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Attend the Summer Words 2025 Panels
June 23 @ 1:30 pm - June 26 @ 5:30 pm UTC-7
The Viewline Resort | Snowmass Village, CO
100 Elbert Ln, Snowmass Village, CO 81615
Tune In to the Summer Words 2025 Panels
Join us at the Viewline Resort in Snowmass Village for an exciting lineup of panels featuring acclaimed Summer Words faculty, literary agents, and editors.
Purchase your Panel Pass here!
Your Panels Pass includes access to six engaging panels designed to inspire and inform writers at every stage.
View the full schedule and your order summary below:
Panel Schedule
Monday, June 23 | 1:30–2:30 p.m.
Publishing Unpacked: What Every Writer Needs to Know
From landing an agent to shaping your manuscript, to making sense of marketing, this panel pulls back the curtain on the publishing process. Expect candid insights, smart strategies, and a few myths busted along the way.
Speakers: Amy Guay, Kayla Lightner, Rakesh Satyal, Michael Taeckens
Moderator: Sally Wofford-Girand
Tuesday, June 24 | 3:30–4:30 p.m.
Narrative Architecture: Structure and POV
Structure and POV shape every story, but how do you choose the right approach? This panel explores how structure enhances theme, how POV builds intimacy and tension, and how both work together to keep readers hooked.
Speakers: Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Joshua Mohr, Héctor Tobar
Moderator: Mitzi Rapkin
Wednesday, June 25 | 3:30–4:00 p.m.
How to Make Plot Your Friend
Plot doesn’t have to be a struggle! In this talk, Steve Almond will demystify how stories build momentum, tension, and emotional payoff—without feeling forced. Expect practical tools and a new perspective on storytelling’s most essential element.
Speaker: Steve Almond
Wednesday, June 25 | 4:10–4:40 p.m.
12 Tips for Surviving and Thriving as a Writer (That Have Almost Nothing to Do with Craft)
Writing is an art, but sustaining a writing life is another challenge. Laura Zigman shares twelve hard-won lessons on overcoming self-doubt, redefining success, and staying inspired—even when the words won’t come.
Speaker: Laura Zigman
Thursday, June 26 | 3:00–4:00 p.m.
Setting the Hook: Creating Characters That Keep Readers Turning the Page
What makes a character unforgettable? This panel explores how to craft multidimensional, flawed, and compelling protagonists (and antagonists!) who linger in readers’ and viewers’ minds long after the last page.
Speakers: Vanessa Chan, P. Djèlí Clark, Christina Lazaridi,
Moderator: Breeze Richardson
Thursday, June 26 | 4:15–5:30 p.m.
Next Chapters: Staying Inspired After Summer Words
What happens after the conference ends? In this closing session, faculty members will reflect on key takeaways from the week, share their own creative routines, and offer advice on maintaining inspiration, discipline, and community in your writing life.
Speakers: Faculty
Moderator: Adrienne Brodeur
