by Scott Lorenz | Agents, Author Advice, Author Spotlight, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Book Spotlight, Books to Movies, Books to Read, Hollywood, Interviews, Radio, Social Media
Remember- All Movies Start with the Written Word – All of Them
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Book Marketing
Movies, like books, sometimes have humble beginnings.
Remember the movie The Elephant Man? It was a true story about a nineteenth-century sideshow freak who was saved by a doctor portrayed in the movie by Anthony Hopkins.
THE ELEPHANT MAN, portrayed by the late John Hurt, continues to be a gold standard for artful cinematic creativity today. The movie is from Academy Award-winning film producer Jonathan Sanger.
How did this movie come about? Was it an agent’s pitch? No.
Was it an award-winning script? No.
Did experienced screenwriters create this masterpiece? No.
Was it adopted from a book? No.
I recently met up with Jonathan Sanger in Hollywood when my firm Westwind Book Marketing arranged a book signing and special big screen showing of The Elephant Man at the Egyptian Theatre. Mr. Sanger introduced the movie to several hundred people where he retold the incredible story of how this movie came about.
Where did the script come from?
His babysitter handed it to him to read! That’s right, his babysitter. Sanger took the script and said he’d read it and promptly set it aside… for about a year. Then one day he came back from a trip opened his desk drawer and there it was… staring at him like an obligation.
What did he do? He read it – and he loved it!
His book “Making the Elephant Man: A Producer’s Memoir” gives us an insider’s look at the creation of one of the first ever indie films and a box-office smash, as well as a peek into the early careers of movie greats David Lynch, Mel Brooks and Anthony Hopkins.
MAKING THE ELEPHANT MAN – A PRODUCER’S MEMOIR, in Paperback and Kindle is available on Amazon or on the author’s website www.JonathanSangerProductions.com View the book trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ohr4OwPsIk.
Few members of a film audience appreciate the intricacies of the myriad aspects of making a film. Sanger takes his experience as the producer of THE ELEPHANT MAN and opens a powerful discussion on the evolution of cinema, how he ‘discovered’ a script written by ‘unknowns’ Christopher DeVore and Eric Bergren finding “it was exactly the kind of story I would want to make, a historical biography about a wretched soul who had nonetheless lived an extraordinary life” – the true story of 19th century grossly deformed John Merrick, known as the Elephant Man working in a sideshow in London who was treated by a kind Dr. Treves.
“When I wrote this, I was teaching a course in independent film and using my experience with this film to teach,” says Sanger. “I realized that it would be great to get these stories down and put them in a book.” For every movie he makes, Sanger keeps a notebook about the crew, the schedules, what they ordered for lunch, and other details. He was able to tap into notes from 30 years ago that brought the whole process up fresh in his mind, including the strong emotions that gripped him upon first reading the script.
“Human stories have always moved me,” says Sanger. “I like movies about people who are outliers, who are not in the mainstream for one reason or another, even if they are famous. It’s not something I’m actually seeking, it’s just a trend I’ve noticed over the years, about myself as a producer.”
Sanger’s latest two movies, both follow similar themes. In Chapter and Verse, a reformed gang leader returns to Harlem where he gets a job delivering meals. Marshall is based on a true incident in the life of Thurgood Marshall, when he was a young lawyer, long before his appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Written with passion, Sanger’s memoir takes us with elegant prose and many black and white photographs through the presentation to Mel Brooks who helped propel the young Sanger’s project into the hands of neophyte director David Lynch, the details of finding the proper crew, the cast (John Hurt, Anthony Hopkins, Sir John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller, Anne Bancroft), the location, the anxieties of meeting deadlines, the technical hurdles of creating a film about such a character – facing struggles at every turn. Even the final showing of the completed film to an audience of professionals, whose silence terrified Jonathan, until he learned the silence was due to the emotional impact of the story – an unspoken Bravo!
Brooklyn-born Jonathan Sanger is a highly respected producer and director of major films, television series, and theatrical productions, having earned twenty Academy Award nominations, and winning three.
