The Writer's Survival Guide to Contracts, Legal Issues & Other Business Basics

August 6

If you've spent most of your writing life focused on the craft and left the business stuff for later, you're not alone. Most writers do. The problem is that "later" has a way of becoming "never," and in the meantime, contracts get signed without being read, money gets left on the table, and avoidable mistakes accumulate.

This live webinar offers essential, often-skipped knowledge: contract language that you’ll see over and over again, common legal issues writers face, and business and tax considerations.

Write Articles & Essays to Boost Your Platform for Novels & Nonfiction

August 13

Essays and articles can extend your larger projects, helping you explore the ideas, themes, and experiences that shape your writing. But how do you turn your ideas into articles and essays that appeal to readers and editors? How do you use shorter nonfiction to support your book projects?

In this dynamic live webinar, Polly Campbell shares practical, step-by-step strategies you can use right away to generate ideas, shape strong essays and articles, and place your work in front of readers and editors—building a platform that supports both fiction and nonfiction.

Humor Writing Virtual Conference

August 15

Writer’s Digest University is pleased to present a one-of-a-kind online event for science fiction writers! On August 15, 2026, our WDU Humor Writing Virtual Conference will provide expert insights from best-selling humor authors. Spend Saturday learning techniques for honing your craft from four published humor authors.

Experience the education, camaraderie, and opportunities provided by a live writing conference without ever having to leave your home!

Building New Worlds: Improving Your Fantasy Craft

August 6 - September 17

Writing a fantasy novel is about making a world of magic and fictitious lands feel real, while at the same time adhering to the often rigid standards of publication. Feeling overwhelmed? Curious to know more? Eager to learn? Then this course is for you. Let’s make your world a reality.

Query Materials Overhaul

August 6 - September 10

In this five-week lively, jam-packed interactive series of Zoom calls, Talcott Notch literary agent Amy Collins will work with your existing pitches and proposals and help you rework your materials to increase your chances that next year will garner you more page requests than last year.

Writing the Series Bible: Developing Your TV Series

August 6 - September 3

A strong series bible is a crucial sales tool for your series. This course will help you get your TV series ready for an executive by developing your series premise, honing your pilot, and writing your series bible.