In answer to a demand for more in-depth programming, the Colorado Gold Writers Conference offers Thursday Intensives: all-day themed programming on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025 from 8am to 5pm, before the official conference begins Friday. We’re offering two different Thursday Intensive tracks this year, and both will be hosted at The Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver
Cost
- $259 for those registered for the 2025 Colorado Gold Conference (an option to add on a virtual recording of the second intensive is available for $75)
- $299 for those not attending the conference
- $199 for the virtual intensive
What’s Included
- Four sessions of programming in the track of your choice
- A PDF of prepared handouts
- Mid-morning coffee and snacks
- A buffet lunch
- One complimentary drink at the bar with your fellow intensive attendees
Thursday Intensives
Infinite Worlds: Writing and Selling Speculative Fiction
Block One: Exploring the Genres and Sub-Genres
Speculative fiction opens a lot of creative doors. There’s a lot to do, but together we’ll create a guidebook for getting your story out of your head and onto the page. Topics in this block include understanding SpecFic genres/sub-genres, classic and modern works that helped build SpecFic, markets and open doors, multi-platform approaches to storytelling, how and where to find ideas, how to find and work with experts, organizations and key markets, and more. All blocks include Q&A throughout.
Block Two: Unlocking Ideas and Developing the Story
In this block we’ll dive deep into how to take the idea and shape it into a workable format. Topics include the story outline (for plotters and pantsers!), scene creation, tropes and cliches and how to bend them to your will while keeping them fresh, the writing process for SpecFic, using fact to build compelling fiction, narrative exposition vs. dialogue reveals, character development, spot research for SpecFic, and more.
Block Three: Building Your Story
In this block we dig deep into the writing process. Topics include how to stay on track, adjusting the story based on new information, keeping it fresh, setting and achieving daily writing goals, adjusting the storytelling flow, tricks to make writing more fun, plots and subplots, deeper character development, incidental characters, plans for expanding the world and scope of your story, and more.
Block Four: Expanding the World of Your Story
With this block we focus on wrapping the tale, the revision phase, adjusting target word count, finding agents for novels, finding markets for short fiction and poetry, the SpecFic query, exploration of both standard and unusual markets (novel, short story, comic, poetry, and game markets), the pros and cons of pop-culture conventions, planning for the next project, and more.
Instructor: Jonathan Maberry is a NYTimes bestselling author, 5-time Bram Stoker Award-winner, 4-time Scribe Award winner, Inkpot Award winner, and comic book writer. His science-fiction vampire apocalypse books, V-Wars, was a Netflix original series starring Ian Somerhalder (Lost, Vampire Diaries). His Joe Ledger thrillers are in development for TV by Chad Stahelski, director of the John Wick movies; and his YA zombie series, Rot & Ruin, is being developed for film by Alcon Entertainment. Jonathan writes in multiple genres, including horror, sci-fi, epic fantasy, mystery, and thriller. He is best known for his Joe Ledger weird science thrillers; the Rot & Ruin series of post-apocalyptic adventures; the NecroTek series of deep space cosmic horror, and Mars One, a science fiction novel about the first families settling on Mars. His other works include Bewilderness (an Audible original serialized portal sci-fi/horror), the Pine Deep novels (supernatural horror), the NY Times bestselling novelization of The Wolfman; Kagen The Damned (dark epic fantasy), and others. He has edited more than two dozen SpecFic anthologies including three X-Files books, Aliens: Bug Hunt, Alien vs Predator: Ultimate Prey, Don’t Turn out the Lights (the official tribute to Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark), and others. His comic book work includes Black Panther: DoomWar, Captain America, Punisher, Wolverine, The Avengers, Marvel Zombies Return, Pandemica, Bad Blood, Godzilla vs Cthulhu, and many others. He has also written in the licensed worlds including Hellboy, John Carter of Mars, The Wizard of Oz, Winnie the Pooh, Sherlock Holmes, C.H.U.D., True Blood, World of Warcraft, Diablo IV, Planet of the Apes, and others. He is the editor of Weird Tales Magazine and the president of the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers.
