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Venue: TBA clear filter
Sunday, August 17
 

6:00pm EDT

Dinner for the OWAA Board
Sunday August 17, 2025 6:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
TBA
Sunday August 17, 2025 6:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
TBA
 
Monday, August 18
 

8:30am EDT

Board Meeting
Monday August 18, 2025 8:30am - 2:30pm EDT
TBA
Any current OWAA member may join this board meeting, but only as an observer (unless they've requested time to present to the board and had that request approved).
Monday August 18, 2025 8:30am - 2:30pm EDT
TBA

5:00pm EDT

First Timers? Come meet Chez
Monday August 18, 2025 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
TBA



Speakers
avatar for Chez Chesak

Chez Chesak

Executive Director, Outdoor Writers Association of America
‘Chez’ Chesak is an award-winning adventure travel writer, 20+ year veteran of the outdoor industry, Executive Director of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and board member of the Society of American Travel Writers.His works have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, B... Read More →
Monday August 18, 2025 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
TBA
  General Session
 
Tuesday, August 19
 

7:45am EDT

Registration Open
Tuesday August 19, 2025 7:45am - 8:45am EDT
TBA
Tuesday August 19, 2025 7:45am - 8:45am EDT
TBA
  Registration

5:30pm EDT

Welcome Dinner Hosted by Chattanooga Tourism
Tuesday August 19, 2025 5:30pm - 8:00pm EDT
TBA

Tuesday August 19, 2025 5:30pm - 8:00pm EDT
TBA
  Meal/Break

9:00pm EDT

Presidents' Hospitality Event
Tuesday August 19, 2025 9:00pm - 11:00pm EDT
TBA
Tuesday August 19, 2025 9:00pm - 11:00pm EDT
TBA
  Social
 
Wednesday, August 20
 

6:30am EDT

Roll 'n Run/Walk
Wednesday August 20, 2025 6:30am - 7:15am EDT
TBA
Wednesday August 20, 2025 6:30am - 7:15am EDT
TBA
  Social

9:00am EDT

Spouse/Partner Tour:
Wednesday August 20, 2025 9:00am - 2:00pm EDT
TBA
Wednesday August 20, 2025 9:00am - 2:00pm EDT
TBA
  Spouse/Partner Tour

2:45pm EDT

WORKSHOP #01 - Digital Presence for the Busy Professional: Build a Strong Brand & Website with Reasonable Time and Effort
Wednesday August 20, 2025 2:45pm - 5:45pm EDT
TBA
Struggling to maintain a strong digital presence without getting overwhelmed? This workshop is designed for outdoor writers, communicators, and professionals who need an effective brand and website but don’t have the time to become tech experts. Learn practical, time-efficient strategies for branding, website creation, and content management that fit into your busy schedule. We’ll cover easy-to-use tools, automation techniques, and real-world case studies to help you streamline your digital presence in just a few hours a month. Taught by Kaili Rose of Kairo Media, this session focuses on efficiency, simplicity, and impact—so you can focus on your work while maintaining a professional online presence.

For inspiration and real-world examples, follow along on Instagram (@KairoMediaCo) and visit www.kairo.media, where you'll find a showcase of branding, web design, and content strategies used by businesses of all sizes. Be sure to explore the free blog on the website, packed with marketing ideas, branding inspiration, and tons of media resources designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners build a compelling digital presence with confidence.


Speakers
avatar for Kaili Rose

Kaili Rose

Owner/Founder, Kairo Media & Fossick
Independent media development as principal of Kairo Media (Web design, media development and branding agency committed to supporting small-to-midsize businesses in the hospitality, tourism and events industry in Texas. Previous photojournalist with published work in the travel and... Read More →
Wednesday August 20, 2025 2:45pm - 5:45pm EDT
TBA
  Workshop

