Friday, February 27, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM CST
Jump into the world of storytelling with our Opelika Book Festival Writer’s Workshops! These in-person sessions are perfect for anyone looking to sharpen their writing skills, share ideas, and have fun. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned writer, come and connect with fellow book lovers and creative minds. Don’t miss this chance to boost your creativity and bring your stories to life! Your $35 (plus fees) ticket includes a full day of workshops, breakfast, snacks, and lunch.
Tentative Schedule:
Enjoy a continental style breakfast
Festival keynote, Sarah Penner, will present Marketing & Social Strategy: platforms and online presence for writers with strategies to maximize your writing career.
If the word networking makes you want to hide behind your notebook, this panel is for you. Whether you’re publishing your first piece or your tenth book, connecting with others is part of the writing life. Our panelists will share approachable, low-pressure ways to meet people, start conversations, and follow up, without feeling salesy or fake. Expect honest advice, practical takeaways, and reassurance that even successful authors once felt awkward, too.
Sarah Penner delivers a can’t miss walkthrough for aspiring authors
A boxed lunch will be provided on site.
Getting your book into an indie bookstore can be exciting—and also confusing. In this lively conversation, booksellers share what authors should know before reaching out: how buying decisions are made, what actually sells in-store, and why “being on the shelf” doesn’t always equal big sales. Expect practical advice, gentle myth-busting, and insider tips on when bookstores are the right fit, and when other paths might serve you better.
Pen Names and Sales Tracks and Genres, Oh My!: How to Survive (and Thrive!) In Publishing’s Shifting Marketplace. In her 16 years as a full time writer, Rachel Hawkins has written 19 books published in 20+ countries, had 2 pen names, written in 4 genres, and had 5 New York Times Bestsellers. What does it take to keep a long-term career in this business? Rachel has some answers (spoiler: a lot of them boil down to “Be Stubborn.”)
We’ll close out the writing workshops by pulling the big ideas together, sharing a few final insights from the day, and giving you time to connect with fellow writers, panelists, and presenters. This relaxed final session is your chance to ask last-minute questions, swap contact info, and continue conversations sparked during the workshops. Whether you’re heading home with new strategies, new confidence, or new writing friends, this is where we turn inspiration into next steps.
Opelika Book Festival 