Colorado Gold is only a month away! We’re back at the Denver Renaissance Hotel, in Stapleton, which will be familiar to some attendees and new to many.
We’ve also added some new programming to the schedule this year—testing the waters in an attempt to give you all more opportunities to learn and grow and hone your craft.
I thought it would be helpful to do a kind of walk-through of the conference explaining what to expect each day.
The At-A-Glance Schedule
First, I wanted to point out that the at a glance schedule is organized by floor.
The left-most classrooms are located on the ballroom floor, which is the lower level of the hotel. These include the Ballrooms, Big Thompson, Platte River, and Boulder Creek.
The middle classrooms are located on the atrium level, these are Winter Park, Breckenridge, Snowmass, Telluride, Durango, Steamboat, and Aspen.
The right-most rooms, called the “Peak Rooms” on the schedule are located on the third floor. They aren’t listed on the schedule individually because they are not part of the workshop space. They include Blanca Peak, Longs Peak, Capital Peak, Gray’s Peak, Bennett Peak, Maroon Peak, and Pike’s Peak.
There is a floor plan printed on the back page of the brochure, which is available online right now. You will also receive a printed brochure when you check in at conference.
Registration
Registration is located on the ballroom level, at the bottom of the escalators. Someone will be at the registration table for the duration of conference, and available to answer questions or help you with whatever you need. Registration opens Friday at 7:00 AM for the morning sessions and 10:30 AM for the regular conference attendees.
About Appointments and One-on-Ones
If you signed up for an appointment, it is likely that you will have to leave a workshop in session in order to attend. If you need to leave a workshop in session, this is perfectly fine and happens throughout conference. Simply gather your things and quietly depart. Once your appointment is over, feel free to return to any workshop in session.
Handouts
Handouts are available online. Please download to your device or print them before coming to conference. There is NO WI-FI in the classrooms.
WiFi
There is no WiFi in the classrooms, for the presenters or for the attendees. WiFi is available in the common areas of the hotel.
Bookstore
The bookstore is located in Clear Creek on the ballroom level for the duration of conference.
Conference Recordings
Joyco recordings of all the workshops will be available for purchase near the registration table on the ballroom level. Place your order before the end of conference and you’ll pick up your recordings before you leave.
Friday, September 9
On Friday Morning, we have:
- Master Classes
- Agent & Editor Critique Round Tables
Check-in for the Friday morning sessions is at the registration table starting at 7:00 AM. Master Classes and Agent and Editor Critique Round Tables begin at 8 AM. Once you collect your registration materials, you will proceed to your assigned room. Check-in for the rest of the conference attendees will open at 10:30 AM.
Master Classes: The Master Classes are located on the ballroom level and atrium level. Check the schedule for your specific room and plan to arrive a few minutes early.
Agent & Editor Critique Round Tables: If you signed up for a Round Table, these sessions are located on the third floor in the “Peak Rooms”. Please arrive a few minutes early, and note that there will be signs on the doors so that you know you are in the right place.
On Friday Afternoon, we have:
- Regular Workshops
- Mentor Room Appointments
- Hook Your Book Appointments
- One-on-One Pitch Coaching Appointments
- Afternoon Agent & Editor Critique Round Tables
- Buffet Dinner
- Author Signing and Book Sale
Check-in for the conference attendees will open at 10:30 AM. Workshops and appointments begin at 1 PM.
Mentor Room: The Mentor room is located in Boulder Creek, on the ballroom level. If you have an appointment for the Mentor room, your specific appointment details will be included in your registration packet. Check in at the main registration table 10 minutes before your appointment.
Hook Your Book appointments: Hook Your Book is located in the Aspen room on the atrium level. If you signed up for an appointment, your specific appointment details will be included in your registration packet. There will be a separate check-in table for the Hook Your Book sessions located outside the Aspen room. Please arrive 10 minutes before your appointment to check in.
One-on-One Pitch Coaching appointments: If you signed up for Pitch Coaching, these sessions are located on the atrium level in Winter Park, Breckenridge, Snowmass rooms. Your specific appointment details will be included in your registration packet. There will be a separate check-in table outside the rooms. Please arrive 10 minutes before your appointment to check in.
Agent & Editor Critique Round Tables: If you signed up for a Round Table, these sessions are located on the third floor in the “Peak Rooms”. Please arrive a few minutes early, and note that there will be signs on the doors so that you know you are in the right place.
Friday Dinner: Buffet dinner on Friday is located in Ballrooms C/D at 6 PM. Join us as we welcome you and hear from the 2016 Writers of the Year. There will be a cash bar in the hall outside the ballrooms prior to dinner and a cash bar inside during the meal.
Author Signing and Book Sale: Join us in Ballrooms A/B for an author signing extravaganza! Meet dozens of RMFW authors, our keynote speakers, presenters, and special guests. Buy books and have them signed. The cash bar will be open during this time. This is open to the public, so spread the word!
