Screenwriting 101 for Novelists

October 8

Ever dreamed of seeing your idea, story, or novel on the screen? With so many platforms for screen story telling, there’s never been a better time to make the transition to screenwriting. This seminar covers screenwriting basics – structure, formatting, pitching, and selling. Taught by Hollywood-based film and TV scribe, Jennifer Dornbush, who has penned feature films, developed several television series, adapted scripts to novel (and vice versa), and created a kid’s TV show.

Self Editing: Take Your Manuscript to the Next Level

October 15

More and more in a saturated industry, standards are higher. Acquiring editors and agents are looking for novels far closer to publication-ready than ever before. In this live webinar, a long-time editor, agent, and author will use her knowledge of the industry and her experience with countless feedback from top-name acquisition houses to help you best approach a story that will elevate your place in an agent or acquiring editor’s slush pile. For those interested in self-publishing, the live webinar will give you the tips and tricks necessary to begin preparing your novel to build a lasting, wide readership.

5th Annual Horror Writing Virtual Conference

October 17

 Writer’s Digest University is pleased to present a one-of-a-kind online event for horror writers! On October 17, 2026, our annual Horror Writing Virtual Conference will provide expert insights from bestselling horror authors. Spend the day learning techniques for honing your craft, then optionally receive a personalized critique of your query letter from a participating literary agent.

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

Show Me the Stakes: Writing Conflict That Actually Hooks

October 8 - November 12

Last chance to sign up! This course will not be offered in 2027.

This course will show you how to make every page pulse with the thing that matters most: consequence. You’ll learn to pin down what’s really at risk for your characters, raise the cost of failure, and revise your scenes so readers can’t look away.

Creating the Viral Web Series

October 8 - November 5

Last chance to sign up! This course will not be offered in 2027.

By the end of the course, you’ll have your pilot in hand — and a plan for where you want to take your series in subsequent episodes. Whether you’re interested in comedy or drama, this course will give you the tools you need to get started writing and producing your very own series from the ground up.

Writing Historical Fiction

October 8 - November 5

Whether history is a backdrop to your story or the focus of the story itself, this workshop will provide you with the tools to find the facts you need, organize the data in a functional manner, and merge that data seamlessly into your novel.