Coach Teresa here . . . I bow to Mary E. Knippel, William Shakespeare, and to every mentor and coach who remind us of that maxim.

Dear Writers,

Please practice that maxim when you’re creating or recreating the main characters in your stories.  When your protagonist is not being true to herself/himself, internal conflict flares (which makes for terrific story-telling ).

Mary E. Knippel and I (Teresa LeYung-Ryan) will be teaching an abbreviated version of  “Being Your Own Editor–Get Your Manuscript Ready for the Next Step” at the San Francisco Writers Conference on Feb. 16, 2012 at 6:00pm. If you cannot attend the conference this year, but, would like to take our half-day or full-day workshop, please submit a comment to this post and I’ll add your name to our list of writers to contact. Below my signature block  are instructions on how to submit a comment.

Can’t wait?  Ask me or Mary to help you edit now.

Mary specializes in memoirs, how-to books, and short stories.

I specialize in mainstream fiction, women’s fiction, women’s memoirs, children’s fiction, thrillers, short stories, and speeches. I love helping my clients polish their manuscripts by identifying themes and archetypes for them.

To thine own self be true … also applies to the other role you play as Writer–the promoter.

Elisa Southard and I (Teresa LeYung-Ryan) will be teaching “Blowing Up Your Balloon: Writing a Tag-Line That Will Sell You and Your Book” at the San Francisco Writers Conference on Feb. 17, 2012 at 9:00am. If you cannot attend the conference this year, but, would like to learn  how to craft your talking-tagline (to hook attention) and how to use it to build your writer’s platform,  please submit a comment to this post and I’ll add your name to our list of writers to contact. Below my signature block are instructions on how to submit a comment.

The first exercise in my workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days is:

“Who Am I?”

Who are you–now?  What do you want?

You can sneak preview the 2 exercises for Day 1 of my workbook by going to Amazon’s page for my workbook; look for my bookcover with the  “Click to look inside” arrow.

So, be true to yourself while wearing the 2 hats as Writer.

Listed below are 2 events (at the San Francisco Writers Conference)— free and open to the public.

Thursday, February 16th, 2012 at 5 p.m.

San Francisco Writers Conference Presents a Free Public Reading

Lisa See reads from Dreams of Joy in the California Room at the Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco

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Saturday, February 18th, 2012 at 6:15 p.m.

San Francisco Writers Conference Mass Booksigning!

Thirty presenters will sign in the Room of the Dons at the Mark Hopkins. Books for sale at the onsite bookstore manned by BookShop West Portal.  Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan will be autographing books.

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa

“Reach out, not stress out, when pursuing your dearest dreams!”

http://writingcoachteresa.com

If you wish to enroll in our half-day or full-day workshop “Be Your Own Editor” then please  submit a comment. To submit a comment through this post, scroll up and click on the blue title bar of this post, then scroll down to get the boxes, fill in the boxes and click on “submit comment” button. (your email addresses will not be revealed; only I, the administrator of this blog, will see it. )

Courageous authors Mary E. Knippel, Mary French, Lana Dalberg, Laura Bean,  Mathilde Apelt Schmidt, Carole Bumpus, Elise Frances Miller, Carol Sheldon, Fred Glynn, Shulamit Sofia, Catherine C. Robbins, and Richard  G. Robbins DECLARED what they care about.

Please refer to the yellow sheet from tonight’s session.  Look at what you had written in the boxes “What do I care about?”  Then look at the 3 columns:  Professional Circle; Personal Circle; Community Circle

How will you tell/show the people listed in those 3 columns “what you care about”?

Start by showing your declaration in your email signature block and saying it in your outgoing message. Then what?  Do the exercises in my workbook. You can sneak preview the 2 exercises for Day 1 of my workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days by going to Amazon’s page for my workbook; look for my bookcover with the  “Click to look inside” arrow.

My signature blocks

Example 1: (as  an author of fiction, narrative nonfiction and speeches–genres that require “story-telling” techniques )

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan

“I use my book Love Made of Heart to encourage adult-children of mentally ill parents to speak openly the stigmas and find resources for their families.”

Example 2: ( as an author of prescriptive nonfiction aka self-help books)

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan

“I use my workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW to help my clients make their names synonymous with the themes/subject matters/issues they write about.

Example 3: (as a writing coach, story consultant, developmental editor)

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan

“I help my clients polish their manuscripts by identifying their themes and archetypes.  I know what it takes to write a page-turner; my novel Love Made of Heart is used as required reading in composition classes.”

