WriterCon Newsletter (October 2025)

Hey Friends! Hope everyone is enjoying October. I’m wearing an orange-and-black cat shirt as I type this, so obviously, I’m getting into the season. Maybe I’m starting a little early, but I’m going out of town in a week, and if you don’t wear those Halloween shirts in October, when will you? I’m looking forward to the Big Day, mostly because I want to see what the trick-or-treaters will be wearing this year. I suspect there will be a lot of KPop Demon Hunters and Minecraft characters, but I’m hoping there will be a few Supermen and Supergirls, too.

WriterCon 2025 was the biggest one yet, and every bit as fun and informative as its predecessors. For me, this is an annual gathering of family, where the focus is on education and advancing your career, but the conference is characterized by warmth, generosity, and collegiality. Take a look at some of the photos from this year’s conference and see if you don’t agree! (Scroll to the bottom of the page.)

Here’s a breakdown of our events for 2026:

WRITERCON CRUISE March 7-15, 2026

This year we’re cruising the Eastern Carribbean, an area I’ve never visited, so I’m looking forward to it. We depart from Ft. Lauderdale for an 8-day cruise. There will be much to see, but we’ll also be having classes and small or private meetings with attendees for a total of over 20 hours of instruction—but only scheduled while the boat is at sea. I know when we’re at port you’ll want to get off and look around. But when we’re back on the water, we’ll be doing everything we can to make your writing dreams a reality. We’ve already arranged for a top agent to attend (she has sold many books for many people, including me). Click here to see the entire itinerary. Then register and come join us!

WRITERCON RETREAT July 15-19, 2026

We are returning to the Canebrake Resort for a five-day writing retreat next year. The Retreat gives us more time to work on your individual manuscript, in a workshop setting plus one-on-one. Hoping for some feedback on your work-in-progress? This is where you get it. Plus you’re in one of the most gorgeous, inspirational settings on earth. And we’ll will have classes with the full group too, but classes tailored to what the participants are writing. Attendance is limited so I have time to read and comment on everyone’s work. We have three other speakers coming in to help, including a top agent who is happy to talk to each and every one of you. Feel like you need a push in the right direction? This is where you get it. Click here for more details.

WRITERCON CONFERENCE Sept 4-7, 2026

And of course, the conference will return. This is the Big Kahuna WriterCon event. This year we had almost 300 people attending. More than 60 speakers. More than 100 breakout sessions. And next year, we will have even more. We’re still in the planning stages, but I have some great ideas for making the next one even better. We’re still building the webpage, but you’ll be able to register next month. In the meantime, look at all the fabulous speakers we have already lined up. Historical fiction. Crime and mystery. Romantasy, dark fantasy, dragon fantasy. Horror. Literary fiction. We have it covered. We’ve got several NYT-bestselling authors and at least one Edgar Award winner attending. Don’t miss it! Click here for more details.

This month’s article is by Jennifer Simard LaBranche, author of the new release Innisfallen Accursed. This is her first published novel and she really hit it out of the park. It has all the key ingredients—dark fantasy, romance, and world-building like you’ve never seen before.

Here’s Jenny’s article:

Sacrificing My First Draft on the Altar of Developmental Editing

When I start writing a new story, whether it’s fantasy, paranormal, or horror, I don’t begin with magic systems or world maps. I start with a question:

What do I want my reader to feel when they think of this character?

Characters are more than vessels for plot.

What do I want the reader to remember? What do I want to say through this person that I wouldn’t know any other way?

This kind of emotional storytelling takes both heart and structure—and that’s where I leaned heavily on the Red Sneaker Writers Book Series by William Bernhardt.

Craft Meets Character

While developing the characters for my debut novel, the Red Sneaker series became my creative foundation. It wasn’t just about writing better—it was about writing with direction. Each book gave me practical focus: Story Structure, Creating Character, Perfecting plot, Dynamic Dialogue, Powerful Premise, and more.

The most lasting impact came from understanding that story structure and character arc aren’t separate—they’re intertwined.

Bernhardt’s guidance helped me design characters who didn’t just move the plot forward, but who embodied who my character is. His advice grounded my world of supernatural stakes and fantasy fire in something real: character-driven intention.

