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Mar 7, 2026: 2026 March Workshop

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 23:27 -0500

RMFW and Colorado Adventure Point present the 2026 March Workshop!

This year’s Workshop offers four morning sessions and four afternoon sessions. The full day workshop is available, as well as half day workshops (morning and afternoon). The morning session begins at 9 AM (doors open as early as 8 AM) and the afternoon session begins at 1:30 PM.

The Lunch Keynote Speaker is Sydney Ivey of Spicy Librarian.

Sydney Ivey is the owner and founder of Spicy Librarian, Denver’s romance-only bookstore dedicated to celebrating love stories in all their forms. A former kindergarten teacher turned romance enthusiast and entrepreneur, Sydney is passionate about creating community, championing female authors, and unapologetically loving a good happily-ever-after.

Sydney will lead a conversation on what’s hot in the romance genre right now. Which will cover popular tropes, reader trends, and the moments shaping romance both on and off the page

Coffee and pastries will be provided for breakfast for Full Day and Morning Session attendees and Firehouse Subs will be provided for lunch for Full Day and Afternoon Session attendees.

Pricing for RMFW Members:

Full Day Workshop: $100
Half Day Workshop (either morning or afternoon): $60

Pricing for non-RMFW Members:

Full Day Workshop: $150
Half Day Workshop (either morning or afternoon): $100

At-A-Glance Information:

Date : March 7th
Location: Colorado Adventure Point
10455 W 6th Ave #150, Lakewood, CO 8021

Doors Open: 8:00 AM
Opening: 9:00 AM
Morning sessions: 9:30–11:00 AM
Lunch and keynote 11:30 AM–1:00 PM
Afternoon sessions: 1:00–2:30 PM
Closing: 3:00 PM
Morning-only Session: 8:00–11:00 AM
Afternoon-only Session: 12:00–3:00 PM

Morning Sessions
Fix It in Five: Tips for Editing – Laurie Marr Wasmund Hiring a professional editor is expensive (but necessary), so it pays to use your own editing skills to create the best possible product before you sign the contract. In this workshop, we’ll look at five areas of writing craft that can stymie both new and experienced authors: writing powerful dialogue, keeping a consistent point of view, eliminating filter words, creating resonance, and maintaining micro-tension. Bring along your WIP for revision, questions, and discussion. Laurie Marr Wasmund is a former editor, researcher, curriculum specialist, college lecturer, and national writing workshop leader. She has been a featured guest on radio shows, podcasts, and media interviews. Her works include MY HEART LIES HERE, a Novel of the Ludlow Massacre; CLEAN CUT, A Romance of the Western Heart; and the WHITE WINTER TRILOGY, set in Colorado during the Great War. The third book of the trilogy was a 2020 finalist for the Mainstream/Literary Excellence in Writing award from Colorado Authors League. It also received a 2020 EVVY in Historical Fiction from Colorado Independent Publishers Association.
Make Your First Ten Pages Sizzle! – Z.J. Czupor Write like the pros. Start your novel hot and compelling so readers want to keep reading. Learn the do’s and don’ts in this workshop to elevate your writing in this highly competitive marketplace. Z.J. Czupor writes as Zoltan James. He is immediate past president of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and an active member of Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. In addition to writing a monthly column, “On Tour With Dead Writers,” for Rogue Women Writers, his latest thriller, DEAD MEN DON’T DRINK, is published on Substack at zjames.substack.com. He’s also the author of THE BIG WEIRD: Haikus in Times of Pandemic and Chaos. Z.J. is represented by Terrie Wolf, founder and owner of AKA Literary Management.
The First Chapter Fix: What Editors Look For on Page One – Julie Cameron & Eva Fox Mate The first chapter can make, or break, your novel. In this interactive workshop, professional editors from Gemini Writer’s Studio reveal the techniques that make an opening chapter irresistible across genres. You’ll learn how to hook your reader from the first line, introduce compelling characters without info-dumps, and balance tension, backstory, and world-building with editorial precision. Bring your first chapter, or your favorite opening, to discuss what works, what doesn’t, and why. Julie Cameron is an acclaimed author known for her award-winning contemporary romance novels and screenplays. With a unique blend of passion and creativity, she crafts stories that resonate with readers around the world. Through her company, Landon Literary and her partnership with Gemini Writer’s Studio, she has established herself as a successful editor, mentor and coach with over ten years of experience working with both published and non-published authors. Eva Fox Mate is a traditionally published romance author, literary consultant, and editor who delights in helping others with every step of their literary journeys. She has over ten years of coaching, content editing, and copy-editing experience with EFM Editing and Gemini Writer’s Studio. Throughout the course of her career, she has developed a unique skill set that benefits beginning authors, seasoned professionals, and everyone in between.
Using Improv to Improve Your Story – Ben Winter Sometimes writing can be too formulaic. But what if there was a way to improvise a chapter? An act? Or the whole story itself? Learn the tools and techniques for using Improv to help in writing your stories. Ben Winter has over 15 years of acting and improv experience. He has over 20 years of personal growth experience, personal coaching, and has owned several businesses, including Success Improv. His books bring this experience to a written form that will help others grow. In addition, he has explored the realm of science fiction writing and loves every adventure he creates.

