Tag: Author platform

  • The Writers Bridge | Social Media Simplified with Jane Friedman

    The Writers Bridge | Social Media Simplified with Jane Friedman

    December 30 @ 1:00 pm 2:00 pm EST

    Discover what’s new in social media for writers in 2026.

    Should you be on social media? Which platforms? Do you need video? What about a newsletter or a Substack?

    Jane Friedman has been writing and reporting on publishing since MySpace. She’s seen the rise and fall of Medium, Twitter, and many more. And she’s done the research and knows the numbers: does #BookTok actually sell books, and which ones? Does it matter if you post video or stick to text? Is LinkedIn actually a social site? And what should be driving the choices you make about your writer platform?

    Cohost Allison K Williams co-founded The Writers Bridge and built platforms on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (RIP) and is currently refusing to be sucked into BlueSky. She swears by an email list, but needs to use it more effectively. And cohost Sharla Yates doesn’t do much social media at all–should she?

    We’ll talk about our own social media and platform-building dilemmas and YOURS on the next episode of The Writers Bridge.

    Join us TUESDAY December 30th at 1PM EASTERN – live and FREE on Zoom, all welcome!


    Our special guest

    Jane Friedman has spent her entire career working in the book publishing industry, with a focus on author education and trend reporting. She is the editor of The Bottom Line, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, and was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World in 2023. Her latest book is The Business of Being a Writer, Second Edition (University of Chicago Press), which received a starred review from Library Journal. In addition to serving on grant panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Creative Work Fund, she works with organizations such as The Authors Guild to bring transparency to the business of publishing.

    Join your hosts Allison K Williams (SEVEN DRAFTS), Sharla Yates (CRAFT TALKS) and our special guest for this lively, funny hour of frank talk about writing comedy, writing for TV, and the wonderful chaos of the writers’ room.

    FREE, all welcome! Sign up to receive the Zoom link the day before.


    Enjoy past recorded sessions here

    Closed captioning is available. ✔
    All registrants receive the recording. ✔

    ABOUT YOUR PRESENTERS

    Allison K Williams has edited and coached authors to publishing deals with Penguin Random House, Knopf, Mantle, St. Martin’s Press, and numerous small presses. An expert in author marketing and community building, her platform includes the Brevity Blog (80k+ followers), Instagram (10k+), a mailing list (12k+), and Facebook (5k+), with publications in the New York Times and appearances on NPR and CBC. Her book, Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro from Blank Page to Book, sold on proposal. She leads the Rebirth Your Book writing retreats and co-hosts The Writers Bridge.

    Sharla Yates is the author of the poetry chapbook What I Would Say if We Were to Drown Tonight, published by Stranded Oak Press (2017). She hosts a webinar series, CRAFT TALKS for writers on writing, and co-hosts The Writers Bridge with Allison K Williams. Her nonfiction essay, “Address” was a finalist for the 2015 Columbia Journal writing contest and the 2016 Penelope Niven Creative Nonfiction Award. She is the former Director of Education at the Creative Nonfiction Foundation and teaches creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh.

    Questions? Please email Info@craft-talks.com

  • The Writers Bridge | From Zero to 100K Followers: Midlife Social Media

    The Writers Bridge | From Zero to 100K Followers: Midlife Social Media

    November 25 @ 1:00 pm 2:00 pm EST

    How can a midlife writer make a dent on social media?

    By showing up.

    When Lucie Frost first tried to sell her memoir, she heard the dreaded “not enough platform.” And she didn’t want to violate her own privacy or get trapped into following fads.

    Instead, she focused on what drove her writing: curiosity. Her Instagram and TikTok appearances, sharing what she wanted to know and why, built a multi-generational audience of inquisitive readers, ready for her book, How the Hell Did I Not Know That: My Midlife Year from Couch to Curiosity.

    In this months’ Writers Bridge, Lucie will share the tips and tricks she used to feel comfortable and happy building her platform, how she protected her online self, and how that platform led to a traditional publishing deal. She’ll also answer all your questions about how you can do it, too!

    Join us TUESDAY November 25th at 1PM EASTERN – live and FREE on Zoom, all welcome!


    Our special guest

    Lucie Frost is a no-longer-practicing lawyer and the author of How the Hell Did I Not Know That? (Trinity University Press, August 2025).

