Operation Literacy presents
MASTERCLASSES
Enjoy a 90-minute deep-dive class taught by best-selling authors, editors, and industry professionals. Masterclasses are $39 each and can be purchased as an Add-On with any General, Teen, or Educator ticket. You can sign up for as many as you want as long as there are openings available. (Please note that masterclasses will be going Friday and simultaneously as breakout sessions on Saturday.)​​
SPACE IS VERY LIMITED!
*Important Note: These classes are not designed for young children. Only individuals who are 13 years + who have purchased either a Teen, Educator, or General Pass may attend.
MASTERCLASS OFFERINGS
BATTLE GUIDE TO REVISION
Friday, Feb 21 @ 10:00-11:15 am
How to become your own champion, in writing and life. The draft is done, but the fight through editing has just begun. This intensive will arm you with the courage needed to banish writers block and vanquish that inner voice of doubt. You’ll be given tools to help face your fears, tackle the daunting slog of repeated revisions and avoid the trap of over editing. Come ready to take charge of your own hero’s journey and learn how to make the revision process work for you.
VEEDA BYBEE
Veeda Bybee is the author of books for young readers, a cookbook: A Few of My Favorite Things: Recipes Inspired by Hollywood Musical Films, and the coauthor of the Team Awkward middle grade series. A former journalist, she holds an MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
PRO LEVEL PROSE
Friday, Feb 21 @ 10:00-11:15 am
In the end, all fiction comes down to words, sentences, and paragraphs. In this class, we will explore techniques to elevate these humble elements into prose that seems to breathe--and more importantly, makes people feel.
EMILY INOUYE HUEY
Emily writes historical fiction for children and teens. Her first novel, BENEATH THE WIDE SILK SKY, won the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators’ Golden Kite Award and the Malka Penn Award for Human Rights in Children’s Literature. Her first picture book, WAT KEPT PLAYING, released in 2024 and received a starred review from School Library Journal. Emily holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University and is a former teacher.
PLOT-CENTERED WORLDBUILDING
Friday, Feb 21 @ 1:15-2:30 pm
In this class, Christopher Paolini (recognized in The Guinness World Records as the youngest author of an international bestselling book series), will dive deep into plot structure and worldbuilding based off of his experience while creating The Inheritance Cycle as well as his collections of short stories.
CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI
Christopher Paolini is the author of the international bestsellers Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr, and Inheritance, as well as The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm. Murtagh is now available and marks the highly anticipated return to the World of Eragon. His debut science fiction novel, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, came out in September 2020 and its prequel, Fractal Noise, was released in May 2023. He resides in Paradise Valley, Montana, USA.
HOW TO BUILD COMPLETELY REAL UNREAL WORLDS
Friday, Feb 21 @ 1:15-2:30 pm
This master class with acclaimed author Neal Shusterman explores the process of creating immersive and believable fictional worlds that captivate readers. From developing rich histories and cultures to crafting unique landscapes and technologies, participants will learn essential techniques to construct worlds that feel authentic and compelling, while pushing the boundaries of imagination. Through practical insights and examples drawn from Neal Shusterman's own works, this class equips writers with the tools to transcend reality and build unforgettable realms!
NEAL SHUSTERMAN
Neal Shusterman is the award-winning author of more than 50 books for teens and adults, including the Arc of a Scythe Trilogy, The Unwind Dystology, Dry, and Challenger Deep, which won the National Book Award. His upcoming novel ALL BETTER NOW publishes in early February 2025.
HOW TO PITCH TO A PUBLISHER
Friday, Feb 21 @ 2:45-4:00 pm
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CHRISTOPHER SCHOEBINGER
35 years experience in the publishing industry. Skilled in Developmental Editing, Integrated Marketing, and Advertising. Graduated from Dixie State College & Brigham Young University. Discovered award-winning and New York Times best-selling authors such as Brandon Mull, Jason F. Wright, and Ally Condie. Worked with developing many best-selling authors including James Dashner, Lisa Mangum, J. Scott Savage, Obert Skye, Tyler Whitesides, and Camron Wright. Published the autobiographies of sports celebrities including John Stockton, Jimmer Fredette, Eric Weddle, and Chad Lewis.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS: Using Historical Fiction to Discuss Resistance and Justice for Today's Issues
Friday, Feb 21 @ 2:45-4:00 pm
In this class we will tackle the process of researching for a historical novel and the lessons / ways to use what you uncover to discuss important themes, particularly as it relates to today's issues.
