After successful past events in Pittsburgh, Writing Day Workshops is excited to announce The 2026 Pittsburgh Writing Workshop — a full-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing event in Pittsburgh on November 14, 2026.

This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited seats at the event (150 total). All questions about the event regarding schedule, details and registration are answered below. Thank you for your interest in the 2026 Pittsburgh Writing Workshop! We are very proud of our many success stories where attendees sign with agents following events — see our growing list of success stories here.

(Please note that this is an in-person event. We at Writing Day Workshops plan both online/virtual as well as in-person events. This next PWW is an in-person event happening on November 14, 2026. See you there.)

To register, click the button above, or email Brian at WDWconference@gmail.com and tell him you’re interested in the Pittsburgh event.

WHAT IS IT?

This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome.

This event is designed to squeeze as much into one day of learning as possible. You can ask any questions you like during the classes, and get your specific concerns addressed. We will have literary agents onsite to give feedback and take pitches from writers, as well. This year’s agent and editor faculty so far includes:

• literary agent Jon Michael Darga (Aevitas Creative Management)
  
• and more to come.

By the end of the day, you will have all the tools you need to move forward on your writing journey. This independent event is organized by coordinator Brian Klems of Writing Day Workshops, with regional assistance from local writing groups.

To register, click the button above, or email Brian at WDWconference@gmail.com and tell him you’re interested in the Pittsburgh event.

EVENT LOCATION & DETAILS:

9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Saturday, November 14, 2026. David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 1000 Fort Duquesne Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

 

(Please note that this is an in-person event. We at Writing Day Workshops plan both online/virtual as well as in-person events. This next PWW is an in-person event happening on November 14, 2026. See you there.)

THIS YEAR’S SESSIONS & WORKSHOPS (NOVEMBER 14, 2026):

8:30 – 9:30: Check-in and registration at the event location.

9:30 – 10:30: How to Describe Your Story in One Compelling Sentence (and Get Agent Attention). Learn how to craft a clear, compelling logline that captures your story’s heart—and makes agents, editors, and readers say “Tell me more.”

10:45 – 11:50: An Overview of Your Publishing Options in 2026. This workshop examines the two largest routes any writer can take with their book: traditional publishing and self-publishing / e-publishing. Also, we will discuss the changing elements of the publishing industry in 2026.

11:50 – 1:15: Lunch is on your own during these 85 minutes.

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.

2:45 – 3:45: Pacing and Structuring Your Fiction. Want to keep readers turning the pages? Commercial fiction readers have strong expectations of story structure and pacing, so you need to understand how the two work together in a book.

4:00 – 5:00: How to Write Great Characters: Character 365 Workshop. In this class, you’ll learn to identify a character’s core thread—the non-negotiable drive or value that persists no matter the genre—and then watch how that thread expresses differently from world to world. By the end, you’ll have a simple method to keep your characters consistent yet surprising, so you never feel written into a corner again.

At 5 p.m., the day is done. Speakers may make themselves available for a short while to sign any books for attendees.

Agent & Editor Pitching: All throughout the day.

PITCH AN AGENT OR EDITOR:

Jon Michael Darga is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. He seeks some fiction — specifically select commercial fiction primarily in the romance, mystery/thriller, and horror spaces. Jon represents titles across a diverse range of nonfiction categories, including memoir (most recently, the New York Times bestselling Vagabond by Tim Curry), pop culture (New York Times bestsellers How to Save a Life by Lynette Rice and Your Favorite Scary Movie by Ashley Cullins), platform-driven (New York Times bestseller How to Piss Off Men by Kyle Prue), and cookbook (Family Thai by Arnold Myint, named a Best Cookbook of 2025 by the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times). Learn more about Jon here.

More coming soon…

 

 

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ADDED ONLINE PITCHING: To ensure that writers have a robust and diverse lineup of agents & editors to pitch, 2026 Pittsburgh Writing Workshop attendees will have the ability to also pitch literary agents at an Writing Day Workshops *online* event that follows the 2026 PWW on our calendar.

That event is the 2026 Online Writing Workshop of Chicago, December 4-5, 2026, which will have 30-40 agents taking one-on-one Zoom virtual pitches.

This means that 2026 PWW attendees can have access to pitching all those online Chicago agents — pitches still at $29 each — without being a formal registrant for the online December 2026 WWOC. (That said, if you want to formally register for the December 4-5 WWOC and have access to all classes and panels, let us know, as there is a discount for confirmed Pittsburgh attendees.)

If you are interested in this added pitching opportunity, the first step is to get formally registered for Pittsburgh. Following the PWW conference on November 14, 2026, we will be in touch with all Pittsburgh attendees and ask them if they want to partake in pitching online agents at the 2026 WWOC (Dec. 4-5). At that time, you can communicate your pitch requests and purchase meeting time.

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        More 2026 agents to be announced as they are confirmed. You can sign up for pitches at any time, or switch pitches at any time, so long as the agent in question still has appointments open.

These one-on-one meetings are an amazing chance to pitch your book face-to-face with an agent, and get personal, individual feedback on your pitch/concept. If the agent likes your pitch, they’ll request to see part/all of your book — sending you straight past the slush pile. It also gives you an intimate chance to meet with an agent and pick their brain with any questions on your mind.

