Get Published - The Writer's Ally™

RavenCon 2019 Keeping Harrison Busy–April 5-7, 2019

It’s time for RavenCon 2019! The Convention of Opportunity returns to Williamsburg, Virginia with over 300 hours of programming in one action-packed weekend, and our very own Harrison Demchick is one of the Programming Guests.

Gaming, panels, signings, kids’ programming, workshops, readings, vendors, authors, artists, tournaments, costuming, anime, movies, concerts, books, books, and more books! There’s always something to do at RavenCon.

Harrison will be keeping busy with lots of panels and workshops, so be sure you stop him to say hello!

Saturday April 6, 2019
10 am: (Panel) Choosing an Editor
6 pm: (Panel) Small Presses – How They Work, and How Writers Can Work with Them
7 pm: (Presentation/Workshop) It’s the End of the World as We Know It and I Feel Fine
9 pm: (Presentation/ Panel) Bad Math; or, How Right and Left Brains Work Together
10 pm: (Panel) Hollywood Will Break Your Heart

Sunday April 7, 2019
10 am: (Panel) Learn to Love Your Writing, a Motivational Panel
11 am – 11:20 am: Reading

RavenCon 2019 is happening on April 5-7, 2019 in Williamsburg, Virginia.

To register, click here. Hope to see you there, and if you have friends in the area, please help spread the word.

Fearless Success Summit for Writers Starts Now!

It’s no secret: becoming a successful writer is one of the most challenging ambitions anyone can have. Enter the Fearless Success Summit for Writers, a free virtual training series that Ally is part of along with 20+ other industry experts.

Like most writers—and humans in general—you probably wouldn’t say no to having a helping hand as you figure it all out, right? Join the summit to hear interviews with experts who will be talking about things like:

How to follow your heart, identify your purpose, and turn your writing passion into a profitable business.
Specific ways to get your message out into the world, as quickly as possible, so you can transform lives AND start pulling in money, fast.
Marketing strategies for boosting your business with a book (HINT: this is what Ally will be talking about in her interview session, recording available March 11-14!)
Strategies for moving past fears, limiting beliefs, and psychological blocks that pretty much every author faces, so you can turn any obstacle into an opportunity.
A holistic approach to all the different psychological and practical aspects of the business of writing, so you can finally start making progress toward realizing your dream.

It all kicks off March 11^th and is totally FREE! Click here to register!

Ally’s interview went live last night and will be available for free until March 14th. If you register for VIP Access, you will get unlimited access to interviews and all the bonuses.

For more info, you may contact Lesley at lesley@teamwarrenarcher.com

Perfect Your Author Platform at the Bay to Ocean Writers Conference — March 9, 2019

Driving down to the Eastern Shore in Maryland is something most people do during the summer. For Ally, it’s become a familiar winter/early spring tradition! She’s honored to be invited once again to speak at the Bay to Ocean Conference on March 9, 2019.

The Bay To Ocean Writers Conference is a one-day nonprofit conference that has attracted and motivated more than 3,500 writers over its history. Attendees come from surrounding states and the District of Columbia as well as throughout the Chesapeake Bay and Delmarva region. With a registration limit that is always met early, the conference has a wonderfully intimate feel and attracts a lot of return attendees. You’ll make new friends, learn new tricks, but never feel overwhelmed in a sea of faces.

The Bay To Ocean Writers Conference features workshops, presentations, and panel discussions on a wide variety of topics pertaining to the craft of writing, publishing, marketing, the Internet, and the intricacies of particular genres. This year, Ally will be giving her action-oriented talk, “Perfecting Your Author Platform.” In today’s highly saturated book market, a strong publicity and marketing campaign requires that authors have a solid platform to get the kind of attention necessary for sales. But what is a platform, what is it used for, and how do you build one? How does it affect your book deal, or whether you get one at all? How does it help you sell more books, whether you self-publish or have a publisher? Let Ally teach you how to evaluate the “planks” you already have and design a blueprint for building a bigger, stronger platform—the most critical tool in your toolbox after the book itself.

Three things this presentation will teach you:

1. What a platform is and what kind of platform you, in particular, will need to get that coveted publishing contract and/or to effectively market your book.