    She has written humor and satire for NextTribe, Slackjaw, The Belladonna, Points in Case, Emrys Journal, and others. She is active on social media, with 100k+ engaged followers across various platforms.

    She lives in Central Texas with her three needy, delightful dogs.

    Join your hosts Allison K Williams (SEVEN DRAFTS), Sharla Yates (CRAFT TALKS) and our special guest for this lively, funny hour of frank talk about writing comedy, writing for TV, and the wonderful chaos of the writers’ room.

    FREE, all welcome! Sign up to receive the Zoom link the day before.


    Enjoy past recorded sessions here

    Closed captioning is available. ✔
    All registrants receive the recording. ✔

    ABOUT YOUR PRESENTERS

    Allison K Williams has edited and coached authors to publishing deals with Penguin Random House, Knopf, Mantle, St. Martin’s Press, and numerous small presses. An expert in author marketing and community building, her platform includes the Brevity Blog (80k+ followers), Instagram (10k+), a mailing list (12k+), and Facebook (5k+), with publications in the New York Times and appearances on NPR and CBC. Her book, Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro from Blank Page to Book, sold on proposal. She leads the Rebirth Your Book writing retreats and co-hosts The Writers Bridge.

    Sharla Yates is the author of the poetry chapbook What I Would Say if We Were to Drown Tonight, published by Stranded Oak Press (2017). She hosts a webinar series, CRAFT TALKS for writers on writing, and co-hosts The Writers Bridge with Allison K Williams. Her nonfiction essay, “Address” was a finalist for the 2015 Columbia Journal writing contest and the 2016 Penelope Niven Creative Nonfiction Award. She is the former Director of Education at the Creative Nonfiction Foundation and teaches creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh.

    Questions? Please email Info@craft-talks.com

  • The Writers Bridge | Publicity 101 for Authors

    The Writers Bridge | Publicity 101 for Authors

    September 30 @ 1:00 pm 2:00 pm EDT

    So you’ve written a book—congratulations! Now comes the fun part: convincing the world to actually read it. Our special guest, professional publicist Shanetta McDonald, will demystify the often-overwhelming world of book publicity, starting with why press coverage still matters in our digital age and how it translates into actual readers and sales.

    We’ll break down the difference between what your publisher’s in-house team handles versus what external PR agencies do, plus help you figure out what you can tackle yourself versus when it’s worth hiring help. You’ll learn how to build your own roadmap through the publicity maze, with practical strategies that won’t break your budget.

    Today’s media landscape is brutal. Journalists are drowning in pitches (they only open about 45% of what hits their inbox), newsrooms are shrinking, and news cycles move faster than a caffeinated hummingbird. But don’t panic—we’ll dive into the art of media pitching. Learn how to work with news cycles, understand lead times, and most importantly, how to develop compelling media angles that transform your book from just another title into a newsworthy story that editors and producers want to cover.

    Whether you’re a debut author feeling lost or a seasoned writer looking to up your publicity game, you’ll leave with a FREE book media launch timeline and checklist–so you’ll know exactly what to do and when to do it–and the confidence to give your book the launch it deserves.


    Our special guest

    Shanetta McDonald is the founder of The Giselle Agency, a boutique PR agency dedicated to supporting women, BIPOC, and queer authors with intentional, story- and mission-driven book launches. With over 16 years of experience, she has spent her career challenging societal norms and shifting cultural conversations. Today, she proudly focuses on amplifying the voices of those who need it most, marginalized groups who are making a difference.

    Shanetta’s own writing has been featured in Allure, Refinery29, HuffPost, Essence, and Well+Good, where she explores themes of identity, healing, body image, and belonging.

    Join your hosts Allison K Williams (SEVEN DRAFTS), Sharla Yates (CRAFT TALKS) and our special guest for this lively, funny hour of frank talk about Substack, newsletters, essays, and building platform by doing what you love.

    FREE, all welcome! Sign up to receive the Zoom link the day before.


