Save the date!

When: Saturday, November 9, 2024
8:45 AM-4:30 PM

Where: Germanna Community College Fredericksburg Area Campus, Workforce and Technology Center

Thank you to Platinum Sponsor Germanna Community College for supporting the 2024 Rappahannock Writers’ Conference.

Other Sponsors:

Jump to...

The in-person track is full.

Sign up for the virtual track!

How to Register

Registration is open.

To register from this page, click the images on the left.

Important Notes about Registration

Registration for the in-person track does not require an email address, but providing your email is encouraged so you receive information prior to the conference and receive links to the recordings afterwards.
Registration for the virtual track MUST provide an email address in order to receive the live links for the conference day livestream and the link to the recordings and handouts.
A URL will be sent out the day before and day of the conference to all registrants. Recordings of in-person events will be available for a month after the conference to virtual and in-person attendees.

Friday Night Workshops

This event is full. A wait-list is active for this event. Click here to join it.

Friday, November 8, 6:00-8:00 PM at Howell Branch

With the addition of registration on the website, you must register for the First Five Pages session no later than October 18 by filling out this form. Space is limited.

To register from this page, click the image on the right.

Schedule of Workshops

6:00-6:15: Last minute registration (if there is space)
6:15-7:00: Session 1 - Pick one of 4 or attend First Fives Pages session*
7:00-7:15: Break/Mingle
7:15-8:00: Session 2 - Pick one of 4 or attend First Fives Pages session*

Details on Friday Night Workshops

Drop down sections to see details on workshops.

1. Different Ways to Outline, Presented by Bill Blume

2. Knot the Plot in Flash Fiction, Presented by Elizabeth Spencer Spragins

3. Finding Markets for Your Work, Presented by Sarah Warburton

You've finished writing your story...but how do you get it published? Whether you write personal essays, fantasy, poetry, or mysteries, there's a market for you. We'll discuss the types of places where you can submit your work(anthologies, journals, e-zines, podcasts, and more), how to find them, and how to submit. Come with a clear idea of what you've written and leave a specific plan for the next step.

4. Fleshing out Your Characters, Presented by Linda J. White

Want to create a story readers can’t put down? Believable, multi-dimensional characters are key. This workshop will cover techniques like personality profiling, the art of observation, dealing with dialogue, and portraying character transformation. We’ll discuss how to provoke the dark side of your protagonist, the serial killer’s kitten, questioning your character, avoiding cliches while honoring tropes, and much more.

First Five Pages Feedback Session

Schedule for the Day of Conference

Lobby Registration: 8:15-8:45 AM
Welcome & Conference Introduction in Sealy Auditorium: 8:45-9:00 AM
Morning Keynote in Sealy Auditorium: 9:00-9:45 AM
Class Sessions I: 9:55-10:45 AM
Class Sessions II: 10:55-11:45 AM
Lunch and Networking: 11:45 AM-12:50 PM
Midday Address in Sealy Auditorium: 1:00-1:45 AM
Book Signings/Book Sales/Prize Drawings: 1:55-2:25 PM
Class Sessions III: 2:35-3:25 PM
Class Sessions IV: 3:35-4:25 PM

Teen Lounge in Room 131 all day: Conference attendees in middle or high school are invited to chill in our exclusive lounge, where you can meet other teen writers, chat about fanfic, or get feedback on your work.

Keynote Speaker

Morning Keynote (9:00-9:45 AM)

Brave Story Medicine™: Words that Change the World

Laura Di Franco, author and CEO of Brave Healer Productions

Laura Di Franco is the CEO of Brave Healer Productions, an award-winning publisher for holistic health and wellness professionals.

She spent thirty years in holistic physical therapy, is a third-degree black belt, and has authored thirteen books.

Her company has published over seventy-five Amazon-bestselling books with a global community of over two thousand authors who are waking the world up to what’s possible for healing, one brave word at a time.

Website: lauradifranco.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laura-di-franco-1b037a5

Class Sessions 1

9:55-10:45 AM

Drop down sections to see details on workshops. See presenter information below the conference details.

Short Story Panel Discussion

Minor Characters Can't Be Minor

Location: Room 105A
Presented by: Steve Watkins

Actually, they CAN be minor, in the sense that they can disappear from your narrative after making their cameos. But they have to resonate. They have to matter. The minute they don't, or the minute you relegate them to mere functionaries or stereotypes is the minute your story dies, too.

Type of class: Advanced Craft
Level of writing: All levels

Looking in the Mirror: Why Seeing Yourself in Media Matters

Location: Room 105B
Presented by: Ksenya Swinton

This class will be an overall discussion and insight into the topic of representation in media, and how important it is to tell stories of characters who don't always "fit the mold".

