When Words Collide 2026 has ended

When Words Collide 2026

A Festival for Writers, Readers, and Fans

Cara Y

10:00am MDT

Welcome! Opening Ceremony & Keynote Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4+6Delilah S. Dawson • Kevin McDonald • Andrew Buckley • Bianca Marais • Lily Chu • Craig DiLouie • Gemma Files • Danny Ramadan • Amanda Leduc • Mira Landry • Carly Watters • Cecilia "CeCe" Lyra • Terry Brooks

3:00pm MDT

No Blueprint Required: Writing Careers Off the Map Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5Yewande Daniel-Ayoade • Miranda Krogstad • Andrew Buckley • Finnian Burnett Paths to Publication: Traditional, Hybrid, and Self-Publishing in Today’s Market Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6Linda Sanche • Craig DiLouie • Leanne Janzen • Carly Watters • Felicia Zuniga Get Ready for Live Action Slush Hyatt Regency Calgary - HeraldRandy McCharles • Valerie L. King

4:30pm MDT

StoryCentric presents, Writers on Writers Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6Andrew Buckley • Gemma Files • Bianca Marais • Craig DiLouie Writing As Resistance: Using Our Words to Critique, Challenge, and Disrupt Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5Madison Joyce • Priscille Bukasa • Adrienne Adams • Alex Benarzi • O.L. McAnord

9:00am MDT

BREAKFAST CLUB: The Shit No One Tells You About Writing / Books with Hooks Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6Bianca Marais • Carly Watters • Cecilia "CeCe" Lyra Beyond Character vs. Plot Driven: The Differences between Literary Upmarket, & Commercial Fiction - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req) Hyatt Regency Calgary - WalkerMira Landry Feminine Solutions in Science Fiction and Fantasy Hyatt Regency Calgary - HeraldSusan Forest • Krista Wallace • Sarah Johnson • Bonnie Jacoby • Camilla Tracy Get Outta My Head! Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4Andrew Buckley Writing While Neurodiverse: ADHD Strategies for Authors Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8Nicole Bross

10:30am MDT

How To Pitch in Real Life Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9Carly Watters

3:00pm MDT

Live Action Slush: Romance Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6Nicole Roche • Mira Landry • Carly Watters • Alison McBain Laugh Out Loud Literary Devices Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4Miranda Krogstad

7:30pm MDT

Readings From Your Next Favourite Romance Authors Hyatt Regency Calgary - Thompson Social HubJennifer Sommersby • Rosey Hwang • Alix Kelinda • Lily Chu

10:30am MDT

Creativity & Chaos Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4Andrew Buckley • Finnian Burnett

12:00pm MDT

My Stupid Career, with Kevin McDonald Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6Kevin McDonald 10 SIGNS You’re Ready to Write a Murder Mystery - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req) Hyatt Regency Calgary - BannermanJuanita R Violini From Manuscript to Market: Ask Us Anything Hyatt Regency Calgary - HeraldCecilia "CeCe" Lyra • Leanne Janzen • Mira Landry • Ella Beaumont Avoiding the 10 Biggest Mistakes Writers Make w. Bianca Marais Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4Bianca Marais

1:30pm MDT

How to Make Readers Fall in Love (or Hate) Your Characters Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9Chris Corvan How to Write a Synopsis without Crying First Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4Mira Landry