Imaginarium 2026 is proud to announce the addition of four new Panels and two new Workshops and to our programming! There will be over 135 panels and workshops hosted in our 13th year, so make sure to check back regularly on our official site to see all new additions!
The titles, presenters, and descriptions for these new programming additions are as follows:
New Panels Added
Bulletproofing Your Plot: Building Inconsistency-Free Worlds: Moderator – TBA. The best way to fix a plot hole is to never fall into one. This panel dives into the structural foundations that keep a story airtight. We will discuss the importance of story bibles, character dossiers, and detailed outlines in maintaining continuity. Whether you are writing a complex high-fantasy epic or a tight locked-room mystery, learn the organizational habits and world-building “checks and balances” that ensure your plot remains water-tight from page one to the end.
Mind the Gap: Identifying and Closing Plot Holes. Moderator – TBA. You’ve finished your draft, but something doesn’t add up. Why didn’t the protagonist use their powers in Chapter 5? How did the villain get from London to Paris in twenty minutes? This panel focuses on the diagnostic side of editing. Learn how to track timelines, map out character motivations, and use “logic passes” to find inconsistencies before your readers do. Our panelists will share their favorite methods for patching narrative leaks without having to rewrite the entire book from scratch.
The Pilot Puzzle: Structuring for Television and Streaming: Presenter – TBA. Writing for the small screen requires a completely different structural approach than a feature film. This panel dives into the world of A, B, and C stories, act breaks for commercials versus “binge” structures for streaming, and how to build an “Engine” that can sustain multiple seasons. Learn how to map out a pilot that effectively introduces a world while establishing a structural “hook” that leaves the audience wanting more. – Since screenwriting is a visual medium, panelists are encouraged to bring “Beat Sheet” examples from famous movies (like Star Wars or Parasite) to help the audience visualize the structural points they are discussing! Key Topics: Multi-thread plotting, seasonal arcs, and the “Hook-and-Cliffhanger” method.
Scene, Sequence, Story: Building Visual Momentum: Presenter – TBA. Screenplays are blueprints for images, not just dialogue. This panel explores the Sequence Method—breaking your script into eight 10-to-15-minute “mini-movies” to maintain tension. Learn how to structure individual scenes for maximum visual impact, how to use “white space” on the page to control pacing, and why the visual arc of a character is just as important as the plot structure. – Key Topics: The Sequence Method, pacing through formatting, and visual plant-and-payoff.
New Workshops Added:
Guerrilla Marketing: Book Buzz on a Shoestring: Presenter – Chris Enss. Guerrilla marketing is about creativity, not cash, and for authors, it can be the difference between a quiet launch and a memorable one. Instead of expensive ads, writers can create low-cost, high-impact moments that spark curiosity and conversation—bookmark “leave-behinds” in unexpected places, handwritten shelf talkers for indie bookstores, QR codes linking to a free chapter, or a single bold visual that becomes instantly shareable on social media. At conferences, guerrilla tactics thrive: elevator pitches printed on postcards, pop-up readings in hallways, themed swag that ties directly to the book’s hook, or collaborations with fellow authors to cross-promote audiences. The goal isn’t to sell hard; it’s to be unforgettable. When done right, guerrilla marketing turns ingenuity into visibility, and visibility into readers, without draining your wallet. (60 min)
Never Listen To Anyone Offering Advice On How To Be A Writer: Presenter – Aaron Drown. Aimed a small press and independent authors, “Never Listen” is a slideshow-style talk in three parts: “Free Advice is Often Overpriced,” which discusses some of the joys and pains common to being a writer; “How to Pretend You’re a Professional,” a primer about publishing and how to have your best foot forward when engaging with publishers and the general public; and “I Will Totally Judge Your Book by its Cover and So Will Everyone Else,” which presents the importance of design in book publishing. (90 Min)