Marketing Marvels
Join Mariah Ankenman, Zac Diamanti, Oliver Blakemore, Andre Gonzalez, and Natasha Gonzalez as they break down marketing and author branding.
Block One: Social Media Overview with Zac Diamanti
In this block, Zac Diamanti will discuss the how, what, and why of social media: what kind of content, where and when to post it, why it works, etc.
Block Two: Zero Cost Marketing Using Social Media with Mariah Ankenman
Learn how to use your social media to promote your books without sounding like a hard sell. Gain tips on how to build your following, engage your followers, and use viral moments to promote your books.
Block Three: Smart Marketing for Authors: From AI Tools to Facebook Ads with Andre and Natasha Gonzalez
In this hands-on, two-hour intensive, we’ll dive into the tools and strategies that help authors market smarter, not harder. In the first hour, you’ll learn how to harness AI to generate compelling ad copy, streamline content creation, and strengthen your brand messaging. Then, we’ll shift gears and take that content into action—walking through how to build and optimize Facebook ads that actually convert. Whether you’re just starting or looking to scale your campaigns, this session will give you the confidence and clarity to take control of your book marketing.
Block Four: Designing a Brand-Driven Marketing Strategy on a Budget with Oliver Blakemore
In this block, Oliver Blakemore will break down how to create a configurable, flexible, and nimble marketing strategy that fits your brand AND budget.
Instructor: Z.S. Diamanti is the award-winning author of the Stone & Sky series, an epic fantasy adventure and Guard in the Garden, the first book in the Fables of Finlestia cozy fantasy series. He attended college forever and has far too many pieces of paper on his wall. He’s a USAF veteran and worked in ministry for over 10 years before pursuing creative endeavors full-time. He and his wife live in Colorado with their four children where they enjoy hikes, camping, and tabletop games.
Instructor: Mariah Ankenman lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her two rambunctious children and loving spouse who is her own personal spell checker when her dyslexia gets the best of her. Mariah loves to lose herself in a world of words. Her favorite thing about writing is when she can make someone’s day a little brighter with one of her books. To learn more about Mariah and her books, visit her website http://mariahankenman.com/ follow her on social media, or sign up for her newsletter.
Instructor: Andre Gonzalez is the international bestselling author of the Wealth of Time Series, and co-owner of M4L Publishing. After surviving the Aurora Theater Shooting in 2012, Andre was inspired to chase his lifelong dream of pursuing a career as an author. This tragedy gave him a new appreciation for life along with a drive to make the world a better place by publishing books readers all around the world can enjoy. Andre was the recipient of the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers 2021 Independent Writer of the Year award. When he’s not writing, you can find Andre buried underneath a long to-do list or chasing around his three hyper children. He and his wife are raising their family in their hometown of Denver, CO.
Instructor: Natasha Gonzalez is a Colorado native, children’s author, and independent publisher dedicated to amplifying diverse voices in literature. After 12 years in structural engineering, she transitioned to publishing in 2016, co-founding an indie publishing house in 2019 that helps authors bring their stories to life. In 2022, she debuted her first children’s book, blending her Colombian and Venezuelan heritage with her American upbringing in a bilingual format. Passionate about storytelling, inclusivity, and cultural representation, Natasha works to create books that inspire and connect readers of all backgrounds. When she’s not publishing or writing, she enjoys outdoor adventures, traveling, and making memories with her family.
Instructor: Oliver Blakemore has mainly written fantasy and science fiction. He’s self-published a collection of short stories, Ragged Museum, and an urban fantasy novel, City Song. He is pursuing his BA in English, Rhetoric, Composition, and Professional Writing from Metropolitan State University. He is currently president of their Creative Writing Club, and he was on the editorial staff of their recent online literary journal, The Roadrunner Review.