Saturday, September 10
On Saturday morning, we have:
- Continental breakfast
- Morning Author Readings
- Mentor Room Appointments
- One Master Class
- Agent & Editor Pitch Appointments
Continental breakfast: This is optional and available starting at 7 AM in the hall outside the ballrooms.
Author Readings in Ballroom A: Feel free to grab some breakfast, and listen in to the authors read their work live. If you signed up to read your work, you will have received your appointment details from our author signing coordinator. Please make sure you arrive before your scheduled reading time.
Mentor Room: The Mentor room is located in Boulder Creek, on the ballroom level. If you have an appointment for the Mentor room, your specific appointment details will be included in your registration packet. Check in at the main registration table 10 minutes before your appointment.
Master Class: The Master Class on Saturday morning is located in the Aspen room on the atrium level.
Agent & Editor Pitch Appointments: Pitch Appointments are located on the third floor in the “Peak Rooms”. Your specific appointment details will be included in your registration packet. There will be a separate check-in table for the pitch appointments located on the third floor. Please make sure you arrive at least 10 minutes before your appointment. If you have any questions or conflicts regarding your pitch appointment, you will need to speak to the volunteers at the third-floor check-in table.
On Saturday afternoon, we have:
- New Attendee Luncheon
- Regular Workshops
- Mentor Room
- One Master Class
- Agent & Editor Pitch Appointments
- One-on-One Critique/Blue Pencil Appointments
- Awards Banquet Dinner
- Author Readings
Lunch on Saturday afternoon is not provided. Lunch is available in the hotel restaurant, or many off-site locations. Please consult the back of the brochure for a list of nearby restaurant options.
New Attendee Luncheon: If you signed up to attend the new attendee luncheon, you will receive a ticket in your registration packet. This meeting will be located in the Vail room on the atrium level. New attendees who wish to attend this lunch must have signed up ahead of time. However, if you are a new attendee and wish to bring lunch or sit in on this meeting without taking part in the food, you are welcome to attend the meeting without prior registration.
Mentor Room: The Mentor room is located in Boulder Creek, on the ballroom level. If you have an appointment for the Mentor room, your specific appointment details will be included in your registration packet. Check in at the main registration table 10 minutes before your appointment.
Master Class: The Master Class on Saturday morning is located in the Aspen room on the atrium level.
Agent & Editor Pitch Appointments: Pitch Appointments are located on the third floor in the “Peak Rooms”. Your specific appointment details will be included in your registration packet. There will be a separate check-in table for the pitch appointments located on the third floor. Please make sure you arrive at least 10 minutes before your appointment. If you have any questions or conflicts regarding your pitch appointment, you will need to speak to the volunteers at the third-floor check-in table.
One-on-One Critique/Blue Pencil Appointments: One-on-One Critiques and Blue Pencil Cafe appointments are located on the third floor in the “Peak Rooms”. Your specific appointment details will be included in your registration packet. There will be a separate check-in table for these appointments located on the third floor. Please make sure you arrive at least 10 minutes before your appointment.
Awards Banquet Dinner: Dinner is located in Ballrooms C/D. Please join us for an evening of fun and celebration as we present awards for the year and hear an inspiring speech from our keynote speaker, Robert Sawyer. There will be a cash bar.
Author Readings in Ballroom A: Please join us and listen to RMFW authors read their work live. If you signed up to read your work, you will have received your appointment details from our author reading coordinator. Please make sure you arrive before your scheduled reading time.
Cash Bar in “Hospitality Hall”: Hang out in the hall outside the ballrooms after dinner and mingle. There will be a cash bar.
Sunday, September 11
On Sunday morning, we have:
- Continental Breakfast
- Author Readings
- Regular Workshops
- Agent & Editor Pitch appointments
- One-on-One Critique appointments
- Farewell Luncheon
Continental breakfast: This is optional and available starting at 7 AM in the hall outside the ballrooms.
Author Readings in Ballroom A: Feel free to grab some breakfast, and listen in to the authors read their work live. If you signed up to read your work, you will have received your appointment details from our author signing coordinator. Please make sure you arrive before your scheduled reading time.
Agent & Editor Pitch Appointments: Pitch Appointments are located on the third floor in the “Peak Rooms”. Your specific appointment details will be included in your registration packet. There will be a separate check-in table for the pitch appointments located on the third floor. Please make sure you arrive at least 10 minutes before your appointment. If you have any questions or conflicts regarding your pitch appointment, you will need to speak to the volunteers at the third-floor check-in table.
One-on-One Critique Appointments: One-on-One Critiques and Blue Pencil Cafe Appointments are located on the third floor in the “Peak Rooms”. Your specific appointment details will be included in your registration packet. There will be a separate check-in table for these appointments located on the third floor. Please make sure you arrive at least 10 minutes before your appointment.
Farewell Luncheon: The farewell luncheon will be located in Ballrooms C/D. Please join us as our keynote Ann Hood closes our conference with an inspirational speech.
I hope this information is useful as you prepare for conference.
See you in September!