2026 Schedule is not yet determined. But here are a few of our presentations:

Writing Dialogue That Works – Keith Strunk

In Hamlet, Shakespeare advises the actor to “suit the action to the word, the word to the action.”  Sounds simple enough, but it’s the writer who must first heed Shakespeare’s advice. The actor’s craft uses the written word to create believable behavior. In this class, experienced stage director Strunk looks through the actor’s lens to explore the tools needed to create honest, compelling, real dialogue that drives your story and brings your characters to life through their words.

Deep Listening for Writers – John DeDakis

In this class, writing coach DeDakis introduces us to the mindful practice of tuning into internal and external sounds, moving past ego and forced ideas to uncover authentic stories. This helps writers bypass clichés by listening closely to the present moment, the body, and the quiet inner voice before putting pen to paper.

Fire in Fiction (and why it’s mostly wrong) – Tony Knighton

Most of what people believe about fire behavior and firefighting comes from television and movies. These visuals, created by special effects professionals, depict free-burning fire in a building’s interior because they want something visible to the camera. They’re often spectacular but rarely accurate. In this class, Tony Knighton, a 38-year veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department, will explain how to grip your readers with accurate, realistic fire scenes.

2025 Schedule