Key takeaways from the Women in Publishing Summit, Part 2
On publishing, marketing, and community.
My Takeaways from the Women in Publishing Summit – Part 2 of 2
(Read Part 1 here)
A few weeks ago, I attended the Women in Publishing (WIP) Summit. While the incredible presentations are still percolating in my brain, I’ve realized that while knowledge is power, the true power I gained from this summit came from the people I met and the connections I made.
Last time, I wrote about Writing and Mindset.
Today, I’ll dive into Publishing, Marketing, and Community.
On Publishing
Sometimes I kick myself for not finishing the books I started writing during my summers home from college—way back before e-readers were even a thing. I tell myself that if I’d finished and published those books, I’d be an established author by now. I’d know the ins and outs of query letters, elevator pitches, and author tours. Mostly, I romanticize this idea because… if I’d gone through the growing pains then, I wouldn’t be facing them now.
But back then, the only viable path to publishing was through one of the big houses. Nowadays, authors have far more options. And while traditional publishing is still the dream for many, the growing potential to earn a living—and do it on your own terms—makes self-publishing increasingly appealing.
While I spent more time at the summit attending workshops on writing processes (that’s where I am in my journey), I did gather some valuable insights on publishing. Here are a few takeaways:
A Quick Refresher on the State of Publishing:
Traditional: Think of the big five—Random House, Simon & Schuster, etc. These publishers typically require formal submissions via literary agents, who take a cut of your profits. While large advances still exist, they’re becoming increasingly rare. If you do land a traditional deal, the publisher controls most aspects of your book—title, cover design, and marketing strategy. Yes, your book might end up in every Barnes & Noble across the country. But it also might not. Traditional does not guarantee sales.
Self-Publishing: Once heavily stigmatized, self-publishing has become more respected, with countless resources now available to help authors release high-quality books. If you choose this path, invest in professional editing, cover design, and marketing support. Many service providers offer these packages, but you’ll need to budget for them upfront. Start saving!
Hybrid: A blend of traditional and self-publishing. Hybrid publishers collaborate with authors, helping polish the book while allowing the author to retain all rights. You pay an upfront fee, and royalties are typically split between you and the publisher.
(Note: Vanity publishers, which accept any book for a fee, are often confused with hybrid publishers. However, reputable hybrid publishers usually have an acceptance rate below 20%.)
The WIP Summit leaned heavily toward self-publishing, so if that’s your path, here are a few tips:
Hire a professional editor—ideally one for developmental editing, line editing, and copy editing. Don’t rely solely on beta readers.
Invest in a proper ISBN. Amazon offers a free ISBN for Kindle uploads, but it’s only valid for their store. To sell your book in other bookstores or online retailers, purchase your own ISBN upfront—it’ll save you headaches later.
Don’t let fear of rejection stop you. If you don’t publish your book, no one will ever read it.
Regardless of which publishing path you take, self-promotion is key. Which leads to my next tips…
On Marketing
Start marketing yourself as a writer now. Even before you finish your book. Maybe even before you start it—if that’s your thing. Substack is a fantastic platform for building an audience (Am I preaching to the choir here? Probably). YouTube, Instagram—or whichever social platform you prefer—find the people who want to read the kind of books you’re writing. Get them to follow you. Better yet, encourage them to subscribe to your newsletter. Once your book is released you’ll have a guaranteed audience.
Readers crave authenticity. Be yourself. Share your process. What makes your characters, world, or message unique? Let your audience in.
A marketing director once told me that marketing is like throwing darts at a board and seeing which ones stick. That was 15 years ago, and it still holds true. If one strategy fails, don’t give up—try another.
Even if you’re traditionally published, you’ll still need to market your book yourself. Unless, of course, you’re so famous that people buy whatever you produce—in which case, stop reading this and go use your oodles of income to do something good for the world! (Seriously tho!)
So without further ado, here are a few marketing tips I picked up at the Summit:
If your book could win an award, submit it before you publish. That way, you can showcase the accolade on your cover art.
Timing is everything. When launching on Amazon (or other retailers), aim to reach the top of your category as quickly as possible. For example, if your book is a dragon romance, don’t release it the same month as the next Fourth Wing installment. If it’s a Christmas story, consider a soft launch in October. Then, when December rolls around, you’ll have some reviews to lean into as you market.
Discounts and free giveaways work. Some marketers suggest offering your eBook at a steep discount—or even free—for a few days post-launch. The goal? Boost download numbers to trigger algorithms and drive visibility. More downloads = more visibility = more potential sales.
On Community
I touched on community in Part 1. I couldn’t help myself—community is such an important part of life.
Community makes us feel seen. It helps us heal, laugh, and grieve.
For years, I wrote alone. Too scared to share my work. Afraid of rejection. Worried that the wrong feedback would make me quit altogether. Slowly, I forced myself to release bits and pieces—first with friends, then online. I found an in-person writing group, only to have it fall apart at the start of the pandemic. Eventually, I found another group—this one online. Even though we hadn’t met in person, I leaned in. Allowed myself to be vulnerable. Yes it was weird at first, but as we worked together I found a camaraderie and level of support that my other (non-writing) communities couldn’t give me. It’s been years now, and that group is still going strong.
I tried other groups as well—some worked, some didn’t. But I didn’t give up. I kept showing up, taking risks, seeking connection. And through one of those groups, I learned about the WIP Summit. If I hadn’t said yes to community, I might not be here, sharing these takeaways with you.
So, find your people. Seek out a group that supports your creative goals. It helps if they write in a similar genre or at least read books like yours. Meet with them regularly—ideally live, via video or voice. If a group doesn’t click, that’s okay. It wasn’t meant to be. Keep searching until you find your fit.
And if you need help finding a community? Let me know—I’ve got your back.
Xo, Sage
Thank you Sage for these insights; those are great!
I don't know about other parts of the world, but here, if you self-publish, you aren't allowed to attend book fairs and are barred from some events that trad publishing has a hold on, which obviously has an impact on marketing.
I'm not there yet - still working on my debut novel - but it puts pressure on the idea of trad/hybrid publishing.
WIP was awesome and is always such a great reminder of the importance of community to us all. You're so right- we may work alone when it comes to putting the pen on paper (or keyboard) but finding and leaning in to that supportive community (or communities) is so amazing for our well being. Not only to keep from being to isolated, but when we have questions about something, it's the people in our community we can turn to and see if they've had similar experiences and can share their experiences and resources to help us out.
Loved these takeaways!