Ever wonder how to squeeze 300 pages of a novel into a 100-page script? In this workshop with Randall Jahnson, you’ll learn how to turn books into compelling movies or series. You’ll explore how to assess a book’s cinematic potential, extract the real story, and shape it into a pitch and script that grabs the audience’s attention. We’ll tackle the tough questions: what to cut, what to keep, and when it’s okay to combine characters or add new material. You’ll leave with practical strategies and the confidence to adapt any novel or IP for the screen, with real-world examples from Randall’s scripts: The Doors, The Mask of Zorro, and Flashbacks.
Month: February 2026
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10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Belmont B: Mining Darkness for Light: The Art of Humorous Memoir
What makes humor strange and magical is that it is often rooted in sadness, anger, or shame. The writers we find funniest reveal deeply vulnerable truths while mining the absurd even from their darkest moments. In this workshop, we’ll cover ways to do this in your own writing, strategies to help you gain perspective, and the benefits of reframing your experiences—both to your writing and your life.
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10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Belmont A: Build to a Book Deal: Submit strategically
In this workshop with Alle C. Hall, you’ll learn effective strategies for submitting journalism, essays and creative nonfiction, poetry, KidLit, short stories, and flash. You’ll gain practical tools to strengthen your submissions and target the right markets. Each step is designed to help you build a publishing history that attracts agents and editors to your query or book proposal.
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Test Schedule Block Post – Saturday
- 7 – 8AM Saturday Windsor A: YogaGreet the sun like a (writing) warrior with our morning Yoga class. Designed for experienced and new folks alike, this beautifully relaxing session will help you stretch your muscles and wake up all your sleepy… Read more: 7 – 8AM Saturday Windsor A: Yoga
- 7:30AM – 4PM Saturday Belmont Foyer: Badge PickupThe big day’s here, and we can’t wait to see you! Pick up your badge to get this exciting day rolling. You won’t want to miss a single moment!
- 8 – 8:45AM Saturday Belmont A/B/C: BreakfastTime for a writer’s best friend: coffee! Fill your cup, pile that plate high, and catch up with other writers before the morning workshops begin.
- 8:45 – 9AM Saturday Belmont A/B & Zoom: BreakTake a break and take a look at this year’s auction in the Belmont Foyer! Proceeds support our year round activities for writers just like you, so take a peek, then zip over to your… Read more: 8:45 – 9AM Saturday Belmont A/B & Zoom: Break
- 9 – 10AM Saturday Belmont A: The Amateur Sleuth’s Guide to Writing Mysteries, Thrillers, and SuspenseWriting doesn’t have to be a mystery. Join Glen Erik Hamilton for an introduction to genre conventions and key differences in mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels. We’ll discuss effective use of characters, story structure, writing… Read more: 9 – 10AM Saturday Belmont A: The Amateur Sleuth’s Guide to Writing Mysteries, Thrillers, and Suspense
- 9 – 10AM Saturday Belmont B: Literary Agent PanelOn April 15th, we’ll announce our industry professionals. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting panel.
- 9 – 10AM Saturday Belmont C: Build Your Legacy: Systems, Discipline, and Creative Structure for Writers Who Want ResultsBuilding a legacy takes time and devotion, but more than that, it takes a system. Join LeFoster Willams for a practical, no-nonsense workshop that gives writers a proven system to stay disciplined, finish their projects,… Read more: 9 – 10AM Saturday Belmont C: Build Your Legacy: Systems, Discipline, and Creative Structure for Writers Who Want Results
- 9 – 10AM Saturday Windsor B: LGBTQIA++ SocialJoin us for a fresh cuppa in this LGBTQIA+ friendly space. Bring along your writing wins, losses, and all the stories making up your journey. We’re here for you. Note: This is a time for… Read more: 9 – 10AM Saturday Windsor B: LGBTQIA++ Social
- 9 – 10AM Saturday Windsor C: Film RoundtablesAre you a screenwriter? Here’s a wonderful chance to sit down with an experienced group of producers, directors, and industry professional. You’ll find the support, conversations, and connections you need to take the next steps… Read more: 9 – 10AM Saturday Windsor C: Film Roundtables
- 9 – 10AM Saturday Zoom 1: Memoir as FictionIn this practical workshop, Laurie Scheer will show you how to thoughtfully transform real-life experiences into compelling fiction. You’ll learn how to identify which moments from your personal story are best suited for adaptation and… Read more: 9 – 10AM Saturday Zoom 1: Memoir as Fiction
- 9 – 10AM Saturday Zoom 2: Writing as Resistance: Crafting Work That Refuses to Be SilencedIn a time of political suppression, censorship, and rising hostility toward the arts, your writing can become a vital act of resistance. In this workshop, you’ll learn practical craft strategies for embedding resistance into form,… Read more: 9 – 10AM Saturday Zoom 2: Writing as Resistance: Crafting Work That Refuses to Be Silenced
- 9AM – 9PM Saturday Zoom: Quiet WritingWriting at a writer conference? You bet! Bring that brilliant idea and get it on the page in a quiet space. The quiet room is open all day.
