Upcoming Events
Regular monthly meetings are held at the
New Hope Church of Christ
700 W 2nd St, Edmond, OK
January 20, 2024
Author Betsey Kulakowski
DIY Marketing for Authors – Social Media and Other Fun Things
I know. I know. I know. You want to write your book. You didn’t become an author because you wanted to connect with people. You don’t even like people. Besides, what do you know about social media or marketing? Isn’t that the publisher’s job? It’s a rude awakening for authors these days when they realize they’re going to be the ones mostly responsible for selling their own books. In this session, I’ll share some of my tips and tricks to do the most marketing, with the least amount of effort, and minimal expense.
Betsey is a federally trained investigator and has 30+ years of experience as an occupational safety specialist, with a degree in emergency management. Betsey served on disaster response teams at the Murrah Federal Building Bombing, the World Trade Center, and Hurricanes Katrina/Rita, as well as other disasters in Oklahoma.
She wrote her first book at age 6. Being a writer wasn't something she chose. It chose her. Betsey is the author of the bestselling, award-winning, paranormal thriller, The Veritas Codex, and the series of the same name. She is an avid history buff and family genealogist. She's married and has two grown children and two fur babies.
February 17, 2024
Cameron Sutter with Plottr
How to Outline and Organize Your Books Like a Pro + Let's Talk AI
Plotters and pantsers of the world, unite! If you haven’t seen the popular visual book planning and story bible software Plottr, you’re missing out.
In this interactive session with the inventor of Plottr, you’ll learn how seeing your story visually will change your life and how Plottr's templates unlock easy-mode for writing. The best part? It works for pantsers, too!
If you’re ready to (finally) organize the story ideas rampaging through your head, then join the session, ask questions, and see why Plottr is rated the #1 outlining software by Kindlepreneur.
We'll also spend some time talking about how AI has changed writing and what that will mean for you.
Cameron Sutter is a Christian YA sci-fi/fantasy author, software developer, and the inventor of Plottr – the popular visual planning software for books and stories of all kinds. He's escaped death by explosion, rock slide, disease, and car accident. Sometimes he calls himself the boy who lived, but he's still waiting for the letter to Hogwarts. He lives near Oklahoma City with his wife, six kids, several furry friends, and 97 pet turtles.
March 16, 2024
Author Kat Lewis
Exploring Universal Fantasies
Often described as the "secret sauce" to bestselling fiction, Universal Fantasies are the untouchable dreams that encapsulates all the secret desires humans long for and are the subconscious reasons readers are drawn to a novel. Through the eyes of Disney & Marvel, let's explore the emotional strings that Universal Fantasies pull on and how writers can weave that into character arcs, trope choice, and even marketing tactics to ensure that we deliver the story with high impact and appeal and our books find the right readers every time.
Kat Lewis is an author, speaker, and culture creator who uses fiction to empower ethnic millennial women to embrace their unique identity as the key to rewriting cultural, social, and generational cycles.
April 20, 2024, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
OCFW MiniCon
Rene Gutteridge will be sharing her knowledge with us in four classes. Come spend the day, join us for the VIP Q&A luncheon, and learn a ton!
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Character and Character Therapy
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Queries, Short Pitches, Synopses and More!
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How Film is Killing Your Fiction and How to Fix It with Deep POV
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Traditional Vs. Self Publishing
Rene Gutteridge has been writing professionally for over twenty years, with diversified expertise in fiction, non-fiction, comedy sketches, novelizations and screenwriting. She is the multi-genre author of 24 novels plus several non-fiction titles. Her indie film SKID won deadCenter’s Best Oklahoma Feature in 2015, and in 2016 her novel My Life as a Doormat was adapted into the Hallmark movie Love’s Complicated. She is co-writer on the feature film Family Camp, a Movieguide award winner and a Dove Award nominee for 2023. She is also a Screencraft finalist in true-crime. Rene is co-director of WriterCon in Oklahoma City, senior contributor at Writing Momentum and is the head writer at Skit Guys Studios.
