WC2 Executive Director Tony N Todaro has directed and/or programmed more than 1200 workshops, almost 200 special speaker events, and countless topics over the years. Tony looks forward to sharing a wealth of new and updated topics, plus a few popular favorites by request.

Plus, learn how you can thrive and benefit from this educational and inspiration event.Pacific Time

George Galdorisi

(Keynote Presentation)

Writers Digital Coffee Klatch

A very popular event at our conferences is the opportunity to gather with popular author / editor / educator / screenwriter Art Holcomb for a round-table discussion + Q&A on the craft of writing. Even though we are meeting virtually, attendees can still participate in this popular roundtable event, updated into a coffee klatch. Just click the special link (to be provided to attendees) and have a leisurely coffee and networking discussion with Art.

We may even include coffee packs in the swag bags we send to attendees by mail.

Art Holcomb

Saturday Orientation and update

Yes, the world can change in a day. So can topics and speakers. Join us for the latest info to help make your event experience the most informative, educational, and enjoyable.

How To Pitch an Agent or Publisher
 You've spent a year or more working on a great novel and now you feel it's ready to be shared with the world. Naturally, the first step is to pitch literary agents and find one who shares your passion for the work and is willing to sign you. While many authors submit countless query letters and emails -- without result, a few wise souls know that agents often look to conferences as a source for new talented writers. It is a unique window to have your work considered firsthand. But what do you say? How do you present yourself and your manuscript in order to have them ask for more?

This panel of agents, editors, and publishers du jour will discuss what they expect and answer your questions. This is an opportunity to hear what each agent needs in order to make a decision. Listen well, then rehearse before scheduling a pitch session with any or all of them later any day at the conference.

Sue Arroyo
Steven Hutson
Ken Sherman

Tony N Todaro^(M)

What Comes First -– the Plot or the Characters?

What comes first - the plot or the characters? This battle has raged for centuries among writers. The fact is without good characters, it doesn't matter what your plot is. Story is who the characters are, what happens to them and how they feel about it and how they overcome their obstacles whereas plot is this happens and that happens. Writing good characters - both hero and villain - is an art that you can master if you learn what really makes them tick. They cannot be one sided stick figures. Understand them and you will understand write your story. In this session you will get tips on how to make your characters not only come alive, but maybe even whisper sweet somethings in your ears.

Creating Strong Openings
Your First Lines, Your First Page, Your First Three Pages

Writing a first line that will grab an editor and immediately announce your authority as an author. This will cover first pages, first chapters, and first characters. This is a unique opportunity for you to learn how real pros consider the merits of the material and the intent of the author, then offer improvements covering everything from glaring grammar errors to story-structure flaws to the overall storytelling and more.

 Crafting Compelling Characters and The Lives They Lead

Readers need to believe in the writer's characters; care about their plight, share in their joy. What are the secrets of painting a lively, compelling portrait on the pages of your novel without boring or losing the reader?

Traditional or Self-Publishing: Which is the Best Option for You?

In this helpful webinar, Keith Ogorek, President of The Author Learning Center will share:

• The 4 Paths to Publishing available to you today
• The key differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing
• What traditional publishers typically look for in books they acquire.
• How to decide which path is best for you and your book

Plus Keith will allow time to answer your questions

A white paper booklet detailing this presentation with additional information will be sent in the swag bag.

How to Craft Better Stories in Less Time with Plottr

Want to plan your books without getting lost in a blaze of distractions? 

During this live demonstration you will learn how Plottr's laser-focused suite of outlining tools can accelerate your book planning process, including, how to:

• Visually plot and organize your stories without sticky notes or index cards
• Spot and avoid plot holes BEFORE you start your first draft
• Create a story bible that actually helps you keep your characters and settings consistent throughout your series
• Use proven story templates like Hero's Journey and Romancing the Beat to turbocharge your outlining process
• Quickly transition from plotting to writing to help you complete your manuscript

Whether you love outlining or just need a push in the right direction, you don’t want to miss this opportunity to learn how you can finally let plotting be the creative process it’s supposed to be – no sticky notes required. 

Point of View: How It Can Make or Break Your Story

What is first person? What’s third person? What’s all this about limited vs omniscient…?

How you narrate a story – or what points of view you choose when writing fiction – can make all the difference to its appeal. What’s more, the choices you make now will affect every page (indeed, pretty much every sentence) of your novel.

So you’d better get things right, huh?

