(All events are at the Renaissance Hotel/Cox Convention Center unless otherwise noted.)

Thursday, March 15
3:00 p.m. -- Registration -- pick up packets.
6:00-8:00 p.m. -- Reception at The Oklahoma Publishing Company. (Bus transportation from hotel.)

Friday, March 16
8:00 a.m. -- Registration and continental breakfast.
8:30 a.m. -- Welcome - Kem Rogers, Will Rogers Memorial Commission; Robert L. Haught, Workshop Director; Tim Bete, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop.
9:00-9:30 a.m. -- Dr. Doug Watson brings the past to life as Will Rogers.
9:30-10:30 a.m. -- "Championship Writing" -- Paula LaRocque, writing coach and author, conducts a workshop for all participants on how to excel as a writer.
10:30-10:45 a.m. -- Break
10:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. -- Concurrent Workshop Sessions (see separate listing).
12:30 - 2:00 p.m. -- Jim Boren, humorist and author. With a background in politics, government, education and business, this prolific writer targets gobbledygook.
2:15 - 3:45 p.m. -- Concurrent Workshop Sessions (see separate listing).
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. -- "Books and Authors" Dinner at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum* (tour, program, book sales). * This dinner is planned as a community event, with a specified number of tickets available for purchase by the public. (bus transportation from hotel)

Saturday, March 17
8:00-9:30 a.m. -- Breakfast -- "Publishing Options for Writers" -- Susan Driscoll, President of iUniverse.
9:30-10:15 a.m. -- "Writing for Lasting Effect" -- Bryan B. Sterling, author, playwright, foremost authority on the writings of Will Rogers.
10:15-10:30 a.m. -- Break
10:30 a.m.-Noon -- Concurrent Workshop Sessions (see separate listing).
12:15-1:45 p.m. -- Lunch -- "I Think I Hear Someone Laughing in Nebraska" -- Craig Wilson, USA Today columnist and author, holds forth on the trials and tribulations of writing a national humor column.
2:00-3:30 p.m. -- Concurrent Workshop Sessions.
6:00 p.m. -- Dinner -- Special program focusing on Will Rogers' American Indian (Cherokee) heritage.
Drawing for valuable prizes, including books, art, CDs, book publishing packages, much more. The grand prize is two round-trip tickets to anywhere that Southwest Airlines flies!
Stand-up comedy hour, to allow writers to put down their pads, pencils and laptops and take the microphone for a change. Workshop speaker Ray Hanania, columnist, author, and professional stand-up comedian, will help organize the after-dinner session. Anyone who has an interest in performing is requested to e-mail the director at willrogersok@gmail.com -- right after you register for the workshop.
(There will be no workshop sessions on Sunday, March 18.)

Concurrent Sessions

Friday, March 16 -- 10:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Short Takes Can Make a Long Career -- Smiley Anders, award-winning columnist:
Readers eagerly turned to the daily paper to read the "Daily Telegram" from Will Rogers. In Louisiana, they look to see what Smiley has to say. He has won numerous awards for his long-running column in Baton Rouge. One session only.

Freelance Writing for the Greeting Card Industry -- Matt Schneider, American Greetings:
The greeting card industry generates nearly $7.5 billion in retail sales annually. The Humor Writing Director of American Greetings maps the road to the lucrative market of greeting card writing with an informative how-to presentation. He defines the me-to-you message, explains what attributes make a good humor writer, and attempts to answer the age-old question, "where do you get your ideas?" This session also offered at 2:00-3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Building a Smart Writer's Web Site – Tim Bete, humor writer and author
Having a killer Web site is essential for marketing both your books and writing career. But how exactly do you create that amazing site? Tim Bete will share all the elements that will make your site click, including:
The content your Web site must have to attract attention.
What an editor needs to see in order to get him or her to hire you.
How to work your Web site to increase your book sales.
This session also offered Friday at 2:15-3:45 p.m.

Regional Magazines: an Overlooked Market - Louisa McCune-Elmore, editor-in-chief, Oklahoma Today:
Editors welcome the writer who knows the charms and quirks of a region and there are scores of publications looking for material. The editor of an award-winning magazine points the way to this rich market. This session also offered Friday at 2:15-3:45 p.m.

