Writers & Illustrators of the Future Workshop Week2025 – Day 8

Post-Gala Workshop: Promotion and Career Tools

Contributed by Leah Ning
Post-Gala Workshop: Promotion and Career Tools

After the excitement of last night’s gala, the winners got to sleep in before attending today’s workshop, which focused on self-promotion. A steady stream of judges and industry professionals shared their insights on building a successful public presence.

John and Emily Goodwin began the session by issuing checks to the winners for their publication in the anthology. They then spoke about public relations, communication strategies, and how to keep the conversation going during media interviews. Claude Sandoz followed with a presentation on effective social media usage, offering tips on which platforms to use and how to use them well.

Writers of the Future Coordinating Judge Jody Lynn Nye taught the winners how to craft compelling elevator pitches for their stories and art. She emphasized the importance of using language that’s both engaging and accessible—not too “highfalutin” for the average listener to understand. At the end of her talk, the winners wrote their own elevator pitches, and Jody gave feedback on as many as time allowed.

Emily Goodwin returned to discuss the Volume 41 release dates and promotion plans, including “book bombs” and bookstore signings. The winners also previewed the promotional kits they’ll be taking home, which include bookmarks, standees, posters, and printed copies of the illustrations.

Next, Carmen Bartolo shared how he promotes the winners in the media, offering examples of past winners he continues to support years after their debut.

Bill Fawcett and Lezli Robyn spoke about breaking into markets—both as writers and artists—and how to get noticed (and stay noticed) once you’re there.

DawnRay Ammon, co-founder of Fyrecon, gave a talk on SEO and how to use it effectively across websites, social media, and convention appearances. She stressed the importance of announcing events early so fans have time to plan.

Joe Montaldo then spoke further on interviews and social media. He emphasized researching anyone who invites you for an interview and how to establish and protect your boundaries when needed.

Finally, the winners were presented with certificates of recognition for their achievements and took a final group photo before heading into their last night in Hollywood.