This year I was thrilled to be invited back for one of my favorite annual events, the Bay to Ocean Writers Conference (BTO). Since 1998, this one-day conference has been held at Chesapeake College with a mission to “inform, encourage, and inspire writers and help them unravel the mysteries of the ever-changing publishing business.” To that aim the conference offers workshops, presentations, and panel discussions that bring writers and industry professionals together to explore a spectrum of the craft, from writing to marketing a book.
Each year the conference has grown steadily larger and more popular to the point that I now often find myself giving my presentations to a room brimming to capacity with a great mix of faces from all corners of the industry.
My talk this year (my fourth so far at BTO) was a “5 Step Self-Publishing Success Strategy.” It was very well-received and I was so pleased to hear afterwards from the conference organizers that attendee feedback called my presentation “a Master class” in self-publishing!
With statistics continually showing this indie method of publication is on an exponential rise, with no signs of fading as a passing fad (lucky for those us who are fans of it!), it is such an interesting time to teach self-publishing. The BTO conference, with its aim of keeping writers up-to-date with these kinds of transformations, is a perfect forum for encouraging and informing people who are keen to take advantage of the DIY approach but need some more information on how best to do so. As I mentioned in my presentation description, to navigate your way to self-publishing success, you need a plan designed for your type of book and you need to be aware of the unique opportunities and limitations of the industry.
Here are some other responses from attendees of the presentation:
[Ally’s] impressions were so clear and concise that they encouraged me to tweak my manuscript rather than toss it. I am delighted and enthralled all over again with the thought of finishing this story. Thank you for lending your talents.— Kathi Donegan, novelist
Ally’s outstanding knowledge of publishing was most informative. I could go on for numerous pages in the copious notes that I took and treasured at the end of this hour and a half workshop. She projects extraordinary compassion for writers and her ability to communicate is incredible.— Fran White, author of Family Secrets
Check here for more of my posts on the subject of self-publishing!
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