Skill Sessions are a regular part of our monthly IFWA meetings. They typically last 30 minutes, including time for questions. It’s a great opportunity for writers to share their skills and knowledge with others who are passionate about the craft. Presenters are responsible for preparing and bringing any presentation materials (handouts, slides, etc.) that they may require for their sessions.

If you wish to make a Presentation, please contact our Skills Guru, Glen Brown at glenezbrown@gmail.com.

UPCOMING SESSIONS

2025

Jan 2025: TBA

Feb 2025: TBA

Mar 2025: Randall – Invoking Calliope

April 2025: TBA

May 2025: TBA

June 2025: TBA

July 2025: TBA

Aug 2025: TBA

Sept 2025: TBA
Oct 2025: TBA

Nov 2025: TBA

Dec 2025: TBA

2024

Nov 2024: Kirk McDougall – Ten Minutes to Publication

Dec 2024: Sandy Fitzpatrick – Taxes for Writers

PAST SESSIONS

2024

Jan 2024: Sandra Anthony – Powerful Sentences

Feb 2024: Gail Barrington – Journaling as a Portal to the Creative Self

March 2024: Craig DiLouie – Confessions of a Mid-Lister

April 2024: Randall Thomas – Opening Lines Through the Ages

May 2024: Michael Gillett – Reading in Public (exercise)

June 2024: Dave Worsick – Existentialism

July 2024: Susan Forest – Writing Grant Letters

Aug 2024: Nicole Wilson – How to Put Words on the Page

Sept 2024: Susan Forest – Blurbs

Oct 2024: Sandra Anthony – TBA

2023

Jan 2023: Ron Friedman – Decoding Greatness – Reverse Engineering Bestsellers

Feb 2023: Michael Gillett – Self-Editing Tools

Mar 2023: Rachel – Goodreads for Authors

Apr 2023: Michael Gillett – Filter Words and Their Affect on Mood & Voice

May 2023: Calvin Jim – Pantsing: the Undiscovered Country

Jun 2023: Celeste Peters – Limina Inaugural Symposium 2023

July 2023: Julian Quaglia – Perception, Proportion & Voice
Aug 2023: Suzi Vadori & Elizabeth Bradley – Promotions Using TikTok & Newsletters

Sept 2023: Susan Forest – The Short Story Form
Oct 2023: Angela Zowtuk – Autocrit: Software, Skills, and Community

Nov 2023: Suzi Vadori – Slay Your Bloated Word Count

Dec 2023: Susan Forest – Managing Offstage Characters

2022

Jan 2022: Liz Grotkowski – Driving Pace

Feb 2022: Michael Gillett – Fuzzy Logic

Mar 2022: Ron Friedman – Relationship of Science to Sci-Fi (YouTube Video)

Apr 2022: Renee Bennett – Writing Prompts

May 2022: Sulya Fenichel – Creativity First, Rules Last

Jun 2022: David Worsick – Historical Misconceptions

Jul 2022: Michael Gillett / Susan Forest – Thematic Values (Michael’s Notes)

Aug 2022: Renee Bennett – Bad Words

Sept 2022: Selene O’Rourke – On the Shoulders of Giants – Critiquing the Masters

Oct 2022: Lareina Abbott – Anatomy for Writers

Nov 2022: Sandy Fitzpatrick – Tax information for Writers

Dec 2022: Susan Forest – Finding Beta Readers

2021

Jan 2021: Your Brain on Writing by Craig DiLouie

Feb 2021: John Paul Cooper – How Far is Your Reach?
Mar 2021: Susan Forest – Political-Economic Geography and Map Making

Apr 2021: Swati Chavda – Emotion in writing

May 2021: Ron Friedman – Game Theory to Help Your Writing.

Jun 2021: Michael Gillett – Reading Aloud Skills

July 2021: Sandy Fitzpatrick – Three Pipelines for a Successful Author.
Aug 2021: David Worsick – Military History for Fiction

Sept 2021: Michael Gillett – Internal Narrative

Oct 2021: Ron Friedman – Chaos Theory

Nov 2021: Rick Overwater – Simple Tricks for Tightening Sentences and Better Prose

Dec 2021: Craig DiLouie – Engaging Readers with Theme, Symbolism, and Figurative Language

2020

Jan 2020: Ann Cooney – The Proverbial ‘First Page’

Feb 2020: Craig DiLuoie – Writing and Editing by Algorithm

Mar 2020: Karl Buchner – The “Near-Future” Genre

Apr 2020: Suzy Vadori – How to Pitch Your Novel

May 2020: Adriaan Brae – Authoring Websites: Landing Pages on the Cheap

Jun 2020: Dale McShannock – Anatomy of Violence

July 2020: Susan Forest – Contract & Copyright

Aug 2020: Kevin Weir – Live Book Reading

Sep 2020: Michael Gillett – Speaking Online
Oct 2020: Michael Gillett – The Importance of Story