This class will be an introspection of including characters with disabilities, part of the LGBTQ+ community, POC (Persons of Color), and of different cultural backgrounds. We will explore the importance of telling your story as well, and the impact of seeing yourself can be an open invitation to the world of storytelling and writing.

Type of class: General craft
Level of writing: All levels

Creating Audio Editions for Fun And Profit

Class Sessions 2

10:55-11:45 AM

Drop down sections to see details on workshops. See presenter information below the conference details.

Science Fiction & Fantasy Panel Discussion

Write Right for Children

Location: Room 105A
Presented by: J.S. Furlong

Think you can write a book for children without understanding character development, story structure, and the current standards of publishing excellence? Think again!

In this class you will learn how to craft an enjoyable, readable story, what editors and publishers expect from a children’s book, and how to make sure that you write a story that will sell to your audience. We'll break down the necessary elements of writing for kids -- picture books to middle grade. We will cover the five pitfalls new authors fall into when writing for children and how to avoid them.

You will leave with actionable takeaways to go home and write the children’s book of your dreams!

Type of class: General Craft, Genre
Level of writing: All levels

Self-Editor’s Guide to Polishing Prose

Location: Room 105B
Presented by: Ellie Whitney

After twenty years of teaching and editing, Whitney has reviewed a mountain of essays and manuscripts. Come learn the most common prose problems, such as boring sentence structures, misplaced modifiers, and misused words. Also learn the easiest ways to polish that prose, like improving verb choice and tightening the writing.

Type of class: Editing
Level of writing: All levels

Introduction to Screenwriting

Location: Room 133
Presented by: Wendy Latella

Join us for a fast-paced journey into screenwriting including the "how-to's" (screenwriting basics, formatting, lengths, etc.); the "do's", the "don'ts" (hint: there's really no such thing!), and more! From the blank page to marketing and production, come join in the fun and learn how to bring your project to life!

Type of class: Genre
Level of writing: All levels

Keynote Speaker

Midday Keynote (1:00-1:45 PM)

Dare to Dream

John Gilstrap, New York Times Bestselling Author

John Gilstrap is the Thriller Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of over two dozen thrillers.

Prior to the beginning of his writing career, John served fifteen years in the fire and rescue service. Four of John’s books have been purchased or optioned for the Big Screen. In addition, he has written four screenplays for Hollywood, adapting the works of Nelson DeMille, Norman McLean, and Thomas Harris.

A frequent speaker at literary events, John also teaches seminars on suspense writing techniques at a wide variety of venues, from local libraries to the Smithsonian Institution. Outside of his writing life, John is a renowned safety expert with extensive knowledge of explosives, weapons systems, hazardous materials, and fire behavior.

John lives in Shepherdstown, WV.

Website: johngilstrap.com
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UC51IaU8gG8fqH9zewW4cFKA
Facebook: facebook.com/johngilstrapauthor
X: x.com/JohnGilstrap201

Class Sessions 3

2:35-3:25 PM

Drop down sections to see details on workshops. See presenter information below the conference details.

Publishing Panel Discussion

Doing the Twist: How to Surprise Your Readers with Memorable Stories

Researching for Fiction

Location: Room 105B
Presented by: Meredith R. Stoddard

Are you writing a police procedural? Or a novel set in the Wild West of the 1860s? Maybe in modern-day Japan? Every book needs research, but how do you do it effectively?

Writers know the research rabbit hole all too well, but you don’t want to get stuck down there forever. You need to be confident that you have the right tools to find the information you need. Meredith R. Stoddard gives practical advice on how to search smarter, which tools to use, and what you can do if you want to go the extra mile.

Type of class: General craft
Level of writing: Beginner

Religion and Worldbuilding

Location: Room 133
Presented by: S.C. Megale

This crash course in major religious structures provokes authors to think about religion in their own worldbuilding. We'll look at elements from three real-life religious structures --Catholic, Latter-Day Saints, and Pagan (this is a wide term!) --and apply them to sci-fi and fantasy scenarios.

How can religious institutions act as a powerful influence in your imagined world? Do all classic fantasies need a pagan religious background? What makes a fantasy religion realistic? All of these questions and more will be discussed as we open the door to the variety of possibilities offered when storytellers contend with the divine.

Type of class: General craft
Level of writing: All levels

Class Sessions 4

3:35-4:15 PM

Drop down sections to see details on workshops. See presenter information below the conference details.

Query Panel

Blogging, Mailing Lists, and More

Non-Fiction Writing from Soup to Nuts

Writing Collage Poems

Speaker Bios & Contact Information

Drop down alphabetized sections to see details on presenters. Click thumbnail images to see full photo.

Traci Hunter Abramson

Traci Hunter Abramson was born in Arizona, where she lived until moving to Venezuela for a study abroad program.

