Archive for the ‘Writing’ Category

Win a Free copy of “Publishing Made Easy & Profitable” at Open House

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

I’m so excited about the enthusiastic response to the formation of VIP Authors Asheville! Many of you have already confirmed your attendance at the group’s OPEN HOUSE on Tuesday, July 5. But, if you haven’t done it yet, RSVP now to join the party!

The Open House is an opportunity to get to know each other better, discuss the format and objectives of the group, review topics of instruction and go over some guidelines for critique. ALL are welcome to attend the Open House, without obligation. Come and hear about VIP Authors Asheville!

We’ll also be gifting one copy of Publishing Made Easy & Profitable digital program ($177 value) at the meeting to a registered new member! Keep reading for details on how to be eligible to win.

Win a Free Publishing Program (digital copy)

Once registered, you are eligible to win a free copy of Publishing Made Easy & Profitable! One copy of of the program will be given away at the Open House to a registered new member. Publishing Made Easy & Profitable shows you how to turn your material into print books, ebooks, audio books and all new forms of media delivery. Read full program description here>>

Good News! Your chances of winning the program are 1 in 10 or better! (Actual odds are determined by number of paid registrations, which is capped at 10.)

VIP Authors Asheville!

Membership in this group is limited to 10 writers. The best way to ensure your position in VIP Authors Asheville! is to confirm your participation by registering for the group. ALL registered members receive a signed, print copy of 4Ps to Publishing Success: Get Your Manuscript Off Your Desk & Into Print, the workbook we’ll use for the class.

You can register online. If you prefer to pay by phone, send an email with your phone number and we will call you to get your information. Either way, you can take advantage of the convenient payment plan or save by making one payment.

Registration is open until all 10 spaces are filled or by July 12, the first week of the group. Even if you cannot begin the first week, you can save your place with your registration and your 10 weeks begins from the meeting you attend. A waiting list will be created once the group fills at 10 members.

Your Next Steps

RSVP for the Open House (if you haven’t already).

Register for VIP Authors Asheville! to be eligible for the free copy of Publishing Made Easy & Profitable.

Be sure to email us if you have any questions at all or want to join by phone.

See you soon!


Are you a rockstar author?

Sunday, October 31st, 2010

Do you remember Madonna’s Reinvention Tour back in 2004? Like her innovative style, the “reinvention” concept was picked up by other artists. The latest one I could find on Google was the Superchick Reinvention Tour this year. But why should recording artists have all the fun?

Reinvention is not limited to rock star musicians! I’m officially announcing the Wordy Woman Reinvention Tour for Rockstar Authors. And you’re the first stop!

The first leg of the tour was merging my three writers’ groups as part of the “rebranding” process. I’m not quite ready to reveal the new logo and brand, but good things are happening already, just as a result of taking that first step and bringing all the groups under one umbrella.

And the first benefit for members is that I have more time to work “one on one” with those of you who want personal feedback and guidance on your publishing journey. I’ve decided to re-establish private coaching for select candidates who want to get on the fast-track to publishing success.

Are you ready for “reinvention” too? You know you are if the current group coaching program is helping, but you need “more.” Could be more accountability, more personal feedback, more encouragement, more direction, more education, more help, more…well, coaching.

Or perhaps you want some specific guidance with writing, publishing, self-publishing, marketing or social media.

The Wordy Woman Reinvention Tour begins its pre-launch on Monday, November 1. The first leg (week) of the tour is devoted to one-on-one discussions with members who are interested in private consulting.  If that’s you, I’m inviting you to join the tour and chat with me about your publishing goals. This first consultation is free.

If you are seriously interested in taking your work to the next level, I want to talk to you next week. Any day, any time that’s available.

Here’s how it works (very simple):

  • Send an email with your phone number and top three (3) day and time requests for next week only (Monday through Friday, November 1-5, 10am ET to 6pm ET).
  • Please limit your time requests to the hour or half hour (9:00, 9:30, etc) and remember to request your appointment in Eastern Time.
  • I’ll respond and confirm, assigning you to the  first availability on your list that is not already booked.
  • You must include your phone number.

This offer is limited to serious inquiries only. If private coaching is not in your budget or time schedule, this is not the offer for you. However, if you’re ready to join the Wordy Woman Reinvention Tour for Rockstar Authors and supercharge your publishing dreams, get on the bus now. Tour begins Monday.

