When emotions are high and lives are on the line, words matter more than force. Homicide detective and crime novelist Rick Reed draws on real-world experience resolving high-stakes crises through communication and empathy. This session explores how negotiators build trust under pressure, read human behavior, and defuse volatile situations, giving writers powerful tools for creating tense, emotionally grounded scenes.
Writing Intimate Scenes That Feel Real
Effective sex scenes feel authentic and emotionally grounded. D. Alan Lewis, Michael A. Black, Nicole Nelson Hicks, Philip Cioffari, and Steven Womack explore how to write intimacy that serves character and plot. This session focuses on purpose, tone, and balance,...




