(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 CWW is an in-person event happening on Saturday, May 16, 2026. See you there.)

THIS YEAR’S SESSIONS (SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2026):

Agent pitches and critique consultations overlap with the sessions below. The schedule of presentation topics below is subject to change and updates:

9:30 – 10:30: Session 1

Traditional Publishing vs. Self Publishing (Sinatra A room). 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? Which social media sites and publishing resources are worth the time and effort in 2026? All these questions, and more, will be addressed during the speech.

10:45 – 11:50: Session 2

Nail Your Query Letter: How to Pitch Your Book Like a Bookseller (Sinatra A room), taught by Rachel Estep. This class breaks down how to craft a sharp, compelling pitch by thinking like a bookseller. You’ll learn to understand things like attention, market, and reader relationship — and how you can apply them to the way you pitch. Get ready to learn how to position your book quickly, clearly, and confidently so agents and editors are immediately hooked, understand what you’re selling, and why readers will want it.

11:50 – 1:15: Lunch on Your Own

You have 85 minutes on your own to break and eat.

1:15 – 2:30: Session 3

1. “Writers Got Talent”—a Page 1 Critique Fest (Sinatra A room), 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. How to Sell a Nonfiction Book Proposal (Martin A room). This session focuses on effective strategies for writing a nonfiction book proposal on any subject. Topics include industry standards, building your expertise, and how to prepare a winning proposal that demonstrates your understanding of the marketplace.

2:45 – 3:45: Session 4

1. Open Agent Q&A Panel (Sinatra A room). Attending literary agents will open themselves up to open Q&A from CWW attendees. Bring your questions and get them answered in this popular session.

2. How to Market Yourself and Your Books: Talking Author Social Media and Platform (Martin A room). Whether you’re traditionally published or self-published, everyone could use some helpful guidance on how to effectively market themselves and sell more books. This session includes easy-to-understand advice on social media (Twitter, Facebook, more), newsletters, and other simple ways you can market your work online cheaply and easily.

4:00 – 5:00: Session 5

1. 15 Evergreen Publishing Tips — How to Control Your Writing Journey (Sinatra A room). If you want to have more say over a journey that seems out of your control, then you need to understand elements of the publishing path that are within your control, and how to harness them. This speech discusses a variety of different things any writer can do to help their chances — whether you’re published or aspiring.

2. How to Conquer the Dreaded Synopsis (Martin A room). Synopses feel terrible to write because they ask you to do something genuinely hard: condense your entire plot into one single-spaced page while keeping the emotional stakes clear and the writing tight. No wonder writers hate them. But once you see the structure all good synopses follow, it’s way easier to write one. In this class, we’ll break down exactly what agents actually need to see in a synopsis, what you can skip, and how to write one that doesn’t feel like pulling teeth. You’ll leave with a template, real examples, and a synopsis that actually works.

5:00: The Day is Over

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 5 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:

1. “Tips on Pitching Literary Agents & Editors at an In-Person Event,” taught by literary agent Carlie Webber.
2. “Tips on Pitching Literary Agents & Editors at an Online Event,” taught by literary agent Carlie Webber.
3. “Common First Pages Mistakes and How to Fix Them,” taught previously at the San Diego Writing Workshop
4. “6 Pillars of Well-Developed Characters,” taught previously at the Texas Writing Workshop
5. “How to Fix It: The Art and Craft of Revision,” taught previously at the Writing Workshop of Chicago