(ONLINE: Writing Day Workshops plans both in-person and virtual/online conferences. This 2026 SDWW is an Online Conference, February 6-7, 2026. Online events are easy and awesome, and the virtual events we’ve done thus far have received wonderful feedback. You do not have to be tech-savvy to do this, and understand we are keeping all aspects of a traditional in-person event, including one-on-one agent & editor pitching, which will now be done by Zoom or phone. Learn all details about what it means to have a writers conference online.)
The schedule below is on Pacific time.
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THIS YEAR’S SESSIONS & WORKSHOPS:
Friday, February 6, 2026
9:30 – 10:30: Understanding the Publishing Industry in 2026 — From Hybrid Publishing to Diverse Books and Everything in Between, taught by Chuck Sambuchino. Writers today have lots of choices and options, but that doesn’t mean your publishing journey is an easy path to navigate. How are traditional publishing and self-publishing changing? What kind of writer is attractive to an agent currently? What is hybrid publishing? How will A.I. (artificial intelligence) help or hurt writers in the years to come? Which social media sites and publishing resources are worth the time and effort in 2025? All these questions, and more, will be addressed during the speech.
10:45 – 11:45: 15 Query Letter and Submission Mistakes to Avoid, taught by Brandy Vallance. Once you understand some basics about crafting a query and submitting your work, it’s time to review what NOT to do when contacting agents and editors. This class, taught by a literary agent, addresses common agent pet peeves, submission errors, things that come off as unprofessional, cliche wording in a query, and more. Learn what small mistakes may be torpedoing your submission, and what you can do to fix them.
11:45 – 1:15: Break
1:15 – 2:30: From First Draft to Finished Copy, taught by Brittany Torres Rivera. In this speech, an assistant editor at an independent press outlines all the steps a traditional publisher takes to bring a book into the world. The speech covers the broad strokes of the acquisition, editing, production, sales, marketing, and publicity processes for a book, offering insights that may help writers see their manuscripts from a publisher’s perspective and consider what kind of support and publishing experience they’re looking for from a press.
2:45 – 3:45: Characters That Drive the Plot, taught by Vicky Weber. Great plots become extraordinary when driven by characters who feel real and whose choices shape the action. This interactive masterclass will show you how to integrate character depth with plot development, creating stakes that resonate and stories that captivate—no matter your genre.
4:00 – 5:00: How to Use ChatGPT and AI to Write Better and Faster, taught by Jaimie Engle. Designed specifically for novelists and screenwriters, this presentation offers real world guidance for working with AI across every stage of your project – from brainstorming and scene building to editing, pitching, and promotion. Whether you’re stuck mid draft or staring down a blank page, you’ll learn how to use AI to support your work, not overtake it.
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Saturday, February 7, 2026
9:30 – 10:30: Self-Editing for Authors, by Bryan Thomas Schmidt. This session will guide you through practical strategies to transcend personal bias and achieve clarity in your writing. Discover techniques to distance yourself from your work, identify common pitfalls, and refine your prose to a polished shine. Learn how to become your most effective critic without losing the essence of your narrative.
10:45 – 11:45: Location, Location, Location, taught by Jen Collins Moore. A vivid setting does more than anchor a story—it immerses readers, heightens emotion, and brings every scene to life. Join Jen Collins Moore, author of the Roman Holiday Mysteries, as she shares her secrets for transforming setting into a powerful tool for crafting rich, immersive worlds readers can’t resist.
11:45 – 1:15: Break
1:15 – 2:30: “Writers Got Talent”—a Page 1 Critique Fest, with participating literary agents and editors. In the vein of “American Idol” or “America’s Got Talent,” this is a chance to get your first page read (anonymously — no bylines given) with attending agents commenting on what was liked or not liked about the submission. Get expert feedback on your incredibly important first page, and know if your writing has what it needs to keep readers’ attention. (All attendees are welcome to bring pages to the event for this session, and we will choose pages at random for the workshop for as long as time lasts. All submissions should be novels or memoir—no prescriptive nonfiction or picture books, please. Do not send your pages in advance. You will bring printed copies with you, and instructions will be sent out approximately one week before the event.)
2:45 – 3:45: Open Agent Q&A Panel. Several attending literary agents will open themselves up to open Q&A from SDWW attendees. Bring your questions and get them answered in this popular session.
4:00 – 5:00: How to Generate Buzz: Promoting Your Book Launch, taught by Liza Achilles. Why publish a book if no one reads it? This session has great news for authors: you have the power to generate a buzz surrounding your book launch! She will walk you through 3 steps in getting people excited about buying and reading your book.
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FREE ADDITIONAL RECORDED CLASSES:
We will actually send attendees extra FREE pre-recorded classes as part of their attendance. In addition to getting the weekend’s classes to enjoy live and in person, we will also send you 10 more free recorded classes on the side, from amazing instructors. In the week leading up to your in-person conference, we will send all confirmed attendees these classes below, some of which will aid in your pitching efforts:
- “How Do I Decide: Traditional vs. Indie Publishing,” taught previously at the Pittsburgh Writing Workshop
- “Common First Pages Mistakes and How to Fix Them,” taught previously at the San Diego Writing Workshop
- “6 Pillars of Well-Developed Characters,” taught previously at the Texas Writing Workshop
- “How to Make Money as a Writer,” taught previously at the Pittsburgh Writing Workshop
- “How an Acquisitions Editor Reads and Examines Your Manuscript,” taught previously at the California Writing Workshop
- “How to Fix It: The Art and Craft of Revision,” taught previously at the Writing Workshop of Chicago
- “Build an Irresistible Author Platform for Long-Term Success,” taught previously at the Ohio Writing Workshop
- “Demystifying Science Fiction and Fantasy,” taught previously at the San Diego Writing Workshop
- “How to Write Engaging Books for Children: Tips for Writing Picture Books,” taught previously at the Texas Writing Workshop
- “Writing and Editing Young Adult and Middle Grade,” taught previously at the Ohio Writing Workshop
- “Writers Got Talent—a Page 1 Critique Fest,” taught previously at the Pittsburgh Writing Workshop
- “Ask an Agent Anything: Open Q&A Panel with Literary Agents,” taught previously at the California Writing Workshop
