Summer Words Craft Talks and Panels – 2026

Monday, June 22

Inside Publishing: How It Actually Works | Mon, 6/22 | 1:30-2:30pm

From agents to editors to marketing, the publishing process can feel opaque from the outside. This panel offers a clear, candid look at how books move from manuscript to marketplace – what matters, what doesn’t, and where writers have more control than they think. Expect practical guidance, straight talk, and a few persistent myths put to rest.

Speakers: Ashley Lopez, Cece Lyra, Abby Walters, Rebekah Jett

Moderator: Ryan Harbage

Tuesday, June 23

Finding the Form: How Structure Unlocks Story | Tues, 6/23 | 3:30-4:30pm

Sometimes the problem isn’t the writing—it’s the container. This panel explores how structure shapes meaning, sharpens stakes, and guides the reader’s experience. When the form clicks, the story gains clarity, momentum, and depth.

Speakers: Jamel Brinkley, Meghan O’Rourke

Moderator: Julie Comins

Wednesday, June 24

The Art of Perspective | Wed, 6/24 | 3:40-4:20pm 

The success of any work of fiction or narrative nonfiction depends almost entirely on its narrative strategy. Not only which character(s) tell(s) the story or in which point of view or tense, but how those storytelling choices -- among many other seemingly minor choices -- contribute to the overall effect the author is aiming for. This talk will define narrative strategy and discuss its relationship to perspective, narrativedistance, and the myth of "reliability," among other craft elements, through the lens of contemporary texts.

Speaker: Christopher Castellani

Where Meaning Lives: The Hidden Power of Detail | Wed, June 24 | 4:30-5:10pm

What does a to-do list have in common with a novel by Henry James? More than you’d think. This talk explores how the scraps writers collect—objects, phrases, half-formed observations—become a training ground for metaphor. We’ll look at why concrete detail carries more emotional weight than abstraction, and why “show me the wrapping paper” is better writing advice than “show, don’t tell.” Writers will leave with a sharper eye for what’s already on the page—and how meaning emerges when two things sit side by side.

Speaker: Hannah Pittard

Thursday, June 25

 Characters That Carry the Story | Thurs, 6/25 | 3:15-4:15pm

 Plot may move the story forward, but character gives it weight. This panel explores how to create layered, specific, and surprising characters—people whose desires, flaws, and contradictions generate tension and keep readers invested.

Speakers: Daryl Gregory, Jade Chang

Moderator: Mitzi Rapkin

Revision is Writing: Where the Work Becomes the Work | Thurs, 6/25 4:30-5:30pm

The first draft gets something down. Revision makes it work. This panel focuses on how to approach rewriting—what to cut, what to deepen, and how to recognize the story you’ve actually written. 

Speakers: Brian Broome, Christopher Castellani, Hannah Pittard

Moderator: Adrienne Brodeur