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Ally Teaching at Florida Writers Conference – Oct. 20-23, 2016

If you’re a writer and looking for an excuse to visit the Sunshine State, I have one for you: I’m so excited to announce that I’ll return this fall to the Florida Writers Conference, hosted by the Florida Writers Association.

The organization’s motto is “writers helping writers,” and never is this more evident than at their stellar multi-day event. Whether you’re an aspiring writer or a seasoned professional, you’ll benefit from all the conference has to offer you this year. Rub elbows with acquisition editors, publishers, editors, designers, book marketers and writers, into the wee hours. Connect with old friends and make new ones. Fun and informative, your conference days will be packed from early morning until late at night with plenty to keep you busy.

The Florida Writers Conference is happening on October 20-23, 2016 at Altamonte Springs, Florida. Besides one-on-one sessions, I’ll be doing two presentations and sitting on one panel:

Friday, 2:00 – 3:00p.m. – Polishing Your Work for Publication
Friday 8:30 – 10PM – 5 Steps to Successful Self-Publishing
Saturday, 3:20 – 4:20 p.m. – Industry Update Panel

For more information, you may check the website here or register here.

I look forward to seeing you there! Post in the comments below if you will be attending, I’d love to say hello in person 😉

Founder of The Writer’s Ally, Ally E. Machate is a bestselling book collaborator, award-winning editor, and expert publishing consultant who loves using her insider knowledge and experience with the publishing industry to lead serious authors toward success. She and her team live to help make great books happen, whether that means showing a writer how to improve a manuscript, get an agent, or self-publish; or coaching an author on growing her platform to sell more books. Since 1999, she has supported hundreds of authors on their publishing journey and takes pride in serving as their books’ best ally.

Have an Epic Launch for your Nonfiction Book–Austin Netzley Hosts Ally As Guest on Podcast

Are you dreaming of an epic launch for your nonfiction book? So are millions of authors and experts just like you–which is why I jumped at the chance when Austin Netzley asked me to join him as a guest for the Epic Launch podcast! We talked about what it takes to create a successful nonfiction book, how to market it, what publishers look for and what corners self-publishers can’t cut without sacrificing their chances of success.

There’s a reason “author” is the root word of “authority.” There’s also a reason why we have the expression, “He wrote the book on it.” Studies by the Reputation Institute and other marketing consultancies reveal that publishing a book is the top “credible” marketing method for today’s service providers, suggesting that becoming a published author can increase your credibility factor by 300%!

If you want to establish yourself as an expert in your field, there’s no better method than to publish a book.

The podcast was recorded last October (2015), but the advice is still timely. You can listen to the podcast here. You’ll hear us discuss the “Key Elements of Book Success,” such as:

What are the common elements of a great nonfiction book?
How should one approach structuring or writing a book?
What’s the best way to choose an idea for your book?
What are some tips for hiring great freelance talent (and what are some red flags to avoid)?

Austin Netzley is the founder of Epic Launch, a company which helps writers launch their books the right way.

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Book Marketing with Ally on “Writestream Tuesday”–April 2016

I was thrilled to begin my new recurring guest expert spot with a discussion about book marketing on the “Writestream Tuesday” podcast April 12, 2016.

Writestream co-founder and Tuesday host Daria Anne DiGiovanni first interviewed me on January 12. Since then, I’ve agreed to return to the show on a quarterly basis to talk shop and offer excellent advice to authors. For this episode, which went live April 12, 2016 at 1pm Eastern, the topic centered around book marketing and strategy. Daria used something I said during my first interview as the touchstone of our conversation: “Your book is your product, not your baby.”

This favorite mantra of mine is critical for authors to wrap their brains around when making the shift from artist/creator to publisher/marketer, a shift every author must make in order to successfully market his or her books. And in this “Writestream Tuesday” episode, Daria and I talk about marketing strategies and how authors can build their platforms to sell more books. I even share a few tips and tricks for free and low-cost marketing. We addressed such questions as:

When is the best time to start marketing your book?
What kind of things would you, and could you, do to market your book before it’s even out?
How do you decide what to focus on first?
How much should authors prepare to do before they publish vs. afterwards?
What if you’re an author about to publish but you don’t have a platform?
and more!

You know I always aim to overdeliver on content and actionable tips, so if you’re serious about successfully publishing and marketing a book, even if you’ve just started writing, don’t miss this info-packed hour. You can listen to the complete podcast here.

Learn How to Perfect Your Author Platform with MWA HoCo 2/18!

As this month’s guest speaker for the Maryland Writers’ Association Howard County Chapter, I will be teaching attendees all about “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? My presentation will show 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. Whether your book is already out there or you’re still writing your draft, you need this information, so come on out and join us.

The presentation includes a handy worksheet and I will walk attendees through some examples to show how to leverage what they already have going on for them or in their books. I’ll need volunteers, so if you’re looking for a little personalized advice this could be a great opportunity. I love class participation! ;-P

This meeting is happening on February 18, 2016, 7-9pm at Owen Brown Community Center 6800 Cradle Rock Way, Columbia, MD 21045-4809. Meetings are free for first-time attendees and MWA members, $5 for repeat guests.

For more details, you may contact chapter president Amy Kaplan at mwahoco@marylandwriters.org or visit the chapter website: www.mwahocowriters.com.

Ally Talks Publishing Success on Writestream Tuesday

On January 12th, I was invited to discuss publishing success on the Writestream Tuesday podcast with host Daria DiGiovanni. The timing was great, because it gave me an opportunity to chat a bit about some big news: Starting in 2016, the Writer’s Ally will be launching all new packages of services designed to help ensure writers achieve their publishing goals beyond the one step of getting feedback on their manuscripts.

Too often a writer will invest in an editorial service and then may fail to complete or even start revisions for a variety of reasons—or she may seek out advice on building a platform and marketing strategy but not take the necessary steps to increase sales. Many times, the reasons involve fear, resistance, doubt, overwhelm, or a simple lack of support. Our new packages will factor in the need for accountability and also related services like help with a query letter or book proposal for those who seek a publishing contract or writing great cover copy and online descriptions for the self-publisher. By providing both editorial and marketing packages, we seek to better fulfill our mission of leading serious authors toward their true desire: successful publication.

During the podcast, Daria and I discussed:

how I got started in the publishing industry
why there are still plenty of reasons to pursue legacy publishing contracts (and why self-publishing is also a great option)
some of the elements that make a great book
the most important characteristics of a successful independent author

and more!

The podcast went live January 12, 2016 at 1pm Eastern. You can listen to the complete recorded podcast now.

And I’m excited to announce that I’ll be appearing on Writestream Tuesday as a guest discussing the publishing industry and tips for author success on a quarterly basis, so stay tuned!

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