Coach Teresa asks passionate writers: “What do you care about?”

You are courageous and I cheer for you!

Reach out, not stress out!  Have fun with my workbook!

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa

http://writingcoachteresa.com

Dear Michael,

Thank you for posting the Top 10 Tips from Elfrieda Abbe, publisher of The Writer in your blog!  We look forward to meeting her at San Francisco Writers Conference.

10. Never underestimate the power of a good contest.

9. Never underestimate the power of a good article.

8. DIY publishing—More writers are doing it successfully, should you?

7. Platform counts.

6. Publishing is moving online. Are you?

5. Think “packaging content.”

4. Polish your work.

3. The “so-what” factor. What makes your story different and why should we care?

2. Make a good first impression.

1. Study the markets and target your submissions.

SFWC just gets more exciting each year.  Thank you & Elizabeth for inviting us to co-present 2 interactive sessions.

Tip #1 Study the markets and target your submissions, Tip #3 The “so-what” factor. What makes your story different and why should we care? & Tip #4 Polish your work.

that would be this session:

Thurs. Feb. 16, 6:00pm Teresa LeYung-Ryan & Mary E. Knippel

BEING YOUR OWN EDITOR: Ensuring Your Work is 100% Before Taking the Next Step:
Attend this session if you want to Polish Your Manuscripts before:

•             hiring book doctor/developmental editor OR
•             pitching to agents or acquisition editors OR
•             self-publishing

Also, Mary and I are scheduled to give one-on-one 10-minute consultations at THE Conference!

Here’s the checklist from me to help you be your own editor:

• Planting hook(s) or story-question(s);
• Grounding the reader with the three Ws (Who? When? Where?);
• Showing (not telling) what the protagonist wants;
• Paying attention to language and rules

If you need me to look at your query letter and/or the first 50 pages of your manuscript before going to the writers’ conference, email me  at:  writingcoachTeresa  (the at sign)  gmail.com (please put “Need editor/story consultant and your full name in email subject line) and I’ll email  you a list of questions and my  fee schedule.

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Tip #2 Make a good first impression & Tip #7 Platform counts.  -  that would be this session:

Fri. Feb. 17, 9:00am Teresa LeYung-Ryan & Elisa “Sasa” Southard

BLOWING UP YOUR BALLOON: Writing a Tag-Line That Will Sell You and Your Book
Attend this session if you want to:

• hook agents, acquisition editors, readers, media attention
• make your name synonymous with the themes you write about
• have fun building your writer’s platform & fanbase

You can sneak preview the 2 exercises for Day 1 of my workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days by going to Amazon’s page for my workbook and look for my bookcover then “Click to look inside”

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On Feb. 2, 2012, 6:15-7:30pm I’ll prepare conference attendees by presenting “What is a Platform and How to Build Yours” at San Francisco Main Library on behalf of Women’s National Book Association.
Please arrive early, I’ll start promptly at 6:15pm. Must RSVP 24 hours before meeting by emailing:   writingcoachteresa (use @ sign) gmail.com   Put “RSVP Feb. 2, 2012″ in subject line please.

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I encourage writers to go to the 9th San Francisco Writers Conference / A Celebration of Craft, Commerce & Community, February 16-20, 2012  www.sfwriters.org

Sincerely,
Coach Teresa

Writing Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan has helped over 1,000 writers.  As author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW, she coaches writers on making their names synonymous with the themes/subject matters/issues they write about.

As editor/story consultant, Coach Teresa identifies themes and archetypes in her clients’ manuscripts. Her novel Love Made of Heart is used in college composition classes.

http://writingcoachteresa.com Read Coach Teresa’s blog.

Coach Teresa and Colleagues at San Francisco Writers Conference

To register for SFWC  San Francisco Writers Conference

* * * * * * * * * * *

Mentor Mary E. Knippel & Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan--photo by Anne Campagnet-Reed

Thursday, February 16, 2012  6:00pm

Mary E. Knippel & Teresa LeYung-Ryan

BEING YOUR OWN EDITOR: Ensuring Your Work is 100% Before Taking the Next Step:

Attend this session if you want to Polish Your Manuscripts before:

•             hiring book doctor/developmental editor OR

•             pitching to agents or acquisition editors OR

•             self-publishing

Mary E. Knippel is author of The Secret Artist – Give Yourself Permission to Let Your Creativity Shine!

Teresa LeYung-Ryan is author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW and Love Made of Heart

Also, Mary E. Knippel and Teresa LeYung-Ryan are scheduled to give one-on-one 10-minute consultations at San Francisco Writers Conference!

