16 Reasons Why Now is the Best Time Ever for You to Be a Writer
You have more:
1. Subjects to write about than ever
2. Ways to get feedback on your writing than ever
3. Options for getting your books written and published than ever
4. Publishers to submit to than ever
5. Books and authors for you to model your books and your career on than ever
6. Events, media, organizations online and off for building and maintaining your networks
7. Ways to test-market your books to guarantee their success
8. Ways to promote your books and profit from them than ever
9. Ways to maximize the impact of your promotion during your book’s crucial one-to-three-month launch window
10. Ways to build and maintain the networks you need to succeed
11. Places for you to speak about your ideas than ever. If corporations, nonprofit organizations, or college students will pay you to speak, you can build a speaking career that may earn you more than your royalties.
12. Forms, media, and countries to sell your books to than ever
13. Ways than ever to create a career by practicing nichecraft: finding an idea that:
* lends itself to a series of books that you are passionate about writing and promoting
* generates income and publicity for you
* creates synergy by selling the other books in the series, the talks based on them, and the books’ subsidiary rights
14. Ways to build your brand and do it faster than ever
15. The computer is the most powerful and empowering tool for writers since the printing press. Technology makes it easier to research, write, sell, and get feedback on your books, and stay connected to your networks than ever.
16. English is the international language of culture and commerce.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Now is the Most Challenging Time Ever to be a Writer
Here is an inevitably incomplete list of seven reasons why now is the most challenging time ever to be a writer:
1. Writers face more competition than ever from other books, other media, and other ways that people can spend their free time and discretionary income.
2. The combination of an idea that is new and commercial enough, the craft to write a book, and the proven ability to promote it keeps making it harder for new writers to get published by big houses.
3. Big houses test-market books with the first printing. So even if a writer is published by a big house, books have a launch window that may be less than a month and is not longer than three months to build enough sales and publicity momentum to keep big houses involved with the book. Most books fail to do this, so big houses move on to the next likely prospect on their list.
4. More than 70% of books don't earn back their advances.
5. There's more competition for time and space in traditional media to publicize books.
6. We are witnessing the decline of the dead-tree culture. Because of the declining advertising revenue, newspapers have less space for reviews and less money to hire reviewers.
7. The continuing concentration of publishers and booksellers makes those that survive more powerful, but also makes it harder for new writers to break out. And as we see daily, power corrupts.
Next: Why now is the best time ever to be a writer.
1. Writers face more competition than ever from other books, other media, and other ways that people can spend their free time and discretionary income.
2. The combination of an idea that is new and commercial enough, the craft to write a book, and the proven ability to promote it keeps making it harder for new writers to get published by big houses.
3. Big houses test-market books with the first printing. So even if a writer is published by a big house, books have a launch window that may be less than a month and is not longer than three months to build enough sales and publicity momentum to keep big houses involved with the book. Most books fail to do this, so big houses move on to the next likely prospect on their list.
4. More than 70% of books don't earn back their advances.
5. There's more competition for time and space in traditional media to publicize books.
6. We are witnessing the decline of the dead-tree culture. Because of the declining advertising revenue, newspapers have less space for reviews and less money to hire reviewers.
7. The continuing concentration of publishers and booksellers makes those that survive more powerful, but also makes it harder for new writers to break out. And as we see daily, power corrupts.
Next: Why now is the best time ever to be a writer.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Sign up for FREE TELESEMINAR on July 16th!
What would you ask the man who has worked with, edited, and published Toni Morrison, Hunter Thompson, Tom Robbins, Claude Brown, Jerzy Kosinski, Shirley MacLaine, Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan, Robert Ludlum, Clive Cussler, Michael Gurian, and Irv Yalom ?
Legendary editor and publisher Alan Rinzler knows publishing...inside and out. You can listen in as he talks with Michael Larsen of Larsen Pomada Literary Agents in a live 50-minute teleseminar. During this lively telephone-based event, Alan is going to take your questions. This event is coming up quickly so send us your questions NOW. Then call in on July 16th to our FREE teleseminar and listen as he answers as many as he can. Let these experts (Alan and Michael) tell you how the right writer with the right message can Change the World One Book at a Time!
Here is your invitation to our first San Francisco Writers Conference teleseminar
with our very special guest--Alan Rinzler.
