Writing Away Refuge Zoom Pitch Retreat Schedule for August 15th-16th, 2026

​(Please note that all times are Central Standard Time--CT)

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Friday, August 14th

 

Practice Pitches Over Zoom—7:30 PM—9:30 PM (Central Time)

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Saturday, August 15th

Schedule (Central Time)

 

8:50 AM (CT)—Sign-in

 

9:00 AM-10:15 AM (CT)—Layering Romance in Your Fiction—Lee Ann Ward

 

10:15 AM-10:30 AM (Break)

 

10:30 AM-11:30 AM—How to Write Memoir—Allison Hong Merrill

 

11:30 AM—11:35 AM–Workshop Wrap-up

 

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 Agent Pitch Blocks

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11:50 AM—3:50 PM (CT)—Individual pitch sessions with Hunter Strickland

 

11:50 AM—3:50 PM (CT)—Individual pitch sessions with Stephanie Katz​

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4:00 PM—8:00 PM (CT)—Individual pitch sessions with Rebecca Lommers

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4:00 PM—8:00 PM (CT)—Individual pitch sessions with Tali Shammas

 

4:00 PM—8:00 PM (CT)—Individual pitch sessions with Ava Grayson

 

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​8:15 PM—9:15 PM (CT)—ZOOM After Party for attendees—We're here to answer all your questions about agents, traditional publishing, giveaway some cool prizes, and have a little fun!

 

 

Sunday. August 16th

Schedule (Central Time)

 

8:50 AM—Sign-in (CT)

 

9:00 AM-10:15 AM—How to Research Effectively for Your Fiction—Joyce Scarbrough

 

10:15 AM—10:30 AM—(Break)

 

10:30 AM-11:30 AM—Structuring Your Killer Plot—Lee Ann Ward

 

11:30 AM—11:35 AM—Closing Remarks after Workshops & prize drawings

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Agent Pitch Blocks

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11:50 AM—3:50 PM (CT)—Individual Pitch sessions with Rita Veras

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11:50 AM—3:50 PM (CT)—Individual pitch sessions with Rhian MacGillivray

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11:50 AM—3:50 PM (CT)—Individual pitch sessions with Ivanka Dimitrova

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