(Please note that Agent/Editor Pitching is an add-on, separate aspect of the day, for only those who sign up. Spaces are limited for these premium meetings, and pricing/detail is explained below.)

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PRICING:

$169 — EARLY BIRD base price for registration to the 2026 PWW and access to all workshops, all day. As of summer 2026, registration is now OPEN.

To register, click the button above, or email Brian at WDWconference@gmail.com and tell him you’re interested in the Pittsburgh event.

Add $29 — to secure a 10-minute one-on-one meeting with any of our literary agents or editors in attendance. Use this special meeting as a chance to pitch your work and get professional feedback on your pitch. (Spaces limited.) If they wish, attendees are free to sign up for multiple 10-minute pitch sessions at $29/session — pitching multiple individuals, or securing 20 minutes to pitch one person rather than the usual 10. Here are four quick testimonials regarding writers who have signed with literary agents after pitching them at prior Writing Day Workshops events. (Our bigger, growing list of success stories an be seen here.)

“I met Mai Nguyen at the Toronto Writing Workshop
and sold her manuscript to Simon & Schuster for six figures.”
– literary agent Carly Watters of P.S. Literary Agency

“I signed Sarah G. Pierce from the Seattle Writing Workshop,
and we recently sold her book to Orbit/Redhook.”
– literary agent Pam Gruber of Highline Literary Collective

“I met Amber Cowie at a Writing Day Workshops conference. We sold
her best-selling crime novel to Lake Union / Amazon.”
– literary agent Gordon Warnock of Fuse Literary

“I met my client, Dana Corbit Nussio, at the Michigan Writing Workshop.
Dana signed a new three-book contract with Harlequin Romantic Suspense.”
– literary agent Rachel Beck of Liza Dawson Associates

“I signed Nedda Lewers from a Writing Day Workshops event. Her debut
novel from Putnam Children’s was an Indie’s Introduce Best Book of 2024.”
– literary agent Kelly Dyksterhouse of Tobias Literary Agency

Add $89 — for an in-depth personal critique of the first 10 pages of your novel. Spaces with faculty for these critiques are very limited, and participating attendees will either 1) get an in-person meeting at the workshop, if the faculty member is attending the live event, or 2) get a 10-minute phone call with the faculty member, and have notes passed along via email, if the critiquer is not attending the live event. Options:

• All types & genres of fiction for adults, young adults, and middle grade readers (virtual critiques): Faculty member Lorin Oberweger, a writing coach and author, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime before the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
• Horror, fantasy, sci-fi, urban fantasy (virtual critiques): Faculty member Bob McGough, a published novelist, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime before the workshop to discuss his thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
• General fiction, contemporary, suspense, thriller, horror, romance, fantasy, young adult, cross-genre (e.g. horror romance or young adult fantasy), and memoir (virtual critiques): Faculty member Aimee Hardy, an author and editor, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime before the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
• Women’s, mainstream, science fiction, fantasy, romance, crime, thriller, mystery (virtual critiques): Faculty member Michelle McGill-Vargas, a writing coach and author, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime before the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
• Children’s picture books (virtual critiques): Faculty member Rosie Pova, a published author, will get your work in advance, critique your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime around the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting. If you submit a picture book, it must be 1,000 words or fewer (can have illustrations or not).
• More critique options possibly forthcoming.

How to pay/register — Registration is now open. To register, email workshop organizer Brian Klems via email: WDWconference@gmail.com. He will pass along registration information to you, and give instructions on how to pay by credit card, PayPal, or check. Once payment is complete, you will have a reserved seat at the event. The PWW will send out periodic e-mail updates to all registered attendees with any & all news about the event. Because Brian plans different workshops, make sure you note that you’re inquiring about the Pittsburgh workshop specifically.

REGISTRATION:

Because of limited space at the venue (David L. Lawrence Convention Center), the workshop can only allow 150 registrants, unless spacing issues change. For this reason, we encourage you to book sooner rather than later.

(Please note that this is an in-person event. We at Writing Day Workshops plan both online/virtual as well as in-person events. This next PWW is an in-person event happening on November 14, 2026. See you there.)

Are spaces still available? Yes, we still have spaces available. We will announce RIGHT HERE, at this point on this web page, when all spaces are taken. If you do not see a note right here saying how all spaces are booked, then yes, we still have room, and you are encouraged to register.

How to Register: To register, click the button above. Or reach out to workshop organizer Brian Klems via email: WDWconference@gmail.com. He will pass along registration information to you, and give instructions on how to pay by credit card, PayPal, or check. Once payment is complete, you will have a reserved seat at the event. The PWW will send out periodic e-mail updates to all registered attendees with any & all news about the event. Because Brian plans different workshops, make sure you note that you’re inquiring about the Pittsburgh workshop specifically.

Refunds: If you sign up for the event and have to cancel for any reason at any time, you will receive 50% of your total payment back [sent by check or PayPal]. The other 50% is nonrefundable and will not be returned, and helps the workshop ensure that only those truly interested in the limited spacing sign up for the event. (Please note that query editing payments and manuscript editing payments are completely non-refundable if the instructor has already edited your work.)

