2026 ASJA Conference Schedule

(Schedule is subject to change at any time)

Day 1  Day 2  Day 3  Day 4 & 5 (Client Connections)

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DAY ONE — Monday, April 20

11:00-11:15 a.m. – Welcome and Recognitions

11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Opening Keynote with Jayde Powell

12:15-12:30 p.m. – Break

12:30-1:20 p.m. – Concurrent Sessions

Books

Honing the Perfect Nonfiction Pitch – In Three Sentences

Speaker: Robin Colucci

Even if you don’t plan on meeting editors and agents in elevators, it’s still a great idea to distill your book pitch into three sentences. This is an especially helpful exercise if you’re looking to take part in the ASJA Book Pitch Slam, which limits pitches to one minute. Publishing strategist and ASJA board member Robin Colucci, who’s helped authors land deals with Top 5 publishers, will give you the guidance you need to make your pitch sparkle.

Content Marketing Writing

Subcontracting: Getting & Giving Help As Needed

Speakers: Alexandra Frost, Christina Hernandez Sherwood and Rachel C. Murphy

Subcontracting can benefit writers at any career stage. For established freelancers, it’s a great way to scale slowly beyond solo capacity. For emerging writers or those who need more consistent work, subcontracting offers experience and income. This session will cover subcontracting from both perspectives: subcontracting your work out to other writers and being a stellar subcontractor for other writers.

Journalism

Build Your Career Without Social Media

Speakers: Jane Friedman, Darien Gee, Rebecca Morrison, Tonya Todd and Allison K. Williams (moderator)

We’re getting a little rebellious with Build Your Career Without Social Media. Is it possible? Absolutely — and our countercultural pros like journalist/author Rebecca Morrison, writer Darien Gee, literary advocate Tonya Todd and publishing insider Jane Friedman will walk you through how they’re doing it.

1:20-1:45 p.m. – Break

1:45-2:35 p.m. – Concurrent Sessions

Books

The Other Side of the Bookshelf: How Do Physical Bookstores and Libraries Decide What to Stock?

Speakers: Stephanie Anderson, Shannon DeVito and KJ Bannan (moderator)

Join a panel of experts for a revealing look at how booksellers and librarians choose which books to put on their shelves. Learn what you need to know to make sure your work gets the spotlight it deserves.

Content Marketing Writing

Finding Clients: Lead Generation That Gets Results

Speakers: Liam Carnahan and Julie Sturgeon

There are a lot of content marketing writers saying LOIs no longer work, so what are the best strategies for marketers to find work? This session shares the best strategies for finding new clients.

Journalism

The Journalist’s Toolkit

Speakers: Tami Abdollah, Jennifer Chowdhury, Peter Shankman, and Ryan Fonseca (moderator)

Level up your reporting know-how with The Journalist’s Toolkit. Whether you’ve been doing this work for 30 years or three months, everyone needs updated insights on building editor relationships, ethical use of AI, sourcing strategies, and the best new tools for recording, transcribing, and more

2:35-3:00 p.m. – Break/New Member Welcome

New ASJA members (who joined in the last two years) are encouraged to meet each other, and members of the Membership Engagement committee, at our New Member Welcome. Bring your questions about ASJA!

3:00-3:50 p.m. – Concurrent Sessions

Books

A Researcher’s Best Friend: How to Make AI Work for You

Speakers: Randy Dotinga and Linda Marsa

Two veteran journalists who’ve managed to harness the power of AI in journalism research will share advice about utilizing the technology to make your work life more efficient and pleasurable.

Content Marketing Writing

Breaking In: Trade and Association Magazines

Speaker: Chris Durso, Preeti Vasishtha, and Melanie Padgett Powers (moderator)

Trade & association magazines often feature articles similar to what you may have written for lifestyle and business publications: profiles, trend stories, tech updates and so forth. But some often pay more than their consumer-facing counterparts. Learn how to break into these markets.

Journalism

Writing About Menopause

Speakers: Stacey Colino, Meryl Davids Landau and Dr. Lauren Streicher

Moderator: Beth Howard

Have you noticed menopause is everywhere lately? Or does it feel like yesterday’s headline? Either way, award-winner health journalist/editor Beth Howard will moderate a Writing About Menopause panel, which will unpack the latest science, the timeliness of the topic (or not), the health-equity dimension, and how to approach this coverage with nuance.

