Break Down the Barriers: Program at Downers Grove Library on Tuesday, November 5

Just a quick announcement for my local readers--I'll be presenting my popular program, "Break Down the Barriers: Becoming a Writer," at the Downers Grove Public Library on Tuesday night, November 5th,  at 7:00 p.m. While the program is aimed at would-be novelists (November is NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, after all), I'll have great advice for writers of all stripes. If you struggle with procrastination, self-doubt, lack of drive, or all of the above, please come to this free program and give your writing career a tune-up!

Later next week, I'll be speaking at Content Connections in downtown Chicago on November 7th and 8th. If you're a freelancer who wants to get into "content marketing," one of the most lucrative (and fastest-growing) writing niches, I highly recommend this program! Be sure to come up and say hello if you're there! 

And finally, if you're thinking about publishing a book, mark your calendars for my next program at the  Downers Grove Public Library. "So You Want to be an Author: Your Book Publishing Options Today"  will introduce you to the variety of publishing options and their pros and cons, and help you decide which option is right for you. 

** Can't make it to any of these events? Then don't forget about my books which are invaluable to both newbie and experienced freelancers: Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets and Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, Second Edition. Prefer a print copy? Use the coupon code IMPROVISEPRESS (all caps,no spaces) for 20 percent off when you order directly through ImprovisePress.com. 

Keep Those Queries Coming...And Note for Chicago-Area Writers

Hi, gang, and keep those queries coming for the query critique! Thanks to those who have submitted one already; I've already chosen one to critique first (good news for the writer who's pitching a truffle piece!). In the meantime, I wanted to notify Chicago-area readers of several writing-related programs I have coming up: 

• I'll be presenting my popular program, "Breaking In: The Basics of Writing for Print and Online Publications," at the Antioch Public Library at 7 p.m. on Monday, September 30, 2013. 
• I'll be presenting at my local library here in Downers Grove on Tuesday, November 5, 2013, at 7:00 p.m. about overcoming the barriers that keep you from reaching your writing goals. "Break Down the Barriers" will help you identify your roadblocks--and overcome them--no matter what you're writing. 
• Thinking about self-publishing? You'll be able to make an informed decision about your options after attending "Your Self-Publishing Options," which I'll be presenting on Tuesday, December 3, at 7:00 p.m. at the Downers Grove Library. 

I hope to see some of you in person soon and look forward to answering your freelance writing and publishing questions in person! If you can't make it, check out my popular books on freelancing: Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets or Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, Second Edition. Prefer a print copy? Use the coupon code IMPROVISEPRESS (all caps,no spaces) for 20 percent off when you order directly through ImprovisePress.com. 

For Chicago-area Freelancers: ASJA-Sponsored Event Fri, Nov 11

A special announcement for Chicago-area writers about an upcoming program:

Surviving—and Thriving in—Today’s Freelance Market: ASJA Board Members Share Strategies that Work

The freelance market can be challenging to negotiate today, but it also offers new opportunities to both new and seasoned writers. This special event features members of the board of directors of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Whether you’re interested in writing books or freelancing for a variety of print and online markets, you’ll benefit from decades of experience from these seasoned, successful writers.

Location: Silversmith Hotel, 10 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL

Date: Friday, November 11, 2011

Time: 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Price:$10, payable in cash or check at the door

This event will include two concurrent panels, one on book publishing and one ongeneral freelancing and is open to both ASJA members and non-members. ASJA board members speaking include:

On the Successful Book Publishing Today panel (moderated by me!):

• Caitlin Kelly, author of Malled: My Unintentional Career in Retail (Portfolio, 2011) and Blown Away: American Women and Guns (Pocket Books, 2004).
• Russell Wild, author of more than a dozen books, including, most recently, Exchange-Traded Funds for Dummies, Bond Investing for Dummies, Index Investing for Dummies, and One Year to An Organized Financial Life.
• Janine Latus, is the author of the international bestseller If I Am Missing or Dead: a sister’s story of love, murder and liberation, which has been translated into six languages.

On the Successful Freelancing Today panel (moderated by ASJA president Salley Shannon):

• Minda Zetlin, author/coauthor of five books and regular contributor to Inc. magazine and the Inc. website, as well as many other online and print publications.
• Gina Roberts-Grey, who has written scores of health and consumer issues articles for women's print and online markets including Glamour, Better Homes & Gardens, Woman's Day, Redbook, Self, Essence, MSN.com, InsuranceQuotes.com, iVillage and others, as well as numerous celebrity profiles.
• Randy Dotinga, who writes stories, blog posts and book reviews for The Christian Science Monitor and a daily email newsletter for Voice of San Diego (a leading non-profit investigative news organization). He also regularly writes for MSNBC.com, HealthDay News Service, Health Behavior News Service and other outlets.

Hope to see some of you there! :) If your'e a follower of my blog, please come up and introduce yourself. I'd love to meet you in person. :)

Come See Me Live...If You're in the Chicago Area

If you live in the Chicago area and want to see (and hear) me live and in person, I have a slew of speaking gigs coming up in January and February. Most are writing-related, and all are open to the public (but check the location's website about advance registration and any program fees):

• Thinking about writing a book and want to know more about your publishing options? Or want to know more about POD publishing and whether it’s right for you? I’m presenting So You Want to be an Author: Your Publishing Options Today at the Orland Park Public Library on Tuesday, January 11, at 7:00 p.m.

• Did you make New Year’s Resolutions that you want to keep this year? Come listen to my popular program, Break Your Bad Habits—and Replace Them with Better Ones, at the Glen Ellyn Public Library on Thursday, January 20 at 7:00 p.m.

• 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.

• 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.

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

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 and tell me so!