Teresa Jade LeYung's BLOG

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan here to encourage you to wear your 2 hats as a writer — work on the craft and your platform at the same time.  Pursue more and more resources . . . by visiting my website and this blog on a regular basis.  If you are not in the vicinity of the events I blog about . . . please look at the names of the people who are referenced in my posts, go to their websites by clicking on the links I provide or your keying their names in a search engine.  The people  I blog about will lead you to their colleagues, and so on.  More ways to build your platform?  See the exercises in Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days.  I can help you polish your manuscript and coach you on platform-building – click here.

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Coach Teresa says: “You can write any genre that hooks you. Just write.”

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Just recently I remembered that in a college English class, the teacher gave us this assignment… to write about any book or story we had read in class. She had said: “No rules. Just give me a 3-page paper.”  I didn’t want to write a summary or a book report, so, I wrote a monologue (a speech–what I would have said if I were Othello on Judgment Day). The teacher gave me a B and wrote next to it “Creative.”

That was three decades ago.

Since then . . . I have:

• taken a 10-week course “Writing Children’s Literature” and have written 2 children’s stories; someday I’ll publish them. [ rewards: learned how to craft a story for any age group; formed a critique group with 3 classmates--we met twice each month for 10 years ]

• taking my counselor’s recommendation to read Maxine Hong Kingston’s memoir

• received an award for my fiction [ rewards: joined California Writers Club which opened my networking world ]

• found my agent for my novel Love Made of Heart and she landed a contract for me with Kensington Publishing Corp. New York [ rewards: being represented by respected experts in the book industry and receiving advance praise from celebrated authors before publication of my novel]

• written and delivered keynote speeches for Denim Day and Take Back the Night during Sexual-Violence-Awareness-Month on behalf of the folks at Community Violence Solutions [ rewards: making my name synonymous with subject matters I write about; speaking out for folks who cannot speak for themselves;  ]

• writing President’s Message for monthly newsletter of California Writers Club-San Francisco Peninsula Branch [ rewards: building my name as writing-career-coach and advocate for writers  ]

• sold my signature article “The Perfect Pitch” to Writer’s Digest [ rewards:  gaining recognition as an expert on how to pitch to agents, acquisition editors and publishers ]

• submitting short pieces and getting published in San Jose Mercury News and San Francisco Chronicle [ rewards: making my name visible to general readership ]

• started my own publishing company and launched my workbook Build Your Name Beat the Game which a year later became Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days [ rewards: being Coach Teresa who provides a 22-day program for writers to make their names synonymous with issues they write about ]

• on January 8, 2012 when I presented”Writing-Career-Make-Over with Coach Teresa” at California Writers Club– Redwood Branch, I heard that  Linda Loveland Reid was sponsoring the 3rd annual Redwood Writers Playwriting Contest.  The entries had to be 10-minute pieces.  Hmm… I would like to write a 10-minute play.  So, the following week . . . I wrote the play in 30 minutes, but, it took several weeks to rewrite (after receiving critique from Lynn Scott).  Answer Me Now (a 10-minute monologue) is about a middle-aged woman asking her dead mom a question. [ rewards: I will get to hang out with directors, actors, producers, set designers, theater folks and theater supporters ]

Playwright Teresa LeYung-Ryan and Creator of Redwood Writers Play Contest & Festival / Playwright / Novelist Linda Loveland Reid. Thank you, Linda!

Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: "Thank you, Elisa Sasa Southard, for going to awards ceremony with me even though you have so much to do after having led Washington D.C. and New York City tours for students!"

Thank you, Sasa!  I’m on Cloud Nine and I plan to stay there/here . . .  long after the performances at the Redwood Writers Play Festival of  June 29, 30 and July 1, 2012.

