The Write Atmosphere: A Podcast for Writers

Literary and speculative poetry have their similarities, but speculative poetry is new on the scene when it comes to award recognition, literary journal space, and reader popularity. How do you get recognized as a writer of speculative poetry in this evolving sector of the publishing industry? Wendy Van Camp, Poet Laureate Emerita and co-chair of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, gives us a comprehensive overview of speculative poetry -- including how you can get paid to publish your work.

You’ve written a book, you’ve gone through all this work to get it published, and you arrive at release day to realize: you had no idea how much work it takes to publicize your book. Nicki van Ingen Schenau, a published author and accomplished entrepreneur, is here to help. She advises us on how to put on the entrepreneur hat to sell your book, from overhauling your approach to maximizing your social media content.

From editorial reviews to consumer reviews and everything in between, book reviews are a crucial marketing and workshopping tool for any author. If you want to know why and how to put them to work for your book, tune in to hear advice from an expert in the field: Joe Walters. As the founder of Independent Book Review and author of The Truth About Book Reviews: An Insider's Guide to Getting and Using Reviews to Grow Your Readership, Joe has all the chops to walk us through important definitions, common misconceptions, and what to prioritize in your book reviews.

Teri M. Brown's books are all highly decorated with award wins. How does she know which awards to submit her book to, and what pros and cons does she weigh when she makes these decisions? In this episode, Teri lays out all the important information and advice to get you set up for success as you dive into your own book award submissions.

Writing residencies are the publishing industry's version of a getaway vacation. They give you the chance to push yourself creatively and focus on your writing with none of the distractions of everyday life. Sounds like a writer's dream, right? Allyson S. Barkley, author of the Kirkus-starred Until the Stars Are Dead fantasy series, talks about the invaluable experiences she gained from attending writing residencies.

Whether your book is traditionally or self-published, whether you want to appear at in-person events or stick to virtual opportunities, whether you want to work with a PR firm or do everything yourself: you can craft a publicity campaign that will be perfect for both your book and your goals. Marika Flatt, owner of PR by the Book, gives us an overview of what to expect and how to create your book's ideal publicity campaign.

When it comes to engaging directly with your readers and networking with other writers, there's no better way to put yourself out there than to jump into book events. But how can you run events in a way that feels natural and even fun, especially if you're one of the many writers who consider themselves to be introverted? From readings to signings to panel features, memoirist Danielle Ariano is no stranger to the book event circuit, nor the hurdles that come with, so her advice will help you figure out where to start.

Whether you have an established audience or you're building one from scratch, producing consistent and exclusive content for potential readers is the key to utilizing email marketing to your advantage. If you're not sure where to start, Kali Stevens is here to help. As Atmosphere Press's marketing manager, Kali has tried-and-true ideas and guidance to get the creative juices flowing.

As writers, we all know how important it is to set ourselves apart from the crowd in order to get our books into the hands of readers. But how do we design a brand that readers will like and -- perhaps more importantly -- remember? British-born author, speaker, and blogger Gabi Coatsworth uses her experience designing her own author brand to make an overwhelming task approachable.

The world of book awards is vast and labyrinthine. And like a labyrinth, some paths will lead you to success -- while others should be treated with caution. Jendi Reiter, award-winning author and judge of the Winning Writers North Street Book Prize, discusses what they've learned about writing from their work as a judge, as well as what authors should look out for in an award worth submitting to.