2:45pm EDT

WORKSHOP #02 - Scroll-Stopping Storytelling: Mastering Short-Form Video & Social Media
Wednesday August 20, 2025 2:45pm - 5:45pm EDT
TBA
In today’s digital landscape, attention is the most valuable currency. But with endless content competing for eyeballs, how do you make your stories stand out? This hands-on workshop will teach you how to craft short-form videos and social media content that enhances your existing work—whether you're a writer, photographer, storyteller, business, or destination—rather than replacing it.
Speakers
avatar for Andy Austin

Andy Austin

Photographer & Storyteller
Lover of the less explored, that’s the motto of Andy Austin, world-renowned traveling photographer and content creator. Andy grew up in the mountains and plains of Montana and has since photographed over 50 countries on all 7 continents, capturing breathtaking images that inspire... Read More →
Wednesday August 20, 2025 2:45pm - 5:45pm EDT
TBA
  Workshop

2:45pm EDT

WORKSHOP #03 - Trailblazing Tales: Write Your Book, Build Your Legacy
Wednesday August 20, 2025 2:45pm - 5:45pm EDT
TBA
This workshop will guide you step-by-step through the process of starting and structuring your book. Together, we’ll uncover the essence of your story, break it into engaging, manageable pieces, and craft a clear outline. Whether you’re writing fiction, memoir, or non-fiction, you’ll leave with a personalized plan and the confidence to see your book through to completion.

This workshop guides participants through an actionable and inspiring journey to transform their story idea into a cohesive, captivating book. Modules include:

-- Clarify Your Vision: What's Your Story About and Who Is It For?
Define your core message and identify your ideal audience to ensure your story resonates deeply.

-- The 8 Stages of Writing a Book: Navigating the Journey
Understand each stage of the book-writing process, pinpoint where you are, and learn practical strategies to overcome roadblocks.

-- The 7 Essential Ingredients of Every Great Story
Discover the foundational elements that make any story unforgettable, and how to weave them seamlessly into your writing.

-- Blueprint for Success: Outlining and Structuring Your Book
Create a detailed roadmap of scenes and chapters to stay organized and keep your momentum strong.

-- Mastering Scene Dynamics: The Elements Every Scene Must Have
Learn how to craft powerful, engaging scenes that drive your story forward and captivate your readers.

-- Building Believable Characters: Making Your Readers Fall in Love
Develop characters that feel real and relatable, with depth, motivation, and irresistible charm.

-- The Next Chapter: Your Action Plan Post-Workshop
Tie it all together with concrete next steps to keep writing, editing, and moving your book toward completion.
Speakers
avatar for Professor Leigh Shulman

Professor Leigh Shulman

Author and writing mentor, Leigh Shulman and the Inspired Writer Community
Leigh Shulman is a writer and writing mentor with two decades of experience under her belt. She founded The Inspired Writer Community, an online mentoring community for writers at any stage in their writing lives. Her bestselling book The Writer's Roadmap: Paving the Way To Your Ideal... Read More →
Wednesday August 20, 2025 2:45pm - 5:45pm EDT
TBA
  Workshop

2:45pm EDT

WORKSHOP #04 - Automating Your Creative Workflow
Wednesday August 20, 2025 2:45pm - 5:45pm EDT
TBA
Do you wish there were more hours in a day?  Do you struggle to implement workshop ideas?  Then, join me as I walk you through automation tools I use in my workflow every day.  Attendees will come away with specific and personal ways to add automation to their workflows.  Suitable for all creatives!

Automating Your Creative Workflow is intended to be highly interactive giving attendees the opportunity to discuss their unique automation needs with the instructor.  Each discussion topic is intended to help attendees identify automation opportunities in their workflows.

Workshop Topics:

How to Automate Your Workflow Without Losing Your Mind
How to Automate Your Creative Finances
Unlock the Power of Text Expansion
Use AI Tools to Supercharge Your Research
Automate Away Your File Management Headaches
Automate the Creation of Social Media Assets
Putting It All Together: Apple's Shortcuts

NOTE: While some of the tools the instructor uses are cross-platform, some are Apple-specific (The instructor is happy to help attendees find comparable Windows substitutes offline). The workshop is NOT Apple-specific, but folks, who are in the Apple ecosystem, will get the most benefit from the workshop.

