With details of upcoming courses at Writers Digest University:
Keep your creative
ideas flowing 🌊
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If you love to write
and have a story you want to tell, the only thing that can stand between you and
the success you're seeking isn't craft, or a good agent, or enough Facebook
friends and Twitter followers, but fear. Fear that you aren't good enough, or
fear the market is too crowded, or fear no one wants to hear from you.
Fortunately, you can't write and be afraid simultaneously. The question is
whether you will write fearlessly or on purpose. In this new live webinar,
author William Kenower will look at several techniques you can you use to
keep yourself in the creative flow and out of the trouble and misery fear
always causes.
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How to identify the mother of all writing
fears
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The only two questions a writer should
ever ask
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How to listen to your unerring guidance
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We will also the address the very specific
concerns of each attendee, whether it’s time, voice, or money.
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Any writer who feels stuck
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Any writer who thinks they don’t have
enough time to write
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Any writer afraid of failure
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Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. EDT
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Instructor: William
Kenower
In addition to William's writing books he’s
been published in The New
York Times and Edible
Seattle, and has been a featured blogger for the Huffington Post.
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Please do not reply to this email.
We are happy to help you with any questions or concerns you may have.
Please click
here to contact us.
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F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
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Plus, learn why you
should never tell anyone they can't write.
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by Deb Norton
Characters are tricky. Even when you've given them a story arc you love and
mapped every thrilling moment of their harrowing-but-transformative journey
-- even when you feel you know everything about these people (gender,
occupation, favorite movie, worst fear) -- they can still remain disturbingly
flat on the page.
What then? The direct approach of trying to think up the most interesting
character ever puts a terrible pressure on your imagination and chokes off
the inspired ideas you're after. Better, I've found, to be a bit tricky
yourself.
These 10 underhanded character development techniques are designed to relax
your "thinky" brain and to draw instead on your curiosity,
intuition and slightly devious sense of play. Why grapple with the onerous
task of coming up with deep revelations about your character, when you can
just trick her into giving herself away?
A word of warning: You will be tempted to read the following prompts -- which
invite you to write, quickly and with wild abandon, for a set period of time
-- and just think up answers instead of putting pen to paper. Don't do it!
These techniques work best on the page (preferably pen and paper, which have
no delete key), precisely because such rapid scrawling gets you somewhere you
won't get while consciously crafting the "perfect" response. There
are no right answers here -- so go ahead and get it really wrong. Read More...
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In this episode of the Writer's Digest
Podcast, Gabriela Pereira talks with literary agent Barbara Poelle, and
shares an inside look at the weird and wonderful relationship between author
and agent. In this interview, they discuss how to write a query letter that
gets agents wanting you, what questions you should ask an agent when you get
an offer, and how to deal with your agent taking your book out on submission.
Listen to the episode.
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FREE WEBINAR: 3 Things Agents & Publishers Must See in
Your First 30 Pages. Industry pros decide quickly whether your manuscript's
opening intrigues them enough to read on - if not, they may stop.
Award-winning author Barbara Kyle shows the three elements your story's
beginning must have to succeed.
Read More |
Think you can't write (or other people
can't)? That's not the case -- anyone can write, as William Kenower learned
in a writing class when one student took a blunt and brutal critique and used
it to transform her clumsy writing into a powerful story. Read More...
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The Octavia Project, WD's inaugural charity
partner for the recent 2018 Annual Conference, offers young women and trans,
gender non-conforming, or questioning youth the chance to participate in free
interdisciplinary workshops that encourage critical thinking, build
confidence, and develop skills in a myriad of subjects. Read More...
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The most common mistakes that bog down an
otherwise flowing narrative are easy to avoid or correct when you're editing
fiction scenes. These five simple steps will make your writing soar and your
readers sit up and take notice. Read More...
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In her 18 mysteries starring female
detective Aimee Leduc -- a private investigator who owns a computer security
firm -- Cara Black tackles Paris one neighborhood at a time, showing the
seamier side of the City of Light. Read More...
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Jess Zafarris
Follow @jesszafarris
Jess Zafarris is an energetic multimedia journalist with more
than 7 years of experience writing and editing, and the content director of
Writer's Digest.
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F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
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Start Your 12-Week
Journey
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Dive into the world
of writing and learn all 12 steps needed to complete a first draft. In this
writing workshop you will tackle the steps to writing a book, learn effective
writing techniques along the way, and of course, begin writing your first
draft.
