What does it mean to build an author platform without losing sight of the work itself? In a twenty-first-century literary culture that often equates visibility with constant output, this two-session online workshop offers a more sustainable, intentional way in.

Rather than treating platform-building as separate from writing, we will approach it as an extension of the writing life—rooted in voice, shaped by values, and sustained through community. We will explore how writers can engage public spaces, including social media, with clarity and care while building a long-term presence within publishing ecosystems and protecting their creative practice.

Topics will include: articulating a public voice across genres and platforms, rethinking social media as a space for connection rather than performance, understanding the contemporary literary landscape, and cultivating forms of visibility that feel aligned rather than extractive. We will also address the practical and emotional challenges of online presence, including questions of scale, boundaries, and sustainability.

Sessions will combine brief lectures, guided reflection, and journaling exercises. By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with a clear, individualized framework for building a sustainable author platform; practical tools for engaging digital spaces with intention; and a context-aware approach to cultivating readership, community, and visibility over time.

The Sustainable Author Platform: Writing, Community, and the Digital Age | Led by Namrata Poddar (Fee Waiver)