After previous events in Phoenix as well as many around the country, Writing Day Workshops is excited to announce The 2026 Arizona Writing Workshop — a full-day “How to Get Published” writing event in Phoenix, AZ on Friday, May 1, 2026.

This 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 (150 total). All questions about the event regarding schedule, details and registration are answered below. Thank you for your interest in the 2026 Arizona Writing Workshop! 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 AWW is an in-person event happening in Phoenix on Friday, May 1, 2026. We hope to set a date soon and update this website. See you there.)

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

WHAT IS IT?

This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop on Friday, May 1, 2026, at the Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Airport North. 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 Trinica Sampson-Vera (New Leaf Literary & Media)
• literary agent Haley Warrington (Booker Albert Literary)
• literary agent Arizona Bell (Rosecliff Literary)
• editor Rachel Gilmer (Sourcebooks)
• and 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 Arizona event.

EVENT LOCATION & DETAILS:

9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday, May 1, 2026: Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Airport North, 3838 E Van Buren St, Phoenix, AZ 85008.

(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 AWW is an in-person event happening in Phoenix on Friday, May 1, 2026. We hope to set a date soon and update this website. See you there.)

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE & INSTRUCTORS (MAY 1, 2026)

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

9:30 – 10:30: Tackling the Dreaded Query Letter. This will discuss the dreaded query letter, and how to write one that will get the attention of an agent or editor.

10:45 – 11:50: The Perfect Plot. In this workshop, writers will understand essential plot beats and expectations that you will need to map out a cohesive and captivating story.

11:50 – 1:15: Lunch is on your own during these 85 minutes.

1:15 – 2:30: “Writers Got Talent”—a Page 1 Critique Fest, with participating literary agents and editors. In the vein of “American Idol” or “America’s Got Talent,” this is a chance to get your first page read (anonymously — no bylines given) with attending agents commenting on what was liked or not liked about the submission. Get expert feedback on your incredibly important first page, and know if your writing has what it needs to keep readers’ attention. All attendees are welcome to bring pages to the event for this session, and we will choose pages at random for the workshop for as long as time lasts. All submissions should be fiction or memoir—no prescriptive nonfiction or picture books, please. Do not send your pages in advance. You will bring printed copies with you, and instructions will be sent out approximately one week before the event.

2:45 – 3:45: Self-Editing for Fiction Writers. This workshop will cover more than 50 points for consideration before submitting to an agent, editor, or indie publisher, such as how to sharpen dialogue and prose, improving characterization, complicating plot, and much more.

4:00 – 5:00: What Happens After an Agent Offers Representation? Getting an agent is an incredible feat, but this is only the beginning. There are so many things that happen after you receive an offer of representation.

All throughout the day: Agent & Editor Pitching.

PITCH AN AGENT OR EDITOR!

Rachel Gilmer is an editor for Sourcebooks Casablanca & Poisoned Pen Press. For Poisoned Pen Press, she’s particularly looking for soft-boiled and/or uplit Mystery, all subgenres of Thriller (including psychological, supernatural, domestic suspense, crime, etc.), all subgenres of Horror (including gothic, body horror, psychological, folk, dark fantasy, supernatural, etc.), and cozy or warm Fantasy with rich world-building and low stakes as well as Fantasy across genres (fantasy/mystery, fantasy/thriller, fantasy/horror, etc.). For Casablanca, she’s looking for all subgenres of romance with a particular focus on contemporary, spicy and/or dark romance, romantic thriller, and cozy fantasy romcom. Learn more about Rachel here.

Trinica Sampson-Vera is a literary agent with New Leaf Literary & Media. Trinica is accepting children’s and adult fiction and nonfiction. Across age groups, she loves adventurous, character-driven stories with largely emotional stakes. Trinica is passionate about championing diverse and marginalized voices. Some of the things she is specifically seeking include: speculative fiction (especially horror, cozy-to-high fantasy, hopepunk, and near future science fiction); romance and romcoms (especially featuring sapphic/queer relationships); Caribbean (especially Trinidad & Tobago) characters/settings; reality TV premises; and retellings. Learn more about Trinica here.

Arizona Bell is a literary agent with Rosecliff Literary. She’s seeking daring nonfiction that pushes boundaries and changes conversations. Arizona’s list centers on voice-driven narrative and creative nonfiction, big-idea books, high-stakes journalism with receipts, fresh slants on culture and creativity, and meaningful explorations of spirituality, religion, or philosophy. And yes—she’s also a sucker for anything astrology! At the core, she’s hunting for writing that tackles resilience, belief, and the human spirit under pressure, and does so with literary pizazz. Whether it’s a survival memoir that doubles as cultural critique, a narrative that blows open an underground world hiding in plain sight, or a political exposé that keeps you turning pages like a thriller—she wants true stories that refuse to look away. Learn more about Arizona here.

Haley Warrington is a literary agent with The Booker Albert Literary Agency. She’s interested in adult and new adult fiction. Some of her favorite novels include The Match by Sarah Adams, Wildfire by Hannah Grace, and anything Emily Henry. She would love a story that could comp shows like Gossip Girl, Reign, or You. She is a fan of all things romance—bring the heat or leave it at the door. Across the genres Haley would like to represent, she is overall looking for great storytelling. Any piece that brings emotion to the front and center and evokes reactions. Make her laugh, make her cry, make her think about it for weeks after the initial read (emphasis on the crying aspect…she likes sad stories). Things she likes: Cross-generational love stories where the protagonists meet over and over again in different time periods, always ending up together somehow; Second-chance romance; Gossip Girl-esque stories with a romance focus; think rich people problems but complicate it with a love aspect; Stories centered around grief and overcoming it; Murder mysteries in the vein of Knives Out; Stories across genres with a heavy emphasis on found family; and Romance novels with a fantasy element (no high fantasy). Learn more about Haley here.

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

That event is the 2026 (Online) Chesapeake Writing Workshop, August 14-15, 2026, which will have 30-40 agents taking one-on-one Zoom virtual pitches.

This means that 2026 AWW attendees can have access to pitching all those online Chesapeake WW agents — pitches still at $29 each — without being a formal registrant for the online August 14-15 2026 event. (That said, if you want to formally register for the August online Chesapeake Writing Workshop and have access to all classes and panels, let us know, as there is a discount for confirmed Arizona attendees.)

If you are interested in this added pitching opportunity, the first step is to get formally registered for Arizona. Following the conference on May 1, 2026, we will be in touch with all Arizona attendees and ask them if they want to partake in pitching online agents at the 2026 online CWW (August 14-15, 2026). At that time, you can communicate your pitch requests and purchase meeting time.

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         More agents may be added at any time.

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.)

PRICING

$169 — EARLY BIRD base registration pricing for 2026.

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

Add $29 — to secure a 10-minute one-on-one meeting with any of our literary agents 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 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 can 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 instructor Chuck Sambuchino, who previously taught at this Arizona workshop. (This rate is a special event value for Arizona Writing Workshop 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.

REGISTRATION

Because of limited space at the venue, the workshop can only allow 150 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 AWW is an in-person event happening in Phoenix on Friday, May 1, 2026. We hope to set a date soon and update this website. 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 AWW 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 Arizona workshop specifically.

Refunds: If you sign up for the event and have to cancel for any reason, 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 are completely non-refundable if the instructor has already edited your letter.)

Thank you for your interest in the 2026 Arizona Writing Workshop.