Our 51st Annual Conference will take place at the Ramkota Hotel in Casper, WY from June 6th - 8th! Mark your calendars now!
Early Bird Registration Opens on March 15th
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Faculty (including attending agents and publishers)
2025 Conference faculty
Early Bird Registration Opens on March 15th
Mark Stevens
Keynote Speaker, Teaching Faculty
Mark Stevens is the author of The Fireballer (Lake Union, 2023) and The Allison Coil Mystery Series including Antler Dust, Buried by the Roan, Trapline, Lake of Fire, and The Melancholy Howl. Trapline won The Colorado Book Award for Best Mystery. In June of 2025, Thomas & Mercer will publish No Lie Lasts Forever, the start of a new series. Stevens has published short stories in Denver Noir (Akashic Books, 2022), Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, and Mystery Tribune, among others. Stevens is a longtime member of Mystery Writers of America. In 2023, Stevens was named Writer of the Year by Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers for the second time. He lives in southwest Colorado. More: www.writermarkstevens.com
Mark will be teaching the following sessions in 2025:
From Pulp to Meta
You don’t have to pull on that tortured artist effect to improve your style and add some art to your prose. In an unconventional, fast-moving and entertaining workshop—a session riddled with examples of great writing from the entire spectrum of fiction-writing past and present—we’ll get to the heart (of darkness) that lies in that age-old question: The arty novel—who needs it? And the answer may be—you don’t need it. Unless you do. It depends. The session will lead writers through a lively discussion designed to enhance their thought-process as they think about their story from the granular to big-picture levels. If you start with a simple story, how do you give it something more? That special something that will rise above and catch an agent’s or editor’s eye? This workshop will encourage writers to add a layer of depth to their story while not foregoing the basics of character, plot, conflict and resolution. The workshop will look at the building-blocks of style including imagery, metaphor, structure, and symbolism as a means to add a layer of resonance and substance to your work.
Write What You Don’t Know
It’s one of the oldest adages in the “how to” book of writing fiction. Write What You Know.
For writers, this concept can be frightening. It can seem so confining. Forget it. If Mark Stevens can write a mystery series featuring a female hunting guide, well, anybody can write about anything. He’s a guy (Exhibit A) and he would just as soon give spiders a ride outside on a sheet of paper rather than kill them (Exhibit B). Shooting an elk or deer? Forget it. In fact, freeing yourself from the limits of Write What You Know is liberating. Adopting the mantra, Write What You Don’t Know, opens up a universe of possibilities and a whole new array of possibilities for the plots you’re developing—and the characters who inhabit them. There are steps you can take to give you confidence as you step into the void. In this workshop, Mark will explore what it takes to write in-depth and convincingly outside of your comfort zone. In fact, tackling strange new worlds might heighten everything about your story, from character to setting and plot.
Don’t Do What Gary Did
The biggest mistake a writer can make is not believing in their work. The path to progress is paved by risk, by putting your work in the hands of others and learning how to take feedback. By networking. The proof is in the story of Gary Reilly. In this lively and entertaining workshop, I’ll present the moving and occasionally heartbreaking story of Gary Reilly, who passed away in 2011 with 25 polished and unpublished novels to his name. Yes, twenty-five. During his lifetime, Gary had one short story published. He sent it to the Iowa Review. It was published in 1977 and reprinted, the following year, in the Pushcart Prize anthology. He went on to write those 25 novels—alone. Occasionally he queried an agent or editor only to feel the sting of rejection and he’d go back, essentially, underground. Since his death, 16 of those 25 novels have been published to considerable acclaim and positive reviews including nine novels in the very funny Asphalt Warrior series, a trilogy based on Gary’s experiences around the Vietnam War, and a suspense thriller that Jeffery Deaver praised as “unstoppable.” The workshop will include straightforward tips and suggestions so writers can get better at learning how to grow comfortable with feedback and building their own writing community. Note: I’m the co-publisher of Gary’s posthumous works, but I will approach this not as sales (at all) but simply the strange and unusual story of one amazing writer whose life is a cautionary tale for writers who need a boost of confidence and how to get better at managing the one thing that is a constant force in the world of writing: rejection.
