What makes true crime impossible to put down while still honoring the truth? David Bushman and Richard S. Jaffe examine where fact, storytelling, and ethics meet, with a clear-eyed look at research, objectivity, and authentic dialogue. This session explores how to portray real people and real prosecutions with accuracy and integrity while keeping the narrative as gripping as a novel.
Crafting Backstories That Deepen Character and Plot
Alan Elliott, Cathy Rueter, Gay Yellen, Kit Sanders, Leigh Hull, and Lynn Slaughter discuss how strong backstories deepen motivation and strengthen plot. They share techniques for building believable histories that support emotional authenticity in fiction.