In 1976, Sanger moved to Los Angeles, where he worked for Lorimar Television on network television series The Blue Knight and Eight Is Enough. In 1978 he was Mel Brooks’ Assistant Director on High Anxiety, which led to a long professional association. For Brooks’ wife, Anne Bancroft’s feature directorial debut film Fatso, Sanger served as Associate Producer. During this period Sanger had acquired the rights to the script of The Elephant Man – his first production which led to a successful career in both producing and directing films – films such as Frances, Without Limits, Vanilla Sky, Flight of the Navigator, The Producers, and Code Name: Emerald.
The Bottom Line: A good story well written delivered to the right person can be the ticket to incredible success. Remember- all movies start with the written word. All of them.
Check out this New York Post article about Making the Elephant Man https://nypost.com/2017/02/19/how-the-inner-pain-of-a-circus-freak-became-a-surprise-hit/
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://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, Author Spotlight, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Books to Read, Interviews, Radio, Social Media, Television
#1 Bestseller on Amazon in 25 Categories & 4 Countries
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
Media trainer and esteemed “media guru” Jess Todtfeld recently launched his new book, Media Secrets: A Media Training Crash Course. The book shows readers how to earn press coverage, ace interviews and personally gain the most from media interviews.
Media Secrets taps into Jess Todtfeld’s former career as a producer for CBS, NBC and FOX to reveal how you can make the most of your time in the media spotlight. Jess was a former producer on FOX & Friends where we met a few years ago. Utilizing his unique grasp on the industry, Jess Todtfeld exposes how the media industry operates and how you can use that to your advantage.
Use Sound Bites. Todtfeld says the best interviews include succinct quotes or “sound bites” that the media can extract and then publish from entire dialogue. Here are some ways to frame your most important points during an interview to increase media pick up:
- Express Emotion
- Speak in Absolutes
- Use Action Words
- Use Clichés
- Use Analogies
- Use Humor
- Include Facts and Examples
- Make Predictions
- Ask Rhetorical Questions
“The media especially likes predictions,” says Todtfeld, “It takes the heat off them and it’s interesting to hear what you think could play out. In the future, if they figure out whether or not your prediction came true, they may choose to bring you back on.”
“Give some of your best answers early in the interview,” says Todtfeld, “Especially if it’s taped or recorded, because they may only use your answers from that first part of the interview.”
Media Secrets: A Media Training Crash Course is available in both eBook and hard copy. Visit https://www.amazon.com/Media-Secrets-Publicity-Interviews-Strategies-ebook/dp/B01LWBVJZO and watch the video and bonus links with tips to “Get on Good Morning America.”
The Bottom Line: If you are serious about maximizing your media exposure and every media opportunity, then buy this book. You owe it to yourself to learn from a top media pro how to optimize each interview, so it converts to sales, web traffic or other opportunities.
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://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 Events, Book Fairs, Book Festivals, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Book Publishing, Marketing a Book, Promoting a Book, Writers Conferences
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
There are several good reasons why writers should invest the time and effort required to attend writers’ conferences.
Attending a writers’ conference only takes a few hours, or a couple days at the most, a small investment, and a little effort to register and arrange travel and lodging, but the payoff can be big.
Attending a writers’ conference gives you a great chance to pitch your book, learn about the major publishing houses, meet book editors, agents and book marketing specialists. If your book is six months or a year from being finished, you can meet people who will give you valuable ideas on shaping your book and provide other advice to help you wrap up your project when you return home.
Or maybe you have been working on your book for a few months and are feeling insecure or unsure whether you really can be a published author. Attending a conference is a good way to get a reality check from book editors to get a professional opinion on your plot and characters and to determine whether you are on the right track.
Most importantly, attending a writers’ conference provides you with an opportunity to learn about the publishing business from fellow authors. You will also get honest and helpful professional assessments from book editors that will be more than worth the cost and effort of attending the conference.
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. You will want to develop an ‘elevator pitch’ of 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’ll you’ll meet so be prepared for that moment.
Now that you are ready, here are some writers’ conferences that you should consider attending:
Here are some upcoming writers’ conferences in 2025 for your consideration.