Amanda Cabot
Teaching Faculty
From the age of seven, Amanda Cabot dreamed of becoming a published author, but it was only when she set herself the goal of selling a book by her thirtieth birthday that the dream came true. A former director of Information Technology, Amanda has written everything from technical books and articles for IT professionals to mysteries for teenagers and romances for all ages. She is now the bestselling author of more than forty novels and a variety of novellas. Her books have been honored with starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal and have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Award, the HOLT Medallion, and the Booksellers’ Best. For her, a day is incomplete unless it includes books and at least one pot of tea.
Amanda will be teaching the followings sessions in 2025:
Great Beginnings or How to Hook an Editor
Have you heard that an editor can make a decision based on the first three pages? It's true. Using examples to illustrate her points, Amanda Cabot will give you a look at great and not-so-great beginnings for novels. By the end of the workshop, you'll understand the common pitfalls and how to avoid them. Even more importantly, you'll know how to hook an editor and a reader.
Butterflies in Formation: Techniques to Tame the Fear of Public Speaking
If you view public speaking with less enthusiasm than you'd approach surgery without anesthesia, this workshop is for you. Amanda Cabot will show you how the Three Cs (confidence, content, and composure) can help make everything from book signings to formal presentations more enjoyable -- and more effective.
The Balancing Act of Writing Historical Fiction
If you write historical fiction, you know it's a tough act, balancing the story line and historical details. The challenge is heightened by reader expectations, which differ depending on the type of historical fiction you're writing. Amanda Cabot will help you categorize your book at the same time that she presents concrete ways of striking the proper balance to intrigue both editors and readers.
Linda Rae Sande
Teaching Faculty
A self-described nerd and lover of science, Linda Rae Sande spent many years as a published technical writer specializing in 3D graphics workstations, software and 3D animation (her movie credits include SHREK and SHREK 2). Mythology, immortality, and ancient Greece have been lifelong interests. A fan of action-adventure movies, she can frequently be found at the local cinema. Although she no longer has any tropical fish, she does follow the San Jose Sharks. She makes her home in Cody, Wyoming.
Linda will be teaching the following sessions in 2025:
I Wrote a Book — Now What Do I Do?
In today’s publishing world, an author must be an entrepreneur. Here are the how-tos for building the team and the tools you’ll need to help bring your book to market. We’ll cover some basics about how to set up your author business and find the people you’ll need for editing, cover design, and formatting, and publish to various retailers. We’ll cover the promotional tasks necessary to get the word out about your book including an author website, newsletter, and low-cost promotional sites to help with discoverability—and finally, how to protect your work! All will be revealed in this fast-paced class.
Fill Those Fields for Maximum Royalties
A single publication has the potential to earn royalties from several formats. We'll discuss the possibilities and learn how to set up and use a single spreadsheet to keep track of all the retailers, formats, and translations for each of your books. The more fields you fill, the more royalties you earn!
Sex and Fiction over 40
Life begins at 40, but do fallen arches, rheumatism, and faulty eyesight. This class covers the stereotypes of older men and woman as depicted in fiction, what readers want to see in their heros and heroines, how to create believable characters who are over 40, and make them sexy while taking into account some of the issues associated with aging. We’ll also discuss the categories available for books featuring older characters on the various retailer sites.
Lindsay Schopfer
Editor Consultations, Teaching Faculty
Lindsay Schopfer is the award-winning author of five novels and two short story collections, including his fantasy series, The Adventures of Keltin Moore, winner of an OZMA Award from the Chanticleer International Book Awards. His short fiction has received multiple honors and has been featured in various anthologies and online periodicals.
