2011 Retreat Group Photo (The first year of Session 2!)
"Get yer Rainforest Swag here!"

2025 Schedule

Here are the scheduled Talks for each session.  (More specifc information about the full schedule coming soon!) 

Session I
  • The Blue Paper Trick and Other Creativity Hacks (Daryl Gregory)
The blank page is terrifying. Daryl shares a collection of writing hacks that have gotten him writing when he couldn't start or couldn't keep going. Come prepared to share your own. 
  • Half-way Plotting (Nancy Kress)
You are neither an outliner nor a pantser, but there is a novel you want to write, if only you knew in what direction to take it.  Is there some way to construct a plot that is neither meticulously thought through nor mysteriously vague in your mind?  And how do you do that? Nancy Kress will discuss one possible approach.
  • Four Points of View (Maureen McHugh)
It was a dark and stormy night.  A shot rang out!  Who is say 'it was a dark and stormy night'?  The point of view character?  Are they sitting around the Victorian mansion thinking 'It's a dark and stormy night.  It's still a dark and stormy.  Still dark and stormy.'  Fun exercises exploring p.o.v. and a sneaky way to talk about narration and the voice of a piece. 

Session II
  • Windows Into Point of View  (David Levine)
When you select a point of view (or more than one) for a story, you are controlling the window through which the reader perceives the action. Point of view is more than just first, second, or third person, and the point of view character is not necessarily the main character or the protagonist. The viewpoint may be close or distant in terms of time, space, and emotion; it may see characters' thoughts and emotions or it may not. It may be trustworthy or untrustworthy. It may have an attitude, an agenda, and/or a distinctive voice, or it may be neutral. Let's talk about how you can use point of view to develop characters, build the world, and deepen the reader's involvement with the plot
  • Writing for RPGs: Is it worth it to roll the dice? (Patrick Hurley)
As managing editor for Paizo, Patrick will talk about what it takes to write for tabletop RPGs and the difference between writing one's own fiction, writing for another IP, and also writing for an RPG. Turns out there's a decent amount of crossover between the RPG and SFF communities!
  • How to Publish Yourself (Dale Smith)
You don’t have to “go full indie author”, digital self-publishing is an option for any writer who has a well-written, well-edited novella or novel (or even a short story). Dale will lay out the fundamentals of self-publishing your fiction, from deciding to self-publish, using beta readers, working with editors, the different publishing platforms, book covers and descriptions, and discuss connecting with readers.

Session III
  • Archaeology in Your World-Building (Rhiannon Held) 
It's pretty obvious you'll want to look to archaeology if your characters are exploring ancient ruins, or if you want to chart the long course of history in your world. But there's much more to it than that! What's the difference between compliance and academic archaeology? Between oral history and oral tradition? How do your characters feel about their cultures' history--do they revere it, or have they forgotten it? Look at ways to make your world come alive beyond dusty temples and tombs.
  • Monk's Bag of Tricks for Fabulous Stories (Devon Monk) 
Devon’s tricks include fun (probably not stolen) tips, hints, and secrets. Devon has dove into her bag of tricks over the last few decades and 34 some-odd books. Time for some fun!
  • Steaming Up the Windows (Coral Moore)
A lot of writers are scared to add more spice to their work, but there’s really nothing to be afraid of. We’ll talk about what makes a sex scene good, beyond just the obvious, and how you can make them integral to your books.

Session IV
  • A Rubric to Strengthen Self-editing  (Mary-Kate Mackey)
Mary-Kate will cover four areas—CHARACTER, (Characterization, Dialogue, Protagonist’s Wants and Needs, Setting/World Building); PLOT, (Inciting Incident, Choices Faced, Consequences); STYLE (Emotional Tone, Theme, Pacing); and MECHANICS (the picky details—Show vs. Tell, Passive/Filtered Voice, and Killing Darlings). Be ready for a hands-on exercise for creating a genre-specific rubric.
  • SpecPo: What is It Good For? (Colleen Anderson)
Speculative poetry has seen a resurgence in magazines and anthologies, and has not only been recognized for awards by the SFPA and the HWA, but SFWA is now including poetry. From scifaiku to epic tales written in verse, poetry is now considered an accessible form for writers and readers. This overview will look at some types of poetry, places to submit or read, and how specpo can enhance the speculative world. There may even be a short hands-on in writing a short poem.
  • Tools for Untangling Your Story (Fonda Lee)
It happens to every writer: One day you’re happily drafting your story and the next, it feels like you’ve run into a brick wall or gotten completely lost in a tangled forest of your own making. Don’t despair! Fonda Lee will discuss some useful techniques for getting unstuck and finding your way back into the narrative. We’ll start with the importance of identifying the core of your story, mapping its key turning points, and diagnosing common problems. We’ll engage in exercises focused on auditing scenes, reverse outlining, self-critiquing and more. The next time your story feels like a jumbled mess, try pulling out one of these tools from your writer’s toolbox.