Detroit Working Writers

08/22/2026

Who’s hungry?

08/20/2026

08/17/2026

Congratulations to DWW Dawn Levitt for the publication of her poem “The Winter After” in Thimble Lit Magazine.

The editors writer “Today we also have a poem as stark and melancholic as winter. I reread the poem just now for the images. Wow. -Read the rest for free online or consider purchasing a print copy through our Square. Big thanks to this issue’s background artist Sophia Maggio”

Link to poem in comments.

08/15/2026

Poor little apostrophe!

08/14/2026

Do you need to be everything, everywhere, all at once, to market your book?

No. Rachel Thompson, founder of BadRedhead Media, LLC, says you need a plan that fits your book, your readers, your budget, your time, and your tolerance for social media nonsense.

Most authors don’t fail at marketing because they didn’t try hard enough—they fail because they tried to do everything at once, on every platform, without knowing how to assess what’s working. Rachel Thompson of BadRedhead Media has spent more than 17 years helping authors build marketing plans that don’t rely on gimmicks, magic formulas, or dancing on TikTok.

Learn what to figure out before you start marketing at all: who your readers actually are, what realistic goals look like, and how to choose activities that match your time and budget. We’ll dig into DIY-versus-hire-a-pro—what’s worth learning yourself and what’s worth paying someone else to handle?—and how to tell whether your marketing is moving the needle. Rachel’s also an expert on why and how to build Substack into your author platform.

Bring your questions and your book marketing frustrations. Rachel’s heard them all—and probably lived most of them.

Join us TUESDAY AUGUST 25 at 1PM EASTERN / 10AM PACIFIC – live and FREE on Zoom, all welcome!

Link in comments.

08/12/2026

Congratulations to DWW member by Adam Schuitema for the publication of his nonfiction piece, “The Sim’s Guide to Divorce,” in ANOTHER CHICAGO MAGAZINE!

Link in comments!

08/08/2026

INDIGO Lit is accepting work for their inaugural issue from now to September 30, 2026.

INDIGO is a newly established, independent literary journal looking for non-fiction, fiction, poetry, and other text-focused experiences. Experimental, hybrid, cross-genre and medium-bending submissions are greatly encouraged.

Link: https://indigolit.com/submit-your-work/

08/03/2026

How Digital Platforms Reshape Book Launches
Thursday, August 13, 2026
3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT
Free to attend

A book launch looks different these days: while a national tour is all but unheard of, authors can connect with far greater numbers of readers online. Digital platforms—from social media to virtual book clubs and beyond—are now arguably the most important pillar of a successful launch strategy.

Agent Tianna Kelly and lifestyle creator Désirée join us to discuss how digital spaces continue to transform how books connect with readers:

- The role of digital analytics in shaping launch strategies
- Balancing traditional marketing with digital reach
- How digital platforms (e.g., Fable.co) create more equitable opportunities for debut authors
- How authors can use data to connect with readers during a launch

Find the link to register in comments!