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PROGRAM OUTLINE

THURSDAY 20 AUGUST
FRIDAY 21 AUGUST
SATURDAY 22 AUGUST
SUNDAY 22 AUGUST
BOOKS & BUBBLES

FULL DAY WORKSHOPS

PITCHING AND BUSINESS APPOINTMENTS

NEWBIES WELCOME

COCKTAIL PARTY

OPENING CEREMONY

PLENARY SESSIONS

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

PITCHING AND BUSINESS APPPOINTMENTS

GALA DINNER

PLENARY SESSIONS

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

PITCHING AND BUSINESS APPOINTMENTS

CLOSING CEREMONY

*Workshops are held concurrently - see more information below

OPTIONAL WORKSHOPS

Please note these workshops run concurrently and you will not be able to register for more than one. You can add a workshop onto your conference registration, or register for a Friday Workshop only. Workshops include morning tea and lunch.

WORKSHOP FEE:

Members - $300 | Non-Members $350

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RACHAEL JOHNS

Recommended Pre-Workshop Reading:

  • Beach Read by Emily Henry
  • The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary
  • The Hating Game by Sally Thorn
  • The Other Bridget by Rachael Johns
  • Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
  • The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
  • Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore
  • Lick by Kylie Scott
  • The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Hann

HOW TO WRITE A

BREAKOUT ROMANCE NOVEL

MORNING: Crafting A Breakout Romance

What do Beach Read, The Love Hypothesis and Red, White & Royal Blue have in common? These breakout romances hook readers with a high-concept premise, a simple and irresistible idea you can pitch in one sentence, and then keep them turning pages with conflict, chemistry and emotion.

In the morning session, Rachael will show you how to take the germ of an idea and expand it into a full novel. Learn how to craft a compelling hook, build emotional stakes and create true-to-life characters readers will root for. You will walk away with practical techniques, concrete examples and a strong foundation for your breakout romance.

AFTERNOON: The Author Life - From Manuscript to Marketplace

The afternoon session shifts focus from writing the book to building the career. Rachael will take you behind the scenes of the author life: how to stay connected to your story, write to deadlines, pitch to agents and publishers, and what to expect during the editorial and promotional process. She will also discuss how to respond to the market, make the most of publishing opportunities and understand who is looking for what in the current Australian industry.

This session offers insider knowledge, practical strategies and proven tools to help you take your writing career to the next level.


JANE FRIEDMAN

This full-day intensive program is designed for romance authors who want to sharpen the assets that drive long-term earnings: a solid author website to support direct sales, a reader-centric newsletter, and a diversified income portfolio.


AUTHOR

PLATFORM __INTENSIVE

MORNING FOCUS:

Author websites and newsletter mastery. We start by dissecting what today’s best-in-class author websites and email newsletters look like: clear and consistent branding that make you look like a bestseller, easily accessible and searchable, and strategic calls to action. Expect insights on copywriting, structure and navigation, and how to common pitfalls, distilled from Jane’s long-running curriculum on author websites and best practices of email marketing. Everyone will walk away with new tech tips and tricks for making website and newsletter work more fun and sustainable.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

1. Better optimize your branding and messaging in an online environment, and use the language of readers to help your efforts.

2. The importance of your bio in online environments and how to strengthen then it.

3. Gain insight into the best practices of online writing, especially headline writing, and how to get attention for what you write and post online.

4. Avoid common email marketing mistakes and how to better engage the subscribers you have, and get new subscribers outside of giveaways and promotions. Avoid what is perceived as "spammy" or annoying. To maximize relevance, attendees may submit their website, newsletter, or links to their broader online presence in advance (instructions will be sent after registration). Jane will use representative examples for live “hot-seat” critiques and facilitate guided peer feedback, ensuring authors leave with specific next steps and improvements.


AFTERNOON FOCUS:

Beyond retail sales. We’ll discuss revenue streams that go beyond book sales—advertising, sponsorships, affiliate marketing partnerships, crowdfunding, subscriptions, and patronage—along with the pros and cons of each model. As time allows, we’ll also cover negotiation tactics for rights, rates, and contracts so you can protect value when dealing with publishers, service providers, or brand partners.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

1. How advertising and sponsorships are one of the most overlooked ways to earn extra money in the book publishing business. Plus, a look at affiliate marketing, the easy way to get started with advertising

2. Best practices of crowdfunding: it’s becoming one of the most favored ways for indie authors to pre-sell, and useful for traditionally published authors as well

3. Patronage versus subscription models: They’re the same but different. Which one is better suited to you?