Tag: conference

Write Now

Join us for Write Now: First Draft, an online program coming Wednesday, July 22nd!

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One part conference test, one part peek behind the curtain, we welcome you to join us Wednesday, July 22nd at 7 p.m. for Write Now: First Draft. Featuring writers working on the Broadleaf Board of Directors and the Broadleaf Writers Conference Committee, we’ll tackle taking on a first draft, offer thoughts on how to push through, and discuss the importance of finding a writing community!

As well, we’ll use this opportunity to test our online approach to the 5th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference! So, join us to see what we have planned, help us with the Q&A process, test out the chat features, and be a part of a conversation on writing a first draft!

To join us, just click this link. No registration is required. The webinar room will open a few minutes after 7 on July 22nd, and then we’ll get started!

Benjamin Carr is a writer and storyteller and serves as the President of the Board of Directors for Broadleaf Writers. His work has appeared in The Guardian, Loose Change Magazine, The Five Hundred and Pembroke Magazine. He has performed regularly onstage at Atlanta-area literary events, including Write Club Atlanta, Carapace, Naked City, Stories on the Square, Stories on the Edge of Night and Listen to Your Mother. His work has also appeared at the Center for Puppetry Arts. He is a member of WonderRoot, the Southern Order of Storytellers and Working Title Playwrights. He is the co-founder of Gutwrench, available at http://gutwrenchjournal.com.

Even though she majored in English at Florida State University, Maryann Lozano didn’t start writing until later in life. After spending many years noodling around with NaNoWriMo, books about writing, and writing prompts, she decided to get serious and enrolled in the Masters of Professional Writing program at Kennesaw State University. She graduated with honors in December 2019.

Maryann is an executive assistant at 22squared, a mid-sized advertising agency in Atlanta, and is also the director of the Handbell Choir at St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church. When she’s not assisting her bosses or waving her hands at her ringers, she is simultaneously revising her WIP for the 1,000th time and trying to keep her cat off the computer keyboard. Maryann serves as Vice-Chair for the Broadleaf Writers Conference Committee.

Jessica Nettles is a writer of short fiction, plays, and, most recently, novels. Her short fiction has appeared in Oh, Georgia!, Thirteen Stories til’ Halloween, and The Five Hundred. She has performed her works at venues such as Naked City, A Novel Idea, and the Write Room. Her play, Around the Bend, was one of three plays featured in a staged reading show sponsored by Process Theater. When she’s not writing, she teaches English at Chattahoochee Technical College. In her spare time, she knits, crochets, reads, bakes, enjoys long walks, and has a fascination with B horror movies. Jessica serves as Secretary on the Broadleaf Writers Board of Directors.

5th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference

The Schedule for the 5th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference is Now Available!

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The time is here and open registration for the 5th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference is upon us. Though the Covid-19 pandemic has pushed our event online, we still plan to offer the same great lineup, complete with plenty of informative and inspirational panels and workshops, one-on-one pitch sessions with agents, as well as our brand new one-on-one mentoring sessions with authors and agents, and a one-on-one first page critique with New York Times bestselling author David L. Robbins! All for a lower price! We’re confident you will get all you expect from us, and as much more as we can possibly offer!

The 5th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference Schedule is now available for you to review! From open Q&A sessions, to storytelling, to getting your outline and story structure in place, we’ve put together a schedule of sessions we know will give you the tools and inspiration you need to grow as an artist, and to pursue your dreams of publication.

On Saturday, October 17th, we’ll kick things off with an open Q&A session with a legend of the comic book and gaming industries (You can’t say Wolverine without mentioning him!), Paul Jenkins! We can think of no greater source of encouragement and information to get your weekend started than Paul, and this is your opportunity to hear his story, pick his brain, and learn from one of the best around.

