October 20 – 23, 2022

Pasadena, CA

#NWC21 and COVID-19

10 September 2021

As uncertainty continues in 2021, we’ve had to make the extremely difficult decision to cancel the Writer’s Digest Novel Writing Conference in Pasadena, October 21-24. With infection rates still extremely high, paired with very low registration we had to make the responsible decision to cancel the event. We were not going to be able to put on the caliber of event expected from Writer’s Digest and the risk overall just seemed too great. We’ve been here before and were so hopeful about 2021 but it just wasn’t in the cards. We’re determined to make 2022 the best year yet with events in New York (July 28-31, 2022) and Novel back in Pasadena in October.  

We have decided not to take the full conference virtual since we just did a virtual version in July and have other virtual education opportunities through Writer’s Digest University. We will be moving forward with Jordan Rosenfeld’s workshop, “Make a Scene: Step-By-Step Scene Construction for Masterful Storytelling,” as a virtual workshop. We will send out more information about the workshop as soon as it is available. 

Thank you for your support and keep writing! 

Writer’s Digest Staff 

 

6 August 2021

As cases continue to increase across the globe we wanted to check in and provide an update. Writer’s Digest Novel Writing Conference is STILL hopeful we will be able to meet in-person this October. However, there is still a lot of COVID-related uncertainty in 2021 and WD wants to take the proper steps to ensure all of our speakers, attendees, exhibitors, and staff are as safe as possible. In addition to planning a virtual back-up event, we will extend the same flexible cancellation policy for 2021 as we did in 2020, allowing attendees to cancel if needed, once they’ve registered for a full refund. We are monitoring vaccination rates and state/federal travel guidelines very closely and will post updates on our website and via email. 

Here’s a short list of how we are planning and what we are doing to ensure the safety of our speakers, attendees, exhibitors, vendors, and staff.  

  • Flexible cancellation policy 
  • Monitoring vaccination rates 
  • Adhering to state/federal regulations and adjusting to changes as they come 
  • Working closely with the venue on updated/increased cleaning procedures and technologies
  • Adding social distancing signage in public venue areas as well as in the event space
  • Updated meeting room sets to accommodate for increased distancing 
  • Working with vendors on safety regulations and cleaning procedures 
  • Gauging interest and comfort levels from speakers for in-person and virtual session options  

There will certainly be updates and additions to this list as things progress. Please be on the lookout for updates on our website, social media, accounts, and via email. We hope everyone is staying healthy and don’t forget to keep writing! #NWC21

15 April 2021

A lot of progress has been made in the last two months in the fight against COVID-19. Cases are decreasing or have plateaued and vaccination rates increase every day. Writer’s Digest Novel Writing Conference is STILL hopeful we will be able to meet in-person this October. However, there is still a lot of COVID-related uncertainty in 2021 and WD wants to take the proper steps to ensure all of our speakers, attendees, exhibitors, and staff are as safe as possible. In addition to planning a virtual back-up event, we will extend the same flexible cancellation policy for 2021 as we did in 2020, allowing attendees to cancel, if needed, once they’ve registered for a full refund. We are monitoring vaccination rates and state/federal travel guidelines very closely and will post updates on our website and via email. 

Here’s a short list of how we are planning and what we are doing to ensure the safety of our speakers, attendees, exhibitors, vendors, and staff.  

  • Flexible cancellation policy 
  • Monitoring vaccination rates 
  • Adhering to state/federal regulations and adjusting to changes as they come 
  • Working closely with the venue on updated/increased cleaning procedures and technologies
  • Adding social distancing signage in public venue areas as well as in the event space
  • Updated meeting room sets to accommodate for increased distancing 
  • Working with vendors on safety regulations and cleaning procedures 
  • Gauging interest and comfort levels from speakers for in-person and virtual session options  

There will certainly be updates and additions to this list as things progress. Please be on the lookout for updates on our website, social media, accounts, and via email. We hope everyone is staying healthy and don’t forget to keep writing! #NWC21

28 January 2021

Writer’s Digest Novel Writing Conference is hopeful we will be able to meet in-person this October. There is still a lot of COVID-related uncertainty in 2021 and WD wants to take the proper steps to ensure all of our speakers, attendees, exhibitors, and staff are as safe as possible. In addition to planning a virtual back-up event, we will extend the same flexible cancellation policy for 2021 as we did in 2020, allowing attendees to cancel, if needed, once they’ve registered for a full refund. We are monitoring vaccination rates and state/federal travel guidelines very closely and will post updates on our website and via email. 

Here’s a short list of how we are planning and what we are doing to ensure the safety of our speakers, attendees, exhibitors, vendors, and staff.  

  • Flexible cancellation policy 
  • Monitoring vaccination rates 
  • Adhering to state/federal regulations and adjusting to changes as they come 
  • Working closely with the venue on updated cleaning procedures and distancing 
  • Working with vendors on safety regulations and cleaning procedures 
  • Gauging interest and comfort levels from speakers for in-person and virtual session options  

There will certainly be updates and additions to this list as things progress. Please be on the lookout for updates on our website, social media, accounts, and via email. We hope everyone is staying healthy and don’t forget to keep writing! #NWC21

18 March 2020

Dear #NWC20 Attendees,

Although our Novel Conference in Pasadena is still more than 7 months away, we know concerns about COVID-19 are growing and we want to reassure you that we are closely monitoring the situation.

Many places in the U.S. now encourage social distancing and the minimization of large gatherings over the next several weeks in order to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus. We remain hopeful that these measures will work and that our conference will go on as planned.

We’re still looking forward to offering you the best writing instruction, inspiration, and publishing advice on October 22-25, 2020 at the Westin Pasadena, but we’ll also be developing contingency plans over the next several weeks should the situation necessitate an alternative approach.

If necessary, you’ll be able to cancel your reservation without penalty by September 1, 2020 by which time we’ll all have a much better sense of what’s happening.

For the most current updates, keep an eye out for future emails, follow @WritersDigest on Twitter, and bookmark this page which we’ll be updating regularly.

– The WD Team

Useful Resources

Halloween-Themed Cocktail Reception

Are you worried about missing out on all the great Halloween parties while you’re at the Writer’s Digest Novel Writing Conference? Do not fear! You’ve been invited to our Halloween-Themed Cocktail Reception, and it’s primed to be a bewitchingly-good time!