    Enjoy past recorded sessions here

    Closed captioning is available. ✔
    All registrants receive the recording. ✔

    ABOUT YOUR PRESENTERS

    Allison K Williams has edited and coached authors to publishing deals with Penguin Random House, Knopf, Mantle, St. Martin’s Press, and numerous small presses. An expert in author marketing and community building, her platform includes the Brevity Blog (80k+ followers), Instagram (10k+), a mailing list (12k+), and Facebook (5k+), with publications in the New York Times and appearances on NPR and CBC. Her book, Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro from Blank Page to Book, sold on proposal. She leads the Rebirth Your Book writing retreats and co-hosts The Writers Bridge.

    Sharla Yates is the author of the poetry chapbook What I Would Say if We Were to Drown Tonight, published by Stranded Oak Press (2017). She hosts a webinar series, CRAFT TALKS for writers on writing, and co-hosts The Writers Bridge with Allison K Williams. Her nonfiction essay, “Address” was a finalist for the 2015 Columbia Journal writing contest and the 2016 Penelope Niven Creative Nonfiction Award. She is the former Director of Education at the Creative Nonfiction Foundation and teaches creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh.

    Questions? Please email Info@craft-talks.com

  • The Writers Bridge | Getting Social on Substack

    The Writers Bridge | Getting Social on Substack

    July 29 @ 1:00 pm 2:00 pm EDT

    It feels like EVERYONE’s getting on Substack–is it right for you? And if you’re enjoying Substack, how can it better fuel your writing process and build your audience?

    New-ish Substack user Rebecca Morrison has had some Notes go viral. Totally new user Allison K Williams (your cohost) is getting her feet wet by writing short essays and interacting in Notes. And experienced Substacker Lindsey DeLoach Jones will share her guidance on who Substack is good for and why, how much time it takes, and best ways to use Substack Notes to build platform.

    If you’ve been considering a Substack–or even a regular newsletter!–this episode’s for you. Join us live, bring your questions, and network with other writers in the chat, or watch the replay on YouTube.


    Our special guests

    Rebecca Morrison is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, NBC News, Newsweek, TODAY and HuffPost, among others. Her debut novel, The Blue Dress, based on her childhood as an Iranian immigrant trying to fit into her family’s expectations of beauty and American homeland is coming out March 24, 2026, from Farrar Straus Giroux. You can find her at rebeccakmorrison.comand on Substack.

    Lindsey DeLoach Jones is a writer living in Greenville, South Carolina. She often finds herself inside the tension between seemingly opposed forces—the spiritual and the practical, the mysterious and the mundane, the Mother and the Artist. Lindsey’s essays have appeared in HuffPost, HuffPost Parenting, Split Lip, Under the Gum Tree, and Motherwell. She is a recipient of the Vandermey Nonfiction Prize, and an essay nominated by Pigeon Pages was recently a finalist for Best of the Web. She has been writing on Substack at Between Two Things since 2021.

    Join your hosts Allison K Williams (SEVEN DRAFTS), Sharla Yates (CRAFT TALKS) and our special guests for this lively, funny hour of frank talk about Substack, newsletters, essays, and building platform by doing what you love.

    FREE, all welcome! Sign up to receive the Zoom link the day before.


    Enjoy past recorded sessions here

    Closed captioning is available. ✔
    All registrants receive the recording. ✔

    ABOUT YOUR PRESENTERS

    Allison K Williams has edited and coached authors to publishing deals with Penguin Random House, Knopf, Mantle, St. Martin’s Press, and numerous small presses. An expert in author marketing and community building, her platform includes the Brevity Blog (80k+ followers), Instagram (10k+), a mailing list (12k+), and Facebook (5k+), with publications in the New York Times and appearances on NPR and CBC. Her book, Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro from Blank Page to Book, sold on proposal. She leads the Rebirth Your Book writing retreats and co-hosts The Writers Bridge.

    Sharla Yates is the author of the poetry chapbook What I Would Say if We Were to Drown Tonight, published by Stranded Oak Press (2017). She hosts a webinar series, CRAFT TALKS for writers on writing, and co-hosts The Writers Bridge with Allison K Williams. Her nonfiction essay, “Address” was a finalist for the 2015 Columbia Journal writing contest and the 2016 Penelope Niven Creative Nonfiction Award. She is the former Director of Education at the Creative Nonfiction Foundation and teaches creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh.

    Questions? Please email Info@craft-talks.com