After graduating from Brigham Young University, she worked for the Central Intelligence Agency, eventually resigning to raise her family. She has written more than forty best-selling novels and is a seven-time Whitney Award winner.

Bill Blume

Bill Blume's love for the written word started back in high school with an addiction to comic books that was hijacked by novels such as Frankenstein and Dragonflight.

The first book in his young adult, vampire hunter series, Gidion's Hunt, was published back in 2013. His adult fantasy debut, West of Apocalypse, was nominated for an Indieverse Award.

Alex R. Crawford

Alex R. Crawford is a novelist, time traveler, and wrangler of cats and dogs.

Her historical time travel adventure series, The Time Writer, is a fun twist of historical fiction with a GenX time traveler thrown into the mix.

Paige Edwards

Paige Edwards is an award-winning author. Her books are often set in the UK, and she hops the pond whenever she gets the chance.

She enjoys hiking, consumes too much Diet Dr. Pepper, and is currently converting a Sprinter van into a camper. Paige loves to connect with readers at the links below.

J.S. Furlong

J.S. Furlong is the author of The Unimaginables series (Hidden City, Tattooed Angel), & Antagonists, for Vampire: The Masquerade’s Mind’s Eye Theatre.

She co-authored a modern circus, Circus of Night with Neil Gaiman (pending production), and once played a small but pivotal role on the TV series Buffy: The Vampire Slayer.

She's a graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts and the University of Mary Washington.

X: x.com/jenfurlong6

TikTok: tiktok.com/@jenwritesvampirebooks

William LJ Galaini

Traci Hunter Abramson

Bill Blume

Alex R. Crawford

Paige Edwards

J.S. Furlong

William LJ Galaini

Steve Giegerich

Chandra Gore

Jeffrey James Higgins

Jeffrey James Higgins is a retired supervisory special agent who writes thrillers and short stories.

He has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. Jeffrey is a #1 Amazon bestselling author and won the PenCraft Award for Best Fiction Book of 2021.

David Keener

Wendy Latella

Mike Maggio

Mike Maggio's publication credits include fiction, poetry, travel, and reviews in many local, national, and international publications.

His fiction publications include The Wizard and the White House, The Appointment, and Letters from Inside. His latest poetry collection, Let’s Call It Paradise, won the International Book Award for Contemporary Poetry in 2024.

Website: mikemaggio.net

Steve Giegerich

Chandra Gore

Jeffrey James Higgins

David Keener

Wendy Latella

Mike Maggio

S.C. Megale

S.C. Megale is an award-winning author first traditionally published at the age of twenty-three by St. Martin's Press.

Writing across multiple genres -- science fiction, fantasy, and young adult chief among them -- Megale specializes in creating high-emotion stories set in unforgettable worlds.

Megale is a IPPY Award gold medalist and is agented by Jessica Sinsheimer.

Books at the library
Website: scmegale.com

Tom Milani

James Noll

James Noll has worked as a sandwich maker, a yogurt dispenser, a daycare provider, a video store clerk, a summer camp counselor, a waiter, a prep cook, a line cook, a security guard, a bartender, a librarian, and a teacher.

Somewhere in there he played drums in punk rock bands, recorded several albums, and wrote dozens of short stories and a handful of novels.

Rick Pullen

Thriller novelist Rick Pullen's first novel, Naked Ambition, was an Amazon bestseller, followed by its sequel, Naked Truth (Silver Falchion Award runner up) and a standalone, The Apprentice.

He writes a monthly column for CrimeReads.com and is a contributing writer to The Big Thrill magazine. He is a retired magazine editor and former investigative reporter. His newsletter, Idol Talk, includes inside dope on your favorite mystery/thriller/crime authors.

Elizabeth Spencer Spragins

Elizabeth Spencer Spragins has written for more than a hundred journals and anthologies in eleven countries.

She is the author of three original poetry collections: “Waltzing with Water” and “With No Bridle for the Breeze” (Shanti Arts Publishing) and “The Language of Bones” (Kelsay Books).

S.C. Megale

Tom Milani

James Noll

Rick Pullen

Elizabeth Spencer Spragins

Meredith R. Stoddard

Meredith R. Stoddard writes folklore-inspired fiction. She studied literature and folklore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before working as a corporate trainer and instructional designer.

Her love of storytelling is inspired by years spent listening to stories at her grandmother’s kitchen table. She is also a freelance editor and proofreader. Her latest novel, Tar Heel Pie, will be released in September.

Ksenya Swinton

Tara Taffera

Tracy Wainwright

Sarah Warburton

Sarah Warburton lives in Southwest Virginia. Her work has appeared in the Southern Arts Journal, Embark Literary Magazine, and Oyster River Pages.

Her books include You Can Never Tell and Once Two Sister -- a Publishers Weekly pick of the week, a Crimereads recommended debut, and a PopSugar featured title.