Speakers
avatar for Mr. Marvin Cash

Mr. Marvin Cash

Host & Producer, The Articulate Fly
Marvin Cash has been an avid outdoorsman as long as he can remember. He is the host and producer of the award-winning fly fishing podcast, The Articulate Fly. In its seventh year, the podcast has 950+ episodes. The Articulate Fly is Marvin’s laboratory for using digital tools to... Read More →
Wednesday August 20, 2025 2:45pm - 5:45pm EDT
TBA
  Workshop

2:45pm EDT

WORKSHOP #05 - Heather Physioc
Wednesday August 20, 2025 2:45pm - 5:45pm EDT
TBA
Speakers
avatar for Heather Physioc

Heather Physioc

Freelance Journalist, Photographer & SEO, Chief Discoverability Officer, VML
Heather Physioc leads the Discoverability capability at global ad agency VML, serving the online search needs of enterprise brands across verticals and around the globe, many in the tourism, travel, and outdoor industries. Herward-winning discoverability group has been recognized as the Best Large Integrated Search Agency, Integrated Search Agency of the... Read More →
Wednesday August 20, 2025 2:45pm - 5:45pm EDT
TBA
  Workshop

2:45pm EDT

WORKSHOP #06 - Applying For and Benefitting From an Artist Residence
Wednesday August 20, 2025 2:45pm - 5:45pm EDT
TBA
This practical workshop will address: 

1) the benefits of an artist residency--especially those related to national and state parks and other public lands and whether it is worth applying for one, 
2) how to find residencies that meet your goals, 
3) strategies for writing a successful application, and 
4) how to get maximum benefit if selected.
Speakers
avatar for Matthew Dickerson

Matthew Dickerson

Middlebury College
Matthew Dickerson is the author of seven books about native fish, river ecology, and fly fishing. His articles have appeared in numerous outdoor magazines and journals including The Drake, Backcountry Journal, American Fly Fishing, and Written River. His award-winning outdoor column... Read More →
Wednesday August 20, 2025 2:45pm - 5:45pm EDT
TBA
  Workshop

2:45pm EDT

WORKSHOP #07 - Poetry of Place: A Collective Writing Workshop
Wednesday August 20, 2025 2:45pm - 5:45pm EDT
TBA
This "Poetry of Place" workshop invites participants into a series of poetry rituals and prompts that explore our deep connections with land and the ways these links can help us tell stories about our beloved ecosystems as they change. Each workshop session will be held in a unique Chattanooga greenspace with a history of transformation—Coolidge Park or Lynnbrook Park.

In our age of climate disaster, ecosystem change often comes with grief and loss. Rewilded and revitalized urban spaces like these parks offer an alternative narrative, one that demonstrates how we can repurpose and reimagine old infrastructure to make our cities more sustainable, useful, and beautiful.

Through this workshop, participants will learn the history of each park and explore these ideas to draft poetry or prose—both individually and collaboratively—about the places we love, how we remember them now, and how we might imagine their futures. No experience with poetry is necessary to participate!

In the first hour, participants will explore the park and learn about its history and transformations over the years. They will complete a warm-up prompt, taking 10 minutes to write, and then share their responses with the group.

During the second hour, participants will work on two extended eco-poetry prompts, taking 20 minutes to write and 10 minutes to share responses for each one. The second exercise will be inspired by Ross Gay's Poem "To The Fig Tree on 9th and Christian." These prompts will encourage participants to imagine ways to repurpose and renew existing infrastructure, creating spaces that are both social and biodiverse.

