keep Up When A Lot;s On Your Plate
*Questions Icebreaker ( MAKE FRIENDS BINGO!!)
(60 min)
Film Workshops
Firearms & Film: Presenter – Silvio Wolf Busch. Learn from Silvio Wolf Busch, a tactical expert, filmmaker, actor, and director on the importance of firearm training and safety on the film set. You want your film to present realistic and during this workshop you will learn safe and effective techniques, for you as a filmmaker to implement and ensure all of your cast and crew stay safe. (90 min)
Mock Writers Room: Breaking Stargate SGU Season 3: Presenter – James Fox. Dive into the heart of TV storytelling with our interactive workshop, led by the acclaimed screenwriter, James Fox. Here, you’ll experience the thrill of a TV writers’ room, contributing to the narrative of “Stargate SGU’s” next season. James brings his award-winning expertise to guide your journey through this collaborative and creative process. No previous writing experience? No problem! This workshop is designed for enthusiasts of all skill levels. It’s a unique opportunity to learn from a seasoned storyteller, expand your skills, and potentially shape the future of a beloved sci-fi series. Join us for a session of imagination, teamwork, and storytelling magic! (3 hours)
Gaming Workshops
Creative Writing for Games: Presenter Brent Campbell. Learn when you’ve gone too far and when you haven’t gone far enough in writing people, places, and things in your game. Brent will discuss how much to put into characters and places, and when you’ve gone too far.
Networking Activities and Other Events!
Hillbilly Court / Bar Con – Hosted by Three Ravens Publishing A time to hang out, grab some drinks, meet other attendees, and network! (60 min Sat 8:30 pm / Bar Area)
Kaffee Klatsch I – Hosted by Three Ravens Publishing. Grab a cup of coffee or tea, wake up, hang, out, and network! (60 min Sat 8am)
Kaffee Klatsch II – Hosted by Three Ravens Publishing. Grab a cup of coffee or tea, wake up, hang, out, and network! (60 min Sun 8am