Join us for the virtual portion of the conference, consisting of 23 classes held over Zoom from August 20 to October 10.
Virtual Class Format
Each virtual class will begin with a 1-hour presentation by the speaker over Zoom. This will include 5–10 minutes for Q&A.
Afterward, anyone who wants to network with fellow class attendees can stay on the Zoom call for an additional 20 minutes. We’ll divide up into breakout rooms to introduce ourselves, make connections, and share additional thoughts on the session topic.
How to Attend
All 23 virtual classes are listed below. We encourage you to look through the class list, click on the session titles that most interest you, and complete the Zoom meeting registration for them. (Zoom will then provide you with a link to add each session to your calendar.)
Several hours before each class, we will resend the Zoom link to everyone who registered for that specific class.
You can also download the schedule in calendar format (PDF)
Orientation Session
How to Get the Most Value out of the LDSPMA Conference
Jeremy P. Madsen
Time: Tuesday, August 20, 6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
This orientation will cover:
- What’s new at the 2024 conference, including the Internship Fair, Thursday Keynote, and Photo Headshots
- How the interactive sessions will work, including Fast Pitch, Quick Critiques, and Online Presence Audits
- How to decide which sessions or activities will bring you the most value
Bio: Jeremy P. Madsen handles the logistics and operations for LDSPMA and has spent over 300 hours helping to plan each aspect of the 2024 conference. With the rest of his time, he is a husband, father, and author of clean epic fantasy.
Kickoff Virtual Session:
Marketing As Ministry: The Most Effective Way for Creatives to Build Impact, Influence, and Income
Doug Pew & Daniel Blomberg
Time: Thursday, August 22, 6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
Open to all LDSPMA members, not just conference registrants!
During this workshop, you will discover:
- How to find and attract your perfect followers
- How to build customer loyalty and long-term relationships with those you serve
- How to lovingly help prospects become buyers, and buyers become repeat buyers
Bios:
Dr. Douglas Pew is an award-winning composer of classical music. He is also a sought-after marketer and online business coach who has helped his clients make millions selling their expertise in the form of digital courses, memberships, masterminds, and coaching programs. Doug’s music is published by Boosey & Hawkes, Schott Music, Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Jackman Music Corporation, and his own publishing house, Blue Shore Music.
Daniel Blomberg built a six-figure music production company in just over three years with his wife and business partner, Kathryn, making mainly religious music, in a place where musicians are often viewed as a “dime-a-dozen” commodity. Blomberg Music Productions works with professionals and hobbyists alike, including several of Utah’s household music names, to help flood the Earth with God’s music.
Fast Pitch Training
Angie Fenimore
Anyone planning to participate in Fast Pitch at the conference is encouraged to attend these training classes, taught by proven pitch expert and New York Times bestselling author Angie Fenimore:
- Tuesday, Aug 27, 7–8 pm MST: How to pitch fiction – Watch Zoom Recording
- Wednesday, Aug 28, 7–8 pm MST: How to pitch nonfiction – Watch Zoom Recording
- Friday, Aug 30, 7–8 pm MST: Q&A and workshopping pitches – Watch Zoom Recording
Discover Your Word Effect: Unlock Your Inner Leadership with Three Simple Words
Becky Kemp
Time: Saturday, August 31, 10:00–11:20 am Mountain Time
Unlock your dream: Activate the word effect process, lead your mind, and shine. Discover 3 simple words propelling you toward your dream. Break free from stagnation, lead your mind with clarity, honor commitments to yourself, and radiate your light as you become aware of the power of words and intentionally choose the words that matter, creating the life you always desired.
Bio: Dedicated to sharing goodness, Becky Kemp loves the power found in words. As a mindset coach and leadership speaker, and author of The Word Effect: 7 Simple Words to Create Your Most Beautiful Life, Becky empowers individuals to create and share the story they have always desired to share. Positive and passionate about the power of words, Becky guides individuals in harnessing intentional language to navigate creation from within.
The Art and Science of Intellectual Property Law for Creatives
Britten Sessions, Esq
Time: Tuesday, September 3, 6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
Get your intellectual property questions answered during this virtual session with a top IP legal expert. Learn the ins and outs of intellectual property, filing for patents and trademarks, and anything else you may need to know as a practicing publisher, entrepreneur, writer, artist, or entertainer. Examine every stage of the patent process, including early-stage IP opportunities, strategic preparation and procurement of patents, and alignment of patent portfolios with business strategies.