You'll take an in-depth look at Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird as well as
more contemporary novels such as Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones and
Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge. When you take this workshop, you will
learn invaluable tips on writing a book and receive detailed instruction
through weekly lessons and writing assignments.
In the workshop, you will be able to finish either a decently developed half
draft (of half of your novel) or a rough “in-progress" full draft.
However, you'll learn all the tools needed to complete the full first draft.
At the end of this workshop, you will have accomplished every writer's goal –
an “in-progress" working first draft.
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How to use effective writing techniques to
start the first draft of your novel
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How to create a 12-week plan for writing a
first draft of a novel
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How to pace your novel
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How to weave literary elements such as
plot, character, setting, style, exposition, dialogue, and tension within
your novel
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Aspiring novelists who want a published
author to coach them
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Writers who want to learn the 12 elements
needed in a rough draft of their novel
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Writers who want to get a solid start on
the first draft of their novel
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"Outstanding
teacher! Wonderful course! I accomplished far more than I imagined!
"" -DH
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"Miki helped
me identify my weaknesses as a writer. I’m grateful that she did." -DM
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August 16 - November 8, 2018
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Instructor: Terri
Valentine
Terri Valentine has ten romance novels in
publication. Sweet Paradise was nominated for Best Romance Adventure by
Romantic Times in 1992. Louisiana Caress received a coveted K.I.S.S (Knight
in Shining Silver) Award from Romantic Times in 1993. Sands of Time (1993),
her first-time travel romance, is set in the Middle East.
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Additional Courses Starting August 16:
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EXPERT INSTRUCTORS | CONVENIENT ACCESS
INVALUABLE FEEDBACK
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F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
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A Special Offer from our Trusted Partner
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48 Hour Sale: 50% off ProWritingAid Premium
Our friends at ProWritingAid would
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ProWritingAid:
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I
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Take a 2.5 minute video tour of ProWritingAid
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25 Different
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ProWritingAid analyzes your writing and
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Read more
about the 25 reports
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Summary Reports
Get a comprehensive overview of your
writing and learn the key actions that will most improve your text. These
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ProWritingAid
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Want to hear directly from the
ProWritingAid community? Check out these recent tweets from
users.
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Don't usually endorse software,
however : ProWritingAid is superb. Highly recommend as an editing suite of
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Thank you @ProWritingAid
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F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
|
Professional advice
and direction from Writer's Digest
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Before
you submit your manuscript to an agent, editor, or competition, get
professional feedback from 2nd
Draft Critique Services. These critique services give a high-level review of
your writing, pointing out reasons your work may be getting rejected, or may
not meet the standards of traditional publication.
After
an evaluation of your submission, one of the professional 2nd Draft
critiquers will provide feedback and advice. You’ll not only learn what’s
working in your writing, but what’s not, and—most important—how to fix it. |
After reading your submission, a professional critique
editor will provide you with specific, detailed feedback and
recommendations. They will comment on your story's plot,
characterization, dialogue, setting, and story arc.
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You'll love this Plot
Critique Service if you're looking for a professional
critique of your plot. Learn your plots strengths and weaknesses while
gaining a clear idea of how to revise your plot to ensure the most
compelling story business.
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If you have completed your manuscript you can submit a
2-page synopsis for critique. 2ndDraft
Critique Service provides a high-level review of your work,
pointing out reasons that an agent or publisher may not be interested
after reading your synopsis.
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Gain professional feedback on what works and what doesn't
in your personal essay. Submit your essay to 2nd Draft Critique Services
and they will point out specific ways you can improve your peice, as well
as reasons your work may be getting rejected.
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If you have at least 50 consecutive pages of your
manuscript written and are looking for not only professional feedback but
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You'll love this manuscript critique service if you want
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Submit your completed picture book and you will get the
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Our 2nd
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letter and provide the advice and feedback you need to improve your query
letter.
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F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300 Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
Free shipping when
you buy in August!
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Order now and be the first to receive when
the books are released!
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If you want to get
published and paid for your writing, there are no better guides than the 2019
Market Books. Whether you want specific agent listings or publishing
opportunities, these guides have you covered. And if you own previous
editions this is your chance to have the most updated listings. Best of all,
if you purchase any of the 2019 Market Books before August 31, you will get
free U.S. shipping on your entire order! Don't miss out, order the most
trusted guide to get published today.