The 4 shows will be at the 6th Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa, CA:

June 29, Friday at 8pm; June 30, Saturday at 2pm and 8pm; and July 1, Sunday at 2pm.  Tickets will be on sale starting May 1st, 2012.  $16 per person.

the 9 contest winners: Elaine Maikovska, Harry Reid, Jean Wong, Amanda McTigue, Nancy Lockard Gallop, Malena Eljumaily, Elizabeth VanPatten, Teresa LeYung-Ryan; Gene Griffith was not at awards ceremony

Again, thank you, Linda Loveland Reid, contest judges Lennie Dean, Natasha Carter-Yim, Michael Fontaine (who couldn’t attend the awards ceremony), Redwood Writers, fellow playwrights, Lynn Scott, Elisa Sasa Southard, my MaMa, and my friends who send me good wishes.

Teresa LeYung-Ryan and Redwood Writers Playwriting Contest Judge & Playwright Natasha Carter Yim. Thank you, Natasha!

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Redwood Writers Playwriting Contest Judge & Festival Director Lennie Dean tells Teresa LeYung-Ryan which symbolism in Teresa's play touched her. Thank you, Lennie!

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Redwood Writers Play Festival Director Lennie Dean with Playwright/Writing Coach/Story Consultant Teresa LeYung-Ryan and Travel Writer/Certified Tour Director Elisa Sasa Southard

Teresa,

Congratulations! Answer Me Now is a beautiful sojourn of the mother/daughter soul affinity. I continually seek to be the best of the best of my mother: your play is a tribute to that ongoing relationship of mind, heart and healing spirit. Thank you.

As Festival Director, I am thrilled at the announcement of the collaboration between Redwood Writers President Linda Loveland Reid  and 6th Street Playhouse – Craig Miller, Artistic and Education Director. This match will bring the best of both worlds to serve in the enrichment of our community. It is sure to be an event of the year!

I will update as the process of the creation of this event unfolds!

Lennie Dean

Thank you so much, Lennie!

Thinking back to that monologue (Othello on judgment day) I had written for that English class. . . I wonder where that paper is.

You can write any genre that hooks you. Just write.

Thank you, Elisa Sasa Southard, for helping me (Teresa LeYung-Ryan) do advance publicity for Redwood Writers Play Festival at 6th Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa, CA

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan

As editor/story consultant, Teresa LeYung-Ryan identifies themes and universal archetypes for clients. As author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW, she says: “Make your name synonymous with the issues you write about.” Teresa has built her own platform happily; her novel Love Made of Heart is used in college composition classes. She says her novel and her play Answer Me Now carry the theme closest to her heart: mother-daughter relationship.  http://writingcoachteresa.com for Coach Teresa’s Blog and other resources.  “Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams.”

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Teresa LeYung-Ryan’s Play (monologue) a Winner of the 2012 Redwood Writers Playwriting Contest

3 April 2012

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan here to share sweet news with you.

At 8:19pm this evening I received a phone call from Linda Loveland Reid, telling me that my 10-minute play Answer Me Now has been chosen as one of the nine plays to be produced.  I listened to Linda as she explained that directors will be selected, auditions will be scheduled, then casting, and rehearsals, and that the plays would be performed at the annual Redwood Writers Play Festival on June 29, 30 and July 1, 2012 in California.

Performances will be June 29, Friday at 8pm; June 30, Saturday at 2pm and 8pm; and July 1, Sunday at 2pm.  Tickets will be $16 per person.

at Santa Rosa’s premier theater, 6th Street Playhouse. The plays will be presented on 6th Street’s Studio stage.

I’m feeling proud and sad at the same time; my play is a monologue (middle-aged daughter talking to her mother); I miss my mom so much.

Thank you, Linda Loveland Reid, for your generosity in creating the annual Redwood Writers Playwriting Contest. Thank you, judges Natasha Carter-Yim, Michael Fontaine and Lennie Dean. Thank you to fellow playwrights and everyone involved in this project.

Thank you, dear Lynn Scott, for your editing my play.

