After many past successful events in the Bay Area, Writing Day Workshops is excited to announce The 2026 Writing Workshop of San Francisco — a full-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing event in San Francisco on April 11, 2026.

This in-person writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited seats at the event (175 total). All questions about the event regarding schedule, details and registration are answered below. Thank you for your interest in the 2026 Writing Workshop of San Francisco! We are very proud of our many success stories where attendees sign with agents following events — see our growing list of success stories here.

(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 WWSF is an in-person event happening in San Francisco on April 11, 2026. See you there.)

To register, click the button above, or email Chuck at WritingDayWorkshops@gmail.com and tell him you’re interested in the San Francisco event.

WHAT IS IT?

This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome.

This event is designed to squeeze as much into one day of learning as possible. You can ask any questions you like during the classes, and get your specific concerns addressed. We will have literary agents onsite to give feedback and take pitches from writers, as well. This year’s agent and editor faculty so far includes:

• literary agent Lily McMahon (Watermark Agency)
• literary agent Laurie McLean (Fuse Literary)
• literary agent Maeve MacLysaght (Aevitas Creative Management)
• literary agent Laura Mazer (Wendy Sherman Associates)
• literary agent Jen Babakhan (Books & Such)
• literary agent Jen Newens (Martin Literary Management)
• literary agent D. Patrick Miller (Linda Chester Literary)
• literary agent Andy Ross (Andy Ross Literary)
• literary agent Stefanie Molina-Santos (Looking Glass Literary)
• and possibly more to come.

By the end of the day, you will have all the tools you need to move forward on your writing journey. This independent event is organized by coordinator Chuck Sambuchino of Writing Day Workshops. 

To register, click the button above, or email Chuck at WritingDayWorkshops@gmail.com and tell him you’re interested in the San Francisco event.

EVENT LOCATION & DETAILS:

9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, April 11, 2026 — at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport, 1333 Bayshore Highway, Burlingame, CA 94010.

 

(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 WWSF is an in-person event happening in San Francisco on April 11, 2026. See you there.)

THIS YEAR’S SESSIONS & WORKSHOPS (APRIL 11, 2026):

What you see below is a quick layout of the day’s events. The topics below are mostly set, but subject to change. You can see a more detailed layout of the day’s classes on the Schedule Page here.

Please Note: There will be 2-3 classes/workshops going at all times during the day, so you will have your choice of what class you attend at any time. The final schedule of topics is subject to change, but here is the current layout:

8:30 – 9:30: Check-in and registration at the event location.

BLOCK ONE: 9:30 – 10:30

1. Mastering the Art of Dialogue. This presentation will help writers learn how to format their dialogue, how to find your characters’ voices, how to make it sound natural, and how to avoid five big mistakes that writers often make.

2. How to Get a Literary Agent and Write a Query Letter. Learn the ins and outs of finding agents, contacting them, and securing representation for your work.

BLOCK TWO: 10:45 – 11:50

1. The Writer’s Journey. This class is a deep examination of the publishing process and what it’s like to make a living as a writer and find success in a multifaceted industry.

2. Writing for Young Adult and Middle Grade Audiences. In this class, you’ll learn who your audience is, hear about the “musts” of YA and MG fiction, review publication trends, and discover the pitfalls to avoid when crafting a novel for the middle grade and young adult worlds.

(What you see here is a quick layout of the day’s events. See a full layout of the day’s sessions, with detailed descriptions, on the official Schedule Page here.)

LUNCH ON YOUR OWN: 11:50 – 1:15

Lunch is on your own during these 85 minutes.

BLOCK THREE: 1:15 – 2:30

1. “Writers Got Talent”—a Page 1 Critique Fest. This is a chance to get your first page read (anonymously — no bylines given) with attending agents & editors commenting on what was liked or not liked about the submission.
   
2.  How to Sell a Nonfiction Book Proposal. This session focuses on effective strategies for writing a nonfiction book proposal on any subject.

BLOCK FOUR: 2:45 – 3:45

1. Open Agent and Editor Q&A Panel. Several attending literary agents will open themselves up to open Q&A from WWSF attendees. Bring your questions and get them answered in this popular session.

2. Time Management For Writers. This session will give you hands-on practical methods for avoiding distraction while racking up that word count. Your bag of tools will include proven tricks and techniques for starting to write and then maintaining focus on your work

(What you see here is a quick layout of the day’s events. See a full layout of the day’s sessions, with detailed descriptions, on the official Schedule Page here.)