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*No coupon needed. Prices are as marked. Sale
ends 8/31/18 at 11:59 PM MST. Estimated ship dates are listed on individual
product page.
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F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
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Learn how to
incorporate our real world into you Sci-Fi and Fantasy
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In this 27-minute tutorial, author Philippa
(Pip) Ballantine shows you how to incorporate our real world into your
science fiction and fantasy novel. Read More...
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Writer's Digest Membership Options
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350+ WD Tutorials are immediately available
for viewing, and at least one new tutorial is added weekly.
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Sue Johnson
Sue is an Instructional Designer for
Writer's Digest. She lives with her Corgi/Dachshund (Dorgi), Dori, and three
kitties. Follow her on Twitter @sueajohnsonco.
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F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
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Plus, learn how 11
authors got their agents.
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by Jennifer Haupt
I have a confession: I’m all-in at the beginning of writing a novel, but then
I’m prone to bouts of intense writer’s block after the honeymoon is over. The
middle is where I meet up with my old pals resistance, self-doubt, and the
“what next?” blues.
My secret weapon for combatting writer’s block at any stage, and often
avoiding it altogether, is the process journal. This isn’t a term I made up,
and it means different things to different writers. Generally, this notebook
is a place to free-write about different aspects of plot, character
development and structure -- off the sacred pages of your manuscript.
I tend to take a long time to finish a novel. I spent eleven years working on
my debut novel, In the Shadow of 10,000 Hills, including numerous breaks from
two weeks to two years long. My process journal is a series of exercises I’ve
fashioned over the years, drawing on what I’ve learned from workshops and
craft books. It provides me with an organized road map of where my WIP has
been, where it’s headed, and possible side roads to explore.
Here are six ways using a process journal can stave off writers block and
keep your WIP on-track:
1. Keep track of the
basics. While your protagonist, antagonist and supporting
cast of characters will grow over time, the basics of their personalities and
personal growth should remain consistent. That’s the foundation of plot. Your
protagonist’s basic personality traits are formed and expressed through:
desire, initial plan, critical weakness that makes that plan fall apart, and
“superpower” that becomes stronger toward the middle of the story. Writing
these and other qualities down for easy reference can be extremely helpful. Read More...
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Steal These 31 Writing Prompts!
Writer's block? Get your creative juices flowing with 31 Writing Prompts to Inspire You
Through the Month!
These prompts are easy, fast, and fun. They'll help fire up your imagination
and encourage you to dig deeper as you write. Plus, they'll prime your brain
to become an idea-generating machine. Whenever you sit down to write, you'll
jump right into the flow.
Get your
FREE 31 writing prompts here!
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As a preview of their Writer's Digest Annual
Conference panel, a thriving writing group composed of of Kimmery
Martin, Bess Kercher, Trish Rohr and Tracy Curtis offer their thoughts about
how the power of connection can propel your writing career, and the role a
writing group can play in your journey. Read More...
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ENTER TO WIN PROFESSIONAL BOOK EDITING
Independent authors will have 31 chances to win professional book editing
through August.
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Finding an agent who will take a chance on
your book can be a challenge, and a lengthy one at that. If you’re
struggling, here are some words of wisdom from celebrated authors—including
Helen Hoang, Robyn Harding, Elyssa Friedland and more—to motivate you to keep
working toward your goal of getting a literary agent. Read More...
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Unlock the potential of your manuscript! Helga Schier, PhD, published author and professional editor
offers effective, personalized, constructive and comprehensive editorial
services.
Contact: withpenandpaper@verizon.net, www.withpenandpaper.com,
310.828.8421
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The latest edition of "Why I Write
Poetry" post comes from Sarah Richards who writes, "It is
everything life is about: Understanding ourselves, others, and the world
around us." Richards lives in Pensacola, Florida (aka L.A., or Lower
Alabama). She is a double major at a local community college, where she is
Editor-in-Chief of the student newspaper, as well as a student editor of the
school’s annual literary arts journal. Read More...
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The simple act of writing can sometimes
reinvigorate your creativity. With this quick writing tip from Jane K.
Cleland, you can unlock a world of new opportunities within your story. Read More...
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Write the opening sentence (just one
sentence), of 25 words or fewer, to a story based on the photo prompt. You
can be funny, poignant, witty, etc.; it is, after all, your story. Read More...
