The Basics of Publishing

The publishing process is a journey that can take authors years of blood, sweat, and tears to navigate—and all of that after you've finally written your book. In this bundle, we've collected this series of webinars and articles from literary agents and bestselling authors who have all braved the publishing gauntlet and come out on the other side with wisdom and experience to share. This collection includes advice on everything from querying agents to independent publishing, as well as up-to-date intel on scams that target hopeful authors and myths that might be holding you back. There's no way to make publishing your writing easy, but we hope that by helping authors educate themselves and prepare for this undertaking, we can eliminate some of the mystery that surrounds publishing.

Products included in this bundle: 

Write Articles and Essays to Boost Your Platform for Novels and Nonfiction (OnDemand Webinar): In a world where it can take years for a book to reach the market, essays and nonfiction articles help you stay connected with readers and build your platform between your books. Whether you’re writing novels or nonfiction, publishing articles and essays in magazines, blogs, and other outlets keeps your voice visible while adding income and publication credits. But how do you turn your ideas into articles and essays that appeal to readers and editors? How do you use shorter nonfiction to support your book projects? In this dynamic live webinar, Polly Campbell shares practical, step-by-step strategies you can use right away to generate ideas, shape strong essays and articles, and place your work in front of readers and editors—building a platform that supports both fiction and nonfiction. ($79.99 value)

High Concept Fiction - 5 Tricks to Stand Out in a Crowded Market (OnDemand Webinar): In this live webinar, literary agent Jessica Berg of Rosecliff Literary Agency breaks down exactly what makes fiction “high concept” in today’s market, what agents and editors are actually looking for when they use those words, and five proven techniques for strengthening your manuscript’s commercial appeal without losing what makes your story yours. It doesn’t matter what genre you’re writing because this session will give you the tools to pitch smarter, revise more strategically, and compete in a crowded submission landscape. ($79.99 value) 

The Agent Querying Packet 101 (OnDemand Webinar): You’ve written your book, you’ve had it edited, and it’s polished and ready to be queried. What now? For writers looking to pursue traditional publishing, a finished manuscript isn’t enough. Understanding market expectations, industry standards, and common timelines can help curb disappointment and get your head in the publishing game. Traditional publishing means getting comfortable with rejection, but understanding how to play the game strategically can give you the upper hand when entering the querying trenches. Learning the dos and don’ts of querying will significantly increase your chances of finding the right agent who will wholeheartedly believe not only in this one book you have finished, but in your career as an author and all the books to come. ($79.99 value) 

Red Flags and Rip-Offs: How Authors Can Spot & Avoid Scams (OnDemand Webinar): Authors—especially those navigating the indie publishing world—are frequent targets for scammers. From vanity publishers to fake contests and phishing emails, bad actors exploit both our enthusiasm and our inexperience. In this eye-opening live webinar, you’ll learn how these schemes typically operate and how to recognize the warning signs. You’ll leave with practical strategies for evaluating offers, reviewing contracts, and protecting yourself from fraudulent or misleading opportunities that could harm your author career. ($79.99 value)

From Draft to Deal - Writing Query Letters that Win Over Agents (OnDemand Webinar): In this query letter webinar, literary agent Jessica Berg will teach you how to write a query letter that communicates your premise clearly and quickly. She’ll give you a clear and repeatable framework to ensure you’re showcasing your voice and help improve your chances of partial and full requests – all without sounding salesy, gimmicky, or like you’re repurposing a synopsis. ($79.99 value)

Publishing Tips for Frugal Authors (OnDemand Webinar): Delivering a professional, market-ready book doesn’t have to drain your wallet. In this live webinar, author and publisher Matty Dalrymple shares practical strategies to help indie authors produce top-quality work while controlling costs—without cutting corners that matter. Drawing on insights from her Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels and Suspense Shorts, Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, and nonfiction books for authors, Matty covers every stage of the publishing process, from editing and formatting to cover design and promotion. ($79.99 value)

Writing and Publishing Myths Blocking Your Path to Success—and How to Overcome Them (OnDemand Webinar): You've got dozens of questions about how to succeed in publishing--and there are hundreds of different answers on the internet, from friends, and even experts. Someone will tell you to NEVER start your novel with a character getting out of bed, but then someone will tell you that's exactly how they got their big book deal! This live webinar will help you sort out what's a myth and what's not, how to figure out what advice is right for you, and how to stop letting all your misconceptions about publishing hold you back. ($79.99 value) 

Getting Your Short Stories Published (OnDemand Webinar): With 18 years of experience and over 185 stories published, Richard will share with you everything he knows about finding markets, submitting, and getting published. You have to be patient and do your research, but if you take your time, have an organized approach, and gradually elevate your expectations you should be able to publish all of your work in a reasonable amount of time—whatever genre you write. ($79.99 value)

The Well-Sold Story: An Agent's Secrets to Writing Stories That Sell (OnDemand Webinar): Writing a novel is a skill in and of itself, but it’s something else entirely to write a novel that sells. In this session, agent Paula Munier reveals her secrets to writing stories that excite agents and publishers—because they sell to readers. This is perfect for authors who can write their way to the finish line of a novel, but who want to take their novel to the next level. ($79.99 value) 

Writer's Digest May/June 2026 (Digital Edition): In this “Write Like a Pro” themed issue of Writer’s Digest, we aim to demystify aspects of the publishing business for writers who hope to publish both traditionally and independently. Likewise, we cover how to write carefully and considerately about real people and jobs who inspire dramatic fiction. And of course, no May/June issue would be complete without the official Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers. ($9.99 value)

Writer's Digest January/February 2026 (Digital Edition): One of WD’s goals is to provide all kinds of writing advice so writers can find what works for them, because each writer has different dreams, different ways of working, and different life circumstances. So, in this issue, we aim to offer plentiful writing advice on both the business of publishing and the craft of writing to help writers find success in 2026—no matter how you define it. ($9.99 value)