(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 KCWW is an in-person event happening in Kansas City on March 14, 2026. See you there.)
THIS YEAR’S SESSIONS & WORKSHOPS (MARCH 14, 2026):
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: If I Only Knew Then What I Know Now: 10 Things I’ve Learned as an Author, taught by Tiffany Killoren. This class is designed to take a decade of learned wisdom and share it with attendees. Published novelist Tiffany Killoren will share her advice on writing. editing, the review process, and getting published — explaining a decade’s worth of lessons in a concise one-hour class.
10:45 – 11:50: Making Sure You Are Query Ready, taught by Morgan Wilson. This class, taught by a literary agent, focuses on the finer points of making a submission package to submit to agents. Topics covered include: query letters, the dreaded synopsis, compelling first pages, and how to find reputable agents/agencies. There will be time for Q&A at the end of the presentation.
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: Launching & Promoting Your Book, taught by Brandy Vallance. You’ve done all the hard work of writing and editing your book, now it’s time to get it out into the world. But once you have a release date from your publisher, your work isn’t finished. In fact, your work might just be starting! Here you’ll learn tried and true strategies to sell more books, build your community, and have fun while doing it.
4:00 – 5:00: Self-Editing for Authors, by Bryan Thomas Schmidt. This session will guide you through practical strategies to transcend personal bias and achieve clarity in your writing. Discover techniques to distance yourself from your work, identify common pitfalls, and refine your prose to a polished shine. Learn how to become your most effective critic without losing the essence of your narrative.
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:
- “Tips on Pitching Literary Agents & Editors at an In-Person Event,” taught by literary agent Carlie Webber
- “Tips on Pitching Literary Agents & Editors at an Online Event,” taught by literary agent Carlie Webber
- “Common First Pages Mistakes and How to Fix Them,” taught previously at the San Diego Writing Workshop
- “6 Pillars of Well-Developed Characters,” taught previously at the Texas Writing Workshop
- “How to Fix It: The Art and Craft of Revision,” taught previously at the Writing Workshop of Chicago