Announcement: Self-Publishing and Boutique Publishers Workshop Coming Aug. 10

Have you been wondering what the right publishing choice is for your book? We've assembled an expert panel on the topics of boutique publishing and independent publishing to help you understand your ever-changing publishing options.

Check out our panelists:

• Shawn E. Bell,  author, screenwriter, publisher, naturalist, and media god. Shawn walks authors through every phase of the independent publishing process. 
• Calee M. Lee, CEO of Xist Publishing, the largest children's book, digital-first publishing start-up. Calee began as a self-published author before creating her own company. 
• Sonia Marsh, award-winning author who knows how to market books online and in person. She offers "gutsy" book coaching to authors, as well as webinars and workshops on the topic of branding, platform building, getting your book into Costco, and more. 
• Gayle Carline, columnist and author of seven books. One was released with a traditional publisher, and she has released the others herself. Gayle regularly teaches a workshop titled "Self-Publishing: Is it for you?"

 
Cost: FREE, but reservations are required because seating is limited. RSVP at the Meetup site (http://www.meetup.com/OC-Writers/events/190858682)
Date: Sunday, Aug. 10
Time: 1:30 to 3 p.m. 
Location: El Toro Library Community Room, 24672 Raymond Way, Lake Forest, CA, 92630 

We would love to have as many questions as possible in advance so our panelist can prepare. Please see our Facebook Group page, or you can email Workshop Coordinator Greta Boris at greta@gretaboris.com.

Last Call: Free Synopsis Workshop on March 23

Hi, writers -- the free synopsis workshop with New York Times-bestselling author Susan Squires is this Sunday at the El Toro Library in Lake Forest, and there are 11 spots left. Remember, it's free, but an RSVP is required, so please don't put it off. I'll open up to the public tomorrow...(also if you RSVP'd and now cannot attend, please change your status so the seat won't go to waste...) Thanks!

http://www.meetup.com/OC-Writers/events/165779042/

Synopsis Workshop with NYT Best-selling Author Susan Squires on March 23*

The dreaded synopsis. Agents and publishers demand them, yet we hate writing them, don't we? Here's your chance to learn some tricks and tips from New York Times-bestselling author Susan Squires.

I'll get her bio up soon, but in the meantime you can check her out in all her awesomeness here: http://www.susansquires.com.

Susan's synopsis workshop will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the El Toro Library in Lake Forest. Since she is generously offering to provide handouts to those present, we're asking that only people who are serious about attending sign up (which you can do here: http://www.meetup.com/OC-Writers/events/165779042/. Also, RSVPs will be cut off 3 days before the event to allow her sufficient time to produce the handouts. This workshop is FREE!

(If you do not have a Meetup account and prefer not to create one -- or if you have any questions about the event -- contact me at deanna@deannacameron.com.

* As a bonus -- After the synopsis workshop, anyone who is interested is invited to stick around for an impromptu story brainstorming session. Be prepared to describe your story to the group in a minute or two, and what you want feedback on. If you're stuck on something like plot points or character motivation, this is a great way to hear other ideas that might open up new possibilities in your story for you.

The time we have to devote to each brainstormer will depend on the time remaining after the workshop and the number of brainstormers present. Also, it will help us plan if you could leave a note in the comments section below to let us know if you're planning to stick around for the brainstorming session. There's no pressure at all, so don't feel bad if you aren't interested in staying. If we have a really big group, we might just need to break off into 2 or 3 groups instead of one.

Alert: Poll In Progress

I just put up a poll on the Facebook Page to determine the topic of the next one-day O.C. Writers Workshop. It'll happen on a Saturday or Sunday in March or April. Probably at the El Toro Public Library in Lake Forest. 

If you don't have a Facebook account (and prefer not to create one) you can still vote by leaving a note here in the comments section. 

Thank you! 

Here's the link to the Facebook page to see the poll: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OCWriters/

Possible Plotting Workshop

Hello!

A couple members had the great idea to hold an O.C. Writers Plotting Workshop to help us prepare for Nanowrimo. The likely day is Sat., Sept. 21 and it will probably take place over a few hours at a private home.

We're thinking we'll begin with a discussion/refresher on various plotting methods (traditional 3-Act, 8-sequence, notecarding, etc.) and then watch a movie to see them in action. (I have extensive notes from writing coach Michael Hague's analysis of Pretty Woman, but that doesn't have to be the movie if the consensus of people prefer something else...)

Anyway, we're just trying to get a sense of whether others would be interested in joining us for this....

 

Please send an email to ocwritersnetwork@gmail.com by Tuesday, Aug. 13, if you would like to be included.

Happy writing!

DeAnna