The Write Stuff Writers Conference™ Full Schedule

Tags

Book Marketing, Flash Literature Contest, GLVWG Program Speakers, JD Barker, Lehigh Valley Arts Council, Tim Esaias, Writing, Writing Conference, Writing Craft, Writing Workshops

Conference 2019

Conference 2019

30 Great Events over Three Days

March 12, 13, 14, 2020

Register Here

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Thursday March 12

Two Half-Day Seminars 

  Includes Lunch and Writers Cafe

2018 Conference

 Tim Esaias

Morning Session: 9:00 – 12:00

What to Put In & What to Take Out:
How to remove meaningless stuff from your prose,
and put content back in.

 

Develop an action plan for facing the rewrite of your novel, or any piece of prose fiction. We’ll start with all the Horrible Things you need to excise (Tim dishes out a full blast of anti-bobble-headism, along with attacks on saidisms, compulsive modifications, and references to the beheading of Charles I); and then we’ll move on to the important matter of adding significant details, POV signifiers, color characters, theme music and more. Tim will suggest a series of focused “preliminary passes” to make through the manuscript, each addressing a specific issue. There will be exercises; chocolate; and, of course, malt balls.

Afternoon Session: 1:30 – 5:00

Selected Elements of Style

Style makes or breaks your chance of a sale, but what the heck is it? How can you make it your servant? Timons Esaias will shed a modicum of light on the dark mysteries of style. We’ll discuss the key rules, the genre differences, and how to think about the morass of conflicting advice you’ll encounter. Tim promises three specific style tools that should fit in any writer’s kit: the Churchillian Sword, the Vanilla Verb-Pair Demon, and Uranium Enrichment to Weapons-Grade Prose, with exercises for each tool. We’ll discuss the use of Templates, and engage in a Style Analysis exercise covering 7 genres. Bring questions about everything from spelling to musical rhythm. Suitable for all genres. Required text is Strunk & White, because love it or hate it, you should all have it.

 

Writers Cafe: 7:00 – 9:00

Lehigh Room – Facilitated by Bart Palamaro

Get ready for Friday night Page Cuts or Saturday Agent/Editor pitches by bringing your pitch or opening page and we will give you instant feedback!  Or just bring the first page of your manuscript for a critique. 

ALL registered Conference attendees are welcome to attend this Conference version of GLVWGs monthly read and critique meeting. 

It’s a fun time!

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Friday, March 13

  Includes Lunch, Thursday’s Writers Cafe plus all Friday evening activities including

Page Cuts Critique (with $10 fee) , Foundation of a Story, and Reception.

2018 Conference

2018 Conference

 

JD Barker :      1:30 – 5:00 PM

Full Day Writing Development Workshop

Submit your novel in advance to have it critiqued by the number one international best selling author. Obviously not all submissions can be critiqued, but he will ask for volunteers, and choose a number of works at random if no one is willing.

Works in progress in any genre are welcome.

One of the best ways to improve your writing is to have a mentor read and critique your work. Almost as good, and sometimes even better, is to hear the critique of other folks work and compare it to how you responded to the writing.

This is a rare and not-to-be-missed opportunity to improve your craft by having a world renowned successful author share his expertise with you. JD Barker worked as a “Book Doctor” for over twenty years, refining what works, what pulls the reader in, and what impresses the agents. Do not let this opportunity pass you by.

JD will call for volunteers from the audience, and if no one is willing, he will choose a number of works at random from all submissions and focus on those.

He’ll isolate the problem areas and through brainstorming, work with the audience to correct the issues. Things like passive voice, adverbs, bad dialog tags, unnecessary filler words, showing vs. telling, weak start, etc…

Work will be critiqued anonymously, unless you volunteer, in which case everyone will know who you are.

Submit your work (MS WORD or APPLE PAGES ONLY PLEASE) The link to submit your work will be in your registration acknowledgement email.

 

Page Cuts Critique Sessions: 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Advance registration necessary 
sessions fill quickly. 

The Panel Judges

Chris Ochs Reads an Entry

Page Cuts critique sessions are optional ($10.00 session charge) Participants will be assigned to a room headed by a team of publishing professionals who have been asked to provide feedback on your work.  This kind of “cold critique” i.e. where first impressions count, is exactly like someone reading the first page of your novel at a bookseller, whether on line or in a store.  That impression is what determines whether they buy your book.  Don’t pass up this opportunity to get that first page polished so it shines!

Your work will be read aloud by a room moderator and commented upon by our panelists. No names will be used, all works are COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS. Opinions of workshop panelists are theirs alone and do not represent the opinions of GLVWG.

Limited readings. Participants who have been informed of their successful enrollment should bring to their session four copies of the first page of a longer work (fiction, creative nonfiction, or memoir) along with four copies of a 100-word overview of the entire work.

Copies must be formatted. Double-spaced, 12 pt. “Times” font, 1-inch margins, Title & Genre at top of page. No names please. Print to start at the top of the page.

LIMITED SEATING: additional $10.00 charge with any registration

 

Peggy Adamczyk:     7:00 – 8:00 PM

Peg Adamczyk

The Foundation of a Story – 
Laying the Groundwork Before Your First Draft.

 

• Go from Idea to Concept by using Brainstorming Lists, ‘What If’ questions, and Mind Mapping techniques to help develop story ideas into workable concepts
• Techniques for developing and organizing the hidden Theme of story with techniques from Dwight Swain Elements of Plot, Michael Hauge Story Spine or Desire line, and tag/ log lines.
• Creating and getting to know your settings and characters by using the ‘Sphere of Influence’ techniques used in marketing.
• The introduction of modified version of Michael Hauge’s Three Act Structure that will allow both outline writers and descriptive writers to control the flow of their plot without hindering the journey.

 

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Saturday, March 14 Overview

20 workshops, Agent./Editor pitch sessions, marketing consults,
author publicity photos, plus lunch and Keynote address,

Door Prizes. Saturday Registration Includes Thursday Writers Cafe,
all Friday evening activities including Page Cuts Critique ($10 fee), The Foundation of a Story, and Reception.

Carrie Turansky

Harrison Demchick

Jeanette Windle

Michael Ventrella

Tim Esaias

JD Barker

Check-in and Announcements in Lehigh Room: 8:00 – 8:50 AM

 

 

Saturday Afternoon:  4:00 – 6:00 PM

Book Fair, Flash Literature Writing Contest

 

Charles Kiernan Taking Orders

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Flash Literature – 2018 Conference

2018 Book Fair

John Evans

2018 Door Prizes

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Additional opportunity: Author Publicity Photos by Joan Zachary
$40 at Registration – Only 10 Sessions Left!

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Go to the Registration Page and choose Member, Non-Member or Student registration.
Then choose Full Conference Registration or which day(s) you would like to register.
Depending on day(s) chosen, there may be other options, such as Friday evening
Page Cuts Critique or Saturday Agent/Editor pitch session,
Author Publicity Photos and Marketing Consults.

