2025 Pocono Writers Workshop

In this day-long event, small, interactive group workshops will be offered, providing participants with information and personal attention. Attendees will be able to choose three workshops from the six offered. [See Below]

Remember: This is a workshop. Bring your laptop or pen and paper and be ready to do some writing exercises!

A1: Making Memoir Universal

Participants will explore the key differences between autobiography and memoir, discovering how to transform personal experiences into compelling narratives that resonate with readers. Through the lens of narrative memoir—a true story shaped with the tools of fiction—they'll learn how to craft vivid scenes, develop voice, and sharpen their message to connect meaningfully with today's audience.

Victoria Marie Lees is an award-winning poet and author. She has published in Chicken Soup for the Soul, Business Insider, and national magazines and anthologies. She leads writing workshops at libraries and online adult learning centers on various topics in fiction, memoir, and poetry. She also helps beginning writers, one-on-one, to hone their skills. Her memoir, Determination: A Mother of Five Conquers College released in May 2025. Learn more about Victoria at her website: https://www.victoriamarielees.com/.

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A2: Playing with POV

Step into a world where villains tell their side, sidekicks steal the spotlight, and “once upon a time” isn’t quite what you remember. In this lively, hands-on workshop, we’ll twist familiar fairy tales by rewriting them from unexpected points of view — the Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk, the Stepmother in Cinderella, even Papa Bear in Goldilocks. Along the way, you’ll learn the magic of first, second, and third person POV, and how each changes the story’s tone, bias, and secrets revealed. Through guided examples and a playful writing exercise, you’ll discover how a simple shift in perspective can make any tale feel brand new. Get ready to turn the stories you know upside down — and make them all your own.

Sahar Abdulaziz weaves psychological thrillers, suspense, and razor-edged satire, unafraid to explore the shadows where human flaws fester. Her stories lure readers into worlds of twist-laden plots, tangled motives, and complex characters teetering on the brink. In her fiction, dysfunction isn’t a flaw — it’s the hook. Website: www.saharabdulazizauthor.com

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B1: Stretching your Imagination

Coming up with an idea is easy. Coming up with a unique idea? That takes more work. In this workshop, you'll learn about what editors are looking for when they solicit stories and how to avoid thinking like everyone else.

Michael A. Ventrella writes witty adventures about reluctant heroes. He’s edited over a dozen anthologies featuring award-winning NY Times bestselling authors. His own short stories have appeared in various anthologies and magazines, and he’s also written nonfiction books about music and the U.S. Constitution. His web page is www.michaelaventrella.com

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B2: Character Development: Cuddling our Character's Demons

When we reflect on our character's deepest secrets, we learn that deception, anger, and cruelty are merely a response to trauma. This is how we wander through our world. This is how we set up our worlds in fiction. This is how we create our characters. Participants will explore new levels of character development by discovering the hidden truths of what makes them believable, as well as vulnerable. Character is about change and this workshop will move from understanding basic archetypes, to developing origin stories and ah-ha moments, and finally, to prevail in the heart of the darkened Cave, a place in which all characters must face a gruesome revelation about who they were, who they wanted to be, and what it takes to get their desired outcome.

Rebecca Dolence is a Certified Author Accelerator Fiction Book Coach, who specializes in coaching speculative fiction and various subgenres of horror for adults and children’s literature (yes, kids love horror too). Rebecca has a Bachelor’s of Arts from the University of Detroit Mercy, is a long-time member of SCBWI, has earned several certificates in writing for children from The Institute of Children’s Literature, is a blogger of Positive Perspectives of Pouty People, a developmental editor, and business owner of RAD Notes Book Coaching, LLC.

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C1: The Five Senses

We take in multiple cues about a situation or scene in real life, sometimes without consciously realizing it. When writing, however, it’s too easy to just rely on visual descriptions of a scene. Choose from a series of prompts and write a scene using the OTHER four senses of hearing, taste, smell, and touch. Participants can share their scenes. If there's time, pick up someone else’s and add to it with different senses.

Carol Gyzander is a Bram Stoker Award® winner, World Fantasy Award nominee, and Rhysling Award nominee who writes and edits horror, weird fiction, science fiction, and suspense—with strong women in twisted tales that touch your heart. She has stories in Weird Tales 367, Weird House Magazine, Under Twin Suns, and numerous other publications. Carol co-edited and contributed to the stabby feminist horror anthology Discontinue If Death Ensues: Tales from the Tipping Point (Flame Tree Press). She lives in the New Jersey suburbs of New York City, and is Co-Chair of the HWA NY Chapter and co-host of their online reading series, Galactic Terrors.

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C2: Presenting your work to an audience

At some point every author will do a reading of their work to an audience--whether in a small group , signing, or online. After a short talk participants will be asked to read a sort selection of their work (300 words or so) and the presenter will give tips to heighten the experience for the audience, with an emphasis on the fact that hearing it (for the listeners) is a different experience that reading it. The object: the make the audience want to rush out to buy that story!

Teel James Glenn was a stuntman for some forty plus years but then decided to do something dangerous; become an author. His writing has been published in dozens of novels and his work has been printed in over three hundred magazines. His novel A Cowboy in Carpathia: A Bob Howard Adventure won best novel 2021 from the pulp Factory. He is also the winner of the 2012 Pulp Ark Award for Best Author. His latest novel Not Born of Woman was a pulp Factory Finalist for best novel, and is a Shamus Finalist for best PI novel and a Silver Falchion finales for best paranormal mystery. His website is: TheUrbanSwashbuckler.com

SCHEDULE

9:00: Registration, Meet & Greet, Introductions

9:30: Workshop: A1 (Memoir) OR A2 (POV)

10:30: Break

10:45: Workshop B1 (Imagination) OR B2 (Character Development)

11:45: Lunch [Please bring a bag lunch and drink; there is a grocery store next door and other fast food places nearby]

12:45: Workshop C1 (Five Senses) OR C2 (Presenting your work)

1:45: Break

2:00: Question & Answer Panel

3:00 (or earlier depending on the Q&A panel): Closing remarks/cleanup

NOTE: When you sign up, be careful not to reserve two panels at the same time. Choose A1 or A2, B1 or B2, and C1 or C2.

Since we have limited space, PLEASE do not reserve a spot unless you are absolutely planning on attending.

The members of The Pocono Liars are committed to making this workshop one where every person in attendance feels supported and respected for their endeavors, and a place where all writers feel welcome and are treated with courtesy, patience and respect. While we as individuals might not share the same world views, we in The Pocono Liars believe it is imperative to develop a safe environment for creatives from all backgrounds and beliefs to gather in support of one another. It is our collective wish to provide such a venue in support of the intellectual integrity of all those who attend and wish to participate.

Additionally, as writers, we feel it is especially important that we respect the boundaries of each individual. Therefore, while proactive critiques are most certainly welcome and appreciated, we especially request that those in attendance refrain from putting fellow writers in a position of validating their choice of genre, lifestyle or story. Thank you.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Hughes Library, 1002 North 9th Street, Stroudsburg, United States