Last week I had already asked dear Elisa Sasa Southard to attend the April 15, 2012 meeting with me, winning or not, so that we could cheer for all the playwrights. Tonight, after receiving the call from Linda . . . I called dear Luisa Adams.  Sasa could still be on her trip. It’s too late to call other pals, so, I write this blog post. Gotta email my sis (teaching abroad) and KB in Australia!

Kim McMillon, I’m thinking of you.  Your plays have inspired me so much!

Kathryn G. McCarty, thank you for inspiring me with your writing and directing plays, and for giving me the thrill to be on stage for the fundraiser performance of  Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues to benefit Community Violence Solutions.

Carol Sheldon, you have inspired me too.  I look forward to seeing your new play this month.

Chandra Garsson, I’m thinking of you too. Your films have inspired me so much!  Last month Chandra had offered to film me performing Answer Me Now so that I would have a Chandra Garsson production for my YouTube channel; I guess I better memorize my own lines… in addition to attending some of the rehearsals (as the playwright, not actor) when casting has been completed for the Redwood Writers Play Festival.

Screenwriter and screenwriting teacher Terrel Seltzer, thank you for having coached us on what a compelling story is.

Goodnight, Everyone!

Being a writer is a reward! Keep writing!

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan

As editor/story consultant, Teresa LeYung-Ryan identifies themes and universal archetypes for clients. As author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW, she says: “Make your name synonymous with the issues you write about.” Teresa has built her own platform happily; her novel Love Made of Heart is used in college composition classes. She says her novel and her play Answer Me Now carry the theme closest to her heart: mother-daughter relationship.  http://writingcoachteresa.com for Coach Teresa’s Blog and other resources.  “Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams.”

Here’s the email that I just received from Linda.

What to do after pitching to agents and acquisition editors?

Coach Teresa here… to say “I’m sorry that I’ll have to miss being with you at WNBA-SF Chapter’s signature event on March 24, 2012.  Special thanks to WNBA-SF Chapter fellow pitch-coaches Mary E. Knippel and Tanya Egan Gibson, program chair Lynn Henriksen and co-president Linda Lee for providing  bios of the agents and acquisition editors so that I was able to create handout material for tomorrow, and Mary E. Knippel and co-president Linda Joy Myers for taking care of duplicating material and bringing to event tomorrow.”

“I wish my colleagues, all the authors who will be pitching, agents and acquisition editors, and luncheon keynote speaker Meg Waite Clayton a most wonderful day at our signature event ‘Meet and Speed Date with Agents and Acquisition Editors.’”

After you pitch . . .

What to do if an agent or acquisition editor has asked you to send a portion of your full manuscript or the entire manuscript?

If he/she has asked you to email the submission:

• Make your email subject line” to the point”  (Example:  follow-up on our meeting at WNBA event on March 24      Another example:  Thank you for asking me to send my manuscript)

• Use salutation; pitch in 1 to 3 sentences (do not assume that agent/ acquisition editor remembers everything you told her/him); state what you are attaching  (first 3 chapters?  first 50 pages?  book proposal? (for a how-to book also known as prescriptive nonfiction);  ask when you can expect a reply;  your “thank you”; signature block with your full name and contact information and website/blog/facebook/twitter/YouTube address.  Be sure to use paragraphs in the body of your email so that your message doesn’t look like a block of text.  Email yourself to preview.

• The attachment—use industry standard format (Cover page showing your book title; genre; word count; your full name; your contact information.  Manuscript pages — 1” margins; double spaced; 12-pt. font; header on each page contains book title and  your full name; each page numbered)

Multiple agents and/or acquisition editors have asked to read a portion of your manuscript or the entire project?

• Show your professional self.  If more than one person asked to read a substantial portion of your manuscript (investing their time),  you be honorable–give one agent an exclusive reading period (typically 2 to 3 weeks); let that agent know that other agents are waiting to read.

What to do if no agent or acquisition editor has asked to see your work?

Despair not.  Polish your pitch and query other agents.  How do you find other agents?  Read acknowledgment pages of books similar to yours; authors usually thank their agents and editors.  Go to Association of Authors’ Representatives’ website and search in their database.