3:50-4:15 p.m. – Break

4:15-5:05 p.m. – Concurrent Sessions

Books

How to Be an Untamed Writer So You Can Start (And Finally Finish!) Your Book

Speaker: Carolyn Dawn Flynn

It’s time to write that nonfiction book. The first step? Be untamed!

In this workshop, book coach Carolyn Dawn Flynn will lead you through the methods of the feral writer, then show you how you can make outlining work for you so you don’t get lost in the messy middle. She’ll guide you through practical tools to help you create your hook, craft your outline, and prepare your book proposal pitch.

This talk is for journalists who finally want to start that narrative nonfiction book—or memoir or fiction. It’s for authors who want to get that first breakout book out there or want to improve their process so it’s easy, not a long haul.

Content Marketing Writing

Performing for the Camera: Providing Video Content for Your Clients

Speaker: Amy Ragland

Most clients are looking for content marketing writers who can write video scripts, on-screen copy and even brainstorming topics for videos. Do you have what it takes to help your clients perform well on camera? This panel will examine what skills you need to move into video work and how to develop and hone those skills.

Journalism

Launch & Grow A Local News Organization

Speakers: Rob Golub, Irene Romulo and Bridget Thoreson

Moderator: Sofia Rubinson

With Launch & Grow a Local News Operation, news innovators like Rob Golub, editor and founder, SuccessfulJournalism.com, will share how they built thriving community outlets — and just might have you walking away inspired to start your own.

5:05-5:15 p.m. – Break

5:15-6:00 p.m. – ASJA Year in Review

Speaker: Darcy Lewis

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DAY TWO — Tuesday, April 21

11:00-12:00 p.m. – Morning Keynote with Ilyse Glink

12:00-12:15 p.m. – Announcements

12:30-1:20 p.m. – Concurrent Sessions

Books

How ASJA Book Award Winners Create Masterpieces

Speakers: Stephanie Gorton, Wendy Lyons Sunshine, Michele Weldon, and Richard Eisenberg (moderator)

ASJA 2025 Book Award winners will share the origin stories of their award-winning projects and provide advice to attendees who hope to follow in their footsteps.

Content Marketing Writing

Breaking In: Ghostwriting articles & thought leadership pieces

Speakers: Ashley Cisneros Mejia and Gwen Moran

Ghostwriters aren’t just for books! Your interview skills and ability to capture authentic voices make you well-suited for ghostwriting articles, LinkedIn posts, speeches and other content for executives and thought leaders.

Journalism

Craft Talk: Finding Your Story’s Structure & the Braided Essay

Speakers: Erika Hayasaki, Mike Sowden and Pamela Weintraub

Moderator: Kate Cray

Craft Talk: Finding Your Story’s Structure & The Braided Essay, an ASJA member–requested session featuring the amazing Erika Hayasaki (who writes on Substack at The Reported Essay), UK journo Mike Sowden (creator of the 30k+ subscriber Everything Is Amazing on Substack) and veteran editor/award-winning writer Pamela Weintraub. If you love narrative or want to expand your repertoire, don’t miss it.

1:45-2:35 p.m. – Concurrent Sessions

Books

Devout Deadlines: How to Write and Sell Religious/Spiritual Books

Speakers: Katara Patton, Patricia Raybon, and Lisa A. Crayton (moderator)

In 2024, religious books sales reached $909 million—an 18 percent increase from the year before while all book sales increased by only single digits. Writing books for religious markets lets authors openly share their faith with readers hungry for spiritual content. In this session, experienced faith-based panelists will provide tips on how to write into belief and break into this growing market.

Content Marketing Writing

Revamp Your Freelance Website: Stand Out as a Human Writer in the Age of AI

Speakers: Megy Karydes, Joe Lazer, and Deborah Lynn Blumberg (moderator)

In a world of AI-generated content, clients still need the insight, nuance, and creativity only human writers can provide. Your freelance website should not only showcase your portfolio—it has to highlight your human voice, expertise, and engage visitors in a way AI can’t replicate. With live examples, actionable takeaways, and Q&A, this session will guide freelance writers in freshening up and streamlining their websites to make them more engaging, efficient, and persuasive, while clearly communicating what sets human writers apart.

Journalism

Home, Garden, Food and Travel Writing

Speakers: Paul Brady, Olivia Lidbury, Mary-Kate Mackey, Victoria Spencer, and Mary-Kate Mackey (moderator)

Home, Garden, Food and Travel Writing. Yes, you can still get paid to write about these delightfully fun topics. Our panel of successful freelancers and editors will break down what’s selling, how to pitch effectively, and how to distinguish your voice in these evergreen niches.

