Self-Publish Your Book!

Self-Publish Your Book!

A writer’s workshop with Merry Brennan

From Manuscript through Marketing:

a six-session series

Tuesdays from 7-9 pm, beginning Tuesday, Aug. 13

@ Belmar Arts Council (

608 River Road, Belmar, NJ . www.BelmarArts.org )

$25/session or all six for $125 with BAC membership

Whether your story is destined for the best-seller list or your family reunion,

it’s never been easier to publish your own electronic or print book.

This six-session workshop will give you an overview of your options,

as well as specific steps, resources and costs for preparing, publishing, and

promoting your book. Choose one or more of the following sessions.

1. 1. Make Your Manuscript Shine – Aug. 13

Feel the sizzle? It’s the pop in your prose, the drama

in your dialogue, the sting in your surprise ending.

Learn sure-fire techniques to take your writing to the

next level. For beginners and seasoned scribes

alike, find out how to improve the pull of your

opening lines, the impact of your endings, and wow

with the words in between.

2. The Scoop on Self-Publishing – Aug. 20

The popularity and convenience of self-publishing

has also borne confusion and competition. This

workshop provides a broad look at the growing

number of indie and DIY options, as well as general

information about how to prepare, publish, and

market your book. (These topics are covered indepth

in related workshops.)

3. Create a Kick-Ass Cover – Aug. 27

You know what they say about a picture’s worth, so

you want to create or commission a great design to

get reader’s attention. But a cover is more than just

a graphic image: you also need to craft an intriguing

blurb for the back and include other required details,

including ISBN numbers. This session will offer

ideas, information, and resources for an inviting

book cover that works for you and your readers.

4. Format Your Manuscript – Sept. 3

Even the best stories are left unread if margins are

screwy, lines have gaps, or it just looks

unprofessional. Learn the importance of proper

formatting in e-books and print books, including title

pages, chapter heads, and page numbering. For

print books we’ll also look at choices you have with

the size of your book (known as “trim”), typefaces,

paper, photos/graphics and more.

5. You’re Ready to Self-Publish – Sept. 10

Your manuscript is polished, your cover is amazing,

you have your ISBN number and you’re ready to

publish your book. Now what? This session will

cover step-by-step instructions for e-books and print

books using popular vendors like CreateSpace and

KDP Publishing (Amazon) as examples. We’ll also

talk about strategies for pricing your book.

6. Promoting Your New Book – Sept. 17

After the thrill ebbs from seeing your baby on

Amazon and sending copies to friends and family,

you’ll want to expand your market. Learn basic PR

and marketing tips you can use before and after

publishing to increase sales. We’ll cover the pros,

cons, and how-to’s of media kits, author talks, niche

marketing, book signings, social media and more.

Merry Brennan is an award-winning journalist, communications consultant, adjunct writing

professor and author of the self-published biographical novel,

Peace Pilgrim: walking her talk

against hate

. She’s finishing a teen/’tween realistic fiction, Mystery Scars. The Jersey Shore

resident is mom to three terrific children and an old lab, Scout, who breaks into the refrigerator

when no one’s looking. Connect with her at

www.merrymorphosis.com, where she blogs about

writing, and living in peace. Or email

merrymom@mac.com.

FOR WORKSHOP INFORMATION or REGISTRATION: visit
www.BelmarArts.org (732-749-3360)