January 28, 2025: Jan 2025 Writing Show: Dreams to Deadlines – Navigating Your Writing Year (Richmond, VA)
February 7-8, 2025: San Diego Writing Workshop (Online)
March 7. 2025: Carolina Writing Workshop (Charlotte, NC)
March 8, 2025: Carolina Writing Workshop (Raleigh, NC)
March 14, 2025: Alabama Writing Workshop (Birmingham, AL)
March 15, 2025: Atlanta Writing Workshop (Atlanta, GA)
March 17, 2025: Cincinnati Writing Workshop (Cincinnati, OH)
March 22, 2025: Chesapeake Writing Workshop (Online)
March 22, 2025: Colorado Writing Workshop (Denver, CO)
April 5, 2025: Minnesota Writing Workshop (St. Paul, MN)
April 5, 2025: Toronto Writing Workshop (Toronto, ON)
March 25, 2025: Kentucky Writers Conference (Louisville, KY)
March 29, 2025: Boston Writing Workshop (Online)
May 9, 2025: Portland Writing Workshop (Portland, OR)
May 9-10, 2025: Pittsburgh Writing Workshop (Online)
April 3-5, 2025: Las Vegas Writers Conference (Las Vegas, NV)
April 12, 2025: Writing Workshop of San Francisco (Online)
April 26, 2025: Philadelphia Writing Workshop (Philadelphia, PA)
May 3, 2025: Michigan Writing Workshop (Livonia, MI)
May 2-3, 2025: Washington Writers Conference (Rockville, MD)
May 8-10, 2025: Storymakers Conference (Provo, UT)
April 11, 2025: Florida Writing Workshop (Orlando, FL)
April 12, 2025: Florida Writing Workshop (Tampa, FL)
May 3, 2025: Writing Conference of Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
May 10, 2025: Seattle Writing Workshop (Bellevue, WA)
May 16-18, 2025: Pennwriters Conference SCBWI (Coraopolis, PA)
April 26, 2025: Tennessee Writing Workshop (Nashville, TN)
June 21, 2025: Writing Workshop of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
July 20-25, 2025: Napa Valley Writers’ Conference (Napa, CA)
July 31 – August 2, 2025: Mendocino Coast Writers’ Conference (Mendocino, CA)
August 21-24, 2025: Killer Nashville’s International Writers’ Conference (Franklin, TN)
August 29, 2025: WriterCon 2025 (Choctaw, OK)
Select a writers’ conference of interest to you and be prepared to enjoy the benefits of meeting other writers, acquiring knowledge you can use immediately, learn about different genres, 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: Make a commitment to attend at least one writers’ conference this year. 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.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://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, Book Events, Book Marketing, Social Media
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
One creative way to get publicity for your book is to tie it to a holiday or special event. You’ll be able to reach out to the media who often need a ‘reason’ to showcase your book right now. Furthermore, you may be able to reach your audience on a more personal level by promoting your book alongside a national holiday, theme month, or cause. There are thousands of holidays that celebrate various concepts as well as traditional holidays that can be used to market your book; you just have to find them.
There are a couple of terrific websites that are perfect for authors by providing a searchable list of national days of ‘this or that’ for every day of the year. On Days of The Year site, I searched ‘book’ and found dozens of relevant days. For example, November 1st is National Author’s Day. Who knew? The site provides background about who started an event, when it started and just enough info for you to tie your book in to the holiday.
Another site is Holiday Insights. They have listings for each day of the month. There are plenty of examples I could enumerate but check it out and see for yourself. With so many possibilities, finding holidays that can be linked to your book will be no problem. Check them out at these links: https://www.daysoftheyear.com/ and https://www.holidayinsights.com/
How do you tie your book into a national month like Breast Cancer Awareness month? I once promoted Jackie Miles, author of Cold Rock River, during Bipolar Disorder Awareness Month because she was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. I also tied a promotion of a horse rescue group into the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont races because the country is focused and interested in horses during that time of year.
I also once got television and newspaper coverage for a dentist when we came up with a sugar-free Easter basket. We offered parents tips on how to give non-sugar-filled treats over the holiday and received tremendous exposure by doing so. This would be a perfect technique for a dentist with a book as well.