2:35-3:00 p.m. – Break

3:00-3:50 p.m. – Concurrent Sessions

Books

ASJA Books Pitch Slam

Speakers: Georgia Bodnar, Isabelle Bleecker, Marisa A. Corvisiero, Katharine Sands and Randy Dotinga (moderator)

The annual ASJA Book Pitch Slam is back, offering aspiring authors another opportunity to get insight about their ideas from a panel of top literary agents. As always, there’s one rule: You get 60 seconds to pitch your book. Then the agents will then discuss its prospects, giving you expert perspective that you won’t get anywhere else. Randy Dotinga, a former ASJA president and veteran moderator of ASJA Pitch Slams, will keep things lively.

Content Marketing Writing

SERP, SEO, GEO, AEO: Positioning your writing for search

AI and Google have changed how content marketers reach their audiences. Find out what you need to know to stay ahead of the curve.

Journalism

Global Voices, Local Stories

Speakers: Andrea Esther Ramirez Gassier, Emine Yilmaz Bütün, Jing Zhao Cesarone, Anjim Malik, Wale Idris, and Beatrice De Salles (moderator)

International journalist and global affairs specialist Beatrice De Salles and crew will discuss how to tell globally resonant stories that honor the communities at the heart of them — because ASJA may be “American” by name, but our work knows no borders.

4:00-4:15 p.m. – Break

4:15-5:05 p.m. – Concurrent Sessions

Books

2026 Amazon Advantage: Optimize Your Book Page and Sell More Books

Speaker: Penny C. Sansevieri

Join book marketing maven Penny Sansevieri for a tactical deep dive into using relevancy, keywords, and ads to transform your Amazon page into a sales powerhouse.

Content Marketing Writing

Ways to diversify in the age of AI

Speaker: Dawn Allcot

AI is affecting the work of freelancers across various niches. Learn some ways to expand your client network to bring in new work.

Journalism

It’s Not Just Child’s Play – Writing for Children’s Publications

Speakers: Allison Singer, Time for Kids; and Sarah Zielinski, Science News Explores

Moderator: Sylvia Whitman

Articles written for children’s magazines may use simpler language and break things down into simpler terms, but that doesn’t mean writers can turn in an abbreviated version of an article for adults, or even that it’s easy. This session will explore the differences between writing for adults and children (like channeling your inner child when coming up with story ideas) and what things writers should consider when approaching editors of children’s publications.

5:05-5:15 p.m. – Break

5:15-6:00 p.m. – Social Event

Freelance Bites

Speaker: Holly Leber Simmons

Food is fuel, and freelancers need fuel to keep on going, even (or especially) when we are on deadline and can’t seem to even think about what to eat, never mind prepare it. And no, the answer shouldn’t always be take-out. Join Holly Leber Simmons as she shares ideas for easy and healthy-ish foods that you can prepare and enjoy at home. Watch for more details about ingredients to have on hand as she demonstrates some of her favorites.

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DAY THREE — Wednesday, April 22

11:00-12:00 p.m. – Morning Keynote with Tina Roth Eisenberg

12:00-12:15 p.m. – Announcements

12:15-12:30 p.m. – Break

12:30-1:20 p.m. – Concurrent Sessions

Books

The Adaptation Journey from Book to Movie: Rights, Relationships, and the Road to Production

Speaker: Jack El-Hai

This session is for writers interested in developing their intellectual property (IP) for adaptation to films, TV series, documentaries, podcasts, and stage plays. We will discuss the qualities of work that attracts licensing, ways to negotiate contracts with publishers that make future IP licensing possible, working with performance-rights agents, and the process of adaptation once lightning strikes. There is luck involved, but you can take steps to make your IP more attractive to producers. The session leader, Jack El-Hai, has negotiated more than 15 licensing agreements of his works for adaptation in other media, including his book “The Nazi and the Psychiatrist,” which is the basis of the movie “Nuremberg.”

Content Marketing Writing

Breaking In: Corporate content & brand storytelling

Speaker: Beth Braverman

Alumni magazine writing is essentially profile-driven storytelling—exactly what companies want for their own content marketing. Your ability to make individuals relatable and connect personal stories to broader institutional missions translates directly the content they need for corporate blogs, customer success stories, employee spotlights and annual reports.

