A character’s past drives every choice they make on the page. Kelly Nichols, Philip Cioffari, and Steven Womack explore how to define, shape, and deploy backstory to support plot and character development. Writers will learn when to reveal key information, when to withhold it, and how to integrate backstory smoothly without slowing pacing or overwhelming the reader.
Crossing the Line: Where YA Ends and Adult Begins
What really separates young adult fiction from adult novels, and where do those lines start to blur? In this panel, authors dig into the evolving space between YA and adult storytelling, using dystopian fiction as a lens. They discuss voice, theme, intensity, and...