Consisting of 7 more panels and 1 workshop, our Saturday schedule digs its heels into the hard work of creating a dynamic story, memorable characters, and, of course, nailing that first page. An annual favorite, the First Page Critique returns to close out the day, giving you the opportunity to have the first page of your manuscript critiqued by our panel of literary agents. The submissions are anonymous and highly recommended. Not ready to submit? No problem! You can still attend and gain invaluable tips from agents to assist you in perfecting your first page!

We return on Sunday with a brand-new session! Our literary agents will sit once more, this time to listen to your query letters! A daunting undertaking for any writer, this will be your chance to hear what agents have to say about the query letters our attendees have submitted! Much like First Pages, if you are not up for submitting, no worries! You can still gain from their insights and use all you learn to get yours right! But we do recommend you submit! After all, your submissions remain anonymous!

With 6 additional panels and 2 more workshops, Sunday is another busy day full of opportunities to learn! And it includes another new session we’re beyond excited to present. Hosted by the dynamic duo of YATL, Kimberly Jones and Vania Stoyanova, the YATL Pitch Match is your chance to present your story to an agent in a whole new way! Covering four categories—Young Adult, Fiction, Romance, and Nonfiction—we will select four attendees for each (you will submit your name on Saturday) and Kimberly and Vania will lead our contestants through a series of fun and entertaining questions and scenarios for a literary agent that represents that category. At the end, our agent will select a winner and meet with them in a private breakout room for 15 minutes to discuss the story further! Not only will it be fun, but you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about pitching your work and give an agent even more reason to consider reading your manuscript!

We’re working hard to add more elements to this quite different way of presenting a conference. From social rooms to chat with other attendees and our speakers, to a storytelling reception to celebrate our fifth year of existence, we plan on giving you all the elements of our conference from the cozy confines of your home. Additionally, you no longer have to decide between which session to attend. Every attendee of the 5th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference will receive access to the recordings of every session! Watch it all again or catch the ones you missed!

Register early to ensure your place in our one-on-one sessions! With your registration you receive one pitch and one mentoring session, but for an extra $25 for each you can add more if you wish! With a lower cost, yet as much or more of what we normally offer, this is an incredible opportunity to attend a conference and grow as a writer! We hope to see you there!

BWA Conference

The 5th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference is Moving Online

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We’re not even halfway through 2020 and it’s been a year to remember. Wildfires in Australia, four-foot carnivorous reptiles, murder hornets, the prediction of a highly active hurricane season, and all that on top of the Covid-19 pandemic. Enough already, right?

2020 also marks the fifth year Broadleaf Writers will bring you our annual conference. We marched into this year with visions of the grandest of celebrations to mark the occasion, to bring our writing community together for a weekend of fun, education, and opportunity. We assembled a speaker list as solid as ever and we’ve even added new elements to paint some shiny new gloss to our annual event. What we didn’t plan for was a pandemic that effectively restricted us all to our homes and created a need for social distancing for the greater good. Though we’re all slowly inching our way back out toward normalcy, we can’t avoid a peek further into 2020 and what it means for our conference.

After considerable discussion, and out of an abundance of caution, we’ve made the decision to move the 5th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference online. Though this removes the ability for us all to meet up in person, it affords us an opportunity to come together virtually and to fully benefit from all the elements of our conference. As with previous conferences, you will still be able to choose from a great list of panels, workshops, or breakout rooms in which to learn and meet new people, but for 2020, every attendee of the 5th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference will also receive the complete recording of every panel and workshop! Can’t decide which session to attend? Now you’ll be able to review them all later, and as often as you like.

For 2020, we have reduced the cost of attendance to a flat rate of $175! With your registration, you will have access to both days of panels and workshops (and their recordings) and will be able to schedule a one-on-one pitch session with an agent, as well as a one-on-one mentoring session with an agent or author. You will also have access to breakout rooms with some of our speakers to chat with, and rooms with other attendees with whom you can meet and discuss your work.

And if you choose to do it all in your PJ’s, we won’t judge!

