Business and Career Growth
Publishing and Submissions

This session takes an in-depth look at the differences between traditional and independent publishing. It explores the benefits, challenges, and creative control associated with each option to help authors choose the path that best fits their goals.

Zelly Ruskin shares her personal journey to publication and discusses the many paths authors can take to reach their audience. She explores traditional, independent, and hybrid options while offering insight into how writers can find the route that works best for them.

William William Bernhardt walks through the five essential stages of writing, completing, and publishing a book. He outlines what every manuscript needs to move from idea to finished work and distills the elements that give a story lasting power.

Ghostwriter and publishing professional Ami McConnell breaks down the full publishing journey from concept to completion. She shares practical guidance for authors and collaborators who want a clearer understanding of how books move from idea to finished work.

William Bernhardt, Neil Nyren, and Posner discuss the journey from writer to reader, including how to approach query letters, evaluate self publishing versus traditional publishing, and use modern tools and technology to bring a book to life.

A representative from Kensington Publishing Corp. explains how the publishing industry functions from the inside. This session explores how different genres are developed, marketed, and positioned in the marketplace, offering insight into how publishing decisions are made.

Clay Stafford continues his conversation with Donna Bagdasarian, Jenna Young, Kathryn Knight, MaryGlenn McCombs, and Robbie Bryan, following a book’s path from manuscript to marketplace. The discussion explores what authors need to understand about the inner workings of today’s publishing world.

Clay Stafford interviews Donna Bagdasarian, Jenna Young, Kathryn Knight, MaryGlenn McCombs, and Robbie Bryan about the full journey from manuscript to retail sales. This session offers a clear and realistic look at how the modern publishing industry operates and what writers should expect at each stage of the process.

Billie Johnson, Denise Dietz, Laurie Edwards, and Tony Burden discuss their submission criteria and share insight into what makes a strong query or manuscript. They also offer practical guidance on how to approach publishers with confidence and clarity.

Poet and professor Gary McDowell shares how writers can apply prose and literary techniques to poetry. He offers practical strategies for refining craft, strengthening submissions, and building a stronger publishing record in journals and magazines.

Dana Isaacson moderates a lively conversation with Dianne Emley, Kate Miciak, and Marty Wingate about Alibi, Random House’s digital-first mystery and thriller imprint. The panel explores how the imprint works and what its success reveals about the evolving publishing landscape.

PJ Parish talks with Chuck Sambuchino, Clay Stafford, Donna Bagdasarian, Hallie Ephron, MaryGlenn McCombs, and Robbie Bryan about what really happens behind the scenes in publishing, bookselling, reviewing, editing, theater, film, and television. Together, they offer a rare and wide-ranging look at how these creative industries actually work.

Literary agents discuss how publishing is evolving for both writers and readers. In this session, they answer common questions about what agents look for in manuscripts, how the submission process is changing, and the different publishing paths authors can consider as the industry continues to shift.

Eyre Price, Lisa Wysocky, Richard Oliver, and Sylvia Dickey Smith explore the business side of publishing and the importance of building professional relationships. They discuss how success often depends not only on writing skill but also on visibility, networking, and understanding how the industry works.

Avram Lavinsky, Henry Kaye, Paula Gail Benson, Robert Mangeot, and Warren Moore discuss the art and business of selling short fiction. They share insight into submissions, finding the right markets, and building professional relationships within the short story world.

Maggie Toussaint leads Lois Winston and Lynn Chandler Willis in a discussion of traditional and independent publishing models. They explore the benefits and challenges of each approach and offer practical guidance for authors deciding how best to reach their readers.