February: workshops to build your marketing skills

Photo courtesy Thought Catalog from Pixabay

Barreling into the coldest month of this year, use this time indoors to plan ahead and focus on the approaching warmer months for marketing and selling your books. 

Here are some resources this month that will help you sharpen your skills. Many of these are also ideal as artist/author crossover skills.

Freelancing in Changing Times – MWPA Business of Writing Workshop

• When: Wednesday, Feb 4, 2026 • 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• Where: Online
• What: This one-day workshop from the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance (MWPA) focuses on the business side of writing — excellent for published authors who want to sharpen their platform, diversify income, or learn new professional strategies. Topics often include freelance models, industry trends, and adapting your author business for changing markets. 

Learn more: www.mainewriters.org/calendar/freelancing

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Networking & Professional Community Building
GATHER Events – MWPA Community Networking

• When: Held periodically (e.g., informal social meetups continuing in February)
• Where: Various in-person locations across Maine & online options
• What: MWPA’s GATHER series brings writers and literary professionals together in a casual setting to talk work, industry trends, and opportunities. While not strictly “marketing classes,” these meetups are excellent places to build peer networks, find collaborators, and hear what other published authors are doing in terms of promotions and outreach. 
• Learn more: www.mainewriters.org/gather

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Lights Out Gallery and the Maine Arts Commission are hitting the road with the Creative Career Lab, a new statewide series visiting eight towns plus one virtual session in Feb/March to share resources, build skills, and strengthen local creative networks.

What You’ll Gain

• Build professional skills in a welcoming, informal setting
• Create or update a CreativeGround artist directory profile
• Learn about Assets for Artists, including free webinars and funding resources
• Explore the Artists Thrive framework for sustainable creative careers
• Connect with Maine Arts Commission tools, grants, and services
• Learn about arts advocacy efforts through the Cultural Alliance of Main

Find a session near you!

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DIY Book Marketing for Maine Authors is hosting a free Zoom webinar:
Do's and Don'ts of pitching Maine Media (Feb 24 1 p.m.)

How to boost your chances of getting media coverage for your book in Maine.
Kay Stephens, a Maine journalist and author, has spent the last 20 years working in newspapers and magazines, and has been on both sides of the book pitch. This Zoom webinar gives you the insider best practices, common mistakes to avoid, and the key elements every reporter and editor wants to see. Use this webinar to build a strong, personalized pitch that shines through the dozens of press releases that media outlets get each day. Followed by a Q&A session.
Join us on Tuesday, February 24 at 1PM

Note: please follow DIY Book Marketing for Maine Authors on Facebook for more updates about this upcoming workshop.
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IPNE Conference
February 20–21, 2026 | Virtual
https://ipne.org/conference-home
Focused on independent publishing and business of books, with sessions relevant to book marketing and networking. Run by the Independent Publishers of New England, this virtual conference is perfect for authors exploring small press models or operating as their own micro-press. The accessible online format makes it easy to attend from anywhere. Best for: Authors exploring small press models or operating as micro-publishers.

Follow  DIY Book Marketing for Maine Authors on Facebook for more daily marketing tips and free resources.