by Scott Lorenz | Blog, Book Marketing, Book Publicity, Interviews, Marketing a Book, Promoting a Book
Podcasters: Want More Downloads and More Influence?
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
Podcasts are more popular today than ever before. Whether you are a guest on a podcast or interview authors and experts, you need to promote the show to expand your audience. You can have the greatest podcast with the best guests but if nobody knows about it, nobody will hear them. Do you know the difference between success and failure? PROMOTION! Here are some tips to attract a bigger audience.
Ensure Good Sound Quality
Sound quality is key to the success of any podcast. After all, nobody will listen to your episodes if they’re full of crackles, echos, and distractions. Listeners will bail out in seconds if the sound quality is bad. Joe Rogan, creator of the “Joe Rogan Experience” and the most popular podcaster in the U.S. swears by the SM7B Vocal Dynamic Microphone. Personally, I use a YETI on a scissor arm. In addition to investing in a quality microphone, make sure you record your podcast in a quiet room with sound proofing and eliminate all background noise as much as you can. Find more of my tips here.
Good Distribution
Once you’ve edited out the dead air, the ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’ you’ll need to distribute it to all of the leading listening apps. Don’t make the mistake of only sticking to one. Instead, ensure it’s available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio. The more places you distribute it, the more listeners you’re likely to capture.
Take Advantage of Social Media
Social media can do wonders for your podcast. You can share your episodes or content about them on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other platforms. According to Chris Cordani, a podcast and broadcast consultant, “Try to interview guests with a large LinkedIn, Twitter and other social media following. It’s important to get the word out and a guest with a large audience can help immensely. Be sure to include a sample of a show on a link so people can immediately see if they’d like it.” Remember to build partnerships with fellow podcasters and share each other’s content on social media channels as well.
Build a Mailing List
If you build a mailing list of subscribers, you can connect to your audience on a regular basis. Tim Ferriss of the Tim Ferriss Show does this and sends out an exclusive email every Friday with the five coolest things he’s found or explored that week. Check it out here!
Create a Podcast Landing Page
Go the extra mile and create a landing page for your podcast. Not only will it get people excited, it may also generate a list of email addresses that you can use for marketing purposes. Joe Rogan’s landing page features a link that takes visitors directly to Spotify so that they can easily listen to “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
Optimize for SEO
It’s important to optimize your podcast with keywords that will allow search engines and people to find you. There are a number of keyword research tools to help you do so like Google Keyword Planner, Keyword Surfer, and the Ahrefs Keyword Generator. You can also look at competitor podcasts and see which keywords they’re using.
Host Contests and Giveaways
There’s no denying everyone loves free stuff. That’s why it may be well worth it to host a content or giveaway on your podcast where you ask your listeners to share your podcast or leave a review about it. Then, you can hold a raffle and give away something valuable. Tim Ferriss launched the “The Tim Ferriss Tools of Titans Giveaway,” where he gave away books, he recommends plus everyday products he uses.
Be a Guest on Another Podcast
If you have the time and desire, make a guest appearance on another podcast. This way you can develop relationships with their listeners and expand your audience without a great deal of effort. Joe Rogan has been a guest on a number of podcasts such as The Tim Dillon Show, Timcast IRL, and Literally with Rob Lowe.
Get Reviews for Your Podcast
According to Chris Cordani “Once your podcast gets 25-55 reviews on Apple, algorithms take over and your podcast can be organically boosted to others. Cordani says the best way to get more reviews is to first attract listeners and then politely ask them to leave a review about your podcast. “Don’t be bashful,” says Cordani, “Ask for the review 3 times during the podcast.”
Create Audiograms and Share on Social Media
“Audiograms are short, animated audio clips that can be artistically created through such apps like Headliner or Descript,” says Tara Kachaturoff, author of Podcast Host Essentials: 30 Ways to Promote Your Podcast for Free. Essentially these apps allow you to create an image and then associate a segment of audio with it. “What’s so awesome is that you can see an animated audio wave superimposed over the image when you play the audio,” says Kachaturoff.
Tools to Help You Out
There are a number of tools that can steer you toward podcast success including:
- Podcast Magazine: You can subscribe to PodMag and enjoy access to personal interviews with leading podcasters, details on the top products, and information on the latest happenings in the industry. The founder and publisher are Steve Olsher, the foremost leader in podcasting in the USA.
- Auphonic: With Auphonic, you can automatically master your audio files, add ID3 tags, and send them to your podcast host in one simple step.
- Music Radio Creative: Music Radio Creative is a great resource for professional introductions, intros, outros, jingles, and more.
- Power-Up Podcasting: Created by Pat Flynn, Power-Up Podcasting is a robust step-by-step podcast training course designed to help you create and launch your podcast successfully.
- Podcasters’ Paradise: This online community can give you the chance to connect with and learn from fellow podcasters.
