WriteHive Annual Conference Schedule
Panels & Presentations
Below is a schedule of all panels and presentations during the Conference. Click on the date to see the day’s events. ALL TIMES ARE IN EDT. To see how this translates to your time zone, we suggest using a time and date converter, such as this one.
You may also RSVP for desired panels and presentations on the private WriteHive Conference Discord, which will send you alerts so you don’t miss a session. If you don’t know if you have notifications on, not to worry! This link will show you all the ins and outs of Discord notifications.
Looking for workshops such as 1st Page Critiques, Query Critiques, and Live Pitches? The schedule as well as relevant information can be found on our Workshops page.
3:30 - 04:00 PM
Opening Speech & Announcements
Join WriteHive staff in kicking off the 3rd Annual WriteHive Conference
4:00 - 05:30 PM
Nom Nom Nom: The Role of Food in Worldbuilding
Calling all foodies this panel is just for you! Of course, food is something we savor and enjoy, but it can also tell a story. What does that mean? It can define a place, as well as unveil someone’s character. Grab a snack and don’t miss this delicious discussion with the list of ingredients for the perfect recipe, featuring:
Bharat Krishnan
Claudie Arseneault
Stefanie Contreras
Alechia Dow
Tracy Badua
4:00 - 05:30 PM
How to Become a Literary Agent
If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a literary agent but don’t know how to get started, do not miss this panel! We’ve gathered esteemed agents to share their knowledge, expertise, and experience in this line of work, and maybe they’ll answer some of your burning questions and inspire you to take that next step.
Hannah VanVels Ausbury
Maria Vicente
Sandra Proudman
5:00 - 06:30 PM
How to Break into Web Comic Platforms
Are you a writer and/or artist looking to break out into web comics and be the next big sensation? There might be an overwhelming amount of moving parts to getting started, so it’s important to know what to tackle first and how to proceed from there. Don’t miss this panel featuring:
Junepurrr
Rachanee Lumayno
6:00 - 07:30 PM
How LGBTQ+ Rep Has Changed Fiction
The LGBTQ+ community has come a long way and continues to grow every day, along with its representation in fiction. Let’s go back in time to the archives and explore where LGBTQ+ has been, where it is now, and forecast where it’s going. In this session, we dive into this, as well as discuss helpful and harmful examples to be aware of:
Esme Symes-Smith
Kalynn Bayron
Christen Randall
Lara Ameen
6:30 - 08:00 PM
Newsletter 101: The Basics
Here’s another beneficial tool to add to your marketing belt - the newsletter. There’s a lot you can do to be a newsletter guru, but what are the first basic steps you need to start your journey? Find out in this panel discussion, covering topics from what to include, frequency, branding tactics, and much more!
K. J. Harrowick
Tiffany Christina Lewis
Adam Gaffen
Tyler Wittkofsky
AJ Super
7:00 - 08:30 PM
Seasons in Worldbuilding
It’s true seasons come and go, but they play an integral role in your worldbuilding. What does this look like and how can you transform a season, or two, into interesting characters in the story? Join this panel for an in depth discussion tying into geography, culture, and more.
Joseph S Samaniego
P. L. Tavormina
Liam Quane
Matthew Phillion
Megan Bontrager
7:00 - 08:30 PM
When and How to Go Wide
Are you ready to go wide? Is it time? Or do you still need more time? It can be tricky to determine the best opening for you to take the next step of your author journey to go wide. Before you take the leap of faith, make sure you evaluate and consider everything you need. Join our panel of speakers, who provide you guidance:
M.L. Eaden
R.L. Parker
Tao Wong
Zelda Knight
8:00 - 09:30 PM
Publishing Short Stories
Maybe keeping your stories short and sweet is more your style, or you want to flesh out your short story writing skills! If you enjoy writing short stories and/or entering the world of anthologies, check out this panel discussion with like-minded fellow writers.
Chyina Powell
Lara Ameen
Lauren Davila
9:00 - 10:30 PM
Writer's Quicksand: Analysis Paralysis
We don’t know which is worse . . . sleep paralysis or analysis paralysis. You be the judge. In this panel discussion, we focus on analysis paralysis when it comes to writing, what it is, when it happens, and how you can combat it so you can overcome it.
Rosiee Thor
Matthew Phillion
Finnian Burnett
Lora Beth Johnson
G Clatworthy (Gemma)
10:00 - 11:30 PM
Facing Criticism
Facing criticism is a hard truth to accept. Whether constructive or unconstructive, not everyone has thick skin to handle it perfectly every time. And that’s okay. But there are ways we can brace ourselves to have these hard conversations about our work. Join this panel discussion to get valuable insights on what you can do to face criticism:
EA Mylonas
Moniza Hossain
Ananya Devarajan
KD Edwards
Gwendolyn Nix
11:00 PM - 12:30 AM
Making Characters and Conflict with the Dungeons & Dragons Alignment System
Many writers have played Dungeons and Dragons over the years. Can that experience be used to help with creating characters and conflict within your orginal stories? Learn how to use the alignment system to plot your next work in progress with author Andy Dibble.
