Springs Writers provides a FREE conference-quality workshop the first Monday of each month (except December, July & August) from 6:00–7:45 pm, Woodmen/Academy Hobby Lobby Classroom Room [against back wall behind "Employee Only" double doors], 6950 North Academy, Colorado Springs, 80918

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

How to Write a Complete Marketing Package that Sells Your Book


March 15, 2013 Writing Workshop: Ramp-up Your Copywriting Skills: How to Write a Complete Marketing Package that Sells Your Book

Location: Mardel's, 5964 Barnes Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80922
Time: 6 pm - 8 pm, Friday, March 15, 2013
Writing a great book is just the beginning. How will you market it? Make sure you get the strongest foundation by writing back cover copy that sells. In this workshop, you'll learn the two types of copywriting for your books, the different elements of a complete copy package, and how to maximize effectiveness. Plus, learn other uses for your back cover copywriting skills. Come with your current WIP and be prepared to write.

Shelley was a freelance copywriter for Waterbrooke /Multnomah and David C. Cook fiction and a Marketing Coordinator at NavPress. Visit Shelley's blog at shelleyring.com.

Buy Shelley's romantic Christian women's fiction novel, Forsaken from AmazonBarnes & Nobles, or Smashwords.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

March Updates for Springs Writers


Writing Intensive CANCELLED
The writing intensive this Saturday, March 9 at Panera Bread is CANCELLED. As you may or may not know, my son was killed in Afghanistan a little over a year ago. The Fort Carson Fallen Heroes Center planned a last minute event for survivors that I need to attend. I will reschedule the date after I figure out my commitments. I synced my new Mac with my iPhone to update my calendar and contacts, not realizing that my iPhone was synced to my old Mac that blew up. I thought I was ADDING contacts and calendar dates to my iPhone. Instead, the sync ERASED every contact and date on my calendar. So NOT fun.

March 15, 2013 Writing Workshop: Ramp-up Your Copywriting Skills: How to Write a Complete Marketing Package that Sells Your Book

Location: Mardel's, 5964 Barnes Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80922
Time: 6 pm - 8 pm, Friday, March 15, 2013
Writing a great book is just the beginning. How will you market it? Make sure you get the strongest foundation by writing back cover copy that sells. In this workshop, you'll learn the two types of copywriting for your books, the different elements of a complete copy package, and how to maximize effectiveness. Plus, learn other uses for your back cover copywriting skills. Come with your current WIP and be prepared to write.

Shelley was a freelance copywriter for Waterbrooke /Multnomah and David C. Cook fiction and a Marketing Coordinator at NavPress. Visit Shelley's blog at shelleyring.com.


Buy Shelley's romantic Christian women's fiction novel, Forsaken from AmazonBarnes & Nobles, or Smashwords.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

February Writing Workshop: The Nuts and Bolts of a Book Proposal


Springs Writers FREE FEBRUARY Writing WorkshopThe Nuts and Bolts of a Book Proposal

Location: Mardel's, 5964 Barnes Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80922
Time: 6 pm - 8 pm, Friday, February 15, 2013

What makes your book unique, different or better than what’s already published and selling? Writing a book proposal helps you clarify content —what you want to say — and your audience — to whom you’re saying it. But what about the sections of a book proposal required by publishers that many writers find the most confusing and difficult sections to write? Scoti breaks down and shares how to develop the:
  • Premise:  Determining a strong focus.
  • Promise: Identifying the ‘USP,’ Unique Selling Proposition.
  • Competition: Differentiating your book from the proven marketing landscape.
WRITING INTENSIVE UPDATE: The pitch sheets that the writers brought to the February writing intensive at Panera were impressive and well thought out. Everyone's feedback to each other was amazing and insightful. Can't wait to see their edited pitch sheets based upon the feedback provided by all participants. 
MARCH INTENSIVE WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Spring Writing Intensive: How to Write a Book Proposal
Writing assignment: for those participating in the Spring Writing Intensive. Write and bring six copies of your back cover copy, UPS, and a list of comparative/competitive books. 
Location: Panera Bread, University Village, 5230 N. Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Date: March 9, 2013
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM


Writing Intensive Description: Writing a nonfiction or fiction book proposal intimidates and overwhelms most writers. But it’s far easier to put your passion on the page when you understand what the publisher needs to see if your book is a fit for their publishing house. Whether you’ve written two chapters or your entire book, you must write a book proposal to pitch to an editor.

This ongoing, interactive workshop will break down a book proposal in manageable steps — no matter how busy your life. We’ll introduce step-by-step — from beginning to end — each component of a book proposal, plus encourage and support you as you write your proposal, one step at a time. This ongoing workshop will help you:
Identify your target audience and write a pitch sheet.
Understand every component required by publishers for your book proposal.
Write your book proposal in doable small steps.
Learn how to receive and offer constructive feedback in a focus group to polish your book proposal. When this intensive ends, you will have a book proposal.



Monday, January 14, 2013

January and February Workshops and Intensives



See you this Friday! Don’t miss Beth Vogt’s January writing workshop kicking off our Spring Writing Intensive, How to Write a Book Proposal

FREE January Writing Workshop: Pitch It!
When: Friday, January 18, 2013
Time: 6 pm - 8 pm, Friday, December 18, 2013
Location: Mardel's, 5964 Barnes Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80922

Workshop Description: Want an editor to catch the vision for your fiction or nonfiction manuscript? Discover how to write a tightly-written pitch sheet— a one-page condensation —of your book proposal. Beth Vogt helps you understand how and why this excellent must-have marketing tool gives publishers the information they need in order to evaluate and buy your project.