The Bottom Line: Your podcast won’t promote itself. If you want more downloads and more influence, then implement these ideas!
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://www.WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Author Advice, Blog, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publishing, Book Title Generator, How to title a book, Literary Agent, Marketing a Book, Promoting a Book, Social Media
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
If you’ve written a book and are ready to publish it, you may be wondering what to do next. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled this handy author’s checklist to help you navigate through the publishing phase and beyond. By following it, you can set your book up for unparalleled success.
Choose the Right Title
There’s no denying your title can make or break the success of your book. It’s what will attract readers and get your book noticed. If you’re unsure of how to name your book, I encourage you to check out my award-winning bestselling book, “Book Title Generator: A Proven System in Naming Your Book.” I implore you to consider all options in the quest for the perfect book title. From using numbers, alliteration, idioms, and keyword research, Book Title Generator covers them all.
It’s packed with solid tips and tricks that will help you craft the best title for your book.
Get a Compelling Book Cover
The truth is readers and media members will judge a book by its cover. That’s why it’s important to ensure your cover is professional and ideal for your target audience. Fortunately, there are plenty of incredible book cover designers on websites like Book Covers for All and Killer Covers. It’s a good idea to visit some bookstores to get some inspiration for your cover. Also, don’t forget to check out my article on the “46 Book Cover Designers to Create Your Best-Selling Cover.”
Ask for Feedback
As a writer, it’s easy to spend hours upon hours trying to perfect your writing. While your opinion of your book matters, the feedback of others can be invaluable. Ask friends, family, acquaintances, and those in the industry to give your book a fresh set of eyes. Not only are they likely to help you catch typo and grammar issues, but they might also give you some ideas on how to tighten up and improve your book. In the end, trust book professionals when it comes to the make-or-break decisions.
Hire an Editor
By hiring an editor, you can receive professional feedback on your book. Before you commit to one, however, make sure you check out their portfolio and references. Not all editors are created equal, and you want to ensure the one you choose has the skills and experience to set your book up for success. Take a look at my article on “How Editing, Copyediting, and Proofreading Make Your Book Shine.”
Figure Out Your Target Audience
Target audience refers to the people who will buy and read your book. Think about your genre and theme to determine who they might be. Make sure the Amazon categories you select are relevant and focused about the topic and genre and not general in nature. Once you nail down your audience, you’ll find it easier to promote and market your book.
Design a Book Marketing Strategy
Before you publish your book, think about book marketing. Will you create a standalone website for it? Do you have plans to promote it via Facebook, Twitter, and other social media outlets? Or will you host book signings and mail review copies of your book to members of the media and potential reviewers? When it comes to book marketing success, having a plan that you execute well is just as important as the creativity that went into writing your book.
Consider a Literary Agent
There are many benefits of working with a literary agent. Depending on the agent you choose, they can pitch your book to their known publishing contacts and give you a competitive edge. Many publishers will only work with agents because they ‘vet’ the books and ‘weed out’ the books that are not a good fit for their publishing house. To find the right agent check out my article about “How to Sign a Top Literary Agent” on my blog Book-Publicist.com.
Decide Whether to Use a Distributor
A distributor delivers books to retailers. Since most libraries and bookstores won’t usually accept sales pitches and books from self-published authors, a distributor may be worth exploring. By working with one, you can bridge the gap between you and large audiences.
Figure Out When to Publish
Contrary to popular belief, the holiday season isn’t the best time to publish your book. If possible, publish your book at any other time. January, February, and March are ideal because the weather is usually colder, and people are stuck inside with more time to read. If you are deciding to publish in December or January, choose January because you’ll have a new copyright date. If you publish in December, it’ll look one year old in January even though it’s only been out one month.
The Bottom Line: Remember, pilots use checklists before each flight and authors need a checklist before they hit “publish!”
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://www.WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Blog, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Marketing a Book, Promoting a Book, Writers Conferences, Writing a Book
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
If you are a serious writer with high aspirations, then you’ll want to go to a writers’ conference. Want to meet authors and exchange ideas, tips and techniques? Then sign up for a writer’s conference today.
A writers’ conference is a think tank for authors to build on each other’s ideas and inspire new achievements in their own work. For the cost of lodging and registration, the payoff for attending a writers’ conference could be tremendous.
Attending a writers’ conference gives you a chance to pitch your book, learn about the various publishing options and meet book editors, agents and book marketing specialists. If your book is six months or a year from being finished, you can talk to people with valuable input on shaping your book. At a writers’ conference, you’ll get all sorts of advice to help you wrap up your project when you return home.
Of course, you will want to prepare for any writers’ conference you attend by having a plan of what you want to find out and what you will do while there. I suggest you develop an ‘elevator pitch’ about your book that you can deliver in 30 seconds. Have a one-pager available with your book cover, author headshot, short 50-word synopsis, short bio, website URL, Twitter handle and your contact information. You never know who you’ll meet so be prepared for that moment!
