Are you ready to take your writing to new heights? Join us for an inspiring day filled with workshops designed to sharpen your skills and ignite your creativity. This is your opportunity for in-person connections and to build your writing network.
Date: January 24, 2026
Time: 9 AM to 4 PM
Location: Hotel Nexus at Northgate, 2140 N Northgate Way, Seattle, WA
Parking is free & Northgate Light Rail is nearby
Registration Fee: SinC Members $50; Non-Members $80
A few scholarships are available. Email: info@pugetsoundsinc.com
Food: Breakfast treats and lunch included
Register Here: https://forms.gle/f2z6PYfmKX4sypF27
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from industry experts and connect with fellow writers!Whether you’re a seasoned author or just starting out, this conference is designed to inspire and elevate your writing journey. Reserve your spot today!
Workshop Sessions
Speaker bios below.
🌟 Secrets to Creating Tension on Every Page: A Book Doctor’s Approach to Editing Suspense Fiction
Dive into the art of suspense with Christine M. Fairchild, a seasoned Book Doctor with over 35 years of experience. Learn how to:
- Maintain reader interest using hooks and pacing
- Differentiate between surprises and shocks
- Craft compelling dialogue and characters
- Understand the critical editing choices that can elevate your story
🌟 Voice of the Author, the Characters & the Book
Join Elena Hartwell Taylor as she unpacks the elusive concept of “voice” in writing. Discover how to enhance:
- The unique voice of the author
- Distinct character voices
- The overarching voice of your book
This session will equip you with the tools to transform your manuscript into a polished work that captivates readers and catches agents’ attention!
🌟 Dialogue for Crime and Mystery Fiction with Glen Erik Hamilton
“How can I make my dialogue snappy, Paulie?” Mickey said.
Paulina frowned. “Keep it in the fridge with the carrots.”
“I’m serious. I need my characters to talk like real people. Distinct voices, you know?”
She knew. Mickey wasn’t ready for the hard truth, that dialogue was no more real than anything else in fiction. Dialogue was the whetstone that could give a novel a razor edge or dull even the sharpest story. Finding the right angle might be the most challenging element of writing. But she couldn’t shelter Mick forever.
Paulina stared until he looked up from the blank page. “Nobody talks just to convey information, kid. How often do you say what you really mean? Do you reveal your true nature by the words that come out of your mouth? Or by the words that don’t?”
“I don’t understand.”
“You’ve grasped that much. We can start.”
Register Today: https://forms.gle/f2z6PYfmKX4sypF27
Speaker Bios:
- Dive into the art of suspense with Christine M. Fairchild, a seasoned Book Doctor with over 35 years of experience. Learn how to maintain reader interest using hooks and pacing, differentiate between surprises and shocks, craft compelling dialogue and characters, and understand the critical editing choices that can elevate your story. Christine writes Suspense and Historical Fiction. Christine helps authors take their work/career to the next level. A former journalist/editor with 35yrs experience, she now operates as a Book Doctor specializing in Suspense Fiction.
- Elena Taylor is the author of the award-winning Sheriff Bet Rivers Mysteries. She also writes the Eddie Shoes Mysteries about a mother/daughter crime fighting duo under the name Elena Hartwell. Her short story Blood is available through Black Cat Magazine, or as a standalone eBook. The Haunting of Emily Grace is her first foray into suspense. When she’s not writing, she can be found working with other writers as a developmental editor for Allegory Editing, or spending time with her hubby and their dogs, cats, and equines at Paradise, just south of Spokane, Washington.
- A native of Seattle, Glen Erik Hamilton‘s novels have won the Anthony, Macavity, and Strand Magazine Critics awards, and been nominated for the Edgar, Barry, and Nero awards. His series featuring reformed thief Van Shaw has been called “outstanding” (Publishers Weekly), “perfect mix of serious crime and caper movie” (Criminal Element), and “a must-read series” (Mystery Scene Magazine). The latest, ISLAND OF THIEVES, was named one of USA Today’s “5 Books Not to Miss”. Glen grew up aboard a sailboat, playing around the islands, marinas, and commercial docks of the Pacific Northwest. Track him down at glenerikhamilton.com.