• Home
  • Seminars
  • Speakers
  • Sponsors
  • Directions
  • About
  • Contact
  • Audio Page
    • Book Marketing Audio
    • Social Media Audio
    • Today's Publishing Audio
    • Agents Panel Audio
    • Memoir Panel audio
    • Editors Panel audio

2012 Seminars

SATURDAY, DAY ONE: 
The Business of Writing 
Seminar Schedule

SUNDAY DAY TWO: 
The Craft of Writing 
Seminar Schedule

Each session will include a lengthy question and answer session. Click on speaker names for full bios.

Book Marketing 101 - the basics authors need to understand if they want to succeed

9 am to 10:30 am: The basics of book marketing explained: a panel of marketing pros will discuss what authors must do once a publisher contracts to publish their books. What is a basic book marketing plan, and how to implement that marketing plan?   Speakers: media relations expert Christina Hamlett, and author/writers' maven, Patricia Fry. Marketer and creator of Author Promote Thyself, Kate Sexton Kaiser, will moderate the panel.

Today's Publishing Market  - new options for authors self-publishing and independent publishers

11 am to 12:30 pm: Learn what is new in self-publishing options, what's required of the author and those services available to help you. Hear from independent publishers on the avenues open to small houses. Speakers: Author and publisher Christopher Meeks, book shepherd Ellen Reid, e-book author and publisher Caitlind Alexander and Stan Corwin, former CEO of Pinnacle Books and current author/publisher. PIPW executive director, Kate Sexton Kaiser, will moderate the panel.

Social Media for Authors - why writers need an online audience and how to develop one

1:30 pm to 3 pm: Social media sells books, creates excitement that drive sales. But what skills do you need and/or who can you hire? Meet a social media expert, an author heavily invested in social media, a branding expert, and a publicist known as a social media wiz for authors. Speakers: author and publicist Caroline O'Connell, CEO of Elevate My Brand, Laurel Kaufman,  and the "Book Gal" Penny Sansevieri, President of Author Marketing Experts. VCWC president, Kate Sexton Kaiser, will moderate the panel.

Literary Agents Panel - important changes in publishing that every writer needs to know.

3:30 pm to 5 pm: Listen to three top west coast literary agents discuss the rapidly changing world of book publication. Learn what New York is looking for and about new, small niche houses that offer an alternative to the legacy publishers on the east coast. Literary agents scheduled to speak: Toni Lopopolo, Dana Newman, and one more to be confirmed. PIPW executive director, Kate Sexton Kaiser, will moderate the panel.

Memoir - the hot genre publishers are looking to buy

10 to 11:30 am: New York publishers are looking for memoirs; personal narratives that touch the hearts of readers, and tell a unique story with a strong voice. Two successful memoirists will discuss the process, how to define the real story, and focus on the strengths of the characters. Speakers: Author and instructor, Diana Raab and author, Reyna Grande.  Literary agent and writing instructor, Toni Lopopolo will moderate.

Women Writing about Women for Women

Noon to 1:30 pm: Women buy 80% of all books sold in America. Female authors are taking over the bestseller lists. Publishers are looking for more books to attract this vibrant market. Listen to an agent discuss what she hears from acquiring editors in New York publishing houses, and two authors whose new books clearly targets this market.
SPEAKERS: Literary agent and writing instructor, Toni Lopopolo, Robin Winter, author of the just published novel, Night Must Wait, 
and author Roberta Raye, who is a co-founder of Ojai WordFest. Author Promote Thyself creator, Kate Sexton Kaiser, will moderate the panel.

The Importance of Editing and Editors

2 pm to 3:30 pm: You've written your book, gone through several drafts to perfect your story. Now is the time for an outside editor to review your book for concept, content and copy editing. Professional book editors know what the markets want now, what styles and formats are acceptable. Do not trust your best friend or your former English teacher. This part of the work can make or break you getting an agent or a publishing contact. Publishers do not want to edit your book for you. Why should they? They demand clean, well-edited writing. Listen to top pros discuss what is required to sell your book today. Speakers: author and editor Greg Elliot, Flo Selfman, editor/owner of Words à la Mode and president of IWOSC, Monica Faulkner, book editor, writing coach, and publishing consultant, and Cheri Rae, independent book editor and editor of SantaBarbaraView.com.
The VC Writers' Weekend is produced by the Pacific Institute for Professional Writing, a California educational nonprofit.
Copyrighted 2012 • Web design by KK&A