Sessions

This year’s agenda for Writer's Digest Conference has been carefully crafted by experts in the field for a single purpose: to impart writers with the most relevant, cutting-edge and up-to-date information possible. During this conference, you’ll hear from agents, best-selling authors, publishers and editors discussing topics as diverse as they are relevant. Expect frank debate from panelists on the latest trends in storytelling, best marketing practices, the impact of the digital sea-change on the industry and much, much more.

Bring your questions. Go home with inspiration, goals, and a plan for your next breakthrough.

Friday, April 5th, 2013
8:30 am - 3:30 pmWriter's Digest Self-Publishing Conference - Additional Fee required. Includes Eight Exciting Sessions from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm on Friday, April 5. [More Info]
Linda Pressman, Author
Rebecca Elswick, Author
Kristin Nelson, Pesident/Senior Literary Agent, Nelson Literary Agency
Keith Ogorek, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Author Solutions, Inc.
Kristen McLean, Book Futurist, CEO, Bookigee
Dan Blank, Founder, We Grow Media
Eric DelaBarre, Filmmaker/Speaker
Phil Sexton, Publisher, Writer's Digest
Chuck Wendig, Screenwriter/Novelist/Game Designer
Frank Rivera, Art Director, Adams Media
Jon Fine, Director of Author & Publisher Relationships, Amazon.com
Amanda Barbara, Development Director, Pubslush
Caitlin O'Hanlon, Engagement Manager, Wattpad
Brian Felsen, President, Bookbaby
Maris Kreizman, Editorial Director, nook
FRIDAY, APRIL 5Friday, April 5, 2013
9:00 am - 12:00 pmBoot Camp: Writing a Novel They Can't Put Down (Additional Fee Required) [More Info]
James Scott Bell, Author
12:30 pm - 3:30 pmBoot Camp: Writing 21st Century Fiction (Additional Fee Required) [More Info]
Donald Maass, Literary Agent/Author/Instructor, Donald Maass Literary Agency
Boot Camp: Public Speaking for Writers: How to Turn Your Readings into Book Sales (Additional Fee Required) [More Info]
Porter Anderson, Journalist/Critic/Writer/Speaker in Publishing
FRIDAY, APRIL 5Friday, April 5, 2013
4:00 pm - 4:50 pmMain Program - Opening Keynote: Storytellers Save the World [More Info]
James Scott Bell, Author
5:00 pm - 5:50 pmPanel: How to Write for Big-Name Publications [More Info]
A.J. Jacobs, Bestselling Author/Journalist
Susan Shapiro, Journalist/Author/Professor, The New School, New York University
Paula Derrow, Writer/Editor
Jessica Strawser, Chief Editor, Writer's Digest magazine
6:00 pm - 6:50 pmPitch Perfect [More Info]
Chuck Sambuchino, Editor/Writer, Writer's Digest Books
7:15 pm - 8:00 pm Adapting Your Book into A Screenplay [More Info]
Jeanne Veillette Bowerman, Film Producer, Screenwriter, Online Community Manager, Impasse Productions, LLC

