Saturday, February 7, 2026
Schedule and Break Out Session Descriptions
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| TIMEÌý | SPEAKER & LOCATION | SESSION INFO |
| Registration 9:00—9:30 a.m. |
McNair Hall (Morris Cultural Arts Center) | Registration |
| Opening Keynote 9:30—10:30 a.m. |
Sandra McCracken Belin Chapel |
Opening Keynote |
| Secondary Keynote 10:30—11:30 a.m. |
Craig Detweiler Belin Chapel |
Keynote |
| Lunch Break 11:30 a.m. —1:00 p.m. |
Lunch is not provided for attendees, but is available for purchase at the nearby Pillars shopping center off of Fondren/59 SW FWY. | |
| Breakout Session I 1:00—2:00 p.m. |
Kristin Dulaney Belin Chapel |
Crash Course in Book Publishing This workshop offers a crash course in trade publishing—from manuscript acquisition to books on shelves—introducing the key departments involved. It also explains why literary agents matter. With 22 years’ experience, Dulaney shares market insights and lessons in adapting books to film. |
| Shelby Kimpel Dillon I |
Finding Real Stories in Marketing & Documentaries How does one find a story in reality, or in the facts of real events? The purpose and process is not always easy to find, but we’re all made to crave stories. Kimpel, a filmmaker and graphic designer, will share her experience in finding the story in both documentary directing and brand marketing. |
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| Timothy E.G. Bartel, Jennifer Hartenburg, and Jane Clark Scharl Dillon II |
Poetry & Revelation
Three poets explore how scripture informs the sacred act of poem-making. The Bible illuminates the poetic calling and invites a living dialogue. With readings from their recent work, these poets discuss faithful craft, training the eye for detail, and poetry as prophetic revelation.
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| Breakout Session II 2:15—3:15 p.m. |
John Whitmore Belin Chapel |
Not the Whole Story: The Strategic Purpose and Process of Game Narrative In game development, narrative is more than story: it provides context, direction, and emotion. This session explores how storytelling depends on production realities—structure, technology, marketing, and budgets. Learn to build stories supporting player agency while navigating development changes. |
| Josiah Nelson Dillon I |
It’s All Indie Now: Building a Career In & Out of Hollywood Nelson, a screenwriter for film and television, including the new series, The Pendragon Cycle, will share how the media industry has changed, how he broke in, and the changing opportunities available for young writers today. |
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| Van G. Garrett Dillon II |
Writing: An Interdisciplinary Approach Participants will learn how to create narratives based on their personal interests. Additionally, explore writing territories, survey model texts, and discover writing possibilities in various genres. Informative and informal, this presentation will encourage learning in supportive, productive, and engaging ways. |
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| Closing Panel 3:30—4:30 p.m. |
Van G. Garrett, Josiah Nelson, Jane Clark Scharl, John Whitmore, and Craig Detweiler (moderator) Belin Chapel |
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