* * * * * * * * * * *

Friday, February 17, 2012  9:00am

Elisa “Sasa” Southard & Teresa LeYung-Ryan

BLOWING UP YOUR BALLOON: Writing a Tag-Line That Will Sell You and Your Book

Attend this session if you want to:
• hook agents, acquisition editors, readers, media attention
• make your name synonymous with the themes you write about
• have fun building your writer’s platform & fanbase

To register for SFWC  San Francisco Writers Conference

Elisa “Sasa” Southard is author of Break Through the Noise: 9 Tools to Propel Your Marketing Message

Teresa LeYung-Ryan is author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW and Love Made of Heart

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Listed below are 2 events — free and open to the public.

Thursday, February 16th, 2012 at 5 p.m.

San Francisco Writers Conference Presents a Free Public Reading

Lisa See reads from Dreams of Joy in the California Room at the Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco

 

Saturday, February 18th, 2012 at 6:15 p.m.

San Francisco Writers Conference Mass Booksigning!

Thirty presenters will sign in the Room of the Dons at the Mark Hopkins. Books for sale at the onsite bookstore manned by BookShop West Portal.

 

Look for Teresa LeYung-Ryan, Elisa Southard, Mary E. Knippel, Barbara Santos, Martha Alderson, Linda Lee, Linda Joy Myers, Margie Yee Webb, Verna Dreisbach, Nina Amir, Cara Black, Zoe FitzGerald Carter, Joan Gelfand, Tanya Egan Gibson, Ann Seymour, Ellen Sussman, Wendy Tokunaga, Shulamit Sofia, and other Women’s National Book Association members.

* * * * * * * * * * *

The following lists are from San Francisco Writers Conference

KEYNOTERS:
Lisa See, author of Peony in Love and Shanghai Girls
Lolly Winston, author of Good Grief and Happiness Sold Elsewhere
Alan Rinzler, independent editor with 50 years experience in the publishing world whose client list is a “Who’s Who” in the publishing industry

PRESENTERS:
Martha Alderson, author The Plot Whisperer: Secerts of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
Nina Amir, editor, journalist, writing and author coach
Bella Andre, author of From This Moment On
Marilyn R. Atlas, Producer and personal manager in Hollywood
Sam Barry, Marketing Manager at HarperOne
Cara Black, author of Murder in Passy
Helena R. Brantley, Red Pencil PR
Philippa Burgess co-founder of Creative Convergence
Zoe FitzGerald Carter, author of Imperfect Endings: A Daughter’s Story of Love, Loss and Letting Go
Stephanie Chandler, author, online marketing and social networking guru
Laura Cogan from Zyzzyva
Mark Coker, founder and CEO of Smashwords
Deborah Davis, author of Not like You
Drew Dellinger, internationally known speaker, poet, writer and visionary
Robert Dugoni, author of Wrongful Death and Murder One
Brian Felsen, president of BookBaby / CD Baby / HostBaby
Joel Friedlander, Marin Bookworks & author of A Self-Publisher’s Companion
Barbara Freethy, NYT best-selling author
Catherine Friend, author of Barn Boot Blues and Sheepish
Diane Gedymin, The Publisher’s Desk
Joan Gelfand, poet and author of A Dreamer’s Guide to Cities and Streams
Tanya Egan Gibson , author of How to Buy a Love of Reading
Constance Hale is the author of Sin and Syntax and Wired Style
Brad Henderson, UC Davis professor and poet (co-author of Split Stock)
Evan Karp, Quiet Lightning
Kathi Kamen-Goldmark, author of And My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You
Katharine Kerr, author of License to Ensorcell due out in February
Carla King, author of The Self-Publishing Boot Camp Guide for Authors
Bharti Kirchner, author of four novels and four cookbooks
Michael Krasny, author and KQED radio host
Linda Lee, Founder of Askmepc-webdesign & Smart Women Stupid Computers
Wendy Lesser, author of Music For Silenced Voices, editor of The Threepenny Review
Donna Levin, author/writing teacher
Beth Lisick, author, poet and playwright among many of her talents
Tom Meschery, poet – athlete
Michelle Moran, author of Madame Tussaud, A Novel of the French Revolution
Mari Naomi, author/illustrator of Kiss & Tell: A Romantic Resume, Ages 0 – 22
Kathryn Otoshi, author/illustrator of What Emily Saw
Holly Lynn Payne, screenwriter, writing coach and author of Kingdom of Simplicity
Dan Poynter, Para Publishing – Self-Publishing Guru
Lisa Marie Rice, author of Nightfire
Trina Robbins, author of Lily Renee, Escape Artist
Teresa LeYung Ryan, author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW
Robert D. San Souci, author of Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow
Barbara Santos, author of Maui Onion Cookbook and Practice Aloha
Monte Schulz, author of This Side of Jordan
Kemble Scott, author of SOWER 2.0
Ann Seymour, author of I’ve Always Loved You, Nob Hill Gazette journalist
Naheed Senzai, author of Shooting Kabul
Rusty Shelton, President and CEO of Shelton Interactive
Sheldon Siegel, author of Judgment Day
Kevin Smokler, author of Bookmark Now
Elisa Southard, author of Break Through the Noise
Melissa Stonehill, VP Marketing & Publicity at Silver Screen Sizzles
Ransom Stephens, author of The God Patent
Ellen Sussman, author of French Lessons
Patrick Schwerdrfeger, author and international speaker
Wendy Tokunaga, author of Midori by Moonlight
Penny Warner, author of How to Host a Killer Party
Fan Wu, author of Beautiful As Yesterday
Martin Yan, chef. author and TV personality