Afternoon Sessions
Story Chemistry: Building Characters That Go BOOM – Rachel Delaney Craft Great characters don’t just jump off the page–they also create conflict with their fellow characters, their environment, and even themselves. In this class, we’ll learn how to craft characters for maximum impact on your story, with interactive exercises like: combining positive and negative traits to create flammable characters, making sparks fly by setting two characters’ goals in opposition, and tapping into your character’s greatest fear. Attendees can use these exercises to create characters from scratch or develop the characters in their WIPs. Rachel Delaney Craft writes speculative fiction for children and teens. Her short stories have appeared in publications such as Cricket, Uncharted, and Cast of Wonders, and she edited the anthology Wild: Uncivilized Tales from Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. Her most recent novel won the Colorado Gold Rush Literary Award and was shortlisted in the Searchlight Writing for Children Awards and Voyage YA First Chapter Contest. She lives and writes in Colorado with her husband, two dogs, and a succulent collection that is slowly taking over her house.
And…ACTION! Fighting and Fight Scenes 101 – Bowen Gillings Five-time martial-arts black-belt, army veteran, and award-winning author Bowen Gillings breaks down writing the successful fight scene. Looking at a fight through elements of character, setting, plot, voice, intent, and tone, Bowen uses examples from current popular novels and draws on his experience to show what makes a fight punch off the page and fit perfectly within the scope of your story. Be it a detective thriller or an epic fantasy, if you’re going to write a fight, the fight must fit. After this course, fit it will. Bowen Gillings writes to keep fiction fun. His fiction is laced with snark, wit, and characters you could share a beer with. He loves giving back through media engagement and workshops on the writing craft, business, and lifestyle. He holds a Master of Education, five martial arts black belt certifications, and is an Army veteran. Travel enthusiast, lover of the outdoors, and habitual volunteer, Bowen’s secret joys include quiet moments by the fireplace and cooking big meals for family and friends.
Using Fanfiction to Improve Your Writing – Tasha Christensen Using Fanfiction to Improve your Writing Fanfiction is wildly popular, yet some people are scared or put off by it. In this class, we’ll discuss how fanfiction is more than it seems. Yes, it’s a way to express yourself and have fun, but it’s also an excellent tool for isolating and fine-tuning your prose We’ll discuss the most popular outlets for writing fanfiction, define some terms, and learn about famous authors who are proud of their fanfiction past (or present!). Finally, we’ll go through a few fanfic-inspired writing exercises that will have you looking at your own work differently. Tasha Christensen is a writer and teacher based in Colorado. She co-edited the short story anthology Wild, and her fiction has been featured in award-winning collections and journals. Christensen’s Itaska High book series chronicles the romantic shenanigans of a high school marching band in Minnesota. The first in the series, AS YOU WERE, was a 2023 Indie Author Project winner. Its sequel, MARKING TIME, was longlisted for the 2024 Best Book Awards by American Book Fest.
Playing God for Fun and Profit – Calvin James Worldbuilding can make or break a novel, but constructing an entire cosmos can be daunting. Learn the three most common methods of worldbuilding for fiction(inside-out, outside-in, and pantsing), along with the pros and pitfalls of all three. In addition, participate in worldbuilding exercises to help flesh out your novel’s setting. By the end of 90 minutes, you should have the tools you need to build your own worlds, and be well on your way to constructing a new one yourself. Calvin James is an aerospace engineer and role-playing game designer. He is best known for creating the popular Age of Aether, a historical steampunk fantasy RPG. Calvin is an avid historian, and loves researching life in prior times. Often, he finds knowledge of a historical period can help with worldbuilding, even in a magical land or on a faraway planet. His expertise in aerospace engineering is also a huge help. The science in his novels utilize his real-world knowledge of technology and space exploration, and his worldbuilding reflects the attention to detail required to resolve spacecraft anomalies.

