When Words Collide 2026

When Words Collide 2026

A Festival for Writers, Readers, and Fans

Deborah Nicholson

10:30am MDT

Welcome! Opening Ceremony & Keynote Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4+6Terry Brooks

12:00pm MDT

Fundamentals of Commercial Fiction - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req) Hyatt Regency Calgary - WalkerCraig DiLouie Make Shame Your Bitch - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req) Hyatt Regency Calgary - BannermanJessica Waite

1:30pm MDT

Fear Factor: How Fear Rewires Your Character’s Behavior, Logic & Responses Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9Angela Ackerman

3:00pm MDT

From Overwhelmed to Organized: Your 12 Month Marketing Plan Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7Angela Douglas Adaptation: Turning your Novel into a Script—and Vice-Versa - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req) Hyatt Regency Calgary - BannermanRobert J. Sawyer Paths to Publication: Traditional, Hybrid, and Self-Publishing in Today’s Market Hyatt Regency Calgary - HeraldLinda Sanche • Craig DiLouie • Leanne Janzen • Carly Watters • Felicia Zuniga Get Ready for Live Action Slush Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6Randy McCharles • Valerie L. King

4:30pm MDT

The Whole Package: Creating a Top-Quality Published Book That Jumps Off the Shelf and Attacks Your Reader (Nicely) Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7Jennifer Sommersby Things That Make You Go: Go! A Workshop on Keeping Your Momentum Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4Deniz Soykurumcetin

5:00pm MDT

Take your character from an RPG to a Novel Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen BDarren Tenor

9:00am MDT

Pitch Games Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen BChris Corvan • Stacey Kondla • Lexie Angelo • Ed Willett • Ella Beaumont Selling Your Book Without Platform Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7Jessica Waite Beyond Character vs. Plot Driven: The Differences between Literary Upmarket, & Commercial Fiction - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req) Hyatt Regency Calgary - WalkerMira Landry

10:30am MDT

15 Ways to Make Money in the Writing World Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7Suzy Vadori Creating a Unique Detective Figure Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5Chris Carolan • Juanita R Violini • Jonathan Whitelaw • Lexie Angelo

12:00pm MDT

Make a Killer Movie: Writing Genre Films For Yourself (and the Market) Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen BMichael Peterson Live Action Slush: Short Fiction Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6Claire Bolton • Jennifer Chevais • Lexie Angelo • Cecilia "CeCe" Lyra

1:30pm MDT

Surviving Publishing Hyatt Regency Calgary - DollRhonda Parrish • Jason Pearce • Margaret Curelas • Krista D. Ball Query Slush Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6Jennifer Sommersby • Erin Weir • Mira Landry • Bonnie Jacoby Craft a Collaborative Novel Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4Shawn L. Bird

3:00pm MDT

Screenwriting Essentials - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req) Hyatt Regency Calgary - WalkerAndrew Buckley Live Action Slush: Romance Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6Nicole Roche • Mira Landry • Carly Watters • Alison McBain

9:00am MDT

What Next? Self-editing Strategies for Moving Your Manuscript Forward Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9Sandra McIntyre The Importance of Finding Your Community Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5Deniz Soykurumcetin • Donna D. Conrad • J.C. (John) Corry • Angela Douglas • Marie Powell

10:30am MDT

Ten Ways to Market Your Book on a Budget Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7Faye Arcand The importance of names and language Hyatt Regency Calgary - HeraldLareina Abbott • Jason Pearce • Camilla Tracy • Onyx Shelton

12:00pm MDT

Working with a Freelance Editor: What to Expect When You’re Expecting (a Manuscript Edit) Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7Jennifer Sommersby From Manuscript to Market: Ask Us Anything Hyatt Regency Calgary - HeraldCecilia "CeCe" Lyra • Leanne Janzen • Mira Landry • Ella Beaumont Get that grant! How to win literary arts grants Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8Lexie Angelo

1:30pm MDT

Actors Read YOUR Dialogue! Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6Erin Weir • Megan Baldrey • Claire Bolton 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

3:00pm MDT

The Third Path to Publishing: Finding Author Success with a Small Press Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5Sarah Johnson • Hilary Faktor • Susan Carpenter • CM Shanahan Tricks, Tips & Traps for Successful Writing Groups Hyatt Regency Calgary - HeraldSandy Navrady • Lareina Abbott • Sean Crawford • Em Williamson Live Action Slush: Science Fiction Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6Richard Graeme Cameron • Bonnie Jacoby • Krista Wallace • Ella Beaumont

4:30pm MDT

Developmental Editing Your Book Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7Suzy Vadori Cross-Genre Careers: Keeping Series & Voice Coherent Across Genres Hyatt Regency Calgary - DollJennifer Sommersby • Alison McBain • Alexis Marie Chute • P.D. Workman Live Action Slush: Fantasy/Urban Fantasy Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6Margaret Curelas • Bonnie Jacoby • Megan Baldrey • Ella Beaumont

6:00pm MDT

Closing Ceremony: TWONOTE with Andrew Buckley, Gemma Files; plus War of the Words Winners Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4+6Andrew Buckley • Gemma Files