EDITORS:
Elfrieda Abbe, Publisher, The Writer magazine at Kalmbach Publishing
Charles Adams, Algonquin Publishers
Jennifer Enderlin, VP, Editor-in-Chief at St. Martin’s Press
Valerie Gray, Executive Editor at MIRA Books, a Harlequin imprint
Gabrielle Harbowy, Dragon Moon Press and Pyr
Georgia Hughes, New World Library
Jan Johnson, RedWheel/Weiser
Brenda Knight, Associate Publisher at Cleis Press, Berkeley CA
Heather Lazare, Simon & Schuster
Deborah Lichtman, private writing consultant and editior.
Ross E. Lockhart, Managing Editor at Night Shade Books
Allison Lorentzen, Editor at Penguin Books
Ethan Nosowsky, Editorial Director at McSweeny’s
Chuck Sambuchino, Editor at Writers Digest Books and edits Guide To Literary Agents
Jay Schaefer, Independent editor/writer based in San Francisco
Jill Schwartzman, Editor at Dutton – Penguin Group
Ralph Scott, Executive Editor at Credit The Edit

AGENTS:
Peter Beren, literary agent and publishing consultant (CA)
Kimberley Cameron, President of Kimberley Cameron & Associates (CA)
Minju Chang, Book Stop Literary Agency (CA)
Verna Dreisbach, Dreisbach Literary Management (CA)
April Eberhardt, April Eberhardt Literary (CA/NYC)
Stephany Evans, President/Agent at FinePrint Literary Management (NYC)
Laurie Fox, Linda Chester Literary Agency – West Coast Associate
Mollie Glick, Foundry Literary & Media (NY)
Jeff Kleinman, Folio Literary Management (NYC)
Mary Kole, Andrea Brown Literary Agency (CA/NYC)
Michael Larsen, Larsen/Pomada Literary Agents (SF)
Daniel Lazar, Writers House Literary Agency (NYC)
Taylor Martindale, Full Circle Literary (CA)
Laurie McLean, Larsen/Pomada Literary Agents (SF)
Elizabeth Pomada, Larsen/Pomada Literary Agents (SF)
Jody Rein, President of Jody Rein Books, Inc (CO)
Katharine Sands, Sarah Jane Freymann Agency (NYC)
Ken Sherman, Ken Sherman and Associates
Nephele Tempest, The Knight Agency (Atlanta/CA)
Sally van Haitsma, van Haitsma Literary (CA)
Gordon Warnock, Andrea Hurst & Associates (CA)
Ted Weinstein, Ted Weinstein Literary Management (NYC/SF)

This list is subject to change without notice.

Dear Writers,

Are you stressed out while rewriting your project?  Breathe. Drink water. Exercise.  And read, read, read.

Whatever genre you’re writing, give your characters new sparks by rereading your favorite book of the same genre.

Study how the author of that favorite book show:

• what the protagonist wants (early in the story)–to connect with Reader
• the authentic details in the setting, circumstances, vernacular
• sensory details
• dialogue and body language that reveals each character’s personality or what he/she wants to show
• hooks, foreshadowing, metaphors
• archetypes help move story forward
• thematic threads

I’m cheering for you!

Sincerely,
Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

http://writingcoachteresa.com

Teresa LeYung-Ryan has helped over 1,000 writers.

As editor/story consultant, Coach Teresa helps her clients polish their manuscripts by identifying the themes and archetypes in their stories.