BLOCK FIVE: 4:00 – 5:00

1. The Agent/Author Relationship. This workshop, taught by a literary agent, details the happenings from “The Call” all the way to going on submission. Understand how to be a great client, how to effectively communicate with your agent, how to know what to expect in the process, and more.

2. From A to Z: Strategies for Plotting, Pacing and Structure. This class will begin with a detailed introduction to the three-act structure that lends itself to theoretical preparation for novel-writing and outlining, and then identify different tools for plot consideration.

SESSIONS END: 5:00

At 5 p.m., the day is done. Speakers will make themselves available by the workshop’s bookstore for a short while to sign any books for attendees.

Agent & Editor Pitching: All throughout the day.

PITCH AN AGENT OR EDITOR (IN PERSON):

Lily McMahon is a literary agent with The Watermark Agency. She is passionate about nonfiction books that address big-picture questions about morality and wellbeing as well as contemporary social, political and economic issues. Lily started her career as a Publications Intern at the United Nations before spending several years at Bloomsbury Publishing as an Assistant Editor, where she commissioned new titles for the religious studies list and managed the editorial process from proposal to publication. Learn more about Lily here. 

Laurie McLean is a literary agent with Fuse Literary. Laurie specializes in representing authors of entertaining and interesting middle grade, young adult, and adult genre fiction. The genres she represents include fantasy, science fiction, mysteries, thrillers, suspense, psychological and supernatural horror, and weird Westerns. Laurie is a founding partner at Fuse Literary representing New York Times and international bestselling authors, as well as indie published authors who want to also publish traditionally, and debut authors with promise. Learn more about Laurie here.

D. Patrick Miller is a literary agent with Linda Chester Literary Agency. Seeking nonfiction, his fields of interest include spirituality, human potential, health and wellness, creativity, and the arts. Also, he is happy to use the 10-minute attendee meetings to offer publishing guidance to writers who seek information on transitioning from indie-publishing option to the mainstream route. Learn more about D. Patrick here.

Maeve MacLysaght is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Managament. She is looking for strong commercial genre concepts with beautiful prose in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and graphic novels for all age ranges. She is drawn most to stories with big, campy stakes but surprising emotional cores, lovably immoral characters, queer coded villains, and people kissing while things explode. She reads widely across genre and age range and is particularly looking for queer and POC authors taking on genre tropes in commercial fiction. Learn more about Maeve here.

Laura Mazer is a literary agent with Wendy Sherman Associates. “I’m a literary agent with a passion for stories that make life more fascinating, funny, and meaningful. I’m always eager to see adult fiction and nonfiction projects that dive into lifestyle, pop culture, health and wellness, psychology, and irresistible, ‘giftable’ concept books. I especially have a soft spot for geeky deep dives into the hidden marvels of everyday life. On the fiction side, I’m drawn to commercial and upmarket reads, with a particular affection for smart, snappy rom-coms that reflect on the real world we live in, like Curtis Sittenfeld’s Romantic Comedy.” Nonfiction: “I also adore popular history, biography, and literary celebrations, especially when they spotlight untold stories about women. Learn more about Laura here.

Jen Newens is a literary agent with Martin Literary Management. In her role as senior literary manager, Jen applies her 360-view of the publishing business to MLM, seeking out fresh, original voices and developing exciting new talent. On the children’s side, Jen is interested in picture books with sharp writing and compelling messages; middle grade & young adult stories that resonate with the challenges faced by today’s youth; and graphic novels with quirky narration and original art. In the adult nonfiction food and drink space, Jen is keen to find original takes on popular topics, books that reveal a riveting personal story, and books with a health and wellness slant. Learn more about Jen here.

Jen Babakhan is a literary agent with Books & Such Literary Management. She loves women’s fiction with strong female leads and unique hooks, including: romantic comedies, historical romance, romantic suspense, cozy mysteries, historical, and contemporary. She also seeks nonfiction with a unique point of view including: Christian living, self-help, Bible studies, devotionals, cookbooks, and gift books. Learn more about Jen here.