Start With Meaning—Not Just a Role

Your character’s job in the story—hero, villain, sidekick—is important. But their emotional impact is what endures. Before defining what they do, ask what they stand for.

Maybe your heroine isn’t just a runaway royal—she’s a symbol of repressed power learning to rise. Maybe your vampire doesn’t just crave blood; he longs for connection in a world that forgot him.

Meaning drives empathy, and empathy creates unforgettable characters.

Give Them Wounds, Not Just Weapons

We love powerful characters, but we connect with those who are broken. What’s the quiet hurt they carry? What lies do they believe about themselves? What shame or fear shapes their choices?

In horror, this wound might become a literal haunting. In fantasy, it may manifest as exile, shame, or a cursed lineage. But it must be “human”—something your reader has felt in some form.

When I wrote my debut novel, I wanted my protagonist to carry both the power of fire and the burden of grief. She doesn’t just rise—she burns, and it costs her something.

Let Them Change—But Not Too Easily

A character arc should feel like a battle—not a stroll. The most satisfying transformations are earned through pain, missteps, and unexpected grace.

One of the most helpful Red Sneaker insights for me was the reminder that the plot and character can be the same. Every event must test who the character is—and push them closer to who they must become.

Let your character resist change. Let them get it wrong. Let them hurt someone. Then let them fight their way forward.

Weave Symbolism with Subtlety

Fantasy and paranormal stories are fertile grounds for metaphor. Your characters can carry huge themes—hope, rage, rebirth, revenge—but keep it organic. The moment a character becomes a mouthpiece, we lose connection. Let the theme breathe through behavior, through choices, through what they sacrifice or save.

Readers tend to appreciate symbolism most when they discover it on their own.

Trust your readers.

Test Their Reflection

This is where it all comes together: ask what your reader might see in your character. Not just what they admire, but what they recognize.

Will a reader who feels invisible see courage in your ghost?

Will someone grieving see resilience in your heroine’s rebirth?

Will the lonely reader feel seen in your monster’s hunger to belong?

Write with this level of intention, and you won’t just entertain—you’ll leave a mark.

Final Thoughts

Fantasy, horror, and paranormal fiction offer us limitless worlds—but the characters are what stay with readers long after the final page.

When you build them with meaning, wound them with care, and let them reflect the truth of your theme, you’re not just telling a story. You’re building someone unforgettable.

Amazon has added a new section that contains “accessibility metadata displays” for titles that meet Benetech’s Global Certified Accessible (GCA) standards. On the sales page, you click “See All Details” then “Accessibility” to see whether an ebook meets ADA standards for readers with disabilities. Currently, Simon & Shuster is the only major publisher that does, but let’s hope they won’t be the last. Learn more about it.

“Big on BookTok” is a new program from Spotify to promote and curate playlists of audiobooks listeners might enjoy. Could this do for audio what BookTok has already done for book sales? Learn more about it.

Scribner UK (Simon & Schuster) launches new imprint

Scribner Editions will publish literary fiction and narrative nonfiction that experiments with genre forms.

New agent: WLA Books

Barry Harbaugh has joined WLA Books (which was formerly known as Waxman Literary Agency). He says he is “interested in narrative nonfiction, literary and crime fiction, memoir and first-person hybrids, sports, current events, biography--writing that obsessively entertains, reveals a hidden realm, and broadens our sense of being alive.”

For more breaking news from the publishing world, join our Facebook group! Doesn’t cost a thing and guarantees you’ll know about important matters that affect writers when they happen. My favorite part of the page, though, is seeing how many WriterCon writers are successfully publishing and marketing their books. Click Here to Join.

I thought you might enjoy hearing the podcast episode we recorded live at WriterCon. This is one of the best, and certainly one of the funniest, epsiodes we’ve ever done. Having both keynotes, Laurie L Dove and Nova McBee join Lara and Jesse made it a true treat. Remember, the WriterCon podcast is FREE and available anywhere you get podcasts. Click here to listen.

Till next time, keep writing, and remember—you cannot fail if you refuse to quit.

William Bernhardt

willbern@gmail.com

www.writercon.com