Whether you're preparing to pitch your book, attract an agent, or grow your readership, your author platform is the foundation that supports it all. But building and maintaining one doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

In this two-week bootcamp, Emmy Award–winning media strategist and bestselling author Paula Rizzo will help you assess your current platform, imagine what’s possible, and develop a plan that fits your life and goals.

Through guided worksheets, video lessons, and one-on-one feedback, you’ll gain clarity on how to show up as the expert you are — using tools like newsletters, social media, video, Substack, speaking, or media coverage — in a way that’s authentic and sustainable.

Here's How It Works:

Before the bootcamp officially begins, you’ll complete a short pre-class assignment to help you establish your starting point. You’ll complete a First Impression Audit to reflect on how your current digital presence — across social media, newsletters, websites, or video — is coming across to your audience. You’ll also be asked to get outside perspective by having someone else look at your public-facing platform and share their first impression of your author brand. This early insight will ground the work you’ll do in class and give you something concrete to build from.

During the first week of class, we’ll focus on where you are right now. You’ll learn how to identify what’s working in your current platform, what may need refining, and how aligned your content is with your goals. You’ll be guided through thoughtful reflection exercises and examples of real authors who have successfully positioned themselves for media, speaking, and book promotion — all while staying true to their voice. You’ll have the chance to ask questions during a live Q&A session with Paula.

In the second week, you’ll start to map out where you want to go. You’ll complete a “blue sky” exercise to explore your ideal visibility goals — whether that’s growing your Substack, launching a podcast, landing media interviews, or building a speaking career. From there, you’ll identify what’s doable based on your actual time, energy, and bandwidth. This week’s work will also guide you in creating a personalized editorial calendar — a flexible and strategic plan for the next 4–6 weeks of content that supports your message and keeps you consistent without burning out.

At the end of the course, you’ll submit one key piece for personalized video feedback from Paula. You can choose what best reflects your current focus: an editorial calendar, a snapshot of your current platform (like a newsletter, social media post, or website), or an optional video of yourself speaking about your book or message. Whichever option you choose, you’ll receive actionable next steps and professional insight tailored to your goals and style.

Who This Bootcamp Is For:

• Authors with a current or upcoming book
• Writers with an existing platform (social media, newsletter, website, etc.)
• Creatives who want to align their public presence with their personal and professional goals
• Authors who want to grow their reach but feel overwhelmed or unclear about how to begin

You should already have:

• At least one public-facing platform (Instagram, newsletter, Substack, website, etc.)
• A willingness to improve your visibility and experiment with new content strategies

This bootcamp is not ideal for:

• Authors who are brand new to digital platforms
• Writers who prefer not to have an online or public-facing presence