Please plan to join us on Wednesday, July 16th
5:30PM Pacific / 7:30PM Central / 8:30PM Eastern
Click here to register and send in your question: www.creativecvg.com/ask
ALAN RINZLER:
Alan has been the executive editor of Jossey-Bass Publishers, an imprint of John Wiley & Sons, for the past fifteen years. Many of you will remember Alan as the associate publisher and vice president of Rolling Stone Magazine. He began his publishing career in 1962 as the assistant to the eminent Bob Gottlieb at Simon and Schuster. Mr. Rinzler was senior editor at Macmillan and Holt, president of Straight Arrow Books, West Coast editor for the Grove Press , and director of trade books at Bantam . He also works as an independent editor for select clients. He's a wealth of information about what it takes to have your words make a difference in the world.
PLEASE MARK THIS DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR!
SFWC Teleseminar with Alan Rinzler
Wednesday, July 16th
5:30PM Pacific / 7:30PM Central / 8:30PM Eastern
Again, you can easily register to be on the call and ask your question at: www.creativecvg.com/ask
There is no charge to be on the call (outside of any of your own long-distance or cell phone minute charges).
Even if you can't make it, be sure to register and we'll be sure to send you the MP3 audio file of the call.
Get ready to change the world...and connect with the illustrious Alan Rinzler.
Cheers,
Elizabeth Pomada, Director
San Francisco Writers Conference
San Francisco Writing for Change Conference
1029 Jones St., San Francisco, CA 94109, US
Legendary editor and publisher Alan Rinzler knows publishing...inside and out. You can listen in as he talks with Michael Larsen of Larsen Pomada Literary Agents in a live 50-minute teleseminar. During this lively telephone-based event, Alan is going to take your questions. This event is coming up quickly so send us your questions NOW. Then call in on July 16th to our FREE teleseminar and listen as he answers as many as he can. Let these experts (Alan and Michael) tell you how the right writer with the right message can Change the World One Book at a Time!
Here is your invitation to our first San Francisco Writers Conference teleseminar
with our very special guest--Alan Rinzler.
Please plan to join us on Wednesday, July 16th
5:30PM Pacific / 7:30PM Central / 8:30PM Eastern
Click here to register and send in your question: www.creativecvg.com/ask
ALAN RINZLER:
Alan has been the executive editor of Jossey-Bass Publishers, an imprint of John Wiley & Sons, for the past fifteen years. Many of you will remember Alan as the associate publisher and vice president of Rolling Stone Magazine. He began his publishing career in 1962 as the assistant to the eminent Bob Gottlieb at Simon and Schuster. Mr. Rinzler was senior editor at Macmillan and Holt, president of Straight Arrow Books, West Coast editor for the Grove Press , and director of trade books at Bantam . He also works as an independent editor for select clients. He's a wealth of information about what it takes to have your words make a difference in the world.
PLEASE MARK THIS DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR!
SFWC Teleseminar with Alan Rinzler
Wednesday, July 16th
5:30PM Pacific / 7:30PM Central / 8:30PM Eastern
Again, you can easily register to be on the call and ask your question at: www.creativecvg.com/ask
There is no charge to be on the call (outside of any of your own long-distance or cell phone minute charges).
Even if you can't make it, be sure to register and we'll be sure to send you the MP3 audio file of the call.
Get ready to change the world...and connect with the illustrious Alan Rinzler.
Cheers,
Elizabeth Pomada, Director
San Francisco Writers Conference
San Francisco Writing for Change Conference
1029 Jones St., San Francisco, CA 94109, US
Changing the World, One Book at a Time
SAN FRANCISCO WRITING FOR CHANGE CONFERENCE
Changing the World, One Book at a Time
Presented by the San Francisco Writers Conference
1029 Jones Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
PRESS RELEASE -- For Immediate Release
For more information, contact:
Elizabeth Pomada, 415-673-0939 or Barbara Santos 925-560-1403
WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD?