Her novel Love Made of Heart is used in college composition classes.

As author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW, she coaches authors before and after publication. 

http://writingcoachteresa.com Read other posts in her blog.

Hi, Writing Mentor Mary E. Knippel of http://yourwritingmentor.com/

Thank you for encouraging us to explore a new activity, craft or pursuit. I’ve been wanting to write a play for years. Linda Loveland Reid is sponsoring the 2012 Redwood Writers 2nd Playwriting Contest!  10-minute play.  I’m writing one! And I’m entering it to the contest.
http://redwoodwriters.org/contests/playwriting-8/ for guidelines and dates.

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan
*****************************

Feb. 17-19, 2012 San Francisco Writers Confernce http://www.sfwriters.org/ Teresa LeYung-Ryan will present 2 sessions.

Teresa LeYung-Ryan & Mary E. Knippel show writers how to polish their manuscripts before:
·        hiring book doctor/developmental editor
·        pitching to agents or acquisition editors
·        self-publishing

Teresa LeYung-Ryan & Elisa “Sasa” Southard
“Build Your Platform: Craft Your Talking-Tagline to Attract Agents & Publishers”

•    hook agents, acquisition editors and readers
•    have fun building your writer’s platform
•    be yourself and succeed

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March 1  (Thurs.) 2012 6:15-7:30pm Women’s National Book Association members and prospective members welcomed to “Authors Exchange Solutions” forums  with authors/mentors/coaches Teresa LeYung-Ryan,  Mary E. Knippel OR Birgit Soyka, at San Francisco Main Library.

Thurs., March 1, 2012, Stong Conference Room (no food allowed). Mentor Mary E. Knippel will focus on how to “Ready Your Pitch for WNBA-SF Meet The Agents Event.”  Promptly at 6:15pm. Must RSVP 24 hours before meeting by emailing:  MaryEKnippel (use @ sign)  gmail.com

To join WNBA-SF Chapter http://wnba-sfchapter.org

* * * * *************

Saturday, March 24, 2012 Women’s National Book Association presents “Meet the Agents/Speed Dating with Agents” Lynn Henriksen chairs; Teresa LeYung-Ryan, Mary E. Knippel and Tanya Egan Gibson will coach registrants on how to pitch.  http://wnba-sfchapter.org

********************************************

Sincerely,
Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Teresa LeYung-Ryan has helped over 1,000 writers.

As author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW, she coaches authors before and after publication.

As editor/story consultant, Coach Teresa helps her clients polish their manuscripts by identifying themes and archetypes.

Her novel Love Made of Heart is used in college composition classes.

http://writingcoachteresa.com Read her blog.

Hi Teresa ,

I want to thank you for having spoken at the Redwood Writers Club January 2012 meeting.  I regret that a prior engagement did not allow my remaining for the question-&-answer period. Were I able to remain, I would have hoped to ask this:

I recently completed writing and revising my first science fiction novel,   I have begun discussions with an editor and would like to know if it is too soon to acquire my intended illustrations.  I already have people committed to do this.

I very much appreciate any comment you are able to make.  Again, thank you for the valuable advice at the RW meeting.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Author (I will reveal  your name and URL if you wish),

First, congratulations on having completed your novel!

The publisher of a book is the boss when it comes to what illustrations are used and who creates them.  Of course if you are the publisher, you have final say. If you’re selling rights to a publisher, negotiate a contract that makes you happy.

The owner of the ISBN of a book is the publisher.

Example:  The publisher of my first book (Love Made of Heart) is Kensington Publishing Corp. NY.  My contract with Kensington (John Scognamiglio was the acquisition editor) dealt with my selling them the rights to publish my book and Kensington paid me an advance. My agent (Stacey Glick) negotiated the contract for me.  Even though the Publisher/Author contract  stated “Author to give input to cover design,” I didn’t have final say. The art director (Lou Malcangi) at Kensington had purchased art work from a photographer to produce the cover (Kensington and the photographer entered into a contract. I had no role in that contract).

Seek advice from a literary attorney.  Seek advice from folks at Bay Area Independent Publishers Association and  Northern California Publishers & Authors.

Honor each contract; prevent conflicts by understanding what rights you are selling or buying.

To participate in this blog post, submit a comment by: clicking on the blue title bar of this post, scrolling down to get the boxes, filling in the boxes and click on “submit comment” button — so that thousands of my fans will see your name, URL (your website/blog address if you have one), what themes/subject matters/issues hook you, and, what themes/subject matters/issues you want to spotlight.

