Presentations for the 18th Annual Rochester Writers’ Conference
Fiction, Non Fiction, Craft, and Business Topics presented as Lectures, Workshops, and Panel Discussions. Featuring Michigan Authors, Speakers, Agents, and Educators.
- Saturday | October 18, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Held in the Oakland Center at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan
Keynote Address – Mapping Your Author Path – Lynne Golodner
Lynne Golodner is the award-winning author of 12 books and hundreds of essays and articles. With an MFA in Poetry and a BA in journalism, she has lived and written in New York, Washington D.C., and Detroit, and now travels the world coaching writers and leading writing retreats. She is also a marketing entrepreneur (Your People LLC) and hybrid publisher (Scotia Road Books). Based in Huntington Woods, Lynne is the mother of four amazing young adults. www.LynneGolodner.com
Michigan author Lynne Golodner returns to keynote the 18th annual Rochester Writers’ Conference with her new novel, I Love You, Charlie Tanner. As a writing coach, marketing expert, and publisher, Ms. Golodner helps writers find their voice, improve their craft, get published, and build an audience. She spoke for Rochester Writers in 2015 and 2016, and we’re excited to welcome her back.
Mapping Your Author Path – Award-winning author Lynne Golodner will share insights from her long author journey, including why, after eight traditionally published books, she decided to start her own imprint and self-publish, along with how she’s found success with book marketing, the importance of establishing a niche in your author brand and how to understand the perilous publishing industry today and where it’s headed. In this talk, Lynne will share insights and inspirations about how people (including her) are revolutionizing the publishing world by doing things their own way and creating new and unique paths that not only sell books but build followings and inspire readers.
Literary Agent Panel
Our two literary agents come together for a panel discussion on the current literary landscape, submission tips, and what agents are looking for in new writers. This session will offer practical advice for authors looking to navigate the publishing world. Moderated by Lisa Howard, this panel includes a Q&A session for attendees.
- Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
- Panel Discussion: Carrie Howland, Linda S. Glaz, and Moderated by Lisa Howard
Write Smarter, Stay Private: Self-Hosted AI for Indie Authors
This session introduces indie authors to the power of self-hosting AI writing tools using Ollama. Attendees will learn how to run ChatGPT-style models like Mistral or LLaMA 3 directly on their own computers—no subscriptions, no cloud required. The presentation covers installation, model selection, and practical author workflows for generating blurbs, outlines, metadata, and more. Some basic familiarity with using a computer terminal or command prompt is helpful but not required. Ideal for writers seeking privacy, affordability, and full control over their creative tools, this session offers a hands-on, future-ready approach to AI-assisted authorship. Some basic familiarity with using a computer terminal or command prompt is helpful but not required.
- Takeaways: Writers can run AI tools like ChatGPT on their computer without internet or subscriptions using Ollama to self-host models like Mistral, LLaMA 3, and Gemma. This ensures privacy, creative control, and cost-effective scalability for authors, requiring only basic app installation and simple commands.
- Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
- Lecture: Donovan M. Neal
The Independent Middle-Grade Author – From Inspiration to Distribution
The Independent Middle-Grade Author – Inspiration, conception, completion, and distribution of independent middle-grade fiction: David will cover each step in the writing process starting with the initial idea. He will discuss where ideas come from, hooking the reader, story elements, roller coaster plots, exploring your senses, exceeding the national average and how to rock your school visits. There should be something for everybody.
- Takeaways: Hooking the reader, story elements, roller coaster plots, exploring your senses, exceeding the national average and how to rock your school visits.
- Audience: Primarily fiction writers
- Lecture: David Stricklen
Flash Your Muse: Your P.A.T.H to Beating Writer’s Block
Flash Your Muse: Your P.A.T.H. to Beating Writer’s Block is an engaging workshop that shows writers how to overcome creative slumps using prompts, deadlines, community, and smart tools — including AI — to spark ideas and finish projects. Drawing from her own experience of turning flash fiction into published books, Allison Spooner shares actionable strategies to jump start creativity, build consistency, and find support. Attendees will leave with a repeatable framework to conquer blocks, generate new story ideas, and keep writing with confidence.