For Hotel Accommodations and Directions see:
Directions and Lodgings

Click to learn more about our Presenters
Agents and Editors and Marketing Consultants.
Then subscribe to the Write Stuff Blog for Agent/Editor Interviews

 

See you there – The GLVWG Conference Committee

 

The 2019 GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™ — The Grand Event

Tags

Author Voice, Book Marketing, C.Y.L.E. Literary, Character Development, Firefly Hill Press, Handling Rejection, Self-Publishing, Splickety Publishing, Talcott Notch Literary Agency, Writing, Writing Conferences, Writing Craft, Writing Fiction, Writing Flash Fiction, YA

 

Ben Wolf

Charis Crowe

Janeen Ippolito

Donna Brennan

Kathryn Kraft

Dr. Larry Schardt

David E. Fessenden

John Gibbs

Day 3 – Main Event – March 23, 2019

GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™ 

 Over 20 Workshops, Agent/Editor pitch sessions, Marketing Consults

Lunch and Keynote address with Ben Wolf

Bookfair, Flash Literature Writing Contest, and Door Prizes

Dawn Sooy – Conference Chair

Announcements in Lehigh Room 7:30 AM – 8:20 AM

Map of Rooms – So You Don’t Get Lost

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Debora Riley-Magnus

Donna Galanti

Danielle Modafferi – Firefly Hill Press

Stephanie Kehr – C.Y.L.E. Literary

Tia Mele

Agent Pitches and Marketing Consults will run concurrent to workshops. Advance registration required. Please check your appointment times upon registration.

 

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Saturday Overview

Sessions run concurrent in Cedar Crest, Muhlenberg, Lafayette, & Moravian Rooms

Lunch in Salon A & B with Keynote Address by Ben Wolf

Book Fair, Flash Fiction Contest

Door Prizes announced during Book Fair (must be present to win)

 

Program Syllabus – Morning

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Lunch with Keynote Speaker – Ben Wolf

In Salon B

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Program Syllabus – Afternoon

 

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Flash Literature Contest 

Flash Literature – 2018 Conference

Flash Literature – 2018 Conference

Don’t forget to stop by the Lehigh Room to vote on this year’s entries for the 100 word Flash Literature Contest for Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry.  

Use the color-coded note cards in your registration booklet to cast your vote for your favorite entry in each category. You may only vote for one entry in each category. Place your ballot in the box provided. You must be registered at the conference to be eligible to vote.

 Voting ends at 2:30 p.m. Flash Fiction officials will then tally the votes and announce the winners at the book fair after 3:30 p.m. Winners need not be present. However, winnings may include a certificate for book fair purchase which must be used at the 2019 conference.

 

 

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3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Book Fair – Contest Results – Door Prizes – Networking Opportunities

Contest Winners, Door Prizes (Must be present to win)

Book Fair — All published GLVWG members are eligible to participate in the book fair if registered in advance by March 3, 2019, with contact book fair coordinator Sandra Almonte at glvwg.bookfair@gmail.com.

Detailed instructions for selling your book(s) at the Book Fair, please click HERE.

 

2018 Book Fair

2018 Door Prizes

2018 Book Fair

 

5:00 PM — Conference closes

Check this website in the next couple of weeks, where we’ll post pictures of the conference.

 

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Article by D.T. Krippene – Social Media Chair

You can find DT at his Website – “Searching For Light in the Darkness“

his Facebook Page, and Twitter @dtkrippene

 

 

The 2019GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™ – Day 2

Tags

Ben Wolf, Book Marketing, Charis Crowe, Janeen Ippolito, Self-Publishing, Splickety Publishing, Storytelling, Writing, Writing Conferences, Writing Craft

2018 Conference

2018 Conference

2018 Conference

Day 2 of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group Write Stuff Conference™ on Friday, March 22, will consist of half-day seminars with Ben Wolf, Charis Crowe, and Janeen Ippolito, followed by Page Cuts Critique Sessions with publishing professionals, and an early evening seminar on “The Pixar Method” with Charis Crowe.

Ben Wolf

Charis Crowe

Janeen Ippolito

 

7:00 a.m. Check-In table opens. Pick up registration materials at the check-in table

Friday session includes Lunch, two half-day workshops and evening seminar, Page Cuts Critique (with $10 fee) and evening reception. 

 

Map of Room Locations – Don’t Get Lost

 

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8:30 AM – 12:00 PM ~ The Three Pillars of Storytelling

with Ben Wolf and Charis Crowe

Storytellers throughout the ages have employed three essential elements to weave compelling tales: the high concept, the characters, and the plot. Each of these elements, when utilized efficiently, work together to support everything from short stories and flash fiction to epics sprawling across multiple movies, shows, and books.

This half-day workshop begins with a discussion of the story’s high concept and what makes for an irresistible idea. Then follows a breakdown of how to create engaging and realistic characters with backstories and motivation. The class concludes with an exploration of how to create interesting plots based on the classic three-act structure. Developing these three pillars of storytelling will help propel any story (and any storyteller) to new heights.

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12:00 Noon – 12:45 PM ~ Lunch (included)

Salon B

Plus: Networking Opportunities

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1:00 PM – 4:30 PM ~ Book to Market:

Tips to Package, Promote, and Publish Your Book

With Janeen Ippolito

 Should you aim for a traditional publisher or try to publish yourself? Is there a way to make selling books easier? And what social media should you really be using? Get clarity on your publishing and marketing options from publishing industry pro and marketing coach Janeen Ippolito.

These sessions take out the “overwhelm” and enable you to make decisions with confidence about your manuscript’s future.

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2018 Conference

2018 Conference

6:30 PM – 8:30 PM ~ Page Cuts Critique Sessions

In the Cedar Crest, Muhlenberg, and Lafayette Rooms

LIMITED SEATING: Advance registration necessary

Additional $10.00 charge with any registration

Page Cuts critique sessions are optional ($10.00 session charge) Participants will be assigned to a room headed by a team of publishing professionals who have been asked to provide feedback on your work. This kind of “cold critique” i.e. where first impressions count, is exactly like someone reading the first page of your novel at a bookseller, whether on line or in a store. That impression is what determines whether they buy your book. Don’t pass up this opportunity to get that first page polished so it shines!

Your work will be read aloud by a room moderator and commented upon by our panelists. No names will be used, all works are COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS. Opinions of workshop panelists are theirs alone and do not represent the opinions of GLVWG.

Limited readings. Participants who have been informed of their successful enrollment should bring to their session four copies of the first page of a longer work (fiction, creative nonfiction, or memoir) along with four copies of a 100-word overview of the entire work.

Copies must be formatted. Double-spaced, 12 pt. “Times” font, 1-inch margins, Title & Genre at top of page. No names please. Print to start at the top of the page. 

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7:00 PM – 8:00 PM ~ The Pixar Method with Charis Crowe

In the Moravian Room

(Runs Concurrent to Page Cuts Critique)

Through the magic of engaging characters and heart-tugging plot lines, Pixar has brought us stories that ring true to who we are for over 20 years. Discover their methods, unpack the Pixar secrets for success, and learn how to apply them in your own writing.

