Annual Austin Publishing University. | Book People | Austin Publishing University
Second Annual Austin Publishing University
Presented by Greenleaf Book Group in Conjunction with Book People in Austin, Texas
Join us every Sunday in August from 1–2:30 p.m. for our five-part series on publishing. Learn the basics of publishing, how to develop great content, the essentials of great book design, and powerful marketing tips and strategies.
Sessions are $15 each or $50 for all five. Tickets can only be purchased in person at Book People.
Session 1: Ins & Outs—The Industry Overview
Sunday, August 1, 2010, 1–2:30, $15
Book People, 3rd Floor
Our industry presents many publishing options and business models for authors, each with its own set of pros and cons. This class will walk you through the industry and give you the tools to choose the best path for your project. Plus, you will gain a basic understanding of what it takes to create and market content to succeed in retail book sales. Join us to learn the ins and outs of traditional publishing, self-publishing, print-on-demand, eBooks and digital publishing, and hybrid models, as well as how to avoid publishing pitfalls along the way.
Session 2: Hot Topic—Content Is King
Sunday, August 8, 2010, 1–2:30, $15
Book People, 3rd Floor
Tired of staring at a blank page? Have you already written a book and been told it’s just not there yet? Come learn some useful techniques and tips for writing a book, including structuring the writing process, getting past the terrifying first blank page, and presenting your ideas in an engaging and compelling way.
Session 3: Killer Covers—Boosting Sales by Design
Sunday, August 15, 1–2:30, $15
Book People, 3rd Floor
This class will help authors make informed decisions about their book design by examining the many functions of a book jacket. We will discuss topics like design elements by genre; the role of research, concept, and tone; using photography and/or illustration; branding a series; endorsements; author photos; printing technology; retail durability; Amazon thumbnails; and design trends. We will show numerous slides and samples in conjunction with each topic.
Session 4: Storming the Market—On Air and On the Shelves
Sunday, August 22, 2010, 1–2:30, $15
Book People, 3rd Floor
The first session on book marketing, this class will discuss successful book-launch marketing strategies for traditional publicity channels. We will focus on the marketing timeline, hiring a publicist, author appearances, and what you should do before, during, and after a book is published.
Session 5: Take Control of the Web: Building an Online Platform
Sunday, August 29, 2010, 1–2:30, $15
Book People, 3rd Floor
The second session on marketing, this class will focus on online media tools and strategies to engage with readers both before the book comes out and after. We will focus on websites, social media, virtual book tours, and other strategies to help you build a following, create community, and drive book sales.
Get current updates on topics and presenters for Austin Publishing University by becoming a fan on Facebook on our APU Page and by following us on twitter by using the twitter tag #austinpubu. Have questions? Contact Shennandoah Diaz or at 512-891-6100.
Stop by Book People at 603 N. Lamar to purchase your tickets today!
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Elements of a Nonfiction Book Proposal One Sheet
Unlike fiction submissions, which require that an author have a completed manuscript ready beforehand, a nonfiction submission can consist of a proposal that will introduce key information about the book to publishers and/or agents. This one sheet covers the basic elements of that proposal.
How to Get an Agent One Sheet
If you are looking to be published by a major publishing house, having an agent is essential. This one sheet covers the basics of how to find and submit to agents.
How to Write a Query Letter One Sheet
Whether approaching an agent or a publisher, you will need to draft a query letter. This one sheet covers the essentials of what a query letter is, what it should do, and lists resources to provide further direction on crafting and formatting a query letter.
RESOURCES: Industry News and Genre Trends
Book Cover Design Links
General Industry Resources
Publisher’s Weekly: The international news source of book publishing and book selling; PW reviews of books are displayed on Amazon, so can be important
Writer’s Digest: A comprehensive resource on all things writing and publishing. They feature industry blogs, books on writing, workshops, competitions, a monthly magazine, and online articles.
Authors Guild: An organization of published authors that shares information on trends in publishing and resources for writers.
Galley Cat: Blog with daily features on what’s happening in publishing, guest posts from authors, tips on writing, and features on breakthrough authors.
Publishing Perspectives: An International look at the publishing industry offering opinion, trends, news, and events.
Shelf Awareness: A daily newsletter about the book trade from the book sellers’ perspective.
Book Industry Study Group: The creator of the official genres that most organizations in the publishing industry use. Click here to see a full list of genres that book distributors use.
Bowker: The organization that manages, sells, and oversees ISBNs in the United States; also publishes reports on book consumer demographics and buying behaviors.
BookScan: Tracks the retail sales of books, but not from every outlet, so the BookScan sales numbers do not reflect actual number of books sold; estimates indicate that BookScan numbers reflect 75 to 85 percent of books sold.
Writer’s League of Texas: A non-profit association of Texas writers offering networking, education, resources, conferences, and information on writing and publishing. Meets every third Thursday at BookPeople and features a different panel every month.
Nonfiction
American Society of Journalists and Authors
Memoir
National Association of Memoir Writers
Historical Fiction
Historical Novel Society
Literary/Mainstream
Association of Literary Scholars, Critics, and Writers
Contemporary Women or “Chick” Lit
Chick Lit Books
Children’s Lit
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
Young Adult (YA)
Young Adult Library Services Association
Mystery/Thriller
American Crime Writers League
Mystery Writers of America
Speculative Fiction (horror, fantasy, sci-fi, etc.)
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Horror Writers Association
Romance
Romance Writers of America