I wish you joy, light, and a dancing heart.

Sincerely,
Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

http://writingcoachteresa.com

Teresa LeYung-Ryan has helped over 1,000 writers. As author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW, she coaches authors before and after publication. As editor/story consultant, Coach Teresa helps her clients polish their manuscripts. Her novel Love Made of Heart is used in college composition classes. http://writingcoachteresa.com Read her blog.

My answers will help writers of all genres, so, please read on.  The specifics I’m naming target buyers of children’s books.

I’ll spotlight Deborah Taylor-French.

First, what is a writer’s platform?

Definintion of a platform.  “Making your name stand for something—to attract targeted consumers—who are likely to buy what you have to sell.” (page 1 of my workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days)

Deborah writes mysteries for children 8 to 13.  How does she build her fanbase? Deborah says: “Younger readers do not yet have e-readers nor will they go looking for me on the Web.  My goal this year is to find and agent/publisher for my series.  I know schools and parent-child book groups would be good to connect to, but how to do it in an effective manner?”

Deborah Taylor-French already has a fanbase–through her associations at  California Writers Club, her circle of family and friends, and her resourceful blog Dog Leader Mysteries http://dogleadermysteries.com that has posts in these categories:

• About Deborah Taylor-French
• Book Reviews on Amazon
• Books for Dog Lovers
• Books For Kids
• Give A Dog A Chance
  • Want a Dog? Go Local
• Welcome

I see that Deborah has 1,229 (and counting) fans reading her blog.

Deborah is people-person.  Let’s show her off  “in person” in the community.  I want to hear her/see her  / be entertained by  her.

What if she were to create a 15-minute show for children?  An interactive talk about “Give A Dog A Chance” ?  And a 30-minute version?  Or even a longer version?

Who would Deborah pitch her fun presentation to?

Librarians!  School librarians!  Teachers!   Pet store owners!  Pet supply store’s community relations managers!   Folks at rescue organizations!   Event coordinators at community centers!

• create a fun program
• test it out on a group of fans
• pitch it to people who are more likely to say “Yes!” (See the definition of platform in action? Making your name stand for something—to attract targeted consumers—who are likely to buy what you have to sell.)
• ask rescue organizations to help publicize your events; you’re being an advocate for them
• add a “press room” to your blog so that folks know how to invite you to deliver your interactive talk to their organizations
• collect fans’ email addresses to inform them of your appearances

Agents and publishes want authors with big fanbases.  Fans buy books written by their favorite celebrities.

Start the exercises in my workbook.  Start now. If you don’t have my workbook yet, click on the book title here to go to Amazon and do Day 1′s exercises (for free).  Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW.  When you’re at Amazon, click on the book cover that says “Click to look inside.”  The sneak preview for the print version and the e-book are identical.   Take a look at:

• WHAT is a platform? What you’ll need in order to fully benefit from this workbook
• Build Your Platform, Build Your Name, Stand Out in a Crowd
• What is the game and WHO are the players?
• How Does this Book Work?
• Day  1   Who Am I?  What I Have in Common with Super Famous People

You’ll have so much fun doing the 2 exercises from the pages for Day 1 that you’ll want to do the next exercise and the next.  Your platform is unique; there is only one YOU!

If you need one-on-one coaching, I’m here.  I help clients from west coast to east coast–in person, on Skype, via phone calls and emails.

To participate in this blog post, submit a comment by: clicking on the blue title bar of this post, scrolling down to get the boxes, filling in the boxes and click on “submit comment” button — so that thousands of my fans will see your name, URL (your website/blog address if you have one), what themes/subject matters/issues hook you, and, what themes/subject matters/issues you want to spotlight.

I wish you joy, light, and a dancing heart.

Sincerely,
Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

http://writingcoachteresa.com

Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (the fun workbook)

“Reach out, not stress out, when building your writer’s platform!”

From Deborah Taylor-French via facebook:
“Wow! Thanks Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan for terrific answers to my questions. Your ideas pop and sizzle. I’m jumping on these to focus my efforts locally as I build my writer’s platform.”

A gracious author emailed me a poignant question after today’s tele-roundtable discussions (sponsored by Linda Joy Myers and National Association of Memoir Writers http://www.namw.org ).

I will reveal her name if she wishes. For now, I’ll respond to Gracious Author’s concerns in a way that will hopefully help her and other hardworking writers to “reach out, not stress out, while building your platform.”