In 2024, Lindsay was nominated as Small Business Person of the Year through the Small Business Association for his work as an independent author, creative writing instructor, and freelance editor. After his short fiction received honorable mention in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association’s Literary Contest, he was invited to serve as the chair of Science Fiction and Fantasy, a position he held for several years. He was also a volunteer mentor for Educurious, a Gates Foundation-funded program connecting at-risk high school students with professional writers.
Lindsay teaches creative writing for multiple colleges in the Pacific Northwest and is an active member of the Northwest Editors Guild. He lives in western Washington with his wife and three daughters. In his free time, he enjoys tabletop and video games, playing guitar, meditation, boxing, cooking and learning American Sign Language.
Lindsay will be holding 1-on-1 editor consultations with up to 20 attendees. These consultations are to help the individuals learn where to best focus their efforts in improving their craft.
From Body Language to Brawls
Action scenes are some of the most exciting, intense moments in our stories, but they can be tricky to get right. Too little detail and the reader won’t be invested; too much, and the action will be lost in a sea of unnecessary details. Participants in this course will learn how to manage pacing, how to balance character reactions and event descriptions, and how to use effective word choice to keep the reader fully immersed in the scene.
Creating Original Worlds
Each time a writer begins a new story they have an opportunity to take their readers to places they have never been before. Fantasy, sci-fi, and paranormal authors will all benefit from this in-depth, detailed look into the unique craft of creating original worlds. Participants in this course will learn creative ways to do their world building, some essential questions to ask themselves about their worlds, and a variety of techniques to make their worlds as original as possible.
Investing in Your Writing Career
“You have to spend money to make money.” But how much money? And who should you give it to? Both published and unpublished writers will benefit from this practical guide to investing in your craft without breaking the bank. Students will learn how to shop around for freelancers, how to manage their resources when choosing promotional options, and how to choose the best options for educating themselves in their craft.
Early Bird Registration Opens on March 15th
bookstore
If you are published and attending our conference, you are welcome to have some of your books available for purchase in the conference bookstore. When conference registration opens, the form to submit books will become available. You are welcome to submit up to a maximum of five titles. Plan on bringing 5-10 copies of each book.
It is the consignor's responsibility to retrieve books after the conference. Wyoming Writers, Inc. is not responsible for any books left behind at the end of the conference.
Early Bird Registration Opens on March 15th
Conference Features
Our conference features a number of great benefits for attendees. Read about some of them below!
**New for 2025** Editor Consultations
Get individual feedback on how you can best improve as a writer! Up to 20 attendees will have the opportunity to submit up to 5,000 words of their manuscript in advance of the conference to our attending freelance editor, Lindsay Schopfer. At the conference, attendees who sign up for this feature will then enjoy a 15 minute 1-on-1 consultation with Lindsay to discuss their work, how they can strengthen their craft, and the areas they would benefit the most from improving in. This feature involves a small extra fee. Faculty Breakout Sessions
These workshops cover a range of topics from of the top minds in the field today. Find full class descriptions in the Faculty section of this page.
Pitch Sessions
Attendees get the opportunity to pitch their work to an agent or publisher accepting pitches for their agency or publishing house. This years pitch opportunities include:
Information on this year's pitch takers is forthcoming. In the meantime, Find some advice on preparing for your pitch session here!
The Paddle Panel
This perennially popular session involves a faculty panel who listen to the first pages of anonymously submitted works read aloud. When one of our faculty hears something that would make them stop reading, they hold up their paddle and the panel then gets to discuss what worked and didn't work for them about the piece.
All conference attendees can submit a single, double-spaced, first page of a fiction or non-fiction work to be read at the panel. Paddle Panel submissions are gathered at the registration table.
Critique Tables
Refine your masterpiece with feedback from your peers by attending one of our critique tables. Manuscripts are read aloud before being respectfully critiqued with constructive feedback by the others at the table.