7:00 - 08:30 AM
Running a Literary Magazine
Have you ever considered starting your own literary magazine? It sounds like it could be fun! If you’re currently on this path or thinking about venturing, make a pit stop in this panel discussion to get more roadmaps, tools, and resources to get you to your destination:
Lauren Davila
Nicole Zelniker
Addie Tsai
Diamond Braxton
8:00 - 09:30 AM
How to Make the Most of Live Events as an Author
It’s time to hit the road! As more and more events return to live venues, are you going to post up at writers’ conferences and events? It may sound simple to set up shop, but there’s more involved than you may think. Get some beneficial insights from our panel of speakers that might help make your first event a success!
MB Dalto
Justine Manzano
Holly Ash
Wendy Simpson
Jacob Devlin
9:00 - 10:30 AM
AI Generated Content and Publishing
Well, AI is officially here and on the rise. By now, you might have heard of several tools that utilize AI (ahem, ChatGPT). You may be wondering if it’s something you should rope into your skills belt. So, how does AI impact the writing and publishing landscape? Is it friend or foe? Join this session to get valuable insights from our panelists:
EA Mylonas
York Campbell
Andy Dibble
L. Marie Wood
9:00 - 10:30 AM
Querying and R&R Tips
Querying can be a torturous process for writers, and it's felt especially so post-pandemic. Learn tips from an agented author on querying as well as how to handle revise and resubmit requests.
Laura Galán-Wells
Speaker
10:00 - 11:30 AM
Pow! Writing Superhero Fiction
Are you calling for help to boost your writing powers so that they pack a punch?! There’s no need to fear! Amazing speakers are here! Dive into the action of this panel discussion to learn the best strategies from tactful masterminds:
Matthew Phillion
Cristina Jurado
Liam Quane
Patrick Dugan
Stefanie Contreras
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Using Web Serial Story Platforms to Develop Your Writing
Serializing can be a fun and challenging way to deliver your story to readers. It can also be an amazing way to gain an audience. Learn more from our panelists about which serial platforms are ideal, which to avoid, and how to use them to highlight your story:
M.L. Eaden
MB Dalto
M.L. Eaden
Speaker
MB Dalto
Speaker
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Synopses Suck: How to Write Them
Yes, we know, but it’s a necessary foe in an author’s publishing process. If you feel a little lost on how to write a strong synopsis that will entice whoever reads it, we got you! Tune into this session and learn about the process, structure, techniques, and more.
E.M. Anderson
Hannah Kates
Lauren Davila
Hannah VanVels Ausbury
12:00 - 01:30 PM
A Day in the Life of Self-Care
We all know self-care is important and that we should invest more time into it. But what is it and what does it look like for you? With everything we do in only 24 hours of a day, allocating time to take care of ourselves sometimes falls on the back burner - which leads to burn out! If you need fresh ideas on integrating new ways of self-care into your routine, don’t miss this panel featuring:
C.H. Hung
Lucy A. McLaren
Chyina Powell
Kalyn Josephson
Tyler Wittkofsky
12:00 - 01:30 PM
How to Make a Graphic Novel
You’ve got a stroke of genius idea for a graphic novel with your pen/pencil/stylus and paper/screen ready! What’s next? What other things do you need to have in your toolbox? In this panel discussion, find out what you can do to set yourself up for success, featuring:
George Jreije
Joaquin Gil
Junepurrr
Wilson Guillaume
Stephanie Cooke
2:00 - 03:30 PM
Killing with Impact: Making Character Deaths Meaningful
"Kill’em with kindness, but kill’em with impact. Make these characters’ deaths count! You’ve created and developed these wonderful characters, but what do you do when your story has to say goodbye to them? Get some tips and advice on how to accomplish this and not let your characters die in vain. Featuring:
MB Dalto McCarthy
Daphne Strasert
Marisa Noelle
Antoine Bandele
L. Marie Wood
3:00 - 04:30 PM
Marginalized Authors and the Found Family Trope
The found family trope is meaningful to readers and writers alike, and it resonates particularly with those from maginalized communities. Tune into this panel discussion, featuring speakers who will gladly share their thoughts and insights on this beloved trope:
Chelsea Lockhart
Jessica Lewis
George Jreije
Laura Galán-Wells
Noreen Mughees
RM Virtues
4:00 - 05:30 PM
How to Self-Edit Like a Developmental Editor
Self-editing can feel daunting and overwhelming no matter how many years of experience you have. In this presentation, Editor Michelle Rascon gives techniques for how to edit your own work the way a developmental editor would. Learn what to look for, how to organize, and how to tackle the big edits of your next novel.
