Writing Craft
Rewriting and Polishing (includes editing)

Editor Chantelle Osman breaks down the most common editing mistakes authors make and why they so often lead to rejection. This session walks writers through how to spot these issues in their own work, fix them effectively, and submit cleaner, more professional manuscripts that stand a better chance with agents and publishers.

Editing isn’t one-size-fits-all. Helen Thornton-Gussy breaks down developmental edits, line edits, copyediting, and proofreading, showing how each step strengthens a manuscript and what to expect from every stage of the process.

Learn the editing secrets every writer wishes they knew sooner. Bud Tower, Elaine Ash, Gretchen Stelter, John DeDakis, Kathryn Lasky, and Rodney Walther share strategies for revising, getting effective feedback, and turning a good draft into a professional-quality manuscript.

Avoid the most common mistakes writers make. Rae Ann Parker and Kate Hart offer practical advice on strong openings, story structure, and refining prose to create clarity, impact, and reader engagement.

Writing is a journey of persistence and craft. Cheryl Shea Harding, Christine Weaver, Ellie Andrews Pat, Jess Montgomery, and John Desjarlais share how they approach drafting, revising, and finishing a manuscript while staying disciplined and creatively energized.

Get practical guidance to take your manuscript from draft to submission-ready. This session covers querying agents, pacing, rewriting techniques, and other essentials to help your book succeed in the market.

Editing can make or break a book. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes, Lisa Wysocky, and Sam Severn share insights from both sides of the editor-writer relationship, showing how to spot mistakes, choose the right editor, and collaborate to make your book shine whether it’s traditionally or independently published.

Learn what not to do. Podcast hosts Jack Wolff and T.G. Wolff take a humorous look at the mistakes that drain tension, ruin pacing, and undercut plot twists, and show how to avoid them so your mysteries stay compelling.

Rewriting is where stories truly come alive. Barbara Christopher, David Schlosser, Kelly Nichols, and Sharon Potts share their rules and personal methods for revising, polishing, and knowing when your manuscript is ready to submit.

Good writing isn’t just inspiration—it’s craft. Phil Cioffari shows how to build tension, choose the right narrative voice, and make smart language choices. Learn how to read like a writer, catch awkward phrasing, and elevate your prose so it works as hard as your story does.

Avoid the mistakes that can sink a manuscript. John Lescroart walks through 14 common writing traps and shares practical tips to sharpen your prose, strengthen your craft, and keep readers turning the pages.

Don’t let avoidable mistakes keep your manuscript from reaching its potential. Editor and author Lisa Wysocky highlights the 21 most common pitfalls and shares expert advice to take your draft from rough to professional.

This session highlights the most common editing mistakes authors make when preparing manuscripts for publication. Led by an experienced author and editor, it offers practical guidance on how to identify and correct these issues to strengthen your writing and improve your chances of success.

Small changes can have a huge impact. Panelists show how to refine your manuscript, polish sentences, and elevate your draft so it reaches its full potential.

Carolyn Mulford, Christina Wilburn, and Jody Renner discuss the editing process as an essential part of publishing, sharing techniques for refining prose, strengthening structure, and transforming drafts into polished, professional work.