Tables are broken up into the following categories:
- Fiction
- Non-Fiction
- YA/Children's
- Traditional Poetry
- Free Verse Poetry
Early Bird Registration Opens on March 15th
2025 Awards Nominations
Nominations are now open for the four major awards of WW, Inc, and will be accepted through April 17, 2025. All nominations must come from current WW, Inc. members.
Nominate someone you know to recognize and honor contribution and service:
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If you know a current WW, Inc. member who has provided outstanding service to WW, Inc, consider nominating them for the Emmie Mygatt Award. This award, to honor the memory of one of the WW, Inc. founders, requires a nomination letter explaining why the nominee deserves the award. Note: Past recipients are ineligible for this award.
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If you know an adult, organization, business, or other entity that has provided special encouragement and motivation to writers, consider nominating them for the Arizola Magnenat Award. This nominee need not be a WW, Inc. member. The award also requires a nomination letter explaining why the nominee deserves the award.
Nominate yourself to recognize and honor individual achievement:
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If you are a current WW, Inc. member who has published a first major work between May 2024 and May 2025, consider nominating yourself for the Western Horizon Award. Multiple winners may be honored with this award. If a book, include the title, ISBN (required), publisher (if not yourself), and publication date; If a first article, story, essay, and/or poem in a major publication, include the title of the work, the name of the periodical, and the date of publication. The periodical must be national or literary and have a subscriber base. Note: Past recipients are ineligible for this award.
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If you are a current WW, Inc. member and published writer, able to demonstrate ongoing achievements of personal significance in your writing career, consider nominating yourself for the Milestone Award. Like the Western Horizon Award, multiple winners may be honored with this award. Submissions should succinctly express the breadth and depth of your writing career and include an explanation of what specific events took place that launched the milestone. Note: Past recipients are ineligible for this award.
See a full list of past award winners here.
Nomination Deadline: April 17th, 2025
Awards will be presented at the 51st Annual WW, Inc. Conference, Saturday, June 7, 2025 in Casper, WY
2025 Scholarship Application
Wyoming Writers, Inc., is pleased to announce that the Emmie Mygatt Memorial Scholarship Fund (MSF) is available for this year’s conference that will be held in Casper June 6 – 8, 2025.
The MSF awards scholarships each year to a few Wyoming writers in financial need. The scholarship provides funds for Wyoming Writers, Inc. conference tuition and one year of membership dues. Application deadline is April 15, 2025. Those who wish to apply will find the application below.
On the application form, the Wyoming Writers, Inc. board of directors requires a written statement about the demonstration of financial need and an explanation of how the conference can help further the applicant’s writing craft.
The MSF began in 1977 with a donation of $500 from Emmie Mygatt, a published author who moved to Big Horn, Wyoming from the east coast in the late 1960s. She taught a creative writing class at Sheridan College. Emmie was leader of, and advisor to, a group which evolved into the Sheridan Range Writers. She envisioned a statewide writers’ organization and encouraged her group to start one, which they did in June 1974. That statewide organization became, and remains, Wyoming Writers, Inc.
Emmie was a kind, caring and lovely woman who believed writers could live anywhere. She urged others believe that as well. She helped writers learn their craft and encouraged everyone to help each other. Before her passing in 1977, she gave the $500 donation to be “joyously spent for an unusual opportunity approved by all.” With great foresight and with Emmie’s blessing, the Wyoming Writers, Inc. Board of Directors created the Emmie Mygatt Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The Fund has grown every year since. Each year, the number of awarded scholarships changes depending on funds available. Wyoming Writers, Inc. board members determine who receives a scholarship and how many will be awarded for the year. Over 70 scholarships have been given since 1978. Although organization members receive first preference, non-members may also apply. Donations to the fund can be made at any time, and writers of all agesare encouraged to apply.
Note: scholarship recipients will be asked to volunteer two hours of their time working for the conference.