MidAtl2 Wendall Thomas – The Business of Screenwriting Have you ever wanted to write a screenplay? Or adapt your novel for the big or little screen? But what is this business of screenwriting all about? How is it different from my current career as an author? Wendall Thomas, author of the Lefty Award-winning novel Cheap Trills, will … Read more
D.P. Lyle Explains the Facts of Murder at our March 10 Zoom Meeting If you want to know which poison to use, what knifes, ice picks, and bullets do to a body, or just need help killing your antagonist in your next novel, you need to listen to D. P. “Doug” Lyle. Lyle is a … Read more
Southern Noir Author Panel, Feb. 10, 7PM EST Join top contemporary southern noir authors as they share techniques for bringing your setting to life. From dialogue to geography and customs, they’ll discuss key considerations in writing about region in your next mystery/thriller novel or short story. Virtual panel featuring: Ace Atkins, Pulitzer Prize-nominated former journalist and current … Read more
No matter what stage you’re at in your publishing career, you can learn a thing or two from Dan Conaway, one of the biggest and best literary agents in the business. His clients include Megan Abbot, Greg Iles, Stacy Willingham, Joseph Finder, Marcia Clark, and many more. To accommodate his schedule, we will meet with … Read more
The MWA Mid-Atlantic Chapter holiday party will be 6-9 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 11 at Elaine’s, 208 Queen St. in Old Town Alexandria. Come, network, and have a good time reconnecting with fellow writers. A stone’s throw from the majestic Potomac River, Elaine’s specializes in delicious Mediterranean fare. Enjoy savory bites, dessert, beer, and wine (cocktails available … Read more
Large language models need words to grow. Are they stealing yours? The Mid-Atlantic chapter of Mystery Writers of America invites you to join us for an evening of conversation with Umair Kazi, Director of Policy & Advocacy for The Authors Guild, about the Guild’s fight against AI theft and the Human Authored certification. Tuesday, October … Read more
Brand You U—Building a Winning Personal Brand Google, Nike, Kleenex—just the name is enough to remind people of what these brands stand for. No one asks, “What’s a Google?” So how do you capture that same level of recognition for yourself and your books? In this talk, Kevin Tumlinson shares what he’s learned about building … Read more
Archetype Subversion Techniques Let’s delve into the art of using archetypes to craft characters, then we’ll break the rules to create fresh-takes on familiar stories. Learn the nuances of group dynamics and how to imbue your characters with complexity, believability, and relatability. Explore the power of leveraging reader expectations to defy conventions in ways that intrigue and enchant. Uncover strategies … Read more
July 8, 7 p.m. David Holtzman knows all about artificial intelligence and its threat to novelists. He owns one of the original servers used to build the internet and has served as a military intelligence professional, author, and White House adviser on technology issues. He will speak at our Tuesday, July 8, Zoom monthly meeting. … Read more