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2018 Conference

2016 Conference

8:30 PM – 10:00 PM ~ Reception/Social Gathering

A relaxing atmosphere with snacks, soft drinks, cash bar. A perfect opportunity to network among fellow writers, presenters, agents and editors.

 

But don’t party too hard. Saturday’s main event is a busy day.

 

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Article by D.T. Krippene – Social Media Chair

You can find DT at his Website – “Searching For Light in the Darkness“

his Facebook Page, and Twitter @dtkrippene

 

An Interview with Donna Galanti

Tags

Book Marketing, MG Author, Networking, Social Media, Writing, Writing Fiction, Writing Tips

Article by Susan Golden

 

Donna Galanti writes thrillers for kids and grownups. She is the author of the bestselling paranormal suspense Element Trilogy and the children’s fantasy adventure Joshua and The Lightning Road series. Donna is a contributing editor for International Thriller Writers the Big Thrill magazine, a writing contest judge at nycmidnight.com, and regularly presents as a guest author at schools and teaches at writing conferences. She lived in England as a child and was stationed in Hawaii as a U.S. Navy photographer.

GLVWG member, Susan Golden, asked Donna a few questions.

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If I were to meet you at a conference, what is something you would tell me about yourself that would be intriguing.

In high school in the 1980s I was obsessed with Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and dressed up as Aragorn (what I envisioned he would look like at the time). Of course, no one knew who I was in my cloak and boots. I am a fantasy reader and writer at heart.

What have you learned from the mistakes made in marketing a product?

Not realizing that I am marketing myself first, in many instances. People often want to connect to you as a person first, so they can then be drawn in to your product. Also, it’s key to build a subscriber list and a cheerleading team before you market a product so that it already has momentum to sell when it’s available.

What is the difference between marketing and selling?

With marketing, it’s important to remember that this is about being focused on what the consumer needs. Find their need and fill it. With selling, this is really all about focusing on sales, and how to increase numbers and product.

Do you have a favorite or suggested reading regarding marketing?

The Social Media Examiner is a good blog to follow to keep up with social media marketing trends. I also follow Neil Patel who has great podcasts with marketing tips through his Marketing School program.

Based on your experience as a contest judge, what are the biggest mistakes made in submissions and what advice would you give authors when selecting and submitting works in contests.

I see many of the same mistakes made over and over in submissions. I see overuse of exclamation marks, situations that are not believable, too much dialogue and not enough action/reaction/setting, too many characters and names, all telling and no showing, and head hopping. With fantasy, I see a lot of made-up lingo, places, names that bog down the story and pull me out of it. I would suggest when submitting short works, to make it simple. Have 2-3 characters we can connect with and care about. Add in sensory details to enrich the story and add in action/reaction between characters to show us about them and their motivations.

What is the greatest lesson you have learned from your experience in moving from fledgling author to success?

I wish I’d learned about how to write a book before writing my first book. I took writing workshops after I finished that first book and it required going back and fixing a ton of things! However, I don’t regret the learning that took place afterwards because it taught me how to write a better book from the beginning. Keep learning your craft and keep filling your writer’s toolbox. And remember that this writing business is not GOING to be easy – it’s going to be worth it! Visit my Writers Corner for inspiration, advice, and resources on writing.

What one thing would you like to relate to the audience?

As authors we get out of our comfort zone when we write, but we must also publicly get out of our comfort zone and into a new community comfort zone – online and in person. Through doing this, I’ve networked with all kinds of professionals in the publishing industry that have helped me get an agent, get a publisher, get blurbs, get exposure and more.

How to start? 

• Join a writer organization, general one or genre-based. Search online by your region. “writer’s organizations” + “region”.
• Attend writer meetups. Search http://www.meetup.com and create one if none available.
• Follow and connect with authors you admire.
• Check out the Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers and pick a few to follow and engage with.
• Connect with other debut authors. Search online for “Debut Author” + “Year” your book releases. You can band together to do shared promotion.
• Connect with readers before your book comes out. Book bloggers are your friend. Follow them online, comment on their blogs. Ask them to review your book, do a cover reveal, or a giveaway.
• Position yourself as an expert and share what you know. Giving a talk in-person or being on someone else’s blog instantly positions you as an expert.
• Build a subscriber list. A subscriber list is your direct line to your readers, whether a blog or newsletter list. It’s the only community list you own. What if Twitter or Facebook went away? How would you reach your community? Through email.
• Start with who you know. Tip: run a Rafflecopter contest and have entrants follow your newsletter or blog for extra entries.

Donna will be available at the GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™ on Saturday, March 23, 2019 to provide marketing advice for conferees on a first come, first serve basis. To sign up for a consultation session, follow the instructions on the registration form. Your actual times for the consult will be assigned after registration is closed, and will be attached to conference materials upon signing in.

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You can find Donna at https://www.donnagalanti.com/ and learn more about her recent book series, available on Amazon.

Be sure to follow her Facebook Page, and Twitter Feed @DonnaGalanti.

 

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  Article by Susan Golden

An Interview with Charis Crowe – Presenter at the 2019 Write Stuff Conference™ March 21 through 23

Tags

Author Voice, Book Marketing, Writing, Writing Conferences, Writing Craft, YA

Article by Idelle Kursman

 

GLVWG member, Idelle Kursman, introduced Charise Crowe, January 27 on the GLVWG WordPress Blog. As a follow-up, Idelle took some time to ask a few questions of Charise, who will be co-presenting with her husband, Ben Wolf, at the Write Stuff Conference™ March 21 through 23.

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Idelle: If I were to meet you at a conference, what is something you would tell me about yourself that would be intriguing? Please do not use anything from your bio.

 If we met a conference, you would probably start the conversation. I’m notoriously shy when left to my own devices, but I do love meeting and talking with other writers. If you asked about my hobbies, I would say that I crochet, I love to cook, and I’m trying to learn the ukulele–with mixed results. If we talked about politics I would say that everything swings on a pendulum, and remember to be kind, and that I have very well formed thoughts about our inevitable AI. overlords. If we chatted about life, I’d encourage you to take more time for yourself, focus on joy, and spend time in the sun.

 Idelle: Who are your favorite authors? Why were they favorites?

I’m a Hogwarts kid, so of course I love the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. My current favorite authors are Neal Shusterman (Scythe and Thunderhead are particular standouts),  Lev Grossman (The Magicians Trilogy, with a TV series that really does the books justice), Scott Westerfeld (The Leviathon Trilogy was fantastic), and Jon Ronson (The Men Who Stare at Goats and The Psycopath Test) Shusterman, Grossman, and Westerfeld are all YA/New Adult authors who put their characters in imaginative far-flung worlds while keeping their character’s feet on the ground. Ronson is just a personal favorite. I love his style of Gonzo journalism and the ridiculous situations he gets himself into. He’s described himself as being high-anxiety and so his bravery in insane situations is something that I’m a bit envious of.

 Idelle: What are common traps for aspiring writers?