In the third hour, we will co-create a group poem from our responses. Throughout the workshop, participants will have been jotting down and marking favorite lines from both themselves and others. We’ll use these lines as the foundation of our poem and spend the final hour collaboratively ordering and editing them.  
Speakers
avatar for Caroline Wiygul

Caroline Wiygul

Poet, Policy Researcher, & Grantwriter
Caroline Wiygul is a poet and landscape designer originally from the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. Her work explores personal and ecological transitions—girlhood to adulthood, home to disaster zone, Anthropocene to whatever better world we hope to build—through ecosystems as they... Read More →
Wednesday August 20, 2025 2:45pm - 5:45pm EDT
TBA
  Workshop

2:45pm EDT

WORKSHOP #08 - From Byte to Byline: Using AI to Brainstorm, Research, Outline, and Edit
Wednesday August 20, 2025 2:45pm - 5:45pm EDT
TBA
This hands-on workshop teaches journalists how to brainstorm story angles quicker, find expert sources faster, and build outlines and drafts swifter than a Mississippi Kite flying down the Tennessee River. Join us to explore, experiment, and equip yourself with AI skills to optimize your workflow and inspire your best writing yet.
Speakers
avatar for Erin Servais

Erin Servais

Founder, AI for Editors
Erin Servais teaches editors and writers to upskill with artificial intelligence. As the founder of the AI for Editors courses and corporate training programs, she's been featured in Jane Friedman's The Hot Sheet newsletter and Mignon Fogarty's Grammar Girl podcast. She has also served... Read More →
Wednesday August 20, 2025 2:45pm - 5:45pm EDT
TBA
  Workshop

2:45pm EDT

WORKSHOP #09 - The Protractor and the Decanter: How to Find Angles and be a Great Pitcher
Wednesday August 20, 2025 2:45pm - 5:45pm EDT
TBA
I. The Protractor
- Why the angle matters
- Finding a new angle on an existing story
- Determining an angle on a new idea
- Following the story map from idea to angle

II. The Decanter
- Elements of a great pitch
- Knowing your audience
- How to get to "yes"

III. Doing it!
- Brief participant pitch presentations
- Brainstorming and collaboration
- Time to refine
Speakers
avatar for Kate Morgan

Kate Morgan

Freelance Journalist
Kate Morgan is a freelance journalist whose work on science and nature has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Geographic, Vox, Popular Science, and numerous other publications. She has been included in several anthologies, including two editions of The Craft... Read More →
Wednesday August 20, 2025 2:45pm - 5:45pm EDT
TBA
  Workshop

2:45pm EDT

WORKSHOP #10 - How to Tell Hunting & Fishing Stories with Deeper Meaning
Wednesday August 20, 2025 2:45pm - 5:45pm EDT
TBA
In this workshop, we'll investigate the ways that hunting, fishing, and other outdoors stories can transcend their subjects and investigate more universal concerns. We’ll begin by surveying the ways that outdoor storytellers use recreational pursuits to engage obliquely or directly with broader environmental and/or emotional subject matter. How do these types of stories function? Why are they compelling? If there's time, we will workshop attendees’ projects to draw out potential avenues in their pitches/drafts for more profound meaning-making.
Speakers
avatar for Sage Marshall

Sage Marshall

Freelance Writer / Editor
Sage Marshall is an accomplished outdoors writer and editor based in Western Montana. He’s a contributing writer and the former News Editor for Field & Steam. He’s also written for nationally renowned publications such as Men’s Journal, Outdoor Life, and Modern Huntsman. He’s... Read More →
Wednesday August 20, 2025 2:45pm - 5:45pm EDT
TBA
  Workshop
 
Thursday, August 21
 

2:15pm EDT

WORKSHOP #01 - Digital Presence for the Busy Professional: Build a Strong Brand & Website with Reasonable Time and Effort
Thursday August 21, 2025 2:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA
Struggling to maintain a strong digital presence without getting overwhelmed? This workshop is designed for outdoor writers, communicators, and professionals who need an effective brand and website but don’t have the time to become tech experts. Learn practical, time-efficient strategies for branding, website creation, and content management that fit into your busy schedule. We’ll cover easy-to-use tools, automation techniques, and real-world case studies to help you streamline your digital presence in just a few hours a month. Taught by Kaili Rose of Kairo Media, this session focuses on efficiency, simplicity, and impact—so you can focus on your work while maintaining a professional online presence.

