Schedule | Writer's Digest Novel Writing Conference

The Writer’s Digest Novel Writing Conference offers a balanced program covering the fundamentals of craft—delving into specific genres and techniques—along with the business of being a writer, promotion and marketing strategies, and managing a sustainable career.

We’re in the process of selecting 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!

Featured Events

Pre-Conference Workshops (11/5)

The Compass of Character: Creating Complex Motivations for Compelling Characters | David Corbett

Personal Essay Essentials: How to Break Into Print with First-Person Writing | Windy Lynn Harris

Sessions Schedule

FRIDAY, November 6, 2020

	Fiction	Genre	Publishing Business
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM	The Formula for Setting that Agents, Editors, and Readers Love Kristin Oakley	Everything You Need to Know to Write Crime Fiction – In One Hour Hank Phillippi Ryan	Book Publishing Trends in 2020: What Writers Need to Know Jane Friedman and Guy LeCharles Gonzalez
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM	In for the Long Haul: The Craft of Writing a Series Donna Russo Morin	Writing Fantasy L. Penelope	Query Letter Basics Jess Regel
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM	Surprise & Delight Your Readers on Every Page Jessica Strawser	Romance Panel Talia Hibbert, Casey McQuiston, Kate Stayman-London, Alexis Daria, and Amy Jones (Moderator)	Panel: What Should Authors Expect From Publishers’ Marketing Efforts? Guy LeCharles Gonzalez, Kilby Blades, and Kathleen Quinlan
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM	Lunch on your own
	Fiction	Genre	Craft
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM	Rooting Suspense in Domesticity Hallie Ephron	Ten Tips for Researching and Writing Historical Fiction Susan Meissner	The Incredibly Shrinking Story: Using Microficton to Build Your Novel Ran Walker
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM	Developing a 25-Word Idea and Pitch Statement: The Heart of Your Story Bob Mayer	Navigating Young Adult Characters Through the Expectations of Family and Society Syed Masood	Could You Pick it Up (or Slow it Down) Already? Setting the Right Pace in Your Novel Sharon Short
5:15 – 6:15 PM	Opening Keynote: Jasmine Guillory

SATURDAY, November 7, 2020

	Craft	Craft	Publishing Business
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM	How To Plot Your Book With Ease Ann Garvin	The Muddle in the Middle Hank Phillippi Ryan	Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity in Publishing: From First Pitch to Book Birthday Nevien Shaabneh
11:15 – 12:15 PM	Creating a Conflict Box: The Fuel of Your Story Bob Mayer	It’s a Small, Diverse World: Creating Authentic Voices for Your Characters Abby Vandiver	The Nitty Gritty on Giving a Book Talk for Your Novel Hallie Ephron
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM	Dialogue as Action, Not Conversation David Corbett	Reading Like a Writer: Master Close Reading and Improve Your Writing Jacquelin Cangro	Evaluate Your Publisher’s Platform Before Signing a Book Deal Guy LeCharles Gonzalez
1:30 PM – 1:30 PM	Lunch on your own / Exhibits
	Craft	Craft	Publishing Business
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM	Rock Your Revisions Gabriela Pereira	Description: “Leave Out the Parts People Skip” Katrina Kittle	Slush Pile Boot Camp Chantelle Aimee Osman
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM	Beyond the Twilight Zone: Diversity in the Strange Ran Walker	Weaving the Character Web David Corbett	Panel: Debut Authors PANEL: Joanne Ramos, Tariq Shah, Mia Mercado, Lisa Braxton, and Cassandra Lipp (Moderator)
5:15 – 6:15 PM	Central Keynote: Maaza Mengiste and Viet Thanh Nguyen
6:30 – 7:30 PM	Networking, Virtual Lounge