Books that can help you refine your pitch and/or build your writer’s platform:

How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larsen

Break Through the Noise: 9 Tools to Propel Your Marketing Message by Elisa Southard

Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW by Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Cheering for you!

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Coach Teresa says: “Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams!”

http://wnba-sfchapter.org

Sponsored by Teresa LeYung-Ryan — author of Love Made of Heart: an immigrant daughter’s journey to self-forgiveness (the book is used in college composition classes); 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; read Coach Teresa’s blog at http://writingcoachteresa.com

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B. Lynn Goodwin’s WRITER ADVICE – 7th Annual Flash Prose Contest.  Short Fiction/Memoir, 750 words max. First Prize: $200, Deadline: April 18, 2012.  Guidelines  www.writeradvice.com

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Cheering for all writers!

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Coach Teresa says: “Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams!”

http://writingcoachteresa.com

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

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

Love Made of Heart is used in college composition classes. Thank you, Teachers & Students!

Story Consultant/Editor/Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan celebrating brilliant story-tellers.

All three writers transport Reader to another place another time masterfully: Carol Sheldon (Mother Lode the novel); Mary Jo McConahay (Maya Roads: One Woman’s Journey Among the People of the Rainforest the memoir); and Woody Allen ( Midnight in Paris the screenplay).

How these Authors pull Reader into their story worlds:

Carol Sheldon puts Protagonist Jorie in a blizzard, with no town lights in sight, and it’s almost impossible to steer a steady course with the buggy. . . . One wrong move and the gelding could slip into a ditch . . . .  I need to get to the sheriff’s.  I need to get there soon  . . . .

By the way, Carol Sheldon will be at Book Passage in Corte Madera, CA on Sunday March 18, 2012 at noon!  http://carolsheldon.wordpress.com/ Yours truly Writing Coach Teresa gets to interview Carol on stage at this event!

And, Carol Sheldon will be performing her 15-minute play Three Old Ladies Talk About Sex for Fringe of Marin Festival of New Bay Area One-Act Plays and Solos at Dominican University Campus in Meadowlands Assembly Hall (San Rafael, CA). Carol is in Program I.   Five dates in April 2012 to choose from.    http://www.fringeofmarin.com/performanceschedule.html

Mother Lode by Carol Sheldon page 1

Mary Jo McConahay hooks in prologue with:   . . .  I never imagined someday my dream clothes would be loose khaki pants, my dream shoes canvas boots.  But something happened when I hit my twenties.  Visiting Mexico City . . .  I saw an exhibit about the Lacandon Maya Indians . . . The year was 1973 . . . .

Maya Roads: One Woman's Journey Among the People of the Rainforest by Mary Jo McConahay

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Midnight in Paris by Woody Allen - movie opens with over 3 minutes of visuals and music only (no human voices)

Woody Allen dedicated over 3 minutes of visuals and music only (no human voices) to show us his story-world –  Paris in day light; Paris in rain light; Paris in night light; the music evokes a sense of longing.

Protagonist Gil’s first words:  “This … is unbelievable!  There is no city like this in the world.”

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To each one of my clients — past, present, future:

Please review your manuscript. Hook Reader with story-world and what your protagonist wants.

Cheering for you and all writers and readers!

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Coach Teresa says: “Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams!”

http://writingcoachteresa.com

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

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

Love Made of Heart is used in college composition classes. Thank you, Teachers & Students!

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan, what happened on Sunday Feb. 19, 2012 at San Francisco Writers Conference?

Here’s another example on how to help yourself by helping your loyal pals.  It’s the fourth and last day of the fabulous conference.

On the first day  of SFWC (Thursday Feb. 16, 2012) I had arrived at the Mark Hopkins by 12:30pm–saw dear friends; rehearsed with Mary E. Knippel and fine-tuned my portion of our presentation “Be Your Own Editor” (scheduled for 6:00pm that day). What happened? Here’s that post.