Thank you for your interest in the 2026 Pittsburgh Writing Workshop.

Jon Michael Darga is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management.

He seeks some fiction — specifically select commercial fiction primarily in the romance, mystery/thriller, and horror spaces.

Jon represents titles across a diverse range of nonfiction categories, including memoir (most recently, the New York Times bestselling Vagabond by Tim Curry), pop culture (New York Times bestsellers How to Save a Life by Lynette Rice and Your Favorite Scary Movie by Ashley Cullins), platform-driven (New York Times bestseller How to Piss Off Men by Kyle Prue), and cookbook (Family Thai by Arnold Myint, named a Best Cookbook of 2025 by the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times).

Darga graduated from the University of Michigan with Honors with a BA in English and Creative Writing, and later attended the Columbia University publishing program. Before coming to Aevitas, he was an editor at Crown, a division within Penguin Random House, where he worked on several bestsellers and award winners. He is the Co-Head of Aevitas Collaboration and was a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree in 2025.

Darga represents both nonfiction and fiction as an Aevitas agent. He is most interested in voice-driven pop culture writing, nonfiction histories that re-cast the narrative by emphasizing unexpected or unheard voices, and adult commercial fiction that features diverse casts and new stories. He does not represent children’s books, and is not looking for political/crime thrillers, fantasy/sci-fi, or nonfiction in the self-help/how-to/business categories.

Liz Gettle is a literary agent with Myth Literary.

​Liz is the owner and driving force behind Myth Literary Agency. After years immersed in the publishing industry — as an acquisitions editor at Future House Publishing, a manuscript reader at Storm Literary, and a freelance editor — she founded Myth Literary Agency.

​Her vision is to champion the bold and evocative realm of dark fiction. Her goal is to bring together the best in fantasy, romance, thrillers and horror. She’s looking for authors who create narratives that captivate and intrigue.

She is seeking: adult fantasy, dark fantasy, crossover fantasy, and Gothic fantasy. Romantasy is welcome in all of the above fiction categories.

Jackie Kruzie is a literary agent with Focused Artists.

I wholeheartedly believe that there is a book for every reader and every reader deserves a book and I’m eager to shepherd high-quality stories to eager readers. Due to the number of amazing submissions overflowing my inbox, I am currently only accepting submissions via conferences or pitch events but plan to open for a small window in early 2026.

Adult Fiction wishlist:

Book Club
Cozy
Historical
Horror
Paranormal
Romantasy
Speculative
Supernatural
Western
Women’s Fiction

Preferences:

I love grounded speculative fiction where characters must keep their abilities hidden as they strive to right wrongs and exist in a world where fear of the unknown and misunderstood is prevalent. I love witches but not a big fan of vampires or werewolves.

​I have a soft spot for historical fiction with dual timelines where events from the past impact the present.

I am a sucker for stories with a romantic element and enjoy when budding romances develop organically throughout the story. ​

I would love to find a cozy mystery series.

I welcome diverse characters and would like to see more main LGBTQ+ characters in a setting where they exist without scrutiny and their sexuality isn’t the main issue but simply a component of the story.

Children’s Fiction wishlist:

Board Books
Chapter Books
Middle Grade
Picture Book
Young Adult

Preferences:

In Middle Grade I look for books that put kids in the driver’s seat and create lifelong readers.

In Young Adult I like books that speak to those who feel invisible and welcome tough topics. I am not the right fit for dystopian novels where a teenage chosen one is tasked with saving the world.

​In BB & PB I like punchy fast-paced kid-focused books with no heavy moral. As a formal children’s librarian, I look for fun read-a-louds perfect for storytime. I am not the right fit for new baby or new pet books but would love a story featuring a modern grandparent that challenges stigmas.

I am not a good fit for:

Christian Fiction
Nonfiction
Memoir

Katie Monson is a literary agent with SBR Media.

In YA/adult fiction, she is seeking hilarious rom-coms with a 90’s feel; epic love stories (I want to swoon along with the FMC); women’s fiction with a romantic subplot that does not end happily; jaw-dropping psychological thrillers; and book club fiction. In middle grade and young adult fiction, she is seeking coming of age, new experiences, and humor. She is generally looking for great hooks, jaw dropping plot twists, slow burn romance, laugh out loud funny, banter between characters is always a plus! She is not a good fit for anything in the fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction, or nonfiction genres. She is also not looking for picture books at the moment.

Katie has been self-employed, watching children in her home for the last 12 years, and has enjoyed the privilege of being home to raise her children. She recently made the decision to massively change up her life and find a different path to take while still being able to home with her kids, leading her to SBR Media. Katie has always had a passion for reading ever since she was a little girl. Over the years she developed a strong interest in reading indie romance books, which naturally led to blogging, beta reading and editing small manuscripts for authors. She is self-motivated, organized and ready to represent clients and help lead them to success. When Katie isn’t reading, sitting by the pool, or complaining about the cold Rochester winters, she can be found traveling to the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and spending time with her husband and four children in Rochester, NY.