9:00 - 4:00 PM
"What's Working? Do More of That!"
with Bren McClain
Join critically acclaimed author Bren McClain's highly interactive Master Prose Class, designed to take your novel or short story or memoir to the next level. Bren's goal for each one of you is to leave even more pumped and eager to get back to the page.
This day-long session will follow a workshop format, where you will receive feedback on your work. Selection is competitive and open to writers of prose: fiction or nonfiction (no poetry). Guided questions will help identify what each person really likes about your work. We'll spend our morning with the feedback and the afternoon doing some revising or writing new words.
Bren will select 12 writers to join her for this master class.
To be considered, submit 1,000 words (preferably from the beginning of your manuscript and without your name appearing in the file: a numbering system will be applied) by February 14, 2025.
There is a non-refundable fee of $25. Please register through EventBrite
If selected, the fee is applicable to the class fee of $100.
Please submit files to carrolltonbookfest@gmail.com. Participants will be notified by March 2, 2024 and must submit a piece of work, up to 2,500 words, for distribution to the entire group. Submissions are required by March 16, 2025.
The Craft of Writing a Marketable Children's Book
With Lola Schaefer​
Join Lola M. Schaefer, author of more than 280 published children's books for a day devoted to studying the craft of writing a book for children.
From marketable idea through discussion and practice of development, pacing, dialogue, show, don't tell, plot, details, beginnings and endings, and that elusive read-again-quality, the day will be packed with hard work and laughter.
If you've been writing children's books, or you're new to this genre, join us to learn the nuances that will help your manuscript catch an editor's eye and heart.
Paths to Publication
With George Weinstein and Kim Conrey
With nearly 40 combined years of experience in the publishing industry, award-winning authors Kim Conrey and George Weinstein will discuss the ins and outs of the three paths to publication: traditional publishing, self-publishing, and hybrid publishing. They will offer a realistic preview of the challenges that each path poses as well as the rewards that can be earned by overcoming those obstacles.
Only interested in self-publishing or hybrid publishing and think the traditional route is a waste of time and a loss of profits? You’ll learn how the creation of a query letter helps you condense your book concept into a logline—a brief, powerful pitch—as well as discover comparable titles (“comps”), which you’ll need when trying to interest potential readers in your book.
Only interested in traditional publishing and think the other routes are lazy or for writers who haven’t written a book worthy of the traditional market? You’ll learn how books are uploaded for sale and decisions are made about distribution—not only critical for self-published authors to understand but for everyone other writer, too, because that process will help to determine how many books you sell and how much returns will cost you.
Participants are encouraged to bring the following to the master class:
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Copies of a sample query letter or a logline/1-2 sentence pitch and comps for critique for their work-in-progress or recently completed manuscript.
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Copies of a draft book cover text (“blurb”) for critique for their work-in-progress or recently completed manuscript.
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Writing materials to draft a publication timeline for their work-in-progress or recently completed manuscript as well as a To Do list of activities to achieve that goal.
Throughout the master class, there will be plenty of time reserved for Q&A.