Oklahoma Writers' Federation, Inc.
Oklahoma Writers' Federation, Inc. (OWFI) is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting and educating writers of all experience levels
AUDIENCE: Authors, editors, publishers, and writing professionals
LOCATION: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
CHALLENGE: Building collaborative networks across diverse writing groups to foster skill development and industry awareness in the competitive publishing world.
CARA BROOKINS’ SOLUTION:
Delivered keynote tailored to creative professionals
Reinforced themes of self-starting, persistence, and author ownership
Connected with an audience focused on storytelling and personal transformation
Writers and creatives from across the Midwest gathered in Oklahoma City for the OWFI Conference, where the central mission was to uplift storytellers and inspire momentum in their personal and professional journeys.
Cara Brookins was selected to deliver the featured keynote, “Raise My Roof,” to an audience eager to hear from a writer who didn’t wait for permission to share her story. The memoir Cara wrote about building her house, Rise: How a House Built a Family, was her first nonfiction book after publishing 7 fiction books. Rise was sought after in a large publisher auction and optioned for film, television, and reality television. Cara connected deeply with attendees, many of whom were facing rejection, career pivots, or launching their first manuscripts.
Her story of building her family’s house from the ground up mirrored the emotional and mental construction writers must undergo in pursuit of creative success. Through her message, Cara challenged the audience to take bold action, own their narrative, and rewrite the stories they tell themselves.
The keynote was followed by Q&A and informal hangout time. This presentation served as a powerful opening to a weekend of craft and connection, setting a tone of confidence and authenticity for all who attended.
