FloridaWritersCon 2025 Faculty & Workshops

October 17 to 19, 2025 • Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs

Shutta Crum, Author & Librarian

Shutta Crum is a Robinson Jeffers Tor House honoree (2024) and recipient of nine Royal Palm Literary Awards. Her poems and educational articles have appeared in many journals. A Pushcart nominee, she has three chapbooks in print, as well as three novels and fifteen children’s books. All are traditionally published. shutta.com

Get Published with Duotrope & Submittable.  Become comfortable with researching publishing opportunities. You’ll learn how to use Duotrope, a subscription-based service for writers that offers an extensive, searchable database of 7,600+ fiction, poetry, and nonfiction publishers and agents. As time allows, we’ll also look at Submittable. Suitable for all writers. Q&A. Featured in: The Paths to Publishing Track

Voice: Rarely Analyzed, But Critically Important.  How something is said reveals as much as what is said. In this workshop you'll learn how an author’s raw voice influences the narrator and enlivens or deadens the tale. We'll look at ways to modulate voice so it can lean toward tribal lingo, friendliness, worldliness, etc. Suitable for all writers. Handouts. Featured in: The Craft & Creativity Track

Vic DiGenti, Writer & Ghostwriter

Vic DiGenti is the award-winning author of six novels and 12 works of nonfiction. Working as a ghostwriter for the past nine years, he penned biographies and family histories for many clients. He’s a member of the Association of Ghostwriters and a former Executive Vice President of the Florida Writers Association. windrusherhallpress.com

Moods, Motifs, and MacGuffins.  Vic will examine two common literary devices: Mood & Motifs and the MacGuffin—a plot device popularized by Alfred Hitchcock. You’ll learn how the “Three Ms” can add depth and emotion to your writing and provide connections that lead to a more satisfying and richer experience, connecting with readers in unique ways. Featured in: The Craft & Creativity Track

What Writers Can Learn from Pixar.  In this workshop you’ll learn about the 22 rules and four guiding principles that have guided Pixar Studios in creating classic films such as Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and Up — and how they can help you become a better writer. Featured in: The Craft & Creativity Track

Ava K. Doppelt, Intellectual Property Attorney

Ava K. Doppelt, a Florida Bar certified lawyer in intellectual property, has almost 50 years of experience litigating and advising clients on a wide variety of intellectual property matters. She is a shareholder in the Orlando firm Allen, Dyer, Doppelt & Gilchrist, P.A., where she represents writers, publishers, and an array of content providers and users. She previously served as an attorney for Reader's Digest Association. allendyer.com 

Stay Out of Legal Trouble.  Ignorance isn’t bliss when it comes to the law. In this essential workshop, intellectual property attorney Ava Doppelt guides writers through common legal pitfalls—from defamation and privacy violations to copyright infringement—and offers practical strategies to help you write freely while staying on the right side of the law. Featured in: The Legal Track

Protect Your Rights. Your words have value—make sure you own them. Learn how to safeguard your creative work in this empowering session led by veteran IP attorney Ava Doppelt. You’ll gain clear, actionable insight into copyrights, trademarks, publishing contracts, and what every writer should know about their legal rights.   Featured in: The Legal Track

C.I. Jerez, Writer

Dr. C.I. Jerez is a proud Latina and Irish blend originally from Miami. Her debut novel, At the Island’s Edge, was released this year. She is actively focused on writing stories with bold, Latina protagonists. She lives in St. Cloud, Florida, and is hard at work on her next novel. cijerezbooks.com

Creating a Synopsis that Shines.  How can you capture the most important functions of a novel within 3-5 pages? This session will highlight the fundamental “must haves” in a synopsis and how to create a high-level framework that will serve as the foundation for the entire synopsis. You’ll also learn how creating a synopsis before you begin to write can help you with a novel. Featured in: The Paths to Publishing Track