Andy Ross is a literary agent and founder of Andy Ross Agency. “I represent authors who write books in a wide range of subjects including: narrative non-fiction, science, journalism, history, current affairs, contemporary culture, religion, children’s books and commercial and literary fiction. I am eager to work with projects in most genres as long as the subject or its treatment is smart, original, and will appeal to a wide readership. In narrative non-fiction I look for writing with a strong voice and robust narrative arc. I like books that tell a big story about culture and society by authors with the authority to write about their subject. For literary, commercial, and children’s fiction, I have only one requirement–a simple one–that the writing reveal the terrain of that vast and unexplored country, the human heart.” Learn more about Andy here.

Stefanie Molina-Santos is a literary agent with Looking Glass Literary. Stefanie is currently seeking middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction & nonfiction, primarily by BIPOC authors. She’s open to all genres in MG and YA, but prefers gutsy contemporary and grounded fantasy, horror, and mystery with a strong sense of adventure. In adult fiction, she’s specifically seeking cozy mysteries, grounded fantasy, and romantic suspense helmed by BIPOC protagonists. In adult nonfiction, she’s hunting for cookbooks from first, second, third (& so on!) -gen immigrants finding their ways back to their roots, as well as health/fitness-centric, body-neutral cookbooks; and nonfiction that sits at the intersection of advocacy and the following: sports and exercise science, health and fitness, nutrition, medicine, and animals; though any nonfiction intersecting with advocacy is welcome in her inbox. Across the board she appreciates anticolonialism and decolonization; non-Western-centric perspectives (and folklore); and protagonists that disrupt the status quo. Learn more about Stefanie here.

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ADDED ONLINE PITCHING: To ensure that writers have a robust and diverse lineup of agents & editors to pitch, 2026 Writing Workshop of San Francisco attendees will have the ability to also pitch literary agents at a specific Writing Day Workshops *online* event that follows the 2026 WWSF on our calendar.

That event is the 2026 (Online) New England Writing Workshop, July 24-25, 2026, which will have 30-40 agents taking one-on-one Zoom virtual pitches.

This means that 2026 WWSF attendees can have access to pitching all those online New England WW agents — pitches still at $29 each — without being a formal registrant for the online July 2026 event. (That said, if you want to formally register for the July 24-25 New England Writing Workshop and have access to all classes and panels, let us know, as there is a discount for confirmed San Francisco attendees.)

If you are interested in this added pitching opportunity, the first step is to get formally registered for San Francisco. Following the conference on April 11, 2026, we will be in touch with all San Francisco attendees and ask them if they want to partake in pitching online agents at the 2026 NEWW (July 25-26). At that time, you can communicate your pitch requests and purchase meeting time.

* * * * *

        More 2026 agents to be announced as they are confirmed. You can sign up for pitches at any time, or switch pitches at any time, so long as the agent in question still has appointments open.

These one-on-one meetings are an amazing chance to pitch your book face-to-face with an agent, and get personal, individual feedback on your pitch/concept. If the agent likes your pitch, they’ll request to see part/all of your book — sending you straight past the slush pile. It also gives you an intimate chance to meet with an agent and pick their brain with any questions on your mind.

(Please note that Agent/Editor Pitching is an add-on, separate aspect of the day, for only those who sign up. Spaces are limited for these premium meetings, and pricing/detail is explained below.)

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PRICING:

$199 — EARLY BIRD base price for registration to the one-day in-person 2026 WWSF and access to all workshops, all day. As of fall 2025, registration is now OPEN.

To register, click the button above, or email Chuck at WritingDayWorkshops@gmail.com and tell him you’re interested in the San Francisco event.

Add $29 — to secure a 10-minute one-on-one meeting with any of our literary agents or editors in attendance. Use this special meeting as a chance to pitch your work and get professional feedback on your pitch. (Spaces limited.) If they wish, attendees are free to sign up for multiple 10-minute pitch sessions at $29/session — pitching multiple individuals, or securing 20 minutes to pitch one person rather than the usual 10. Here are four quick testimonials regarding writers who have signed with literary agents after pitching them at prior Writing Day Workshops events. (Our bigger, growing  list of success stories an be seen here.)