I will fill the available private coaching spots on a first-come, first-serve basis from these free consultations. When all the private coaching spots are filled, the free consults will end. Since I have time to serve only 4 to 6 private clients, it’s possible all the spots will be taken in the first day or two.

So, if you are a serious candidate, send an email with your phone number and three (3) possible times to reach you next week. Do it NOW.

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE: Join in August & get 19 months of benefits for the cost of a one-year membership

Saturday, August 1st, 2009

shakespeare-on-bookAugust is VIP Author Membership Month! To celebrate, we’re offering you these three (3)  great reasons to join or renew:

  1. The VIP Author Talks teleseries with industry experts and monthly Coaching Call recordings for the months of January  through July 2009 are available for immediate download on the Members-only page. These mp3 files will be removed on September 1.  Joining now gives you access to 7 months of Inncr Circle  exclusive educational material in addition to the 12 months of benefits you will receive as part of your membership for a total of 19 Months of Benefits. Review all the Author Talks teleclass programs here.
  2. Beginning September 1, 2009, live VIP Author Talks sessions and audio recordings will be free for members only. Non-members will pay a fee to listen or participate in the calls or to access the recordings. Review all the benefits of membership here>>
  3. VIP Authors Inner Circle will be upgrading to association status Fall 2009, with increased benefits and increased membership fee. Current members will be grandfathered in at the lower rate for the duration of their memberships. So, by joining or renewing right now, members will enjoy the increased benefits for the lower price. Check out all the membership benefits here>>

The sooner you join, the sooner you can start enjoying the benefits. And, this opportunity is good only during August. September brings the Fall and with it, higher prices. Plus, all the retro benefits and opportunity to join or renew now at the lower price will disappear. Don’t delay! Join now or review the membership benefits here>>

VIP Author Talks with Smashwords Founder, Mark Coker: How to Publish Digital Books

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

markcoker_webAmid the (seemingly) endless talk of declining book sales, book store closings and industry layoffs lies a glimmer of good news. The digital segment of the industry is experiencing growth–the fastest growth (percentage-wise) within the industry.

So what is a digital book? How do you create one? Can you take your print book and turn it into an ebook? Do you need a specially prepared file? Where do you sell ebooks? How can you get your book on Kindle, iPhone and Sony eReader?

If you’re thinking about turning your manuscript or book into digital form (and you should be), don’t miss the next VIP Author Talks with guest Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords.com, a site for creating and selling digital books.

Topic: How to Publish Digital Books

Date: Wednesday, June 24

Time: 8pm – 9pm Eastern ( 7pm Central, 6pm Mountain, 5pm Pacific)

During this tele-class you will learn:

  • What an ebook is and what it is not
  • Why ebooks are cool
  • How ebooks “fit” into the publishing landscape
  • Why you should care
  • Why multi-formats are best for ebook delivery
  • And much more

Have a question on a topic not listed here? There will be an open Q&A at the end of the call. You really don’t want to miss this event, so register right now, because “seating” is limited to 99 for this class.

*The presentation will last one hour and is free to attend, but long distance charges may apply. Please note that anyone may call in and listen, but the audio recording will only be available to VIP Author Inner Circle members. If you are not yet a member and would like a recording of this call, find out more about all the benefits of VIP Author Inner Circle membership here>>>

Teleseminar: 5 Steps You Can Take Right Now to Publish.

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

2009 IS “The Year of The Author.” Every day new opportunities are lighting up for authors.

What? You only see doom and gloom? If you’re interested in results, not excuses, plan to attend a free* tele-seminar that will explain what’s going on in publishing today. More importantly, you’ll learn 5 steps you can take right now to move ahead in this new environment! It doesn’t matter how you plan to publish, either. This seminar is for anyone who has a message to deliver to an audience. If you’re writing anything, or intend to, you need to be on this call

Free Call: Books are NOT Dead! 5 Steps You Can Take Right Now to Publish.

When: Wednesday, April 1, 2pm Eastern (1pm Central, 12pm Mountain, 11am Pacific)

Details: Call (641) 715-3300, Enter Access Code 171279#

*The tele-seminar is free to attend, but long distance charges may apply.

Tips for revising your fiction manuscript

Saturday, January 31st, 2009

Always plan to revise your first draft. Don’t send out your fiction manuscript until you make the following four separate reviews.

