Collaborative strategies for promoting your work without burnout or going it alone.

You’ve written the book. You’ve done the hard part. But finding readers—and figuring out how to talk about your work—can feel far more intimidating than writing ever did. Social media advice is endless and often contradictory. Should you build a platform? Join everything? Follow everyone? For many writers, especially those drawn to the quiet work of historical fiction, traditional “self-promotion” can feel uncomfortable, exhausting, or even antithetical to the work itself.

This panel invites you to rethink that model entirely.

Drawing on their experience as members of Paper Lantern Writers, Anne Beggs, Vanitha Sankaran, and Linda Ulleseit will explore how collaboration, community-building, and shared purpose can transform the way authors connect with readers. Rather than competing for attention, they’ll show how writers can support one another, amplify collective reach, and build sustainable visibility—without losing authenticity or burning out.

You’ll leave this session with practical ideas for fostering your own network, identifying your unique strengths, and approaching promotion as a shared, values-driven effort rather than a solitary grind.

Session Goals:
• Explore how author collectives and communities can drive long-term growth
• Offer practical strategies for building a supportive professional network
• Demonstrate how collaboration can replace isolation in the marketing process

Presenters:
Linda Ulleseit • Vanitha Sankaran • Anne M. Beggs

This Prologue Day session is available as a standalone Eventbrite ticket or included with virtual conference registration, which provides access to all Prologue Day events and recorded conference sessions.