I also promoted a book about sports clichés tapping into the season of each sport and the author’s commentary and collection of clichés about that sport during its season.
For example, we pitched sports writers about football during the time they are covering it and baseball during the summer months. I know it may sound basic, but people don’t want to hear about hockey in the summer, so you have to tailor your pitch and timing accordingly.
In my experience, subjects such as military books and novels do very well before anniversaries of dates of military and historical events like Memorial Day, July 4th, D-Day, Pearl Harbor Day, 911 etc.
Books on the topic of overcoming breast cancer will see increased sales during October due to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Simply think about the subject matter of your book or any cause that is close to you, personally, and promote your book alongside the specific occasion, cause, or holiday.
Other holidays and cause or theme months to consider include:
- January
- New Years
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Chinese New Year
- February
- Black History Month
- Groundhog Day
- Valentine’s Day
- President’s Day
- Ash Wednesday
- March
- Women’s History Month
- Read Across America Day
- St. Patrick’s Day
- First Day of Spring
- April
- Autism Awareness Month
- Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month
- April Fools Day
- Easter (Sunday)
- Earth Day
- May
- National Pet Month
- Social Media Month
- May Day
- Cinco de Mayo
- Mother’s Day
- Armed Forces Day
- Memorial Day
- June
- LGBT Pride Month
- D-Day Anniversary
- Father’s Day
- First Day of Summer
- July
- Independence Day/ 4th of July
- August
- Friendship Day
- “Back to School”
- September
- Labor Day
- Grandparent’s Day
- Patriot Day (9/11)
- International Day of Peace
- First Day of Fall
- October
- National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- Columbus Day
- Sweetest Day
- National Boss Day
- United Nations Day
- Halloween
- November
- Veteran’s Day
- Thanksgiving
- December
- Pearl Harbor Day
- First Day of Winter
- Christmas
- New Year’s Eve
The Bottom Line: Find a way to tie your book to special events or holidays and you’ll increase your chances of getting media coverage.
Members of the press are looking for unique and interesting twists on every holiday. Create the angle that will entice them to interview YOU!
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://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 Awards, Book Events, Book Fairs, Book Festivals, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Marketing a Book, Writers Conferences
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
Writers Love to Help Fellow Writers – What Better Way to Meet Them Than Writers’ Conferences?
There are several good reasons why writers should invest the time and effort required to attend writers’ conferences.
Attending a writers’ conference only takes a few hours or days at the most, a few bucks, and a little effort to register and arrange travel and lodging, but the payoff can be big.
If the book you are working on is almost finished, attending a writers’ conference gives you a great chance to network with other authors, pitch your book, learn about the major publishing houses, meet book editors and book marketing specialists. If your book is six months or a year from being finished, you can meet people who will give you ideas on shaping your book and give other advice to help you wrap up when you return home.
Or maybe you have been working on your book for a few months and are feeling unsure about whether you really can be a published author. Attending a conference is a good way to get a reality check from book editors or literary agents who can give you a professional opinion on your plot and characters and help you determine whether you are on the right track.
Most important, attending a writers’ conference provides you with a great opportunity to learn about the publishing business by purposeful interaction with insiders. Some conferences offer an opportunity to get honest and helpful professional assessments from book editors that will be more than worth the cost and effort of attending the conference.
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. You will want to develop an elevator speech pitch of your book that you can deliver in one minute. Have handouts available such as promotional bookmarks or book covers, or a one-page written pitch with website URL, email, and one paragraph book summary.