Here are some upcoming writers’ conferences in 2023:
January 14-21, 2023: Writers in Paradise Conference (St. Petersburg, FL). Located on the beautiful waterfront campus of Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, this writers’ conference features professional writers at the top of their form spending quality time with motivated and talented participants seeking an intimate, unhurried climate for learning…in paradise. https://www.writersinparadise.com/
January 20-21, 2023: Roanoke Regional Writers Conference 2023 (Roanoke, VA). Welcome! It’s my extreme honor to invite you to the 14th Annual Roanoke Regional Writers Conference! This is the perfect event to learn, grow, and connect with other writers in the area. RRWC23 takes place on January 20-21, 2023, at Hollins University in Roanoke. The snow date is January 27-28. The cost of the conference is $70 ($25 for students and faculty), including brunch in the dining hall on Saturday. https://www.hollins.edu/events/?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D163162100
February 8-16, 2023: 2023 Sierra Writers Conference (Rocklin, CA). The 2023 Sierra Writers Conference celebrates the 20th anniversary of Sierra College Press and Standing Guard, its landmark book of stories about Japanese internment during WWII. This year’s conference draws on the spirit of the Sierra College Press, its first publication, and the talent of a diverse group of speakers who will discuss and provide instruction on stories of social justice, the environment, and the craft of writing. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2023-sierra-writers-conference-tickets-470040352347
February 16–19, 2023: 19th annual San Francisco Writers Conference (San Francisco, CA). The San Francisco Writers Conference (“SFWC”) enjoys a rich literary culture. Over the course of four days, over 500 attendees and renowned keynote authors, presenters, editors, and agents, attend SFWC, combining the best of both the traditional publishing industry with the latest technology to empower authors to publish anywhere. Situated just north of Silicon Valley, the SFWC is truly a one-of-a-kind celebration of craft, commerce, and community. https://www.sfwriters.org/
February 17-19, 2023: Southern California Writers Conference (San Diego, CA). Founded and run by professional writers the SCWC provides veteran and emerging talent with authoritative guidance to help distinguish those manuscripts that are ready for market consideration, having facilitated well over $4 million worth of first-time authors’ book and screen deals. https://writersconference.com/sd/
February 20-24, 2023: 28th Annual Writers at the Symposium by the Sea (San Diego, CA). Writer’s Symposium by the Sea is an annual event to inspire readers and writers alike, featuring evocative conversations with exemplary writers from various genres, backgrounds, and perspectives. During each interview, the audience is invited to actively listen in as writers share what inspires their writing and delve into the practices that propel their success. https://www.pointloma.edu/opportunities/writers-symposium-sea
February 24, 2023: 21st Annual Rocky Mountain Legal Writing Conference (Las Vegas, NV). The Rocky Mountain Regional Legal Writing Conference began in 2000 at University of Arizona Law as the brainchild of Professor Suzanne Rabe (University of Arizona Law), Professor Judy Stinson (Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU) and Professor Terrill Pollman (William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV). The three professors designed the conference as an informal exchange of teaching ideas among legal writing professors from schools in the loosely defined “Rocky Mountain” region, but it quickly grew into one of the largest and most popular regional legal writing conferences in the nation, drawing participants from across the nation and, indeed, across the globe. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rocky-mountain-legal-writing-conference-tickets-426601325047
March 2-3, 2023: Write to Learn Conference (Columbia, MO). This year’s conference theme will be “Compassion as Our Compass, Diversity Without Distrust,” a variation on best-selling author Padma Venkatraman’s opening keynote address title. https://web.cvent.com/event/62fe5b66-3dbb-4204-908b-c3d854fc95f7/summary
March 2-3, 2023: 26th ASU Writers Conference in Honor of Elmer Kelton (San Angelo, TX). The 2023 conference will commemorate the 26th Angelo State University’s Writers Conference in Honor of Elmer Kelton. Our two-day conference is one of the few in the state that requires no registration or attendance fees for presenters and guests. https://www.angelo.edu/departments/english-modern-languages/writers_conference.php
March 3-4, 2023: I Write Writing Conference (Denver, CO). Whether you are a Creator, Author, or Soon-to-Be, this conference was designed with you in mind. Giving you a 2-Day Experience for you to network with others in your field. Come Learn, Create, and Thrive with us! https://www.iwriteconference.com/
March 4, 2023: Bay to Ocean Writers Conference 2023 (Wye Mills, MD). Now celebrating its 26th year, the Bay to Ocean Writers Conference is a one-day event that has attracted more than 4,000 writers over its history. It is sponsored by the Eastern Shore Writers Association (ESWA), a non-profit organization of writers from across the Delmarva Peninsula. https://www.easternshorewriters.org/event-5053495
