In our interactive session, Talking-Tagline Guru Sasa asked me: “Coach Teresa…What is a platform?”

I responded: “Before I define ‘platform,’ let’s talk about fans and what fans do for you.  Fans tell their friends about you.  Fans will pay to see you; they will buy what you have produced; they listen when you speak.  Your name hooks their attention.

“So, how does one build a fanbase?  By making your platform consistent. A platform is not something you step on, it is what you stand for.  Help your fans find you by articulating the themes and issues you care about/write about.”

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I am a fan of many fine writers, with last names starting with A to Z.  From Chinua Achebe, Luisa Adams, Martha Alderson, Jane Austen . . .  to Margie Yee Webb, E. B. White, Anzia Yezierska, and two hundred other authors, including Scott James (fellow presenter at San Francisco Writers Conference).

Scott James writes novels under the name of Kemble Scott; I heard about Kemble when his first novel SoMa was published by Kensington Publishing Corporation New York (also my publisher for my first novel). Scott James, the journalist, writes about San Francisco, including contributions to the New York Times.

I am a fan because Scott James speaks/writes eloquently. His latest article is enlightening and compelling.

Scott says:  The latest of my new columns on Medium is now up. This one is on gay marriage, and gets a bit personal.  It’s called “My Big Gay Shotgun Wedding.”

Since I am a fan, I shall tell my friends about Scott’s columns.

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan cheering for you!

Writing Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan cares about helping fiction and nonfiction writers build their platforms and work on their craft simultaneously with ease.  She says: “Wear the dual hats as promoter and writer and be happily published. Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams.”

http://writingcoachTeresa.com

Writing Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan here . . .  honored to be invited to present at the San Francisco Writers Conference again.   I will get to work with talented colleagues and friends, ten years in a row!

Friday Feb. 15, 2013  9:00-9:45am

“GETTING TO FIRST BASE BY BUILDING YOUR FANBASE”

presented by:  Writing Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan, Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase in 22 Days  and  Advisory Board Member Elisa “Sasa” Southard, Break Through the Noise: 9 Tools to Propel Your Marketing Message (free balloons in this interactive session)

Sunday Feb. 17, 2013  10:00-10:45am

“BE YOUR OWN EDITOR:  Ensuring Agents and Editors Love Your Work”

presented by:  Writing Coach/Manuscript Consultant Teresa LeYung-Ryan, Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase in 22 Days;  Love Made of Heart  and Your-Writing-Mentor Mary E. Knippel, The Secret Artist: Give Yourself Permission to Let Your Creativity Shine!

Also, I will be one of the independent editors, giving one-on-one consultation, on:

Friday  11:00am — 11:50am; Friday   2:00pm  –  3:30 or 3:40pm

Saturday  11:00am — 11:50am

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  The 10th Anniversary SFWC February 14-17 (Thursday through Sunday), 2013 !

Goosebumps author R.L. Stine offers a free talk for his young fans

on February 16^th at the 2013 San Francisco Writers Conference

While he is in town as a keynoter for the 2013 San Francisco Writers Conference, the shadowy R.L. Stine will offer a frightfully delightful session for his young fans. We promise there is nothing to fear from the master of horror. It all begins promptly at 10 a.m. on February 16^th at the Mark Hopkins Hotel. His talk is free, but rules must be followed! (See below.)

            Mr. Stine is best known as the author of the popular Goosebumps series of books for young readers. He has sold over 350 million books, making him one of the best-selling children’s authors in history. In fact, he was named the #1 best-selling author in America by USA Today for three straight years outselling John Grisham, Stephen King and Tom Clancy.

The FREE session for students during the SFWC is made possible by the San Francisco Writers Conference which is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, the InterContinental Mark Hopkins and the many companies and individuals who are sponsors of the 2013 San Francisco Writers Conference.

RULES for the R.L. STINE session during the 2013 San Francisco Writers Conference:

The event starts PROMPTLY at 10 a.m. at the Mark Hopkins Hotel on Saturday, February 16^th, 2013. The session is open to students in 3rd to 8th grade and is limited to the first 200 confirmed RSVPs.