No travel, no traffic, no gas, no hotel or food costs for you to incur. Two days of our conference from the cozy confines of your home, or wherever you want to be for the weekend!

We insist on the highest of quality for our conference. We want every attendee to gain and to grow from their experience with us, to meet new friends and mentors, and to be inspired and even challenged to become the best writer they can be. This year will be no different. In fact, in many ways, we are excited to have this opportunity to exceed the standards of previous years, and to gain from this experience so that we may make every year to come better than the last!

In the coming weeks, we’ll have further information on the structure for this year’s conference, so be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and make sure you’re signed up for our newsletter.

Registration for the 5th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference will open on Monday, June 1st, 2020. Our schedule of panels and workshops will be available for you to peruse as well on June 1st. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about the conference, please feel free to contact our Executive Director, Zachary Steele, at zach@broadleafwriters.com.

We look forward to seeing you there, and to all that we can offer our writing community during a most difficult time.

Programming

Announcing the 2020 Schedule of Programs!

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A new year is upon us and with that comes a new schedule of Broadleaf Writers programming! For 2020, we return some of our trademark events, while adding some new opportunities for you to learn and hone your craft! Our focus this year is on storytelling. We’ll dig deep to help you develop and perfect your storytelling skills!

Our list of speakers for 2020 is on-going, so check back for updates, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! And be sure to sign up for our newsletter as well!

2020 Self-Publishing Seminar

We kick off our 2020 programming preview with the return of the Self-Publishing Seminar! This year we’ll not only give you the tools and resources to publish your own work, but our guest speakers will also give you all the information you need to start your own Indie Press! Join us on Saturday, March 21st at the Cobb Galleria and learn how to publish your book today!

Write Now

Our popular Write Now program returns in 2020 with a focus on the elements of storytelling! Over the course of 4 dates, we will cover various aspects of building and telling a great story, giving you the tools and inspiration to bring your manuscripts to life!

On February 29th, we’ll be in Woodstock at Fox Tale Book Shoppe, taking the leap into the elements of great storytelling!

On April 11th, join us in Newnan at Southern Fried Books as we discuss creating iconic images and visual treats for your readers!

On June 20th, our program will shift to Eagle Eye Books in Decatur for a conversation on creating relatable characters, as well as the importance of the relationships your characters have!

For our 4th and final Write Now program (Fall 2020, location TBD), we’ll put it all together and dig into the Storyteller’s Toolbox with Gramarye Media, Inc. CEO and author, John Adcox!

The Cross-Media Writer Series with Paul Jenkins

Seminar 1: Writing for Comics

In April and May of 2020, we’re thrilled to present the first multi-week seminar in a brand new series on cross-media writing, featuring the multi-talented author of Wolverine: Origin, Paul Jenkins!

Today’s writer no longer has to be restricted to writing books. From comics, to video games, to films and more, the opportunities abound for the writer willing to learn how to gear their craft toward new audiences. Broadleaf Writers, in partnership with Paul Jenkins, present to you the chance to learn how to enhance and expand your writing opportunities with a series of seminars covering each facet of the cross-media world.

Over six weeks, our first seminar will cover the process, tools, resources, and intent of writing for comics. Not only will Paul offer his insights and wealth of knowledge gained through his vast experience, but you will create and refine your own story under his guidance. This is an incredible opportunity to learn from a master of the craft and expand your writing opportunities. The class will be limited to the first 20 students, so be sure to register when the portal opens early in 2020! Dates and location will be announced soon, so be sure to check back for updates, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

For over 20 years, Paul Jenkins has provided entertainment to the world through hundreds of print publications, films, video games, film and new media. With 6 Platinum selling video games, a Number One MTV Music Video, an Eisner Award, Five Wizard Fan Awards, and multiple Best Selling Graphic Novels, Paul Jenkins is synonymous with success. He has enjoyed recognition on the New York Times bestseller list, has been nominated for two BAFTA Awards, and has been the recipient of a government-sponsored Prism Award for his contributions in storytelling and characterization.

