2023 FALL PRESENTATIONS

Presentations for the 16th Annual Rochester Writers’ Conference

Fiction, Non Fiction, and Business Topics presented as Lectures, Workshops, and Panel Discussions. Featuring Michigan Authors, Speakers, Agents, and Educators.

  • Saturday | October 28, 2023 | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Held in the Oakland Center at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan

Keynote Address – The Butterfly Garden – Presented by Chip and Lisa St. Clair

Literature saved him. Love transformed him.

With his beginnings shrouded in mystery, Chip believed he was the only son of David St. Clair, a troubled Vietnam War veteran, and Leslie, a wife and mother who used alcohol to cope with David’s maniacal behavior.

As a young boy, Chip was preoccupied with a mysterious black trunk he was warned never to touch. To cope with the trauma of his childhood, Chip found distraction, solitude, and strength through his imagination after discovering the power of the written word.

For young Chip, Dickens, Dumas, Twain, and Hemingway offered brief respite into a world more beautiful than his own. Yet even these great works of literature weren’t enough to keep his soul from being torn apart by his father. As a teenager, darkness begins to consume Chip, forcing him into a grim solitude; a weary, bleak existence reflected in his macabre etchings, poetry, and oil paintings. Yet when he crossed paths with Lisa, a determined sixteen-year-old wise beyond her years, his life took a dramatic twist. Her unwavering love pulled him from the brink of darkness and provided a foundation of strength beyond anything he had ever known—a strength he relied on when he learned at 23 years old that his father was an escaped child killer who had been the run for nearly 30 years—one of America’s most wanted.

With the love and support of Lisa—and his foundation in the expressive arts, Chip embarked on the ultimate journey: to uncover the truth about his past and create a future of hope and happiness.

The Blurb, The Logline, The Tagline, Oh My!

What is a blurb? A logline? A tagline? These three components comprise the first step in marketing a novel. In this presentation, you will be introduced to several types of blurbs for fiction and non-fiction novels, understand the format and purpose of a logline, and discover the uniqueness of a tagline. The presentation is for an author at any writing or publication level.

  • Takeaways: Understanding several types of blurbs, logline, and tagline.
  • Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
  • Presenter: Brenda Hasse

You Can Write a Novel in 30 Days!

Writing a novel takes dedication. In only 4 weeks (plus 2 days) you can have your first draft finished. Learn to prepare for the challenge, change your habits, and find time to complete your manuscript. As a bonus, learn how to create your story bible as you write for an easy reference when you begin the editing process. This presentation is open to everyone, beginning and experienced authors.

  • Takeaways: The importance of perseverance, meeting deadlines, keeping your butt in the chair and your fingers cruising the keyboard.
  • Audience: Fiction writers
  • Presenter: Terry Hojnacki

Deep, Deep, Deeper POV (Point Of View)

Learning to write in such a way that the reader feels so close to the characters than she/he feels like the read is an experience versus a telling. Learn the hints and tips to take your writing to the next level. While this primarily is for fiction authors, there are plenty of tips to help the nonfiction author as well.

  • Takeaways: Learning to appreciate and understand this trend in writing.
  • Audience: Fiction writers
  • Presenter: Linda S. Glaz

Small Press Publishing, Is it Right for You?

Small press publishers are often overlooked in conversations around paths to publication. Yet there are many advantages to working with a small press, such as potentially including more creative control over the publishing process.

Such presses typically produce fewer than fifty books each year, and yet many are open to submissions directly from writers, and offer a direct pipeline to readers of similar authors (i.e. many of these small presses excel in marketing niche genres).

But where do you find such publishers? And once you do, if you are considering working with a small press, it is important to do your research and choose a publisher that is a good fit for your work and your goals.

This session will cover:

  • What to expect in the publishing process
  • How to build relationships with small- to mid-sized publishers
  • The key provisions to look for in a publishing contract
  • Tips for signing a contract with a small- to mid-sized publisher

You will also learn about the benefits and challenges of working with a small- to mid-sized publisher, and hear examples of some small presses in our region who are actively looking for submissions, and books they have recently published. This session is ideal for writers of all levels of experience, from beginners to seasoned professionals.

  • Takeaways: Alternate options to self publishing or trying to get a literary agent.
  • Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
  • Presenter: Jennifer Baum

Writing as a Ghost: Storytelling Through Another’s Voice

Ghostwriting is a valuable yet often overlooked avenue for writers seeking a stable income. It involves penning content on behalf of others, letting their name take the limelight while you earn behind the scenes. The rub? Your skill is central, not your byline. Ghostwriting spans genres, from novels to business content, offering varied opportunities. For those willing to set ego aside, it’s a chance to hone craft, learn diverse subjects, and secure financial stability. Dive into this clandestine world, and discover a fulfilling, lucrative path in the vast writing landscape.