March 6-7, 2023: Writing For Your Life Conference (Atlanta, GA). If you write, or read, books that matter – books with substance and soul – then this is the place for you. https://writingforyourlife.com/wfyl-atlanta-2023/
March 10-12, 2023: SAGA 2023 Genre Fiction Writers’ Conference (Winston-Salem, NC). SAGA is fast becoming the premier genre fiction writing conference east of the Mississippi. With a concentration on genre writing (science fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery, thriller, horror, etc.), SAGA brings the master class-style presentation of a professional writers’ conference to commercial fiction, with presentations and workshops focused both on craft and on the business of writing. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/saga-2023-genre-fiction-writers-conference-tickets-349890049557
March 11, 2023: AWP Conference 2023 (Seattle, WA). The AWP Conference & Bookfair is the annual destination for writers, teachers, students, editors, and publishers of contemporary creative writing. It includes thousands of attendees, hundreds of events and bookfair exhibitors, and four days of essential literary conversation and celebration. The AWP Conference & Bookfair has always been a place of connection, reunion, and joy, and we are excited to see the writing community come together again in Seattle, Washington in 2023. https://www.awpwriter.org/awp_conference/
March 11, 2023: The 2023 Atlanta Writing Workshop (Atlanta, GA). The title of the Atlanta Writing Workshop is “How to Get Published.” It focuses on classes and advice intended to help you get your works published. https://atlantawritingworkshop.com/
March 17-18, 2023: Moravian Writers Conference (Bethlehem, PA). This conference (featuring in-person and online events) will explore writing about war and the veteran experience in today’s world. https://www.moravian.edu/writersconference
March 23-25, 2023: 54th Annual UND Writers Conference (Grand Forks, ND). Founded in 1970 and held every year since, the UND Writers Conference is a three-day event featuring six to eight authors annually ranging from Gwendolyn Brooks and August Wilson to Tommy Orange and Colson Whitehead. The UND Writers Conference is committed to community outreach, engagement, and finding ways to increase audience access to literature. https://und.edu/writers-conference/
March 25, 2023: Kentucky Writers Conference (Bowling Green, KY). Bestselling authors and educators participating in SOKY Book Fest will teach craft workshops about everything from plotting techniques to employing poetic language to getting published on Saturday, March 25. The Kentucky Writers Conference is made possible through the generous support of Dollar General. https://sokybookfest.org/programs/ky-writers-conference/
March 25-26, 2023: Let’s Just Write! An Uncommon Writers Conference (Chicago, IL). Let’s Just Write! An Uncommon Writers Conference was named one of the best conferences in the U.S. by The Writer Magazine two years in a row! Two days, twenty-plus presenters, workshops, sessions, panels…and more. https://www.chicagowrites.org/conference
March 30, 2023: Tampa Bay Publishing Conference (St. Petersburg, FL). The three-day conference includes authors sharing their personal publishing journeys and what they learned along the way, as well as panels tackling topics related to publishing and writing for poets, fiction writers, memoirists, and others. http://www.wordierthanthou.com/tampa-bay-publishing-conference-2021
March 29 – April 1, 2023: Blue Lake Christian Writers Conference (Andalusia, AL). At Blue Lake Christian Writers Retreat, you’ll experience the benefits of a large writers’ conference, but on a more personal level. Whether you’re a beginning or experienced writer, interested in fiction or nonfiction, our faculty of seasoned professionals can teach you how to improve your writing skills, market your work, and get published. https://bluelakecwr.com/
March 31 – April 4, 2023: Vision Christian Writers Conference (Felton, CA). The Vision Christian Writing Conference is the response to the devastating news that Mt. Hermon was ceasing their legacy 50-year writing conference at the beginning of the pandemic. https://vcwconf.com/
April 1-2, 2023: South Asian Literary Association Annual Conference (San Antonio, TX). In the 2023 annual meeting of SALA, we take seriously the call for collective action, coalition building and solidarity between Black and South Asian peoples across the world in the aftermath of Black Lives Matter and new awareness about anti-Asian racism. https://www.southasianliteraryassociation.org/
April 1-2, 2023: Write In The Springs – ACFW Colorado Springs Christian Writer’s Conference (Colorado Springs, CO). American Christian Fiction Writers, Colorado Springs Chapter, has offered an affordable conference experience for Christian writers annually since 2009. We invite you to join us at Glen Eyrie Castle in the foothills of Colorado Springs, Colorado, for an unforgettable weekend of teaching, fellowship and inspired writing, whether you are already an established author or just starting your journey to publication. https://allevents.in/colorado%20springs/write-in-the-springs-acfw-colorado-springs-christian-writers-conference/10000433110223337
