RWA's Traditional Author Weekend

New to traditional publishing or making a comeback? Traditional Author Weekend, Saturday, January 24, 2026, is your must-attend virtual event! Workshops and panel discussions will be led by acquiring agents, editors, published authors, and other professionals. 

Registration for Traditional Author Weekend is officially open, and below are the details you’ve been waiting for.

Traditional Author Weekend 2026

• Members: $89 / Non-Members: $149

Virtual Schedule

9:00 AM – 9:10 AM Welcome from RWA President

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM

• Digital Hygiene: Cybersecurity for the Rest of Us – Lisa Rabey (Librarian and Researcher)

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM

• Don’t Pay to Play: Spotting Scams Before They Cheat You – Jessica Snyder (Author Coach)
• The Reality of Agent/Author Relationships – Michelle Grajkowski (Agent)

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

• PANEL Acquiring Editors – Leticia Gomez, Christina Lopez
• What to Put—and NOT Put—in Your Query  – Lisa Green (Editor)
• Branding – Maite Dalila Rodriguez (Brand Strategist and Designer)

1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

• Before and After Marketing Tips – Online and Offline – Melanie Billings (Editor)
• To Edit or Not – Developmentally Speaking – Nicky Lovick (Agent)
• Researching Editors and Agents: Knowing what to look for before submitting – Scott Egan (Agent)

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

• PANEL – Live Action Slush — Lisa Green, Melanie Billings, Christina Lopez & Kate Richards
• How to Pitch a Novel: Finding Your Hook – Kris Bock (Author)
• Everything You Wanted to Know About Ghostwriting – Latoya Smith-Wharton (Agent)

The schedule and speakers are subject to change prior to the event. The Zoom Events platform will list the most up-to-date virtual conference schedule and speakers.

Traditional Author Weekend Recordings

• Traditional Author Weekend will be fully recorded, and all registered participants will receive lifetime access to the session recordings.