QUICK REMINDER about October 4 and November workshops and 1:1 assistance. Yay writers!

 Hello there!

​If you are asking any of the following questions, I can help you.

• People tell me I should write a book, but how do I begin?
• How do I create a book that publishers and readers will like?
• Who can help me? If I hire others to help me, how much will that cost?
• What are my publishing options? How much do different options cost?
• How do I make my book a financial success?
• What are the steps to effectively market and sell my book? How much time and money should I invest in marketing?

Friend, these are questions I answer almost daily. If you'd like answers, I have options.

ONLINE WORKSHOP: The Write Your Book! Online Workshop is a 1-hour Zoom workshop for anyone with a book idea or book draft who needs help with next steps. You will learn the four phases of the publishing process that can take you from idea to profitable book. You will get answers to questions about writing, editing, publishing, and marketing. If you can't attend live, that is okay! A recording of the entire meeting and any related documents or tools will be emailed to you. The first 20 people to register for the online workshop get a free, 30-minute consultation with me ($27-$100+ value:) Also, I love helping young writers. If you are or know a student, use the discount code STUDENT to enjoy the workshop at HALF PRICE! ​CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE DETAILS!​

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IN-PERSON CLASSES: If you live near Knoxville, Tennessee, and prefer in-person classes, take a look at that option HERE (a bargain).​ Course description: Has anyone ever told you that you should write a book? Many people have great ideas but don't know where to begin. I will lead you through the process of writing, revising, publishing, and marketing your book. You'll learn how to set schedules to get from the first word to the finished first draft, into the marketplace, and on to earning royalties. You'll receive an overview of industry standards and learn a variety of methods to conquer the learning curves of the sometimes-confusing publishing industry. No matter your genre, subject, or writing ability, you'll leave with an achievable plan and supportive tools to help you realize your dream.

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ANOTHER OPTION IS ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATIONS: If you'd like to talk one-on-one with me, you can book an appointment on my calendar. First consultations are one-hour long at a great price. Ask me anything! Click HERE to see my calendar and book your appointment.

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Which option will help you? If you are beyond these steps, my team has plenty of options for you, too. Reach out to me any time by replying to emails or calling 865-414-4017.

xoxoxo

Jody

P.S. Please share this with your creative friends:) THANK YOU!

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4 Ways to Make the Most of an Author Event—Also, there's a great event Nov. 5, 2022, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Read me:)

This week, I skimmed an article and this line glared at me: "Writers don't compete with other writers." I can't remember where I read that, so I can't share the source, but I agree with the author. Many times, I've attended book sales events and sold few if any books. This is a frustrating yet normal experience. What's IMPORTANT is to make the most of any "author event." Here are a few ways you can do that:

1. Events force you to prepare to market your work. You must order supplies, like card readers, bookmarks, sell sheets, BOOKS, and so on. When you do the first event, create a to-do list and file/box of items that will help you every single time. When the event ends, reflect and refine your process and promotional items.
2. Events offer incredible social media posting opportunities. If the event is slow, take pictures, write content, and POST. I always say that events sell books even when no books are sold at events.
3. Events give you changes to learn. If you are at a solo gig, watch readers, retailers, organizers, and passersby. Study their behavior and adjust yours to suit the occasion. See how they react to you. Again, reflect and revise. If you are in a group setting, watch the successful authors, and study their practices to, yep, reflect and revise yours.
4. MY FAVORITE: Events offer time to network with and encourage fellow writers. Do your spouse's eyes glaze over when you talk about writing habits? Do your friends yawn when you tell them your latest story idea? An author event is THE place to unload your ideas, get feedback, and learn new methods. Before you go, find out who else will be at the event. Write up a list of questions, frustrations, and problems. Get answers, new tools, and solutions from colleagues.

In my experience, writers LOVE to talk about writing, and they are not competitive. So, even if you drive hours for an event and sell not a single book, you are NOT wasting your time unless you let the time go to waste.

