Overview
Get the Word Out is a publicity incubator for early-career authors. Under the mentorship of an accomplished book publicist, writers will develop and execute publicity strategies to maximize the exposure of their first or second book, reach readers, and create a platform to propel their literary careers.
Get the Word Out fellows will:
Participate in a six-session online publicity workshop led by an experienced book publicist.
Attend six online seminars with leading media, events, marketing, and sales professionals, and accomplished authors.
Devote time outside of scheduled sessions to implement book publicity strategies they are acquiring in workshops and seminars.
Contribute to a peer learning community by sharing what works and what does not, helping each member of the cohort to amplify their impact.
In addition, alumni of the program are eligible to apply for The Poets & Writers Fellowship at Vermont Studio Center, which provides a fully funded three-week residency to fiction writers and poets in alternate years.
There is no application fee and no cost to those who are invited to participate. Learn about past Get the Word Out fellows.
Meet the 2026 Poetry Publicity Mentor
Carla Bruce is a book publicist with Lavender Public Relations, birth doula, and writer. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, New York Magazine, Guernica, and Real Simple, among others. She is a contributor to Ebony LaDelle's YA anthology, You've Got a Place Here, Too, and to the Well-Read Black Girl anthology Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves. A former middle and high school teacher, Carla is a board member of Baldwin For the Arts and a Read Ahead mentor. She is based in Los Angeles.
Selection Criteria
Fellows will be selected based on the strength of their statement of purpose, writing sample, and suitability for the program.
Get the Word Out is open to all eligible applicants. The program aims to support writers who might not otherwise have access to in-depth publicity support and to help develop strong literary voices nationwide. To that end, we encourage applications from writers who identify as Black, Indigenous, persons of color, immigrants, writers with disabilities, LGBTQ+ writers, writers residing outside of major cities, writers who do not have an MFA or equivalent degree, and writers whose books are slated to be published by independent presses.
The selection decisions of Poets & Writers will be final and not subject to review.
How to Apply
Authors can apply to the program via Poet & Writers’ online application. Applications must include:
A completed application form.
An excerpt (max 10 pages, single or double-spaced, minimum of 7 pages) from your forthcoming poetry collection.
An author bio (max: 250 words).
Applications for the 2026 Poetry Cohort will be accepted from January 1 to January 31, 2026!
For more information, please email programs@pw.org.
Supporters
Get the Word Out was developed with funding from Leonard and Louise Riggio, with additional support from Macmillan Publishers.