Vanity publishers. If someone is asking you for thousands of dollars to publish your work and you’ve 1) never heard of them, 2) never heard of their authors, 3) can’t find any of their books for sale/they won’t put you in touch with any of their authors…. Run. Run far, far away. Having a “tribe” of writers with varying levels of experience and expertise is crucial for avoiding pitfalls in publishing.

 Idelle: How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have? Do you have any plans for them?

 I think the first book I wrote is doomed to sit and collect dust forever. And that’s okay. I have a YA Steampunk manuscript that needs a solid edit. I might look into doing something with that one towards the end of 2019. We’ll see. Currently in my head I have an idea for a remake of Brave New World and an idea for medieval series that focuses more on the common folk than the wealthy ruling class.

Idelle: What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

I do tons of research. Usually weeks/months before even starting a project. And once I start the research just continues. When I write fantasy, I like to base my people groups and cultures off of a real world example. I also like to focus on characters that have some sort of disability, so there’s a ton of ever-evolving research I do for that as well. I’m kind of a spreadsheet nerd. I keep an Excel file as my “Story Bible”. My current W.I.P. Excel file has… 14 tabs. I need it to keep everything straight!

 Idelle: What is one thing you would give up to become a better writer?

I’m actually in a season of reevaluating this. I’m tweaking some lazy habits to devote more time to writing and trying to be more mindful of my time management. I practically hibernate in winter, and we live in Iowa. Can I give up Iowa? I’d love a warmer climate. I would definitely get more work done.

 Idelle: If you wrote a letter to your younger self, what would you say?

I would definitely fill it with spoilers. “Don’t do this!” and “You’re gonna regret that!” 

But mostly I would tell myself that, really, I am good enough. I am strong. I’d tell myself to not pretend to be someone I’m not just to make others happy. Because doesn’t that mean the other person doesn’t *actually* like me? Who needs that? What a silly waste of time. I’d tell myself to keep going, to work harder, and to always, always act with love. 

 Oh, and to invest in Bitcoin. Really missed the easy meal ticket on that one.

 Idelle: How would you counsel a writer who is having trouble making sales?

That’s a tough one. Sometimes a beautiful book can earn very few sales while a seemingly dumpster-fire becomes a global best seller.

Books that sell really well have a host of similar qualities, but the biggest one (in my opinion) is this: they meet a need. They meet a huge need. 

If your book isn’t selling well, have you set it up correctly? Is there an audience for what you wrote? Are there other books in your genre? Do you have a title and a cover that fit the idea of that genre? Is your back cover copy engaging, does it make a reader ask enough questions that they must open it to page 1? Do you have the right social media presence? Are you partnered with other authors in the same genre?

There’s a lot of ways a book can “fail”. You wouldn’t ride a bicycle on the Autobahn, and you wouldn’t try to climb Everest on a motorcycle. Are you on the right road and are you approaching it the right way? Have you given yourself the right tools to find success? I’ll be teaching a class on a lot of this–so if you’re unsure then I hope to see you there! 

Idelle: If someone wanted to find a job in the writing field or with a publisher, what advice would you give that person?

Marry someone established in the field! (haha, just kidding!)

Make yourself available. Join critique groups and offer to beta read. Attend as many conferences as you can. Give constructive feedback. Offer to bring that super-awesome professional a bottle of water or a cup of coffee. Offer favors with no expectation of repayment. Be a friend. Ask yourself, “If I was in their shoes, what would I need?”

I met one of my absolutely favorite people at a writer’s conference. (Well, several, actually. Hi, Ben!) She was working in an entirely different stratosphere from little, lowly me. It took time to develop that friendship–she was used to people having interest in her job but not really in her as a person. During one conference, we were in a group and she got saddled with someone who wouldn’t take a “no, thank you” for his manuscript and just kept pitching. And she just couldn’t pull herself away. I glanced at my watch and said “[Friend], weren’t you supposed to have a call 20 minutes ago?” And we politely excused ourselves. At the next conference we were at, I hadn’t seen her all day. She came up to me after dinner and demanded to know where I had been–she’d been getting cornered all day and needed a friend to help rescue her from those situations.

 I saw a need I could help fill. That’s 99.99% of making industry connections.

 If you get a no or a yes, accept it with grace. Recognize that these people are people. They are there to help you, but if a publisher/editor/agent says no, don’t keep hounding them. That’s won’t make their answer any better! 

 

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Article Written by Idelle Kursman

Idelle Kursman was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Boston College and her Master’s from William Paterson University. She has a loved one with autism and after watching the movie Taken five years ago, she felt compelled to write a novel about human trafficking. Since she loves thrillers, especially if it is a book she cannot put down, she sought to give readers this experience in her debut novel. At the same time, Idelle seeks to raise awareness for autism and the international human trafficking crisis. She lives with her family in New Jersey.

You can find Idelle on her website: https://idellekursman.com/, and social media links.

facebook.com/luckcanchange

twitter.com/IdelleKursman

linkedin.com/in/idelle-kursman

An Interview with Janeen Ippolito

Tags

Book Marketing, Writing, Writing Coach, Writing Conferences, Writing Craft, Writing Fiction, Writing Romance

Article by Dawn Sooy:

Last month, Dawn Sooy introduced Janeen Ippolito on our Write Stuff Conference™ blog.  Janeen is an experienced teacher, editor, author coach, marketer, and Editor-in-Chief of Uncommon Universes Press, a small science fiction and fantasy publishing house. She’s also the cohost of the podcast Indie Book Magic. Whether brainstorming a plot twist, developing a course, or analyzing marketing angles, she’s happiest when creating solutions that get unique words written, polished, published, and noticed in the ever-changing publishing industry.

Dawn had the chance to interview Janeen before the GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™, where Janeen will give a half-day seminar March 22: Book to Market: Tips to Package, Promote, and Publish Your Book, followed by March 23 courses: Fundamentals of Fiction – Inside Out, and How to Write Romantic Subplots.

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If I were to meet you at a conference, what is something you would tell me about yourself that would be intriguing. Please do not use anything from your bio.

 I’m synesthetic, which means I have cross-wired senses. I can see, taste, and feel sounds. I can also see scents and I have conceptual synesthesia, which deals with the perception of time within space. 

 Who is your favorite authors? Why were they favorites?

 Gail Carson Levine. She has such elegant, creative, precise middle grade fiction that is timeless and great for all ages. Malcolm Gladwell, Brene Brown, and Mark Kurlansky are favorite nonfiction authors for their unique voices, insight, and perceptions. P.G. Wodehouse and Agatha Christie are favorites for their pitch-perfect humor and plotting, and are two inspirations for my own writing. 

 There are times when people relax at home, the read, crochet, and color in the Mandela pattern books. What is your favorite pastime when relaxing?

 Wood burning! I love sitting down and burning patterns and images into wood.

 What are common traps for aspiring writers?

1. Not taking time to understand your unique goals and reasons for writing. 

2. Giving up too soon. Writing is a learning process. The more you write, the better you’ll get. 

3. Writing in a genre you haven’t read at all. There are conventions, tropes, and word usages common to each genre. 

4. Comparing yourself, your process, or your journey to other writers. Every writer is unique. Focus on doing you and let others do them.

