Hi Reader,

No matter how you plan to publish—indie or self-publishing, with a hybrid press, or with an agent and a corporate publishing deal—you need to know the basics of publishing, marketing, and promoting your books. So I hope you'll join my workshop tomorrow:

Write It! Share It! Publish It! Your 2026 Author Roadmap​
​Saturday, 9/20/2025 10:00 am PT/1:00 pm ET
$25 members | $40 non-members

This is a two-hour learning and brainstorming workshop hosted online by BAIPA (the Bay Area Independent Authors Association), and it's incredibly affordable at $15 for members and $40 for non-members.

But I'm not ready to publish! You might be thinking. I haven't finished writing my book yet!

Have you thought about sharing short pieces of writing in advance of your book? It's easy. It's smart. It's a way to test your ideas and attract an audience. Let's take a look at how you can publish before you publish.

Come away with a plan

In the workshop, you'll come away with a plan to map out an entire year of writing, sharing, and building toward publishing your book—while also creating an online presence that reaches readers eager to hear your voice. The approach combines storytelling, platform-building, and publishing in a manageable, motivating way.

All publishing is self-publishing

Many very successful authors and entrepreneurs are fans of independent or self-publishing. Last month, Austin Kleon wrote about it in his post "All Publishing is Self-Publishing."

The quote originates from Kleon's agent, Ted Weinstein, who has made it one of his mantras in speeches and in conversations. It was Ted in fact, who helped me brand my Self-Publishing Boot Camp workshops back in the late 2000s, and here I am today, still doing it. (Thanks Ted!)

Share short as you write long

In tomorrow's workshop, we'll brainstorm Kleon's technique for sharing your work and ideas as you write so you have an audience for your book and book sales when you publish it. We'll also discuss whether you really need to build a platform before you publish, or if your book can be the foundation for your platform. Either way, you'll come away with a plan and a starting point for your publishing efforts for your 2026 book.

In the article, Kleon also cites Kevin Kelly's thoughts on self-publishing as well. Kelly, founder of Wired Magazine and a gazillion other ventures, states, "It is not hard to produce a book. It is much harder to find the audience for it and deliver the book to them. At least 50% of your energy will be devoted to selling the book. This is true whether you publish or self-publish."

Interactive hands-on workshop

I love running workshops. They're interactive, with plenty of time for Q&A, discussion, and brainstorming. Join the workshop and come away with a plan to increase the energy and engagement you have for your writing and make your publishing dreams a reality in 2026.

I hope to see you there!

Warmly,
Carla