(ONLINE: Writing Day Workshops plans both in-person and virtual/online conferences. The 2026 PWW is an Online Conference, May 8-9, 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 Eastern time.
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THIS YEAR’S SESSIONS & WORKSHOPS:
Friday, May 8, 2026:
9:30 – 10:30: Launching & Promoting Your Book, taught by Brandy Vallance. You’ve done all the hard work of writing and editing your book, now it’s time to get it out into the world. But once you have a release date from your publisher, your work isn’t finished. In fact, your work might just be starting! Here you’ll learn tried and true strategies to sell more books, build your community, and have fun while doing it.
10:45 – 11:45: How to Write Great Characters: Character 365 Workshop, taught by Rachel Estep. We all think we know our characters like the backs of our hands, and sure, in their own universe, we do. But who would Katniss be at a modern university, and what would she study? If Ted Mosby were a professor at a magic academy, what subject would he teach? 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.
11:45 – 1:15: Break
1:15 – 2:30: The Question Every Agent Asks Concerning Your Project: Why THIS Book? taught by Sera Rivers. Why should your book get plucked out of an agent’s slush pile? What makes your story compelling enough for an agent to want to read it? To represent it? To make an editor want to acquire it? In this workshop, you will learn how to make your story stand out from the rest and answer the question industry professionals ask with each submission they receive: “Why THIS book?”
2:45 – 3:45: How to Compose an Amazing Query Letter, taught by Michaela Whatnall.
What goes into a great query letter, and how can you be expected to pitch yourself (and your book) in one page? In this workshop we’ll go through all the parts of a query letter, what key information agents look for, and how to make your project pop.
4:00 – 5:00: Think Outside the Cover: Your Publishing Options in 2026 Explained, taught by Laurie McLean. Agent Laurie McLean will examine how your book is not simply a book, but a story that can be released and told through different iterations. Also, what’s the best option for you in 2026? Traditional presses? Hybrid? Self-publishing? What are new ancillary opportunities and subrights opportunities writers should know about?
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Saturday, May 9, 2026:
9:30 – 10:30: Think Like a Screenwriter: Lessons from Hollywood for Fiction Writers, taught by Sarah Archer. In today’s digital environment, books compete not just with each other, but with all other forms of content, including film and television. This workshop will go behind the scenes of Hollywood to uncover tools and tips that screenwriters use to make their writing energetic, efficient, and entertaining. We’ll discuss visual storytelling, the hero’s journey structure, the relationship between scenes, and more.
10:45 – 11:45: 15 Reasons Why Your Book is Getting Rejected, taught by Carlie Webber. You may have heard that agents often reject books in under a minute. It’s true. This is because most of the query letters and opening pages an agent sees in their slush pile share mistakes that make it easy for an agent to pass. At this workshop, you’ll hear fifteen of the most common reasons an agent rejects your book, from length to audience to query letters that don’t do what they need to. Take this opportunity to learn why you may not be having success with your queries and craft a book that will help you find an agent.
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 PWW attendees. Bring your questions and get them answered in this popular session.
4:00 – 5:00: Sharpen Your Story, taught by Katherine Monasterio. Take advantage of an editor’s perspective with these simple strategies to keep your novel enticing, engaging, and on point. Taught by an editor with nearly 15 years of editing experience, this session helps pinpoint common ways stories often lose readers or hit a slump. This workshop will guide you through tips and strategies on everything from character moments to cranking up the tension—all in the interest of keeping your novel enticing, engaging, and on point.
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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
