(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 MWW is an in-person event happening in Milwaukee on June 21, 2024. See you there.)

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THIS YEAR’S SESSIONS & WORKSHOPS (JUNE 21, 2024):

Agent pitches and critique consultations overlap with the sessions below. The schedule of presentation topics below is subject to change and updates.

8:30 – 9:30: Check-in and registration at the event location.

9:30 – 10:30: Everything You Need to Know About Literary Agents and Writing an Awesome Query Letter, taught by Brian Klems. This workshop is a thorough crash course in dealing with literary agents. After quickly going over what an agent is and what they do for writers, we will discuss resources for finding agents, how to ID the best agents for you, query letter writing, as well as the most important things to do and not to do when dealing with representatives.

10:45 – 11:50: Common Mistakes in Opening Chapters, taught by Vicky Weber. In this session, you’ll learn what typical mistakes writers make in the beginning of a manuscript that keep agents from reading the rest of the story (and how to fix them).

11:50 – 1:15: Lunch is on your own during these 85 minutes.

1:15 – 2:30: “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 fiction 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.

2:45 – 3:45: Boost Your Book Sales, taught by Vicky Weber. In this session, we’ll walk you through a 3-step action plan to help you sell more books with less time, effort, and guesswork. Plus, how to shift your mindset so you can start enjoying the marketing process!

4:00 – 5:00: Getting Published in Today’s World: 10 Tips to Make You the Writer Agents and Publishers Want, taught by Brian Klems. If you want to land an agent and a book deal in today’s market, you’re going to have to do a lot more than just write a great book (though that’s a good start). In this session, former Writer’s Digest editor Brian A. Klems discusses the challenges writers face in publishing today and offers up 10 practical tips to help you break through the barriers and find success.

At 5 p.m., the day is done. Speakers may make themselves available for a short while to sign any books for attendees.

Agent & Editor Pitching: All throughout the day.

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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:

1. “Tips on Pitching Literary Agents & Editors at an In-Person Event,” taught by literary agent Carlie Webber
2. “Tips on Pitching Literary Agents & Editors at an Online Event,” taught by literary agent Carlie Webber
3. “Talking Dollars and Cents — How Authors Make Money,” from our Tennessee Writing Workshop
4. “Publishing Options: Pros and Cons of Both Traditional and Indie Publishing,” from our Atlanta Writing Workshop
5. “Overcoming Failure: How to Strive for ‘Yes’ in the Face of a Hundred Nos,” from our Florida Writing Workshop