4th Annual Montana Writers Rodeo!
Schedule
Fri, 15 May, 2026 at 02:30 pm to Sat, 16 May, 2026 at 09:00 pm
UTC-06:00Location
1319 Helena Avenue, Helena, MT, United States, Montana 59602 | Helena, MT
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The Montana Writers Rodeo is an annual writers conference that gathers writers of all genres for instruction and networking. The presenters are award-winning successful authors eager to instruct and mentor attendees. They also have a book table and are available for book-signings throughout the conference.Yearly reviews have tagged this event as intimate, cozy, and inspiring.
If you write or have dreamed of becoming a writer, this event is for you.
This year has another lineup of accomplished writers.
LESLIE BUDEWITZ: Keynote Speaker, Author, Presenter, & Panelist
Workshop: Building Character
Compelling characters are the keys to a satisfying story. We’ll present ways to give your characters depth and bring them to life on the page.
Leslie Budewitz's career skyrocketed after winning an Agatha Award with her debut novel. She writes two cozy mystery series, the Spice Shop mysteries, set in Seattle, WA, and the Food Lovers' Village mysteries, based on Bigfork, MT.
As Alicia Beckman, she writes standalone suspense. Her short story collection, All God’s Sparrows and Other Stories: A Stagecoach Mary Fields Collection, brings to life a remarkable figure from Montana’s past. She’s a former president of Sisters in Crime and a three- time Agatha Award winner.
MINDY PELTIER: Speaker, Author, & Presenter
Workshop: Write Club - the Right Rules for Critique Group
A productive and supportive critique group transforms your writing and increases your chance of publication. Learn how to set guidelines for how, when, and where to meet. You will also learn how to give and take critique on the work of your heart -- your writing.
Mindy Peltier (Melinda Brainard) grew up in the 6th Ward and is thrilled to have returned to her hometown where she writes and directs the MWR. She loves speaking and teaching almost as much as she loves writing. She's been teaching at writers conferences since 2013 about blogging, social media, and using Microsoft OneNote for productivity. Encouraging and equipping other writers is very important to this extrovert living in an introvert's world. She's especially excited to teach about critique groups as she's seen the transforming power her group, the Dream Team, has had on her writing.
ROSS PETER NELSON: Playwright, Presenter & Panelist
Workshop: Quality of Speech—How Dialog Informs Your Work
Dialogue is more than talking. The technical and artistic qualities of the language used expand the depth and theatricality of your work. Examples include imagery, rhythm, structure, abstraction, and formality.
Ross Peter Nelson is a writer, director, producer, and current president of Raven's Feather Productions theatre company. Primarily a playwright, he has also written short stories, technical books, and dabbles in film. Ross earned a Creative Writing MFA at the University of New Orleans. He taught classes there and at Carroll College. His work has been performed on three continents and he served as playwright-in-residence at the Can Serrat Artists’ Colony in Spain.
KAREN HIGGINS: Author, Presenter, & Panelist
Workshop: Diving Deep into Point of View
We’ll wade into the different types of POV before immersing ourselves in the transformational power of deep point of view, with examples and exercises.
Karen Higgins has always loved stories, but it wasn’t until she was married to her high school sweetheart and homeschooling their kids that the dream to write was born. Today she writes stories spun by faith, filled with surprises and struggles, whimsy and warmth, while listening to the surf in their small coastal town in Washington state. She is thrilled to have just launched her debut novel, A Garden Grows. Karen’s greatest desire is to bring strength for today and hope for tomorrow to her readers.
KIM VANDEL: Author, Presenter, & Panelist
Workshop: Five Keys to Creating Unforgettable Fantasy and Science Fiction
Topics include finding a unique story concept, reader expectations and tropes, and suspension of disbelief. We’ll also discuss the iceberg principle of worldbuilding and practical tips for bringing your imagined world to life on the page.
Kim Vandel has proven successful in indie-publishing and marketing her novels. She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in biology and worked in the field of environmental science before pursuing writing fulltime. Her novel Into the Fire won the Cascade Award for best unpublished young adult fiction and later won the Realm Award for best debut. Kim has taught workshops on speculative fiction and social media, and she’s currently working on the fourth and final book in her Under Fire series.
AUTHOR READINGS:
Friday, May 15, there will be live author readings of submitted materials, fiction and non-fiction, by registered writers.
Saturday, May 16, there will be staged readings of excerpts of screenplays and plays by registered writers attending the conference.
See the website for submission guidelines.
Montana Writers Rodeo Ticket Prices
$105: Conference Pass: Provides complete access to all conference events.
$50: Student Rate (with current student ID): Conference Pass.
$50: Friday Pass: Provides complete access to all conference events on May 15.
$65: Saturday Pass: Provides complete access to all conference events on May 16.
$35: Student Rate (with current student ID): One Day Pass to all conference events on May 15 OR May 16.
$20: Friday Evening Pass: (May15: Reception, Welcome, Keynote Address + Readings)
$20: Saturday Evening Pass: (May16: Panel Discussion + Readings)
$35: Dual Pass for both Evening Events + Readings: May 15 & 16.
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Where is it happening?
1319 Helena Avenue, Helena, MT, United States, Montana 59602Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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