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How to Write a Winning Book Proposal with Ally Machate and MWA South Baltimore – Aug. 9, 2023

It has long been the case that nonfiction writers, instead of penning a complete manuscript, could sell their ideas based solely on well-developed book proposals. An extended marketing pitch, the book proposal is a unique document that any writer of nonfiction must master. Join Ally Machate and learn how editors and agents evaluate potential acquisitions and what your proposal must contain to get the coveted attention of these publishing professionals. This talk will teach you what goes into a contract-winning book proposal, where to find important information, and how to evaluate your own material to ensure you’re presenting your project—and yourself—in the best possible light

Intrigued? Here are three key elements this talk will cover:

What kind of information agents and publishers expect to see in your proposal and how to properly organize it for best effect.
How agents and publishers evaluate book proposals when considering acquisitions and what you can do to improve your chances of getting a book deal.
Why writing a book proposal will boost your book’s success even if you decide to self-publish (and top warning signs that your proposal can help bring to light).

Please join Ally and the South Baltimore Chapter of the Maryland Writers Association for a virtual presentation:

August 9, 2023 – 7:00PM to 8:30PM

More information about this event may be found on the MWA website or register by clicking here.

We hope to see you there!

“Which Editor Do You Need?” at the Washington Writers Conference – May 13, 2023

Please join us on Saturday, May 13th, 2023 for the Washington Writer’s Conference. This event will be held at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center at 5701 Marinelli Road, Rockville, MD 20852.

Hosted by the Washington Independent Review of Books, the conference includes numerous talks and panels, including “Which Editor Do You Need?”, featuring our very own Ally Machate. Here are the details:

Get your questions ready for top book editors Ally Machate and Katherine Pickett. In this session, Ally and Katherine will give you the inside scoop on the types of freelance editors available to you, what they do, why you might need them, and how you can make the most of the editing experience. We’ll discuss developmental editors, line editors, copy editors, and proofreaders. There will be plenty of time for Q&A with this dynamic duo, so come prepared. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how editors can help them achieve their dreams of publication.

All the conference information and registration is available on the Washington Independent Review of Books website. Hope to see you there, and be sure to say hi if you attend!

Your Book, Your Choice: 3 Proven Paths to Publication with the MWA, Feb. 11, 2023

Dreaming of “getting published?” With many options for bringing books to market, how do you choose the way that’s most aligned with you and your goals? This in-depth presentation reveals how traditional and self-publishing paths work, what kind of projects are best suited to each (as well as an underappreciated third way to publish), and the decision-making shortcuts that will help you identify which of the 3 proven paths to publication is ideal for you.

You’ll also learn insider secrets to getting a book deal (and why you might be better off without one), how to avoid common publishing mistakes that waste your time (and money), why doing everything yourself can either be a mistake or your best option, and more.

Join us on February 11, 2023, at 2 pm – 3:30 pm as our very own Ally Machate helps you decide which of the most common paths to publication may be best for your project with Your Book, Your Choice: 3 Proven Paths to Publication, a webinar hosted by the Maryland Writers’ Association.

How to Write a Captivating Book Proposal

Many authors believe they must write a book before they can start trying to pitch their work to agents and publishers, but if you’re writing a prescriptive nonfiction (i.e. problem-solving) book, you can save yourself a lot of time and energy by giving these industry pros what they really want: A captivating book proposal.

Our very own Ally Machate offers insightful tips on how to do just that in this guest post for Smith Publicity. She focuses on what makes a captivating book proposal and how to help agents and publishers see the potential revenue your book could generate. She even provides a FREE resource on what goes into a prescriptive nonfiction book proposal.

Head over to Smith’s Publicity Blog to read the full post, and don’t forget to leave a comment if you enjoy the article!

Thinking Like an Editor – A Chat hosted by NaNoWriMo and AutoCrit, Nov. 23, 2020

Our very own Ally Machate will be joining NaNoWriMo and Autocrit for a fun and informative discussion about how authors participating in National Novel Writing Month can learn to think like an editor when revising their drafts after November has ended.

In this live-streamed conversation, you will learn:

tips and tricks you can use to catch issues in a manuscript
the importance of editing and polishing, rather than just running straight to self-publishing on Kindle
and more!

“Thinking Like an Editor” will happen on November 23, 2020 at 1:00pm EST and will be available through the following sites:

For more information, you may check their page here.

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