Genre Writing
Military

Artificial intelligence is already shaping modern conflict and everyday life, but fiction often misunderstands how it actually works. Ph.D. Ross Carley breaks down computational intelligence in clear, accessible terms, explaining how these systems are used in both military and civilian settings. Writers learn the role of expert advisors, real-world limitations, and practical applications, making it easier to incorporate advanced technology into stories without losing believability.

U.S. Department of State Special Agent Ron Campbell offers a rare, inside look at counterintelligence and protection operations overseas. This session helps writers understand how espionage and security work actually function, and how to portray them with accuracy, tension, and credibility on the page.

Kurt DeManche, A.J. Tata, Eric Gardner, James Glass, and Michael Byars Lewis talk about writing military characters who feel real rather than stereotyped. They discuss structure, realism, and emotional depth, sharing how authentic details and lived experience bring military stories to life.

David Rich, Erin Mitchell, Laura DiSilverio, and Martin Limón explore the moral and emotional complexities of writing military characters. They discuss duty, sacrifice, and service, and how research and personal experience help create honest portrayals of soldiers facing impossible choices.

Intelligence work is rarely what television suggests. Former CIA officer Carmen Amato explains how intelligence organizations actually function, from tradecraft and internal structure to the limits agents work within every day. Writers gain practical insight into how espionage plots really unfold and how to build believable intelligence characters without relying on clichés.

Writing convincing military fiction requires more than hardware and rank insignia. A.M. Adair, Cindy Dees, Dean Krystek, Mark Zeid, and Patrick Kendrick draw on their military backgrounds to discuss what writers frequently get wrong and why it matters. This session explores culture, terminology, and daily realities, helping authors create stories that feel grounded in lived experience rather than surface-level research.

Military law enforcement operates under rules and pressures very different from civilian policing. James Glass and Mark Zeid draw on their military experience to explain how jurisdiction, geography, and chain of command shape investigations on bases and in deployed environments. This session gives writers a realistic understanding of how military law enforcement works and how to portray those roles accurately in fiction.

B. Kent Anderson, Charles Todd, James R. Benn, Lisa Brackmann, Martin Limón, and Matthew C. Funk discuss what it takes to write believable crime fiction rooted in military life. They explore research methods, authentic settings, and the unique crimes that arise within military environments, showing how structure, culture, and experience shape powerful stories.

Espionage depends as much on psychology as it does on secrecy. A.M. Adair draws on more than two decades of military service to explain how human intelligence and counterintelligence operations really work. This session explores recruitment, interrogation, and operational logistics, giving writers a realistic understanding of how information is gathered, protected, and exploited in the real world.

What gives a story the texture of truth is often found in the details writers hesitate to include. An ex CIA agent shares a candid look at military life, weapons, and technology as they actually exist in the field. Drawing on firsthand experience, this session helps writers understand the small realities that create authenticity and keep stories grounded rather than glossy.

A.M. Adair, Chris Grall, Dean Krystek, Jacob Moon, Mark Zeid, and Steve Stratton offer a practical introduction to writing military fiction. Drawing on both service and storytelling experience, they discuss structure, realism, and how to portray military life with respect and authenticity.

Beverle Graves Myers leads a discussion with J. Robert James, James R. Benn, Joanne Dobson, and Sarah R. Shaber on writing novels set during wartime. They explore courage, loss, and resilience, and how conflict transforms both individual lives and the course of history.

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.

Military fiction often falls apart on small but telling details. Luis Rosas, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, walks writers through the mistakes he sees most often when authors portray military life. Drawing on firsthand experience, he explains how service members actually live and work, how command structures function, and how sacrifice and duty shape behavior. This session helps writers replace assumptions with authenticity and write military characters with credibility and respect.