2. How agents and publishers evaluate your platform when considering your work for publication.

3. Specific steps you can take right now to start building on your existing “planks” in order to create a powerful platform that will support your marketing efforts.

Hope to see you there!

Registration is now open and you may register here. For more info about the conference, you may contact Tara A. Elliott & Kenton Kilgore, 2019 BTO Conference Chairs at easternshorewriters@gmail.com.

How to Compile an Anthology Book: NFAA Teleseminar, 10/3/18

Though I’ve been a professional book editor for many kinds of books, nonfiction has always had a special place in my heart. That’s why I felt so honored when Stephanie Chandler of the Nonfiction Authors Association invited me to participate in a teleseminar discussing “How to Compile an Anthology Book.”

The mission for the Nonfiction Authors Association is to provide valuable education, resources, and a supportive community for authors of nonfiction books. Book publishing can be overwhelming and book marketing isn’t easy. With an ever-increasing number of book titles entering the market each year, it’s important to stay on top of industry trends, understand your options and keep your marketing wheels in motion. As a Basic member, I’ve enjoyed several of their teleseminars and even a couple of their conferences.

In this teleseminar, we’ll discuss important considerations when working on an anthology, or collection, of short works such as:

What are the key elements to a great anthology?
What first steps should an author take when editing an anthology?
What kind of compensation for which kinds of permissions are involved?
What makes an anthology marketable (and what would prompt a book deal from a publisher)?

And more!

While live access to their weekly teleseminars is FREE to the Nonfiction Authors Association community, recordings are available to Authority, VIP, and Thought Leader members. So that means you need to show up live to learn how to compile an anthology of your own 😉 If you’re not yet a member of NFAA and you’d like to listen in on this info-packed conversation between Stephanie and I, Join Here as a Basic member (free) or as a subscribing member.

The teleseminar will air on October 3, 2018 at 1:00PM EST. Members will receive instructions on how to dial in via email prior to the event. For more info about the teleseminar, you may contact Sue Canfield or visit NonfictionAuthorsAssociation.com.

Go from Shy to Sold and Get Published with Ally and MWA Baltimore – August 30, 2018

One of the most common questions new writers ask is, “How do I get published?” But wow, there’s a lot to unpack from that one question! There are many routes to publication and a lot for the new author to navigate.

Please join Ally and the Maryland Writer’s Association Baltimore chapter as she speaks with members about Querying, Proposing, and Getting Your Book Published.

You’ve experienced the satisfaction of working hard to learn a craft and producing a quality piece of writing—but now what? If you ever want anyone to read your work outside of your immediate circle of family and friends, you’ll need to get published. Though self-publishing is always an option, this talk focuses on how writers generally approach the submission process. Find out who really decides what gets published, how to approach them without getting the proverbial door slammed in your face, and what these gatekeepers expect from you besides your very best work. You’ll also get tips that will make your queries and proposals more effective for best results.

The chapter meeting will be on August 30, 2018 at 7-8:30PM EST.

“Your presentation was, by far, one of the most helpful, well-organized, insightful, and honest presentations I have heard on the topic of preparing and submitting my work. The examples of queries you spoke of from your experience, and the references you provided during the meeting and just the overall thoroughness of your whole presentation combined to make a motivating and positive experience. Thank you so much for all of your help!” —Mike Crowl

“Thank you for a terrific presentation. You really opened my eyes to the options
available.” – Kathleen Labonge

I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed your presentation. It was well organized and well presented.
Even for the author with a platform there is so much more to learn.” – Flo McCahon

Don’t miss out! Mark your calendar and get ready to meet us at Cockeysville Recreation Center (across from the Cockeysville Library), 9836 Greenside Drive, Cockeysville, MD 21030. And bring your friends!

For future events and webinars, you may contact chapter treasurer, Jess Williams, by emailing her at jesswilliams0638@gmail.com.

Let's Talk!

We'd love to learn about the unique needs of your project. Contact us now for a free, no-obligation Book Strategy Call!

Free Consultation

Are you ready to publish? Get your free checklist and practical, helpful content monthly.