On the second day of SFWC (Friday Feb. 17, 2012) My presentation ” Blowing Up Your Balloon: Writing a Tagline That Will Sell You and Your Book” with Elisa Sasa Southard was scheduled for 9:00am and I put on my “Story Consultant/Platform-Building Coach” combo hat and met with over a dozen authors one on one. Here’s that post.

On the third day of SFWC (Saturday Feb. 18, 2012)  I put on my “Story Consultant/Platform-Building Coach” combo hat again and met with over 30 authors one on one.  Here’s that post.

On the fourth and last day of SFWC (Sunday Feb. 19, 2012) . . . here are some highlights:

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Sasa Southard checks details for her San Francisco Literary Tour scheduled for 11:00am Feb. 19, 2012 for SFWC registrants

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Sasa Southard (wearing blue beret) gives SFWC registrants her signature San Francisco Literary Tour 2012 Feb 19--tour begins in front of Club Fugazi

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Sasa Southard makes her SF Literary Walking Tour fun for everyone--photo by Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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I said goodbye to Tour Director Sasa Southard, Joyce Turley and the other folks at Washington Square. Then I walked to Mason Street to catch a cable car.  While walking up Mason Street toward the Mark Hopkins, I ran into Lori Henriksen and her partner. Lori, I can’t wait to read your book! Happy platform-building!

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan so delighted to run into novelist Lori Henriksen (right) and her partner on Mason Street on last day of SFWC

I got to the Six Continents room and was delighted to see Rebecca Martin & Lori Noack assisting our pal Martha Alderson.  Mary E. Knippel was there too. Linda Lee had been with them in the morning, while I was with Sasa Southard.

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Plot Whisperer Martha Alderson presents at SFWC

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Also, I was happy to see Kenneth Ogalvie, Christopher Eng and Joanne Huspek at Plot Whisperer Martha’s enlightening session. Creating plotline is “a must” not only for fiction but also for narrative nonfiction.

Plot Whisperer Martha Alderson answers questions from fans

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master-mind members Mary Knippel, Rebecca Martin, Plot Whisperer Martha Alderson, Lori Noack, Teresa LeYung-Ryan at SFWC 2012 (Linda Lee was somewhere in the building helping other writers; Luisa Adams was with her family)

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Story Consultant & Editor Teresa LeYung-Ryan happy to see Joanne Huspek at Martha Alderson's breakout session "How to Plot"--photo by Christopher Eng

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In the hallway I ran into dear Kathi Kamen-Goldmark (so good to see Kathi!) and Sam Barry (good to see Sam too). I’ll be blogging about Kathi real soon.

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Kimberly Edwards & Nina Amir & Margie Yee Webb with Marty Castleberg at SFWC--last day of the most wonderful conference

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Practice Aloha / SuperWoman Barbara Santos gets shoulder massage from Plot Whisperer Martha Alderson

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Martha Alderson & Teresa LeYung-Ryan & Lolly Winston & Laurie Fox inspire SFWC writers--photo by Tara Farquhar thepennedartist

One of the biggest rewards was having a moment with dear Laurie Fox and Lolly Winston with my pal Martha Alderson. I was overjoyed.

Vicki Weiland and Luisa Adams, how I missed you both.  You both had emailed/called before the conference commenced. I love you gals.

Andy Jones invites Plot Whisperer Martha Alderson to his radio show--photo by Writers' Platform-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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Just when Martha and I were about to walk out of the Rooms of the Dons (a.k.a. SFWC’s Café Ferlinghetti), Leigh Anne Lindsey of SeaStorm Press entered with a “real” video camera and asked me about the 2 sessions I co-presented on Thursday night and Friday morning. Leigh Anne is a colleague through Women’s National Book Association (WNBA) and California Writers Club (CWC).  Robbi Bryant was with Leigh Anne–always fun to see them.

From reviewing the program, I know there were another 20 WNBA members who were at SFWC but I didn’t get to chat with them.  Linda Joy Myers, co-president of WNBA-SF Chapter and founder of National Association of Memoir Writers (NAMW), had orchestrated the WNBA exhibit at the conference!