Bio: Britten Sessions is a professor at Gonzaga University and founder of IP Clinics at GU and Lincoln Law School of San Jose. He is a principal attorney at Zilka-Kotab PC and has advised on hundreds of patent enforcement, acquisition, licensing, and monetization transactions, yielding over $120 million in returns. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and IP books. Britten has also been recognized as one of the world’s top-ranked IP strategists by multiple organizations.
Navigating the World of Children’s Books
Kiri Jorgensen
Time: Saturday, September 7, 10-11:20 am MST
Most rejections sent from children’s publishers are not based on quality of storytelling, but rather on the lack of correct industry knowledge. Understanding the definitions and expectations of each age and content category in children’s writing is a vital knowledge base most authors lack. This workshop will teach about age categories, content definitions, marketing delineations, and storytelling expectations. You’ll learn to confidently navigate the complicated world of children’s books.
Bio: Kiri Jorgensen is the publisher and senior editor at Chicken Scratch Books. She is also a writer, teacher, entrepreneur, wife, and mother. Her involvement in the world of children’s literature spans three decades and includes teaching, writing, editing, and serving as regional advisor for SCBWI Montana. Her passion is all books middle grade, and she loves to work with authors to bring their vision to its strongest form.
Make ‘em Laugh: The Mechanics of Written Humor
Whitney Hemsath Owens
Time: Tues, September 10, 6 – 7:20 pm MST
Learn the elements of humor from a former ComedySportz captain, and see how those elements translate to the written page using examples that focus on literature instead of memes or movies. With tips for setting, dialogue, pacing, punctuation, word placement, and letter choice, this class will have something to punch up the humor in whatever genre you’re writing.
Bio: Whitney Hemsath trained with ComedySportz and performed improv comedy for four years. She holds a BA in screenwriting, and her animated comedy screenplay made the 2005 Chapman Killer Script list. She has sold and published multiple short stories, and her longer works include a quirky middle-grade time travel story, an inspirational nonfiction book for Latter-day Saints, and her Costco shopping list. Her secret love is writing song parodies.
I Don’t Do Numbers, I’m a Creative! How to Navigate Business Finances and Avoid IRS Sharks While Staying True to Your Craft
Sandi Dawn Bradford-Rytting
NEW TIME: Wednesday, September 11, 6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
Note: This session was originally scheduled for August 29 but was rescheduled due to an unforeseen conflict.
This class will focus on essential finance principles for creatives. Whether you want a side hustle or to quit your job, equip yourself with practical skills to navigate business finances confidently. Learn the building blocks that bring your dreams to fruition—rather than devour time and money—with strategies for budgeting, taxes, financial planning, and IRS compliance. Join us to enhance your business acumen and take your creative endeavors to the next level!
Bio: Sandi Rytting is a #1 international bestselling author under the pen name S. Dawn Bradford, a writing coach, and owner of Lagom Accounting, which provides accounting services to small businesses ranging from startups to $10 million in annual revenue. She mentors abuse survivors, is an international public speaker, and has appeared on various podcasts and radio, including Voice America’s radio show, Empowering Women, Transforming Lives.
Faith in Film
Marshall and Michelle Moore
Time: Thursday, September 12, 6-7:20 pm MST
Join the codirectors of the Zions Indie Film Fest (formerly the LDS Film Festival) as they discuss trends in religious and Latter-day Saint filmmaking and aspects of navigating the film industry as a person of faith.
Bio: Marshall and Michelle Moore, owners and co-directors of the Zions Indie Film Fest, bring 45+ years of combined film industry experience. Marshall’s background is in location management and as VP at Utah Film Studios. Michelle, currently director of content at Living Scriptures, excels in film publicity and brand campaigns, with a portfolio of 30+ movies under her belt. Together, they are a dynamic duo shaping the film landscape with their expertise and passion for supporting and collaborating with many storytellers through the years.
Amplify Your Impact: Turning Live Performances into Profitable Keynotes
Ashley Ludlow
Time: Saturday, September 14, 10-11:20 am MST
Public speakers get paid ten times as much as musicians for their time, so why not combine the two? In this session, we’ll explore:
- How to combine public speaking with live music
- How to structure your speech
- What you need to have in place before you start applying for speaking engagements
- How much to charge
- How to get booked
- How to sell your music and build your email list through public speaking
Bio: Ashley Ludlow is a musical keynote speaker, custom songwriter, and creative business strategist. Having been in online business for 14 years and with decades of musical experience, Ashley encourages creative entrepreneurs to see the great value in life and the fantastic role they play in it. She speaks on the value of embracing the inner child and rediscovering joy. Ashley lives with her family in Burley, Idaho.
