Tahoe Literary Festival

10:00am PDT

Plot and Subplot: The Hidden Architecture of Story

Saturday October 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT

Many manuscripts suffer from a surprising problem: they have a plot, but no effective subplots. Yet the most memorable novels use secondary storylines not as decoration, but as engines that deepen character, heighten conflict, and generate crucial turning points.

In this craft talk, novelist Jessica Levine explores how plot and subplot interact to create narrative momentum. Drawing on examples from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, she shows how seemingly secondary stories—such as Lydia Bennet's elopement or Myrtle Wilson's affair—ultimately reshape the destinies of the protagonists and drive the main narrative toward its crisis and resolution.

Writers and readers alike will gain a deeper understanding of narrative structure and leave with practical tools for recognizing, developing, and strengthening the subplot dynamics that give fiction both emotional resonance and structural power.

Speakers

Jessica Levine

Jessica Levine is the award-winning author of The Cousins Series, including Three Cousins (2025), The Geometry of Love, and Nothing Forgotten. The series was a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, and both The Geometry of Love and Nothing Forgotten were named Booklist... Read More →

Saturday October 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Gatekeeper's Museum Library 130 W Lake Blvd, Tahoe City

Craft Talk

11:15am PDT

Scene: The Essential Building Block of Story: Fiction, Memoir, Playwriting

Saturday October 10, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT

Gatekeeper's Museum Library

Whether we’re playwrights or writers of fiction or memoir, we’re up to the same thing, which is building a story. And stories, no matter the form or genre, unfold scene by scene. In this workshop, we’ll talk about what we mean by “scene,” and cover its essential elements. Then, with the help of published examples, we’ll examine how a variety of writers put these ideas to work: we’ll look at character, and character needs, the importance of setting and activity, as well as the power inherent in inanimate objects. We’ll also address point of view and sense of place, and a few pointers about effective dialogue. Targeted prompts allow you to put theory into practice, so you can confidently incorporate these ideas into your writing.

Speakers

Sands Hall

Sands Hall—author, professor, theatre artist, singer-songwriter—is the author of the award-winning memoir, Reclaiming My Decade Lost in Scientology (Counterpoint Press); Blackstone Audio produced the audio book, read by the author. Other publications include prize-winning essays... Read More →

Saturday October 10, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT
Gatekeeper's Museum Library 130 W Lake Blvd, Tahoe City

Craft Talk, All Genres

12:30pm PDT

From Manuscript to Momentum: Social Media Strategies for Authors

Saturday October 10, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT

Gatekeeper's Museum Library

Publishing a book is only the beginning. Discover how to use social media as a powerful storytelling tool to build your author brand, connect with readers, and create lasting engagement without feeling overwhelmed. This interactive workshop explores practical strategies for choosing the right platforms, creating content that reflects your voice, growing an authentic community, and turning online connections into loyal readers. Attendees will also learn how to increase visibility through media opportunities and collaborations that extend beyond social media. Participants will leave with actionable ideas, a simple content framework, and the confidence to promote their work consistently while spending less time wondering what to post and more time writing.

Speakers

Patrick Storm

CEO, Lemon Tree Agency LLC

Patrick Storm is the founder of Lemon Tree Agency LLC, where he helps authors, artists, nonprofits, and small businesses tell compelling stories that connect with audiences. With more than 20 years of experience in public relations and social media marketing, he has secured media... Read More →

Saturday October 10, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Gatekeeper's Museum Library 130 W Lake Blvd, Tahoe City

Craft Talk, All Genres

3:00pm PDT

In a Field of Voices: Writing as Relationship & Participation

Saturday October 10, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Gatekeeper's Museum Library

In a time when attention is fragmented and language is increasingly shaped by reaction and persuasion; writing offers more than a creative practice—it offers a way of deepening our relationship with the world and one another.
Beginning with the question, What kinds of relationships does writing invite us into? Participants will explore how voice emerges through attention, curiosity, and engagement with language, place, and community. Through reflection, generative writing, and shared response, participants will discover that voice is not something to be found, but something revealed through relationship.

The workshop introduces the idea of the erotics of attention—the vitality, attraction, and creative energy that draw us into genuine relationship with what calls us to write. Participants will leave with new writing, practical practices, and a renewed understanding of why their writing matters—not only on the page, but as a lifelong practice of relationship and participation.

Speakers

Samantha Wallen

Poet, Writer, Writing Guide

Samantha Wallen is a poet, writer, and writing guide devoted to a literature of restoration. She is the author of the poetry collection, Weight of Water, and has spent more than a decade guiding writers to deepen their craft, complete books, and cultivate sustainable writing lives... Read More →

Saturday October 10, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Gatekeeper's Museum Library 130 W Lake Blvd, Tahoe City

Generative Workshop, All Genres