Saturday, April 6th, 2013
9:00 am - 9:50 amHow to Build an Audience for Your Books [More Info]
Dan Blank, Founder, We Grow Media
Panel: Ask the Agent [More Info]
Joanna Volpe, Literary Agent, New Leaf Literary
Gina Panettieri, Literary Agent, Talcott Notch Literary
Jessica Regel, Literary Agent, Jean V. Naggar Literary
Jennifer De Chiara, Literary Agent, Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency
Chuck Sambuchino, Editor/Writer, Writer's Digest Books
Creating the Greatest Characters of Your Career [More Info]
Donald Maass, Literary Agent/Author/Instructor, Donald Maass Literary Agency
10:00 am - 10:50 amThe New Era of Publishing [More Info]
April Eberhardt, Literary Agent, April Eberhardt Literary
Twenty-One Revision Techniques [More Info]
Cheryl Klein, Executive Editor, Arthur A. Levine Books , Scholastic, Inc.
Funny You Should Ask - Live! [More Info]
Barbara Poelle, Literary Agent, Irene Goodman Agency
Jessica Strawser, Chief Editor, Writer's Digest magazine
11:00 am - 12:30 pmExtended Session: Creating a Career out of eBooks [More Info]
James Scott Bell, Author
11:00 am - 12:30 pmPitch Slam Session #1 - Click More Info to View all the Agents Participating in the Pitch Slam [More Info]
Jennifer De Chiara, Literary Agent, Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency
Paula Munier, Senior Literary Agent and Content Strategist, Talcott Notch Literary Services
Jessica Regel, Literary Agent, Jean V. Naggar Literary
Joanna Volpe, Literary Agent, New Leaf Literary
Gina Panettieri, Literary Agent, Talcott Notch Literary
12:30 pm - 1:30 pmBoxed Lunch Provided
12:45 pm - 1:15 pmCross Training for Writers [More Info]
Brian Felsen, President, Bookbaby
1:30 pm - 3:00 pmExtended Session: The First Draft Is the Easy Part - Revision Demystified [More Info]
Stuart Horwitz, Author/Instructor/Founder of Book Architecture, Book Architecture
1:30 pm - 3:00 pmPitch Slam Session #2 - Click More Info to View all the Agents Participating in the Pitch Slam [More Info]
Jennifer De Chiara, Literary Agent, Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency
Paula Munier, Senior Literary Agent and Content Strategist, Talcott Notch Literary Services
Gina Panettieri, Literary Agent, Talcott Notch Literary
Jessica Regel, Literary Agent, Jean V. Naggar Literary
Joanna Volpe, Literary Agent, New Leaf Literary
3:10 pm - 4:00 pm25 Ways To DESTROY Writer's Block [More Info]
Chuck Wendig, Screenwriter/Novelist/Game Designer
Panel: How to Become a Regular Contributor to Any Publication [More Info]
Jessica Strawser, Chief Editor, Writer's Digest magazine
Zachary Petit, Editor/Journalist/Author, Writer's Digest magazine
Susan Shapiro, Journalist/Author/Professor, The New School, New York University
Debbie Harmsen, Editorial Director, BenBella, BenBella Books
Quit Your Day Job - Seriously! [More Info]
Elizabeth Sims, Author/Contributing Editor
4:10 pm - 5:00 pmCentral Keynote: Your Writing Life [More Info]
Adriana Trigiani, Author
5:00 pm - 7:00 pmCocktail Reception and Exhibits

Sunday, April 7th, 2013
9:00 am - 9:50 amSelf-Publishing Secrets: What to do When They Say No [More Info]
Eric DelaBarre, Filmmaker/Speaker
Create Your Writer Platform [More Info]
Chuck Sambuchino, Editor/Writer, Writer's Digest Books
Panel: The Future of the Writer [More Info]
Amanda Barbara, Development Director, Pubslush
Jon Fine, Director of Author & Publisher Relationships, Amazon.com
Kristin Nelson, Pesident/Senior Literary Agent, Nelson Literary Agency
Phil Sexton, Publisher, Writer's Digest
Chuck Wendig, Screenwriter/Novelist/Game Designer
Kristen McLean, Book Futurist, CEO, Bookigee
10:00 am - 10:50 amAmazon for Authors [More Info]
Jon Fine, Director of Author & Publisher Relationships, Amazon.com
You Should Really Write a Memoir [More Info]
Regina Brooks, Founder/Literary Agent/Author, Serendipity Literary Agency LLC
Marketing Short Fiction: The Science of Publishing [More Info]
Jacob Appel, Author
11:00 am - 11:50 amNew Legal Issues for Writers in the Digital Era [More Info]
Dana Newman, Literary Agent/Lawyer, Dana Newman Literary
Panel: Self-Publishing in the Real World [More Info]
Eric DelaBarre, Filmmaker/Speaker
Rebecca Elswick, Author
Linda Pressman, Author
James Duncan, Content Editor, F+W Media, Inc.
The First 10 Pages [More Info]
Paula Munier, Senior Literary Agent and Content Strategist, Talcott Notch Literary Services
12:00 pm - 12:50 pmClosing Keynote: You Already Have What You Need [More Info]
Tayari Jones, Author/Instructor