I’ll paraphrase  Gracious Author’s dilemma:

“Coach Teresa, you said we are experts of our experiences and to make our names synonymous with the themes/subject matters/issues we write about.  I don’t want to blog about my traumatic experiences; and, I’m writing a genre that makes me happy. What to do?”

Remember my closing statement at the tele-roundtable discussions?

“You deserve to make your dearest dreams come true. Wear your 2 hats:  polish the craft; building your platform to help your fans find you.”

If a task doesn’t give you joy, do something else.

Who was the author on the tele-roundtable discussions who said she has written a happy story (growing up in the 1950s)? This author could be blogging about other books, movies, music, art, world events from that decade. Or focusing on that city/town/neighborhood.  Be the expert. Be the resource.

You love writing screenplays or plays?

Who are the screenwriters and playwrights you respect?

What are the themes in their projects?

What are the themes in your project?

What if I blogged about these writers who inspire me and about their protagonists?

What if I blogged about the writers who inspired the writers who inspire me?

Blog about the music or the setting or the historical figures in your work and the works similar to yours.

Example:  I have many books in my library that I want to read. Bastard Out of Carolina (by Dorothy Allison) is one of them. Last year I was a presenter at San Francisco Writers Conference.   A month before the event, I found out that Dorothy Allison was going to be a keynote speaker. So, I started reading her novel. What a page-turner!

At the conference I ran into Dorothy in the hallway and I told her what page I was on. I saw her again when she was on a panel about banned books (moderated by Barbara Santos). Dorothy Allison is someone I wanted to blog about.

In my blog post What to Do Before Hiring an Editor for My Manuscript? under the section “Paying Attention to Language and Rules,” this is what I said about Dorothy.

In Bastard Out of Carolina, Dorothy Allison’s protagonist Bone is a girl.  Bone’s voice is convincing in dialogue and in internal monologue. Brilliant use of dialect.

Then, when author Vicki Hudson told me that she created “I Sent Bastard to School” Fund, I blogged to show support.

Your blog posts, book reviews, movie reviews, stage play reviews, comments on other people’s blogs . . . can be short.  Talk about how the themes hooked you or what you learned from the characters; then sign off with your full name and your mission statement (by Day 9 in my workbook, you’ll have your brilliant mission statement)

A blog is just one of the “venues” for your fans to experience you. Fans can interact with you through your blog (the way you can interact with me with this blog–by submitting a comment). A blog keeps count of number of visitors.

What other venues keep count of number of visitors/viewers?

Websites (a blog is an interactive website)

YouTube !  facebook!   Twitter!  Here’s my YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/teresaleyung

Name some more venues. . .

Gracious Author who is writing screenplays–perhaps instead of blogging, you’ll invest time creating one-minute videos of your articulating the themes in the screenplays that hook you; write a description for each video. Write reviews on Amazon; publish the same reviews on your blog or YouTube channel. You become a resource center.

More examples – why you want to help your fans find you:

Two years ago I went to see Carol Sheldon’s 15-minute play at Fringe of Marin One Act Plays. I invited friends. Carol’s play was delightful. I blogged about my theatre experience. Two weeks later, I received an email from a theatre goer who couldn’t find Fringe of Marin’s website but she found information about the theatre company from my blog!  She couldn’t find their website because there wasn’t one.  I am happy to say that Fringe of Marin has a lovely website now.

A week after beloved Effie Lee Morris (retired children’s librarian/visionary/advocate/author) died, I received an email from a reporter half-way across the country who wanted to talk to a family member of Effie Lee.   He said that even though he found many websites showing Effie Lee’s biographies and interviews, he couldn’t find anyone who knew how to contact her relatives. He found some of the information he needed through my blog posts; so, he emailed me to get more.  I was a resource.  I knew Effie Lee as the founder-president of Women’s National Book Association-San Francisco Chapter. She inspired the Friends of SFPL to create the annual Effie Lee Morris Lecture–to honor a children’s book author.

So you see how blogs connect people and serve as resource centers? Make your blog whatever you want it to be.  Julie Powell cooked one Julia Child recipe each day–that in itself was already an accomplishment.  Guess what? Julie blogged about cooking a Julia recipe each day.  Publishers found her.  She received a big advance to write the memoir.

Your platform-building style is unique. Developing a new habit though, does require effort/consistency.  That is why I designed a workbook with exercises for at least  21 consecutive days. The 22nd day is celebrations.

To participate in this blog post, submit a comment by: clicking on the blue title bar of this post, scrolling down to get the boxes, filling in the boxes and click on “submit comment” button — so that thousands of my fans will see your name, URL (your website/blog address if you have one), what themes/subject matters/issues hook you, and, what themes/subject matters/issues you want to spotlight.