No worries. This panel will reveal everything you need to know. 

Social Networking with Attendees and Faculty

Most virtual events don't provide the opportunity or time to network with other attendees or speakers. Well, this is your opporunity to "meet and greet" other members of the conference. So, mix up your favorite libation, pull up a comfortable chair in front of your computer, and feel free to spend the evening in a hospitable environment with your peer.

(The Read and Critique session is moved to Sunday night 6:00 pm til ?)

Orientation and update

How To Pitch an Agent or Publisher

You've spent a year or more working on a great novel and now you feel it's ready to be shared with the world. Naturally, the first step is to pitch literary agents and find one who shares your passion for the work and is willing to sign you. agent and client While many authors submit countless query letters and emails -- without result, a few wise souls know that agents often look to conferences as a source for new talented writers. It is a unique window to have your work considered firsthand. But what do you say? How do you present yourself and your manuscript in order to have them ask for more?

Join this panel where the agents, editors, and publishers du jour will discuss what they expect and answer your questions. This is NOT a pitch session, rather an opportunity to hear what each agent needs to hear in order to make a decision. Listen well, then rehearse before scheduling a pitch session with them later that day at the conference.

Paul S. Levine,
Andy Ross
Helga Schier
Toni Robino

Tony N Todaro^(M)

Are you a Plotter or a Pantser?

Writing the Female-Driven Story, New Archetypes for Powerful Women Characters

Since Joseph Campbell introduced his work broadly through The Power of Myth, and Chris Vogel turned it into a 14page memo that was passed from the hallowed halls of Disney, to every studio in Hollywood, stories have been told using the structure of the Hero’s Journey. But women’s stories don’t easily graft onto that structure. No one asks Clark Kent if his side hustle saving the world is going to get in the way of being a good father and husband… Alfred doesn’t belittle Bruce Wayne for having an steak dinner before his night of vigilante justice… and no one warns Luke Skywalker that his reliance on the force might be too woo-woo for him to find a serious wife. Because heroes don’t have those kinds of problems.

But women have those kinds of issues all the time. What’s worse women are immediately branded outcasts if they even set foot on the Hero’s Journey. Dr. Stacey Simmons reveals the Monomyth for women in her talk and explains the cycle of the Queen’s Path, that like the Hero’s Journey, has been with us for thousands of years. We use this archetypal structure to this day- you’ll see it at work in everything from Frozen to The Handmaid’s Tale. 

Things I Wish a Pro Had Told Me When I First Started Writing

Becoming a writer and then a published author is a steep, steep learning curve. Even for those with prior experience and previously published books, the rapidly changing landscape of the industry means you can easily make mistakes; in your writing, pitching, marketing and certainly when it comes to finding and signing a deal with a publisher or entering the shark-infested waters of the self-publishing pool. The aim of this session is to keep you safe, strong and smart as you progress in your work and career.

(We cover this topic regularly, each time with new authors and voices of professionals.)

What Authors Should Prepare Before Querying
an Agent or Publisher

Are you ready to query literary agents and publishers about your latest book, but not sure if you have everything in order? Do you wonder if there are elements to make your process more successful? This workshop will advise authors how to best prepare before the querying process. Learn what makes you stand out, and how to strengthen your author platform and pitch before you begin to reach out.

Techniques for Editing Your Own Work and When to Hire a Pro

Every professional writer knows that the first draft of anything from an epic novel to a short story is going to need considerable revision and polishing. To get your prose in shape for submission and publication may take several additional drafts. While some writers consider this process part luck and part voodoo, there are definite paths to success. Join us as a panel of editors discuss the right way to hone a masterpiece (i.e..: worthy of publishing) by knowing what to look for and share tips on how to fix it yourself.

Read and Critique Workshop - Fiction & Non-Fiction

Would you like feedback on your work additional to the quick pitch meeting? What is it like to work with a critique group of good, focused writers?

Have a few pages of your manuscript to read and share, and enjoy the feedback exchange!

Subject to
individual
availability

Meet editors, agents and/or publishers for a personal consultation to pitch, discuss and improve pre-submitted pages of your manuscript. Schedule an appointment at the Registration Desk. Some editors may take new submissions on site. A separate fee applies to ProCritque and Masters ProCritique consultations. Some agents do not read or edit material in advance. Consult the wcwriters.com website for details.

We recommend you attend the "How to Pitch" sessions in order to help identify the best professionals for your individual genre and work.