You MUST RSVP following these rules or something bad may happen (perhaps you won’t get in!)   Go to www.SFWriters.org.  Click on ‘Register Here for R.L. Stine’ option on the right side of the homepage.  Fill out the form.  List all the students who will be attending in the box provided. Submit the form.  A thank you page will appear.  We suggest you bring a copy of the thank you page with you.

Mandatory:  If you are bringing a group, there must be 1 adult per 10 children.

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Who else will be helping writers at the 2013 San Francisco Writers Conference?

Published authors and publishing experts who generously volunteer their time! Click here to see who they are!

Members from Women’s National Book Association!

Members from California Writers Club!

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

“Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams.”   http://writingcoachteresa.com

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan on CBS Bay Sunday with Host Frank Mallicoat
Writers’ Platform & Fanbase-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryansays:

Click here to read the interview with Coach Teresa for StepByStepPublishing

As coach and author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW,  she says: “Whether you are writing fiction or nonfiction, make your name synonymous with the issues you write about.”

Teresa has built her own platform happily. Her first novel Love Made of Heart  is used in college composition classes; available at public libraries; recommended by the CA School Library Association and the CA Reading Association; and archived at the San Francisco History Center. Love Made of Heart and her short play Answer Me Now carry the themes closest to her heart:  mother-daughter relationship; Chinese-American immigrant experience; helping adult-children (of mentally-ill parents) speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their loved ones.

• Please visit Coach Teresa’s Events Page

• http://WritingCoachTeresa.com  Click on “Coach Teresa’s Blog”
• http://www.facebook.com/Teresa.LeYung.Ryan
• http://www.youtube.com/teresaleyung

Coach Teresa, what happened on Friday Feb. 17, 2012 at San Francisco Writers Conference?

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan here . . . this is what happened from my POV. Please tell me and my colleagues your point of view by submitting comments to this blog post.  How? Click on the blue title bar of this post, scroll down to get the boxes, fill in boxes and click on “submit comment” button.

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Elisa Sasa Southard arrived at my home before 7:00am and off we went.  I had packed chicken meatball/naan breakfast roll-ups for us. We were inside the Mark Hopkins before 8:00am. Thank you, author Birgit Soyka and Tessa Bertoldi, for helping us distribute session hand-out material and keep track of time at our 9:00am-9:45am presentation “Blowing Up Your Balloon: Writing a Tagline That Will Sell You and Your Book”

Writers' Platform-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan and Elisa Sasa Southard promote SFWC everywhere--even on Go-With-Sasa's automobile

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Audrey Fairchild & Julaina Kleist & Jordan Bernal gracious reps at SFWC--photo by presenter & Writers' Platform-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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SFWC Heroes make conference a huge success--photo by Story Consultant & Writers-Platform-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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Elisa “Sasa” Southard & Teresa LeYung-Ryan 

Blowing Up Your Balloon: Writing a Tagline 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

YOUR NAME: _________________________________________________________

Before Talking Tagline: _{_______________________________________________________________________________________}

AFTER crafting your personalized “talking tagline” from this workshop: ____________________

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Elisa “Sasa”’s definition of talking-tagline: “A one-sentence pitch that transforms every encounter into a marketing moment.”

Coach Teresa’s definition of platform: “Making your name stand for something—to attract targeted consumers—who are likely to buy what you have to sell.”

My next steps:
•    Go to http://BreakThroughTheNoise.com and watch Elisa’s TV clip about talking-taglines.
•    Go to http://WritingCoachTeresa.com click on “Coach Teresa’s Blog” and bookmark it.
•    I shall ____________________________________________________________

Elisa Sasa Southard & Teresa LeYung-Ryan’s session—crafting your talking-tagline & building writer’s platform & fanbase

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Elisa Sasa Southard & Teresa LeYung-Ryan show how using talking-taglines & building writer's platform are as fun as keeping balloons in the air--photo by Tessa Bertoldi

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Elisa Sasa Southard & Teresa LeYung-Ryan attract writers who want to create their talking taglines and build their platforms and fanbases--photo by Tessa Bertoldi

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Elisa “Sasa” Southard wears 2 hats:

•    As author of Break Through the Noise, 9 Tools to Propel Your Marketing Message, she helps writers turn personal skills into marketing talent http://BreakThroughTheNoise.com