5. Publishing too soon. Invest in a good critique group. Invest in beta readers. Invest in craft improvement. Invest in an editor. Your work doesn’t have to be perfect (and it never will be), but make sure it meets a certain standard of quality. 

If you wrote a letter to your younger self, what would you say?

 You’re going to be okay. Relax and ease up on yourself. Follow your gut more and trust the journey. 

 How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have? Do you have any plans for them?

 About 10, I think. There will be more. Since trying out drafts and abandoning them is part of my process, so there are a lot of relics on the road to publication! I have no interest in publishing any of my unpublished works or half-finished books, because the parts I like have already been recycled into better works.

 Question – What age did you start writing? What was your favorite genre at that time, and why?

 I started writing at age thirteen. At that time, my favorite genres were science fiction, fantasy, and mystery. I was raised with science fiction and fantasy, and I love the puzzle aspect of mysteries. 

 What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

 For my fiction, I do quite a bit of world building research and characterization research. However, I start writing while doing research. I pause and dig up ideas along the way. The first draft is part of my research process. I learn through the story what I need to learn more about. It usually takes me several attempts to get a draft I’m confident with, but on the plus side, I don’t have the months of pre-draft prep!

 What one thing would you give up to become a better writer?

 Pride. And I continually have to give it up to learn more! My writing process is nonlinear and always shifting, so I’m always learning new things, making new failures, and learning from those failures. Perseverance and humility are two essentials for writing success!

 You have two books published on World Building. What is the difference between these two books? Is one better than the other to use? 

World Building From the Inside Out – Textbook + Workbook is a quick-start reference guide and primer for world building with a strong cultural bent.

I wrote the textbook because I couldn’t find something out there that was quick, easy, and people-oriented (aka, how will your characters act within their culture) rather than place oriented (let’s make up names for the moon and stars and plants and etc).

I wrote the workbook because literally, a review said “can I get a workbook?” The workbook is separate so that you can flip through the textbook with one hand while writing down your answers in the workbook. 

 Irresistible World Building for Unforgettable Stories is a creative writing guide. It explains how to weave the world building you’ve created into your plot, characterization, and story themes. I wrote this book on client demand because I saw that authors would create these great fantasy worlds, but wouldn’t use those elements effectively within key story beats. So I created a resource to help!

Since they cover different aspects, writers will either buy one book (set of two) or the other, based on their need. But they often buy all three!

To read more on Janeen, visit:

·         Author Website: http://www.janeenippolito.com

·         Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/janeenippolitollc/

·         Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaneenIppolito

·         Instagram: @janeen_ippolito

·         Interview – World Building with Janeen Ippolito 

 

And don’t forget to check out her book series: The Ironfire Legacy

 

 

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Article by Write Stuff Conference Chair – Dawn Sooy

Dawn is a native of Eastern Pennsylvania, with plenty of experience the four seasons have to offer. Armed with a Computer Science degree, she worked in the tech industry until 2012. As an animal lover, she volunteers at the local animal shelter, sneaking in treats for the four-legged residents.

As a member of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group, Dawn fulfills the duties of Secretary, Conference Chair for the 2019 GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™, and is part of the 2019 Anthology team. She has published six short stories, the most recent, “Love Knows No Boundaries,” featured in the 2017 GLVWG anthology, “Write Here – Write Now.” She plans to contribute a story to the 2019 GLVWG anthology “Rewriting the Past.”

“From the Darkness” is her first novel, self-published in March 2018. This is based on a true story about a woman with bipolar depression.

Dawn and her husband Bob reside in Kempton, PA. Between them, they have four children, two grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

An Interview with Debora Riley Magnus

Tags

Author Success Coach, Book Marketing, Creative Writer, Indie Publishing, Writing, Writing Conferences

Article by Write Stuff Conference Chair, Dawn Sooy

We are pleased to have author and success coach Deborah Riley-Magnus return to the GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™ on March 23, 2019.  She has a twenty-seven year professional background in marketing, advertising, and public relations as a writer for print, television, and radio.

Deb will be on hand Saturday, March 23, for individual marketing consult. Spaces are limited, so be sure to sign up early.

NOTE: To sign up for a consulting session, follow the instructions on the registration form. Your actual times for consult will be assigned after registration is closed, and will be attached to conference materials upon signing in.

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Question – If I were to meet you at a conference, what is something you would tell me about yourself that would be intriguing. Please do not use anything from your bio.

Well, I’m a retired award-winning chef. I absolutely love to entertain and throw dinner parties. I cook almost every single day, and my favorite pastime in the world is grocery shopping. If you’re ever in Pittsburgh, let me know. I’ll cook for you! And one of these days, I will write a cookbook.

Question: What have you learned from the mistakes made within marketing a product?

Most of what I learned I learned in the very beginning. At 25 (long, long ago) I owned an advertising agency and it’s so true, God IS in the details. Always remember to look for typos, especially where you don’t expect them, like in the book title, the spelling of your name, or a blog title! Never forget to be kind, honest, and courteous. It sounds silly, but people remember and the last thing you ever want to hear is that someone you met thinks you’re, well, not a nice person. It can and does effect sales! Make sure your product is true to its word, not less than advertised, and never slightly off base. For example, if it’s a horror, it’s a horror. But if it only has a horror element or two, it’s not really a horror. That’s misrepresentation with a goal to tap into an unsuspecting hard-core horror audience. That audience will NOT be happy. And finally, you always have to believe in your product and yourself. It’s a brave thing writers do, putting our hearts and souls out there for the world to read. Believing in oneself is the biggest tool we have for plowing ahead and continuing our journey. Like sensing that a person is smiling over the phone, your marketing benefits from true, personal confidence.

Question: How has the marketing field changed over the last couple of years?

The honest truth is that marketing has never changed, it’s the same thing it always was—Marketing is CREATING AWARENESS for your book or product. What has changed is the multitude of cool, new, crazy venues available to us, and most at no cost. Another thing that’s changed is the unfortunate push for authors to use a shotgun marketing approach (email blasts, shouting “Buy my book!” on random and broad collections of Twitter followers and Facebook friends, being visible where a million other authors and their books are visible.) A far more effective targeted approach should be every author’s strategy.

Authors have gotten the mistaken idea that marketing is not creative, should be done quickly, in the same places all their competition markets, and is a one-size-fits-all system. This can’t be further from the truth. Is your book like every other author’s book? Does it tell the same story? Have the same cover? Attract to the same audience? No, no, and no. So, the one-size fits-all, get-it-over-and-done-with approach to marketing does not serve authors or anyone with a product to sell. It’s the sad reason most authors spend too much money, huff, roll their eyes, and proclaim that marketing just doesn’t work. Marketing does work. What they are doing doesn’t.

Question: What is the difference between marketing and selling?

