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 2023 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!

Pre-Conference Workshop: ( SUPPORTING ELEMENTS OF STORY - ) Tiffany Yates Martin

Pre-Conference Workshop: ( TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR AUTHOR CAREER WITH INDIE PUBLISHING - ) Michael La Ronn Matty Dalrymple

Pre-Conference Workshop: ( THE BUSINESS OF CREATIVE WRITING: FROM BRANDING TO IP TO WORK-FOR-HIRE GIGS TO TAXES, EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW BUT DIDN’T KNOW WHOM TO ASK - ) Ryan Van Cleave

Aug 18

EST	Craft 1	Craft 2	Genre	Inspiration & Productivity	Publishing Business
9:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.	Welcome session
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.	Great Beginnings: Perfecting Page One Hank Phillippi Ryan	The Big Idea Rob Hart	On the Shoulders of Giants, Faeries, Elves, and Dragons: Writing Wondrous Fantasy Ryan Van Cleave	Microsoft Word Unleashed Michael La Ronn	The Hybrid Author's Path Vanessa Riley
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.	Using Nonverbals to Bring Scenes to Life Tiffany Yates Martin	The Fine Art of Decoding Feedback and Defeating Revision Anxiety Sonali Dev	Mystery/Thriller Panel Hallie Ephron Rob Hart Hank Phillippi Ryan Yasmin Angoe	How to Survive and Succeed As a Writer (Without Breaking Your Heart or Losing Your Mind) Gabriela Pereira	Media Training for Authors: Produce Your Own Compelling Videos & Handle Any On-Camera Interview with Paula Rizzo Paula Rizzo
1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.	Villains Need Love Too Yasmin Angoe	The Source Code of Storytelling Rob Hart	7 Steps to Stronger Middle Grade and YA Novels Gabriela Pereira	Travel for Research Eliza Knight	Who's on Your Writing Team Vanessa Riley
3 p.m. - 4 p.m.	Backstory and How Not to Shoot Yourself in the Foot With It Hallie Ephron	Conquering The Muddle in the Middle Hank Phillippi Ryan	Climate Fiction: How, What, Where, When, Why Bruce Holsinger	Writing App Speed Dating Michael La Ronn	Thinking Beyond the First Book Nathan Makaryk
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.	Opening Keynote Chuck Wendig

Aug 19

EST	Craft 1	Indie Publishing	Nonfiction	Platform & Promotion	Publishing Business
9 a.m. - 10 a.m.	Writing Dialogue That Sings Jane K. Cleland	Publishing Tips for the Frugal Author: Getting the Most for Your Editing and Cover Design Dollars Matty Dalrymple	10 Tips for a Winning Nonfiction Book Proposal Ryan Van Cleave	Sponsored: Marketing Your Book to Success: Before, During & After Publication Jennifer Wilkov	Freelancing 101: A Primer for Beginning Writers Don Vaughan
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.	Writing Multiple Time lines & Storylines Tiffany Yates Martin	Sponsored: Demystifying Distribution: How Distribution Works in the Publishing World and Where Self-Publishing Fits Bailey Yeager	Making Your Mark with A Micro Memoir Estelle Erasmus	The Nitty Gritty of Giving a Book Talk Hallie Ephron	The Dreaded Comp Titles: A Necessary Evil That Can Launch Your Career. Amy Collins
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.	Point of Who? Mastering Point of View and Character Development Jordan Rosenfeld	Breaking Out in Self-Publishing Eliza Knight	Breaking Into the Business & Self-Help Book Market Leticia Gomez	Building your Writer Brand from the Inside Out Sonali Dev	Query Review Workshop Nathan Makaryk
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.	Lunch and exhibits
1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.	Set the Stage: Using Setting to Add Intrigue and Suspense Jane K. Cleland	Free Consumer Data and Insights: Informing Your Marketing Strategy Bailey Yeager	Pitching and Titling Your Nonfiction Writing So It Gets Noticed Estelle Erasmus	Pitching for Promotion: Getting the Gig with Podcasters, Bloggers, and Other Promoters Matty Dalrymple	Writing a Pitch vs. Writing a Synopsis The Differences and An Easy Way to Do Both Without Losing Your Mind) Amy Collins
3 p.m. - 4 p.m.	Debut Author Panel Victor Manibo Priyanka Taslim Julia Bartz	Indie Author Ask Me Anything Panel Michael La Ronn Matty Dalrymple Vanessa Riley Eliza Knight	The Treasures in Your Own Back Yard: Mining Your Life, Friends and Family for Article Ideas Don Vaughan	Taking Your Story to BookTok: TikTok for Writers Jess Zafarris	Show Me the Money! Leticia Gomez
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.	Central Keynote - Elizabeth Acevedo Elizabeth Acevedo

Aug 20

EST	Craft 1	Craft 2	Publishing Business
9 a.m. - 10 a.m.	Closing Keynote: Jason Mott Jason Mott
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.	Nail Your Novel's (or Memoir’s) Voice and Tone Jordan Rosenfeld	Fiction and the Alchemy of Research Bruce Holsinger	Author Platforms, Social Media, and Search Optimization: What’s in Your Control Andrea DeWerd
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.	Memoir as Detective Novel Lilly Dancyger	Writing the Other and the Unseen Yasmin Angoe	Genre Fluidity: The Secrets of How to Really Land a Book Deal Susan Shapiro