Nov 2020: Randy McCharles – Productivity

Dec 2020: Brent Nichols – Resonance in World Building

2019

Jan 2019: Katie Harse – First Person Narration

Feb 2019: Suzy Vadori – Creating Magic Systems

Mar 2019: Renee Bennett – Rachel Aaron’s ‘How to Write 10K Words a Day’

Apr 2019: Ann Cooney – Theme

May 2019: Michael Gillett – Managing Alpha & Beta Readers

Jun 2019: Calvin Jim – Deep Point of View

Jul 2019: Josh Pantalleresco – Patreon and Crowd Funding

Aug 2019: Leslie Scrimshaw – Marketing Skills Session

Sep 2019: Renee Bennett – Rachel Aaron’s ‘How to Write 10K Words a Day’

Oct 2019: Shannon Allen – IFWA Critique Presentation

Nov 2019: Rex Lenczyk – Sensory Immersion

Dec 2019: Calvin Jim – Scrivener Basics

2018

Jan 2018: Philip Vernon – Pitching Manuscripts Via Twitter Pitch Parties & Contests

Feb 2018: Ed Wilson – Writing and Volcanoes and Super Volcanoes
Mar 2018: Susan Forest – Translating Dan Harmon’s Story Wheel to a Scene-by-Scene Novel Plan
Apr 2018: Ron Friedman – Astronomy and Rocket Science, Not Just for SF Writers

May 2018: Michael Gillett – Reading Aloud (Exercise)

Jun 2018: John Paul Cooper – Writing Process for Screen Writing

Jul 2018: Susan Forest – Grant Proposals

Aug 2018: Rex Lenczyk – Assertiveness for Fiction Writers

Sep 2018: Randy McCharles – Productivity

Oct 2018: Michael Gillett – Reading Aloud (Exercise)

Nov 2018: Richard Pearman – Human Genetics

Dec 2018: Sandy Fitzpatrick – Business Plans for Writers

2017

Jan 2017: Justin Acton – The Publishing Process

Feb 2017: Swati Chavda – Map Making for Science Fiction and Fantasy

Mar 2017: Renee Bennett – Breaking All the Write-In Rules.

Apr 2017: Craig DiLouie – Dialogue

May 2017: Michael Gillett – Editing Your Work: So You Have Feedback, Now What?

Jun 2017: Lesley Sackett Winfield – Read Like a Writer

Jul 2017: Ron Friedman – Villains and Conflict
Aug 2017: Steve Swanson – Creating Your Elevator Pitch
Sep 2017: Michael Gillett – Reading Aloud
Oct 2017: Joshua Pantalleresco – Marketing Yourself
Nov 2017: Lise Brassard – Character Test Arc
Dec 2017: Craig Delouie – Building Character Arcs

2016

Jan 2016: Susan Forest – How to Write a Good Short Story.

Feb 2016: Sandy Fitzpatrick – Tax Tips for Writers

Mar 2016: Randy McCharles – Aurora Awards & Constructive Criticism (40 min session)

Apr 2016: Michael Gillett – The Importance of Character.

May 2016: Chris Jessop – Why Should You Have a Website or Online Presence?

Jun 2016: Craig DiLoue – Plot Structure

Jul 2016: Renee Bennett – What is a Genre?

Aug 2016: Jeff Campbell – Short Stories Vs. Novels: What Should I Write?

Sep 2016: Jodi McIsaac – How to Get Online Reviews?

Oct 2016: Clare Marshall – Website Content

Nov 2016: Chris Wagenstein-Marrs – Character

Dec 2016: Shannon Allen – Critique Sessions, The Round Table, and How to Contribute

2015

Jan 2015: Michael Gillett

Feb 2015: Kevin Weir

Mar 2015 Tommy – Archeology

Apr 2015: Justin Acton – Submitting Your Work

May 2015: Shannon Allen – Mind Mapping

Jun 2015: Craig DiLoue – Writing Horror

Jul 2015: Jeff Campbell – History of Publishing

Aug 2015: Les Kuzyk – Strategic Self Publishing

Sep 2015: Swati Chavda – Streams of Consciousness

Oct 2015: Rick Overwater – Comic Book Publishing

Nov 2015: Brent Nichols – Amazon Serials

Dec 2015: Jodi McIsaac – Historical License

Skill Session Participation

If you are an IFWA member and would like to share your writing-related knowledge, interests, and ideas with the group, please contact either our Skills Guru, Glen Brown at glenezbrown@gmail.com or our President, Michael Gillett at michaelgillett1@gmail.com.