Dream Publishing Program in Chicago on November 3

Want to publish a book but you're not sure which avenue--traditional publishing, print-on-demand, or self-publishing--is right for you? Wish you knew the pros and cons of each, or want to know more about e-books and why they're the easiest way to become an author? Or simply need a kick in the butt to get your book project in gear? Check out Dream Chicago's "Dream Publishing" program Saturday, November 3, 2012. I'm thrilled to be presenting and it will be an info-packed, motivating morning, and I hope to see you there!

Upcoming Speaking Gigs for April and May, 2011

I'm still working on my ideas for teleclasses; if there are topics you'd like me to cover, comment here and let me know! :)

And if you want to see me live and person, I'll be speaking at a variety of events in the next two months:

• The Annual Writers Institute at University of Wisconsin/Madison, on April 8-10, 2011. Held in one of my favorite cities (and my birthplace!), this is a great weekend for writers of all stripes. I'll be presenting three different sessions, covering topics including Six-Figure Freelancing to query-writing to today's book publishing options.
• "Breaking in: The Basics of Writing for Magazines" at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at the Niles Public Library in Niles, Illinois. [Here's the program description: Have you dreamed of writing for magazines? Want to see your byline in your favorite publication? While basic writing skills are essential, the keys to successful magazine freelancing are selecting and analyzing potential markets, developing winning article ideas and crafting attention-getting query letters. This program will introduce you to some common magazine terminology and cover basics like how to find markets, come up with story ideas, and nail your first magazine assignments. Presented by Kelly James-Enger, author of twelvebooks including Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money (Random House, 2005) and 800+ articles for more than 50 national magazine articles.]
• "Breaking In: The Basics of Writing for Magazines" at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2011, at the Ela Area Public Library in Lake Zurich, Illinois.
• The OWFI Writers Conference in Oklahoma City from May 5-7, 2011. I attended this conference last year, and am returning to present programs on topics including freelancing for magazines, getting started in ghostwriting, and legal and business issues for freelancers.

I'll also be in NYC for the 40th Annual ASJA Writers Conference at the end of April. I'm a member of ASJA and this event is arguably the best conference for serious freelancers. It's led to literally tens of thousands of dollars of work for me, valuable connections, and awesome friends as well! Check it out and see if it's worthwhile for you to attend.

Upcoming Appearances in Chicago and Beyond

Hard to believe the first month of the year is drawing to a close. I have a slew of speaking gigs in the Chicago area coming up in February and will be speaking at a couple of writers' conferences in April and May.

Here's a brief description of my February programs:

• Want to sell your book to a traditional publisher? Learn why platform is so important, what elements to include in your book proposal, and how to make your proposal stand out from the pack in Author, Author: Publish your First Book at the Orland Park Public Library on Tuesday, February 8, at 7:00 p.m.

• Want to freelance for magazines? You’ll learn everything you need to know to get started at Breaking In: The Basics of Writing for Magazines, at the Bloomingdale Public Library, on Wednesday, February 9, at 7:00 p.m.

• I'll be talking about thriving as a freelancer (especially these days!) at Chicago Women in Publishing’s February program on freelancing on Wednesday, February 16, at 6:00 p.m. in downtown Chicago.

• If you want to hit the six-figure mark as a freelancer, or simply make more for your work, come to my program, Six-Figure Freelancing: Techniques to Help you Get There, on Thursday, Februrary 24, at 9:30 a.m. at Off-Campus Writers Workshop in Winnetka.

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Want even more Kelly time? The weekend of April 8-10, I'll be returning to the UW/Madison's Annual Writers' Institute, where I'll be presenting on six-figure freelancing, query-writing, and your book publishing options today and providing one-on-one critiques for those who sign up. This is a great conference and Madison is a fun city (and my birthplace!)

And the first weekend of May (May 5-7), I'm returning to Oklahoma City for the OWFI's Annual Conference. I'll be presenting four sessions, including sessions on ghostwriting, freelancing for magazines, query-writing, and business advice for freelancers. This is another worthwhile conference that I spoke at last year, and am looking forward to returning!

I hope to see some of you in the next few months...if you're a regular blog reader, please come up and introduce yourself! I love meeting readers in person.