Events

 

Pitch Program

An annual event connecting women’s fiction writers with literary agents.

WFWA’s annual Pitch Program is a two-part opportunity designed to help you:

  • Workshop your pitch: Refine your manuscript pitch with feedback from experienced volunteers and peers in a supportive setting.
  • Submit to invited agents: Share your polished pitch in a closed WFWA Online Community event featuring literary agents actively seeking women’s fiction.
This competitive program is free to WFWA members and capped at 100 participants.

2025 Results

  • 194 requests for 65 authors over two weeks
  • 26 agents attended and 22 made requests
  • 30 requests came from a single agent

Join us next year to polish your pitch, connect with agents, and take the next step toward publication.

 

Virtual Summit

An annual multi-day online learning event for members.

Held on Zoom and within WFWA’s Online Community platform, each year the Virtual Summit brings together writers and industry professionals for a rich lineup of workshops on craft, business, marketing, and more.

Between sessions, you’ll find time to connect and recharge.

  • Morning motivation gatherings foster community and goal setting.
  • Breaks and lunch hours create an easy, flexible flow.
  • An evening wrap-up session on the final day offers space to revisit goals and reflect on takeaways.

All workshops are recorded, and attendees can watch replays for a limited time after the event. Join us for inspiration, insight, and connection—all from the comfort of home (or your favorite coffee shop corner).

 

Retreats

An annual in-person getaway for connection, learning, and focused writing time.

WFWA hosts one in-person retreat each year, rotating locations from East to West. Registration is open to both members and non-members.

Each retreat blends education and dedicated writing time, featuring:

  • Ample time to write in a calm, inspiring environment
  • Half-day speaker sessions over several days
  • Optional breakout workshops led by facilitators recruited from member attendees

Venues are chosen for their atmosphere and focus on creativity. Retreats are designed to be casual, intimate, and supportive—a space to recharge and grow alongside fellow writers.

The Fall 2025 retreat was held in Albuquerque. Join us next year to connect, recharge, and get some words down!

 

Contests

WFWA celebrates excellence in women’s fiction—published and unpublished alike.

Each year, we host two major contests recognizing outstanding storytelling and craft in women’s fiction.

STAR Award

An annual contest for published authors of women’s fiction.

The STAR Award honors excellence in published women’s fiction. Winners receive:

  • The traditional STAR Award trophy
  • Recognition by WFWA
  • A $500 prize for each category winner

Categories

  • General Category: Open to all full-length published women’s fiction books, regardless of setting, time period, or sub-genre.
  • Outstanding Debut: Open to authors whose entry is both women’s fiction and their first published work in any genre.

A novel may be entered into one category only. The contest is limited to 50 entries per category.

Important Dates

  • Entry Opens: February each year (members only for the first half of the month; non-members may enter mid-month if space allows)
  • Winners Announced: Late September

RISING STAR Award

An annual contest for unpublished, unagented writers of women’s fiction.

The RISING STAR Award offers a unique opportunity for emerging authors to receive feedback from industry professionals and be read by five final-round judges—all acquiring literary agents of women’s fiction.

This contest has no categories and is open to all unagented writers who:

  • Are writing women’s fiction
  • Have never published a book-length work of fiction (60,000 words or more)

Participation is limited to 100 entries.

Important Dates

  • Entry Opens: Mid-May each year (members only for the first half of the month; non-members may enter mid-month if space allows)
  • Winners Announced: Late September

 

Women’s Fiction Day

A summer celebration of the stories that bring us together.

Each year since 2019, on June 8, WFWA and the broader women’s fiction community come together to celebrate Women’s Fiction Day—a day for all writers of women’s fiction, members and non-members alike.

The celebration highlights the voices and stories that define our genre.

In 2025, WFWA added the Women’s Fiction Virtual Summit in late June, featuring a range of events including a free workshop on June 8 itself. In 2026, we plan to go even bigger!

Join us each June 8 as we honor the craft, community, and impact of women’s fiction.

 

Auction

An annual fall fundraiser open to the public supporting access, inclusion, and opportunity for all writers.

WFWA’s annual auction raises funds for our scholarship program, which helps members with financial need—and members who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, or as writers with disabilities—participate in WFWA events.

Proceeds fund scholarships for WFWA-sponsored conferences and retreats, expanding access to professional development and community connection within the women’s fiction writing world.

Your bids help writers show up, grow, and share their stories.


Writing doesn’t have to be solitary. Join WFWA and discover a supportive, inspiring community.

 

  All this and more for $62 a year.

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