May 28, 2026 - May 31, 2026: 2026 Writers Retreat

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:34 -0500

The RMFW 2026 Writers Education Retreat is scheduled for Thursday, May 28 to Sunday, May 31 at a NEW LOCATION—the beautiful YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. Immersed in this inspiring environment, authors are encouraged to write, network with other authors, and gather valuable knowledge from others in the industry. Workshops and meals are included in the price of the retreat. Lodging is additional. Registration is open. Spots sell out fast and reservations are first come, first accepted. Questions can be directed to Sunshine Knight, Retreat Chair, at retreat@rmfw.org.

We are excited to have Jean Alfieri, LMG Swain, V.L. Andromeda, PK Stuart, Andre Gonzalez and Natasha Gonzalez presenting workshops. Kate Jonuska will return for morning yoga sessions.

Book Signing Event:
This year’s retreat will include a limited-capacity book signing featuring up to eight authors. To ensure fairness and transparency, participation will be open to Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Professional Author Alliance (PAA) members, as this designation reflects established, objective publishing criteria. To become a PAA member, you need to be an RMFW member first, then review the criteria here https://rmfw.org/paa/

Four author slots will be reserved for PAA members, and four “reader” slots will be available to non-presenting retreat attendees to read from their novels. Workshop presenters who are PAA members may participate as authors but will not be eligible for reader slots. If interest exceeds available space, all qualified authors will be entered into a lottery, and participants will be selected at random.

How much does it cost to attend the retreat?
RMFW does not aim to make money on the retreat; we aim to break even. We divide the total costs (location rental plus speaker fees) by the target number of attendees to give you the most affordable experience possible.

The costs to attend the 2026 retreat are as follows:

$275 – Full Retreat Registration (lodging is not included)
Includes access to all six workshops, two meals per day, and eligibility for RMFW PAA members to participate in the book-signing event.
Day Rates (choose one or more days):
- $50 – Thursday or Sunday Day Rate
  Covers one day of the retreat, including one workshop and two meals.
- $100 – Friday or Saturday Day Rate
  Covers one day of the retreat, including two workshops and two meals.
$563 (incl. tax) –Weekend Lodging (Three-Night Stay at Rams Horn Lodge)
Includes a room at Rams Horn Lodge for the full retreat weekend (three nights), with two queen beds. Rams Horn Lodge is one of the central hotel-style lodges at YMCA of the Rockies’ Estes Park Center offering comfortable rooms that include a mini-fridge, a coffee maker, and a full private bath. Find a roommate and share the cost! Other lodging options are available at the YMCA if you prefer. https://www.ymcarockies.org
If you would like to enjoy the YMCA’s beautiful mountain location beyond the dates of our group’s stay, please make your reservation on-line first for the dates of the group’s event by clicking on the link above. Then call Central Reservations at (888) 613-9622 to add the additional nights to your existing reservation. Have your reservation number handy.

What’s included in the cost of registration?

Two meals per day (Thursday dinner through Sunday breakfast). Dining & Meals (group and optional off-site / alternate on-site):
At Estes Park Center there are several on-site dining options:
- The Aspen Dining Room — an all-you-can-eat buffet serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The buffet includes a salad bar, hot and cold entrées, desserts, beverages, and always offers vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free selections to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- For lighter fare, snacks, coffee, or more casual meals, there’s the Rustic Café — offering baked goods, soups, salads, sandwiches, beverages, and quick meals.
- During the summer season (when open), the Pine Room Restaurant serves lodge-style comfort food — burgers, BBQ, sandwiches, and a full menu for lunch or dinner.
For your retreat, we’ll eat as a group for the following meals in the Aspen Dining Room:
- Thursday Dinner at 6:00pm
- Friday Lunch at 12:00pm and Dinner at 6:00pm
- Saturday Lunch at 12:00pm and Dinner at 6:00pm
- Sunday Breakfast at 8:00am
- For other meals, guests are also welcome to dine off-site or use other on-site dining options (like the Pine Room Restaurant or Rustic Café) depending on preference or schedule.
Full access to the YMCA of the Rockies grounds and guest amenities, including hiking trails, recreational facilities, and a wide range of on-site activities. Visit their website for the current schedule of offerings: https://www.ymcarockies.org/things-to-do/activities.
Easy proximity to Estes Park, just minutes away for additional dining, shopping, and exploration.
Evening programming, including after-dinner author readings, book signing and informal discussion sessions.
Six craft-focused workshops along with daily yoga sessions to support creativity and well-being.
Meaningful community time with fellow writers—share ideas, encouragement, and conversation throughout the weekend.
A peaceful mountain setting designed to help you relax, recharge, and find inspiration in the surrounding beauty.
Dedicated writing time, giving you the space to focus solely on your craft without outside distractions.

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Mar 7, 2026: 2026 March Workshop

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