4:00 - 05:30 PM
The Value of Fanfiction
Some of us don’t know how we would have made it through adolescence, teen years, and young adult life without fanfiction. It may have a stigma, but we’re here to break it and discuss how it proves to be valuable and beneficial for writers. What do you need to know about the world of fanfiction writing? Find out in this session, featuring:
Moniza Hossain
Quillful
Rosiee Thor
Justine Manzano
XM Moon
6:00 - 07:30 PM
Debate: Plotter vs. Pantser
Ah, the age-old question: are you a plotter or a panster? Or maybe you’re a plantser, a combination of both? Let’s have some fun with one of WriteHive’s new conference sessions — the debate! Are you ready to defend your team’s honor? Who will be victorious?
Jessica Lewis / Plotter
Hannah Kates / Plotter
Tracy Badua / Plotter
Shameez Patel Papathanasiou / Pantser
Rachanee Lumayno / Pantser
Joel Hamilton / Pantser
7:00 - 08:30 PM
How to Subvert Tropes
There’s no denying that we love our favorite tropes — admit it! Sure, we gravitate to certain tropes in what we read, but does it ever cross the line into cliche? Maybe there’s tactful methods to subvert tropes to avoid becoming problematic. What can you do in your writing? Find out in this panel discussion, featuring:
C.H. Hung
Allegra Pescatore
Tatiana Obey
Linsey Miller
Jill Tew
8:00 - 09:30 PM
What Did You Say? Celebrating Multi-Lingual SFF
If you’re writing SFF featuring several languages and multilingual characters, hop into this panel discussion! There are various considerations for you to think about when constructing your story. What are they? Our panel of esteemed speakers are here to share their insights with you:
Cristina Jurado
Darío Aguilar Peregrina
Joaquin Gil
Amena Jamali
R.M. Virtues
9:00 - 10:30 PM
The Rules of Romance: A Genre Masterclass
We love a good romance, and we also love making readers fall in love with the characters falling in love. But love is complex, love is complicated, and it doesn’t come in a one-size-fits-all. How can you explore the world of romance and make your story come to life? Don’t miss this kiss and tell session, featuring:
RJ Joseph
Zelda Knight
Ananya Devarajan
Noreen Mughees
Jade Hernandez (Aleera Anaya Ceres)
10:00 - 11:30 PM
Outline Essentials
Outlining your story can be a daunting task. Learn the important steps to a good outline, as well as how to incorporate your character's internal arc with the external plot with:
Tiffany Christina Lewis
Kira Anderson
11:00 PM - 12:30 AM
Using Kickstarter to Raise Funds and Market
Kickstarters can be a useful fundraising tool for writers, especially for indie authors. Writing costs can add up between book covers, editing, and marketing. Learn how to use this tool to its full potential for both fundraising and marketing.
8:00 - 09:30 AM
Experimenting with Sci-fi: A Genre Masterclass
Calling all science fiction writers! Can writing sci-fi be broken down into a science? Let’s find out! Join this masterclass to learn the components and complex formulas to write the best sci-fi you can and see which methods work for your story. Featuring:
EA Mylonas
Alechia Dow
Tim Baughman Jr
A.P. Hawkins
Jonathan Kincade
9:00 - 10:30 AM
Debate: Portal Fantasy vs. Second World
Introducing a new WriteHive Conference session format — the debate! When it comes to the Fantasy genre, where does your heart reside: Portal or Second World? Get ready to engage in this debate with your team representatives:
K. J. Harrowick / Second World
Tatiana Obey / Second World
Keshe Chow / Second World
E.B. Hunter / Portal
Kristin Jacques / Portal
Marisa Noelle / Portal
10:00 - 11:30 AM
Book Banning and Censorship
It’s a difficult topic to fathom, but it’s an important conversation to discuss. In the last year or so, there has been a skyrocketing increase of titles being added to the banned book list. Many stories are eliminated from the opportunity to reach its targeted audiences, and that has far-reaching impacts. Let’s come together to learn what is happening and what we can do as a community. This panel includes:
Akiva Hoffman
Kristin Jacques
RJ Joseph
Keshe Chow
10:00 - 11:30 AM
Power and Positionality: Writing Our Bodies, Ourselves
Humans may feel out of control of our bodies sometimes. In healthcare, we may feel doctors tell us to take medicine we don’t want to take or have surgeries we don’t feel we need. In life, we face aging, illnesses, injuries, assault, trauma, pregnancy, abortion, joy, chronic pain, deep belly laughter.