LIBBA BRAY
Libba Bray is the New York Times bestselling author of The Gemma Doyle trilogy (A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, The Sweet Far Thing); the Michael L. Printz Award-winning Going Bovine; Beauty Queens, an L.A. Times Book Prize finalist; and The Diviners series. She is originally from Texas but makes her home in New York City.
TENSION AND TROUBLE: Creating Stories your readers cannot put down
Saturday, Feb 22 @ 10:00-11:15 am
No matter the genre, a story should be structured to keep the reader turning the pages. In this class, we’ll talk about how to raise the stakes, deepen the tension, and keep your character in hot water until that final moment your reader is desperate to reach.
JENNIFER NIELSEN
Jennifer A. Nielsen is the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of several books for young readers. She also serves as the Utah Ambassador for Young People's Literature. Jennifer loves being in the mountains and is sorta obsessed with all things dark chocolate.
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FOUR PART PACING
Saturday, Feb 22 @ 10:00-11:15 am
Mapping out your story so you know what needs to happen when.
J. SCOTT SAVAGE
J Scott Savage (he/him) is the author of twenty two published novels, including Quantum Interstellar Sports League, an illustrated novel from Penguin. He has presented at more than four thousand schools, libraries, and conferences across the country, inspiring students to read, write, and change the world. He enjoys reading, watching movies, camping, traveling, and spending time with his family.
CRACKING THE STORY CODE
Saturday, Feb 22 @ 1:15-2:30 pm
(Story not working? Grab some MILK, and maybe a few cookies)
M is upping the ante through the Moral Reasoning level of not just your characters, but your readers.
I is nailing your Inciting Incident along with the Importance of disruption and antagonism.
L is for Leveling up your game with the seven essential character roles.
K is all about creating Killer stories and incorporating only the best irresistible elements. ...did anyone bring the chocolate chip cookies?
AMY WHITE
Amy White is a literature specialist, and one of a handful of licensed Story Code™ Analysis experts with the keys to cracking the story code. Amy has been instrumental in working with Katie Farmer to develop and promote her work. Clients of Amy have been picked up by agents and publishers and seen their writing goals achieved. Having worked with the best of the best in filmmaking and business writing, Amy’s teaching can get you seen and more importantly, help you accurately connect with your target audience.
UNDERSTANDING AMAZON
Saturday, Feb 22 @ 1:15-2:30 pm
How well do you understand the indie publishing market? Do you know the difference between Kindle Direct and Kindle Unlimited and how they pay royalties? What’s it like to work with one of the Amazon Publishing imprints (Montlake Romance, 47North, Skyscape, Thomas & Mercer)? Come learn about different resources Amazon has enabled to help indie writers get noticed in a crowded publishing market that is only getting more crowded.
JEFF WHEELER
Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jeff Wheeler took an early retirement from his career at Intel in 2014 to write full-time. He is a husband, father of five, and a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Jeff lives in the Rocky Mountains. His fantasy books have sold more than 6 million copies and have been translated into multiple languages worldwide.
THE STAR METHOD - How to Create Ensemble Casts
Saturday, Feb 22 @ 5:15-5:30 pm
In this workshop, students will learn a method for creating compelling, interconnected casts of characters from a core of basic principles and characteristics.
MOSES OSE UTOMI
Moses Ose Utomi is a Nigerian-American fantasy writer and nomad currently based out of San Diego, California. He is the author of several books, including the young adult fantasy series The Sisters of the Mud and the fantasy novella trilogy The Forever Desert.
CLASS TITLE COMING SOON
Saturday, Feb 22 @ 4:15-5:30 pm
Details coming soon!
RENA BARRON
Rena Barron grew up in small-town Alabama, where stories of magic and adventure sparked her imagination. After penning her first awful poem in middle school, she graduated to writing short stories and novels by high school. Rena loves all things science fiction and fantasy, ghosts, and superheroes. Rena is the author of the young adult fantasy series Kingdom of Souls, which the School Library Journal called a ‘masterful tale,’ in a starred review. Rena is also the author of the superhero middle grade contemporary fantasy series set in Chicago, Maya and the Rising Dark, a 2021 Ignyte Award Finalist.