The Power of the Premise: A Hook that Works. C.I.’s novel, At the Island’s Edge, sold within ten days from its initial submission. The hook of the story was the primary factor for multiple editor interest. In this session, you’ll learn about the power of the hook, the different approaches in creating a one to two sentence hook for your story, and the key elements that go into a successful hook. Featured in: The Paths to Publishing Track

Heidi McIntyre, Book Marketing Coach

Book Marketing Coach Heidi McIntyre blends strategy with storytelling to help authors attract more readers in a crowded marketplace. She also fosters a support group of 25 self-published authors, guiding them with the tools to succeed. She published her debut novel, Sea Magic, in 2023. heidimcintyre.com/coach/

How to Find and Hook Your Readers. In this session, you’ll learn how to use AI tools to pinpoint your ideal readers—who they are, what they love, and where to find them. Then, we’ll dive into strategies for hooking these readers with strategic marketing. You’ll walk away with a checklist for finding your target audience, tips for tailoring content that attracts and engages them, and a detailed plan on how to grow an audience with less guesswork and more results. Featured in: The Author Marketing Track

Crafting an Authentic Brand and Platform. In this session, you’ll learn how to clarify your purpose, set measurable goals, choose the best strategies, and develop a consistent, genuine voice. We’ll explore how to foster community and inspire readers' loyalty. You’ll walk away with a personalized framework for building or refining your brand and platform, plus creative ideas for exclusive content that keeps your readers engaged and coming back for more. Featured in: The Author Marketing Track 

David James Poissant, Writer & Editor of the Florida Review

David James Poissant is the author of the novel Lake Life, a New York Times Editors’ Choice selection, and The Heaven of Animals: Stories, a finalist for the L.A. Times Book Prize, both from Simon & Schuster and in print in nine languages. He is editor of The Florida Review. davidjamespoissant.com

Flash Fiction: Writing Short!  Writing stories is hard enough, but what happens when your word count is limited by a magazine or contest to a thousand words or less? In this workshop, we'll explore the world of flash fiction and going short. We'll look at classic examples of the form, discuss ten craft tips for writing flash, try our hand at flash premises, and discuss the differences between an anecdote and a very short story.  Featured in: The Craft & Creativity Track

Inhabiting Your Character Through Their Eyes. Beginning writers often equate characterization, in fiction, with action and interiority: what characters want and how far they’re willing to go to get it. But what if characterization is more than that? What if character, expressed via point of view and narrative voice, determines how your reader sees the world of the story? If this is true, everything is altered by the viewpoint you choose. Telling a story is about more than showing versus telling, it’s about living in your viewpoint character’s skin and letting the reader see out your eyes. We’ll explore craft tips, and we’ll study examples that meld character with setting, voice, and mood. Featured in: The Craft & Creativity Track

Thomas Smith, Writer & Ghostwriter

Thomas Smith is an award-winning writer, essayist, playwright, reporter, and TV news producer. He was a joke writer for Joan Rivers and the only writer to have ever been included in projects with Stephen King (yes…THAT Stephen King) and The Rev. Rick Warren (Purpose Driven Life author) in the same week. thomas-smith.us

Start Small and Save That Novel for Later.  So many beginning writers want to start with a novel. If you’ve never run a mile before, you don’t just go out and run a half-marathon one day. You build up to it. Writing works the same way. You have to build your literary muscles. Develop your stamina. Learn the craft. Find your strengths and weaknesses. And the best way to do that is to start small. Handouts, links, and numerous markets included. Featured in: The Craft & Creativity Track

How NOT to be Published.  A tongue-in-cheek look at the missteps, mistakes, and roadblocks that often hinder beginning and advanced writers on their quest for publication. In publishing today, there are many reasons why a work is rejected or why a writer can’t seem to make the connection. Learn how to avoid the mistakes that are holding you back. Handouts/online notes included. Featured in: The Paths to Publishing Track

Sylvia Whitman, Writer & Certified Journal to the Self® Instructor

Sylvia Whitman has published stories, articles, and more than a dozen books for young readers, including the YA novel The Milk of Birds, named among the IRA’s 2014 Notable Books for a Global Society. She teaches writing at Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota. sylviawhitmanbooks.com