Our bodies tell stories about our lives, and they allow other people to tell stories about us. People often make judgements about us by the things our bodies have been through. They have sometimes controlled our narratives by causing us pain.
By diving deeply into the scars, traumas, joys, and pain of our physical bodies, we can take back the power from people who have told their own stories about our bodies. This generative workshop will guide participants through embracing one’s own body through writing by discussing physicality, the visceral reaction a reader can have to sensory imagery, and guided discussions about body-centered short fiction and poetry.
Finnian Burnett
Panelist
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Breadcrumbs in Fiction: Building a Mystery
We all love a great mystery, and the breadcrumbs are the key to unfolding it in the most successful way. Do you know the best method to lead your readers on the right path of crumbs while simultaneously leading them to a red herring? If you want to learn how to spice up your stories, make sure you grab your notepad and do some detective work with this panel discussion, featuring:
Megan Bontrager
KD Edwards
Kasey Rogers
Hien Nguyen
12:00 - 01:30 PM
Selling Books on TikTok
Still one of the leading — if not THE leading — social media platforms, TikTok continues to exhibit its staying power. In addition, #BookTok is an ever-growing community, and you might consider being part of it! How can you establish yourself and utilize TikTok for your books? Get ready to take some notes in this session, featuring:
Joseph S Samaniego
Marisa Noelle
Nicole Zelniker
Quillful
R.L. Parker
12:30 - 02:00 PM
Using Fiction Strategies in Writing Memoirs
Sharing your story with the world through memoirs can be difficult. How do you make it both honest and compelling? In this presentation, learn how to use fiction strategies to write a memorable memoir.
1:00 - 02:30 PM
Indie Marketing: Do's and Dont's
No two marketing strategies and tactics are the same, but there are some basic foundational things you can do to be successful. What does that entail and how can you utilize various tools? Here are some do’s and don’ts that might help build your robust, yet manageable, indie marketing strategy.
Tao Wong
Chelsea Lockhart
Wilson Guillaume
Sara-Jayne Slack
2:00 - 03:30 PM
Finding Your Voice (Featuring the Afronauts Podcast)
The writing community has so much to say and so many stories to tell, but how can writers develop their unique voices? This industry can wear writers down, but that doesn't make your voice less important. Every day is another step closer to finding your voice and making it shine. Join the Afronauts Podcast members to learn what it means to define voice and what you can practice to find it:
Jill Tew
Chelsea Gayden
Beatrice Iker
3:00 - 04:30 PM
Believable Technology in Fiction
Technology can be fickle in real life, so how do you make it more believable in your writing? You probably want the right nuts and bolts for a well-oiled work of fiction. So, here is an esteemed panel of speakers who can provide you the schematics of successful technology:
Marina K Marteens
Alex Smith
Claire Winn
Joaquin Gil
Patrick Dugan
4:00 - 05:30 PM
Reading for Business vs. Reading for Pleasure
Quick question — how is your TBR doing? Is it filled with books for business or for pleasure — or maybe both? Either way, you know you need to get through all of your reading one day. So, what are the definitions of business vs. pleasure and how do they overlap? Find out in this panel discussion, featuring:
Chelsea Lockhart
J.R. Hart
Zelda Knight
Gwendolyn Nix
M.L. Eaden
4:00 - 05:30 PM
How to Nail a Plot Twist Like a Boss
We all want that moment when readers gasp loudly when they reach the story’s plot twist! How can you manifest that reaction without falling into traps or falling flat? Don’t miss this panel of esteemed speakers, who are ready to provide you with valuable knowledge:
Kalynn Bayron
Kristin Jacques
E.M. Anderson
Maria Tureaud
Shameez Patel Papathanasiou
5:00 - 06:30 PM
Faith and Fantasy: An Exploration of Religion in SFF
Faith is an important aspect in many lives, and that influence can shape our fiction. It can shape the message, the characters, and so much more. There are best practices and techniques to utilize while also avoiding making harmful mistakes when including religion within your SFF stories. Find out from our panel of speakers, including:
RM Virtues
Chyina Powell
Amena Jamali
Andy Dibble
Akiva Hoffman
6:00 - 07:30 PM
Finding Your People: Identifying Your Subgenre
You wrote a book, but some categories like fantasy or spectulative are so broad, it can be difficult to know how to effectively market. A subgenre can help you focus your marketing and find your target readers. Our panelists would be glad to help provide a path for you with their knowledge and expertise:
Sara Hashem
Stephen Indrisano
Esme Symes-Smith
Sean Morrissey Carroll
Jesse Pohlman
7:30 - 08:00 PM
Closing Announcements
Come hang out with the WriteHive team as we close out the conference! Announcements include the winner of the Sponsored Writer Award and the theme for our next anthology!
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