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

Fall 2026

Career Journey: Inside Book Publishing

This Journey is for mentors curious about breaking into publishing, mentors already 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. Those of you looking to turn a love of books into a livelihood will leave ready to approach internship and job applications with confidence. Those already working in the field will recharge, widen your networks, and grow as leaders—in service of the generation coming up behind you.

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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Explore All Journeys

Explore All Journeys

The Lead Incubator (Fall 2024-Spring 2025)

The Lead Incubator is a crucial extension of the Lead Community Change journey, offering mentees the space, resources, and support needed to implement their project plans and drive meaningful change in their communities. It acts as a dynamic platform where they can turn their ideas into action. Mentees participating in the Lead Incubator focus on advancing their community-based social activism projects with the support of their mentors and Girls Write Now’s resources. They will take on leadership roles, facilitate a community studio, and develop an episode of the Lead Podcast, interviewing an expert relevant to their project’s cause.

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Screenwriting (Spring 2025)

The Screenwriting Journey is an immersive program designed for aspiring screenwriters eager to master the art and craft of storytelling for the screen. Whether one dreams of writing for Hollywood blockbusters, indie films, or television series, this program provides a comprehensive exploration of the essential elements and techniques of screenwriting. By the end of the Journey, participants will have developed a solid foundation in screenwriting, equipped with the tools and knowledge to start crafting their own compelling stories for film. Whether you're new to screenwriting or looking to enhance your existing skills, join us on this creative exploration and bring their cinematic visions to life.

Poetry (Spring 2025)

Join us for an immersive journey into the art and craft of poetry through the lens of the Furious Flower Poetry Center, renowned for its dedication to celebrating African American poetic traditions. The curriculum draws inspiration from the rich legacy of African American poetry, reflecting on themes of history, identity, social justice, and personal narrative. Mentees will have the chance to interact with guest poets, participate in workshops, and collaborate on creative projects that challenge and inspire their own poetic expression.

Perspectives on Publishing & Marketing (Spring 2025)

Learn about the different ways to publish creative work and the fundamentals of marketing yourself and your creations. This Journey will take mentees and mentors through the process of publishing from beginning to end.  This is a great opportunity to learn about the publishing industry from employees who work in in the field. Perfect for mentees who would like to be published or work in publishing. With the information gained in this Journey, you will be ready to enter the publishing industry as employees and writers. You will have the knowledge you need to create change in an industry that needs your fresh perspectives.

Perspectives on Publishing

Investigative Podcasts (Fall 2024-Spring 2025)

In this journey, you’ll collaborate as a production team to produce a podcast series about the Cop City project that includes research, pitching episodes, outlining episodes, hosting the podcast, and editing. We’ll try to understand why these cop cities are popping up, why people are resisting their construction, and different ideas around what makes a community “safe.” Great for mentees who are interested in social justice, journalism, and podcasting.

Investigative Podcasts Journey
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