Behind the Editor's Desk at a Literary Magazine.  Looking to publish short work? My college’s annual literary magazine accepts submissions from around the world. I’ll share what goes on behind the scenes including our thinking about what constitutes good prose, good poetry, and best practices among writers and editors who care deeply about words and stories. Featured in: The Paths to Publishing Track

Journaling to Heal, Grow, and Create.  Do you keep a journal—or want to? Writing for an audience of no one but yourself can lower your blood pressure, clarify your thoughts, and stir your muse. Whether you’re an aspiring or dedicated diarist, this session will help you explore techniques for starting or refreshing your writing practice. Come ready to plumb your own depths. Featured in: The Craft & Creativity Track

Valerie Willis, Typesetter & Author

Valerie Willis is an expert typesetter, public speaker, and award-winning fantasy romance author. Her works include Writer’s Bane, The Cedric Series, The Prince’s Priest as V.C. Willis, and Queen's Incubus as Honey Cummings. Her workshops have covered novel writing, research, world building, character development, reader immersion, foreshadowing, and more. willisauthor.com

How Genre Impacts You and Your Plot.  Many of us love to read and write genre fiction, but how much weight does the genre have on an author and their story from the beginning. Everything! From audience expectations to how your editor does their job, your chosen genre(s) can make or break the story. Did you know each genre has its own set of expected story beats that the plot should hit on? What happens when you mix more than one genre? Let’s take a dive into how to use genre to strengthen how we write and market our books!  Featured in: The Author Marketing Track

How Do I Land on the Bookshelf?  There is a checklist. Did you know that at large retailers like Barnes & Noble and even Target, they need your book to adhere to certain things that you can control? Let’s talk about how design, development, and distribution impact our chances to get our book to readers commercially. At the end of the day, all we can do is check all the boxes, and make sure that it’s not us making them say no to the book.  Featured in: The Author Marketing Track

Book Design: All the Front & Back Matters. Front and back matter have expectations. Commercially designing a book comes with understanding when to break the rules for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. Let’s break down the insides of your book and grasp what and why we choose those components before and after the meat of our stories.  Featured in: The Author Marketing Track

Noel Zamot, Author & AI Consultant

Noel Zamot is the award-winning author of The Archer’s Thread and the Feather’s Push, recognized by the Florida Book Awards and other literary honors. A former combat aviator with expertise in national security and Artificial Intelligence, he crafts thought-provoking fiction inspired by real-world experiences. Noel lives and writes in Tarpon Springs, Florida. noelzamot.com

Workshop titles & descriptions to come.

Olivia Zugay, Business & Marketing Coach

Olivia Zugay is a business and marketing coach for authors, helping them build profitable, product-based author businesses. She teaches scalable marketing systems that generate consistent book sales—without relying on social media. Her mission is to bridge industry gaps, providing authors and service providers with trusted, high-ROI strategies for long-term success. storyflowsolutions.com

Which Publication Pathway is Right for You?  In this interactive session, authors will learn about the different publication pathways—traditional publishing, hybrid publishing, and self-publishing. We'll explore the pros and cons of each and offer practical advice to help you confidently choose the best route for your unique goals.  Featured in: The Paths to Publishing Track

Mastering Book Marketing: Funnels & Promos.  Marketing your book doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. In this session, you’ll learn about proven strategies to build a loyal fan base, maximize book sales, and create a sustainable marketing plan that keeps working long after launch day. Whether you're just starting or looking to optimize your efforts, this presentation will give you actionable, effective tactics to grow your author business.  Featured in: The Author Marketing Track

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Journal to the Self® is a registered trademark of Kathleen Adams and the Center for Journal Therapy, Inc. The Florida Writers Association (FWA) makes reference to this trademark strictly for descriptive and educational purposes and claims no ownership or affiliation. All trademark rights belong to their respective owner.