Beyond the Book Deal: Why Publishing Smaller Works Matters

May 6th, 5:00-6:30 p.m. MDT

Think publishing means landing a book deal first? Think again! Short stories, flash fiction, essays, and poetry aren’t just side projects—they’re powerful tools to build your reputation, sharpen your craft, and connect with editors who can open bigger doors. Even folks with book deals benefit from continued submission successes in smaller markets. 

In this fast-paced session, we’ll demystify the world of publishing smaller works, from understanding submission guidelines to evaluating markets. You’ll learn how to avoid scams, target the right publications, and make your writing work for you. Whether you're aiming for literary journals, anthologies, or online magazines, this workshop will help you develop a strategic plan to get your words into the world. Warning: You may leave this session with a  list of places to submit—and no excuses left!

Submission Tracking Made Easy: Build a Spreadsheet, Build Your Career

May 13, 5:00-6:30 p.m. MDT

If you’ve ever lost track of where you submitted a story (or even if you submitted it at all), this workshop is for you. Keeping track of submissions doesn’t have to be complicated, but a messy inbox isn’t a career strategy.

In this hands-on session, you’ll create your own personalized submission-tracking spreadsheet—no technical skills required! We’ll cover the best ways to organize your submissions, track rejections (and acceptances!), and use data to refine your publishing strategy. You’ll also build on the information from "Beyond the Book Deal: Why Publishing Smaller Works Maters" to continue evaluating where to find the best markets and get practical tips to make submitting a sustainable habit, not a stressful afterthought.