Selected talks for writing conferences, retreats, and professional gatherings.
How the Industry Reads Under Pressure
What Agents and Editors Notice First—and Why It Matters
Every writer imagines their work being read carefully, slowly, and in full. In reality, most manuscripts are read under pressure—between meetings, deadlines, and crowded inboxes. That gap shapes more writing careers than talent ever does.
In this talk, Ryan pulls back the curtain on how agents and editors actually read, decide, and move on. Drawing on years of editorial experience and manuscript diagnosis, he explores what registers immediately, what signals confidence and control, and where even strong work quietly loses momentum. Rather than offering formulas or trends to chase, this session reframes how writers think about audience, intention, and clarity under real-world conditions.
Writers leave with a sharper understanding of how their work is received, a calmer and more professional mindset around revision and submission, and a clearer sense of what helps a manuscript stand out when time is short.
Works as a keynote, featured conference session, or breakout talk.
The Long Game of Writing
Building a Sustainable Creative Life
Publishing often rewards persistence, yet very little advice is designed to help writers stay in the work long enough to benefit from it. This talk explores how writing careers actually unfold over time and why many talented writers burn out, stall, or lose confidence despite doing everything “right.”
Drawing on decades of experience as a writer, editor, teacher, and ghostwriter, Ryan examines the habits, expectations, and decisions that support creative longevity across formats and markets. Rather than focusing on speed, trends, or constant output, this session centers clarity, pacing, and intentional growth. Writers leave with a steadier framework for navigating comparison, rejection, and momentum, along with a more realistic and sustainable way to think about their creative lives.
Works as a keynote, featured conference session, or breakout talk.
Voice, Clarity, and the Human Advantage
What Makes Writing Feel Alive on the Page
In a crowded and fast-moving publishing landscape—one increasingly shaped by automation and generative tools—writers are often told to focus on voice, yet few conversations slow down enough to examine what voice actually looks like on the page, or why some manuscripts feel unmistakably human while others fall flat.
This talk explores the relationship between voice and clarity, and how thoughtful choices at the sentence, scene, and structural level shape a reader’s experience. Drawing on editorial work, teaching, and real-world publishing examples, Ryan looks at how intention, control, and specificity create writing that feels alive, confident, and distinct. Rather than framing voice as something mysterious or innate, this session treats it as something writers actively build through awareness and craft.
Writers leave with a clearer understanding of how their decisions register with readers, how clarity strengthens rather than dulls voice, and how human judgment and creativity show up on the page in ways no shortcut can replace.
Works as a keynote, featured conference session, or breakout talk.
The Gap Between “Almost There” and “Ready”
How Publishable Work Actually Takes Shape
Many writers reach a frustrating stage where the work is competent, polished, and well-intentioned—yet it still fails to spark the kind of attention that leads to requests, representation, or publication. This talk names that invisible middle ground and explains what tends to be missing when a manuscript feels close, but keeps landing as a “maybe.”
Drawing on years of editorial evaluation and manuscript diagnosis, Ryan breaks down the most common plateau patterns: drafts that revise in circles, openings that feel professional yet unfocused, concepts that arrive with promise but lack the final layer of control, specificity, or purpose. The emphasis stays practical and respectful. Rather than offering generic encouragement, this session helps writers see their work with clearer eyes and make smarter revision decisions that create real movement.
Writers leave with a sharper understanding of what “ready” actually means in today’s market, how to identify the single biggest issue holding a manuscript back, and how to revise with intention instead of guesswork.
Works as a featured conference session or breakout talk.
Custom Talks
Ryan also designs made-to-order talks and keynotes for conferences, retreats, and organizations. Custom engagements are shaped around audience needs, event goals, and time constraints, and are scoped and priced accordingly.