Co-Taught by Bethany Jett & Michelle Medlock Adams

Length: 3 hours

Did you know that you naturally point your knees and feet towards the person you’re most interested in? Only 7% of communication is verbal, so writers must pack more in their arsenal than a long list of publication credits and a thirty-second elevator pitch. 

The tone of voice, posture, clothing choice, firmness of handshake, and body language more than communicate who we are, even at the subconscious level. 

In this session, you will learn:

• The Do’s and Don’ts for meeting with editors and agents 
• How to engage others with or without a formal introduction 
• Social media etiquette: the good, bad, and ugly
• How to use body language to your benefit

Taught by  Bob Hostetler

Length: 3 hours

An author and literary agent of deep and wide experience offers three hours of instruction on writing all forms of nonfiction, from newspaper and magazine to book and more. 

Includes:

• a discussion of often overlooked opportunities for publication
• what you need to know about rights
• how to put your best foot forward
• kinds of articles to write
• and how, queries and one-sheets, and essential elements of a nonfiction book proposal.

$100 – Book Proposal Intensive Clinic

Presented by Dave and Cindy Lambert

Limit: 25 registrants

Length: 3 hours

• Fiction Proposal Template

• Non-fiction Proposal Template

Prerequisite: Complete and bring with you a working proposal. Please download and use one of the templates above, or you may use a proposal model you’ve found on your own.

A winning book proposal is a tool that entices seven audiences to grasp a contagious vision for a book, and then equips them to successfully play their parts in placing the book into the hands of its ideal readership.

In this three-hour intensive clinic, you will be introduced to: 

• the business side of publishing decisions
• the real details behind the closed doors of editors and publishing boards
• the craftsmanship to write an enticing proposal that captures the interest of publishing professionals.

“Proposal-writing classes have always left me feeling a bit bewildered. Each instructor had their own, different list of “musts,” “do’s,” and “don’ts.” The fog lifted for me after working with Cindy Lambert at the Colorado Christian Writers' Conference.” Lori Hynson, Author of SuperGal vs God

Presented by Kathy Bruins and Kim de Blecourt

Limit: 25 registrants

Length: 3 hours

• Fiction Proposal Template

• Non-fiction Proposal Template

Prerequisite: Attendees for this session should come with a first draft completed using one of our two proposal templates above. Registered attendees will receive directions (via email, before the conference) to help you pull together the necessary information for your proposal

The BOOK PROPOSAL STUDIO is for writers in the process of preparing a book-length manuscript to present to agents or editors for traditional publication consideration. A well-written book proposal helps you to clarify your project so you can clearly communicate your idea for publishing consideration. Your book proposal must also answer the questions on an agent or editor’s mind, such as:

• the message of your book idea,
• your book idea’s audience,
• your book idea’s competition,
• and more.

“Kathy & Kim walked us through each step of writing a book proposal and equipped us with the tools necessary to go home and start the process right away. I highly recommend their wisdom and expertise.” --Barbara Winters, Attendee

Co-Taught by Suzanne Kuhn & Vincent B. Davis II

Length: 3 hours

In an ever-growing field of content how are you discovered? How will your book stand out to readers? Join Vincent Davis and Suzanne Kuhn of Brookstone Creative Group as they dig into Amazon best practices. 

You will learn how to utilize the world’s largest bookseller to not only sell books by gaining new readers, but to turn those readers into your fans, and your fans into a career-long platform opportunity.

By Blythe Daniel

$50

Literary agent Blythe Daniel is offering to do critiques for up to twenty attendees prior to the conference. She will read 10 pages of a book proposal or manuscript, whichever you prefer, in Word format. She will provide detailed feedback with comments and recommendations of next steps, and critiques will be returned by email before June 10.

By Shellie Arnold

Available for up to twenty Speak Up attendees who will pre-submit their manuscript synopsis, outline, and up to the first fifteen pages, no later than June 1, 2021. Shellie will evaluate for clarity, focus, continuity, market viability, and presentation. She will also do a deep edit of portions of the manuscript itself and return to the author no later than June 22, and will meet virtually with each individual writer for forty-five minutes by Zoom between June 29 through July 10 to answer questions and assist in finalizing edits prior to the Speak Up conference.