For inspiration and real-world examples, follow along on Instagram (@KairoMediaCo) and visit www.kairo.media, where you'll find a showcase of branding, web design, and content strategies used by businesses of all sizes. Be sure to explore the free blog on the website, packed with marketing ideas, branding inspiration, and tons of media resources designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners build a compelling digital presence with confidence.


 


Speakers
avatar for Kaili Rose

Kaili Rose

Owner/Founder, Kairo Media & Fossick
Independent media development as principal of Kairo Media (Web design, media development and branding agency committed to supporting small-to-midsize businesses in the hospitality, tourism and events industry in Texas. Previous photojournalist with published work in the travel and... Read More →
Thursday August 21, 2025 2:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA
  Workshop

2:15pm EDT

WORKSHOP #02 - Scroll-Stopping Storytelling: Mastering Short-Form Video & Social Media
Thursday August 21, 2025 2:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA
In today’s digital landscape, attention is the most valuable currency. But with endless content competing for eyeballs, how do you make your stories stand out? This hands-on workshop will teach you how to craft short-form videos and social media content that enhances your existing work—whether you're a writer, photographer, storyteller, business, or destination—rather than replacing it.
Speakers
avatar for Andy Austin

Andy Austin

Photographer & Storyteller
Lover of the less explored, that’s the motto of Andy Austin, world-renowned traveling photographer and content creator. Andy grew up in the mountains and plains of Montana and has since photographed over 50 countries on all 7 continents, capturing breathtaking images that inspire... Read More →
Thursday August 21, 2025 2:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA
  Workshop

2:15pm EDT

WORKSHOP #03 - Trailblazing Tales: Write Your Book, Build Your Legacy
Thursday August 21, 2025 2:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA
This workshop will guide you step-by-step through the process of starting and structuring your book. Together, we’ll uncover the essence of your story, break it into engaging, manageable pieces, and craft a clear outline. Whether you’re writing fiction, memoir, or non-fiction, you’ll leave with a personalized plan and the confidence to see your book through to completion.

This workshop guides participants through an actionable and inspiring journey to transform their story idea into a cohesive, captivating book. Modules include:

-- Clarify Your Vision: What's Your Story About and Who Is It For?
Define your core message and identify your ideal audience to ensure your story resonates deeply.

-- The 8 Stages of Writing a Book: Navigating the Journey
Understand each stage of the book-writing process, pinpoint where you are, and learn practical strategies to overcome roadblocks.

-- The 7 Essential Ingredients of Every Great Story
Discover the foundational elements that make any story unforgettable, and how to weave them seamlessly into your writing.

-- Blueprint for Success: Outlining and Structuring Your Book
Create a detailed roadmap of scenes and chapters to stay organized and keep your momentum strong.

-- Mastering Scene Dynamics: The Elements Every Scene Must Have
Learn how to craft powerful, engaging scenes that drive your story forward and captivate your readers.

-- Building Believable Characters: Making Your Readers Fall in Love
Develop characters that feel real and relatable, with depth, motivation, and irresistible charm.

-- The Next Chapter: Your Action Plan Post-Workshop
Tie it all together with concrete next steps to keep writing, editing, and moving your book toward completion.
Speakers
avatar for Professor Leigh Shulman

Professor Leigh Shulman

Author and writing mentor, Leigh Shulman and the Inspired Writer Community
Leigh Shulman is a writer and writing mentor with two decades of experience under her belt. She founded The Inspired Writer Community, an online mentoring community for writers at any stage in their writing lives. Her bestselling book The Writer's Roadmap: Paving the Way To Your Ideal... Read More →
Thursday August 21, 2025 2:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA
  Workshop

2:15pm EDT

WORKSHOP #04 - Automating Your Creative Workflow
Thursday August 21, 2025 2:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA
Do you wish there were more hours in a day?  Do you struggle to implement workshop ideas?  Then, join me as I walk you through automation tools I use in my workflow every day.  Attendees will come away with specific and personal ways to add automation to their workflows.  Suitable for all creatives!