One of the premier creators and writers of comic books and graphic novels and video games in the world today, Paul’s writing credits include the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Hellblazer, Inhumans, Spider-Man, Batman, The Incredible Hulk, the smash hit Wolverine: Origin, for which he won five Wizard Fan Awards. He’s the author of the novel Curioddity, which was released in August of 2016. Paul is currently working with Nickelodeon on a brand new series, Underwhere, which is being developed across all media. He also recently wrote and directed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animation for Nickelodeon. Additionally, Paul’s work as Writer and/or Creative Director in the video game genre includes Twisted Metal: Black, Soul Reaver, Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, God of War and many others. 2007’s The Darkness earned him a BAFTA nomination for storytelling and characterization, as did Vivendi Universal’s 2008 smash hit Prototype.

5th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference

The 5th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference will return October 17-18, 2020, at the Cobb Galleria at the intersections of I-75 and I-285 in Atlanta, Georgia! To honor this milestone year, we’ve assembled the strongest list of writers you will ever find at a conference! As well, our list of agents, editors and publisher representatives will be deeper than ever! Combined with educational sessions and workshops, the 5th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference will offer you all that you need to refine and improve your craft and get you on the road toward publication!

In addition to our annual slate of panels, workshops, and pitch sessions, this year we will offer you the opportunity to schedule one-on-one time with authors and agents for mentoring sessions! Here, you’ll have the chance to ask the questions filling your mind in a comfortable setting, without the pressure of pitching your work. Our speakers are eager to help educate you on the intricacies of the publishing industry, to ease your worries and concerns, and help clarify the path before you! Do not miss out on this golden opportunity!

Now through December 31st, you can take advantage of our pre-registration special! Get both days of conference activities for the one-day price! This will be the last chance to get the discounted rate! So act now!

Featuring Karen Abbott, Becky Albertalli, Paul Jenkins, Clay Chapman, Rona Simmons, Roger Johns, as well as agents and publisher reps to take your manuscript pitches and critique your first page, our list is sure to be the best yet! Check back for more updates and announcements on speakers!

Fundraiser, Zach's Corner

From Zach’s Corner: An Opportunity to Help

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We’re nearly five years into Broadleaf’s existence, and as our organization continues to grow, new opportunities to assist and support writers grow with it. Among my primary desires in creating Broadleaf was to extend that effort to young writers, to offer programs and initiatives that open doors for them–both as writers and as future professionals. It’s a level of support and opportunity I wish I had as a young writer. This year, I hope to begin the process of creating and expanding those opportunities. And to do so, I am asking for your help.

Broadleaf Writers is pleased to introduce a new initiative, with the aim of granting students of writing programs a cost-free experience at our upcoming annual conference.  This initiative would give students from Georgia State, Oglethorpe University, and Kennesaw State University the tremendous opportunity to connect with industry professionals, enrich their education, and become active members of Atlanta’s writing community. The benefits of their attendance can carry them well beyond a quest for publication. Gaining a firm grasp of writing, of storytelling, and forming fruitful connections, can enrich their professional lives as they advance into the world beyond college.

To fund approximately 25-30 students, we are launching a fundraiser to raise $5,000 to cover fees for both days of our conference, an annual membership into the organization, lunch, and full access to the conference and organizational tools.

Every dollar helps us grant these students this great opprtunity, as well as create hope and momentum to expand this program in the future. For $200 you can sponsor a student’s conference experience, though every donation–no matter how small–moves us closer to our goal. Please follow this link to our donate page. All donations are tax-deductible.

I thank you in advance for your interest, for your support, and for helping me in my efforts to expand opportunities and education for students.

Zachary Steele
Founder & Executiver Director
Broadleaf Writers Association
broadleafwriters@gmail.com