“I met Mai Nguyen at the Toronto Writing Workshop
and sold her manuscript to Simon & Schuster for six figures.”
– literary agent Carly Watters of P.S. Literary Agency

“I signed Sarah G. Pierce from the Seattle Writing Workshop,
and we recently sold her book to Orbit/Redhook.”
– literary agent Pam Gruber of Highline Literary Collective

“I met Amber Cowie at a Writing Day Workshops conference. We sold
her best-selling crime novel to Lake Union / Amazon.”
– literary agent Gordon Warnock of Fuse Literary

“I met my client, Dana Corbit Nussio, at the Michigan Writing Workshop.
Dana signed a new three-book contract with Harlequin Romantic Suspense.”
– literary agent Rachel Beck of Liza Dawson Associates

“I signed Nedda Lewers from a Writing Day Workshops event. Her debut
novel from Putnam Children’s was an Indie’s Introduce Best Book of 2024.”
– literary agent Kelly Dyksterhouse of Tobias Literary Agency

Add $69 — for an in-depth, personal critique of your one-page query letter from Chuck Sambuchino, one of the day’s instructors. (This rate is a special event value for Writing Workshop of SF attendees only.) Registrants are encouraged to take advantage of the specially-priced critique, so they can send out their query letter with confidence following the workshop. Also, if you are meeting with an agent at the event, you’re essentially speaking your query letter aloud to them. Wouldn’t it be wise to give that query letter (i.e., your pitch) one great edit before that meeting?

Add $89 — for an in-depth personal critique of the first 10 pages of your novel. Spaces with faculty for these critiques are very limited, and participating attendees will either 1) get an in-person meeting at the workshop, if the faculty member is attending the live event, or 2) get a 15-minute phone call with the faculty member, and have notes passed along via email, if the critiquer is not attending the live event. Options:

• All adult fiction genres and categories (except for sci-fi) (virtual critiques): Faculty member Tayler Hill, an author and publishing house assistant, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime before the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
• Romance, women’s fiction, domestic suspense, and young adult fiction (virtual critiques): Faculty member Swati Hegde, an author and freelance editor, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime before the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
• Memoir, as well as children’s picture books (virtual critiques): Faculty member Eve Porinchak, a published author and former agent, will get your work in advance, critique your picture book (or 10 pages if memoir), meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime around the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting. If you submit a picture book, it must be 1,000 words or fewer (can have illustrations or not).
• All types of adult fiction (except erotica); all types of young adult fiction and middle grade; Christian fiction; screenplays and TV scripts (virtual critiques): Faculty member Jaimie Engle, a screenwriter, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, talk with you virtually (Zoom/phone) for 15 minutes workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
• Science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, young adult SFF, urban fantasy (virtual critiques): Faculty member Wesley Chu, a published novelist, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime before the workshop to discuss his thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
• More critique options possibly forthcoming.

How to pay/register — Registration is now open. 

To register, click the button above. Or reach out to workshop organizer Chuck Sambuchino via email: WritingDayWorkshops@gmail.com. He will pass along registration information to you, and give instructions on how to pay by credit card, PayPal, or check. Once payment is complete, you will have a reserved seat at the event. The WWSF will send out periodic e-mail updates to all registered attendees with any & all news about the event. Because Chuck plans different workshops, make sure you note that you’re inquiring about the San Francisco workshop specifically.

REGISTRATION:

Because of limited space at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport, the workshop can only allow 220 registrants, unless spacing issues change. For this reason, we encourage you to book sooner rather than later.

(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 WWSF is an in-person event happening in San Francisco on April 11, 2026. See you there.)

Are spaces still available? Yes, we still have spaces available. We will announce RIGHT HERE, at this point on this web page, when all spaces are taken. If you do not see a note right here saying how all spaces are booked, then yes, we still have room, and you are encouraged to register.

How to Register: 

To register, click the button above. Or reach out to workshop organizer Chuck Sambuchino via email: WritingDayWorkshops@gmail.com. He will pass along registration information to you, and give instructions on how to pay by credit card, PayPal, or check. Once payment is complete, you will have a reserved seat at the event. The WWSF will send out periodic e-mail updates to all registered attendees with any & all news about the event. Because Chuck plans different workshops, make sure you note that you’re inquiring about the San Francisco workshop specifically.

Refunds: If you sign up for the event and have to cancel for any reason at any time, you will receive 50% of your total payment back [sent by check or PayPal]. The other 50% is nonrefundable and will not be returned, and helps the workshop ensure that only those truly interested in the limited spacing sign up for the event. (Please note that query editing payments and manuscript editing payments are completely non-refundable if the instructor has already edited your work.)