Author Coaching Hub > Courses & Intensives
From Pen To Published: A Comprehensive Guide to Traditional Publishing (4 Week Course)
Best for: “I want the full overview of how publishing works.”


A 4-week online course for writers who want to understand the traditional publishing process and take their next step with confidence.
Replace confusion with clarity.
You have a book idea, a manuscript in progress, or maybe even a finished draft — but the publishing process still feels confusing.
Do you need an agent? Should you pursue a traditional publisher? Is self-publishing a better option? What exactly goes in a book proposal? And how much platform do you really need before anyone will take you seriously?
Pen to Published gives you a clear, practical overview of how publishing works so you can stop guessing and start making informed decisions.
Over four weeks, we’ll walk through the major pieces of the publishing process, including:
You’ll learn:
- How to think like an author, not just a writer
- The differences between traditional publishing, self-publishing, and hybrid options
- How to know which publishing path makes sense for your book
- What literary agents do, who needs one, and how to find the right fit
- How publishers evaluate books and authors
- What a book proposal is and why it matters
- Why author platform matters — and what to do if yours is still small
- How to identify your next best step toward publication
This course is designed to replace confusion with clarity. You’ll come away with a stronger understanding of the publishing business, a realistic sense of what your book may need, and a practical plan for moving forward.
You don’t have to spend years piecing together scattered advice from blogs, podcasts, webinars, and social media. In Pen to Published, you’ll get a guided introduction to the publishing process from someone who has spent decades helping authors understand how the industry really works.
By the end of the course, you’ll know what publishing path you’re pursuing, what materials you need, what questions to ask, and what to do next.
Cost: $300
4-week online course via Zoom • Practical guidance, live teaching & Q&A
Add-Ons
Available after registration
- Query Letter Review — $60
- Book Proposal Review — $140
- 30 Sample Pages Review — $120
- 30-Minute Coaching Call — $110
Gardner Literary's
Author coaching hub
Choose from one-on-one coaching, live workshops, or multi-week courses:

Coaching Sessions
Get one-on-one publishing guidance for your book idea, proposal, manuscript, query, pitch, or publishing path.

Single-Session Workshops
Join a focused live online workshop for practical teaching and Q&A on one essential publishing topic.
Courses & Intensives
Go deeper with guided multi-week courses and intensives designed to help you make real progress.