#LFOW25 Workshop Resources

Writing, like art, music and dance, relies on craft. Work with experienced editor Rosie Fiore as she shares practical tips and techniques to sharpen your prose, sparkle your description and zing your dialogue. Get ready to roll up your sleeves and polish, polish, polish. 

Learn from Ola’s 30-year journey to traditional publication and get practical tips on staying resilient through rejections. This workshop will help you prepare your work and mindset for the challenges of traditional publishing, leaving you ready for your next steps.

Literary agent, Morwenna Loughman gives her insights into how agents pitch to publishers and hosts a Q&A all things pitching. 

Learn about agents, publishing deals, and contracts; how to protect your copyright and quote from other works; where to find grants and funding; and how to build a portfolio career. The session will also explore how the SoA supports writers and answer any questions you have. By the end, you’ll feel empowered, industry-savvy, and know where to seek help.

Write unforgettable protagonists with chemistry, memorable meet-cutes, and gripping storylines. Explore popular romance tropes like enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, second chance love and fake relationship, while learning to build tension and craft compelling love stories readers will adore. Fall in love with your main characters and learn how to write a love story that readers are obsessed with.

Learning to use psychic distance – also called narrative distance – will make your writing more powerful, and your story more exciting and engaging for readers. In this session Debi will explain how this magical tool holds the key to point of view, narrative voice, characters’ voices, and showing and telling.

Grabbing the attention of young readers is tough in such a competitive bookish world. Angela will talk about the importance of crafting exciting chapter endings, the thrill of pace and the greatest hook of all: premise. You will explore what pulls children into stories and how to keep them glued to every page.

Learn how to world build the strange and unexpected with critically acclaimed science fiction author Tom Toner, whose space opera novels often feature non-human protagonists and far-flung, bizarre settings.

If rejections are getting you down, how do you know when to give up? The answer is don’t! Abigail shares her honest experience of becoming a traditionally published author and all the bumps in the road along the way to success. In talking about her writing journey, she will inspire you to hold on to your dreams and find ways to keep writing through the hard times.

Join Davina on writing about unfamiliar topics with accuracy, sensitivity, and respect. Learn how to research, understand nuances, avoid stereotypes, and engage with lived experiences. Explore strategies for reflecting on biases and practicing empathy while ensuring your writing is responsible and authentic.

We’re excited to have Debi Alper, author of five novels and award-winning editor, leading two incredible workshops across the weekend as well as hosting Friday Night Live (but on a Saturday). With years of experience and a deep understanding of the editing process, in this workshop Debi will guide you through essential techniques to refine your manuscript, helping you craft a polished, professional draft.

Nikesh wasn’t able to attend the festival in person due to unforeseen circumstances, but the good news is he’ll be joining us online instead! Nikesh will share insights on why we tell stories, how to choose them, and finding your voice. Through practical exercises and discussions, you’ll learn to craft compelling stories that reflect your unique perspective and resonate with others. Unlock the power of your personal experiences and storytelling skills. Please note, if you’re unable to make the session, you will have access to the recording after the event.