THE 2008 San Francisco WRITING FOR CHANGE CONFERENCE CAN HELP
San Francisco, CA—7/11/08—Mike Farrell, author/activist/actor (M.A.S.H.) and Gay Hendricks, coauthor of You’ve Got to Red This Book!, will be keynoters at the second San Francisco Writing for Change Conference. The weekend conference—August 16th—17th at the Hotel Kabuki—will include presentations by Chris Carlsson (Nowtopia), Susan Griffin (Wrestling with the Angel of Democracy), Allan Hamilton, M.D. (The Scalpel and The Soul) and Marisa Handler (Loyal To the Sky). Registration is $395 until August 1st, which includes two breakfasts and two lunches. For information and on-line registration, visit www.SFWritingforChange.org
The SFW4C is the first conference devoted to nonfiction books about any kind of change from the personal to the planetary, including the environment, politics, health, business, culture and spirituality. New and published writers will learn from bestselling authors, editors and agents and get feedback on their work.
The conference is helping writers change the world in positive ways through their writing. Attendees of the Writing for Change event will exchange ideas with best-selling authors of influential books (see a partial list below), top editors from publishing houses respected for their support of these vital books, and accomplished literary agents who work with new and established authors. In addition to learning about traditional publishing, attendees will hear about the benefits of self-publishing and innovative ways to use receive state-of-the-art learn about using technology to write, sell and promote their books.
The newly renovated Hotel Kabuki is offering a special conference rate of $129 a night. The event is limited to 150 attendees to allow optimal networking and pitching of books to agents and editors from San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York. Early registration is $395 until August 1, and $495 until the start of the event. The fee includes all workshops, keynotes, social events, continental breakfasts, luncheons and more.
Authors appearing at the 2008 San Francisco Writing for Change Conference include: radio personality Wes ‘Scoop’ Nisker, author of Crazy Wisdom Saves the World Again; Marissa Handler, whose book, Loyal to the Sky, is a call to enlightened, non-violent activism. Also on the faculty are Allan Hamilton, MD, The Scalpel & the Soul; Chris Carlsson, Nowtopia; Matthew Frederick, 101 Things I learned in Architecture School; China Galland, Love Cemetary; Susan Griffin, Woman and Nature: The Roaring Inside Her; Rosemary Daniell, founder of Zona Rosa; Jacob Needleman, Why Can’t We Be Good? and Kevin Smokler, Bookmark Now.
Editors include Alan Rinzler (Jossey-Bass), Peter Wiley (Wiley & Sons), David Moldawer (St. Martin’s Press), David Patterson (Henry Holt), Katie McHugh (Perseus Books) and Jeevan Sivasubramaniam (Berrett-Koehler). Agents—including Sorche Fairbank, Michael Larsen, Elizabeth Pomada, Rita Rosenkranz, Paul Levine and Andy Ross—will be looking for talented writers to take on as clients.
According to co-founders and literary agents Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen of Larsen-Pomada Literary Agents, “The event is based on our vision and professional experience that the right book will change the world. Now is the best time ever to be a writer. The conference will give writers the knowledge they need to write, sell, and promote their books.”
Sponsors for the event include Grace Cathedral, Saybrook Graduate School, and John Wiley & Sons. The conference is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization. Proceeds from the event help support Bay Area organizations such as the Children’s Book Project and the Women’s National Book Association.
Changing the World, One Book at a Time
Presented by the San Francisco Writers Conference
1029 Jones Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
PRESS RELEASE -- For Immediate Release
For more information, contact:
Elizabeth Pomada, 415-673-0939 or Barbara Santos 925-560-1403
WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD?
THE 2008 San Francisco WRITING FOR CHANGE CONFERENCE CAN HELP
San Francisco, CA—7/11/08—Mike Farrell, author/activist/actor (M.A.S.H.) and Gay Hendricks, coauthor of You’ve Got to Red This Book!, will be keynoters at the second San Francisco Writing for Change Conference. The weekend conference—August 16th—17th at the Hotel Kabuki—will include presentations by Chris Carlsson (Nowtopia), Susan Griffin (Wrestling with the Angel of Democracy), Allan Hamilton, M.D. (The Scalpel and The Soul) and Marisa Handler (Loyal To the Sky). Registration is $395 until August 1st, which includes two breakfasts and two lunches. For information and on-line registration, visit www.SFWritingforChange.org
The SFW4C is the first conference devoted to nonfiction books about any kind of change from the personal to the planetary, including the environment, politics, health, business, culture and spirituality. New and published writers will learn from bestselling authors, editors and agents and get feedback on their work.
