The Orange County Library System Writers Conference, an online event, provides the tools and knowledge you need to reach your writing and publishing goals.
Authors and publishing professionals will teach workshops on both craft and business topics. This conference focuses on novels and traditional publishing, but some workshops may be applicable to other genres and publishing paths.
Kristen Stieffel will be teaching two classes at this online conference:
Edit Like a Pro: Saturday, January 11, 2025, 1 p.m.* Professional editors have a number of tools and techniques they use to edit books. Unfortunately, these aren’t normally taught to writers, who wind up editing aimlessly without knowing how much editing is enough. In this workshop you’ll learn how to analyze fiction and nonfiction and use a book map to ensure your structure is sound. You’ll also get professional tools that will show you how to edit, in what order, and how to know when you are done.
Setting the Scene: Sunday, January 12, 2025, 4 p.m.* Worldbuilding is a key element of fiction for any genre. Fiction transports readers into unfamiliar settings and gives them the feeling of being there. Regardless of whether you are taking your readers into cultures of the past, into contemporary halls of power, or into future planets or fantastical realms, the same set of techniques can be used to transport them. This class will cover the main elements you can include to create a new storyworld for your characters and readers to inhabit.
* Times are US Eastern
This conference is free to the public, but registration is required for all attendees. Note that the Library Card Field in the registration form is optional—anyone anywhere may attend!
Link for Saturday registration: https://attend.ocls.org/event/11009407
Link for Sunday registration: https://attend.ocls.org/event/11009408