(Please note that this is an in-person event. We at Writing Day Workshops plan both online/virtual as well as in-person events. This next WCLA is an in-person event happening in Los Angeles on May 2, 2026. See you there.)
THIS YEAR’S SESSIONS & WORKSHOPS (MAY 2, 2026):
Agent pitches and critique consultations overlap with the sessions below. The schedule of presentation topics below is subject to change and updates:
9:30 – 10:30: Session 1
1. The Quintessential Query: Write a Letter That Commands Agents’ Attention, taught by Steven Hutson. When you submit your work to an agent or publisher, you’ll probably need to send a query. It’s the most important single-page document that you will ever write. Learn ten essential elements that can help you get to a yes.
2. Make Money, Make Money (as a Writer), taught by Carlie Webber. Writing is an art, but publishing is a business. Carlie Webber, MBA, will discuss the basics of the publishing business that every writer should know, including what questions to ask an agent who offers representation, how authors earn money, publishing contract terminology, and red flags to look for from agents and publishers.
10:45 – 11:50: Session 2
1. Building Characters with Flesh, Bones, and Beating Hearts, taught by Victoria Harris. What makes a character lifelike but not mundane, captivating but not over-the-top? How does one create a character who is not just a part of the plot, but inextricable from it? In this class, we will work on character creation and development for novels. We’ll discuss examples of compelling characters in published works and then generate our own characters (or flesh out preconceived characters). I believe that teaching is a collaborative process in which everyone can learn from each other, and I’m excited to see what everyone brings to the table.
2. Author Blueprint: Forging a Pathway to a Publishing Career, taught by Jeanne De Vita. From self-publishing to traditional publishing, small press or hybrid, there have never been more options–and more accessible options for authors to make money writing. In this workshop, we’ll discuss the parts of the market, how to analyze opportunities best suited to your work, and how to create an author career blueprint to ensure you keep writing (profitably) for the long run.
11:50 – 1:15: Lunch on Your Own
You have 85 minutes on your own to break and eat.
1:15 – 2:30: Session 3
1. “Writers Got Talent”—a Page 1 Critique Fest, with participating literary agents and editors. In the vein of “American Idol” or “America’s Got Talent,” this is a chance to get your first page read (anonymously — no bylines given) with attending agents commenting on what was liked or not liked about the submission. Get expert feedback on your incredibly important first page, and know if your writing has what it needs to keep readers’ attention. (All attendees are welcome to bring pages to the event for this session, and we will choose pages at random for the workshop for as long as time lasts. All submissions should be novels or memoir—no prescriptive nonfiction or picture books, please. Do not send your pages in advance. You will bring printed copies with you, and instructions will be sent out approximately one week before the event.)
2. How to Sell a Nonfiction Book Proposal. This session focuses on effective strategies for writing a nonfiction book proposal on any subject. Topics include industry standards, building your expertise, and how to prepare a winning proposal that demonstrates your understanding of the marketplace.
2:45 – 3:45: Session 4
1. Panel: Ask an Agent or Editor Anything. In this session, attending literary agents, publishers, and editors sit on a panel to answer your questions on everything to writing, publishing, building a platform, what agents want, what are the latest trends in publishing, how movie options work, and more. Come ready to ask questions about anything you want related to the writing and publishing industry, and our panel will answer them.
2. The Business of Writing for Film, TV, and the Book Industries, taught by Ken Sherman. Congratulations, you’ve finished your final draft! Now how do you get it to an audience? In this course, we will get a sense of what it takes to translate a book into a visual medium and the importance of sales, attachments, critical reviews, and packaging, as well as how to make the right connections so you can get your foot in the door.
4:00 – 5:00: Session 5
1. You Have an Agent Offer or Book Contract — Now What? taught by Carlie Webber. Many writers seek to get an agent and book deal. But what happens after these steps? Hear from former literary agent Carlie Webber on how to effectively work with an agent, what to expect in the submission process, what it’s like to work with a publishing house editor, how to sell multiple books in your career, and much more.
2. The Final Polish, taught by April Davila. In this session, writers will learn to transform their draft from “pretty good” to “powerful and engaging.” We’ll dig into the habits that muddy language (weak verbs, filler words, vague descriptions) and discuss practical techniques for tightening scenes, enriching sensory detail, and making every sentence earn its place. Writers will learn how to read their own work with clear-eyed awareness, spotting where their imagination has filled in gaps the reader can’t see, then refine their pages so that what’s written truly matches the writer’s vision. Writers should come prepared to shed verbose clutter, elevate their voice, and bring their manuscript to its strongest, most compelling form.
5:00: The Day is Over
FREE ADDITIONAL RECORDED CLASSES:
We will actually send attendees extra FREE pre-recorded classes as part of their attendance. In addition to getting the weekend’s classes to enjoy live and in person, we will also send you 5 more free recorded classes on the side, from amazing instructors. In the week leading up to your in-person conference, we will send all confirmed attendees these classes below, some of which will aid in your pitching efforts:
- “Tips on Pitching Literary Agents & Editors at an In-Person Event,” taught by literary agent Carlie Webber
- “Tips on Pitching Literary Agents & Editors at an Online Event,” taught by literary agent Carlie Webber
- “Common First Pages Mistakes and How to Fix Them,” taught previously at the San Diego Writing Workshop
- “6 Pillars of Well-Developed Characters,” taught previously at the Texas Writing Workshop
- “How to Fix It: The Art and Craft of Revision,” taught previously at the Writing Workshop of Chicago