Ah, great question! It’s actually a broader question than that. It’s the difference between SELLING and ALLOWING PEOPLE TO BUY! See, marketing is all about creating relationships with a buyer based on what they love. Imagine that your product is expensive women’s purses. Would you simply shout to everyone in hearing distance that you have the perfect purse for them? Would you set up a purse display in the weight room of a local boxing gym? Would you buy all the billboards or bus ads, or newspaper ads you can to get the word out? Now that’s selling and it’s hard, expensive work. This splattered shotgun approach can expect less than .3% return on money and effort investment. The better approach for selling expensive purses would be to target wealthy women who can afford your purses. They already love the product, are known to purchase the product, and willing to purchase more of the product. That’s allowing people to buy.

It works the same for books. If you shout in Facebook Groups loaded with other authors shouting about their book, it’s hard to be heard. But if your book is about the Civil War and you target all your marketing to antique lovers, do speaking engagements at antique shops, vintage clothing shops, or Civil War weapons collector shows, you would be allowing people to buy instead of working so hard to sell them something they may not want. When you target market, always remember all those car dealerships and newspaper pages loaded with new and used cars for sale. NO ONE is looking unless they’re in the market for a car. People not interested in the Civil War just skim past your book. However, those who love Civil War history are looking for your book. Focusing your marketing on them just makes sense. That focus will also take you to places where other authors aren’t shouting for attention.

Another big difference between selling and allowing people to buy is that often authors misunderstand their audience. Just because it’s a romance does not mean that the only people who read romance are looking at that romance lovers Facebook Group. People who love romance generally are women doing ANYTHING and EVERYTHING women do! Target them where they live, and shop, and exercise, and enjoy each other’s company. There are always far bigger audiences than authors think. People who read are in a lot more places than book stores and online book shouting arenas. And they’re in those other places more of the time, making them more likely to see your marketing.

* To learn about targeted marketing meet with Deb at The Write Stuff March 21-23, 2019

Question: What trends in the publishing marketplace attract your attention? (Such as, what genres are hot? Where is electronic publishing going?)

The trend that most interests me is the vast movement to improve self-published books. Authors are starting to seek serious editing, good cover artists, and looking for higher quality publishing systems (like IngramSpark) for publication. For a long time, quality was low, even for really great self-published books. Create Space made it easy, but never focused on the highest quality that can compete with traditional publishing. A struggle for self-pubbed authors has also been distribution and visibility for libraries and bookstores. Things are improving, systems for publishing are getting better, and distribution and visibility is now available. It’ll still be a little while until readers will have no clue if a book was self or traditionally published, but things are moving in that positive direction.

Regarding genres, in my mind it’s kind of like fashion trends. They come, and they go. Vampires are back. Science Fiction has gone a little quiet. At this point urban fantasy trumps dark fantasy, but what’s quiet will get loud again and vice-versa. Romance, like a classic trench coat, never seems to waver or go out of style.

Electronic publishing, e-books and e-readers are the future. We can’t stop that. Someday there will be only online libraries and bookstores with only e-books for sale or loan. Go with it, write great books, have fantastic book covers, and target market well.

Question: I heard about different types of marketing philosophies; such as stealth marketing, guerrilla marketing, viral marketing, pragmatic marketing. Can you explain what each of these topics means?

Wow, that’s an interesting question. It really speaks to the ways people try to complicate a simple process. Marketing is marketing, period. However, I can address a few of these. Guerrilla Marketing is a system and book written by Jay Conrad Levinson and Jeanine Levinson. They wrote several marketing (public relations, advertising, and publicity) books. The word “guerilla” was used to convey the need for strategic approaches to marketing. Like a military action, marketing should never be approached without careful understanding of your target, where they are, what they love, how they like to hear information, etc. It’s the best approach out there for general marketing, hands down.

Stealth marketing is a conundrum to me. Stealth indicates subtle, silent, secret. How does that work? I’ve never heard of stealth marketing, but the concept of connecting with a prospective buyer through unique hooks in your product or book are in synch with my teachings. So, if stealth marketing means connecting with lovers of the Civil War, for example, in order to draw them closer and present your book, it’s a good idea.

Viral marketing is a product of the social networks and the internet. Certain topics, like politics, elicit affairs by highly visible personalities, current gun issues, etc. can and will go viral. Some things go viral for no reason we can put a finger on. When a celebrity or political person, like Lady GaGa or Michelle Obama write a book, it goes viral. It touches on topics that are like live tinder for social media. Viral marketing isn’t something you can plan for or strive for, UNLESS you are 1) famous, and/or 2) write a book that you KNOW is a hot topic. Oh, AND you must write it fast enough to take advantage of that topic. Viral trends are fleeting and unpredictable. Pragmatic marketing?

The definition of pragmatic is:  Of relating to a practical point of view or practical considerations.

In other words, all marketing is pragmatic if done correctly. We check our pocketbook, look at our schedule and time management, determine our target audience, develop creative ways to reach them, then plow ahead to reach as many lovers of our book’s unique hooks as possible. It doesn’t make sense to be impractical. We all need a practical, pragmatic plan.

Question: Do you have a favorite or suggested reading that I could use when marketing my book?

Anything by Levinson. Guerrilla Marketing, Guerrilla Marketing & Direct Selling, Guerrilla Social Media Marketing, Guerrilla Marketing for Free, etc. When I originally read the Guerrilla books, I owned an advertising, marketing, and public relations company. All the techniques are great, cover a broad spectrum of methods for a broad product and services base. But the books do not focus on any specific industry or product.

There are hundreds of book-marketing books out there, even free books on the topic, but we all know the value of free, right? There are books on 5-minute marketing, and 30-day marketing challenges. But as I stated earlier, there is no one-size-fits-all where serious book marketing is concerned. There are books that teach you how to use Twitter, or the best ways to use Facebook (which changes constantly,) or using Instagram, or YouTube, or Pinterest for book sales. The reality is that you need to know more than how to use one or two social networks. A marketing author needs to understand how to integrate each chosen network, connect them to your target audience, intertwine them with live activities, the right message, and create the right platforms for YOUR book’s voice. Not anyone else’s book, YOURS.

My strongest suggestion for marketing your book is my book, Write Brain/Left Brain: Bridging the Gap Between Creative Writer and Marketing Author. It focuses on BOOK marketing and the creative processes involved. The book introduces create processes authors don’t realize are part of marketing. It offers strategic tools, proven techniques, and opens the door for marketing related to the specific book the author has written and how to reach that precise audience.

Here are the facts, all the facts, and nothing but the facts about marketing. Marketing is CREATING AWARENESS that brings sales. Good marketing helps you allow people to buy your book, and real marketing doesn’t cost a fortune or take all your time.

To meet with Deb and get her expert consultation join us at The Write Stuff March 21-23, 2019

You can learn more about Deb at her website ~ The Author Success Coach.

Her books are on Amazon and you can find her on Twitter @rileymagnus and Facebook.

 

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Article by The Write Stuff Conference Chair – Dawn Sooy

Dawn is a native of Eastern Pennsylvania, with plenty of experience the four seasons have to offer. Armed with a Computer Science degree, she worked in the tech industry until 2012. As an animal lover, she volunteers at the local animal shelter, sneaking in treats for the four-legged residents.