Steve Watkins

Steve Watkins' fifteen published books have sold more than two million copies.

He has won a Golden Kite Award for Young Adult Fiction from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, a Pushcart Prize, the Virginia College Stores Book Award, and numerous other honors.

He is a retired college professor, a recovering yoga teacher, and co-editor of the free, monthly, online Pie & Chai Magazine.

Books at the library
Author Website: stevewatkinsbooks.com
Pie & Chai Website: pieandchaimagazine.com

Meredith Stoddard

Ksenya Swinton

Tara Taffera

Tracy Wainwright

Sarah Warburton

Steve Watkins

Linda J. White

Linda J. White, a former assistant editorial page editor of The Free Lance-Star, is the author of twelve mystery/suspense novels.

Her late husband was a video producer at the FBI Academy. Linda is both traditionally published and an indie author. She currently lives in Yorktown, near three of her five grandchildren.

Ellie Whitney

Martin Wilsey

Martin Wilsey's first novel, Still Falling, was published during his career as a research scientist for a government-funded think tank.

Now a full-time science fiction author, Wilsey still uses his research and whiteboard skills to keep the books flowing. He likes to put the science back into science fiction. Wilsey is also the founder and CEO of Tannhäuser Press, a small press and collaborative environment that was explicitly created by writers for writers.

Website: martinwilsey.com
Blog: wilseymc.blogspot.com
Square: martin-wilsey.square.site
LinkTree: linktr.ee/wilsey

Stacy Woodson

Stacy Woodson is a U.S. Army veteran, and memories of her time in the military are often a source of inspiration for her stories. She made her crime fiction debut in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine's “Department of First Stories” and won the 2018 Readers Award (only the second time in the award’s history that a debut took first place).

Since her debut, she has placed stories in several publications, with two winning the Derringer Award (she’s a four-time nominee). Her short fiction has also been nominated for a Thriller Award and a Macavity Award, selected for The Best Mystery Stories of the Year, and adapted for animation.

When she's not writing, she teaches classes on short fiction at Outliers Writing University and works as background talent for television and film. Past projects include Showtime’s Homeland, Amazon’s Jack Ryan, AMC’s The Walking Dead: World Beyond, and Wonder Woman 1984.

Website: stacywoodson.com
Facebook: facebook.com/SBWoodson

Linda J. White

Ellie Whitney

Martin Wilsey

Stacy Woodson

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Save the date!

When: Saturday, November 9, 2024
8:45 AM-4:30 PM

Where: Germanna Community College Fredericksburg Area Campus, Workforce and Technology Center

Thank you to Platinum Sponsor Germanna Community College for supporting the 2024 Rappahannock Writers’ Conference.

Other Sponsors:

Jump to...

How to Register

Registration is open.

Important Notes about Registration

Friday Night Workshops

Friday, November 8, 6:00-8:00 PM at Howell Branch

Schedule of Workshops

Details on Friday Night Workshops

Schedule for the Day of Conference

Keynote Speaker

Morning Keynote (9:00-9:45 AM)

Brave Story Medicine™: Words that Change the World

Laura Di Franco, author and CEO of Brave Healer Productions

Class Sessions 1

9:55-10:45 AM

Class Sessions 2

10:55-11:45 AM

Keynote Speaker

Midday Keynote (1:00-1:45 PM)

Dare to Dream

John Gilstrap, New York Times Bestselling Author

Class Sessions 3

2:35-3:25 PM

Class Sessions 4

3:35-4:15 PM

Speaker Bios & Contact Information

About Us

Support Us

Help

News

Save the date!

When: Saturday, November 9, 2024 8:45 AM-4:30 PM

Where: Germanna Community College Fredericksburg Area Campus, Workforce and Technology Center

Thank you to Platinum Sponsor Germanna Community College for supporting the 2024 Rappahannock Writers’ Conference.

Other Sponsors:

Jump to...

How to Register

Registration is open.

Important Notes about Registration

Friday Night Workshops

Friday, November 8, 6:00-8:00 PM at Howell Branch

Schedule of Workshops

Details on Friday Night Workshops

Schedule for the Day of Conference

Keynote Speaker

Morning Keynote (9:00-9:45 AM)

Brave Story Medicine™: Words that Change the World

Laura Di Franco, author and CEO of Brave Healer Productions

Class Sessions 1

9:55-10:45 AM

Class Sessions 2

10:55-11:45 AM

Keynote Speaker

Midday Keynote (1:00-1:45 PM)

Dare to Dream

John Gilstrap, New York Times Bestselling Author

Class Sessions 3

2:35-3:25 PM

Class Sessions 4

3:35-4:15 PM

Speaker Bios & Contact Information

When: Saturday, November 9, 2024
8:45 AM-4:30 PM