The Writer’s Digest Annual Conference offers a balanced program covering the fundamentals of craft—delving into specific genres and techniques—along with the business of being a writer, from traditional and self-publishing paths, promotion and marketing strategies, and managing a sustainable career.

NEW Programming!

Thursday, July 24

Pre-Conference Workshop: ( UNIQUE, BUT UNIVERSAL: CRAFTING HIGH-CONCEPT FICTION THAT SELLS - ) Jessica Berg

Pre-Conference Workshop: ( MASTERING BACKSTORY - ) Tiffany Yates Martin

Jul 25

EST	Craft - Fiction	Inspiration & Productivity	Platform & Promotion
9 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.	Welcome Session Amy Jones
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.	Deconstruct Your Favorite Books: Apply the Lessons to Your Own Work Jane K. Cleland	Writing as a Side Hustle: Productivity for Writers Paula Rizzo	Build Your Platform With More Publishing Credentials E.A. Aymar
10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.	Write an Opening That Draws Readers In Wanda Morris	Manifest Your Creative Life Amy L. Bernstein	The Status of Social Media for Authors in 2025 Andrea DeWerd
11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.	Lunch Included
1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.	Same Story, Different Takes: Writing from Multiple Perspectives Yasmin Angoe	Tell Your Story to Beat the Bots: A Writer’s Guide to Thriving and Surviving in the Age of AI Jane K. Cleland	Build Your Platform and Promote Your Book with Video and Media Interviews Paula Rizzo
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	Shoring Up Mid-Book Sag Tiffany Yates Martin	How Do You Stay Inspired When the Muse is Missing in Action? Wanda Morris
3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.	Keynote: Jean Kwok Jean Kwok

Jul 26

EST	Craft - Fiction	Nonfiction	Publishing Business
9 a.m. - 10 a.m.	Brainstorming Motives for Murder Yasmin Angoe	10 Tips for a Winning Nonfiction Book Proposal Ryan Van Cleave	Writing Synopses That Don't Suck Jessica Berg
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.	Action Scenes with a Punch Rob Hart	50 Years a Writer: 10 Career Lessons from the Freelance Trenches Don Vaughan	From Indie to Traditional to Hybrid J.D. Barker
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.	Hurting Your Character Carla Hoch	Unlocking the "Wow" Factor: Elevating Nonfiction Picture Books for Today's Market Ryan Van Cleave	Data in Publishing Andrea DeWerd
12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.	Lunch Included
1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.	FightWrite: Practical to Tactical Carla Hoch	Writing the Service Piece or Self-Help Book–No PhD Required Polly Campbell	The Dreaded Comp Titles: A Necessary Evil That Can Launch Your Career Amy Collins
3 p.m. - 4 p.m.	Mystery/Thriller Panel Yasmin Angoe Amy Jones Rob Hart Wanda Morris	Boots on the Ground — Living What You Write Alison Hill	From .Doc to Book Rob Hart
4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.	Breaking In Panel Chip Pons	Voice Lessons: Writing Your Authentic Voice on the Page Polly Campbell	Write Fantastic Query Letters Amy Collins

Jul 27

EST	Craft (Fiction & Nonfiction)	Craft - Fiction	Platform & Promotion
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.	The Importance of Specificity Don Vaughan	The Art of Foreshadowing Tiffany Yates Martin	Networking 101 — It's Who You Know! Alison Hill
10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.	Architecture of a Page-Turner J.D. Barker	Building Believable Worlds: Immersion Beyond the Page Jessica Berg