As a member of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group, Dawn fulfills the duties of Secretary, Conference Chair for the 2019 GLVWG The Write Stuff Conference™, and is part of the 2019 Anthology team. She has published six short stories, the most recent, “Love Knows No Boundaries,” featured in the 2017 GLVWG anthology, “Write Here – Write Now.” She plans to contribute a story to the 2019 GLVWG anthology “Rewriting the Past.”

“From the Darkness” is her first novel, self-published in March 2018. This is based on a true story about a woman with bipolar depression.

Dawn and her husband Bob reside in Kempton, PA. Between them, they have four children, two grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Meet Charis Crowe — Speaker GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™ 2019

Tags

Author Voice, Book Marketing, Writing, Writing Conferences, Writing Craft, YA

 

Charis Crowe is a professional freelance writer with corporate writing, advertising, and ghostwriting experience. With several completed novels and published short stories, Charis is passionate about finding that one thing a character would never do and making them do it.

She loves all things geeky, weird, and downright impossible. Whether it’s dragons soaring to new heights, unexplored distant planets, or monsters that lurk in the dark, Charis is always ready to help new writers explore their worlds and find more chaos.

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Charis (pronounced Ka-reese) Crowe will be at the GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™ beginning Thursday, March 21, 2019. She will be joining her husband, Ben Wolf, in his full-day presentation Thursday, as well as the morning session on Friday.

Friday evening, Charis flies solo in her 7:00 PM presentation: The Pixar Method – Through the magic of engaging characters and heart-tugging plot lines, Pixar has brought us stories that ring true to who we are for over 20 years. Discover their methods, unpack the Pixar secrets for success, and learn how to apply them in your own writing.

On Saturday, March 23, her topics include:

• Marketing Execution for Authors. Covers, blurbs, Facebook release parties, Instagram hashtags, and meme machines. The world of marketing your books can feel like a giant maze. Learn how to create a product that sells and how to get it in front of readers.
• Finding Your Author Voice. Lovable characters and an exciting plot–these are things every story needs to be successful. But if you’re looking for longevity in publishing, you’re going to have to dig deeper. Every writer has a reason “why” they write. Learn what yours is and how to use it to keep readers coming back for more.
• YA is Here to Stay. Young Adult fiction isn’t just for teens. Learn the ins-and-outs of popular YA subcategories and how this super-powered genre can enhance your writing portfolio.

 

My first YA manuscript was a Steampunk/monster mashup. I’ve got about half a dozen YA WIP ideas floating around on my hard drive in one form or another. And the series I’m releasing now—The Lumen Fates Saga—centers around a group of teenagers selected by a secret society that lives alongside dragons.

There are two really common plot threads in YA that I love to read—budding romance (will-they/won’t-they) and the “chosen one” trope.

YA is all about a person at a crucial time in their lives. The main character is naturally on a journey of self-discovery and growth. They’re becoming someone new. I love those heroes

And although a will-they/won’t-they plot will keep me turning pages, I detest writing them! I tend to make those romances more of a side quest rather than the main goal.

Freelancing has been a bit of everything! Writing, editing, social media management, advertising, impersonating a literary agent—I’ve dabbled in a lot!

Freelancing pros: No dress code. Purple hair and comfy pants, no makeup, and an endless supply of coffee. Plus, more time with our kitty Marco, our kids, and more quality time with Ben (who is also a freelancer).

Freelancing cons: I’m a natural couch potato. Left to my devices, I would probably never leave our living room. Staying active is tough, and while I don’t miss the “rat race” that comes with most regular jobs, I do miss the camaraderie I had with my coworkers.

Born in Denver, Charis’s family moved to British Columbia, Canada. After that, it was down to Tampa Bay, Florida for a few years. Then we moved to the hometown where my parents were raised, Williamsport, PA—home of Little League baseball and… not much else.

I moved out to Iowa in 2008, and I’ve spent probably a cumulative year living in Hawaii over my lifetime.

I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was in second grade. My love of reading, writing, and that feel of words pressed into the pages of a notebook has always been a part of me.

We have one cat named Marco, and he is secretly a dog. He runs to the door and will announce when we have visitors, he yowls to be let outside, he answers to his name, and he will come when called. He even plays fetch.

Although I was the one to adopt Marco, he has taken a much stronger liking to Ben. He’ll even allow Ben to hold him like a baby. This preference has been a deep and hurtful betrayal. But… he’s a cat. I should have seen it coming.

Charis and her husband, Ben, live in ­­­­­­Bettendorf, Iowa with their two daughters—nicknamed Bri-Bear and Strawberry. Most nights of the week they can found snuggled up in front of the TV, poking fun at political ads and watching Survivor.

Married to Ben Wolf, our Keynote speaker for the Write Stuff Conference™ 2019, GLVWG asked, “What’s it like being married to writer/editor/freelancer?”

It’s usually fun, but we definitely disagree sometimes. Ben works faster than I do, so I think I frustrate him at times. We usually leave each other alone during the day—he prefers the dark, isolated basement office. I like to have tons of natural light in my workspace.

Creatively we’re total opposites. We frequently bounce ideas off each other when we’re stuck on a plot hole or a character development. We almost never give each other the “breakthrough” idea. Most of the time we end up inspiring the other person to do the exact opposite of what we suggested!

We try to balance out our knowledge and be a strength to each other. His editing skills are always going to surpass mine. But when it comes to running ads on Amazon, compiling data, or putting together a comprehensive Excel spreadsheet, I take the cake!

 

Charis can be found on Instagram (@CharisCrowe)

 

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Article by GLVWG member —  Idelle Kursman

Idelle Kursman was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Boston College and her Master’s from William Paterson University. She has a loved one with autism and after watching the movie Taken five years ago, she felt compelled to write a novel about human trafficking. Since she loves thrillers, especially if it is a book she cannot put down, she sought to give readers this experience in her debut novel. At the same time, Idelle seeks to raise awareness for autism and the international human trafficking crisis. She lives with her family in New Jersey.

You can find Idelle on her website: https://idellekursman.com/, and social media links.

facebook.com/luckcanchange

twitter.com/IdelleKursman

linkedin.com/in/idelle-kursman

Meet Janeen Ippolito — Presenter for the GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™ 2019

Tags

Book Marketing, Writing, Writing Coach, Writing Conferences, Writing Fiction, Writing Romance

 

“I’m Janeen Ippolito, and I’m determined to see the world filled with amazing books and endless to-be-read piles. I write speculative fiction and creative writing and marketing resources. I’m also an experienced entrepreneur, author coach, editor, teacher, and the president of Uncommon Universes Press. Whether brainstorming a plot twist, developing a course, or analyzing marketing angles, I’m happiest when creating solutions that get your books polished and noticed in the ever-changing publishing industry.”

Article by Dawn Sooy

In her spare time, Janeen enjoys sword-fighting, reading, pyrography, and eating brownie batter. Two of her goals are eating fried tarantulas (Hmm- do they shave the hair first? Janeen: sometimes! They didn’t when I ate some freeze dried tarantulas. Had an interesting texture.) and traveling to Antarctica.

