Pathway to Publishing Marketing Fellowship

Applications for the January - December 2026 marketing fellowship will be accepted until November 10.

The Wise Ink “Pathway to Publishing” Marketing Fellowship is a remote one-year program designed for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color looking to gain entry into the field of book publishing and marketing. The goal of this program is to train a fellow with the hard skills of book marketing and to build a lasting relationship between the fellow and Wise Ink.

This fellowship pairs education with on-the-job experience. Wise Ink will cover the costs of book marketing coursework, including a professional Book Marketing Master certification with the Nonfiction Authors Association. The fellow will also gain professional experience in a variety of marketing roles and tasks, and will be compensated for that work at an hourly rate. Each project will be assigned in collaboration with Wise Ink’s marketing manager, Crown Shepherd (a Pathway to Publishing Fellowship alumni herself!), for mentorship, training, and feedback.

This fellowship assumes 10-15 hours / week of paid on-the-job experience (compensated at $25 / hour). It also assumes up to 30 hours of unpaid coursework and educational support throughout the course of the 1-year program.

About Wise Ink 

Wise Ink is a hybrid publishing and media company for game-changers. Wise Ink publishes stories that support building a better and more equitable world. We share stories that uplift, inspire, and inform. We love to shepherd stories from voices not typically heard in publishing. Our clients are thought leaders and experts in their fields who want their writing to contribute to a movement. We’re an agile group who are passionate about what a well-written word can achieve—and we believe words can change the world.

As a remote-based company, we believe in fostering a collaborative and positive work environment that encourages creativity and innovation. Our workplace aligns with our collective values of social and racial justice, freedom from a 9-5 office, and the power of writing and art to change things for the better.

We believe that we can go further together—which is why we support our clients, and each other, with a team-based approach.

About the Fellowship

Different marketing projects and responsibilities will be assigned so the fellow can learn and utilize technical skills within book marketing, distribution, publicity, and advertising. 

These paid projects will include:

  • assisting marketing strategy and consultation through marketing meetings, distribution meetings, and office hours

  • professional assessments of media assets for authors, in support of marketing sessions with clients

  • identifying metadata for book titles (keywords, categories, and comparative titles) and submitting to book distribution channels 

  • writing creative, compelling book descriptions

  • social media and newsletter branding and management

  • creative copywriting and graphic design for marketing materials, such as A+ Content graphics for Amazon listings, sell sheets, speaker sheets, and press kits

  • e-book, audiobook, and print-on-demand sales listing set up with KDP, IngramSpark, ACX, and Author Republic

  • coordination of audiobook and e-book production between authors and contractors

  • creation of customized media lists for authors

  • Amazon and social media advertising campaign creation and management

  • strategic copywriting for author websites

At the end of the fellowship, the fellow will complete an official review and has the option to remain a contractor for marketing projects going forward.

This fellowship includes:

  • Covered application, course, and certification fees for the following courses:

  • Book Marketing Master certification with the Nonfiction Authors Association (6-week course)

  • Amazon ads course (TBD)

  • At least one additional online course, to be determined based on the fellow’s interests

  • Subscription to Skillshare for ongoing educational opportunities

  • Guaranteed part-time work for 10 - 15 hours / week, with payments processed twice per month.

  • One-on-one training with the Wise Ink Media team in a variety of book marketing techniques, disciplines, and book genres

  • Intentional mentorship about best practices in publishing and freelance business management, including but not limited to work-for-hire contracts, pricing, client communication, invoicing, and grant applications

Who May Apply

This program is specifically for Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color.

  • BIPOC may apply regardless of: 

    • level of education

    • location within the US (this fellowship is remote)

    • age (must be 18+)

    • gender, sex, or sexuality

    • ability/disability

    • level of privilege or circumstance

  • A college degree is not required.

  • Must have at least partial availability during 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. CST on weekdays.

  • Must be based in the US.

  • Applicants must be seeking to gain experience in and/or enter the fields of marketing and/or book publishing.

Application Process

  • Include a resume or a list of work history in a separate file.

  • Applicants will be evaluated based on passion, skills/talents, and work experience by a diverse panel of judges.

  • Applicants should expect a response via email by December 1. The program start date is flexible based on fellow availability, but will ideally begin on January 6.