Second Chances Fall 2025 – Get Your Work Out There

Welcome to the WLT Second Chances sale! From now until 11:59 PM CT December 31, 2025, all of our Fall 2025 class recordings AND our 2025 Agents Symposium recordings are available to purchase by WLT members. Become a member here. Members, log in to your account see the ticket options.

From getting up to speed on publishing today to learning about how to find success in self-publishing, finding additional opportunities and more, these recordings are meant to help you get out of your own way and to get the work done.

PLEASE NOTE: This is not a live class registration. When you register, you’ll receive access to previously recorded classes taught for a live audience. Registration includes access to any handouts, readings, and slides the instructor originally shared with students. The videos will be available for viewing immediately upon purchase, and will expire on January 31, 2026.

Descriptions for each class recording can be found below. To purchase access to the recordings, all you need to do is add your preferred tickets to your cart and check out. You’ll then receive an email containing the receipt for your purchase along with a link to the class recordings and any class materials.

To find our Building Blocks of Fiction & Nonfiction recordings, click here.

To find our Genre Deep Dives recordings, click here.

2025 Agents Symposium Bundle

The 2025 Agents Symposium is a curated year-long experience that brings writers into a virtual space to connect with and learn from ten literary agents who are at the top of their game.

The breadth of topics to be covered gives writers an inside look at publishing today, from what agents do, to what literary agents are looking for, to how they approach each project and each book deal, to how they help their clients build lasting careers, and everything in-between.

This year of virtual programming offers writers a deep dive into traditional publishing and an up close look at and access to the gatekeepers who are often essential partners on a writer’s journey. Offered here at a special bundle discount!

Presentations included: 

• “Before the Agent Search” with Abby Walters, Creative Artists Agency
• “The Ins & Outs of Approaching Agents” with Mary C. Moore, Aevitas Creative Management
• “Standing Out in the Agent Search” with James Mustelier, The Bent Agency
• “Comparison Titles” with Marin Takikawa, The Friedrich Agency
• “Between Signing & Submission: The Agent-Author Relationship” with Melissa Flashman, Janklow & Nesbit & Associates
• “The Submission Process” with Samantha Fabien, Root Literary
• “Understanding Publishing Contracts” with Jennifer Chen Tran, Glass Literary Management (Rescheduled from August 23)
• “From Acquisition to Publication” with Stephanie Delman, Trellis Literary Management
• “Publication Day and Beyond” with Tamara Kawar, DeFiore & Company
• “Building a Writing Career” with Ann Leslie Tuttle, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret

What attendees had to say:

• “The program was wide-ranging and every agent offered insights I needed and would otherwise have lacked. It was worth every moment invested and exceptionally easy to access. Low cost, convenience and high quality made it perfect for me.”
• “The whole ten months was so organized. I found the presenters to be well prepared and so generous with their time answering our questions.”
• “This program was entirely worth the time and investment… Your command and hosting of all the featured agents helped demystify the querying and agent process, but more than that, I now have a synopsis, a 1-sentence pitch, and a query letter that are all, I think, in great shape!”

“Secrets and Shortcuts for Transforming Your Self-Publishing Career”
with Cyndi Hughes

Stop spinning your wheels—learn the insider hacks that help indie authors work smarter, publish better, and build real careers.

Self-publishing can feel overwhelming—there’s so much to learn and so many decisions to make about writing, publishing, and marketing your books. But building a long-term career as an author doesn’t have to mean years of trial and error.

In this practical, hands-on workshop, you’ll discover the shortcuts, secrets, and strategies that successful indie authors use to save time, avoid costly mistakes, and grow a sustainable writing career. Whether you’re brand new to self-publishing or looking for ways to level up, you’ll walk away with actionable tools you can put to work right away.

What students had to say about the class:

• “Exactly what I needed, comprehensive details/overview of what I needed to consider for this new work.”
• “…[A]ll the information was relevant and valuable.”

“Pitch Perfect: Pitching Your Story Idea and Landing a Byline”
with Julie Poole

Pitching to online magazines and news outlets is a great way to get your name out there. In this class, you’ll learn how to pitch story ideas that editors will want to assign.

A perfect pitch answers these questions: Why is this story important? Why is it relevant now? And why are you the person to write it? Students will learn about the differences between pitching a personal essay, an op-ed, and a long-form reported feature. We will discuss how much research, data, and sourcing you should include, and what makes a story feel immediate and worthy of attention. You will also learn about different types of pitches and what editors are looking for. You will work with a template that will help you to create a pitch that is polished and ready to send out by the end of class. Whether you’re brand new at pitching or have some experience, this class will help you to grow and refine your skills.

What students had to say about the class:

• “This class made me realize that publication is more possible than I thought. She gave us methods we could immediately implement.”
• “This class gave me a pitch that I can use to sell a story.”

“Applying for Writer Resources: A Guide to Grants, Residencies, and Workshops”
with Amanda Wenger

Have you ever imagined getting a grant to support your writing time? Attending a residency that offers tranquil space to do your creative work? Receiving feedback from seasoned authors at a workshop to help you hone your craft?

In this class, we’ll walk through how to find artist resources, assess those opportunities, and apply with confidence. We’ll discuss the contents of a standard application packet—an artist bio, artist statement, work sample, project proposal, and artist CV—and how to make them stand out. We’ll also discuss what to expect from grant, residency, and workshop experiences once you’ve been accepted. Established and emerging writers will leave this class with concrete strategies for identifying resources that are right for them and crafting a competitive application.

What students had to say about the class:

• “Amanda was wonderfully thorough and I feel that any level could benefit from this talk.”
• “The class is a great way to jump start the application process.”