Janeen is an Air Force kid raised all over the East Coast. She went to college in 2005 to study cross-cultural communication, writing, and teaching English as a second language.

Janeen lives in Berwick, PA across the street from the town’s prettiest cemetery, which she often walks around to clear her mind. Her favorite writing beverage is water (room temperature, no ice), her favorite color is dark red, and she has been known to write tragic scenes to fluffy pop songs. She also tends to solve problems while cleaning her house. She’s slightly addicted to buying book swag, especially when it involves dragons.

Plan to attend her Friday Afternoon Class – Book to Market: Tips to Package, Promote, and Publish Your Book. Should you aim for a traditional publisher or try to publish yourself? Is there a way to make selling books easier? And what social media should you really be using? Get clarity on your publishing and marketing options from publishing industry pro and marketing coach Janeen Ippolito. These three sessions take out the “overwhelm” and enable you to make decisions with confidence about your manuscript’s future.

Saturday, Janeen continues presenting at the GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™ on March 22 & 23, 2019 with topics including:

Fundamentals of Fiction – Inside Out. Have an idea for your story, but nowhere to start? Have the start of a draft, but unsure of how to finish it? Heard a lot of writing terms, but unsure where they fit into the big picture? This workshop is for you! It starts by targeting your core motivations with key questions, then breaks down the big task of writing a story into manageable chunks and simplifies the myriad of story-telling concepts into action-items that you can use in your work right now. Come away with a solid foundation for tackling your fiction writing project.

 How to Write Romantic Subplots. Think romance is just for romance novelists? Think again! Romantic subplots can enhance all kinds of fiction and broaden your reader base. Learn how to use romance to push plots effectively so that romance-fans AND non-romance fans will pick up your books!

To read more on Janeen, visit:

·         Author Website: http://www.janeenippolito.com

·         Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/janeenippolitollc/

·         Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaneenIppolito

·         Instagram: @janeen_ippolito

·         Interview – World Building with Janeen Ippolito

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Dawn Sooy, GLVWG’s Conference Chairman, is a native of Eastern Pennsylvania, with plenty of experience the four seasons have to offer. Armed with a Computer Science degree, she worked in the tech industry until 2012. As an animal lover, she volunteers at the local animal shelter, sneaking in treats for the four-legged residents.

 

What I Learned at the BookBaby Independent Writers Conference

Tags

Book Marketing, BookBaby, EBook Services, Indie Publishing, Self-Publishing

 

 

GLVWG’s Idelle Kursman shares lessons learned when she attended the BookBaby Independent Writers Conference this past November.

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I came home from attending the second annual BookBaby Independent Authors Conference in Philadelphia. I met wonderful fellow writers, listened to practical book marketing tips from successful authors and entrepreneurs, and took away many ideas I am anxious to try.  In this post, I would like to share some of the great ideas I learned at the conference.

Eva Lesko Natiello is an author, speaker and book marketing consultant. She wrote and self-published The Memory Box, a bestseller on The New York Times and USA Today. Her website is evanatiello.com. Eva gave the following marketing tips for self-published authors:

• Fill out your Amazon Author Page completely and link it to your website and blog.
• Run a discounted price promotion and advertise it widely.
• Be a guest for a book blogger. To find book bloggers, simply google “(Your genre”) book bloggers”
• Study the competition. Make a list of all the current books similar to yours in the last three years and find out their book prices, format, and number of pages. How are authors of your genre promoting their books?
• Show gratitude to readers who have taken the time to review your book.

 Tieshena Davis is the CEO and Senior Publisher of the award-winning Purposely Created Publishing Group. She is a speaker and the author of Think Like a Bookpreneur (www.thinklikeabookpreneur.com). Tieshena encouraged authors to begin selling their books with pre-sales, which is a strategy to establish audience interest, connect with fans, and secure advance sales before a book is publicly released.

• Authors need to meticulously plan during the pre-sales process (6-8 weeks before book is released) to achieve results. Set a goal of how much money you the author would like to make. Remember to calculate all expenses (costs of the printing, transaction, shipping, packaging, etc.), and review the profit margin.
• Authors need tools to drive sales such as an email notification list, creating a promotion team, alerting social media followers to spread the word, and exploring targeted events where your readers gather.
• Notify target buyers on an email notification list that the book is available for pre-order.
• Build an audience connection by sharing quotes, tips, or resources; host weekly virtual events; email teaser content; offer special bulk book packages; and send out snippets of the book.
• Run ad campaigns on Facebook, Instagram, and Amazon Author-sponsored ads.
• Discount and cross promote. An example is if readers pre-order author’s second book, they will get the first book at 50% off.
• Run weekly contests and giveaways.

 Joanna Penn was the keynote speaker of the BookBaby conference. She is an author, international speaker, and entrepreneur. Joanna writes fiction and nonfiction. Thousands of authors go to her website www.TheCreativePenn.com for marketing and promotion. The following are her tips:

• Change your mindset– don’t think of yourself as a struggling author. Write down positive affirmations and refer to them daily.
• Authors must focus on the customer. It’s not about you, it’s about the reader. What do they want to pay for? Find the intersection between what you love and what you can sell.
• Amazon is a search engine for people “who buy stuff.” Use it for research to find out what people are buying.
• Sell your book in multiple countries in English. Joanna’s books have sold in English in 86 countries through Kobo (a Canadian company that sells e-books, audiobooks, e-readers, and tablet computers).
• Write three shorter books rather than one 80,000-word book. This works well in fiction.
• Build multiple streams of income. Most writers make money from other sources like speaking, freelancing, and blogging.
• Attract an audience that works best with your personality, your book, and your lifestyle. What can you do consistently over the long term?
• Take action.
• You get what you focus on. Make the time.
• Write the best book you can. Don’t rush it!

As one can see, being a successful author involves hard work; there are no shortcuts. Research, computer savvy, and knowledge of various marketing strategies are imperative. Writing the best book you possibly can is simply not enough.  The experts advise doing around twenty minutes of marketing a day along with writing. If one marketing strategy doesn’t work, try another. Don’t give up.

The BookBaby Writers Conference boosted my motivation to market my first novel, True Mercy. It was great meeting so many like-minded people. Rather than being competitive, participants were eager to help fellow authors succeed. Networking opportunities abounded.

 

Article originally published on Idelle Kursman’s website blog at Idellekursman.com.

 

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Idelle Kursman was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Boston College and her Master’s from William Paterson University. She has a loved one with autism and after watching the movie Taken five years ago, she felt compelled to write a novel about human trafficking. Since she loves thrillers, especially if it is a book she cannot put down, she sought to give readers this experience in her debut novel. At the same time, Idelle seeks to raise awareness for autism and the international human trafficking crisis. She lives with her family in New Jersey.

 You can find Idelle on her website: https://idellekursman.com/, and social media links.

facebook.com/luckcanchange

twitter.com/IdelleKursman

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