Call for Proposals

Do you have career-changing tips, new information about changes in the industry, or are excited about an underserved niche that you want to share with other writers? Are you interested in using your journalism skills to find experts on a new-to-you topic that you can learn about alongside other members?

The American Society of Journalists and Authors is seeking your ideas for sessions to inspire, motivate, and empower professional, independent non-fiction writers attending our 2026 virtual conferences. The conference will feature 50-minute sessions in three writing-related tracks: books, content marketing writing, and journalism.

What We Look for in a Conference Session Proposal

The 2026 virtual conference will emphasize insights from experts everywhere, interactive presentations, and making connections with editors and others who assign work to freelancers.

The conference committee will review all proposals and develop programming that meets the needs of ASJA members and other professional freelance writers. To increase the likelihood the proposal for the session you want to run is accepted, keep the following in mind when filling out the form:

• Offer real value. Whether a session covers aspects of pitching, writing, time management, running a freelance business, or timely freelance issues or trends, attendees should leave with information or ideas they can act on immediately.
• Appeal to a diverse group. Proposals should take into consideration the breadth of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEA&I) for freelance writers, the subjects they cover, sources they talk to, and teams they collaborate with. We are likewise interested in proposals for sessions with editors or others who assign freelance work; speakers who are not ASJA members, and ASJA members who haven’t presented at an ASJA conference recently.
• Be specific. Explain what a session will cover, how the material will be presented (interactive workshop, small-group discussions, etc.), and how writers would benefit. Include names of all potential presenters, including yourself, and their area of expertise.
• Make it interactive, and fun! Especially for the virtual conference, we are looking for expert-led sessions that make full use of online platforms’ interactive capabilities vs. presenting information in a standard panel format.

Note: ASJA keeps registration fees low by tightly controlling conference expenses. As a result, the organization cannot offer speakers monetary compensation at this time.

Speakers may request to appear at a specific day or time. The conference planning committee takes requests into consideration but has the final say on the event schedule.

If your session proposal is accepted, the conference planning committee will send instructions about next steps, including how to register for the conference, submit materials, and prepare for the event.

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