Welcome to the 2026 Sonoran Writers Conference Panels Schedule. Below is a complete list of all the panels being offered this year. A long list, but you can also break it down into smaller lists.
Lists by Room
SWC this year utilizes FIVE rooms of programming, all producing great opportunities to improve your writing. Visit the Panels listed by room:
ROOM ONE | ROOM TWO | ROOM THREE | ROOM FOUR | ROOM FIVE
Lists by Time
Get the smaller lists of the panels that are staring at a given time. This make planning much easier.
- 9:00AM Start
- 10:00AM Start
- 11:00AM Start
- 12:00PM Start
- 1:00PM Start
- 2:00PM Start
- 3:00PM Start
- 4:00PM Start
Lists by Presenter
Coming Soon
Workshop
Room Two
11:00am- 105 minutes
Adding local wildlife enhances any story. However, the animals’ behaviors must be accurately portrayed. This presentation will explore the differences between venomous and poisonous animals found in AZ.
Presentation
Room One
10:00am- 50 minutes
Good pacing and rhythm in fiction is like music to readers’ ears. There are many ways to find and use music in writing. Many writers listen to certain pieces of music, or genres, for inspiration. However, the comparisons can go far beyond mere listening pleasure. Compare musical styles and genres to setting, mood, atmosphere. For characters, consider lead singers vs group harmony or a full orchestra. Rhythm in music equals pacing in a manuscript. Music is based on beats, measures, rhythm; writing also needs beats. Openings, Endings, Composing, and more!
Panel
Room One
9:00am- 50 minutes
Lauren Buckingham, Susan Magestro, Margaret C. Morse
Brainstorming can unleash a wealth of ideas. From reviewing the past to journaling, real life/news stories, other books, movies and television, tchotchkes, or more, new ideas can spring forth and turn into your story, a problem, or a solution. Join us as we explore the many ways brainstorming can stimulate your writing.
Workshop
Room Two
9:00am- 105 minutes
A Nancy Drew ghostwriter shares what she learned while writing about the famous sleuth. Start with a “grab you by the throat” opening to pull readers into the story. Learn how to pack the plot full by complicating your complications. Control your pacing through sentence and paragraph length. Novelists will benefit from these insights, whether they are just starting out or have years of experience.
