Let’s Talk Publishing

Which Path is Right for You?

A free, 4-part series

There’s no one right way to connect with your readers.

At the Madison Writers’ Studio, our our primary goal is to support a writer’s creative practice and sharpen their skills.

In our 13 years working with writers, the publishing industry has transformed. Let’s Talk Publishing is our attempt to cut through the noise and get your questions answered. This series is free to all writers, whether you’ve worked with us or not.

We’ll talk to experts in hybrid, self, and traditional publishing to lay out the pros and cons of each method and answer your questions, with the goal of helping you figure out the best fit for your creative work.

These 4 free seminars will focus on publishing book-long work, and will take place on Zoom from 12:30-1:30p CT / 130-230p ET. If you’re unable to attend any of the four free seminars live, a replay will be emailed to you.

A middle-aged woman with shoulder-length light brown hair, wearing glasses with tortoiseshell frames, a brown satin blouse, and a smartwatch, sitting on white stairs and smiling at the camera.
A bookshelf filled with numerous colorful books arranged on multiple shelves.
Stack of colorful books with worn edges and textured covers
A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, blue eyes, and fair skin, smiling, wearing a black and white striped shirt, standing in front of a wooden background.

1 of 4

Hybrid Publishing: Control, Cost, and Credibility

Thursday 2/19

12:30-1:30p CT / 130-230p ET

w/ special guest Kristin Mitchell, Little Creek Press. Fourteen years ago, Kristin founded Little Creek Press to fulfill a need she saw to bring authors’ words to life through a caring, open process resulting in high-quality, published books.

2 of 4

Self-Publishing: Ownership, Effort, and Earning Potential

Thursday 2/26

12:30-1:30p CT / 130-230p ET

w/ special guests Joshua Feyen and Grace Ogren

3 of 4

Small v Big Presses: Benefits, Risks, and Realities

Thursday 3/5

12:30-1:30p CT / 130-230p ET

w/ special guests TBA

4 of 4

Working with a Literary Agent

Thursday 3/12

12:30-1:30p CT / 130-230p ET

w/ Julie Stevenson of the Massie, McQuilkin, & Altman agency. Stevenson is drawn to fiction with unforgettable characters, an authorial command of voice, and a strong sense of narrative tension. She loves outsiders, weirdos, and innovators.

Join us for all four seminars.

Bring your questions and our experts will answer as thoroughly and honestly as they can.

If you register but are unable to attend a seminar, we’ll send you a replay afterward.

  • “I’ve worked with other editors and taken other workshops, but this one was far superior to all. You get your money’s worth, and more.” — Julie

    Julie

  • “Without being too simple – I loved it! And yes I will do it again, and if I knew anyone who was serious about being a better writer, I would recommend the classes.”

    —Mary

  • “The class was a big step for me to sign up for it, in the sense of stepping outside my comfort zone and letting someone else look at my writing. I never felt ill at ease.” — John

    —John

  • “Thank you for what you have done. You have such a gift for communication and writing. I loved all the pearls and lessons you left along the way. I’m also grateful for the encouraging remarks you left, they often kept me going. ” — Jeff H.

    —Jeff

  • “I can’t thank you enough for such a wonderful class! It was a crazy year for me, but I’ve learned so much and your feedback was so important to me. You’re a wonderful writing “coach” and gave me that nudge when I needed it. We had a terrific group and I think the feedback helped all of us become better writers. You and Michalle have created something so special with the MWS!”

    —Andrea

  • “It was the best writing class I’ve ever taken. I would absolutely take another class. The feedback was probably the most valuable part of the class. It was thorough and really showed that the instructor cared about the students and content.”

    —Cristalyne