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Fated Mates: Tarot and Storytelling with Clover Callahan, Sunday, October 5 · 2 – 4pm EDT 2025

Fated Mates: Tarot and Storytelling with Clover Callahan, Sunday, October 5 · 2 – 4pm EDT 2025 Let’s pull some cards, and tell a story. Feeling stuck with your current work in progress? Struggling with your character’s backstory? Trying to unearth overarching themes in your manuscript? Want a tool to reflect on your publishing journey?…
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Deep-Dive Business Training for Romance Authors by Kimberley Grabas, Sunday, November 2 · 2 – 4pm EST

Deep-Dive Business Training for Romance Authors by Kimberley Grabas, Sunday, November 2 · 2 – 4pm EST Romance Meets Strategy: Deep-Dive Business Training for Romance Authors by Kimberley Grabas | YourWriterPlatform.com Pouring your heart into writing but feeling stuck when it comes to growth, visibility, or income? Romance Meets Strategy is a 60-minute training designed specifically for…
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Taxes for Canadian Writers with The Tax Fairy Godmother, Debbie Hororich, Sunday, September 7 · 2 – 4pm EDT 2025

Taxes for Canadian Writers with The Tax Fairy Godmother, Debbie Hororich, Sunday, September 7 · 2 – 4pm EDT 2025 Level-up your understanding of Canadian Taxes for authors Do you sell ebooks at online retailers, paperbacks from the box in your basement at cons, get a monthly Patreon payment, and then your sister-in-law handed you…
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Promises & Payoffs in Fiction with Jaye Wells, Sunday June 1st 2 – 4pm EDT 2025

Promises & Payoffs in Fiction with Jaye Wells, Sunday, June 1st 2 – 4pm EDT 2025 Good stories don’t happen by accident. To master the art of delivering satisfying tales, writers must learn how to effectively make story promises from Page One as well as how to deliver satisfying payoffs by The End. This class…
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Finding Your First 100 Readers: A Simple Strategy for Fiction Authors; Sunday, February 2nd 2-4pm EST

Finding Your First 100 Readers: A Simple Strategy for Fiction Authors; Sunday, February 2nd 2-4pm EST Workshop Description:Ready to connect with your ideal readers and grow your audience? Join award-winning speaker and marketing coach Laurie Cooper for this info-packed virtual webinar, where she’ll guide you step-by-step to finding your first 100 readers and building a solid foundation…
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Ins and Out of Email Marketing with Holly Darling; Sunday, May 5 · 2 – 4pm EDT

Ins and Out of Email Marketing with Holly Darling; Sunday, May 5 · 2 – 4pm EDT 2024 has once again flipped the rules of email marketing upside down. Inside this workshop you’ll learn what those new rules are, why they’re a good thing and how to build a thriving email system that sells more…
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Worldbuilding through Culture with J.M. Frey Sunday, April 7 2024 · 2 – 4pm EDT

Worldbuilding through Culture with J.M. Frey Sunday, April 7 2024 · 2 – 4pm EDT Every memorable speculative fiction story has a world we wish we could live in – from Westeros to Middle Earth, from the USS Enterprise to Panem. The geography of your secondary world is key, but the culture and the way…
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Feeling Extra Crispy? with Liz Lincoln Sun, Feb 4, 2024 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST

Feeling Extra Crispy? with Liz Lincoln, Sun, Feb 4, 2024 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST “Feeling Extra Crispy?” will help authors navigate the challenges of creative burnout. Discover practical strategies for renewing inspiration, from mindfulness techniques to playful writing exercises. Engage in a supportive environment where you can share experiences and learn from…
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Universal Fantasy is why some authors get gobs of gushing reviews and some authors who write “way better” get crickets. Sun, Nov 5, 2023 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST

Universal Fantasy is why some authors get gobs of gushing reviews and some authors who write “way better” get crickets. Sun, Nov 5, 2023 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST Universal Fantasy is why my sales tripled when I “accidentally” wrote three books that landed in the Amazon Top 100. Universal Fantasy is why some…
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Book Brush: Upgrade Your Author Marketing with Kathleen Sweeney Sun, Oct 1, 2023 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT

Book Brush: Upgrade Your Author Marketing with Kathleen Sweeney Sun, Oct 1, 2023 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT Upgrade your author marketing: Maximize profits with Book Brush at your fingertips! This one-hour workshop is designed for authors who want to take their book marketing to the next level. Participants will learn how to leverage…
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Diversity and Inclusion in Literature with Finn Burnett, Sun, Sep 10, 2023 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT

Diversity and Inclusion in Literature with Finn Burnett, Sun, Sep 10, 2023 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT This presentation is an important exploration of the need for representation in literature. I’ve presented this at conferences and as one of the keynote speakers at the Library of Michigan’s Conference, the Wine Country Writer’s Festival, and…
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Character Development Q&A, June 4th 2023

Character Development Q&A, June 4th 2023 Learn how to make your characters come to life with Sharon Short (aka Jess Montgomery) Creating believable characters is the engine that drives stories, novels, essays and memoirs. It’s also one of the most challenging writing craft tools to master. In this session, award-winning author Sharon Short (a.k.a. Jess…
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Even Superman Has A Day Job with Maggie Wells, may 7th 2023 14:00EST

