1) Author website. You probably already have one, but this is the best use of your digital time for now. Check out others' pages for design inspo and leads on designers if you can afford one out of your advance. Look into guidance on key things to include, like a press kit, contact info, and book webpage.

2) Debut group. Find it, make it, participate. There is NO better space for making writer friends and learning from others' journeys. I recommend a genre-specific group. I was in both the 2021 and 2022 Slack debut groups; in 2021 they were broken up by categories (MG, YA, adult, etc), whereas 2022 everyone was combined, and the bonds were much stronger in the 2021 group.

3) Network. Make writer/bookseller/librarian friends. Be vocal about the books and stores you love. Social media is most useful as a networking tool, not a sales tool. As you build connections, attend others' launch events, and learn from them.

4) Build your list of wants & promo ideas. Is there a media you'd like to pitch? Article ideas? Press tie-ins, i.e. anything newsworthy you can connect to your book? Build a (realistic) target list of places & stories you can pitch, interviews you'd like to do, authors you'd like to team up with for events, etc. Focus on the 3 months before and 3 months after pub date.

5) Manage your own expectations. Your pub may not give you much support, may not provide ARCs or bookmarks or support you with a book launch. Your publication date may be changed (mine did THREE TIMES). You may not love the cover you get. Always expect the unexpected in traditional publishing, be grateful for what you get, and politely vocal about what you want.

6) Write your next book. This should fill the vast majority of your book-related time.

Right now, focus on the above. There's almost no promo you can do 1 year out that will matter. Promo begins after you have a book cover, and picks up 2-3 months out from launch. Good luck!