Now that you are ready, here are some writers’ conferences in the coming weeks and months you should consider attending:
Here are some upcoming writers’ conferences in 2025 for your consideration:
February 6–9, 2025: San Francisco Writers Conference. (Hyatt Regency San Francisco, Embarcadero Waterfront – Immerse yourself in over 20 years of rich literary culture. We’re dedicated to empowering writers by creating opportunities for meaningful connections with publishers, editors, agents, and more.) https://www.sfwriters.org/
February 7–8, 2025: The 2025 Online San Diego Writing Workshop. (Online. A two-day online “How to Get Published” writing event. Writers are welcome to attend virtually from everywhere and anywhere.) https://sandiegowritingworkshop.com/
February 22, 2025: The 2025 Las Vegas Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, February 22, 2025: Hampton Inn Tropicana and Event Center, 4975 Dean Martin Drive | Las Vegas, NV 89118.) https://lasvegaswritingworkshop.com/
March 1, 2025: The 2025 South Carolina Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, March 1, 2025: DoubleTree by Hilton Charleston Mount Pleasant, 1330 Stuart Engals Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464.) https://southcarolinawritingworkshop.wordpress.com/
March 7–8, 2025: The Online 2025 Texas Writing Workshop. (This is a special two-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop on March 7-8, 2025. In other words, it’s two days full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published.) https://texaswritingworkshop.com/
March 7–8, 2025: North Carolina Writers Workshop. (FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2025: Charlotte Marriott SouthPark, 2200 Rexford Road, Charlotte, NC, 28211 & SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2025: The McKimmon Conference and Training Center at NC State, 1101 Gorman St, Raleigh, NC 27606.) https://carolinawritingworkshops.com/
March 14, 2025: The Alabama Writers Conference (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday, March 14, 2025: Embassy Suites Birmingham, 2300 Woodcrest Place, Birmingham, AL 35206.) https://alabamawritingworkshop.com/
March 15, 2025: The 2025 Writing Workshop of South Florida. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, March 15, 2025: Courtyard Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port, 400 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach, FL 33004.) https://writingworkshopsouthflorida.com/
March 15, 2025: Atlanta Writing Workshop (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, March 15, 2025 — at the Le Meridien Atlanta Perimeter by Marriott (north central suburbs), 111 Perimeter Center W, Atlanta, GA 30346.) https://atlantawritingworkshop.com/
March 22, 2025: The 2025 Oklahoma Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, March 22, 2025: Residence Inn Oklahoma City Airport, 804 S Meridian Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73108.) https://oklahomawritingworkshop.com/
March 22, 2025: The 2025 Chesapeake Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, March 22, 2025 — at the Hilton Arlington, 950 North Stafford Street, Arlington, VA 22203.) https://chesapeakewritingworkshops.com/
March 26–29, 2025: The AWP Conference & Bookfair. (Los Angeles Convention Center – The AWP Conference & Bookfair is the essential gathering for writers, teachers, students, editors, and publishers. Join thousands of attendees, explore hundreds of events and exhibitors, and immerse in four days of vital literary community and celebration in Los Angeles!) https://s2.goeshow.com/awp/annual/2025/index.cfm
March 28, 2025: The 2025 Connecticut Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday, March 28, 2025: Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale, 155 Temple St, New Haven, CT 06510.) https://connecticutwritingworkshop.com/
March 29, 2025: The 2025 Boston Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, March 29, 2025 — at the Hilton Boston Logan Airport, One Hotel Dr, Boston, MA 02128.) https://thebostonwritingworkshop.wordpress.com/
April 4-5, 2025: The 2025 Ohio Writing Workshop. (ONLINE: Writing Day Workshops plans both in-person and virtual/online conferences. The 2025 OWW is an Online Conference, on April 4-5.) https://ohiowritingworkshop.com/
April 5, 2025: Writers Conference of Minnesota (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, April 5, 2025 — at the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront, an IHG Hotel, 11 E Kellogg Blvd, St Paul, MN 55101. (651)292-1900.) https://minnesotawritingworkshop.com/
April 11, 2025: The 2025 Sacramento Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday, April 11, 2025: Sacramento Convention Center (SAFE Credit Union Convention Center), 1401 K St, Sacramento, CA 95814.) https://sacramentowritingworkshop.com/
April 11 (Orlando) and April 12 (Tampa): 2025 Florida Writing Workshops. (FRIDAY. APRIL 11, 2025: Crowne Plaza Orlando-Downtown, an IHG Hotel, 304 W Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32801. SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2025: Hyatt House Tampa Airport / Westshore. 5308 Avion Park Dr, Tampa, FL 33607. (813) 207-9500.) https://floridawritingworkshops.com/
