Writer's Digest University October and November live events

Detailing the remaining October classes and those coming up in November:

Writers helping writers improve their craft, achieve their goals, and recognize their dreams since 1920. Writer’s Digest University can help you get your writing career underway. Our expert instructors will provide advice, specific instruction, real-world experience, expertise, and the motivation and drive to help you achieve your goals. Join us by signing up for any of the events below!  Can't make it live? No problem. Each registration comes with access to the archived version of the program and the materials for one year. You do not have to attend the live event to get a recording of the presentation.    OCTOBER LIVE EVENTS You've got dozens of questions about how to succeed in publishing--and there are hundreds of different answers on the internet, from friends, and even experts. Someone will tell you to NEVER start your novel with a character getting out of bed, but then someone will tell you that's exactly how they got their big book deal!   This live webinar will help you sort out what's a myth and what's not, how to figure out what advice is right for you, and how to stop letting all your misconceptions about publishing hold you back. Conquer Writing & Publishing Myths How do you structure and weave the various storylines together? How do you shift between storylines and immediately orient readers without confusing them? How do you invest readers deeply in each one—and keep them invested throughout? What merits a separate storyline—and what’s just backstory?   If your story has more than one storyline, POV, or timeline, knowing how to weave them together smoothly and effectively is a major part of how well the overall story works. Every thread should be intrinsic to telling the story, complementing and reflecting one another without yanking readers’ focus or diminishing their investment. Add Depth to Your Story NOVEMBER LIVE EVENTS Whether you're preparing to pitch your book, attract an agent, or grow your readership, your author platform is the foundation that supports it all. But building and maintaining one doesn’t have to be overwhelming.   In this two-week bootcamp, Emmy Award–winning media strategist and bestselling author Paula Rizzo will help you assess your current platform, imagine what’s possible, and develop a plan that fits your life and goals.   Through guided worksheets, video lessons, and one-on-one feedback, you’ll gain clarity on how to show up as the expert you are — using tools like newsletters, social media, video, Substack, speaking, or media coverage — in a way that’s authentic and sustainable. Media Savvy Author 📸 Jessica Strawser is a USA Today bestselling author of six popular book club novels hailed for their irresistible premises. She’s also a Writer’s Digest Editor-at-Large with more than 20 years of experience consulting with writers on their queries, synopses, and opening pages. She can spot a marketable premise at a glance—and knows firsthand what it takes to turn a good premise into a great manuscript.   In this live webinar, you’ll learn how to use your basic story idea to set up a compelling premise and build upon it until you have all the elements of a winning novel. Through examples from the bestseller shelves, you’ll learn tips and techniques that can easily be adapted to your experience level, personal writing style, and the needs of your story.  Build a Compelling Premise This live webinar will cover best practices of email newsletters for authors, how to avoid the mistakes most prevalent in the writing community, plus the pros and cons of using the popular newsletter platform Substack.   Thankfully, regardless of what tools or platforms you use to send your email newsletter, it’s fairly straightforward to start (or restart) an email newsletter. It often doesn’t cost you any money until you have a sizable list of names—and that’s the point at which it can become very profitable.   Instructor Jane Friedman has been sending her free email newsletter, Electric Speed, since 2009, which is now enjoyed by nearly 30,000 subscribers. She also sends daily and weekly blog newsletters and has run a paid newsletter since 2015.  Improve Your Newsletter Experience the education, camaraderie, and opportunities provided by a live writing conference without ever having to leave your home!   Writer’s Digest University is pleased to present a one-of-a-kind online event for Nonfiction writers! On November 15, 2025, our WDU Nonfiction Writing Virtual Conference will provide expert insights from bestselling nonfiction authors. Spend the day learning techniques for honing your craft, then optionally receive a personalized critique of your query letter or pitch for a magazine/web article from a participating literary agent. Nonfiction Virtual Conference Ever pitched your novel and heard a polite “…interesting” instead of an enthusiastic “Send it now”? That’s the difference between a solid premise and a high-concept one—and in today’s market, high-concept is currency.   This live webinar is for writers who suspect their idea might be good… but also might be missing the sharp, irresistible edge that gets agents and editors to stop scrolling. Together, we’ll break down what “high-concept” actually means (hint: it’s not just hype), explore how to elevate your existing premise, and pressure-test your logline until it can hold up in any pitch room. Craft High-Concept Stories ⭐ MORE FROM WRITER'S DIGEST Magazine | Guide to Journalism | Banish Writer’s Block Forever | 2nd Draft - Critique & Editing Services Active Interest Media 2143 Grand Ave Des Moines, IA 50312 USA