Paths to Publication

With George Weinstein and Kim Conrey

 

With nearly 40 combined years of experience in the publishing industry, award-winning authors Kim Conrey and George Weinstein will discuss the ins and outs of the three paths to publication: traditional publishing, self-publishing, and hybrid publishing. They will offer a realistic preview of the challenges that each path poses as well as the rewards that can be earned by overcoming those obstacles. 

Only interested in self-publishing or hybrid publishing and think the traditional route is a waste of time and a loss of profits? You’ll learn how the creation of a query letter helps you condense your book concept into a logline—a brief, powerful pitch—as well as discover comparable titles (“comps”), which you’ll need when trying to interest potential readers in your book. 

Only interested in traditional publishing and think the other routes are lazy or for writers who haven’t written a book worthy of the traditional market? You’ll learn how books are uploaded for sale and decisions are made about distribution—not only critical for self-published authors to understand but for everyone other writer, too, because that process will help to determine how many books you sell and how much returns will cost you.

 

Participants are encouraged to bring the following to the master class:

• Copies of a sample query letter or a logline/1-2 sentence pitch and comps for critique for their work-in-progress or recently completed manuscript.

• Copies of a draft book cover text (“blurb”) for critique for their work-in-progress or recently completed manuscript.

• Writing materials to draft a publication timeline for their work-in-progress or recently completed manuscript as well as a To Do list of activities to achieve that goal.

 

Throughout the master class, there will be plenty of time reserved for Q&A.