Host Your Virtual Workshop or Book Talk with The New York Writing Room!
We partner with writers and creatives to offer virtual workshops Monday through Saturday. We also host virtual book launches and talks with authors nationwide. Check below to see what’s coming up next.
Upcoming Events
OCTOBER
Neurodivergent Characters: Writing with Intention and Care
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026
6 - 7:30 p.m. EST
Virtual
Does your project feature neurodivergent characters, but you’re unsure if their representation is accurate? Join New York Writing Room Coach Johanie Martinez-Cools for a virtual workshop about writing neurodivergent characters with intention and care. In the workshop, Coach Johanie will cover four lived identities: bipolar II, autism, ADHD and OCD. She will discuss their stereotypes and how to write your characters accurately and as fully realized people, rather than being defined by their neurotype. The workshop is geared toward fiction writers, but all genres are welcome. Early bird tickets are $60 until Sept. 14, 2026.
Fiction & Non-Fiction Writing Groups
For Writing Room Members Only
Monday, Oct. 26, 2026
7 - 8:30 p.m. EST
Virtual
Writing Room members are invited to participate in a monthly Writing Group. The non-fiction group is led by Detroit Writing Room Coach Laura Berman, and the fiction group is led by New York Writing Room coach Johanie Martinez Cools! Participants are allowed to share up to two pages to get constructive feedback on a written work from the coach and fellow writers. This is an opportunity for Writing Room members to connect and collaborate. Members do not have to share work to participate. Members can email hello@detroitwritingroom.com to RSVP and receive the Zoom link.
NOVEMBER
Pitch Perfect for Writers: How to Sell Your Story to National Media
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026
6 - 7:30 p.m. EST
Virtual
Are you a freelance journalist who keeps getting ghosted by editors? Or a writer intimidated by the idea of pitching big-name outlets? Or someone with a compelling story but without a roadmap for where and how to tell it? Get the nitty-gritty details from New York Writing Room coach Anna Medaris, a health and lifestyle journalist with more than 15 years of experience landing successful pitches in publications including The Washington Post, Women's Health magazine and Vox. As a former editor at outlets including U.S. News & World Report and Business Insider, Anna also knows what catches staff editors’ eyes — and the increasing insanity of their inboxes.
Join this virtual workshop to dissect Anna’s real pitches that yielded “yeses,” learn strategies for finding what editors are looking for, demystify how “full-time” freelance journalists make ends meet and get feedback on your own story ideas in real time. This workshop also includes an opportunity to have your pitch reviewed by Anna! Early bird tickets are $50 until Oct. 11.
The Shape of a Draft: The Art of Developmental Editing
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026
6 - 7 p.m. EST
Virtual
The important first step to writing is to get your thoughts on the page. But when your draft is complete, a critical eye for big-picture components is crucial in the revision process, when your story begins to take shape. In this workshop led by New York Writing Room editing coach Johanie Martinez Coolz, we'll draw on the core principles of developmental editing — genre, pacing, worldbuilding, character development and theme — to finalize the story structure of your manuscript before it goes to the line editing and copy editing phases. This workshop is for fiction writers but can also apply to creative nonfiction writers. Early bird tickets are $45 until Oct. 18.
JANUARY
Story Structure: Not Always Three Acts
Thursday, Jan. 14, 2027
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. EST
Virtual
Struggling with the three-act structure? Do your story beats just not line up with the craft advice you've been given? It's not you — it might be a structural mismatch. Join author and editor Mia Tsai for an exploration of story structures beyond three acts that may fit your work, with an emphasis on two-act works such as operas and musicals, poetry forms, and objects and concepts in real life as inspiration for story scaffolds. We'll use plot and tension graphs to reveal where the real climaxes of our stories are, then shift beats around in our outlines to better fit a new structure. Mia will use her own experimental four-act structure, the Texas Hold ’Em Structure, as an example. Come prepared with a completed work of novelette length or longer, an outline and plenty of writing utensils. Early bird tickets are $40 until Dec. 14, 2026.
Income Streams for Writers & Authors — and the Readers Who Love Them
Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2027
6 - 7:30 p.m. EST
Virtual
Writers and authors don’t have to rely on book sales alone — and readers can play a powerful role in supporting the literary ecosystem while building their own platforms. This workshop led by author Sylvia Hubbard explores practical, sustainable income streams available to both creators and the book-loving community that champions them. Participants will learn how to launch and grow a book-focused blog, from choosing a niche to crafting engaging posts that attract loyal readers. We’ll cover where and how to request free review copies (ARCs), how to build relationships with publishers and authors, and how to leverage social media to expand reach and credibility. The session also breaks down the essentials of affiliate programs, including Amazon Associates, Bookshop.org and other revenue-generating opportunities that reward your love of reading.
Whether you’re an author looking to diversify your income or a reader hoping to turn your passion into influence, this workshop offers actionable strategies, insider tips and a roadmap for transforming book enthusiasm into meaningful revenue. Early bird tickets are $40 until Dec. 27, 2026.
MARCH
Beyond the Book Launch: Helping Readers Find Your Books in the Age of AI
Wednesday, March 24, 2027
6 - 8 p.m. EST
Virtual
What if the secret to marketing your book isn't promoting it more often, but understanding what your readers are already searching for? Readers don't always begin their searches with a book title or an author's name. Often, they're looking for answers, exploring personal interests, solving problems or seeking stories that reflect their experiences. These everyday searches create valuable opportunities for authors to connect their work with the people who are most likely to appreciate it.
In this approachable, practical workshop, children's author, educator and digital marketing strategist Debbie Gonzales explores the relationship between reader search behavior and book discoverability. Drawing from her years of experience studying search patterns and evergreen content, Debbie introduces the fundamentals of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), explaining what these evolving technologies mean for authors.
Participants will learn to recognize the searchable themes within their books, identify the questions and interests that motivate readers, and consider practical ways to make their work more discoverable across today's changing digital landscape. Whether you're preparing for your first book launch or hoping to introduce new readers to your backlist, you'll leave with a fresh perspective on author visibility — and a clearer understanding of how your stories can continue finding readers for years to come. General admission is $65.