Past Events
April 2-3, 2022 (virtual)
ThinkingFunny Conference
Humor for Serious Subjects
As part of the main conference on Saturday, I’ll talk about the power of humor when using in service of nonfiction topics.
On Sunday, join me in a special workshop on writing with humor for serious subjects.
This workshop will be a safe space for nonfiction writers who want to infuse humor in their work—or for humorists who want to expand to other kinds of nonfiction writing. We’ll analyze examples from published works in multiple fields and examine the techniques and strategies various authors use. Participants are invited to send short (1-paragraph) examples from their own work, and we’ll workshop a few of them. Everyone should come away primed to experiment with humor in their professional writing.
Register for the conference and optional workshop on the ThinkingFunny site.
September 11-December 31, 2021 (virtual)
International Dublin Writer’s Festival
3 Practices of Successful Nonfiction Authors
In this talk, part of the virtual writer’s conference this year, I’ll share what I’ve learned from dozens of nonfiction authors on how to find success through writing and publishing a book.
October 13, 2021 6:30 pm
San Luis Obispo Public Library
The Writer’s Process — Online Workshop
Join acclaimed author and writing coach Anne Janzer for this informative workshop to help you find your own best writing process! This 90-minute workshop will apply cognitive science concepts to assist you with accelerating the writing process, writing your first draft more fluidly, and structuring your revision process to do your best work. Janzer has written multiple books about writing, including Writing to Be Understood and The Writer’s Process.
Registration required. Register here.
October 16, 2020
Sisters in Crime Northern California Chapter
Getting the Best Bang for Your Buck: Publicity, Presence and Promotion
Join me in this this day-long, virtual conference on book promotion. I’ll kick things off by talking about Book Promotion 101—eliminating some of the mysteries of marketing!
How to Self-Publish a Book: New Paths for Entrepreneurial Writers
I’ll be joining Holly Brady as she teaches this one-day workshop on publishing at Stanford University. I’ll cover the marketing part of the indie publishing process.
Holly is a font of publishing wisdom, and the class typically sells out. Register on the Stanford Continuing Studies site.
March 9, 2020, 6:30pm
SLO NightWriters, San Luis Obispo, California
Insights from my Author Survey
Did you know that only 6% of nonfiction writers stick with their initial outlines? (That number must be smaller for fiction writers!)
Did you know that while most books take longer than anticipated to write, most authors find that the experience exceeds their expectations?
And for many published authors, the biggest surprise about the process of writing is what happens afterward—marketing.
In this session, I’lll share the results of a survey of more than 400 authors about their experiences and expectations. We’ll cover insights about publishing, book marketing, motivation, and of course the writing process. I will also share the words of advice and wisdom from the survey participants.
Subscription Show 2020 (October 14)
Building Resilience with a Subscription Marketing Mindset
In this keynote for the Subscription 2020 conference, I spoke about how a subscription marketing mindset cultivates resilience in uncertain times.
International Dublin Writer’s Festival (September 2020)
We can’t be there in person, but we can gather online! I’ll be giving a session on Intentional Incubation on Saturday, September 12.
February 1, 2020, 10am -4pm,
Stanford Continuing Studies
How to Self-Publish a Book: New Paths for Entrepreneurial Writers
I’ll be joining Holly Brady as she teaches this one-day workshop on publishing at Stanford University. I’ll cover the marketing part of the indie publishing process.
Holly is a font of publishing wisdom, and the class typically sells out. Register on the Stanford Continuing Studies site.
November 12, 2019, 6:30pm
SLO NightWriters, San Luis Obispo, California
Getting Your Brain in Gear for Writing
Most of us want to do more writing but struggle to make the time, come up with fresh ideas, or finish the work we start. We may even be sidelined by the Imposter Syndrome – the nagging thought that sounds like this: “I am not really a writer.”
Writing is definitely an inner game. Your brain is your most important writing tool.
In this session, Anne will share strategies for thinking about and managing your own writing process in a way that increases your output without sacrificing creativity. We’ll cover ways to accelerate the writing process with creative incubation, writing the first draft more fluidly, and structuring the revision process. And, we’ll talk about ways to handle those common writing problems we all run into.
November 7, 2019
Fall 2019 Nonfiction Writer’s Conference
Location: Virtual
How to Host a Profitable Discount Promotion for Your Book
Have you ever wondered what’s going on with those 99 cent books on Amazon? And, why are so many of them best sellers?
Everybody loves a sale—including your readers. Take advantage of that fact to get your books into the hands of the right readers.
Used strategically, discounts and sales can be a valuable part of your marketing plan. But it’s not enough to simply drop the price and wait for the best-seller tag. In this session, we’ll look at the elements of a successful discount promotion.
- The three key variables for any book promotion
- Free and paid tactics for promoting your book’s sale
- How to track your results and measure success
We’ll cover real-world examples of successful nonfiction book sales. Join us to learn how to use short-term discounts to generate long-term results.
February 14-17, 2019
San Francisco, California
San Francisco Writer’s Conference
Join me at this annual writing conference. I’ll be talking about the craft (and business) of nonfiction writing; you’ll find a whole host of great sessions at this conference.
Saturday, June 9, 2018
Novato, California
Bay Area Independent Publisher’s Association Meeting
Join me at the June Bay Area Independent Publisher’s Association (BAIPA) meeting for a full day of content and insight.
Morning Session: The Author’s Winning Team
I’ll participate in a morning panel on building your dream team for publishing.
Afternoon Workshop: Sustainable Marketing for Indie Authors
Are you overwhelmed by conflicting advice about how to market and promote your books? Do you worry that you’re not doing the right things, or that you’re missing some magic formula? Or, do you spend so much time chasing book promotions and sales that there’s no time left to write the next book?
In this interactive workshop, we’ll look at what a sustainable book marketing strategy looks like for your specific situation. The workshop will combine insight into the indie publishing industry with a dash of cognitive science to help you identify a book marketing path that makes sense for you. You’ll leave with strategies and inspiration to build your long-term success as an author.
May 16, 10am PT
How to Revise and Publish a New Edition of Your Book
Dial into this Nonfiction Authors Association teleseminar for a lively and informative discussion of the ins and outs of publishing a revised edition of your book. Learn more.
October 4, 2017, Women In Consulting Workshop
From Idea to Publication: Crafting Your Nonfiction Book Plan
Want to demonstrate your expertise, establish thought leadership or share your thoughts with the world? Writing a book is one of the best ways to achieve these goals.
If you’d like to write a book but don’t know how to make it happen, this workshop is for you. We’ll talk through the entire process, from the idea to publication, including:
- Finding and refining your book topic
- Understanding your publication options: Traditional publishing, self-publishing, and the things in between
- Creating your writing roadmap
- Book marketing, or how life as an author begins before publication
You’ll leave with everything you need to create your personal writing and publishing plan, including planning worksheets and checklists. You’ll also get a copy of The Writer’s Process, filled with advice to help you through the writing process itself.
Format: This is a half-day (four hour) workshop, with interactive discussions and exercises to clarify your strategy.
Details: Wednesday, October 5, 12:00-4:00
LinkedIn Building N, 479 N. Pastoria Ave.
Sunnyvale, CA