•    As creator of Big City Travel Skills Project, Sasa helps young travelers turn into smart and savvy adventurers

http://elisaonassignment.com/

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Teresa LeYung-Ryan also wears 2 hats:

•    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, she helps writers polish their manuscripts by identifying their themes and archetypes

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

http://writingcoachteresa.com

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testimonials from Elisa Sasa Southard & Teresa LeYung-Ryan's USE Your Talking Tagline to Build Your Writer's Platform session at SFWC

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story consultant & writers' platform-building coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan and Birgit Sokya (author of To Drink the Wild Air) are colleagues at Women's National Book Association

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Author & SFWC Marketing Director Barbara Santos works out details with Mark Hopkins staff

presenters Elisa Sasa Southard and Teresa LeYung-Ryan and historical novelist Pamela Tartaglio

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At lunchtime, the room’s energy fell to deep sadness when Elizabeth Pomada told us that Shirley Fong-Torres (who delighted us last year at SFWC) died a few months after the 2011 conference. Shirley was only 64. I am so sad for her family. Blossom branches in a huge vase on the SFWC stage reminded us of Shirley’s vibrance.

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Lisa See’s keynote speech was most inspiring.  Lisa said when she reads a book she reads the beginning, then the ending, then back and forth until she reaches the middle; then she’ll read the ending again. Coach Teresa here . . . to remind my clients . . . Before you rework the beginning of your novel or memoir, review your ending.  Lisa’s reading m.o. is a helpful trick for writers. As Plot Whisperer Martha Alderson says: “The beginning foreshadows the ending.” “The ending dictates the beginning.”

Read fabulous story-teller Lisa Lee’s books!

Julaina Kleist with Lisa See (author of Peony in Love, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, On Gold Mountain, Dreams of Joy) and BookShop West Portal Neal Sofman at SFWC -- photo by story consultant & writers' platform-building coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan (presenter, author)

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Cyberspace Genius Linda Lee empowers writers at SFWC--photo by Platform-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan advises prescriptive nonfiction author Jodi Lobozzo Aman of New York to buy domain names that are synonymous with her themes

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author Margie Yee Webb chats with SFWC advisory board member Harvey Pawl while Barbara Santos works out details with Mark Hopkins rep-- photo by Coach Teresa

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Alexis Masters and Margie Yee Webb author of Cat Mulan's Mindful Musings spread joy at SFWC--photo by Writers' Platform-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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Alan Rinzler’s keynote speech at 5:00pm gave us a glimpse into 50 years of the publishing world. Fascinating!  Alan was the acquisition editor who believed in Claude Brown’s 1,400-page manuscript when no one else at the publishing house did. Alan helped Claude edit the book to 400 pages  Manchild in the Promised Land: A Modern Classic of the Black Experience.

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SFWC presenters Teresa LeYung-Ryan & Nina Amir & Mary E. Knippel

Stephanie Carroll & Anna-Marie McLemore & author-- scholarship benefactor Victoria Hudson & Lisa Mattson--photo by Platform-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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I saw Scott James aka Kemble Scott!  Scott is an inspiration and generous mentor in the publishing arena.

actor Will Southard & Elisa Sasa Southard of GO-with-Sasa celebrate SFWC--photo by Writers' Platform-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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actor Will Southard & author Elisa Sasa Southard 2012 Feb 17 photo by Story Consultant Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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Sincerely

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

“Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams!”

http://writingcoachteresa.com
author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW

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. Thank you, Teachers & Students!

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Laura A. Novak launches her new e-book Novel on Scribd Float

I just received this wonderful news from colleague Laura A. Novak (Laura is the new co-vice president and yours truly Teresa LeYung Ryan is the secretary for the of Women’s National Book Association-San Francisco Chapter).

Laura says:

“I am thrilled to report that I launched my e-book novel on Scribd  just as they launched their new iphone app yesterday at Fortune Tech in Aspen – and made Finding Clarity: A Mom, A Dwarf and a Posh Private School in the People’s Republic of Berkeley a feature!

Coach Teresa, what happened at Asian Heritage Street Celebration?

Everyday is an adventure for us writers.  The AHSC street fair (on Larkin Street between Grove St. and Ellis St.) was yesterday May 21, 2011, 11:00am-6:00pm

Margie Yee Webb and I rendezvoused a bit after 8:00am at our booth to set up; we were assigned booth F-18 (the 300 block of Larkin St., just yards away from the Asian Art Museum).

