Fall 2026
Building Buzz Journey:
Publicity in the Publishing Industry
This Journey explores how books are marketed, discovered, and reach bestseller lists in the digital age. Together you’ll examine how publicity campaigns are built—how publicists secure media coverage, interviews, reviews, and events to build visibility; how authors cultivate an authentic presence; and how trends shape reader engagement. As a mentee, you’ll build skills in publicity, marketing, and branding for today’s media landscape. As a mentor, you’ll deepen your understanding of what young, diverse audiences are looking for, and strengthen your ability to guide emerging creators. Both of you come away with a clearer sense of how stories reach and engage readers today.
Pre-Enroll in a Spring 2027 Journey Now!
Though enrollment is not currently open, you may express your interest for another Journey by filling out the form below.
You may also sign up for Mentorship on Demand and/or membership at any time.
Learning Objectives
Building Buzz: Publicity in the Publishing Industry Community Experiences
Mentees and mentors in the Building Buzz Journey are required to attend monthly meetings, held on Saturdays from 2-4 PM ET.
Live virtual meeting dates:
- Nov 14, 2 pm ET
- Dec 12, 2 pm ET
- Jan 23, 2 pm ET
If you’re unable to attend a Journey meeting, you must notify your Staff Lead in advance and attend a community event to make up for it—recommended options for this journey include Career Chats and Community Studios.
Building Buzz: Publicity in the Publishing Industry Courses
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.
Building Buzz: Publicity in the Publishing Industry Mentoring
Mentees and mentors in this Journey will be matched for one cycle. Pairs will meet for at least two hour-long sessions each month. This journey is open to both mentor/mentee pairs and peer-to-peer pairs.
Journey Teaching Artist
Publish 360
All Journeys within this Adventure focus on the process of producing and publishing creative work. Learn more about the other Adventures offered at Girls Write Now below.
Publishing & Publicity: TikTok, BookTok, and the Power of Social Media is a Journey in the Publish 360 Adventure.
Explore All Journeys
Explore All Journeys
Zine Makers: Crafting A Peer Poetry Zine (Summer 2026)
This Journey invites you to step into the role of editor and designer to transform poetry from the spring Poetry Rising Journey into a compelling, collaborative zine. You will move through the specialized stages of the publishing world, beginning with a deep editorial dive to refine existing verses inspired by heritage and created by your peers. As you master visual composition and multimedia design, you will learn to pair these powerful voices with a cohesive aesthetic, ultimately gaining the technical skills and creative vision needed to produce and share a high-impact, independent publication.
Book Club: Fantasy (Summer 2026)
This Journey offers an immersive dive into contemporary literature, shifting from passive reading to a strategic analysis of a writer’s craft.
Explore Tour (Spring 2026)
Explore all of the creative and storytelling pathways Girls Write Now has to offer through a multimedia, multi-genre experience that includes mini courses, exploratory studios, and one-to-one pair sessions. Discover new skills and build on existing ones with offerings that range from fiction to journalism to publishing, and dive into formats like video, podcasting, visual storytelling, and more.
Independent Study (Spring 2026)
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Journalism: The Art of Profiles (Spring 2026)
Every person has a story to tell, and profile writing is an invitation to share those stories with the world. In this journey, mentors and mentees explore how to establish trust and rapport with their subjects, conduct interviews with mutual respect, and present a friendly, welcoming demeanor while maintaining the role as the writer—not a friend or confidante. Unlike traditional approaches that focus solely on extracting details for the reader, this course emphasizes a holistic perspective that honors the reader, the writer, and the subject. Participants will practice structuring interviews, managing the flow of conversation, knowing when to push back against the profile subject, and using their own experiences as a guide to create compelling, thoughtful profiles.
Poetry Rising: Voices from Latin America (Spring 2026)
Explore the voices representing Latin America in their poetry! Mentors and mentees will read poems that reflect on love, identity, and social change. Alongside reading, mentees will write their own poems inspired by these works, experimenting with rhythm, imagery, and voice. Through discussion and creative practice, you’ll discover how poetry can express both personal and collective experience!
Writing Our Way to Wellness: Podcast Production (Spring 2026)
This Journey invites mentors and mentees to explore the intersection of storytelling and wellness through the art of podcasting. Participants will engage in intergenerational, holistic conversations that honor both the craft of writing and the power of human connection. They will explore what wellness means to them personally and as a practice, and learn to structure episodes that educate, inspire, and resonate. Mentors and mentees will also build practical skills in shaping and producing a polished podcast episode. By the end of this two-cycle journey, each participant will have a published episode on the Writing Our Way to Wellness podcast streaming on all platforms!
Perspectives on Editorial (Spring 2026)
Embrace editing as an essential aspect of writing in this journey that leads you through lessons and experiences that explore everything from line edits and grammar to the psychology of revision. Great for individuals who are interested in honing their skills for editing their own creative work (and the work of others!)
The Power of Punchlines: Stand-Up Comedy for Change (Spring 2026)
In this Journey, mentors and mentees will explore the power of comedy as a tool for social change, with a special focus on stand-up comedy. From climate change and economic inequality to LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, and mental health, participants learn how to write and perform material that blends humor with meaningful social critique. Through workshops and performance coaching, mentors and mentees will develop their own comedic voice. Discover how satire and personal storytelling can raise awareness, inspire dialogue, and challenge the status quo— all while keeping your audience laughing. By the end of the journey, you’ll have developed a 5 -10-minute stand-up routine that not only entertains but sparks meaningful conversations about the world around us. Comedy is a form of intelligence, whether you’re new to comedy or a seasoned performer, this journey will help you use humor as a force for social impact.
Teach GWN (Spring 2026)
In this Journey, members of the GWN community will develop curriculum and facilitate a community studio for one or more cycles within GWN’s Collaboratory structure. Each Cycle involves facilitating three community studios, one per month. Participants will gain valuable skills in leadership, teaching, and community building. Mentors and mentees can facilitate a community studio either solo (if they are 18 or older) or together as a pair.