April 13-15, 2023: Las Vegas Writers Conference (Las Vegas, NV). This year – and every year – the Las Vegas Writers Conference is dedicated to helping writers of all genres improve their craft, sharpen their business skills, and network with publishing professionals. Held each spring, this year’s conference will draw virtual attendees from around the world. Pitch sessions with literary agents and editors are included in the price of registration. Writers will have the opportunity for one-on-one mentoring sessions with faculty members and other published authors. https://lasvegaswritersconference.com/
April 13-17, 2023: Monterey Writers Retreat Conference (Pacific Grove, CA). Join us on the wondrously scenic and soothing Monterey Peninsula in Pacific Grove for the express purpose of working intimately with experienced author and agent professionals. Know that writers of every kind have journeyed for over a century to this location on the California west coast. They come in search of inspiration, individuality, purpose and vision, but more importantly, to share an understanding that art has preceded their arrival in the form of a brutally beautiful sea and windswept shore. https://montereywritersretreat.com/
April 14-15, 2023: 26th Annual Blue Ridge Writers’ Conference (Blue Ridge, GA). The Blue Ridge Writers Conference is a hidden gem tucked away at the tip of the blue ridge mountains. This year’s keynote speaker, Melissa Fay Green, is an award-winning nonfiction author. Green will be one of many professional authors taking part in discussions and panels at the event. https://www.blueridgewritersconference.com/registration-forms.html
April 20-22, 2023: NWG Annual Conference (Omaha, NE). The Nebraska Writers Guild offers three days of consultations, critique boot camps, and shop talk seminars. Appointments with literary agents like Kristina Slater are first-come, first-served, and have no extra cost. This conference is perfect for writers who would rather focus on intimate group or pair discussions rather than large panels. Workshops are capped to allow for in-depth discussion and a focus on networking without small talk. https://nebraskawriters.org/news-events/annual-events/annual-conference.html
April 22-23, 2023: International Conference on Linguistics and Literary Semantics ICLLS (Boston, MA). International Conference on Linguistics and Literary Semantics aims to bring together leading academic scientists, researchers and research scholars to exchange and share their experiences and research results on all aspects of Linguistics and Literary Semantics. It also provides a premier interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners and educators to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well as practical challenges encountered, and solutions adopted in the fields of Linguistics and Literary Semantics. https://waset.org/linguistics-and-literary-semantics-conference-in-april-2023-in-boston
April 27-30, 2023: 30th Annual Pikes Peak Writers Conference (Colorado Springs, CO). Pikes Peak Writers Conference will be held virtually this year. Writers can participate in workshops taught by subject matter experts and listen to keynote speakers. A 3-day fiction-writing conference for writers of all levels, indie and traditionally published, featuring a variety of craft and business workshops, acquiring editors/agents and well-known authors across a variety of genres. https://pikespeakwritersconference.com/
April 27-30, 2023: The Chanticleer Authors Conference (Bellingham, WA). What makes the Chanticleer Author Conferences so special? Most importantly, the attendees! You are what makes this conference so special. Learning from the experts – Learn from the Best! Learning from each other and Networking and making new friends and connections. https://www.chantireviews.com/chanticleer-conference/
April 28-30, 2023: Sonoma Valley Author’s Festival 2023 (Sonoma, CA). 2023 will be the Sonoma Valley Authors Festival’s 6th annual three-day weekend. Featuring an influential array of authors and speakers at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, the event sold out all 400 hundred passes in 2022. The same response is anticipated for the event to be held April 28-30, 2023. https://www.sonomavalley.com/event/sonoma-valley-authors-festival-2023/16709/
April 29, 2023: The 2023 Michigan Writing Workshop (Detroit, MI). At this writers’ conference, participants will enjoy a day of intense instruction on how to get their works published. https://michiganwritingworkshop.com/
April 29, 2023: Atlanta Self-Publishing Conference (Atlanta, GA). They offer the Atlanta Self-Publishing Conference annually for authors who are interested in self-publishing or who have self-published and want to get the most out of their publishing business. https://atlantawritersclub.org/aspc/
April 2023: Muse and the Marketplace (Boston, MA). It will include goal setting, small cohorts of writer friends and those working in your genre, and 70 sessions given by excellent guest authors on the craft of the novel, memoir, poetry, and more, plus sessions on navigating the publishing world led by premiere literary agents, editors, publicists, and more. https://museandthemarketplace.com/muse-2023/
May 4, 2023: 2023 OWFI Writers Conference (Oklahoma City, OK). Founded in 1968, the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. (OWFI) is a non‑profit federation of writers’ groups dedicated to promoting higher standards for the written word. We believe that the literary profession has come of age and merits a fair share of the critical acclaim so generously lavished on other worthwhile arts. OWFI shall seek to coordinate and encourage professional writing within and without its organization and promote the recognition of outstanding contributions to the written language. https://www.owfi.org/