Reserve an appointment
by calling the
"1-on-1 Desk"
at 310.379.2650

Meetings are held via Zoom or phone
in confidence.

Using "Tracking and Reviewing" Features in Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word includes features that allow you to track the changes made by multiple users, as well as a review function that allows reviewers to insert their comments within a document. These features are very useful when you are part of a peer group assigned to work on a project together. They also provide a means for an editor to comment on your work and keep track of those comments and changes made by various beta readers. Now you can learn how to easily use this built-in function.

How To Structure a Novel Before You Write It

Chapters are the vessels of story structure, organizing the plot points of the larger work and allowing the reader to take a break and absorb what they’ve learned. A novel is usually broken up into accessible parts, forming a book that can be easily revisited whenever the moment arises. Structuring chapters in a way that keeps readers immersed in the story is essential to novel-writing. Art Holcomb will explain how this works best for you.

Art Holcomb

(Solo Spotlight)

Adam Savage welcomes author Andy Weir to The Talking Room! Andy wrote 'The Martian', the story of an astronaut stranded on Mars--it's a book we can't recommend enough. Adam and Andy talk about the research that went into writing the book, the portrayal of astronauts in fiction, and the film adaptation!

Find out more about his books at http://www.andyweirauthor.com/

Interviews with Best-Selling Authors
hosted by
Arnie Cantereo

Ask The Lawyer

Avoid costly mistakes and legal errors. Bring your literature-related legal questions to this Literary Legal Potpourri. Publishing and IP lawyer Greg Victoroff, Esq. www.victoroff-law.com will provide answers to legal questions related to writing and publishing in a one hour question and answer session covering all aspects of contracts, copyrights, collaboration, and related subjects. Attendees should come prepared with concise questions.

Due to the group Zoom format, questions and answers are not confidential and confidentiality is waived for anything disclosed in the session.

Greg Victoroff, Esq.

(Solo Spotlight)

When to Seek Council and Start Working with An Attorney

(What Writers should be aware of in terms of When, and What for, to Work with an Attorney)

This presentation will cover the scope of Copyright, and how to easily conceptualize this for writers. We'll then move on to the typical stages of getting a literary property optioned, then sold. Throughout this process, we'll talk about when to work with an attorney and both key pitfalls and suggested best practices.

Due to the group Zoom format, questions and answers are not confidential and confidentiality is waived for anything disclosed in the session.

In Conversation with Ken Liu and Karen Lord

On February 2, 2021, Realm Story Editor Diana M. Pho (@writersyndrome) moderated an amazing conversation about decolonizing science fiction with award-winning authors Ken Liu (@kyliu99) and Karen Lord (@drkarenlord). Watch the whole thing then check out their work on Realm! Ken Liu's work on Realm: bit.ly/KenLiuSB Karen Lord's work on Realm: bit.ly/KarenLord

This was previously recorded and there will be no Q/A afterwards.

Interviews with Best-Selling Authors
hosted by
Arnie Cantereo

What YOU Need to Know to Get Published (In today's highly competitive market), and How to Bullet-Proof your Submissions.

Have you sent off your manuscript to dozens of agents and editors, only to be rejected again and again? Learn the things they won't tell you; discover the most common problems, and how to avoid them. Hint:  It may have nothing to do with the quality of your writing or your story.

J.K. Rowlings Interview & Reading: Harry Potter: Beyond the Page

The JK Rowlings interview includes her answering questions from around the world. She reads an excerpt from her book and explains pottermore as well, the online site for everything Harry potter.

Make Your Genre Work for You: A Closer Look at the Subgenres of Suspense Fiction 

Genres have a purpose, a structure, a pattern, a style. Readers expect certain tropes when they buy a romance or a fantasy or a mystery. If writers stray too far from these expectations, they risk alienating their potential readers, but if they follow the norms too closely, they risk boring them. Authors Pat Broderick, J. A. Crawford, Marcy McCreary, Helen Power, and Emily Whitson will discuss how they make use of the pillars of their subgenres – cozy mystery, detective fiction, police procedural, amateur sleuth, and thriller – to draw readers in and fulfill expectations while stretching the limits of genre to tell their unique stories.  CamCat representative Helga Schier will touch upon the relevance of genre for acquisitions and marketing.

The Craft of Developing a Series / Trilogy / Anthology

From The Lord of the Rings to The Hunger Games and beyond, it’s plain to see that trilogies stand the test of time among readers. But writing a trilogy, or developing a series? Well, that can be a daunting task.

