August: Panning for Gold, Not Silicon: Self-publishing and self-marketing for do-it-yourselfers

Instructor:  Lisa Norman

August 6 - 31;  Fee:  $30

This four week session will include 3 lectures each week, homework to develop and refine your marketing strategy, and discussion with classmates and the instructor. Students who have a completed work can work through the publication process during the class, ending with your work published!

Topics include:

Learning to tell gold from iron pyrite

-- defining your writing identity

Basic geology and avoiding landslides

-- marketing without getting buried alive

-- understanding the changing nature of the industry

Making peace with the natives

-- building your tribe

Staking your claim

-- creating a marketing plan

Refining process

-- setting goals

-- evaluating their success

Digging in the dirt

-- basic manuscript preparation and formatting

-- converting for e-readers, HTML, CSS, and EPUB

Bringing in the heavy equipment

-- how to hire a contractor

-- rights and licenses

-- distribution and discounts

-- contracts and concessions

Taking your gold to the bank

-- dealing with the emotions of completing the process

-- patience required for marketing

-- going on to the next project