May 5-6, 2023: Lakefly Writers Conference, (Oshkosh, WI). EVERYONE HAS A STORY! Come to the Oshkosh Premier Waterfront Hotel and Convention Center for a two-day conference. They offer workshops on the craft and business of writing designed to inspire and guide your creative journey. https://lakeflywriters.org/
May 12-13, 2023. 10th Annual Washington Writers Conference, (Rockville, MD). You will be able to choose from a pool of roughly 20 literary agents. Once we have the full slate set, registrants will be sent a link where you can make your selections; agent bios will be available on www.wirobooks.com. https://wirobooks.regfox.com/2023-washington-writers-conference
May 13-16, 2023. Kachemak Bay Writers Conference (Homer, AK). The Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference has been the place where writers from Alaska and beyond come together to create community and learn how to be better writers. https://writersconf.kpc.alaska.edu/
May 14-17, 2023: Technical Communication Summit (Atlanta, GA). The STC Summit makes technical communication come to life like no other event. Every year, technical communicators gather together to: Learn! Attend educational sessions on numerous topics with a variety of formats and experience levels. Hear from industry experts, well-known authors, and inspiring new voices to upgrade your skill sets and bring best practices back to your workplace. https://summit.stc.org/
May 18-21, 2023: Looking Glass Rock Writers Conference (Brevard, NC). Exploring the theme “A Sense of Place,” small select groups of conference attendees experience working under the guidance of notable writers. Founded in 2016 as a partnership between the Transylvania County Library and Brevard College, the annual conference consists of writing workshops for select participants and public readings by the workshop leaders free to the community. https://www.lgrwc.org/
May 24-30, 2023: TWH Maine Mini MFA All-Fiction Writers Conference (Boothbay Harbor, ME). The Writer’s Hotel Maine “Mini MFA” is a unique, hybrid, comprehensive writing program. Our programming includes our TWH two-editor pre-conference Team Reading and our conference, to be held IN-PERSON this year from May 24-30, 2023. TWH will be at the Spruce Point Inn Resort and Spa in Boothbay Harbor, Maine! https://www.writershotel.com/twh-maine-mini-mfa-all-fiction-conference-2023
May 25-27, 2022: 2023 Writing Heights Writers Conference (Fort Collins, CO). Effective January 1, 2023, NCW will be doing business as Writing Heights Writers Association. Since 2007, they have provided support and encouragement to writers of all levels and genres in Northern Colorado and beyond. Through monthly meetings, classes, networking & social events, the annual conference, the monthly newsletter and annual retreat, WHWA helps writers navigate their way to success. https://www.writingheights.com/page/conference
May 2023: ASJA Annual Conference (Virtual). With more than 900 members, ASJA stands as the country’s leading and most prestigious association of successful journalists, authors, and nonfiction and literary nonfiction writers, and we’ve never had a better time to talk about collaboration and networking. https://www.asja.org/events-overview/
May 5-6, 2023: Atlanta Writers Conference (Atlanta, GA). The Atlanta Writers Conference offers one-on-one manuscript sample critiques, pitch sessions, and workshops. On Friday, May 5 and Saturday, May 6, 2023, the Atlanta Writers Club will present its 28th Atlanta Writers Conference, in-person at the Westin Atlanta Airport Hotel. We will now only offer a virtual option for critique and pitch meetings with the agents and editors, due to the ever-increasing expense of the audio-visual equipment and personnel involved and the ever-dwindling number of virtual participants. https://atlantawritersconference.com/
May 11-13, 2023: Storymakers Conference (Provo, UT). The Storymakers Conference will consist of various classes that cover various topics such as cover design, marketing, creating a writing business, and the nuts and bolts of screenwriting. The Storymakers conference features over a hundred classes geared toward aspiring and established writers alike, taught by some of the best presenters in the publishing industry. https://storymakersguild.org/storymakers-conference/
June 09-11, 2023: Between the Pages Writers Conference (Springfield, MO). Springfield Writer’s Guild, Sleuths’ Ink, and Ozarks Romance Authors are pleased to present the second annual Between the Pages Writers Con, June 9-11, 2023. Join us for an exciting lineup of guest speakers, workshops, and the opportunity to network with industry professionals. https://btpwriterscon.com/
June 12-16, 2023: Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers Conference (Draper, UT). A #kidlit writing conference that “Turns more writers into authors than any other conference of its kind.” https://www.facebook.com/wifyr
June 14-17, 2023: Write-to-Publish Conference (Wheaton, IL). Since 1971, Write-to-Publish has been training, inspiring and encouraging writers like you, connecting them with editors to help them improve their craft, with publishers who are looking for good books to publish, and with literary agents who can represent them. https://writetopublish.com/