The conference is helping writers change the world in positive ways through their writing. Attendees of the Writing for Change event will exchange ideas with best-selling authors of influential books (see a partial list below), top editors from publishing houses respected for their support of these vital books, and accomplished literary agents who work with new and established authors. In addition to learning about traditional publishing, attendees will hear about the benefits of self-publishing and innovative ways to use receive state-of-the-art learn about using technology to write, sell and promote their books.
The newly renovated Hotel Kabuki is offering a special conference rate of $129 a night. The event is limited to 150 attendees to allow optimal networking and pitching of books to agents and editors from San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York. Early registration is $395 until August 1, and $495 until the start of the event. The fee includes all workshops, keynotes, social events, continental breakfasts, luncheons and more.
Authors appearing at the 2008 San Francisco Writing for Change Conference include: radio personality Wes ‘Scoop’ Nisker, author of Crazy Wisdom Saves the World Again; Marissa Handler, whose book, Loyal to the Sky, is a call to enlightened, non-violent activism. Also on the faculty are Allan Hamilton, MD, The Scalpel & the Soul; Chris Carlsson, Nowtopia; Matthew Frederick, 101 Things I learned in Architecture School; China Galland, Love Cemetary; Susan Griffin, Woman and Nature: The Roaring Inside Her; Rosemary Daniell, founder of Zona Rosa; Jacob Needleman, Why Can’t We Be Good? and Kevin Smokler, Bookmark Now.
Editors include Alan Rinzler (Jossey-Bass), Peter Wiley (Wiley & Sons), David Moldawer (St. Martin’s Press), David Patterson (Henry Holt), Katie McHugh (Perseus Books) and Jeevan Sivasubramaniam (Berrett-Koehler). Agents—including Sorche Fairbank, Michael Larsen, Elizabeth Pomada, Rita Rosenkranz, Paul Levine and Andy Ross—will be looking for talented writers to take on as clients.
According to co-founders and literary agents Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen of Larsen-Pomada Literary Agents, “The event is based on our vision and professional experience that the right book will change the world. Now is the best time ever to be a writer. The conference will give writers the knowledge they need to write, sell, and promote their books.”
Sponsors for the event include Grace Cathedral, Saybrook Graduate School, and John Wiley & Sons. The conference is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization. Proceeds from the event help support Bay Area organizations such as the Children’s Book Project and the Women’s National Book Association.
Gay Hendricks to Keynote at Writing for Change conference
Gay Hendricks, is a psychologist, writer and practitioner in the field of personal growth, relationships, and the mind body connection. He is best known for his work in relationship enhancement and in the development of conscious breathing exercises, which proponents believe increase awareness, energy levels, and relaxation.
After receiving his Ph.D. in psychology from Stanford University in 1974, Gay began teaching at the University of Colorado. He spent 20 years at the University of Colorado before moving on to found The Hendricks Institute. He now conducts workshops on various mind and body topics with his wife of more than 25 years, Dr. Kathlyn Hendricks. Together they have authored over 25 books on personal growth topics. Gay and Kathlyn have appeared on numerous radio and television shows, including Oprah where their work was first introduced to a wide audience.
Around the turn of the century, he developed an interest in writing and producing movies with inspirational content. He and veteran producer, Stephen Simon, founded The Spiritual Cinema Circle, which delivers inspirational movies on DVD to subscribers in more than 80 countries. He also served as producer and writer on the Louise Hay movie, You Can Heal Your Life.
We are thrilled that Gay has agreed to give a keynote speech at the San Francisco Writing for Change conference to be held at the fabulous Hotel Kabuki in Japantown on August 16th and 17th.
To learn more about Gay Hendricks and the Hendricks Institute, go to his website: http://www.hendricks.com/
To find out more about the San Francisco Writing for Change conference, visit http://www.sfwritingforchange.org.
After receiving his Ph.D. in psychology from Stanford University in 1974, Gay began teaching at the University of Colorado. He spent 20 years at the University of Colorado before moving on to found The Hendricks Institute. He now conducts workshops on various mind and body topics with his wife of more than 25 years, Dr. Kathlyn Hendricks. Together they have authored over 25 books on personal growth topics. Gay and Kathlyn have appeared on numerous radio and television shows, including Oprah where their work was first introduced to a wide audience.
