Special Events

Join us for at the intersection where creative passion meets profession.

Join Westport Writers’ Workshop instructors and writers for an immersive retreat at the Highlights Foundation campus, tucked away in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. This transformative experience will offer dedicated time to dive deep into your manuscript, discover new genres and strategies to establish a more regular writing routine, or simply provide the accountability and community that is missing in your regular life.

Holiday Party & Student Reading

December 11, 2025

Thursday

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm EST

We’re so excited to open our doors and welcome our community into the workshop for a festive Holiday Gathering! Join us as we celebrate a wonderful year of creativity, connection, and friendship with an evening of drinks, light bites, and a special student reading that highlights the incredible talent and heart within our community.

Westport Writers' Workshop

Hook An Agent With Your Query Letter

March 7, 2026

Saturday

10:00 am - 12:00 pm EST

In this one-session workshop, we’ll master the essentials of a great query letter—what to include, what to leave out, and how to make yours irresistible. Together, we’ll review proven examples and tackle your specific query challenges. Come with all your query-letter questions. Perfect for any writer who wants to master the art of first impression while pitching your work. Ideal for attendees of our Annual Pitch & Publish Conference!

Elise Hart Kipness

How to Prepare Your Power Pitch

March 14, 2026

Saturday

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT

Learn five "Power Pitch" frameworks + templates in this laser-targeted workshop. A Power Pitch is a specific pitch formula that allows you to communicate the value of your novel so agents perk up, pay attention, and immediately want the full, all in 1-3 short sentences! These frameworks are straightforward, swipe-and-deploy, easy to adapt to the specifics of your novel (so it still sounds uniquely and distinctly you) and take all the guesswork out of writing the perfect pitch...instead you'll have yours knocked out by the end of our time together.

Destiny Salter

Pitch & Publish 2026

March 21, 2026

Saturday

9:00 am - 5:30 pm EDT

oin Westport Writers' Workshop for a full day of dynamic talks and industry panels, the rare opportunity to pitch your book—including submitting five pages of your work to two literary agents and one-on-one pitches, a keynote address from acclaimed author Helen Simonson and other creative speakers and panelists. Connect with fellow writers, deepen your understanding of the publishing world, and end the day in celebration at our Saturday evening wrap party.

Westport Writers' Workshop