June 20-25, 2023: Minnesota Northwoods Writers Conference (Bemidji, MN). The Minnesota Northwoods Writers Conference has given hundreds of participants from Minnesota and across the United States the opportunity to work closely with award-winning faculty. We offer a range of scholarships to support emerging writers, important voices, and community leaders. This writing conference is full of workshops, Q&A sessions, panel talks. https://www.northwoodswriters.org/
June 21-25, 2023: St. Davids Christian Writers’ Conference (Meadville, PA). St. Davids is special. They’re an intimate gathering of writers that provides an opportunity to build a network, not by exchanging business cards in a busy hallway. Here they connect, like real people – laughing over lunch, chatting about their projects in the lounge, or giving their elevator pitch in genre group meetings. Writing is a different beast with the digital world but connecting with people is still done face to face. http://stdavidswriters.com/
June 22-24, 2023: Jackson Hole Writers Conference (Jackson, WY). The annual Jackson Hole Writers Conference brings top agents, editors and authors together each June for a celebration of the craft of writing. https://jhwriters.org/
June 22-25, 2023: Computers and Writing Conference (Davis, CA). The conference itself will, in fact, be a hybrid experience, intentionally designed to bridge online and on-site experiences. In engaging with a hybridized experience, us, we’ll explore an expansive range of questions about the goals and purposes of hybridity. Who does hybridity benefit? And what do we strive to accomplish by engaging in explicitly hybrid ways both within and beyond the classroom? https://cwcon2023.ucdavis.edu/
June 28 – July 2, 2023: GCLS Annual Conference (Denver, CO). The GCLS’s annual conference is the premier literary event for both authors and readers. The event brings together readers, fans, writers, editors and publishers to celebrate women-loving-women and sapphic literature. https://www.goldencrownliterarysociety.org/2023-annual-conference
July 13-16, 2023: Readercon 32 Conference (Quincy, MA). Although Readercon is modeled on “science fiction conventions,” we have no art show, no costumes, no gaming, and almost no media. Instead, Readercon features a near-total focus on the written word. In many years the list of Readercon guests rivals or surpasses that of the Worldcon in quality. Readercon is the only small convention regularly attended by such giants of imaginative literature as Samuel R. Delany, Ellen Datlow, Amal El-Mohtar, John Crowley, Greer Gilman, and Catherynne M. Valente. https://readercon.org/
July 14-16, 2023: Imaginarium (Louisville, KY). Join bestselling fantasy authors, Michael Williams and Tim Waggoner, at Imaginarium 2022! More than 130 panels will be taking place during this three-day celebration of storytelling. This event is more than your typical conference. It’s also a film festival, gaming tournament, Comicon convention, and a book fair! Imaginarium prides itself on being family-friendly with something for everyone. Kids 12 and under can attend for free! https://www.entertheimaginarium.com/
July 16-22, 2023: Port Townsend Writers Conference (Port Townsend, WA). The Port Townsend Writers Conference will feature guided free writes as well as readings and lectures by contemporary writers in the heart of the Pacific Northwest. In 2023, Centrum’s writing programs will offer participants vital support for the creation and revision of new and existing work from PTWC Artistic Curator Gary Copeland Lilley and award-winning faculty (listed alphabetically) Kim Addonizio, Quenton Baker, Elizabeth Colen, Alice Derry, Melissa Febos, CMarie Fuhrman, Tess Gallagher, Jennifer Givhan, Derrick Harriell, Arna Bontemps Hemenway, Brandon Hobson, Ravi Howard, Sasha LaPointe, Sam Ligon, Rena Priest, Sebastian Matthews, Laura Read, Anastacia Reneé, Shawn Vestal, and Kristen Millares Young. https://centrum.org/the-port-townsend-writers-conference/
July 19-22, 2023: Romance Writers of America Conference (Anaheim, CA). RWA works to support the efforts of its members to earn a living, to make a full-time career out of writing romance – or a part-time one that generously supplements their main income. https://www.rwa.org/conference
July 22-25, 2023: Sun Valley Writers’ Conference (Sun Valley, ID). The Sun Valley Writers’ Conference (SVWC) began with a conversation among four friends – journalist Reva B. Tooley, Sun Valley Community School leaders Jon and Leslie Maksik, and venture capitalist Gordon Russell, who sat around a kitchen table in 1994 and fantasized about starting a writers’ conference. One year later, SVWC held its first event in a tent at Sun Valley Community School, featuring 12 writers, 108 attendees, and an opening talk by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, David Halberstam. https://svwc.com/
July 23-29, 2023: Leopardi Writing Conference (Recanati, Italy). An immersive program for new and experienced authors, the Leopardi Writing Conference offers workshops and craft talks in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. As writing tends to be a solitary endeavor, the Leopardi Writing Conference will serve the inspiring purpose of community and place. We invite you to take advantage of this opportunity to receive expert feedback on your writing project, and get to know your fellow writers, including the distinguished members of our faculty. https://www.leopardiwc.org/
July 30 – August 4, 2023: Napa Valley Writers Conference (Napa, CA). Since 1981, the Napa Valley Writers’ Conference has provided literary fellowship and a craft-focused experience among the foothills and vineyards that have made this region famous. http://www.napawritersconference.org/
