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Now more than ever, your memoir, novel or nonfiction needs a marketing plan and an audience—even before you finish your book. The good news? With social media fragmenting, you can stop worrying about “the algorithm” and focus on reaching the readers who need (and will love!) your book. Doing activities you actually enjoy, and that feed your writing instead of sucking away your creative time.

Whether you’re traditionally publishing with a Big Five or a small press, going hybrid or completely independent, selling your book means intentionally building an audience who are eager for your work, and invested in supporting you personally. The long slow trickle of audience-building can be daunting. But by refocusing from “please buy my book…anyone?” to “let me share what I’m excited about, I know you’ll love it too!” we give ourselves the power to be experts, entertainers, empathetic friends, and guides who powerfully change the hearts and minds of our readers.

In this 90-minute live class with Allison K Williams, writers of all genres will shift their mindset from dreading sales to marketing as an extension of your mission and literary citizenship as an expression of your integrity. To building organic, personal connection with readers who love your words as much as you do, and become your partners in sharing your book with the world.

This workshop will cover:

• How marketing starts while writing the book—and can make you a better writer
• Building platform beyond social media (it doesn’t matter if you never get another like!)
• Learning from your literary role models who your audience is, and exactly what kind of marketing to do and where
• Where to focus your time—essays, articles, newsletters or something else?
• Finding and connecting with groups directly interested in reading and buying your work—and making opportunities to speak, share and write before and after you publish
• 3 ways to get the most impact for your social media time (it’s not actually about selling books!)
• The baby steps to starting a newsletter even before you’re “ready”
• The number-one way to get your book into brick-and-mortar stores and libraries—guaranteed
• How to write a press release that makes coverage in local and national media much more likely (the news is not that you wrote a book!)

Who should take this class

• Novelists and memoirists feeling lonely or overwhelmed while writing, querying, or preparing for launch
• Nonfiction writers and memoirists getting rejections for “not enough platform” or “I don’t see an audience for this book”
• Writers worried about getting sufficient marketing support from their traditional publisher, or publishing with small presses without marketing teams
• Writers planning to self-publish or publish with a hybrid press
• Creative writing students and MFA graduates from programs with strong craft workshops and no marketing education
• Everyone who can’t figure out what they’re “supposed” to be doing on social media
• Writers who don’t know where to begin their marketing, why it matters, or how the heck it’s going to fit into their time

This class isn’t suited for

• Writers secretly hoping they can be excused from all marketing activity

Note: Allison presented a version of this class in 2024. The overall point is the same—marketing is vital and can feel good—but the social media landscape has shifted dramatically, mass media reacts differently to pitches, and newsletters are more important than ever, so the nuts and bolts will reflect updated tactics and approaches for the 2026 publishing landscape.

How do I attend the live class?

This class uses Zoom webinar technology (see system requirements). You will join through your Internet-connected computer or mobile device. When you register, you will receive information via email on how to join the class. If you don’t receive it within 1 hour of registering, please contact us.

• When: Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026
• Time: 1:00–2:30 p.m. Eastern / 10:00 a.m. Pacific
• Fee: $25 through Feb. 1, 2026 / $35 if you register after Feb. 1, 2026

The webinar is broadcasted via the internet with live audio delivered through your computer or mobile device speakers. The visual presentation is displayed directly from the presenter’s computer to your computer screen. The Q&A is managed through a chat-style submission system with questions read and answered by the presenter for the entire class to hear.

Closed captions are provided during the live class. We use Zoom’s automated closed caption service, which is about 80%+ accurate. We use ElevenLabs to generate a lightly edited transcript, provided with the recording.

Refund policy

If you attend the live class and/or watch the recording, and it does not meet your expectations, contact us for a full refund, no questions asked.

All students receive the following

• Access to the live class. After roughly 75 minutes, the instructor will take questions during class using in-class chat/text. The class will end after roughly 90 minutes.
• A recording of the class—audio and video. This is especially helpful if you have a conflict with the class time or something comes up and you can’t make the session. Each registration comes with access to the archived version of the program and the materials for 30 days. You do not have to attend the live event to access the recordings.
• Presentation slides. All participants receive a copy of the slide presentation in PDF form.
• Rough transcript. We use ElevenLabs to create an automated transcript of the entire webinar, which we’ll share with you in addition to the audio and video recording.

Event Attendance & Anti-Harassment Policy

We strive to provide an environment where all present—whether attendee, presenter, or staff—can feel supported. In order to ensure a welcoming event, here is what we expect from all who participate.

• That the presenter and the presenter’s work be treated with respect by attendees and that all attendees treat each other with respect and a generosity of spirit.
• That attendees will refrain from harassment of any sort including (but not limited to) comments or questions of a racist, homophobic, sexist/sexual, or threatening nature. This includes actions that disrupt or interfere with anyone’s ability to participate. Offenders will be disconnected from the live event.