From Ideas to Outline
July 27–30, 2026 | 5:00 PM PDT | Zoom
Hostes by April Dávila
Have a novel idea but aren't sure how to turn it into a story? In this free four-day outlining challenge, April Dávila will guide you from a vague idea to a clear, workable outline you can actually write from. Through four live, 45-minute sessions, you'll explore multiple outlining approaches, develop your characters and plot, and discover the structure that best fits your story.
Whether you're just getting started or have lost momentum on a manuscript, you'll leave with practical tools, guided worksheets, and a stronger foundation for your novel. Live sessions will be recorded, and everyone who completes the challenge and submits an outline will receive a free 30-minute coaching session with April.
Writing the Senses
Tuesday, August 4, 2026 | 1 PM – 3 PM PST | Zoom
Hosted by San Diego Writers, Ink with April Dávila
Most writers rely heavily on visual description and overlook the power of the other four senses. In this focused one-day class, April Dávila teaches writers how to weave sensory detail across all five senses—sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch—to create fiction that's more immersive, emotionally resonant, and alive on the page. You'll walk away with concrete tools and techniques you can apply to your manuscript immediately.
Perfect for writers at any stage, this hands-on workshop combines practical instruction with time to experiment and refine your sensory craft.
April Dávila, in conversation with Lian Dolan, discusses & signs Sit Write Here: 6 Mindfulness Practices to Help You Write More and Suffer Less - Vroman's Bookstore
Monday, August 17, 2026 | 7:00 PM | Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena, CA
Join award-winning novelist and certified mindfulness instructor April Dávila for a conversation celebrating the release of Sit Write Here: 6 Mindfulness Practices to Help You Write More and Suffer Less. In discussion with Lian Dolan, April will explore how mindfulness can help writers move beyond distraction, self-doubt, and creative blocks to build a writing practice that's both productive and sustainable.
Drawing on the ideas from her new book, April will share practical insights into cultivating focus, navigating the emotional challenges of writing, and finding greater ease throughout the creative process. Whether you're drafting your first story or your fifth novel, you'll leave with fresh inspiration and simple tools to help you write more and suffer less.
A book signing will follow the conversation.
KPBS San Diego Book Festival
KPBS San Diego Book Festival
Saturday, August 22, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM University of San Diego | San Diego, CA
Join April Dávila at the KPBS San Diego Book Festival, a free, daylong celebration of books, storytelling, and the literary arts. April will appear in a featured conversation with a fellow author, followed by a book signing for Sit Write Here: 6 Mindfulness Practices to Help You Write More and Suffer Less.
Presented by KPBS and the University of San Diego, the festival brings together award-winning authors, engaging panel discussions, local booksellers, and thousands of readers from across Southern California. Whether you come to hear April's conversation or spend the day exploring the festival, it's a wonderful opportunity to connect with a vibrant community of book lovers.
Festival schedule and author details coming soon.