Automating Your Creative Workflow is intended to be highly interactive giving attendees the opportunity to discuss their unique automation needs with the instructor.  Each discussion topic is intended to help attendees identify automation opportunities in their workflows.

Workshop Topics:

How to Automate Your Workflow Without Losing Your Mind
How to Automate Your Creative Finances
Unlock the Power of Text Expansion
Use AI Tools to Supercharge Your Research
Automate Away Your File Management Headaches
Automate the Creation of Social Media Assets
Putting It All Together: Apple's Shortcuts

NOTE: While some of the tools the instructor uses are cross-platform, some are Apple-specific (The instructor is happy to help attendees find comparable Windows substitutes offline). The workshop is NOT Apple-specific, but folks, who are in the Apple ecosystem, will get the most benefit from the workshop.


Speakers
avatar for Mr. Marvin Cash

Mr. Marvin Cash

Host & Producer, The Articulate Fly
Marvin Cash has been an avid outdoorsman as long as he can remember. He is the host and producer of the award-winning fly fishing podcast, The Articulate Fly. In its seventh year, the podcast has 950+ episodes. The Articulate Fly is Marvin’s laboratory for using digital tools to... Read More →
Thursday August 21, 2025 2:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA
  Workshop

2:15pm EDT

WORKSHOP #05 - Heather Physioc
Thursday August 21, 2025 2:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA
Speakers
avatar for Heather Physioc

Heather Physioc

Freelance Journalist, Photographer & SEO, Chief Discoverability Officer, VML
Heather Physioc leads the Discoverability capability at global ad agency VML, serving the online search needs of enterprise brands across verticals and around the globe, many in the tourism, travel, and outdoor industries. Herward-winning discoverability group has been recognized as the Best Large Integrated Search Agency, Integrated Search Agency of the... Read More →
Thursday August 21, 2025 2:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA
  Workshop

2:15pm EDT

WORKSHOP #06 - Applying For and Benefitting From an Artist Residence
Thursday August 21, 2025 2:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA
This practical workshop will address: 

1) the benefits of an artist residency--especially those related to national and state parks and other public lands and whether it is worth applying for one, 
2) how to find residencies that meet your goals, 
3) strategies for writing a successful application, and 
4) how to get maximum benefit if selected.
Speakers
avatar for Matthew Dickerson

Matthew Dickerson

Middlebury College
Matthew Dickerson is the author of seven books about native fish, river ecology, and fly fishing. His articles have appeared in numerous outdoor magazines and journals including The Drake, Backcountry Journal, American Fly Fishing, and Written River. His award-winning outdoor column... Read More →
Thursday August 21, 2025 2:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA
  Workshop

2:15pm EDT

WORKSHOP #07 - Poetry of Place: A Collective Writing Workshop
Thursday August 21, 2025 2:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA
This "Poetry of Place" workshop invites participants into a series of poetry rituals and prompts that explore our deep connections with land and the ways these links can help us tell stories about our beloved ecosystems as they change. Each workshop session will be held in a unique Chattanooga greenspace with a history of transformation—Coolidge Park or Lynnbrook Park.

In our age of climate disaster, ecosystem change often comes with grief and loss. Rewilded and revitalized urban spaces like these parks offer an alternative narrative, one that demonstrates how we can repurpose and reimagine old infrastructure to make our cities more sustainable, useful, and beautiful.

Through this workshop, participants will learn the history of each park and explore these ideas to draft poetry or prose—both individually and collaboratively—about the places we love, how we remember them now, and how we might imagine their futures. No experience with poetry is necessary to participate!

In the first hour, participants will explore the park and learn about its history and transformations over the years. They will complete a warm-up prompt, taking 10 minutes to write, and then share their responses with the group.

During the second hour, participants will work on two extended eco-poetry prompts, taking 20 minutes to write and 10 minutes to share responses for each one. The second exercise will be inspired by Ross Gay's Poem "To The Fig Tree on 9th and Christian." These prompts will encourage participants to imagine ways to repurpose and renew existing infrastructure, creating spaces that are both social and biodiverse.