- Takeaways: You don’t have to wait for the muse to strike. You can follow my PATH and find inspiration to create more, more reliably.
- Audience: Fiction writers
- Workshop: Allison Spooner
Author Branding 101: Build a Lasting Impression
This presentation equips authors with practical strategies to build a clear, consistent, and memorable brand that resonates with readers. By exploring the four pillars of branding—voice, visual identity, values, and audience—it shows how writers can create a recognizable presence across books, websites, and social media. Attendees will learn to define their brand words, craft a mission statement, and implement tools that make them stand out in a crowded market. Designed for both emerging and established writers, this session provides actionable steps to turn an author’s name into a powerful, lasting signature.
- Takeaways: Define a memorable author brand with voice, visuals, values, and audience connection, applied consistently across books, websites, and social media using brand words and a mission statement to stand out.
- Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
- Workshop: Sabrina Wagner
Writing to Capture and Engage Your Reader
In his presentation, Stan will share a trove of techniques you can use to emotionally and intellectually capture and engage your reader. With graphic illustrations Stan will demonstrate: (1) how your story’s moral premise can cogently integrate every aspect of your story; (2) the five critical ways to make your character relatable; (3) the six steps of a character’s transformation; (4) how applying Scene-Sequel will gives your characters depth; (5) how rhetorical tropes add mystery and intrigue; (6) and how AI can help you identify and describe fascinating characters. Will benefit both novice and experienced writers.
- Takeaways: Practical seat-of-the-pants writing practices and techniques
- Audience: Fiction writers
- Lecture: Dr. Stan Williams
Mining Your Life for Story
Learn how to find inspiration for writing, both nonfiction and fiction, from the people around you, the experiences you’ve had, the rooms of your home and more! In this workshop led by author and writing coach Lynne Golodner, participants will learn how to approach writing personal stories, when to use them just for family records or legacy-building, and when to consider publishing, and how to cultivate a steady stream of writing prompts from the details of your daily life. This course will engage writers in exercises to extract ideas from ordinary living.
- Takeaways: Find inspiration in your daily life, get unstuck, keep a running list of topics to write about, learn how to identify what is story-worthy, cultivating details by learning the powers of observation.
- Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
- Workshop: Lynne Golodner
First Page Critiques
Authors may submit a print copy of the first page of their short story, memoir, or novel (maximum 242 words) at conference check-in. During the critique workshop, pages selected randomly from all of the submissions will be read aloud anonymously to the audience. A short peer review will be conducted to see 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
- Workshop: Terry Hojnacki
Self-Published Indie Author Panel
From production to promotion, our panelists will share their experiences with self-publishing, offering insights into the challenges and rewards of going independent. This panel includes a Q&A session and discusses the ins and outs of indie publishing. Indie publishing, also known as self-publishing, is when an author takes full control of the publishing process, from production to promotion, without going through a traditional publisher.
- Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
- Panel Discussion: Donovan M. Neal, Allison Spooner, Sabrina Wagner, and Moderated by Terry Hojnacki
LinkedIn 101 for Authors
Unlock the potential of your LinkedIn presence to elevate your author business in this dynamic session. Learn to craft a compelling professional profile that serves as a powerful landing page, drawing in readers, publishers, and industry professionals while showcasing your unique author brand. Discover strategies to intentionally grow your network by connecting with readers, referral partners, peers, agents, and publishers to expand your influence. Master the art of engagement by sharing captivating content and thoughtful comments that highlight your expertise, build credibility, and drive business growth. This is designed for authors who do not yet have a LinkedIn profile, or who have one but they aren’t using it at all and they’re not sure where to get started.
- Takeaways: Optimize Your Profile, Grow Your Network Intentionally, and Engage to Build Your Business.
- Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
- Lecture: Brenda Meller
One Registration to attend the Rochester Writers’ Fall 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.
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 (312 Meadow Brook Rd, Auburn Hills, MI 48326). Use the parking lot (P1) and walk East for the shortest distance into the Oakland Center. Use the Interactive Map to zoom in and view parking and building information. The Oakland Center is positioned between the parking lot and the Clock Tower. Look for Bright Yellow Signs. The Oakland Center on this Campus Map (zoom in for a better view).
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