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. We’re in the process of selecting 2025 speakers for what should be our best program yet so check back often, and be sure to sign up for our email newsletter to receive session and speaker updates as they’re announced!

NEW Programming!

Thursday, July 24

Pre-Conference Workshop - Unique, But Universal: Crafting High-Concept Fiction That Sells | Jessica Berg

Pre-Conference Workshop - Pitch Slapped: How to Make Agents and Editors Fall For Your Book | Amy Collins and Tiffany Yates Martin

Conference Schedule

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
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

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
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.		Boots on the Ground — Living What You Write	From .Doc to Book Rob Hart
4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.			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!
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