Even Superman Has A Day Job with Maggie Wells, may 7th 2023 14:00EST Explore various methods of dealing with uncertainty, defining success, writing practices, motivational tools, and practical tips. I just want to spend my days writing. Who among us hasn’t said something along those lines? But, for many of us, this dream may never…
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Q&A with KT Literary agent Sara Megibow, April 2nd 2023

Q&A with KT Literary agent Sara Megibow, April 2nd 2023 KT Literary agent Sara Megibow will chat about profit strategy, trends, successes, and pitfalls specific to romance publishing in this new year. The conversation will include a Q&A and lots of data analysis sprinkled with jokes and hope. Our romance readers are voracious for your…
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Creating Realistic Companion Animals in Fiction with Mona Storm Sun, Feb 5, 2023 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST

Creating Realistic Companion Animals in Fiction with Mona Storm Sun, Feb 5, 2023 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST Creating realistic companion animals in fiction. Toothless, Ghost, Drogon and Hedwig. From the innocent Wilbur to the Rats of Nimh, animals have captivated our interest and let us explore topics from a unique perspective. Some of…
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A Zoe York Double Feature: Writing A Genre Fiction Series & Marketing Sunday, June 5, 2022 · 2 – 5:30pm EDT

A Zoe York Double Feature: Writing A Genre Fiction Series & Marketing Sunday, June 5, 2022 · 2 – 5:30pm EDT Writing a genre fiction series: turning a writing dream into a writing career Start planning your next series to build on your brand and take you to the next level. We’ll cover: How to…
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Goal, Motivation, Conflict: creating stories that keep the pages turningSun, April 3, 2022; 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT

Goal, Motivation, Conflict: creating stories that keep the pages turningSun, April 3, 2022; 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT Maureen Fisher shares the secrets of creating a compelling story through each character’s goals, motivation, and conflict. About this event The key to an engaging story has always been the characters and how they interact. A writer…
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Love Languages with Jennifer Carole Lewis Feb 6th 2022:

Love Languages with Jennifer Carole Lewis Feb 6th 2022: 70 to 93 percent of all communication is non-verbal, which means that body language is the ultimate love language! Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Jennifer Carole Lewis will go in-depth about how body language can show how a character is feeling. Join ORW to learn…
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June 6, 2021 Workshop: Zero Dollar Marketing & FB Ads for Authors with Skye Warren

How can you sell more books every day? Learn some key tips and tricks for marketing your books from New York Times bestseller Skye Warren Paid advertising works great, but what do you do to promote your books if you can’t afford ads? Can you make money without spending it? Skye’s experiments show what happens…
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WIP into Shape – 2020 Edition

New year, new WIP? Join us for tips and tricks to get your WIP into shape! ORW authors will be on-hand to help you out with the following topics: Brainstorming (Christine Gallimore and Lucy Farago) Stuck on your WIP? Unsure of where to take the plot? Have your characters worked themselves into a corner and…
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WIP into Shape – 2020 Edition

EVENT CANCELLATION: GIVEN THE ISSUES THAT HAVE ARISEN CONCERNING RWA, WE ARE CANCELLING OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED JANUARY WORKSHOP AND HOSTING A TOWN HALL FOR MEMBERS ONLY.PLEASE ACCEPT OUR APOLOGIES.
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December 2019: Writing with others: Co-writing and collaboration

Want to know how to work with other authors to create new and exciting stories? There are many exciting opportunities out there, whether you want to co-write a book, write in a shared world or shared branding, or participate in an anthology or multi-author box set. In this panel workshop our authors will share their…
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November 2019: Writing the Happy into your Happily Ever After

One of the most common challenges of writing romance novels is ensuring the relationship feels authentic while mixing in enough drama to keep the reader intrigued. But how can an author ensure the relationship doesn’t cross any lines, and that conflict is resolved satisfactorily? Dr. Brenda Saxe will share her experience as a couple’s counsellor…
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May 2019: Selling Books with Kobo Writing Life: Global Distribution & Exclusive Promo

Want to distribute your books globally, from your local library to big box retailers like Walmart? With Kobo Writing Life, you can sell your book in over 190 countries, and access promotional opportunities puts them in front of millions of Kobo users. This free distribution tool lets you keep the rights to your books and…
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Recap Nov 2018: Private Investigator and Security Guard

Before our workshop, we asked ORWA members who their favorite fictional detectives were, and if they write detectives in any of their stories! Workshop Recap Contributed by Jennifer Carole Lewis ORWA’s November workshop on the reality of private investigating and security was hugely informative. Our special guest, a private investigator with over 20 years of…
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Recap: September 2018 Writing Workshop with Tanya Huff

We might have taken the summer off, but with the start of the fall, it’s time for ORWA to gather once again. We were delighted to break our long summer fast with Tanya Huff, a talented author who has written in multiple genres for the last thirty years. Tanya spoke to us about the challenges…
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February 2017: Bloody Believable With Sgt. Ugo Garneau