Take My Advice: Write Features - Jeffrey Zaslow, former advice columnist::
Words of wisdom from a popular speaker whose career includes a 14-year stint as a non-traditional advice columnist, a reputation for writing lively features and a stack of prestigious awards. Jeff Zaslow, who now writes a column for the Wall Street Journal on life transitions, will give tips on how to find the funniest and most compelling stories in everyday places, how to write movingly about both real people and celebrities, and the ways in which humor is often the secret to readable feature writing. One session only.

How to Find Your Niche - Ray Hanania, Middle East columnist, and Bill Tammeus, religion writer:
We live in a world of specialization and all a writer has to do to be convinced is go browsing in a library or check out the variety of magazines on the newsstand. Two writers tell how they found their niche and how you can do the same. This session also offered at 2:00-3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Let People "See" Your Story - Joe Hight, managing editor, The Oklahoman:
Well-placed and relevant details can enliven your story and make your readers see, smell, hear and even touch your story. The key to finding pertinent details is to find the ones that are pertinent to your story's focus. A seasoned editor provides some pertinent advice. One session only.

Friday, March 16 - 2:15 - 3:45 p.m.
Jump Start Your Writing Career -- Dave Lieber, columnist, author, speaker:
Are you on a plateau, or worse yet, in a rut? By using creativity, fresh ideas, new techniques and self-motivation, you can get your stalled career as a writer moving to new heights.  This successful journalist and speaker tells you how to realize your highest ambitions by harnessing your talents and energy and pointing them in the right direction. One session only.

New Directions in Fiction Writing -- Terry Burns, inspirational Western author:
Getting published is all about readers and knowing what they want. An experienced writer whose personality has been compared to Will Rogers shows how to take advantage of the hottest trend in publishing today. This session also offered Saturday at 10:30 a.m.-noon

Syndication: An Elusive Dream? - Jim Miller, successful self-syndicator:
Sometimes it seems that being syndicated is every writer's dream. As the "Syndication Guide" published by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists says, "Getting syndicated can be terribly hard work." A self-syndication genius show how success can be achieved. This session also offered Saturday at 10:30 a.m.-12:00 noon.

Secrets of Successful Column Writing – Suzette Martinez Standring, columnist and author:
How do award-winning columnists write to touch the hearts and minds of their readers? The average 600-word column presents a challenge to the writer, but this workshop shares tips on creating stories that are self-revealing, not self-absorbed.  Suzette Standring authored a column-writing book based on the expert advice from Art Buchwald, Arianna Huffington, Dave Barry and others. This session also offered Saturday at 2:00-3:30 p.m.

Building a Smart Writer's Web Site -- Tim Bete, humor writer and author:
Having a killer Web site is essential for marketing both your books and writing career. But how exactly do you create that amazing site? Tim Bete will share all the elements that will make your site click, including:
-- The content your Web site must have to attract attention.
-- What an editor needs to see in order to get him or her to hire you.
-- How to work your Web site to increase your book sales.
This session also offered Friday at 10:45 a.m-12:15 p.m.

Regional Magazines: an Overlooked Market -- Louisa McCune-Elmore, editor-in-chief, Oklahoma Today:
Editors welcome the writer who knows the charms and quirks of a region and there are scores of publications looking for material. The editor of an award-winning magazine points the way to this rich market. This session also offered Friday at10:45 a.m-12:15 p.m.

Working With Your Editor Pays Off -- Joe Hight, managing editor, The Oklahoman -- (and others):
Whether your writing is published in a newspaper, magazine, book or multimedia, you no doubt will work with an editor. Find out from this panel of experienced editors how to get the best results for your efforts. One session only.

Saturday, March 17 -- 10:30 a.m.-Noon
Ask the Author: All You Want To Know About Becoming an Overnight Success in Only 25 Years -- W. Bruce Cameron, humor writer, author:
We couldn't afford to pay this best-selling author his usual fee to make a speech, but he agreed to answer questions. His favorite one is, "where can I buy your book?" This is your chance to ask this unabashed self-promoter how he convinced ABC-TV to turn his book, "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" into a popular series, and why both men and women love to read, and buy, "How to Remodel a Man." One session only.