April 25, 2025: Get Published in Kentucky Conference (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday, April 25, 2025 — at the Kentucky International Convention Center, 221 S 4th St, Louisville, KY 40202.) https://kentuckywritingworkshop.com/
April 26, 2025: Tennessee Writers Workshop (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, April 26, 2025 — at Music City Center, 201 Rep. John Lewis Way South, Nashville, TN 37203.) https://tennesseewritingworkshop.com/
April 26, 2025: Philadelphia Writing Workshop (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, April 26, 2025 — at Drexel University (inside the LeBow College of Business), 3220 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19104.) https://philadelphiawritingworkshop.com/
April 26, 2025: Bluegrass Writers Coalition – Conference of Writers (April 26, 2025, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Kentucky State University’s Harold R. Benson Research and Demonstration Farm in Frankfort KY.) https://bluegrasswriterscoalition.com/conference/
May 2, 2025: The 2025 Arizona Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday, May 2, 2025: Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Airport North, 3838 E Van Buren St, Phoenix, AZ 85008.) https://arizonawritingworkshop.com/
May 2–3, 2025: The 2025 Washington Writers Conference (May 2-3, 2025, Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Road, Rockville, MD) https://www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/page/the-2025-washington-writers-conference
May 3, 2025: Michigan Writing Workshop (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, May 3, 2025 — at the Embassy Suites Detroit – Livonia/Novi, 19525 Victor Parkway, Livonia, MI 48152.) https://michiganwritingworkshop.com/
May 3, 2025: The 2025 Writing Conference of Los Angeles. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, May 3, 2025 — at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport, 5711 W. Century Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90045.) https://writingconferenceoflosangeles.com/
May 9–10, 2025: The 2025 Pittsburgh Writing Workshop. (ONLINE: Writing Day Workshops plans both in-person and virtual/online conferences. The 2025 PWW is an Online Conference, May 9-10, 2025.) https://pittsburghwritingworkshop.com/
May 10, 2025: Seattle Writers Conference (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, May 10, 2025 — at the Seattle Marriott Bellevue, 200 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004.) https://theseattlewritingworkshop.com/
May 17, 2025: The 2025 Cincinnati Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, May 17, 2025: DoubleTree by Hilton Cincinnati-Blue Ash, 6300 E Kemper Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45241.) https://cincinnatiwritingworkshop.com/
May 9, 2025: The 2025 Portland Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday, May 9, 2025: Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel, 8235 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97220.) https://portlandwritingworkshop.com/
May 15–18, 2025: 38th Annual Pennwriters Conference (Thursday, May 15, 2025, 8:00 AM until Sunday, May 18, 2025, 12:00 PM – Pittsburgh Airport Marriott, Coraopolis, PA 15108) https://pennwriters.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=522048&module_id=378066
June 13-14, 2025: The 2025 California Writing Workshop. (ONLINE: Writing Day Workshops plans both in-person and virtual/online conferences. The 2025 CWW is an Online Conference, on June 13-14.) https://californiawritingworkshop.com/
June 21, 2025: The Writing Workshop of Chicago (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, June 21, 2025 — at the Congress Plaza Hotel.) https://chicagowritingworkshop.com/
July 20–25, 2025: Napa Valley Writers Conference (Sunday, July 20 to Friday, July 25, 2025, Napa Valley College, Napa, CA) http://www.napawritersconference.org/
July 25–26, 2025: The 2025 New England Writing Workshop. (ONLINE: Writing Day Workshops plans both in-person and virtual/online conferences. The 2025 NEWW is an Online Conference, on July 25-26.) https://thenewenglandwritingworkshop.com/
July 31 – August 2, 2025: Mendocino Coast Writers Conference (Daytime events will take place at the K8 School – 44261 Little Lake Road. Evening events will take place at Crown Hall – 45285 Ukiah Street, Mendocino, CA) https://mcwc.org/
August 21–24, 2025: Killer Nashville Writers Conference (c/o American Blackguard, Inc., 314 Watercress Drive, Franklin, TN 37064-3234). https://www.killernashville.com/
Select a writers’ conference of interest to you and be prepared to enjoy the benefits of meeting other writers, acquiring knowledge you can use immediately, learn about different genres, 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: Make a commitment to attend at least one writers’ conference this year. 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.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://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.
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