- 10 – 10:30AM Saturday Belmont A/B & Zoom One: BreakTime for some quick self-care! Grab a snack, stretch your legs, check in with friends, then get ready for your next amazing workshop!
- 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Belmont A: Build to a Book Deal: Submit strategicallyIn this workshop with Alle C. Hall, you’ll learn effective strategies for submitting journalism, essays and creative nonfiction, poetry, KidLit, short stories, and flash. You’ll gain practical tools to strengthen your submissions and target the… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Belmont A: Build to a Book Deal: Submit strategically
- 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Belmont B: Mining Darkness for Light: The Art of Humorous MemoirWhat makes humor strange and magical is that it is often rooted in sadness, anger, or shame. The writers we find funniest reveal deeply vulnerable truths while mining the absurd even from their darkest moments.… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Belmont B: Mining Darkness for Light: The Art of Humorous Memoir
- 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Belmont C: Distribution DemystifiedJoin us for a break down of publishing distribution. You’ll learn how books make it to bookstore shelves, get listed on Amazon, and find their way onto library shelves. You’ll uncover practical strategies for navigating… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Belmont C: Distribution Demystified
- 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Windsor B: Adaptability: Bringing Books to the ScreenEver wonder how to squeeze 300 pages of a novel into a 100-page script? In this workshop with Randall Jahnson, you’ll learn how to turn books into compelling movies or series. You’ll explore how to… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Windsor B: Adaptability: Bringing Books to the Screen
- 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Windsor C: The Power of Picture BooksPicture books are a critical part of children’s reading development and social and emotional learning. In this workshop, literary agent CoCo Freeman will show you how to create an engaging and memorable read aloud experience… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Windsor C: The Power of Picture Books
- 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Zoom 1: Fund Your Muse: Applying for Grants, Fellowships, & ResidenciesAre you planning to apply for a literary grant, fellowship, scholarship, or artists’ residency in 2026 or 2027? This strategy-packed workshop will show you how to position yourself as a competitive candidate, demonstrate a rising… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Zoom 1: Fund Your Muse: Applying for Grants, Fellowships, & Residencies
- 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Zoom 2: Bring Your Story World to LifeWorld-building can turn a story from “just OK” into something readers can’t put down. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to create immersive, believable worlds that draw readers in and support your story. Julie Artz… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Zoom 2: Bring Your Story World to Life
- 11:30AM – 12:30PM Saturday Belmont Foyer: LunchIt’s lunchtime! If you’ve registered for a boxed lunch, then come to the Belmont Foyer and pick up your meal. If not, check your folder for our list of neighborhood options, prepared for you by… Read more: 11:30AM – 12:30PM Saturday Belmont Foyer: Lunch
- 12:30 – 1:45PM Saturday Belmont A/B & Zoom One: Saturday KeynoteIt’s time! The ballroom doors are open. Join us in person or on Zoom for Saturday’s Keynote with publishing expert and celebrated author Jane Friedman. Then, meet the next generation of young writers as they… Read more: 12:30 – 1:45PM Saturday Belmont A/B & Zoom One: Saturday Keynote
- 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Belmont A: Editing Toolbox: Strategies that Actually WorkStruggling to make your drafts shine? Join veteran authors and skilled editors to learn practical, results-driven techniques to tackle every stage of the editing process. This panel covers strategies for refining structure, polishing language, and… Read more: 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Belmont A: Editing Toolbox: Strategies that Actually Work
- 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Belmont B: All Play, No Pressure: A Generative Poetry-Writing WorkshopWriter’s block often comes from putting too much pressure on ourselves and our writing. In this 90-minute generative poetry workshop with keynote Christopher Diaz, you’ll explore playful approaches that shift your mindset from critical to… Read more: 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Belmont B: All Play, No Pressure: A Generative Poetry-Writing Workshop
- 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Windsor B: Submitting Your WorkSubmission time! Join the Timberline Review team and explore practical tips and tricks for submitting your writing, including how to choose the right journals and polish your submissions. You’ll leave with strategies to increase your… Read more: 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Windsor B: Submitting Your Work
- 2 – 3PM Saturday Windsor C: Parent SocialDoes one of your (many!) hats say “parent”? Here’s a chance to connect with others to celebrate, commiserate, and strategize for sharing your writing life with kids. Note: This is a time for community members… Read more: 2 – 3PM Saturday Windsor C: Parent Social
- 3 – 4PM Windsor C: Pitch for Film and TVScreenwriters! Come practice your pitch! We’ll help you refine and shine your film or TV pitch and talk you through your next steps to the screen.
- 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Zoom 1: Workshop with a Literary AgentOn April 15th, we’ll announce our industry professionals. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting workshop.
- 3:30 – 4PM Saturday Belmont A/B & Zoom One: BreakRefill your coffee and head to the courtyard. It’s the perfect time to meet with friends or make new ones before our last round of workshops for the day.