Margie is a pro at staging–she brought strings of colorful paper lanterns, red table clothes, a pot of silk irises, California Writers Club literature, and her vibrant display of her gift book Cat Mulan’s Mindful Musings: Insight and Inspiration for a Wonderful Life.

I brought the blow-ups of our book covers; Margie had clips.

AHSC volunteers were friendly and helpful. Special thanks to Angela Pang of AsianWeek Foundation.

Patricia Tsang, M.D. was the third member of our booth.  Dr. Tsang’s book is Optimal Healing: A Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine

The public couldn’t wait until 11:00am; they started browsing around 10:00am.

Here’s a partial list of delightful people I talked to:

Harvey of Eastwind Books of Berkeley told me he carries my novel Love Made of Heart and asked me to deliver a presentation at his store. I’d love to do that, and, also present my workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days.

Beverly Lee wants to invite me, Margie and Patricia to her authors series at On Lok Senior Center.

Gemma Nemenzo invited us to exhibit our books at the Filipino American International Book Festival this year.

Mary Moreno gifted me a copy of Tao I: The Way of All Life (Soul Power series) by Dr. & Master Zhi Gang Sha.

Margie Yee Webb’s sister Pearl introduced me to Jeff Adachi, director of the  film You Don’t Know Jack: the Jack Soo Story.

Lucian Dang, ESL teacher, invited me to be a guest speaker on his online class.

Margie’s sisters Pearl, Linda, Anna, Betty, and her nieces and nephews came to cheer for us. Patricia’s former patients were delighted to see retired Dr. Tsang at the street fair.

Dear friend Jonathan came by with his bicycle and baked goods!

Mona!  What a surprise.  Inge Horton, fellow member of  Women’s National Book Association, showed up — what a treat!

Fred Glynn came by to show me his book Authors of the Bible .   Fred said he was on the Internet looking for information on Claudia Boutote of Harper One . . .  because I had “tagged” Claudia in my May 6, 2011 blog post, Fred found me through my blog !   My clients (if you’re reading this), are you smiling?  Don’t I always encourage you to spend time “tagging” on cyberspace?  Help your fans find you.

Elliotte Mao !!!  Elliotte trekked all the way from the mid-Peninsula.  CWC-SF Peninsula branch guest speaker was Scott James (aka Kemble Scott) and I would have been at that meeting if the street fair was another day.

More magic.  James Scott (not Scott James) and his partner Richard came by our booth.  James Scott illustrates architecture.  He demonstrated this talent for Margie, Patricia and me to see.

Writing Career Coach Teresa encourages illustrator James Scott to pursue grants

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Renel!  The KISS 98.1 booth was directly across from our booth.  Here I am — a Renel fan.

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Did Coach Teresa have fun?   Yes!  Being with colleagues, seeing friends, meeting folks who like to read and share the joy of reading, celebrating Asian American heritage, eating a Thai lunch, seeing the red dragon . . .

Writing Career Coach Teresa says: "Reach out not stress out"

“Building your writer’s platform ought to be fun!”

I’m cheering for you!

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa

Click on book cover to go to Amazon

Kim Randolph helps her clients promote their E-waste businesses so Coach Teresa dubs Kim "E-waste Liaison"

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Producers Paula Hendricks & Kevin O'Malley with panelists Elizabeth Block, Scott James, Teresa LeYung Ryan answer writers' questions about book publishing, promoting and marketing at The Commonwealth Club

Just found out that all three “Self-Publishing: Tutorials from the Trenches“ programs from the Commonwealth Club were distributed as Podcasts and audio streaming:

Go here for links to downloads and direct streaming. You’ll have to search down the page to April 22, 2010 when they were first sent out. They’re in reverse order on the page:

http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Politics/Contemporary-Issues/Commonwealth-Club-Radio-Program-Podcast/18764#

Self-Publishing: Tutorials from the Trenches

Panel: Self-Publishing (Program 1) – Options, Directions and Resources

This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco at the Commonwealth Club of California on April 6, 2010