Journalism

Men’s Health & Lifestyle Writing

Speakers: Lanny Fuller, Kirk Miller and Magdalene Taylor

Moderator: Andy Vasoyan

Tech, travel, spirits, sex, culture and more. Get clued into which stories sell and how you can pitch men’s health and lifestyle publications.

1:20-1:45 p.m. – Break

1:45-2:35 p.m. – Concurrent Sessions

Books

Feast on This: Success with a Food Book

Speakers: Sally Ekus, Dianne Jacob, Joe Yonan, and Rebekah Denn (moderator)

What are agents and publishers looking for in our crowded world of online recipes, food influencers and AI? ASJA member Rebekah Denn, an award-winning food writer, will lead a delectable discussion about required skills, practical hurdles and how to know you’ve got a winning book proposal rather than – or on top of — a newsletter. Stay tuned for details about panelists!

Content Marketing Writing

Breaking In: Content writing for non-corporate entities

Speaker: KJ Bannan

When it comes to expanding your content marketing client list, look beyond alumni magazines, brands and corporations. Think schools and colleges, non-profits, think tanks, and other non-corporate entities.

Journalism

Hear From 2025 ASJA Article and Content Award Recipients

Speakers: Nicole Carr, Molly Petrilla, Sammy Sussman, and Richard Eisenberg (moderator)

We’ll recognize the 2025 ASJA Awards recipients for journalism and content.

2:35-3:00 p.m. – Break/Thinking About Joining ASJA?

Like what you’re hearing at the ASJA conference? Learn about the year-round benefits of ASJA at this brief info session for prospective members.

3:00-3:50 p.m. – Concurrent Sessions

Books

The Sports Book Publishing Playbook

Speakers:  Jodie Ferrari-Adler, John Rosengren, and Christopher Klein (moderator)

Are you a sports nut with a greater knack for crafting compelling narratives than turning on a high fastball or sinking a step-back jumper? Whether you’re drawn to writing about pro superstars, untold human-interest stories, or the rapidly changing worlds of college and women’s sports, this session moderated by ASJA member Christopher Klein will equip you with a game plan for getting your sports book published. You’ll have a front-row seat to learn how to generate grand-slam ideas, navigate today’s sports-book market, and master essentials such as story structure, action scenes, and interviews.

Content Marketing Writing

Add Credibility to Your Writing Using Data from Trusted Sources

Speaker: Tara Haelle

We know that data adds credibility to your content, but how do you find the statistic you need? And where do you go to find trusted sources? This panel provides some starting points to help you track down the data you need.

Journalism

Creating Entrepreneurship Systems that Work for You

Speakers: Clayton Gutzmore, Katherine Reynolds Lewis and Olga Lucia Torres

Moderator: Ann Marie Awad

Freelancing can feel tough, but it’s also a chance to build something that’s entirely your own. Journalist and Institute for Independent Journalists (IIJ) editorial director Ann Marie Awad will moderate Creating Entrepreneurship Systems That Work for You with IIJ founder Katherine Reynolds Lewis, journalist Clayton Gutzmore and Columbia University’s Olga Lucia Torres. This panel will help you think like a founder — whether your goals include new clients, new ventures, or simply a more sustainable workflow.

3:50-4:15 p.m. – Break

4:15-5:05 p.m. – Concurrent Sessions

Books

Meet the Masters: Memoirist and Radio Journalist Kat Chow

Speakers: Kat Chow and Lisa Rabasca Roepe (moderator)

Join us for an intimate, one-on-one conversation with Kat Chow, author of Seeing Ghosts: A Memoir, an exploration of her late mother’s life that Publishers Weekly called “a moving depiction of grief at its most mundane and spectacular.”

Content Marketing Writing

Building a Multimedia Content Marketing Campaign

Speaker: Sree Sreenivasan

In this fast-paced fun workshop, Sree Sreenivasan will take you through a full multimedia content marketing campaign. You’ll learn about how to suggest and include content, video and social posts, and you’ll follow the lifecycle of that type of multimedia campaign. Participants will follow along with this interactive session to create a campaign proposal for their own multimedia pitch.

Journalism

Pitch Slam: Journalism

Editors: Eline Gordts, Liz Landau, and Pamela Weintraub

Co-moderators: Katharine Gammon and Victoria Clayton

Pitch your story ideas live and get real-time editorial feedback.

5:05-5:15 p.m. – Break

5:15-6:00 p.m. – Article Awards Announcement

Speaker: Richard Eisenberg

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