- 4 – 5PM Saturday Belmont A: Panel: Agents in ConversationOn April 15th, we’ll announce our industry professionals. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting panel.
- 4 – 5PM Saturday Belmont B: How to be a Happy and Successful WriterHow do you stay happy, healthy, and feeling successful as a writer or artist while dealing with rejection, imposter syndrome, envy, and other fun challenges of the creative life? Randy Henderson will share research-based tips… Read more: 4 – 5PM Saturday Belmont B: How to be a Happy and Successful Writer
- 4 – 5PM Saturday Belmont C: Writing for the Screen
- 4 – 5PM Saturday Windsor A: Legal Contracts for WritersEver wonder what you’re really signing when you agree to a contract? Join lawyer Valerie Saski as she breaks down common worries in legal contracts, including different contract types and what you’re actually signing away… Read more: 4 – 5PM Saturday Windsor A: Legal Contracts for Writers
- 4 – 5PM Saturday Windsor B: Crafting a SeriesHow do you keep readers hooked across a trilogy or a full series of books? In this workshop with Jared Agard, you’ll explore exercises, strategies, and examples to craft story arcs that span multiple books.… Read more: 4 – 5PM Saturday Windsor B: Crafting a Series
- 4 – 5PM Saturday Windsor C: Break This LineCan a paragraph become poetry? Join poet Brian Garrison in a conversation on ways to use line breaks as we tinker with words. You’ll experiment with transforming ordinary sentences into lyrical, expressive lines that capture… Read more: 4 – 5PM Saturday Windsor C: Break This Line
- 4 – 5PM Saturday Zoom 1: Workshop with a Literary AgentOn April 15th, we’ll announce our industry professionals. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting workshop.
- 5 – 5:30PM Saturday Belmont Foyer: Drinks and Appetizers Before the ShowKick off the evening with drinks, appetizers, and popcorn at our pre-show social hour. Mingle with fellow attendees and get excited for tonight’s Writer’s Room dramatic premiere. You’ll hear the work of our talented FilmLab… Read more: 5 – 5:30PM Saturday Belmont Foyer: Drinks and Appetizers Before the Show
- 5:30 – 7PM Saturday Belmont A/B: SAG-AFTRA FilmLab Live Reading!FilmLab proudly premieres a LIVE reading featuring the 2026 Writer’s Room participants and professional SAG-AFTRA performers. You won’t want to miss this exciting debut!
- 7 – 9PM Saturday Belmont A/B: Open MicIt’s time: we’re passing the mic over to YOU! You’ve got five minutes max to share your excerpt with a supportive crowd of writers. It’s first come, first served, so dash on over to Belmont… Read more: 7 – 9PM Saturday Belmont A/B: Open Mic
- 7 – 9PM Saturday Zoom: Online Open MicIt’s time: we’re passing the mic over to YOU! You’ve got five minutes max to share your excerpt with a supportive crowd of writers. It’s first come, first served, so fire up that Zoom link… Read more: 7 – 9PM Saturday Zoom: Online Open Mic
- 9PM – 12AM Saturday Windsor C: KaraokeThe mic is hot and the song list even hotter! Join us in Windsor C for the writing community’s most electric annual karaoke event. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or can’t hold a tune, your… Read more: 9PM – 12AM Saturday Windsor C: Karaoke
- 7 – 8AM Saturday Windsor A: Yoga
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10 – 10:30AM Saturday Belmont A/B & Zoom One: Break
Time for some quick self-care! Grab a snack, stretch your legs, check in with friends, then get ready for your next amazing workshop!
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9AM – 9PM Saturday Zoom: Quiet Writing
Writing at a writer conference? You bet! Bring that brilliant idea and get it on the page in a quiet space. The quiet room is open all day.
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9 – 10AM Saturday Zoom 2: Writing as Resistance: Crafting Work That Refuses to Be Silenced
In a time of political suppression, censorship, and rising hostility toward the arts, your writing can become a vital act of resistance. In this workshop, you’ll learn practical craft strategies for embedding resistance into form, voice, and structure without relying on clichés or overt messaging. You’ll examine short excerpts from contemporary writers who confront systems of power, then generate new work through guided prompts designed for online engagement. You’ll leave with fresh material, sharper tools, and a clearer understanding of how your art can speak back.
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9 – 10AM Saturday Zoom 1: Memoir as Fiction
In this practical workshop, Laurie Scheer will show you how to thoughtfully transform real-life experiences into compelling fiction. You’ll learn how to identify which moments from your personal story are best suited for adaptation and how to reshape them to serve character, plot, and theme. You’ll leave with clear strategies for crafting a cohesive, engaging narrative based in your own experiences.
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9 – 10AM Saturday Windsor C: Film Roundtables
Are you a screenwriter? Here’s a wonderful chance to sit down with an experienced group of producers, directors, and industry professional. You’ll find the support, conversations, and connections you need to take the next steps in your screenwriting career.