Washington Writers Conference 2026: How Agent-Pitch Sessions Work

Tentative timeline (subject to change):

March 15, 2026: Sign-up begins for Super-Early Bird agent-pitch sessions.

March 20, 2026: Sign-up begins for all other registrants’ agent-pitch sessions.

April 29, 2026: Conference registration and agent sign-ups end. The agent sign-up sheet will be closed to changes. 

Friday, May 1, 2026: Opening day of conference. Check-in will begin tentatively at 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 2, 2026: Pitch sessions run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a break for lunch. If you did not check in on Friday, please check in by 10:30 a.m. Saturday. At 11 a.m. the agent desk will open for those who wish to sign up for extra pitches.

How Pitches Work

You’re in charge of your own pitch schedule. You pick the agents who best fit your project. Each agent has preferences (fiction, nonfiction, etc.). Our agent page will be updated soon.

You can select three agent-pitch sessions. (If you register by Dec. 31st as a Super-Early Bird, you get four.)

• Each pitch session is six minutes.
• Sessions run all day Saturday, with a break for lunch. Please visit our panels and workshops in between pitches.
• Agent choice is first come, first served. The earlier you register, the more likely you are to get the agents of your choice.
• Note that the agents are subject to change, and we cannot guarantee availability. 
• We can’t guarantee agents are a perfect fit for your project — it’s up to you to do your homework, check out their bios on our site, and review their own websites and manuscript wish lists (#MSWL). We’re the matchmakers — the rest is up to you!

On conference day:

• Please double-check your agent schedule before you arrive.
• There will be a dedicated room for pitches, as well as an agent help desk.
• Please be in line a few minutes early and wait to be called for your time slot.
• Please keep your eye on the time so you don’t miss your slot — it’s easy to get caught up in the moment! If you do miss your slot, come to the agent desk. However, we can’t guarantee we can reschedule you with the same agent. 
• Agents will sit at numbered tables. We will direct you to the correct one.
• Please do not enter the pitch room unless it is your assigned time! Enter through the entrance door, not the exit.
• Our agent desk can help you with schedule changes and extra pitches. Before 11 a.m. on conference day, our priority is helping attendees who have no pitches or are dealing with an agent cancellation. Schedule changes and extra pitch scheduling begins at 11 a.m.

Please arrive and check in by 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 2nd. We release the pitch slots for no-shows at 11 a.m. If you have a special situation and are not able to arrive by 10:30 a.m. PLEASE contact us by email so we do not release your slots!

(Note: If you check in on Friday, you don’t need to check in again on Saturday.)

How to Sign Up for Agent Pitches 

Before you schedule your pitch sessions, please check out the schedule of workshops and panels, as well as the agent list (coming soon). Choose the agents and times that work for you.

If you register before December 31, 2025: We will send you an email on March 15, 2026, with a link to a SignUpGenius form. That’s where you’ll select your agents.

If you register after January 1, 2026: We will send you an email on March 20, 2026, with a link to SignUpGenius. That’s where you’ll select your agents.

If you register after March 20, 2026: You will immediately receive a confirmation email from Zeffy that includes the SignUpGenius link.

Please be on the lookout for your sign-up email (check your spam file) by the dates above. If you register but do not receive your SignUpGenius link by the dates listed, contact us ASAP at [email protected].

SignUpGenius Tips

• You do not have to create a login for SignUpGenius in order to choose agents. Just click on the link. 
• Make sure you get an email from SignUpGenius confirming your schedule.
• You can go back and change your slots at any time before April 29, 2026.

FAQs

What if I register late?

If you register late, we cannot guarantee you’ll get your first-choice agents. For that reason, we highly recommend registering early!

What if I don’t get my first choices?

Don’t despair! We open our agent desk to changes at 11 a.m. on conference day. Time slots occasionally open due to no-shows, and agents may refer you to their colleagues. There will also be plenty of networking opportunities at lunch and social times. And don’t forget our panels and speakers!

What if my agent cancels?

Life happens, and sometimes an agent needs to cancel. We will strive to inform you as soon as we know and give you time to change your selections.

We close our SignUpGenius to changes on April 29th. If an agent you selected has to cancel after that date, we’ll inform you immediately and ask you to come right away to the agent desk on conference day, May 2nd. 

If an agent has an emergency on May 2nd and cancels at the last minute, again, we’ll inform you immediately and help you adjust your pitch schedule. 

In these cases, we will do our best to help you reschedule with another agent. Some agents may offer virtual pitches if they cannot attend in person. Whatever the case, we’ll work with you to make sure you have a full pitch schedule!

Are there extra sign-up slots?

If you’d like to schedule additional pitches with agents, you can do so on conference day (May 2nd) based on availability. Extra slots are $20 each, payable at the pitch desk. Note that our first priority is to make sure all attendees can pitch to three agents (or four for Super-Early Birds) before we sell extra pitches.

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