The Virtual Fiction Writing Conference 2026:
Move You & Your Story Forward
Agenda
Saturday, June 13
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Opening Welcome:
Ginger Haggerty, President, Women's Fiction Writers Association
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Session 1:
From Pulse to Prose: Turn Visceral Body Reactions into Gripping Narrative Beats with Jasmine Sandoval
Discover how to harness visceral body reactions—like racing pulses, shallow breath, and tension—and translate them into powerful narrative beats. Learn how the body responds to fear, desire, and conflict, and how to reflect those responses on the page. Craft scenes that heighten tension and create deeply immersive reader experiences. Learn more about Jasmine HERE
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Lunch Break & Eat and Meet
Take a well-deserved pause with our Lunch Break & Eat and Meet—grab a bite, recharge, and then come back for casual, free-flowing networking with fellow attendees. It’s the perfect mix of downtime and connection.
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Keynote:
Madeline Martin
Madeline Martin is a New York Times, USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly, and internationally bestselling author of historical fiction and romance, with her books translated into over twenty-five languages. She lives in Florida with her family and pets, and when she’s not writing or researching, she enjoys time at Disney, traveling, and indulging in Nutella and cat videos.
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Session 2:
Gamify Your Writing with Miranda Darrow
Learn how to gamify your writing using tools like pomodoro timers, SMART goals, kanban boards, and creative prompts. This session introduces the CAT approach: Claim your writing time, Activate creativity, and Track progress with rewards. Includes practical tools, checklists, and resources to help you boost productivity and stay motivated. Learn more about Miranda HERE
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Short Break
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Session 3:
Becoming Your Character (creative immersion) with B. Lynn Goodwin
Engage in interactive exercises that help you move, think, and speak as your character. Through guided sentence completion and role-based prompts, deepen your understanding of character voice and motivation. Strengthen character development and build more authentic, compelling arcs. Learn more about B. Lynn HERE
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Session 4:
Mastering On-Camera Presence: Video Skills for Authors with Paula Rizzo
Learn how to create engaging videos and deliver compelling media interviews across platforms. Develop on-camera confidence while exploring techniques for crafting memorable, newsworthy content. Discover how to use video effectively to expand your reach and connect with readers. Learn more about Paula HERE
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Evening Wrap-Up
Wrap up the day with our Virtual Checkout Happy Hour—an easygoing space to reflect, connect, and unwind with fellow attendees. Drop in for casual conversation, share takeaways, and enjoy some relaxed networking before you sign off.
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Sunday, June 14
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Sunday Kick Off & Intention Setting
Hosted by the WFWA Diversity and Inclusion Committee
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Session 5: Does Your Manuscript Have What It Takes? with Julie Artz
Explore the Four Essential Questions your manuscript and pitch package must answer to be publication-ready. Examine how these elements appear in your query, synopsis, and pages through real-world examples. Strengthen your story while learning how to position it effectively for agents and editors. Learn more about Julie HERE
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Lunch Break & Eat and Meet
Take a well-deserved pause with our Lunch Break & Eat and Meet—grab a bite, recharge, and then come back for casual, free-flowing networking with fellow attendees. It’s the perfect mix of downtime and connection.
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Keynote:
Laura Drake
WFWA’s 2026 Guiding Scribe and author was raised in snowy Michigan but went west as soon as she could. She was corporate CFO for twenty-five years. She fell in love with a crazy motorcyclist and rode behind him for over 100,000 miles, propping a book on his back and reading on the boring stretches.
She’s since published 10 romances, 4 Women’s Fiction and in 2025, indie published a Domestic Thriller. Though she’s genre-hopped, at their core, every story is a woman’s journey of becoming. Laura now lives outside Fort Worth and is working on her next Suspense/Thriller.
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Session 6:
Be Your Own Developmental Editor with Jacquelin Cangro
Learn how to evaluate your manuscript from an editor’s perspective to identify strengths and weaknesses. This session covers both big-picture story elements and sentence-level issues like redundancy and filter words. Gain strategies, tools, and exercises to revise your work systematically and with intention. Learn more about Jacquelin HERE
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Short Break
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Session 7:
Social Media without Losing Writing Time with Saleema Ishq
Learn how to build a clear, sustainable social media strategy that supports your writing career. Identify the right platforms, optimize your author presence, and use time-saving tools for content creation. Focus on building meaningful reader relationships without losing valuable writing time. Learn more about Saleema HERE
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Session 8:
AI & Your Author Career: What to Decide Before You Start Using It with Fauzia Burke
Explore the key decisions authors should make before using AI for writing, marketing, or reader engagement. Examine the balance between efficiency and long-term credibility, and where AI can best support creative work. Leave with a clear framework for building a personal AI policy aligned with your goals. Learn more about Fauzia HERE
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Conference Close Out & Farewells
Join use for a final farewell and an opportunity to share key takeaways, make additional connections, and a few final giveaways.
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