Learn the ins and outs of publishing, make connections, and build your writing career!

Publish Now is a one-day conference for writers interested in learning more about all the ways you can share and publish your work. You’ll attend up to 4 panels featuring experts in all aspects of the writing and publishing cycle. Topics will include broad overviews, preparing your work, querying agents, publishing short-form work, and more!

More than 25 panelists, including Kenneth D. Ackerman, Samuel Ashworth, Jessica Berg, Nicole Chung, Rachel Coonce, Patricia Coral, Ariel Felton, Tope Folarin, Amy Freeman, Varun Gauri, Hannah Grieco, Donna Hemans, Emily Holland, Kelsea Johnson, Angie Kim, Eugenia Kim, Steve Majors, Karen Outen, Bethanne Patrick, Zach Powers, Eman Quotah, David O. Stewart, Meera Trehan, Alonzo Vereen, and Vonetta Young. Learn more about our panelists at the links in the panel descriptions below.

Many of our panelists will be available between sessions, at lunch, and at the closing reception, so you can make personal connections. And you’re strongly encouraged to connect with your fellow attendees, too.

Morning coffee, lunch, and a post-conference reception are included.

Schedule

8:15am: Registration & Coffee

9:00am: Welcome

9:15 – 10:30am:

Intro Panel
The Many Ways to Publish: An Overview
Nicole Chung, Tope Folarin, David O. Stewart, Alonzo Vereen, moderated by Zach Powers

Five authors who have worked with multiple types of publishers will provide an overview of what you need to know about the wide world of publishing.

10:45am – 12:00pm: Session 1

Panel A – Theater
An Agent, an Editor & Two Authors: From Query Through Publication & Beyond
Jessica Berg, Hannah Grieco, Angie Kim, moderated by Meera Trehan

If you’ve finished writing your book, that’s just the beginning. This panel of publishing professionals will tell you what it takes for a book to make it to print.

Panel B – Reading Room
Submitting Outside the Book: Publishing Short-Form Work
Samuel Ashworth, Nicole Chung, Ariel Felton, moderated by Amy Freeman

Amazing writing is published every day, mostly in short form. Four expert short-form writers share their tips for finding a home for your articles, essays, stories, and more.

12:00pm – 1:15pm:
Lunch

1:30 – 2:45pm: Session 2

Panel C – Theater
First Books: Debut Authors Share Tips, Tricks, and Surprises
Varun Gauri, Karen Outen, Bethanne Patrick, moderated by Steve Majors

Publishing a book is always a learning experience. You’ll hear from recent debut authors about all they learned—and all they wish they’d known—about publishing for the first time.

Panel D – Reading Room
Breaking Down Barriers: Equity in Publishing
Patricia Coral, Kelsea Johnson, Eman Quotah, moderated by Eugenia Kim

Publishing is hard, and it can be far harder for writers from historically marginalized communities. You’ll hear from successful authors about their paths to success, overcoming obstacles, and building community in the literary world.

3:00 – 4:15pm: Session 3

Panel E – Theater
The Art of Editing: How to Make Sure Your Work is Ready to Submit
Kenneth D. Ackerman, Samuel Ashworth, Vonetta Young, moderated by Emily Holland

If you want to publish, you need to make sure your work is well written. Seasoned editors will offer advice on ways to make sure your work is as strong as possible before submitting.

Panel F – Reading Room
You Can’t Do It Alone: The Importance of Literary Community
Ariel Felton, Hannah Grieco, Donna Hemans, moderated by Rachel Coonce

Successful authors are usually part of a community of writers (just read the acknowledgments page at the end of a book!). This panel will introduce you to the concept of good literary citizenship, and show you how giving back to the literary community is one the best ways to reward yourself—and to find avenues for publishing your own work.

4:30pm:
Reception

Scholarships

We plan to offer 5 scholarships to Publish Now for writers unable to pay the registration fee. Please apply for the scholarship by emailing zach.powers@writer.org with “Publish Now Scholarship” in the subject line; no additional information is required. Scholarship recipients will be selected randomly from among all applicants. Scholarship Deadline: February 21, 2025

If you need an accommodation for this event, please contact us at access@writer.org. We will attempt to fulfill all requests, but advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility services.