Punk Rock Book Publicity: How to Promote Your Writing and Reach Your Publishing Goals with Lisa Levy
by Writing Workshops Staff
A day ago
Learn the insider strategies of a 25-year book reviewer—and finally get your writing the attention it deserves.
If you think you need a fancy MFA or exclusive insider connections to break into publishing, think again. Writing success doesn’t hinge on secret clubs; it’s about having a smart strategy, building relationships in the right places, and being bold enough to share your expertise. Enter Lisa Levy: veteran book critic, editor, and essayist. She writes a monthly column about crime books for the Washington Post Book World. She is also a contributing editor at Lit Hub, a founding editor of Crime Reads, and the former Mystery & Noir editor at the LARB. Lisa has 25 years in the trenches learning what editors look for and how publicists can make or break your path to publishing success.
That’s exactly what you’ll explore in Punk Rock Book Publicity: How to Promote Your Writing and Reach Your Publishing Goals, a one-on-one mentorship offered through WritingWorkshops.com. Over three, six, or twelve months, Lisa will demystify the PR machine behind your favorite books and show you how to use those same tactics to fuel your writing career. This isn’t your typical plug-and-chug publicity course—it’s an intense, eye-opening guided mentorship that focuses on making real progress, not just ticking boxes.
Who Should Sign Up?
- Writers with a book contract looking to work in tandem with a house publicist and pitch author essays that will build buzz.
- Self-published authors ready to launch a campaign or hire an outside publicist—but not sure where to start.
- Emerging writers with query and proposal anxiety who need clarity and a structured game plan.
- Writers preparing to query agents or submit manuscripts, aiming to build a strong publication record first.
- Career-changers hoping to pivot into a new genre or niche, build bylines, and showcase expertise.
If you’re tired of tackling your writing career as a series of disconnected deadlines, Lisa will help you step back, see the big picture, and plan your next moves with clarity and confidence.
Why a “Punk Rock” Approach?
Punk rock has always been about defying convention and making noise on your own terms—no more waiting to be discovered. In this mentorship, Lisa shows you how to:
- Develop a sharp pitch that hooks editors. (Hint: “I want to write about X” is a topic; “X is changing the world because…” is a pitch!)
- Craft targeted submissions: Rather than a scattergun approach, you’ll learn to find the publications—your “Cat Fancy,” so to speak—where your stories will truly resonate.
- Organize your goals: From short-term wins to long-term book deals, Lisa will guide you in mapping out a realistic roadmap to success.
- Find your tribe: Stay current on your genre, network with like-minded peers, and nurture relationships that can open doors.
- Put fear on the back burner: Overwhelm, imposter syndrome, rejections, or procrastination—Lisa’s seen it all and can help you overcome it.
- Negotiate like a pro: Gain confidence in your interactions with editors, so they’ll want you back again and again.
What You’ll Get
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Biweekly One-on-One Meetings
- Six meetings for the 3-month program
- Twelve for the 6-month program
- Twenty-four for the 12-month program
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Inline Edits & Actionable Critique
Receive detailed comments on everything from sentence-level mechanics to big-picture structure. -
Reading Lists & Resources
Handpicked to broaden your horizons, spark new ideas, and guide you through your publication journey. -
Pitching & Submissions Guidance
Lisa knows what editors crave because she’s been the gatekeeper herself. Learn how to craft angles that captivate. -
A Personalized Roadmap
Lisa designs each mentorship to align with your individual projects, timelines, and goals.
A Glimpse into Lisa Levy’s Expertise
Lisa is not just a teacher—she’s an in-the-trenches professional with a monthly crime book column in The Washington Post Book World, and a background at Lit Hub, Crime Reads, and the LA Review of Books. She’s currently finishing her own narrative nonfiction book, Funeral in My Brain: A Biography of Migraine, which sold in a pre-empt to St. Martin’s. That means she knows every corner of the publishing process, from building relationships with editors to harnessing the power of well-placed author essays. If you’re wondering how to “get in” with top-tier publications, Lisa’s been the person deciding who’s in.
Real Writers, Real Results
“Lisa was a pleasure to work with: razor-sharp, professional, and keenly insightful. Her deep understanding of genre, narrative structure, and character development were instrumental in refining my manuscript.” —Matt Dojny, aspiring crime writer
“Lisa is a rare combination of sensitive reader and straight shooter that every author yearns for. She intuitively understands your goals as a writer and makes them her own.” —Brett Foraker, aspiring crime writer
“Her guidance has taken my writing to a new level and I love working with her.” —Matt Sterling, memoir student
“She is easy to talk to, smart, well researched for our meetings, and kind. I highly recommend her as an editor with whatever genre you are writing about!” —Elizabeth Raney, author of Warhol, Dr. Seuss, and the Making of America
“Her keen knowledge of genre helped me understand what my narrator needed to do. All this while she kept me laughing!” —Kathryn Trueblood, author of Take Daily As Needed
Ready to Go All-In on Your Writing?
It’s time to focus on the long game. No more random stabs in the dark, no more confusion about whether you should wait for a publicist or keep juggling social media. Punk Rock Book Publicity is about embracing a bold, DIY ethos—while leveraging practical wisdom from a seasoned industry insider.
Ultimately, success in publishing isn’t about luck. It’s about giving yourself permission to experiment with your voice, placing work where the right audience will find it, and building momentum for your career step by step. Let Lisa Levy show you how to plug into the publicity machine and march confidently toward your goals.
Join the Mentorship
Ready to make some noise in the publishing world? Sign up here for Punk Rock Book Publicity: How to Promote Your Writing and Reach Your Publishing Goals and start taking control of your writing career today.
No secret handshakes. No VIP guest lists. Just a plan, a push, and a mentor who’ll help you realize your ambitions—every radical step of the way.