SPEAKING OF GREAT OPPORTUNITIES to talk to writers and to sell books, my friend Patty Ireland is looking for authors and artisans for a wonderful event.

The Young Creative Writer's Workshop is Saturday, November 5, 2022, at the Strawberry Plains campus of Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Appalachia-themed event lasts all day and includes workshops, lunch, music, speakers, sharing, and more. Also, the college will be celebrating the grand opening of the new library and the Appalachian Heritage Project. You may be interested in joining the "Writer's Room," where attendees browse and buy books and meet authors in a variety of genres. The school also aims to grow their "Appalachian Arts Space," so they need craftspeople/artisans, historical costumed interpreters, musicians, etc. The keynote speaker will be Charles Dodd White, an Appalachian fiction writer. Entertainment will be provided by the Robyn James Ensemble.

If you would like to participate in the Writer's Room or Appalachian Arts Space, contact Patty directly at paireland@pstcc.edu. Be sure to tell her that I sent you:)

If you know a young writer in the East Tennessee community who may enjoy attending this FREE event, share this link (where you can also read all about the event details): https://www.pstcc.edu/ycww/.

HAPPY WRITING AND LEARNING!

xoxoxo

Jody

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$200 workshop coming soon to a computer screen near you for only $40 (or $20 if you are a student). Writer, read me!

 Dear writer,

When I was growing up in my East Tennessee holler, everyone I knew had a dictionary. We played a lot of Scrabble games, and my mother loved to meet a challenge with, "Fine. I'll just look it up in the dictionary." My cousin David was not the best Scrabble competitor, but he was an exceptional athlete. His Division One future was obvious during heated games. Boy could his alphabet tiles fly! Other than the dictionary, we had a set of encyclopedias, my father's collection of National Geographic Magazine issues, and my mother's Harbrace Handbook.

When I typed the subject line for this message, I panicked. What do I do with the three dots in a row?

I pondered. Should I hit the spacebar first or go right to the "."? Wait! Should that question mark be inside the "? Oh, now I'm really confused.

I Googled. Yay internet!

We are fortunate now to have countless tools to help us answer questions like, "Where in the heck do I use three dots?" By the way, the term is ellipses. Anyway, I found a cool site. Take a look at The Punctuation Guide here: https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/

Bonus: The font is HUGE. (If you grew up searching through encyclopedias to write school papers, you likely wear glasses by now.)

What is my point? Writers don't have all the answers. How could we? We need guides, both human and written. I answer the same questions below every single week, so I decided to teach the answers, so to speak, in a couple of ways. First, I am hosting a quick, 1-hour workshop called WRITE YOUR BOOK! in October. Second, I'm teaching a four-class version at the University of Tennessee in November.

If you are asking any of the following questions, the WRITE YOUR BOOK! Online Workshop will help you.

• People tell me I should write a book, but how do I begin?
• How do I create a book that publishers and readers will like?
• Who can help me? If I hire others to help me, how much will that cost?
• What are my publishing options? How much do different options cost?
• How do I make my book a financial success?
• What are the steps to effectively market and sell my book? How much time and money should I invest in marketing?

The in-person and stretched out (4 meetings), deeper dive version of this course at the University of Tennessee is in November.

The Write Your Book! Online Workshop is a 1-hour Zoom class for anyone with a book idea or book draft who needs help with next steps. You will learn the four phases of the publishing process that can take you from idea to profitable book. You will download and use a workbook that helps you start or take the next steps in your author journey. You will finally get answers to your questions about writing, editing, publishing, and marketing. If you can't attend live, that is okay! A recording of the entire meeting and any related documents or tools will be emailed to you.

Capacity is limited for both, so if you want to reserve your spot, do so asap. 

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE DETAILS!

Questions about either? Reply to this email, and I'll answer.

xoxoxo

Jody

P.S. Please share this with your creative friends:) THANK YOU!

P.P.S. I love helping young writers. If you are or know a student, use the discount code STUDENT to enjoy the workshop at HALF PRICE!