  • Takeaways: Lucrative Opportunity, Skill Over Fame, Diverse Range, Continuous Learning, Fulfillment in Anonymity.
  • Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
  • Presenter: Chip and Lisa St. Clair

First Page Critiques

At check-in, authors may submit a print copy of the first page of their short story, memoir, or novel (maximum of 250 words). During the critique workshop, pages selected randomly from all of the submissions collected will be read aloud anonymously to the audience. A short peer review will be conducted to show the strengths and weaknesses of the first page. This presentation is open to all. Whether an author is sharing work or sharing opinions, everyone can gain insight on the importance of the first page. And more importantly, did the first page grab the readers’ attention?

  • Takeaways: The importance of hooking your reader on the first page and the benefits of beta readers and peer critiques.
  • Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
  • Presenter: Terry Hojnacki

Why You Should Write a Memoir

Memoir is a perennially popular genre because people are innately curious about other people’s lives, about their struggles as well as their successes, their joys and their pains. Writing memoir is a gift, both to readers and to yourself. Readers can find themselves reflected in your work, see themselves anew through your eyes. They can feel inspired by what you have to say and how you uniquely say it. They can even be transformed. And as a writer of memoir, you too will find yourself changed by the theme you’ve chosen to examine, or by the time in your life you find yourself exploring in your memoir. All writing takes us on a journey, and memoir writing is the most personal journey of all. This session is for anyone who feels they have life stories to tell.

  • Takeaways: Memoir writing is transformative and important.
  • Audience: Nonfiction writers
  • Presenter: Lev Raphael

Do you Really Need a Literary Agent?

Do you really need a literary agent? In this talk, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of having literary representation from a nineteen year industry professional. What is the agent’s role? What about self-publishing? From commission to contracts, we’ll discuss it all: the good, the bad, and the ugly. This talk is for anyone considering literary representation.

  • Takeaways: Do you need a literary agent to have a successful career as a writer?
  • Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
  • Presenter: Carrie Howland

Marketing Your Book on LinkedIn

Sure, you might be ON LinkedIn, but are you fully leveraging the world’s largest professional network to market your expertise as an author? Attend this session as Brenda reviews her “Book Marketing – LinkedIn Checklist” and provides you easy ways to promote you and your book through LinkedIn. Bring your laptop or phone (with the LinkedIn app installed) for hands-on instruction. Attendees should have a LinkedIn account and know their password. It is not a LinkedIn 101 session.

  • Takeaways: Learn how to market yourself and your book through your LinkedIn profile, and access LinkedIn’s newest features to market your book.
  • Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
  • Panelists: Benda Meller

Literary Agent Panel

Meet our attending literary agents. Each agent will introduce themselves, discuss the genres they work with, and offer tips for pitching. Moderated with Q&A.

  • Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
  • Panelists: Carrie Howland and Linda S. Glaz

Indie Published Romance Writers’ Panel

Indie Published (self-published) authors will discuss independent publishing of romance novels. Moderated with Q&A. Non-romance writers are welcome to attend to learn about indie publishing, but the focus will be on publishing romance novels.

  • Audience: Fiction writers
  • Panelists: Sabrina Wagner, Brenda Hasse, and Sylvia Hubbard

Serial Writing with a focus on Kindle Vella

Dive into the dynamic world of Serial & Episodic Writing, tailored for Kindle Vella enthusiasts. This presentation will guide budding authors through the nuances of structuring compelling episodic tales, ensuring your stories captivate readers from episode one. Discover savvy marketing strategies, from mastering tags to pinpointing popular categories, to boost your story’s visibility. Furthermore, we’ll share the blueprint for maintaining consistency in both content and promotion, amplifying your reads, likes, follows, shares, and faves. Unfold your episodic writing journey with us, and let the Internet be your stage. A love for storytelling will benefit all attendees.

  • Takeaways: Participants will be introduced to Serial Writing with a focus on Amazon Kindle Vella episodic storytelling platform.
  • Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
  • Presenter: Sylvia Hubbard

One Registration to attend the 2023 Fall Rochester Writers’ Conference. Includes keynote, breakout sessions, coffee, snacks, lunch, and parking. Check-in will begin at 9:00 a.m. with the first session 10:00 a.m. The conference will end by 5:00 p.m.

>> Full Schedule at a Glance <<

Attendees may bring a fully charged laptop or tablet. Although not necessary, a computer will enhance the experience with a hands-on feel. Use the hashtag: #RochesterWriters before, during and after the event in your posts, likes, and tweets.

Fresh hot coffee and tea available throughout the day. Light breakfast snacks and a full lunch included with registration. Please contact us if you have special dietary concerns. A charging station will be available for mobile devices in the registration area.

Attendees will be able to choose one presentation per session time at the conference. Schedule could change without notice – Rochester Writers reserves the right to add, subtract, or substitute any of the presentations and speakers. Thank you.

Please Note: All events take place in the Oakland Center of Oakland University (2200 N Squirrel Road, Rochester, MI 48309). Use parking lot 1 (P1) and walk East for the shortest distance into the Oakland Center. The Oakland Center is positioned between the parking lot and the Clock Tower. Look for Bright Yellow Signs. The Oakland Center is #13 on the Campus Map.