Fall 2026: Fundamentals of Book Publicity

Building Buzz – Journey Learning Objectives:

• Understand the Impact of Social Media on Publishing: Explore how platforms like TikTok’s BookTok community influence book marketing, discovery, and bestseller trends in the modern publishing landscape.
• Analyze and Apply Publicity Strategies: Examine successful marketing campaigns and learn how publicity efforts are designed to engage audiences and promote books effectively.
• Develop Skills in Digital Marketing and Branding: Create promotional content, cultivate authentic online presence, and build practical skills in digital marketing, audience engagement, and literary publicity.
• Explore the Relationship Between Storytelling, Audience, and Platform: Investigate how trends, platform dynamics, and audience interaction shape the way stories are shared, received, and amplified in the digital age.
  
  
  Fundamentals of Book Publicity – Course Learning Objectives:
  At the end of this course, participants will have:

• Understand the fundamentals of book publicity, marketing, and author branding.
• Identify strategies for connecting books with readers.
• Explore the role of media, events, and digital platforms in book promotion.
• Develop strategies for promoting creative work authentically and effectively.

• Complete at least 2 pair sessions per month and log these in your Portal
• Attend each monthly Journey Meeting (see Engagement Dates )
• Complete all lessons and assignments in the Fundamentals of Book Publishing course (see Asynchronous Coursework )
• Create a publicity portfolio featuring a press release or pitch letter, an M&P document, and a marketing asset to showcase a cohesive promotional strategy. (see Submissions)

Mentees and mentors in this Journey are required to attend the monthly Journey Meetings listed below.

• Saturday, November 14, 2026, 2-4 pm ET
• Saturday, December 12, 2026, 2-4 pm ET
• Saturday, January 23, 2027, 2-4 pm ET

If you’re unable to attend a Journey meeting, you must notify your Staff Lead, Christine Obiamalu, in advance and attend a community event to make up for it—recommended options for this Journey include Career Chats and Community Studios. To find out more about upcoming events check girlswritenow.org/events and visit the Events Page in your Portal to register for upcoming live events.

Complete each lesson in the following course. As you progress through each lesson, make sure to press “complete” before moving on to the next.

Fundamentals of Book Publicity
This accompanying online course introduces the fundamentals of book publicity, marketing, and author branding. Through self-paced lessons, participants will explore how books reach readers, examine the role of media, events, and digital platforms in successful publicity campaigns, and develop strategies for promoting creative work with authenticity and impact.

At the end of this cycle, you’ll submit a publicity portfolio featuring a press release or pitch letter, an M&P document, and a marketing asset to showcase a cohesive promotional strategy.

Submission instructions can be found within the course.