10 Million Subscribers Later: How to Succeed on YouTube
Sarah Skye
Time: Tuesday, September 17, 6-7:20 pm MST
Have you ever uploaded a YouTube video and been disappointed by the number of views you got? This is a session for all creatives who are considering building or expanding a YouTube presence. We will cover the main elements of a successful channel: understanding YouTube Analytics, creating effective thumbnails, generating revenue, and harnessing the power of collaboration. For the musicians, we will also discuss music video formats that actually work.
Bio: Sarah Skye is a creative force, recognized for her impressive contributions to digital media. As the co-owner and creative backbone of The Fun Squad on YouTube, Sarah has helped steer the channel to monumental success, amassing 10.5 million subscribers and 100 million views per month. Behind the scenes, Sarah is a devoted mother to five children—the main talent of The Fun Squad—and manages the family business alongside her husband, Brandon.
Leadership 101: How to Be the Leader God Wants You to Be
Kiri Jorgensen
Time: Wednesday, September 18, 6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
As creators, we’ve been called to lead in a dark world and to spread light with the talents we have. Yet, what does it mean to be an effective leader? How does leadership differ from people management? Although thousands of leadership books exist, in this session the scriptures will be our text. What does God have to say about leadership? We’ll examine leadership based on His plan and expectations in the context of our craft.
Bio: Kiri Jorgensen is the publisher and senior editor at Chicken Scratch Books. She is also a writer, teacher, entrepreneur, wife, and mother. Her involvement in the world of children’s literature spans three decades and includes teaching, writing, editing, and leadership. Her passion is all books middle grade, and she loves to work with authors to bring their vision to its strongest form.
Sharing Christ Through Chinese Art
Julie Yuen Yim
Time: Thursday, September 19, 6-7:20 pm MST
The intersection of Christianity and traditional Chinese culture has been a fascinating and complex journey. Christianity arrived in China during the 7th century, but it didn’t take root until Jesuit missionaries reintroduced it in the 16th century. After 1949, foreign missionaries were expelled, and churches came under government-controlled institutions. Proselyting is strictly prohibited in China.
In this class, Latter-day Saint Chinese artist Julie Yuen Yim will share why she uses Chinese art to depict scriptural stories, how she integrates gospel themes into traditional Chinese art forms (Chinese brush painting and paper cutting), and how she uses her art to teach that Christ is God of all nations, races and peoples.
Bio: Julie Yuen Yim was born and raised in Hong Kong. She went to the United States to receive a BA in fine art (painting) and an MEd in TESOL. Julie has shown in art exhibitions in Hong Kong, the Certain Women Art Show 2021, the Mosaic of Christ Art Show, Our Heavenly Parents Art Show, and in the 11th and 12th International Art Competition at the Church History Museum. She has won two Purchase Awards in the competitions, along with a few other awards. Julie is proud of her Chinese cultural background and has been integrating her cultural background into creating art.
Three Facets of Managing a Private Music Teaching Studio
Stacey Leybas
Time: Saturday, September 21, 10-11:20 am MST
In this session, we’ll conduct a thorough, practical review of the three critical components of starting and running a private music teaching studio:
- Groundwork: teaching philosophies, studio policies including pricing structures, and business/tax options
- Recruitment: advertising strategies, sample lessons, student database management, and schedule management
- Maintenance: lesson structure and pedagogy, student retention, recitals and performances, and technology resources
Bio: Stacey Leybas has started successful private music studios in two states, owns and operates a Let’s Play Music franchise, and has taught and managed more than 80 students over 13 years. Her studio has provided private and group lessons for piano, voice, violin, guitar, banjo, and more. Stacey is also a member of the Treasure Valley Federated Music Club; her students participate in National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) festivals and competitions.
Ten Mistakes to Avoid as a New Author (What I Wish I’d Known)
Julie Matern
Time: Tuesday, September 24, 6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
Braving the new, daunting world of authorship? Learn from my mistakes while we go over several obstacles I encountered, how to avoid them, and takeaways that will save you time or money:
- What a hobby/career in writing is and isn’t in the 21st century
- Imposter syndrome
- Non-traditional publishing
- Sharks and how to avoid them
- Online presence and developing yours
- Editors and how to work with them
- Covers and their importance
- Blurbs and taglines
- How vital a thick skin is
- Advertising
Bio: Born and raised in England, Julie Matern writes regency romance under her own name and historical cozy mysteries under the pen name Ann Sutton. Over 160,000 units of her mysteries have been sold or read on Kindle Unlimited. With over 20 books published, two with a traditional publisher and the rest indie-published, Julie loves to share what she has learned with new authors. Learn more at annsuttonauthor.com or juliematern.com.