Workshop Description Bloody Believable: Using forensic science to add depth to villain motivation, create realistic scenes and ensure that readers experience the terrifying details that go into crafting bloody believable book. About the presenter Sgt. Garneau is a Forensic Identification Officer specializing in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis. He is actively involved in crime scene examinations/reconstructions and…
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December 2016: Holiday Social and Six Secrets to Create a Successful Bestselling Franchise

Our yearly annual social will be a potluck, beginning at noon, followed by a workshop. Six Secrets to Create a Successful Bestselling Franchise What do Star Wars, J. D. Robb’s Eve Dallas books, and Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series have in common? They are all highly successful franchises. Join NYT bestselling author Sharon Page to learn…
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October 2016: From Idea to Execution: Plotting Your Next Bestseller

Today’s publishing marketplace is more competitive than ever, demanding consistent—and accelerated—output from authors. Award-winning author Vanessa Kelly shows you how to plot and write your next book, novella, or short story with a minimum of angst and a maximum of efficiency. Bio: Vanessa Kelly is an award-winning author who was named by Booklist, the review journal of…
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April 2016: Edit Like a Pro with Laura Byrne Paquet

Edit Like a Pro with Laura Byrne Paquet In addition to writing eight Regency romances for Zebra and four non-fiction books, Laura Byrne Paquet worked as a freelance copy editor for Harlequin for several years. A member of the Editors’ Association of Canada, she also writes freelance articles and runs a local travel website called…
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March 2016: Slay Your Writing Dragons to Make your Personal Goals Happen!

Cynthia Boyko is a Co-Active Life Coach based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada who works with clients across North America. Coaching is something that comes very naturally to Cynthia. Her calm presence easily invites people into a process of clarity, balance and fulfillment. Cynthia is a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF). She completed her…
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February 2016: Legal Issues for Writers

Can you quote song lyrics in your book? What should you do if someone plagarizes you? Can you name a character after someone you don’t like? In today’s face-paced digital world, writers face a variety of legal issues, and it’s not always easy to get them right. This workshop can help. Please…
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January 2016: Beyond the Furrowed Brow with Jennifer Carole Lewis

Tired of reusing the same expressions over and over for anger, love and surprise? There is a wide range of postures and subtle expressions which can convey your character’s emotions and reactions. How they stand, how they hold their hands, even the crinkling of an eyelid can show what they are thinking. Learn the subtle…
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December 2015: Bah Humbug! Character Arc, the Scrooge Way with Teresa Morgan

In December 1843, Charles Dickens published a little story that became a sensation. In it, a misanthropist misery turns into a philanthropic optimist… overnight. This beloved story has the widest and craziest character arc in all of Western literature (and the most flawless three-act structure). This workshop examines how Dickens pulled off making a character…
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March 2013: Story Structure with Marie Lilly

The seed for any story can grow from: * an image * a scene * a central conflict * a feeling * a character * a theme * a sound * a snippet of dialogue * a world. So, you have an amazing seed for a story. How do you discover if it will…
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May 2012: Homicide with Steve Roberts

Steve Roberts is very well known in the criminal investigation community and often consults and instructs concerning police procedures with agencies in the U.S. He has also worked on movies as the police expert and is acknowledged in several fictional mysteries for helping authors with correct police procedure. He will be talking about homicides, but from the…
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March 2012: Maggie Jagger’s Pitching Workshop

Pitching to agents and editors is part of writing life, no need to hyperventilate over it. We will first hone a synopsis, then we take turns pitching and hearing pitches. If you don’t want to pitch, then bring the first three pages of your ms. We will first split into small groups to gently critique…
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September 2011: Toning Up a Sagging Middle & The Movie Eye: Choosing the Right Scenes

ORWA presents a special day of workshops with New York Times bestselling author Sabrina Jeffries. Starting at 10 am, two workshops will be given: Toning Up a Sagging Middle The Movie Eye: Choosing the Right Scenes About Sabrina Jeffries New York Times bestselling author Sabrina Jeffries is a New Orleans-born, Thailand-reared novelist with a doctorate in…
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August 2011: If the Self-pub Shoe Fits… with Teresa Morgan

Digital self-publishing exploded in 2011 with news of the success of authors like J.A. Konrath, Amanda Hocking, and E.V. Mitchell (Julianne Maclean). Self-publishing for the Kindle, Nook, Sony eReader, iPad and other digital devices, is easy… and complicated. It has big advantages and deep pitfalls. In this workshop, you’ll learn more about this intriguing new…
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July 2011: Getting Past the Hook with Molly O’Keefe

Readers still love them. Editors still want them. This highly interactive workshop will break down the appeal of the classic plot lines and characters that romance readers crave and we’ll discover ways a smart writer can use classic hooks to create unexpected and unforgettable stories. About Molly O’Keefe Multi-published Toronto author Molly O’Keefe‘s first…
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April 2011: Practice Makes Perfect Pitching Workshop with Maggie Jagger

Maggie Jagger will lead a practice makes perfect pitching workshop. Pitching to agents and editors is part of writing life, no need to hyperventilate over it. We will take turns pitching and hearing pitches. If you are so afraid that you don’t want to come to this meeting, you can pretend to be an editor…






