Workshop
Room Two
2:00pm- 105 minutes
Family stories don’t just live in archives — they linger in dreams, memory, and the quiet spaces of the unconscious. In this craft-focused workshop, discover how historical fiction and genealogical mystery can emerge as much from ancestral whispers and emotional truth as from documented research. Learn practical techniques for transforming long-buried family secrets, fragmented memories, and dream imagery into layered plot, compelling characters, and sustained suspense. You’ll leave with tools for weaving archival fact and the mysteries of the unconscious into powerful, haunting narrative.
Presentation
Room One
1:00pm- 50 minutes
Explore the joys in writing the paranormal, choosing a paranormal character, and world building. As an exercise, attendees will be invited to choose their paranormal character and an inciting incident to share with the group. This can apply traditional techniques such as plot and characterization to the special needs of paranormal stories. Common pitfalls of writing about the paranormal will be reviewed.
Panel
Room Two
1:00pm- 50 minutes
Kris Bock, Claire A Murray, Elaine Powers
Good writing is rewriting, but how do you do it? We'll explore self editing your own work and discuss when to get outside help from a critique group or professional editor to get you one step closer to publication.
Presentation
Room One
12:00pm- 50 minutes
Two people can create conflict.
Three people create a mess.
What makes a book so enticing readers can't put it down?
Share this memorable interactive experience with seasoned author, presenter and real life international criminologist, Susan Magestro as we explore the design of multi levels of conflict within stories you know and stories you write.
The best known stories are built on well-defined characters and rich conflict!—Person v Person, Person v Group, Person v Self, Person v Nature
Panel
Room One
11:00am- 50 minutes
Anna Dalhaimer Bartkowski, Patricia Bonn, Roberta Gibson, Elaine Powers
Characters need to be true to her/his place in society and time. Use of 21st century verbiage won't make sense if the story is set in the American West of the 1800s. Neither will the polished language of an elitist Harvard grad fit a cartel member in Texas. Fantasy and paranormal writers are freer to make stuff up—they are the creators of their worlds. Most of us work in the real world and need to research some of the minutia that would catch the reader's eye as out of place in the story.
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.
Subcategories
2026 Panel List
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