Around the turn of the century, he developed an interest in writing and producing movies with inspirational content. He and veteran producer, Stephen Simon, founded The Spiritual Cinema Circle, which delivers inspirational movies on DVD to subscribers in more than 80 countries. He also served as producer and writer on the Louise Hay movie, You Can Heal Your Life.
We are thrilled that Gay has agreed to give a keynote speech at the San Francisco Writing for Change conference to be held at the fabulous Hotel Kabuki in Japantown on August 16th and 17th.
To learn more about Gay Hendricks and the Hendricks Institute, go to his website: http://www.hendricks.com/
To find out more about the San Francisco Writing for Change conference, visit http://www.sfwritingforchange.org.
Mike Farrell to Keynote at Writing for Change conference!
We are so pleased to announce that M*A*S*H actor/director and political activist Mike Farrell will be giving the Saturday keynote at our San Francisco Writing for Change conference, August 16 & 17 at the Hotel Kabuki in San Francisco's Japantown district.
Long before M*A*S*H was a household word, Mike Farrell was involved in issues that were of concern to him. This involvement stems from his belief that being a responsible citizen means being willing to see conditions improve for the ultimate benefit of all. The issues are largely those involving human rights and the death penalty. But Mike is also known to speak out against local injustices, animal rights, environmental issues, etc.
Find out more about Mike by visiting his website: http://www.mikefarrell.org
To find out more about the San Francisco Writing for Change conference, the only writers conference that focuses on the power of writing to change the world, go to: http://www.sfwritingforchange.org.
Long before M*A*S*H was a household word, Mike Farrell was involved in issues that were of concern to him. This involvement stems from his belief that being a responsible citizen means being willing to see conditions improve for the ultimate benefit of all. The issues are largely those involving human rights and the death penalty. But Mike is also known to speak out against local injustices, animal rights, environmental issues, etc.
Find out more about Mike by visiting his website: http://www.mikefarrell.org
To find out more about the San Francisco Writing for Change conference, the only writers conference that focuses on the power of writing to change the world, go to: http://www.sfwritingforchange.org.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Writing for Change August 16 & 17 in San Francisco
WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD?
THE SAN FRANCISCO WRITING FOR CHANGE CONFERENCE CAN HELP
Gay Hendricks, co-author of You’ve Got to Read This Book!, will be a keynoter at the second San Francisco Writing for Change Conference, Saturday and Sunday, August 16th—17th at the Hotel Kabuki. Other speakers include Wes 'Scoop' Nisker, (Crazy Wisdom Saves the World Again), Chris Carlsson (Nowtopia), Susan Griffin (Wrestling with the Angel of Democracy), Allan Hamilton, M.D. (The Scalpel and The Soul) and Marisa Handler (Loyal To the Sky). The SFW4C is the first conference devoted to nonfiction books about any kind of change from the personal to the planetary, including the environment, politics, health, culture and spirituality. The theme of the conference is “Changing the World One Book at a Time”. New and published writers will be able to learn from bestselling authors, editors and agents. Registration is $395 until August 1st, which includes two breakfasts and two lunches. For information and registration, visit www.SFWritingforChange.org. Or you can contact Elizabeth Pomada at 415-673-0939 or Barbara Santos at 925-560-1403 for more information.
THE SAN FRANCISCO WRITING FOR CHANGE CONFERENCE CAN HELP
Gay Hendricks, co-author of You’ve Got to Read This Book!, will be a keynoter at the second San Francisco Writing for Change Conference, Saturday and Sunday, August 16th—17th at the Hotel Kabuki. Other speakers include Wes 'Scoop' Nisker, (Crazy Wisdom Saves the World Again), Chris Carlsson (Nowtopia), Susan Griffin (Wrestling with the Angel of Democracy), Allan Hamilton, M.D. (The Scalpel and The Soul) and Marisa Handler (Loyal To the Sky). The SFW4C is the first conference devoted to nonfiction books about any kind of change from the personal to the planetary, including the environment, politics, health, culture and spirituality. The theme of the conference is “Changing the World One Book at a Time”. New and published writers will be able to learn from bestselling authors, editors and agents. Registration is $395 until August 1st, which includes two breakfasts and two lunches. For information and registration, visit www.SFWritingforChange.org. Or you can contact Elizabeth Pomada at 415-673-0939 or Barbara Santos at 925-560-1403 for more information.
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