Story Consultant & Writers' Platform-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan & Plot Whisperer Martha Alderson at Nob Hill Cafe SF--photo by author Margie Yee Webb

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Cat Mulan's Mindful Musings Margie Yee Webb, Kimberly Edwards & Sheila McDonald meet at Nob Hill Cafe after working 4 days and inspiring writers at SFWC--photo by Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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the end of a lovely conference--lovely food at Nob Hill Cafe--thank you, Plot Whisperer, for the delicious treat.

When the 5 of us got back to the Mark Hopkins, Elizabeth Pomada asked if we wanted the lush centerpieces (garden-in-pots).  I was already schlepping my-show-in-suitcase, so, I didn’t have room for one.  However thank you so much, Elizabeth!  Buddy Martha Alderson gave me a ride to downtown San Francisco; I  walked into Nordstrom, found a quiet spot to unwind, read some pages from Mary Jo McConahay’s Maya Roads: One Woman’s Journey Among the People of the Rainforest (cannot put down this spellbinding read) before meeting with Birgit Soyka to return her camera tripod.

Thank you, buddy Mary E. Knippel, for orchestrating the independent editors program and to all the wonderful volunteers who kept everyone on schedule on Friday and Saturday in the Garden Room!

Thank you, Elizabeth Pomada & Michael Larsen, Barbara Santos & Richard Santos, Laurie McLean, Linda Lee, every volunteer, every SFWC advisory board member and sponsor, SFWC organizational team, Patrick and his team, all fellow co-presenters, speakers, registrants, Mark Hopkins team, and everyone (online, in-person) who played a role in making the conference the most delightful event of the year!

I was “high” going home. It’s two weeks later, I’m still high.  How I love being the Story Consultant & Writers’ Platform-Building Coach.

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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

http://writingcoachteresa.com

to sneak preview the exercises for Day 1 & Day 2, go to Amazon books

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 their themes, universal archetypes, front-story and back-story.  http://writingcoachteresa.com

Her novel Love Made of Heart is used in college composition classes. Thank you, Teachers & Students!

Coach Teresa, what happened on Saturday Feb. 18, 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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Story Consultant & Writers' Platform-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan and Elisa Sasa Southard of Go-With-Sasa at Lori's Diner on Powell Street in San Francisco to fuel up before Day III of helping SFWC attendees

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authors & independent editors Kate Farrell, Mary E Knippel and Wendy Nelson Tokunaga--photo by author & independent editor Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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historical novelist Liz Newman receives cheers and advice from Story Consultant & Writers-Platform-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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Mary E. Knippel answers questions with smiles at SFWC Independent Editors Central

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Shannon Johnson receives cheers and advice from Story Consultant Teresa LeYung-Ryan at SFWC Independent Editors Central--photo by Tara Farquhar

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At lunchtime, we heard announcements of scholarship winners! Congratulations to winners!  Cheers to generous benefactors!

Martin Yan said lovely words about vibrant Shirley Fong-Torres, about how she smiled, how she enjoyed meeting her fans.  Martin reminded us to smile when we’re autographing books.  Smile.

Elizabeth Pomada introduced Laurie Fox (famous literary agent who also writes novels)–more about Laurie in another post (she is another super kind soul).  Laurie introduced Lolly Winston. Lolly delivered a heartfelt speech about her encouraging teachers and her perseverance. She is funny, sweet, and serious.

What a memorable hour–from picturing Shirley’s smile through Martin’s tribute; hearing Elizabeth speak fondly of Laurie; Laurie speaking fondly of Lolly; Lolly expressing her appreciation for relationships and the craft. So beautiful.

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Marty Castleberg & Linda Lee & Richard Santos inspire writers at SFWC

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presenters-authors-teachers Tanya Egan Gibson & Holly Payne meet up at SFWC and shine!