A good series must hook readers and keep them engaged, maintain good pacing and consistency, and steadily increase in tension toward an epic series climax. Mapping that out is certainly a tall order. No wonder so many authors find the task of writing such a trilogy or series daunting!

Lee Child and Stephen King joint interview

On tour for his latest Jack Reacher novel, Make Me, author Lee Child sat down at the Sanders Theater in Cambridge, MA with writer Stephen King--a huge fan of the series, now 20 long.

Interviews with Best-Selling Authors
hosted by
Arnie Cantereo

The Business of Writing for Film, TV, and the Book industries

Congratulations, you’ve finished your final draft! Now how do you get it to an audience? In this presentation, 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. Understand the industry so you can grasp not only your place within it, but what niches your project may be able to occupy as the market changes and morphs.  

Ken Sherman
Literary Agent

(Solo Spotlight)

Beyond the First Draft – How to Successfully Edit Your MS

Every professional writer knows that the first draft of anything from a short story to an epic to is going to need considerable revision and polishing. To get your prose in shape for submission and publication may take several additional drafts.

While some writers consider this process part luck and part voodoo, there are definite paths to success.

Join us as a panel of professionals discuss the right way to hone a masterpiece (i.e.: worthy of publishing) by knowing what to look for and share tips on how to fix it yourself.

Then, they'll discuss when is the right time to bring in a professional editor, and what it might cost.

William Gibson Interview

Probably the most influential living writer of speculative fiction, his best known aphorism is “the future's already here – it's just not very evenly distributed”. Two or three generations of readers have now seen the futures he envisaged in his three trilogies of novels coming dismayingly into being around them.

Interviews with Best-Selling Authors
hosted by
Arnie Cantereo

Subject to individual
availability

Meet editors, agents and/or publishers for a personal consultation to pitch, discuss and improve pre-submitted pages of your manuscript. Schedule an appointment at the Registration Desk. Some editors may take new submissions on site. A separate fee applies to ProCritque and Masters ProCritique consultations. Some agents do not read or edit material in advance. Consult the wcwriters.com website for details.

We recommend you attend the "How to Pitch" sessions in order to help identify the best professionals for your individual genre and work.

Reserve an appointment
by calling the
"1-on-1 Desk"
at 310.379.2650

Meetings are held via Zoom or phone
in confidence.

Writers Digital Coffee Klatch

A very popular event at our conferences is the opportunity to gather with popular author / editor / educator / screenwriter Art Holcomb for a round-table discussion + Q&A on the craft of writing. Even though we are meeting virtually, attendees can still participate in this popular event, updated into a coffee klatch.

Just click the link (to be provided to attendees) and have a leisurely coffee and networking discussion with Art. We may even include coffee packs in the swag bags we hope to send by mail)

Art Holcomb

How to Craft Better Stories in Less Time with Plottr

Want to plan your books without getting lost in a blaze of distractions? 

During this live demonstration you will learn how Plottr's laser-focused suite of outlining tools can accelerate your book planning process, including, how to:

• Visually plot and organize your stories without sticky notes or index cards
• Spot and avoid plot holes BEFORE you start your first draft
• Create a story bible that actually helps you keep your characters and settings consistent throughout your series
• Use proven story templates like Hero's Journey and Romancing the Beat to turbocharge your outlining process
• Quickly transition from plotting to writing to help you complete your manuscript

Whether you love outlining or just need a push in the right direction, you don’t want to miss this opportunity to learn how you can finally let plotting be the creative process it’s supposed to be – no sticky notes required. 

How Authors Get the Most from Goodreads

Whether you love or hate Goodreads, the fact remains: it is the largest fan club traffic jam on the planet, teeming with voracious readers actively seeking the next author to love. Another fact: if you publish a book, Goodreads creates an author profile for you automatically. How do you claim your Goodreads author profile and make it work for you? Attend this important session for all the answers -- and ask questions, as well.

The Vital Importance of Networking & Having a Strategy for One's Career Pursuits

SANDRA LORD is a master strategist/coach and definitive networking expert, whose experience and success as a former talent/literary manager has enabled her to work with talent at various levels in film, television, new media, book publishing, music, sports and corporate. Among those who have benefited from her strategic guidance are ACADEMY, EMMY, VMA, CINE, TELLY and GABRIEL award and award winners & nominees. Her strategies and tools have been described as "life changing."

Event Leaders