Lisa Alpine, Publisher, Good to Go Media; Co-author, Self-Publishing Boot Camp Workbook
Peter Beren, Literary Agent; Publishing Consultant; Author, The Writer’s Legal Companion
Carla King, Publisher, Good to Go Media; Social Media Consultant; Author, Miss Adventuring Series
Paula Hendricks, Founder and Book Designer, Cinnabar Bridge Communications; Author, September in Corrales  Moderator

Book publishing is undergoing a sea change. Come and participate in our dynamic and interactive three-part series covering all aspects of self-publishing, taught by front-line experts who have done it themselves and succeeded. What does it take to publish a book, and how do you choose which route to follow? Discover your options from traditional to cooperative to true self-publishing  with industry experts who’ve done it themselves.

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Panel: Self-Publishing (Program 2) – The Nuts and Bolts of Making Books

This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco at the Commonwealth Club of California on April 12, 2010.

Lee Foster, Owner, Foster Travel Publishing; Author, The Photographer’s Guide to San Francisco
Joel Friedlander, Proprietor, Marin Bookworks; Blogger, TheBookDesigner.com
V. Vale, Publisher, RE/Search Publications; Founder, Search and Destroy
Paula Hendricks, Founder and Book Designer, Cinnabar Bridge Communications; Author, September in Corrales“ Moderator

Book publishing is undergoing a sea change. Come and participate in our dynamic and interactive three-part series covering all aspects of self-publishing, taught by front-line experts who have done it themselves and succeeded. What goes into making a book truly a book? What are the essentials of editing and page layout and how can they make or break you? Learn from an insider panel of experts about the critical design and production of your book and the ins and outs of available formats, from traditional to e-books and apps.

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Panel: Self-Publishing (Program 3) – Book Sales and Marketing

This program was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco at the Commonwealth Club of California on April 19, 2010.

Scott James, Columnist, The New York Times; Author (aka Kemble Scott), SoMa, The Sower
Elizabeth Block, Author, A Gesture Through Time; Recipient, the Christopher Isherwood Foundation Fiction Fellowship
Teresa LeYung Ryan, Author; Writing Career Coach.  Love Made of Heart; Build Your Name, Beat the Game: Be Happily Published
Paula Hendricks, Founder and Book Designer, Cinnabar Bridge Communications; Author, September in Corrales

Book publishing is undergoing a sea change. Come and participate in our dynamic and interactive three-part series covering all aspects of self-publishing, taught by front-line experts who have done it themselves and succeeded. Bookstores are closing; newspaper book reviews are almost gone; and online options can be overwhelming. What’s an author or publisher to do?

Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan (middle) thank Christina & Fernando at The Commonwealth Club for their gracious assistance

THANK YOU, Paula Hendricks,  Kevin O’Malley, fellow panelists, and everyone at The Commonwealth Club!

Sincerely,
Teresa LeYung Ryan

Build Your Name, Beat the Game: Be Happily Published is the 22 minutes for 22 days workbook. http://WritingCoachTeresa.com

authors Teresa LeYung Ryan, Scott James, Elizabeth Block speak about promoting creatively at the Commonwealth Club

Paula Hendricks, Kevin O'Malley, Elizabeth Block, Scott James aka Kemble Scott, Teresa LeYung Ryan help writers

Dear Paula Hendricks, Kevin O’Malley, Scott James, Elizabeth Block,

Gosh, let’s do a presentation entitled “How to get high from speaking at the Commonwealth Club”

Paula & Kevin, thank you so much for creating the series–The DIY guide to getting your book on the shelves–Self-Publishing: Tutorials from the Trenches

Elizabeth & Scott, thank you for emitting “fun” energy; I had a blast being on the panel with you.

Saturday I’m presenting at the NCPA conference in Sacramento.

Sincerely,
Teresa LeYung Ryan

Thank you to my friends/colleagues/mentors Yolande Barial, Sarbjit Rai, Bardi Rosman Koodrin and Boris Koodrin, and Michael Larsen for attending the event.

I wish every writer at the Commonwealth Club series a joyful writing/publishing journey.

Teresa LeYung Ryan says: “When you make your name synonymous with the themes/subject matters/issues in your writing, you are building your name/career/platform. You too can be happily published.”

Build Your Name, Beat the Game: Be Happily Published  http://WritingCoachTeresa.com