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Jess Zafarris
Follow @jesszafarris
Jess Zafarris is an energetic multimedia journalist with more
than 7 years of experience writing and editing, and the content director of
Writer's Digest.
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F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
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Plus, tune in to the
Writer's Digest Podcast.
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11 Authors Discuss the Road to Getting a
Literary Agent
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by Stephanie Elliot
When I set out to find an agent, I did all the required research. I searched
out agent names in the back of books I thought were similar to mine; I joined
online writer's groups to connect with other writers; I scoured websites like
agentquery.com; I crafted what I hoped was an intriguing query letter; and I
created an extensive excel document to track the journey to agent
representation.
After I spent all of that time writing a book, I was ready to get to the
equally hard work of finding my dream agent.
That journey took me through 140 agent queries, a few close calls, and a lot
of devastation. I remember telling my mother that if I didn't have agent
representation by the 100th query, then I would throw in my proverbial
writer's towel. When I shared the news with my mother that I got an agent on
the 140th query, she said, "I thought you were quitting after 100?"
"Mom," I said, "if I gave up then, I wouldn't have gotten an
agent. Right?"
Right. I didn't give up. But the story didn't end there, with that first
agent, a fat check and a two-book deal. Nope. It took a very long time to
publication, including that first book getting turned down in acquisitions
meetings, writing three more books, self-publishing, and switching agents a
few times. When my dream of becoming a traditionally published author became
a reality with my young adult novel, Sad Perfect, I had been querying and
writing for close to 12 years.
We writers know we have to write, and to get published, we can't quit our
search for that perfect agent. It's in your blood, it's in your bones, and if
you're like me—and could think of nothing but getting published—you will get
there with time and persistence. And by not quitting.
If you're struggling (and what writer doesn't struggle?), here are some words
of wisdom from celebrated authors to motivate you to keep working toward your
goal of getting a literary agent. These authors have been through the
rejection ringer as well, and they've all come out on the other side. The
side where you will see your name on the cover of a book that you wrote and
worked hard to get published! Read
more.
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In
our Breaking In column in Writer's
Digest magazine, we talk with debut authors—such as Lyra Selene, author
of Amber and Dusk -- about how they did it, what they learned and why you can
do it, too. Here, Selene discusses the importance of perseverance when the
going gets tough.
Read more.
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In frank and funny prose, the bestselling author of 12
books walks you through every stage of crafting and selling short
nonfiction pieces.
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$14.99
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Discover thousands of publishing opportunities for
writers, including listings for book publishers, consumer and trade
magazines, contests and awards, and literary agents.
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$29.99
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Kerrie Flanagan takes readers step-by-step through the
entire process of writing and publishing magazine articles.
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$18.99
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In this episode of the Writer's Digest
Podcast, Gabriela Pereira talks with literary agent Barbara Poelle, and
shares an inside look at the weird and wonderful relationship between author
and agent. In this interview, they discuss how to write a query letter that
gets agents wanting you, what questions you should ask an agent when you get
an offer, and how to deal with your agent taking your book out on submission.
Listen to the episode.
|
Jess Zafarris
Follow @jesszafarris
Jess Zafarris is an energetic multimedia journalist with more than 7
years of experience writing and editing, and the content director of Writer's
Digest.
|
F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300 Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
|
Course starts in one
week!
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Today, Amazon sells
nearly 50% of all print books and over 70% of all e-books in America. If you
want to sell more books, and hit a bestseller list in the future, you must
learn how to sell more books through Amazon.
It doesn’t matter if you’re self-published or traditionally-published. It
doesn’t matter if you write fiction or non-fiction. It doesn’t matter if
you’re a first-time author or an experienced veteran. Success for every
author hinges upon selling more books on Amazon.
Mastering Amazon for Authors is the premiere online video course designed to
help you increase book sales at the world’s largest retailer. This self-paced
course provides in-depth instruction for authors at any level. Marketing
expert, Rob Eagar, takes the guesswork out of promoting your books on Amazon
and explains how to:
- Convert more sales when readers view your book on
Amazon
- Secure more persuasive customer reviews for free
- Get your books noticed on Amazon's huge website
- Use Amazon's algorithms to get free marketing for
your books
- Build your author email list using Amazon's massive
audience
- Create advertising that drive readers directly to
your books
Watch the videos and
go behind the scenes into Amazon’s system. Discover how to increase your book
sales, no matter your genre or experience level. In addition, Rob Eagar, will
be available to answer your questions during the course to help you make
progress.
