• Journey
  • The Career Journey: Inside Book Publishing (Fall 2026)

Fall 2026

The Career Journey: Inside Book Publishing

This Journey is for mentors curious about breaking into publishing, mentors already working in the industry who want to pass on what they know, and mentees serious about building a career in books. Together you’ll map the roles across publishing houses and literary agencies and get into the nuts and bolts of what each one actually does. By the end, those of you looking to turn a love of books into a livelihood will have the tools to approach internship and job applications with confidence—while the seasoned pros among you recharge, widen your networks, and grow as leaders, all in service of the generation coming up behind you.

Ready to Apply?

Learn more below or get started now. If you do not already have a Girls Write Now Portal account, you will be asked to create one in order to apply.

Apply Now

Ready to Apply?

Learn more below or get started now. If you do not already have a Girls Write Now Portal account, you will be asked to create one in order to apply.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and each of our Journeys can accommodate a limited number of mentees and mentors. Apply early to secure your spot in the Journey of your choice!

Apply Now
  • JOURNEY REQUIREMENTS
  • Cycle(s) 1 Cycle (3 months, Nov 1 – Jan 31)
  • Time Commitment a minimum of 4 hours per month
  • Journey Meetings Attend all Journey Meetings (see dates below).
  • Mentoring Have at least 2 Pair Sessions per month
  • Journey Project Create a career-ready publishing portfolio featuring a reader’s report, a case study analyzing the success of a breakout book, and a tailored résumé and cover letter.

The Career Journey: Inside Book Publishing Community Experiences

Mentees and mentors must attend one Journey Live Meeting each month. 

Fall Cycle Journey Meetings:

  • Monday, November 2, 2026 | 7:00–9:00 PM ET
  • Monday, December 7, 2026 | 7:00–9:00 PM ET
  • Monday, January 11, 2027 | 7:00–9:00 PM ET
Journey Circle: Community

The Career Journey: Inside Book Publishing Courses

The Career Journey: Inside Book Publishing courses will dive into various roles in publishing that bring books to life, from editorial and design to marketing, publicity, production, and more.

Writing

The Career Journey: Inside Book Publishing Mentoring

Mentors and mentees 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

Alexandra Franklin

Alexandra Franklin joined Curtis Brown, Ltd. as a literary and dramatic rights agent in 2023, and has since transitioned to agenting on the book side full-time. She began her career in publishing as an intern at Writers House in 2015 before joining the Vicky Bijur Literary Agency as an assistant, where she was promoted to associate literary agent in 2019. Alexandra serves on the communications and conference planning committees of the Association of American Literary Agents and was elected to the board of AALA for the 2026-2028 term.

Visit Profile

Alyssa Eisner Henkin

Alyssa Eisner Henkin began her publishing career in editorial at Simon & Schuster in 1999, mentored by the wisest of colleagues and steeped in the craft of shaping stories. Seven years later, drawn to the creative freedom and author advocacy of literary agenting, she made the leap.

At Trident Media Group, Alyssa rose to EVP, brokering hundreds of deals across books, film, and musical theater. In 2021, she founded Birch Path Literary (a nod to Anne of Green Gables), where she represents acclaimed and bestselling creators including Julie Berry, Ruth Behar, Lisa Greenwald, R.J. Palacio, and Bobbie Pyron, as well as many emerging voices.

Visit Profile

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.

The Career Journey: Inside Book Publishing is a Journey in the Publish 360 Adventure.

See All Adventures

Explore All Journeys

Explore All Journeys

Everything Is a Story: Nonfiction that Reads like Fiction (Fall 2026)

In this Journey, mentees and mentors will explore the ways in which creative storytelling techniques can be applied to nonfiction writing of all kinds, from memoir and personal essay to op-ed and how-to articles. We will dive into what makes a story—from structural archetypes to writing that flows—and learn how to harness the power of story to make nonfiction compelling and transformative.

Wild Ideas: Nature, Science & Creativity (Fall 2026)

Created in honor of Helen Ghiradella, the biologist who uncovered the hidden architecture of butterfly wings, this Journey invites you, mentor and mentee, to explore the natural world through the complementary lenses of scientific inquiry and creative expression. Through close observation, research, and reflection, you'll investigate the forms, patterns, and processes found in nature, then build an original project—writing, visual art, media, performance, music, or a form of your own choosing—that celebrates where these disciplines meet. Along the way, you'll sharpen your powers of observation, stretch your interdisciplinary thinking, and develop the ability to translate scientific understanding into meaningful art.

Civil Discourse: Connection & Persuasion (Fall 2026)

In this Journey, you—mentor and mentee—will build essential skills in public speaking, argumentation, and critical thinking. Through hands-on activities and lively discussion, you'll learn to craft persuasive speeches, construct well-reasoned arguments, and present your ideas with confidence. You'll explore what makes communication land, sharpen your thinking under pressure, and practice responding to perspectives unlike your own in a structured setting. By the end, you'll be able to make your case clearly, engage in dialogue that goes somewhere, and carry these skills into academic, professional, and civic life.

Civil Discourse Connection & Persuasion; two girls speaking with a mic

Dark Tales: A Horror Book Club (Fall 2026)

Step into the shadows of horror and discover what makes a story truly unsettling. Across three monthly book club meetings, you—mentor and mentee—will dig into close readings and lively discussion of selected works, examining how authors build suspense, conjure atmosphere, evoke fear, and use the genre to probe deeper social, psychological, and cultural questions. Together you'll unpack narrative technique, character development, and the many shapes the genre can take. By summer's end, you'll have a richer appreciation for horror, sharper critical instincts as readers, and a store of inspiration and craft to carry into your own writing. Required books this cycle: Dark Is When the Devil Comes by Daisy Pearce, The Body by Bethany C. Morrow, and I'll Watch Your Baby by Neena Viel.

1 2 3 9