May 18, 2024
Author Robin Patchen
Back of Book Blurbs
​The ins and outs of writing compelling back of book blurbs that entice readers to read your story.
Robin Patchen is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of Christian romantic suspense. She grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, the setting of her Nutfield Saga books. When she’s not writing, she’s editing or reading, proving most of her life revolves around the twenty-six letters of the alphabet. Hit the SUBSCRIBE tab above to receive a free book and stay informed about Robin’s latest projects.
June 15, 2024
Author Chris Tarpley
Christians Write the Best Fiction: The Hero’s Journey, Tropes, and Archetypes
​All stories feature tropes, archetypes, and a common sequence of events called the Hero’s Journey. There is a formula that is imbedded in the classic folk stories around the world that was “discovered” by Joseph Campbell in the 20th century. I will show you what that formula is, how to use it alongside tropes and archetypes to give your story universal appeal, and why that formula actually predates Joseph Campbell by about five thousand years.
Chris Tarpley once moonlighted in the IT industry, but his heart has always been devoted to storytelling. He lives in rural Oklahoma with his wife and children, two dogs, a cat, and the occasional field mouse that evades the traps. Chris is a contributing author of The Legacy Letters, Cracked Ice, By This Sign, Secrets, Spies and Allies, and The Many Lives of Veronica Carner. He is currently working on City of Ruins, book one of the Virid Flame series of fantasy novels.
July 20, 2024
Write-In
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Need a day to sort through your characters or add words to your WIP? Need feedback or help working through those plot holes? Bring your lunch and join us for seven hours of writing fun!
August 17, 2024
Marla Jones
Doodle and Peck Publishing
On being a writer, illustrator, and publisher
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The owner and senior editor of Doodle and Peck Publishing, Marla F. Jones has read thousands of children’s books. Literally. As a first grade teacher, story time was her favorite part of the day. As a writer, she has authored four picture books. As an artist, Jones has illustrated five and is working on a sixth. She uses a colorful mix of media, papers, fabrics and found objects, and layers them to create texture and dimension to her folk-art style. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and the Oklahoma Writers Federation.
September 21, 2024
NY Times Best Selling Author Tosca Lee - via Zoom
Join us for Q & A with NY Times Best Selling author Tosca Lee as she shares the highs and lows and full-circle moments of her career.
Tosca Lee is the multiple award winning, New York Times bestselling author of twelve novels including The Line Between, The Legend of Sheba, Iscariot, and The Long March Home (with Marcus Brotherton). Her work has been translated into seventeen languages and optioned for TV and film. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, The Historical Novel Society, and serves on International Thriller Writers’ board of directors.
Tosca lives in Nebraska with her husband and one of four children still at home.
October 17-20, 2024
OCFW Writing Retreat
A 4-day writing intensive to maximize the most out of your getaway!
Treat your writing like a legitimate profession. We set aside designated writing hours—8 hours of time split up throughout the day for you to fully focus on your novel—and time to brainstorm and problem solve with your fellow authors! Whether you're looking to jump start a new novel idea or make huge progress in your current work in progress, there's something here for everyone!
November 16, 2024
Author Laurel Thomas
Building Emotional Setting
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A writer’s coach and novelist, Laurel Thomas loves words and their power to convey story. She’s written for inspirational magazines, ghosted nonfiction and delved into her favorite playground – fiction. Three of her novels, River’s Call, When Stars Brush Earth, and Stones of Promise boast five-star ratings and have won numerous awards. When she’s not with family or roaming the halls of Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation as chaplain, she’s on her laptop doing what she loves most – crafting stories of ordinary characters who arise against impossible odds to accomplish the extraordinary.
December date TBD
Christmas Party!
Make sure to join us for great food and fellowship. Bring a dish to share and a $15 or under gift to swap (or steal).