How to Work It
A Publishing Workshop with Jean Trounstine
Since 2005, Jean has helped students, teachers, hopeful writers, secret authors, and those who toil diligently but have not yet taken the step to publishing. Whether you want trade publishing or academic publishing, fiction or non-fiction, or poetry — this workshop is for you.
What’s Included
2-hour workshop · $350
Available in-person anywhere within an hour’s drive of Boston (a coffee shop or Middlesex Community College), or on Zoom. This workshop does not involve reading your manuscript — it imparts all of Jean’s accumulated wisdom, tailored specifically to you.
Agents & Editors
Everything you need to know about finding, targeting, and approaching the right people for your work.
Query Letters
How to write a compelling query letter and decide exactly who to target — plus personalized email help on your first query letter after the workshop.
Online Resources
A curated list of online resources and how to avoid common scams that trap new writers.
Jean’s Publishing Story
Jean’s personal publishing journey, adapted and applied directly to your situation and goals.
Magazines, Journals & Zines
Paid and unpaid opportunities across print and digital — where your work can find a home.
Marketing & Publicity
How to build your platform, promote your work, and develop a presence as an author.
Subscriptions & Insider Info
The tools, subscriptions, and insider knowledge that working writers actually use.
The Book Business
The full picture — soup to nuts. Note: limited coverage of self-publishing; no Romance genre coverage.
How It Works
Jean will discuss your particular needs ahead of time to tailor the workshop to you. To get started, answer these questions and email them to jean@jeantrounstine.com:
- What kind of writer are you?
- What genre(s) do you work in and what is your writing process at this point?
- What kind of writing do you want to do?
- Have you had any work published? If so, what? How did that occur (agent/publisher/hit-or-miss etc)?
- What do you want to publish?
- What are you hoping to gain from this workshop?
- What’s most important for you to learn in three hours?
After reviewing your answers, Jean will figure out a plan tailored to you and set a date. Payment of $350 is required one week before the workshop begins. After payment, Jean will send you a packet of materials by email or bring them when you meet.
Location: A coffee shop near you, or on Zoom.
What Past Participants Say
“Jean Trounstine provides the exact information a writer new to the business needs to know. Thanks to her thorough, direct and personalized information, I can now develop a methodical, intelligent plan that helps maximize the likelihood of my works’ publication. And in a day and age when distractions abound, understanding what not to do can be just as important. I truly appreciate the clarity and focus that Jean provided.”
— Jared Blankenship, Kansas
“I thank Jean for presenting all of the useful information that she has learned through her publishing experiences and want her to know how very much I appreciate her willingness to share what she has learned. I liked her straightforward assessments and candid appraisals of markets, editors, agents, and the like! It was amazing to me how the time flew!”
— Ardella Montgomery, Professor, Massachusetts
“The publishing workshop was fantastic! I am SO motivated to keep submitting now! Thank you!”
— Sofi Canavan, Student, Massachusetts