Speaker: Beth K. Vogt is a national speaker and author of Baby Changes Everything: Embracing and Preparing Motherhood after 35. Her message provides women with a “whole family” perspective to recognize how a late-in-life pregnancy affects other relationships. Beth is the author of Baby Changes Everything: Embracing and Preparing for Motherhood after 35. Beth earned a journalism degree from San Jose State University. Beth’s debut novel, Wish You Were Here, was published by Howard Books in May 2012 and her second romance novel, Catch a Falling Star, will be available May 7, 2013. Her publishing credits include: MomSense, Discipleship Journal, Virtue, The Christian Communicator, and Crosswalk.com. She is also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul: A Tribute to Moms and The Mommy Diaries.
Visit Beth’s website and blog at www.bethvogt.com

JANUARY INTENSIVE WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Spring Writing Intensive: How to Write a Book Proposal
Writing assignment: for those participating in the Spring Writing Intensive. Write your pitch sheet. On January 26, bring six copies of your pitch sheet to Panera Bread. We’ll brainstorm, pitch and review our pitch sheets with each other. Scoti will present a mini-workshop on “How to Write Your Book’s Back Cover Copy.”
Location: Panera Bread, University Village, 5230 N. Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Date: January 26, 2013
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Writing Intensive Description: Writing a nonfiction or fiction book proposal intimidates and overwhelms most writers. But it’s far easier to put your passion on the page when you understand what the publisher needs to see if your book is a fit for their publishing house. Whether you’ve written two chapters or your entire book, you must write a book proposal to pitch to an editor.

This ongoing, interactive workshop will break down a book proposal in manageable steps — no matter how busy your life. We’ll introduce step-by-step — from beginning to end — each component of a book proposal, plus encourage and support you as you write your proposal, one step at a time. This ongoing workshop will help you:
Identify your target audience and write a pitch sheet.
Understand every component required by publishers for your book proposal.
Write your book proposal in doable small steps.
Learn how to receive and offer constructive feedback in a focus group to polish your book proposal. When this intensive ends, you will have a book proposal.

Springs Writers FREE FEBRUARY Writing Workshop: The Nuts and Bolts of a Book Proposal
Location: Mardel's, 5964 Barnes Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80922
Time: 6 pm - 8 pm, Friday, February 15, 2013

What makes your book unique, different or better than what’s already published and selling? Writing a book proposal helps you clarify content —what you want to say — and your audience — to whom you’re saying it. But what about the sections of a book proposal required by publishers that many writers find the most confusing and difficult sections to write? Scoti breaks down and shares how to develop the:
  • Premise:  Determining a strong focus.
  • Promise: Identifying the ‘USP,’ Unique Selling Proposition.
  • Competition: Differentiating your book from the proven marketing landscape.
FEBRUARY INTENSIVE WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Spring Writing Intensive: How to Write a Book Proposal
Writing assignment: for those participating in the Spring Writing Intensive. Write and bring six copies of your back cover copy, UPS, and a list of comparative/competitive books.
Location: Panera Bread, University Village, 5230 N. Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Date: February 23, 2013
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM



Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Wonder, Light and Awe


Springs Writers will not meet during December. During this dark season of wonder and lights celebrate, "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the refuge of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1) May you experience the awe of God’s grace, peace and joy.

Plan now to attend. 
Don’t miss Beth Vogt’s January writing workshop kicking off our Spring Writing Intensive, How to Write a Book Proposal

FREE January Writing Workshop: Pitch It!
When: Friday, January 18, 2013
Time: 6 pm - 8 pm, Friday, December 18, 2013
Location: Mardel's, 5964 Barnes Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80922

Workshop Description: Want an editor to catch the vision for your fiction or nonfiction manuscript? Discover how to write a tightly-written pitch sheet— a one-page condensation —of your book proposal. Beth Vogt helps you understand how and why this excellent must-have marketing tool gives publishers the information they need in order to evaluate and buy your project.

Speaker: Beth K. Vogt is a national speaker and author of Baby Changes Everything: Embracing and Preparing Motherhood after 35. Her message provides women with a “whole family” perspective to recognize how a late-in-life pregnancy affects other relationships. Beth is the author of Baby Changes Everything: Embracing and Preparing for Motherhood after 35. Beth earned a journalism degree from San Jose State University. Beth’s debut novel, Wish You Were Here, was published by Howard Books in May 2012.  
Beth's second romance novel, Catch a Falling Star, will be available May 7, 2013. Her publishing credits include: MomSense, Discipleship Journal, Virtue, The Christian Communicator, and Crosswalk.com. She is also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul: A Tribute to Moms and The Mommy Diaries. Visit Beth’s website and blog at www.bethvogt.com


Spring Writing Intensive: How to Write a Book Proposal
Writing assignment: for those participating in the Spring Writing Intensive. Using Beth's insight, write your pitch sheet. On January 26, bring six copies of your pitch sheet to Panera Bread. We’ll brainstorm, pitch and review our pitch sheets with each other.
Location: Panera Bread, University Village, 5230 N. Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Date: January 26, 2013
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Writing Intensive Description: Writing a nonfiction or fiction book proposal intimidates and overwhelms most writers. But it’s far easier to put your passion on the page when you understand what the publisher needs to see if your book is a fit for their publishing house. Whether you’ve written two chapters or your entire book, you must write a book proposal to pitch to an editor.

This ongoing, interactive workshop will break down a book proposal in manageable steps — no matter how busy your life. We’ll introduce step-by-step — from beginning to end — each component of a book proposal, plus encourage and support you as you write your proposal, one step at a time. This ongoing workshop will help you:
  • Identify your target audience and write a pitch sheet.
  • Understand every component required by publishers for your book proposal.
  • Write your book proposal in doable small steps.
  • Learn how to receive and offer constructive feedback in a focus group to polish your book proposal. 

When this writing intensive ends, you'll have a book proposal to pitch.