Great stories that stay with readers are made with passion and skill.

The Fiction Makers Conference is a one-day, craft-focused gathering for writers who want to sharpen their storytelling. Six accomplished authors and editors will share practical techniques for world building, cinematic writing, character design, creating emotional impact, and developing themes.

Come ready to learn.
Leave a stronger writer.

How is Fiction Makers different?

Most writing conferences spend a lot of time talking about publishing and marketing. Those things matter. But they come after the story is written.

The Fiction Makers Conference is different.

This conference is dedicated entirely to the craft of fiction. Every session is designed to help you become a stronger storyteller.

You’ll learn practical techniques for building immersive worlds, writing scenes that feel cinematic, creating powerful emotional moments, developing meaningful themes, and even adapting your novel for the screen.

No marketing strategies.
No platform building.

Just the art and craft of writing fiction, taught by authors and editors who have spent years mastering it.

Because the truth is, the best way to succeed as a writer is to write stories readers can’t put down.

And that begins with craft.

Limited Space

There is limited seats this year for the conference. 

• The Saturday main event will only hold 25 attendees.
• The Sunday intensive workshop is limited to 15 attendees. 

Who is Fiction Makers for? 

The Fiction Makers Conference is for anyone who loves the craft of storytelling and wants to become a stronger fiction writer.

You might be:

• A new writer who wants to understand how stories really work
• A hobbyist who is ready to take their writing more seriously
• A novelist looking to sharpen specific parts of their craft
• A published author who still wants to grow and refine their skills

Writers of all genres are welcome. What matters most is a shared commitment to the craft of fiction and a desire to keep improving. Whether you’re just starting your first story or finishing your fiftieth novel, you’ll spend the day learning practical tools that will strengthen your writing.

Conference Speakers:

Ines Johnson is a romance author with over a hundred books spanning paranormal, urban fantasy, contemporary, and erotica, as well as sweet romance. She shares her insights and and experiences as a writer on her Substack, Ines Johnson is Having a Breakdown! 

Jeff Elkins is the author of thirteen novels, four nonfiction books, and over a hundred short stories. He is the founder of the Dialogue Doctor, has coached over four-hundred authors one-on-one, and is the host of the Dialogue Doctor Podcast.

JP Rindfleisch IX is the author of cozy, queer fantasy and strange fiction. He's the author of ten novels, the founder of the Rockford Area Writers, and a Dialogue Doctor writing coach. He hosts writing sprints and cozy chaos on Twitch as CheshirePope, and is a cohost of the Writer's Ink Podcast.

Laura Humm has been training people in how to succeed in difficult conversations and creating emotional and compelling dialogue for over twenty years. She is an expert editor who has worked with countless writers and she has edited multiple full manuscripts as a Dialogue Doctor Coach.

Leslye Penelope is an award-winning author of fantasy and paranormal romance. Her debut novel Song of Blood & Stone was chosen as one of TIME Magazine's 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time. She is also an award-winning independent filmmaker, co-founder of a literary magazine, and the host of the podcast My Imaginary Friends.

Sean Paul Murphy is an award-winning screenwriter with fourteen produced features, the co-creator of an upcoming Sony produced streaming series, and the author of a paranormal thriller novel and a memoir. 

The Venue

The Venue is currently pending. More information coming soon.

What You'll Walk Away With

By the end of the Fiction Makers Conference, you will leave with practical tools you can immediately apply to your writing.

You’ll gain:

• Techniques for building immersive fictional worlds
• Tools for writing vivid, cinematic scenes
• Strategies for creating powerful emotional moments
• A deeper understanding of how theme shapes story
• Insight into adapting a novel for the screen

Most importantly, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of how to strengthen your storytelling.

Conference Schedule

Friday, August 21 - Optional Networking - 6 pm to 9 pm - location TBD

Focus: Community Building

Come and meet other conference attendees at a local pub. 

Saturday, August 22 - Conference Day! - 9 am to 5 pm

Focus: Honing Your Skills

• Doors and the cafe open at 8:30 am
• Opening Sessions from 9 am to 12:30
• Lunch break 12:30 to 2 pm
• Afternoon Sessions from 2 pm to 5 pm
• Post conference networking 7 pm to 9 pm (location TBD)

(Only 25 tickets available.) 

Sunday, August 23 - Bonus Workshop Day - 9 am to 3 pm - location TBD

Focus: Practical Application

Spend a day working on cast building and character creation with the Dialogue Doctor Coaches. (Only 15 seats available.)

FAQs

I'm coming from out of town. Where should I stay? 

There are a lot of incredible places to stay in Baltimore. While there isn't a hotel directly associated with the Creative Alliance, we recommend checking out: 

• The William Fell Baltimore, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
• Canopy by Hilton Baltimore Harbor
• Point Pier 5 Hotel
• Baltimore Homewood Suites by Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor

If you would rather AirBnB it, we've put together a list of homes that are near the venue. Click here to view.  

If you want to work with other conference attendees to find a place to stay, when you register, we will ask if you are interested in having your information shared with others in attendance. For those who want their information shared, we will put a Google Sheet together for networking purposes. 

I'm driving in. Where do I park? 

All parking is street parking in the city. If you aren't comfortable finding a parking spot in the city, we recommend you use Lyft or Uber to arrive at the conference. 

If you want to ride share with other conference attendees, when you register, we will ask if you are interested in having your information shared with others in attendance. For those who want their information shared, we will put a Google Sheet together for networking purposes. 

Will this content be online?

The honest answer is, we don't know. The focus of this conference is the in-person element. We have lots of activities planned to connect you with the other conference attendees. We aren't sure if we will record the conference or if those recordings will be made public.

More on this in the future.

Are tickets refundable? 

Tickets are refundable up to 30 days after purchase. Please contact jffelkins@gmail.com for more information.