Six-Figure Freelancing: Techniques to Help You Get There -- Kelly James-Enger, The Writer magazine contributing editor:
The author of "Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money" shows how to take a business-like approach to your writing career, identify ways to produce more work in less time, and create and maintain relationships with clients and colleagues. This session also offered Saturday at 2:00-3:30 p.m.

From Print to Screen - Jay Cronley, humor columnist, novelist:
Suppose you wrote a novel that was made into a major motion picture? What if it happened over and over again? There's a lot to be learned from this writer's experience and plenty of inspiration to keep on trying to catch the golden ring. This session also offered Saturday at 2:00-3:30 p.m.

Syndication: An Elusive Dream -- Jim Miller, successful self-syndicator:
Sometimes it seems that being syndicated is every writer's dream. As the "Syndication Guide" published by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists says, "Getting syndicated can be terribly hard work." A self-syndication genius show how success can be achieved. This session also offered Friday at 2:15-3:45 p.m.

And the Winner Is . . . Jeffrey Zaslow, award-winning writer, and Smiley Anders, perennial column-writing contest winner:
Does winning a contest or being given a prestigious award make a difference in a writer's career? Many writers think it's worth competing for the recognition and other rewards that come to the winner. You can profit from the experience of these two high achievers. One session only.

The Wild, Wild World of the Internet - Sally Allen, columnist, NewsOK.com:
WWW stands for worldwide web, but it also could mean wild, wacky and wonderful. The internet not only is a rich source of information but it offers boundless opportunities for writers to publish their material. Go surfing with a knowledgeable guide. One session only.

New Directions in Fiction Writing -- Terry Burns, inspirational Western author:
Getting published is all about readers and knowing what they want. An experienced writer whose personality has been compared to Will Rogers shows how to take advantage of the hottest trend in publishing today. This session also offered Friday at 2:15-3:45 p.m.

Saturday, March 17 -- 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Six-Figure Freelancing: Techniques to Help You Get There -- Kelly James-Enger, The Writer magazine contributing editor:
The author of "Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money" shows how to take a business-like approach to your writing career, identify ways to produce more work in less time, and create and maintain relationships with clients and colleagues. This session also offered Saturday at 10:30 a.m.-noon

Sell Yourself -- a Proven Guide to Self-Promotion -- Dave Lieber, columnist, author, speaker:
Promotion is not a dirty word. It's a sound business principle. Whether you're trying to attract more readers, market a book, or make an impression on a prospective employer, some tried and true methods will help you get the job done. Learn how to use media, speaking engagements and community involvement to achieve success as a writer. One session only.

Freelance Writing for the Greeting Card Industry -- Matt Schneider, American Greetings:
The greeting card industry generates nearly $7.5 billion in retail sales annually. The Humor Writing Director of American Greetings maps the road to the lucrative market of greeting card writing with an informative how-to presentation. He defines the me-to-you message, explains what attributes make a good humor writer, and attempts to answer the age-old question, "Where do you get your ideas?" This session also offered Friday at 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

From Print to Screen - Jay Cronley, humor columnist, novelist:
Suppose you wrote a novel that was made into a major motion picture? What if it happened over and over again? There's a lot to be learned from this writer's experience and plenty of inspiration to keep on trying to catch the golden ring. This session also offered Saturday at 10:30 a.m.-noon.

Secrets of Successful Column Writing -- Suzette Martinez Standring, columnist and author:
How do award-winning columnists write to touch the hearts and minds of their readers? The average 600-word column presents a challenge to the writer, but this workshop shares tips on creating stories that are self-revealing, not self-absorbed. Suzette Standring authored a column-writing book based on the expert advice from Art Buchwald, Arianna Huffington, Dave Barry and others. This session also offered Friday at 2:15-3:45 p.m.

How to Find Your Niche -- Ray Hanania, Middle East columnist, and Bill Tammeus, religion writer:
We live in a world of specialization and all a writer has to do to be convinced is go browsing in a library or check out the variety of magazines on the newsstand. Two writers tell how they found their niche and how you can do the same. This session also offered Friday at 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Political Humor Almost Writes Itself - Robert Haught, Washington columnist:
One way to avoid being hard up for ideas is to write funny stuff about government and politics. This writer has been doing it since 1989 and the well hasn't run dry yet. All you have to do is observe and report . . . tongue in cheek, of course. One session only.