I wish you joy, light, and a dancing heart.

Sincerely,
Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

http://writingcoachteresa.com

Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (the fun workbook)

If you participated . . . even if you missed this event (and what an exciting tele-roundtable session about what a platform is and why you want one!)  . . . promote yourself by submitting a comment to this blog post (article). [To submit a comment: click on the blue title bar of this post, scroll down to get the boxes, fill in boxes and click on “submit comment” button so that thousands of  my fans will see your name, URL, and what themes/subject matters/issues you write about.]

Build Your Writer’s Platform in 2012!

Linda Joy Myers of NAMW.org had invited me to help writers define a platform.  “Making your name stand for something—to attract targeted consumers—who are likely to buy what you have to sell.” (page 1 of my workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days)

Tell us what you learned today at the tele-roundtable session.

You learned the definition of a writer’s platform.

You learned how and where to show off your name and y0ur themes. Next you’ll need a “home base” so that when your fans find you on the Internet and want to read more from you . . . how would they find you?  Your home base is your website / blog.  My workbook guides you, step by step, on how to get a free blog (no web-hosting fees) if your budget is zero.  Get your home base now.

Reach out, not stress out, when building your writer’s platform!”

Your platform is unique; there is only one YOU!

You deserve a brilliant writer’s life (wear your 2 hats: the hat that works on the craft of writing; the hat that builds your name to help your fans find you NOW)

Thank you, Linda Joy Myers and Everyone who participated today!

Sincerely,
Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

http://writingcoachteresa.com

Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (the fun workbook)

Teresa LeYung-Ryan‘s editing – specializes in mainstream fiction, women’s fiction, thrillers, narrative non-fiction, memoirs, children’s fiction, and short stories – Coach Teresa’s editing services include editorial memo (recommendations on plotline and sub-plotlines, character development, pace, thematic connections) and copy editing.  Coach Teresa loves feisty protagonists and quirky characters and can help you identify themes and archetypes. http://writingcoachTeresa.com

Some events where you’ll see or hear Coach Teresa:

Jan. 12, 2012 4:00pm PST / 5:00pm MST / 6:00pm CST / 7:00pm EST

After you click here: http://www.namw.org/workshops-classes/build-your-writers-platform-in-2012/ sign up on the right sidebar for today’s  NAMW Roundtable discussions and receive a downloadable audio of the event!

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January 29, 2012 10:00am–5:00pm Half Moon Bay, CA  “Create Your Success Story from the Inside Out” with Mary E. Knippel, founder of Your Writing Mentor, sponsored by Women’s National Book Assn-San Francisco Chapter $35 for WNBA member; $55 non-member

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February 2 (Thurs.) 2012  6:15-7:30pm Women’s National Book Association members and prospective members welcomed to “Authors Exchange Solutions” forums with authors/mentors/coaches Teresa LeYung-Ryan,  Mary E. Knippel and Birgit Soyka, at San Francisco Main Library, Latino/Hispanic Room -A http://wnba-sfchapter.org/

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Feb. 17-19, 2012 San Francisco Writers Confernce  http://www.sfwriters.org/ Teresa LeYung-Ryan will present 2 sessions.

Teresa LeYung-Ryan & Mary E. Knippel show writers how to polish their manuscripts before:
·        hiring book doctor/developmental editor
·        pitching to agents or acquisition editors
·        self-publishing

Teresa LeYung-Ryan & Elisa “Sasa” Southard
“Build Your Platform: Craft Your Talking-Tagline to Attract Agents & Publishers”

•    hook agents, acquisition editors and readers
•    have fun building your writer’s platform
•    be yourself and succeed

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March 1 (Thurs.) 2012 6:15-7:30pm Women’s National Book Association members and prospective members welcomed to “Authors Exchange Solutions” forums  with authors/mentors/coaches Teresa LeYung-Ryan,  Mary E. Knippel and Birgit Soyka, at San Francisco Main Library, Stong Conference Room http://wnba-sfchapter.org/

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Saturday, March 24, 2012 Women’s National Book Association presents “Meet the Agents/Speed Dating with Agents” Lynn Henriksen chairs; Teresa LeYung-Ryan, Mary E. Knippel and Tanya Egan Gibson will coach registrants on how to pitch.  http://wnba-sfchapter.org

RESOURCES FOR WRITERS–START HERE:

http://writingcoachteresa.com

http://www.namw.org/