Sessions

At Writer’s Digest Conference West, you’ll hear from bestselling writers sharing their insights on craft-related topics like Writing a Killer First Chapter and Mastering Conflict and Suspense. You’ll interact with editors and agents at panel discussions and sessions designed to answer all your questions about the process of getting published.

But you’ll also hear vibrant discussions about subjects that are off limits at most writing conferences. We’ll have a frank debate on the pros and cons of self-publishing. Give you the skinny on what you really need to know to help market your book. Explore how the rising popularity of ebooks and the digital revolution’s effect on reader habits will influence the market for your writing. And make sure you’re up to snuff on the topics publishing industry execs debate behind closed doors.

Friday, October 19th, 2012
12:30 pm - 3:30 pmExclusive Boot Camp: Sell Your Book Like Wildfire (Addtional Purchase Required) [More Info]
Rob Eagar, President, Wildfire Marketing
4:00 pm - 4:10 pmOpening Remarks [More Info]
Phil Sexton, Publisher and Community Leader Writer's Digest, F+W Media, Inc
4:10 pm - 5:00 pmOpening Keynote: The Delights and Constraints of Writing [More Info]
Aimee Bender, Author
5:10 pm - 6:30 pmAsk the Agent Panel [More Info]
Mary Kole, Senior Literary Manager, Movable Type Management
Dana Newman, Attorney and Literary Agent, Dana Newman Literary, LLC
Katharine Sands, Literary Agent, Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency
Paul S. Levine, Literary Agent/Lawyer, Paul S. Levine Literary Agency
6:40 pm - 7:30 pmPitchcraft! [More Info]
Katharine Sands, Literary Agent, Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency
7:40 pm - 9:00 pmMix n Mingle Cocktail Reception [More Info]

Saturday, October 20th, 2012
9:00 am - 10:20 amCreating a Career out of Ebooks [More Info]
James Scott Bell, 		Writing and Publishing Children's and Teen Books [More Info]
Mary Kole, Senior Literary Manager, Movable Type Management 		Writing a Killer First Chapter [More Info]
Richard Krevolin, Teacher/Author/Storyteller
10:30 am - 11:50 amYou've Got a Book in You [More Info]
Elizabeth Sims, Author and Contributing Editor, Writer's Digest Magazine		25 Ways to EARN Your Audience [More Info]
Chuck Wendig, Novelist, Screenwriter, and Game Designer		Six Secrets to Novel Writing No One Ever Told You [More Info]
Steven James, Author, Steven James
12:00 pm - 12:50 pmCentral Keynote: The History of a Love Story [More Info]
Jamie Ford, Author
1:00 pm - 1:50 pm Lunch/Exhibit Hall
1:00 pm - 1:50 pmAuthor Signing Showcase [More Info]
Nina Amir, Inspriation-to-Creation Coach (author,coach,editor,speaker), CopyWright Communications
Philip Athans, Founding Partner, Athans & Associates Creative Consulting
James Scott Bell,
Robert Brewer, Senior Content Editor, Writer's Digest Writing Community, F+W Media, Inc.
Eric DelaBarre, Writer/Director, Seven Publishing
Rob Eagar, President, Wildfire Marketing
Jamie Ford, Author
Steven James, Author, Steven James
Stephen Blake Mettee, CEO/Publisher, The Write Thought Inc.
Victoria Lynn Schmidt, Author
Phil Sexton, Publisher and Community Leader Writer's Digest, F+W Media, Inc
K.C. Sherwood, Author
Victoria Zackheim, Author
Richard Krevolin, Teacher/Author/Storyteller
2:15 pm - 3:45 pmPanel: Hardcore Author Marketing [More Info]
Nina Amir, Inspriation-to-Creation Coach (author,coach,editor,speaker), CopyWright Communications
Rob Eagar, President, Wildfire Marketing
David Rozansky, Founder, Flying Pen Press
Porter Anderson, Critic/Journalist/Producer/Consultant
Robert Brewer, Senior Content Editor, Writer's Digest Writing Community, F+W Media, Inc.		How to Write a Memoir that Strangers Will Pay to Read [More Info]
Victoria Zackheim, Author		Pitch Slam Session #1 [More Info]
4:00 pm - 5:30 pmHow to Make a Career Out of Writing Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror [More Info]
Philip Athans, Founding Partner, Athans & Associates Creative Consulting		How to Create an Author Website and Sell Your Book [More Info]
Rob Eagar, President, Wildfire Marketing		Pitch Slam Session #2 [More Info]

Sunday, October 21st, 2012
9:00 am - 9:50 amLegal Issues for Self-Published Authors [More Info]
Paul S. Levine, Literary Agent/Lawyer, Paul S. Levine Literary Agency		The Keys to Crafting Compelling Characters & Character Arcs [More Info]
Victoria Lynn Schmidt, Author		Mastering Conflict & Suspense: How to Keep Readers Turning Pages in Any Genre [More Info]
James Scott Bell,
10:00 am - 10:50 amSeven Secrets to Successful Self Publishing [More Info]
Keith Ogorek, Senior Vice President Marketing, Author Solutions, Inc.		New Legal Issues for Writers in the Digital Era [More Info]
Dana Newman, Attorney and Literary Agent, Dana Newman Literary, LLC		How to Write, Publish and Promote Your Book One Post at a Time [More Info]
Nina Amir, Inspriation-to-Creation Coach (author,coach,editor,speaker), CopyWright Communications
11:00 am - 11:50 amPanel: Self Publishing in the Real World - What to Expect, What to Do, and How to Do It [More Info]
Dana Newman, Attorney and Literary Agent, Dana Newman Literary, LLC
Keith Ogorek, Senior Vice President Marketing, Author Solutions, Inc.
Eric DelaBarre, Writer/Director, Seven Publishing
Brian Felsen, President, BookBaby
Stephen Blake Mettee, CEO/Publisher, The Write Thought Inc.
K.C. Sherwood, Author		Panel: The Future of the Writer [More Info]
Jon Fine, Director of Author & Publisher Relationships, Amazon
Chuck Wendig, Novelist, Screenwriter, and Game Designer
Patrick Brown, Community Manager and Author Program Manager, Goodreads
David Rozansky, Founder, Flying Pen Press		Gear Up for National Novel Writing Month at the Writer's Digets Conference [More Info]
Grant Faulkner, Executive Director, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
Lindsey Grant, Program Director, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
Sara McBride, Municipal Liaison, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) - Los Angeles
Victoria Lynn Schmidt, Author
12:00 pm - 12:50 pmClosing Keynote: Throw Your Hat Over the Wall [More Info]
Steven James, Author, Steven James