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On August 9, 2018, you
will gain access to 11 video sessions that will guide you through selling
books on Amazon from start to finish. You will also gain access to discussion
boards, unique to each session, that will allow you to ask Rob questions and
interact with your fellow students. As you work through the course discussion
boards will remain live for your reference. When the course closes on September 13, 2018,
access to post on the discussion boards will be removed, so be sure to ask
questions before the course closes. You will have access to the videos and
past discussions until
December 31, 2018.
Here's one of the best
parts: Get your Amazon questions answered by an expert.
Students of this course can send questions directly to instructor, Rob Eagar.
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SESSION 1: Master
Your Book’s Amazon Detail Page
The way your book
appears on Amazon’s website determines if people choose to buy a copy. If
your book detail page is excellent, then you will sell more books. If your
book detail page is lacking, you sales will suffer. This session explains
seven elements of an effective book detail page, provides fiction and
non-fiction examples you can follow, and describes how to convert more sales
on Amazon.
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SESSION 2: How to
Get More Customer Reviews
Customer reviews on
Amazon are essential to help close the book sale. In this session, learn four
ways to get more reviews for free. Plus, there’s a bonus download available
to use with your tribe to help get more reviews written on your behalf.
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SESSION 3: How to
Get Your Book Noticed on Amazon
Amazon sells so many
books that authors worry how to get their books noticed with such fierce
competition. This session explains ways to gain awareness for your books on
Amazon using methods that are inexpensive – and even free.
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SESSION 4: Maximize
Your Author Central Account
This important
session reveals why every author should set up a free Author Central Account
on Amazon. You will learn how to setup an account and use the helpful data
that Amazon provides, including a little-known way to track your book sales.
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SESSION 5: Amazon's
Secret Marketing Back Door
Are you disappointed
with the marketing text that your publisher posted on your book’s Amazon
page? Here’s great news. You’re not stuck with it. In this session, discover
a secret “back door” that lets you take control of your book’s marketing text
on Amazon and fix publisher mistakes.
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SESSION 6: Amazon
Sales Rankings Explained
Every author wants
to reach #1 on Amazon. However, your book’s sales ranking doesn’t mean what
most authors think. This session debunks common myths about Amazon sales
rankings, explains how to identify your sales ranking, use the data properly,
and estimate actual book sales.
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SESSION 7: Build
Your Email List with Bait Books
This session alone
is worth purchasing the entire course! Discover a clever way to grow your
author email list using Amazon's huge audience of readers...for FREE! Are you
worried that too few people come to your author website? Learn how to turn
the tables and build your following using Amazon’s host of hungry readers.
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SESSION 8: Amazon
Ads Overview
This session
provides a useful overview of Amazon's amazing advertising platform for
authors. Learn six benefits of using Amazon ads and how to take advantage of
their system no matter whether you're an indie author or
traditionally-published.
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SESSION 9: How to
Create a Sponsored Products Ad
Sponsored Product
Ads are an incredibly powerful tool to reach new readers. In this session,
learn how to use Amazon's advertising system and walk through the steps to
create effective Sponsored Product Ads. You’ll experience a live
demonstration to create powerful ads for any type of fiction or non-fiction
book.
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SESSION 10: How to
Create a Product Display Ad
Just like Session 9,
watch another demonstration that focuses on creating Product Display Ads. You
will learn the specific benefits of these ads and how to use them to gain
more attention for your books.
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SESSION 11: Ad
Metrics and Ad Scaling
The final session provides
a tutorial explaining how to use the data Amazon provides to track your ads
performance. You will also learn how to properly scale your ads when you want
to increase your advertising budget.
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Instructor: Rob
Eagar
Learn from one of the most accomplished book
marketing experts in America. For over 10 years, Rob Eagar has coached more
than 450 authors, consulted with numerous publishing houses, and helped
clients hit the New York Times bestseller list three different ways,
including new fiction, new non-fiction, and backlist non-fiction. He even
helped a book become a New York Times bestseller after 20 years in print!
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EXPERT INSTRUCTORS | CONVENIENT ACCESS
INVALUABLE FEEDBACK
|
F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
|
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