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Danine Manette shine at SFWC--photo by Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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author / presenter / SFWC Marketing Director Barbara Santos with presenter / SFWC Volunteer Director / cyberspace genius Linda Lee

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Lynn Henriksen and Shulamit Sofia at SFWC (look who are sitting in back row! Sheldon Siegel, Elisa Sasa Southard and Kate Farrell!)--photo by Writers' Platform-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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Historical novelist Daniel Roddick receives Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan's editing advice on first 2 pages of his manuscript

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Lisa Marie Pontier receives encouragement on her story from Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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Nina Amir gives advice to author at SFWC--photo by Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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memoirist and novelist Ann Tashi Slater with independent editors Mary E. Knippel and Gabrielle Harbowy--photo by Story Consultant Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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Agent Gordon Warnock answers questions from author while Mark Hopkins rep and Elizabeth Pomada go over details for autograph party--photo by Coach Teresa

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Andrew Rose chats with Kimberly Edwards & Sheila McDonald--photo by Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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Margie Yee Webb & Michael Larsen & Harvey Pawl & Kimberly Edwards & Elisa Sasa Southard inspire writers--photo by Writers' Platform-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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Teresa LeYung-Ryan & Martha Alderson & Elisa Sasa Southard & Lynn Henriksen & Nina Amir all love to encourage writers at SFWC

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Women's National Book Association-San Francisco Chapter members-authors-presenters (back row: Margie Yee Webb, Lynn Henriksen, Tanya Egan Gibson, Verna Dreisbach; center Mary E. Knippel, Nina Amir, Apala Egan, Jane Omerod; front row: Elizabeth Pomada behind Barbara Santos, Teresa LeYung-Ryan, Linda Lee, Elisa "Sasa" Southard, Joan Gelfand) at SFWC --photo by Don Hudson who says Western Women Save the World

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authors Joan Gelfand & Teresa LeYung-Ryan & Cara Black having fun at SFWC autograph party--photo by Adam Hertz

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Teresa LeYung-Ryan & Elisa Sasa Southard & Shari Dunn & Margie Yee Webb at Thai dinner on Powell Street in SF after inspiring registrants at SFWC Day III

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Sincerely

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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

http://writingcoachteresa.com

to preview the exercises for Day 1 & Day 2, go to Amazon books

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 their themes, universal archetypes, front-story and back-story.  http://writingcoachteresa.com

Her novel Love Made of Heart is used in college composition classes. Thank you, Teachers & Students!

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Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan Enjoyed Helping Talented Writers / Registrants at San Francisco Writers Conference

Did we meet at SFWC last week?  Here’s your chance to broadcast the themes in your projects.  I enjoyed meeting all the authors at Independent Editors Central at San Francisco Writers Conference at the Mark Hopkins.  I took notes during our time together.  Please tell my colleagues and fans about your next step with your book or project — 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.

Thank you, Mary E. Knippel, for orchestrating the program and to all the wonderful volunteers who kept everyone on schedule on Friday and Saturday!

Thank you, Elizabeth Pomada & Michael Larsen, Barbara Santos & Richard Santos, Laurie McLean, Linda Lee, every volunteer, every SFWC advisory board member and sponsor, SFWC organizational team, Patrick and his team, all fellow co-presenters, speakers, registrants, Mark Hopkins team, and everyone (online, in-person) who played a role in making the conference the most delightful event of the year!

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Christopher Eng from Hawaii with memoirist Birgit Soyka (To Drink the Wild Air) from San Francisco thrilled to hear from Story Consultant and Writers' Platform-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan that they can turn their massive books into multiple books (create series; and also cross-market)

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Shannon Johnson, nurse! ( Sunnyvale, CA) receives cheers and advice from Story Consultant Teresa LeYung-Ryan at SFWC Independent Editors Central--photo by Tara Farquhar

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"Kenneth Ogilvie's mystery shows how protagonist's desire for revenge transforms into desire for truth and becoming whole," says Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

More photos in the 2 previous posts and 2 following posts.

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!

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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