>> GEORGIA WRITERS MUSEUM
“I’m an author,” is probably one of the coolest answers to being asked, “What is it you do?” The label brings up visions of burning the midnight oil with your creative juices flowing and the words practically spilling nonstop onto the page.
It signals to others that you must be creative, talented, highly disciplined. You automatically reside in the company of other accomplished authors like William Shakespeare, Stephen King and Alice Walker.
But, before you are an author, you are a writer.
There are millions upon millions of writers; there are far fewer published authors; and after that, fewer still successful authors. Making the transition from “writer” to “author” requires several special skills and not all relate directly to the writing process.
Georgia Writers Museum is excited to present two back-to-back workshops on Saturday, Jan. 21, focusing on helping writers become authors. The first, “Publishing a Book? Avoid These Top-10 Mistakes,” will be a 60-minute session beginning at 10 a.m. and taught by Meghan Leith for a $30 fee.
“Avoid These Top-10 Mistakes” will cover the gamut of “author making,” from preparing the manuscript to marketing your new book. Whether pursuing an agent and traditional publishing, or some form of nontraditional publishing, attendees will learn how to navigate the challenging landscape of the publishing world.
The second workshop, “Bookselling and Marketing Basics” is scheduled for 90 minutes, starting at 11:30 a.m. the same day and taught by Jessica Parker, also for a $30 fee. For $55, aspiring authors can sign up for both sessions. Visit online at www.georgiawritersmuseum. org for details and to register.
“Bookselling and Marketing” will address the basics of what authors need to know about bookselling. Attendees will learn how to sell their book, from deciding which options are best for the writer and the book, costs associated with each option, and ways to maximize sales through the power of marketing.
Leith is a Georgia State University graduate and in 2017 joined BookLogix, an Atlanta-based book printer and publisher. She has worked as a print consultant, project manager, book formatter, editor and currently serves as a publishing consultant with the company.
Parker is a UGA graduate who has worked as a sportswriter/editor and as a freelance writer. She joined BookLogix in 2011 and has worked there as an editor, project manager and senior publishing consultant. She is now the director of client services.
So, are you ready to turn that manuscript you’ve been working on for years into a published book that brings you pride and perhaps even fame and fortune? Looking for a way to shine the public light on your literary talents?
If so, visit www. georgiawritersmuseum. org and sign up today for these great workshops to jumpstart your journey to becoming an author.
- Contributed