1. Review your story arc:

a. Who are your characters and what are they like at the beginning?
b. What is the situation that provides the conflict/tension?
c. What are your characters like at the end?
d. How has the protagonist/situation changed?
e. Your plot should provide a cohesive journey from the beginning to the
end. This is your story arc. Is it interesting and compelling enough to
justify reading the story all the way through? If not, analyze what is
missing and start your revision at that point.

2. Review your story scene by scene (yes, every one!) and decide:

a. Do you need this scene? (If it does not move your story or character
forward, the answer is no.)
b. Are you missing any scenes? Does the action jump ahead without
explanation or transition?
c. Is each scene clear as to who is present, when it takes place and how long
since the previous scene?
d. Can any long expository descriptions be converted to action or woven into
the action?
e. Does each scene come to life with vivid detail, dialogue or description?
f. Does each scene come to a satisfactory end—a rise in emotion, tension, a
new insight or story element revealed?
g. Does each scene have something to compel the reader to turn the page?
h. Are there proper and plausible transitions from scene to scene?
i. Rewrite each scene as necessary.

3. Review your manuscript paragraph by paragraph, looking for the following:

a. Is dialogue natural and consistent with the character?
b. Does each character have her own voice? Your characters’ voices must
match their personalities—distinct from each other (and from you).
c. Is there a flow and evenness of description and action? Are the paragraph
transitions smooth?

4. Review your manuscript sentence by sentence. Check spelling, grammar and
facts. Be nit-picky and don’t skip this step! Question everything and check twice.

a. Review for spelling and grammar errors, including sentence construction,
agreement of noun/verb and noun/pronoun usage.
b. Double check your facts—everything should be accurate. (For example, if
your heroine drives a ‘55 Mustang, you’ve created a vehicle that didn’t
exist yet.)

Don’t try to do all steps at once. Take your time and your second draft will be last, at least until your editor makes a request for revisions!

 

What’s the best way to get published? Your questions answered.

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

Would your book be published today if you had someone to mentor you every step of the way? Would you be closer to your goal if you knew how to:

  • Decide if you should traditional publish or self-publish
  • Find legitimate agents and publishers and avoid scams
  • Choose the right POD publisher
  • Find markets for your work
  • Build a waiting audience before your book comes out
  • Use the Internet to market and sell your work
  • Use social networking sites effectively (and not waste your time)
  • Get free publicity

Now is the best time in the history of publishing to be an author because everything is changing. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Get it? There are more opportunities to get published than ever before—if you know what you’re doing. And with all the changes, it’s harder than ever to know what to do. But what if you had a mentor to guide you? Want to know how to fi-i-i-i-nally get that book published?

Free Call: “What’s the best way to get published? Your questions answered.” 

When: Wednesday, February 4, 2009, 2pm – 3pm Eastern (11am – 12pm Pacific)

CALL INFO*:  To get on the call, please dial 
1-641-715-3300  and enter code 171279# 

*The call is free to attend, but long distance charges may apply.

Get Published in 2009

Tuesday, December 16th, 2008
The one thing I say in all my seminars is: “Writing is a passion,
but publishing is a business.” Authors who know the difference are
VIP Authors because they seek out the knowledge and support they
need to be successful in the publishing business.      

Are you adding “publish my book” to yet another New Year’s
resolution list? How much closer to your goal would you be if you
had someone to mentor you every step of the way and help you:

  • Decide if you should traditional publish or self-publish
  • Find legitimate agents and publishers and avoid scams
  • Choose the right POD (print on demand) publisher
  • Find markets for your work
  • Build a waiting audience before your book comes out
  • Use the Internet to market and sell your work
  • Use social networking sites effectively (and not waste your time)
  • Get free publicity
Are you willing to spend $10 a month (less if you sign up in
December) be part of the VIP Authors Inner Circle and get the
professional training and insider information that you MUST have to
get published and sell books?
 
Isn’t it worth a phone call to find out how to make 2009 the year
you fi-i-i-i-nally publish your book?
 
Free Preview Call for VIP Authors: Thursday, December 18, 2008 at
7:00pm to 8pm ET (6 pm CT, 5pm MT, 4 pm PT).  Here are the call-in
details:
 
CALL INFO:  To get on the call, please dial 
1-641-715-3300  and enter code 171279# 
 
I’m looking forward to having you on the call!