August 2-6, 2023: Willamette Writers Conference (Portland, OR). Willamette Writers is the largest writers’ organization in the Pacific Northwest. Writers of all genres and at all stages of their careers come to our meetings, annual conference, and workshops to connect with their community, develop their craft, and advance their career. https://willamettewriters.org/
August 3-5, 2023: Mendocino Coast Writers Conference (Mendocino, CA). The Mendocino Coast Writers’ Conference is a vibrant gathering that offers morning workshops in a wide range of genres. Afternoons are packed with craft seminars, panels, one-on-one consultations, and open mics; and every evening offers an opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie and connection that make this conference, in the words of one participant, “life changing.” At this conference, writers can participate in morning workshops that are related to various genres. https://mcwc.org/
August 3-6, 2023. The 60th Cape Cod Writers Center Conference (Barnstable, MA). The Cape Cod Writers Center is committed to assisting published and aspiring writers of all genres, abilities and ages to develop their writing skills and learn the business of editing, publishing and promotion. https://capecodwriterscenter.org/conference-2/
August 4-6, 2023: Advanced Speakers & Writers Conference (AWSA). AWSA is a special fellowship of over 800 Christian women. We are professional authors, entertainers, publishers and speakers who encourage and train one another. https://awsa.com/
August 4-6, 2023: Greater Los Angeles Writers Conference (Culiver City, CA). Learn how to take your writing to the next level at the Annual Greater Los Angeles Writers Conference. AGLAWC offers everything you need to advance your writing career creatively and professionally. Gain invaluable tips to improve your craft, explore publishing options and learn how to establish a sustainable career—all while being inspired by successful authors and your fellow attendees. It is a great opportunity to receive educational and inspirational guidance from a wealth of literary agents, veteran educators, industry professionals, professional editors, and publishers in the craft and business of writing fiction, nonfiction, plus screenwriting taught by Hollywood veterans. http://www.wcwriters.com/aglawc/
August 7–13, 2023: 28th Annual Postgraduate Writers’ Conference (Montpelier, VT). VCFA’s annual Postgraduate Writers’ Conference is a haven for serious, emerging practitioners seeking to connect, recharge, and lift their process and craft to new levels. https://vcfa.edu/postgraduate-writers-conference/
August 17-20, 2023: 2023 Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference (Franklin, TN). Killer Nashville is the premier forum for all genres incorporating mystery, thriller, or suspense elements; learn, present, meet agents & editors, sign books, mingle with forensic experts, and network. Writers who attend the Killer Nashville Writers Conference can expect writing workshops, pitch sessions, panel discussions, author signings, and a book fair. https://www.killernashville.com/
August 24-27, 2023: American Christian Fiction Writers Conference St. Louis (St. Louis, MO). If you’ve attended an ACFW conference before, you understand what the excitement’s about. Each year, hundreds of veteran authors and those just learning the craft of Christian fiction gather in a setting like this to hear skilled instructors, inspiring keynoters…to gain from the insights of industry professionals…to interact with other writers…and to present their ideas to agents and editors looking for stories like theirs, or to mentors who can help them move forward in their writing career. If you write Christian fiction—or want to learn how—the ACFW conference is an investment worth making. We hope you’ll join us on this exciting journey, taking a major step forward in your writing career. ACFW, the Voice of Christian Fiction. https://acfw.com/acfw-conference/
September 8-10, 2023: Colorado Gold Writers Conference (Denver, CO). They want to help you “lift up and lift off” your writing career at 2023’s Colorado Gold Writers Conference with a smashing line-up of keynotes, super-star agents (including for film adaptation), workshops for a variety of topics and genres, and networking galore. (Did someone say Bar-con?). https://rmfw.org/conference-2023/
October 12-14, 2023: Ozarks Creative Writers Conference (Eureka Springs, AR). This conference is for new, emerging, and accomplished writers focusing on the craft of writing, further developing skills, as well as stimulating and encouraging participants. OCW also focuses on opportunities for the participants to interact with editors, agents, and publishers. https://www.ozarkcreativewriters.com/
Select a writers’ conference of interest to you and be prepared to enjoy the benefits of meeting other writers. You may acquire knowledge you can use immediately, find a new market for your book, elevate your professional effectiveness, meet editors, agents and publishers, become inspired and return home energized.
The Bottom Line: Take a little working vacation and hit some writers’ conferences. Make it a priority to sign up for one in the coming weeks and months. You’ll be glad you did!
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
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