How to take control of your publishing
Empowering publishing tips 
We’re ending Self-Publishing Month on a serious high this week with three webinars that enable authors to take back control of their publishing journey. So, let’s grasp that metaphorical bull by the horns and get our words out there! 
WEBINARS: Building books, campaigns and relationships with bloggers 
We’ve got three webinars this week for members: Build an Audience and Run Your Own Campaign with Anna Caig tomorrow; Build Your Book From Scratch live with Harry Bingham on Thursday; and end on a high with three book bloggers on Friday, talking about how you can Work with Book Influencers.  
This week on Jericho Writers:
EVENT: The Summer Festival of Writing Early-Bird Tickets 
FINAL REMINDER! Snap up those discount early-bird tickets before the full, exciting programme is launched. Further member discounts are available. Get yours quick! 
COURSES: New tutored courses now open for booking 
Spots are filling up fast for our new online tutored courses: Creative Writing 101, Writing for Children and Creative Non-Fiction.  Self-Edit Your Novel has sold out for 2021, and now half of 2022 too! 
MENTORING: Welcoming our new expert US mentors 
We’re so pleased to welcome four fabulous US mentors to our Mentoring Service: acclaimed novelist Mandy Berman; Fantasy and Sci-Fi expert David Burr Gerrard; writer and editor Alexandra Tanner; and Gwyn GB who can also advise on your entire Self-Publishing process (how useful!) 
How to take control of your publishing 
I’ve been thinking this week about how much of the publishing process can feel outside an author’s control.  
On the writing side, we have full authority. We can kill off characters; play God with worlds, and generally do whatever we want (isn’t it great?!). But when it comes to getting those words published – that power can feel out of our hands.  
This is something felt particularly on the traditional side, as we first try to capture the attention of an agent/publisher and are then expected to twiddle our thumbs whilst we hope our publishing team are promoting it to the right people. This part can also be felt on the indie side too – will readers like it? And how can we – as authors – promote books directly to those readers, when the industry seems so set up to favour publisher/bookseller relationships? 
Feeling powerless is rubbish. So this week, I’m recommending that we stop feeling that. Instead, let’s focus on the stuff we can control.  
Let’s keep writing stories – keep submitting them – keep trying different ideas and styles until we find one that resonates.  
When we have one published ‚Äì whether traditionally or via self-publishing ‚Äì let’s forget about what authors are supposed to feel and do, and instead throw ourselves into selling our own books. Let‚Äôs build those relationships with readers; learn how to become our own biggest champions; run our own award-winning campaigns. Because at the end of the day, the person who cares most about your books will always be you. And honestly ‚Äì if we can destroy whole worlds in a single sentence ‚Äì imagine what else we could do.¬†
What’s making you feel empowered this week? What tips do you have for taking control of your publishing? Share them in the Community here.  
Sarah Juckes x 
Plus, don’t miss: 
Agent one-to-one sessions (10% discount for members)  
Bag yourself a fifteen-minute call with an agent or a book doctor to talk exclusively about your work. Booking now! 
Manuscript Assessment  (10% discount for members) 
Our most popular editorial service matches you to your dream editor and gives you tailored feedback on your work. 
Receive a fully-funded place on the ‘Self-Edit Your Novel’ tutored course 
As always ‚Äì we’re offering one fully-funded spot on this life-changing course to a deserving under-represented, or low-income writer. Simply apply with your work-in-progress. ¬†
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