Some stories can only come from lived experience. Leo J. Maloney recounts moments from his work as a black operative inside a clandestine government agency, showing how real missions shape tension, pacing, and character choices. This session gives writers insight into the mindset, risks, and operational reality behind covert action and how those elements translate into gripping fiction.
The Slow Burn: How to Build Suspense That Won’t Let Go
Angela Greenman, Gay Yellen, Jacy Sellers, Kiersten Modglin, and Lois Winston explore how suspense is layered onto a story long before the big moment hits. They examine how character motivation, setting, dialogue, and location work together to build tension, stretch...