In the third hour, we will co-create a group poem from our responses. Throughout the workshop, participants will have been jotting down and marking favorite lines from both themselves and others. We’ll use these lines as the foundation of our poem and spend the final hour collaboratively ordering and editing them.  
Speakers
avatar for Caroline Wiygul

Caroline Wiygul

Poet, Policy Researcher, & Grantwriter
Caroline Wiygul is a poet and landscape designer originally from the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. Her work explores personal and ecological transitions—girlhood to adulthood, home to disaster zone, Anthropocene to whatever better world we hope to build—through ecosystems as they... Read More →
Thursday August 21, 2025 2:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA
  Workshop

2:15pm EDT

WORKSHOP #08 - From Byte to Byline: Using AI to Brainstorm, Research, Outline, and Edit
Thursday August 21, 2025 2:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA
This hands-on workshop teaches journalists how to brainstorm story angles quicker, find expert sources faster, and build outlines and drafts swifter than a Mississippi Kite flying down the Tennessee River. Join us to explore, experiment, and equip yourself with AI skills to optimize your workflow and inspire your best writing yet.
Speakers
avatar for Erin Servais

Erin Servais

Founder, AI for Editors
Erin Servais teaches editors and writers to upskill with artificial intelligence. As the founder of the AI for Editors courses and corporate training programs, she's been featured in Jane Friedman's The Hot Sheet newsletter and Mignon Fogarty's Grammar Girl podcast. She has also served... Read More →
Thursday August 21, 2025 2:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA
  Workshop

2:15pm EDT

WORKSHOP #09 - The Protractor and the Decanter: How to Find Angles and be a Great Pitcher
Thursday August 21, 2025 2:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA
I. The Protractor
- Why the angle matters
- Finding a new angle on an existing story
- Determining an angle on a new idea
- Following the story map from idea to angle

II. The Decanter
- Elements of a great pitch
- Knowing your audience
- How to get to "yes"

III. Doing it!
- Brief participant pitch presentations
- Brainstorming and collaboration
- Time to refine
Speakers
avatar for Kate Morgan

Kate Morgan

Freelance Journalist
Kate Morgan is a freelance journalist whose work on science and nature has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Geographic, Vox, Popular Science, and numerous other publications. She has been included in several anthologies, including two editions of The Craft... Read More →
Thursday August 21, 2025 2:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA
  Workshop

2:15pm EDT

WORKSHOP #10 - How to Tell Hunting & Fishing Stories with Deeper Meaning
Thursday August 21, 2025 2:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA
In this workshop, we'll investigate the ways that hunting, fishing, and other outdoors stories can transcend their subjects and investigate more universal concerns. We’ll begin by surveying the ways that outdoor storytellers use recreational pursuits to engage obliquely or directly with broader environmental and/or emotional subject matter. How do these types of stories function? Why are they compelling? If there's time, we will workshop attendees’ projects to draw out potential avenues in their pitches/drafts for more profound meaning-making.
Speakers
avatar for Sage Marshall

Sage Marshall

Freelance Writer / Editor
Sage Marshall is an accomplished outdoors writer and editor based in Western Montana. He’s a contributing writer and the former News Editor for Field & Steam. He’s also written for nationally renowned publications such as Men’s Journal, Outdoor Life, and Modern Huntsman. He’s... Read More →
Thursday August 21, 2025 2:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA
  Workshop

8:30pm EDT

Hospitality Event: Final Proof
Thursday August 21, 2025 8:30pm - 11:00pm EDT
TBA
Our final event together! Be sure to join us for the 'Final Proof' hospitality! Our closing night hospitality has a long and storied history. Previously named the 'Leftover Luau' and apparently called 'The Nutty Irishman' before that (thanks to a member who shared a cocktail of that same name). It's one, last late night of camaraderie, connections and carousing. Be prepared to enter into our annual push-up contest (or at least cheer on those that do)!

Thursday August 21, 2025 8:30pm - 11:00pm EDT
TBA
  Social
 
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TBA
Waterhouse Pavilion Miller Plaza
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