Member Login
Search
Message
  • You must log in first

REGISTRATION DATES: December 16, through January 15, 2025
REGISTRATION FEE: Free For WFWA Members
WORKSHOP DATES: January 17-24, 2025

Workshop Overview:
Writing your first (or next) novel often raises big questions: Is it working? Will readers connect? What if you could team up with other writers—reading their first 500 words and sharing your own—to gain real, actionable feedback?

That’s the idea behind the GRABBING THE READER WORKSHOP, a free, week-long event for members. You open yourself up to a group of 5-7 other WFWA writing peers to read your work and give you feedback while agreeing to take time to read and give them feedback. 

If you want to sell a book, you need to GRAB THE READER within the first 500 words. Agents, editors, potential interviewers, and readers (who will become reviewers) all need to want to keep reading. 

Take the time in this safe environment to workshop your beginning pages so you’ll be ready when the time comes.

 This is a FREE workshop for all WFWA Members.

 Again this year, we also offer the "Coaching Your First 500 Words Workshop" the week after Grabbing the Reader concludes. Check out that workshop HERE. 

Need a better idea of how this workshop can fit into your busy schedule?  Here is a view of how this week-long workshop will run:

  • January 15 or Sooner! - Watch your email for the "Welcome to the Grabbing the Reader Workshop". This email will give you detailed instructions on how to access the Workshop on the Programs Community Platform and upload your 500 words to your small group folder. 
  • January 17-  Grabbing the Reader officially begins. Post your first 500 words in your small group's Google Drive (private to only your group). 
  • January 21 – If you have not posted your first 500 words by noon EST on this day, you will be removed from the workshop.
  • January 24 - The last official day of the Grabbing the Reader workshop.
  • February 24 - The Grabbing the Reader workshop will be archived. Please save any comments, suggestions, etc., before 6 PM EST on this day before it is archived.

If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected]

This workshop will take place in the WFWA Online Community.