Crafting a Creative Business Strategy
Ted Finch
Time: Thursday, September 26, 6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
This session provides an introduction to business strategy and disruptive innovation. Attendees will come away having clearly identified what strategic choices they are making in their creative efforts. They will also gain new insights and an appreciation for the multiplicity of ways they have to strategically and disruptively innovate in their businesses. Additionally, participants will build a roadmap together for infusing even greater creativity into their respective business ventures.
Bio: Ted Finch has studied strategy and disruptive innovation for over eight years, having worked in environments such as BYU-Idaho and BYU-Pathway Worldwide, where strategic thinking was integrated into its operations as a part of the everyday workflow. He has also served on the LDSPMA Board of Directors, helping the organization craft and update its strategy and providing LDSPMA board members with ongoing training on how to think deeply about what strategic choices they are making.
Youth Orientation and Friendship-Building Event
Time: Friday, September 27, 4:00–5:00 pm Mountain Time
Note: This session was originally scheduled for 6 pm but has been moved to 4 pm.
Especially for youth! All conference attendees between ages 12–18 are invited to this special networking and orientation session. Come learn from other youth how to make your conference experience amazing!
Special guest speaker TBA.
Writing Latter-day Saint Stories that Resonate With a Wider General Audience
Abel Keogh
Time: Saturday, September 28, 10-11:20 am MST
Latter-day Saints have wonderful stories to share with the world. However, because of misconceptions about our faith, sharing our stories with a broad audience can be difficult. This class will teach you how to write your religious stories and experiences so that they resonate with those outside our faith.
Bio: Abel Keogh is a relationship coach and the author of eight books: two memoirs, two novels, and four relationship guides. His memoir, The Wife in the Next Life, tackles topics such as eternal marriage, polygamy, the Law of Chastity, and many other aspects of our faith in such a way that non-Latter-day-Saint readers can understand and enjoy his and his wife’s unique love story.
The Artist as a Conduit for the Spirit
Nnamdi Okonkwo
Time: Tuesday, October 1, 6-7:20 p.m. MST
Together we will explore the assertion that the artist is at their best when they are a conduit for the Spirit. We will discuss the process of receiving divine Grace with which to approach one’s craft.
Bio: Nnamdi Okonkwo immigrated to the United States from Nigeria in 1989, on a scholarship to play basketball for BYU-Hawaii. He picked up a passion for art instead, graduating with a BFA in sculpture from BYU-Hawaii and an MFA in sculpture from BYU-Provo. He now works full-time out of a studio in Fayetteville. His work is represented in galleries across the country, and his large-scale monumental work can be seen in various individual and public sculpture gardens.
Marketing Your Freelance Business like the Boss You Are
Suzy Bills
Time: Thursday, October 3, 6-7:20 p.m. MST
Marketing is vital to building and maintaining a business, but many freelancers don’t know where to start, what strategies are most effective, or how to avoid sounding salesy. We’ll discuss effective strategies for finding and connecting with your ideal clients. We’ll also discuss techniques for positioning yourself as the best choice so that you can win more projects and achieve your financial goals.
Bio: Suzy Bills is an editor, author, and faculty member in the editing and publishing program at BYU. She has owned a writing and editing business since 2006, working with clients to publish everything from books to dissertations to technical manuals. She loves sharing her skills with others, whether through teaching, helping authors get their thoughts on paper, or fine-tuning their writing. Her book The Freelance Editor’s Handbook was published in 2021.
Publishing in Church Magazines
Norman Hill
Time: Tues, October 8, 6-7:20 pm MST
Each of the Church’s magazines have their own style and preferences for articles. Understanding these factors is essential to getting published. This session will present a deliberate approach to understanding these preferences and crafting articles that meet required editorial conditions.Session
Bio: Norman Hill’s articles have appeared in the Liahona, Ensign, New Era, The Friend, LDS Living, and other Church-related magazines. A frequent contributor to various podcasts, he has a track record of successful publishing based on researching readerships and understanding editorial requirements.
First-Time Attendee Networking Night
Time: Thursday, October 10, 6:00–7:00 pm Mountain Time
Attending a conference for the first time can be lonely or even intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be! In this virtual networking session, meet and get to know other first-time LDSPMA attendees, so that by the time you walk in the doors at UVU, you already have a dozen friends!
After the conference:
Youth Debrief—Takeaways and Next Steps
Time: Friday, November 8, 6:00–7:00 pm Mountain Time
All conference attendees between ages 12–18 are invited to this virtual debrief session in November. Reconnect with friends you made at the conference, discuss what you learned, and share what your goals are moving forward!