Do you have characters or stories in your books? Will your reader love ’em, hate ’em … or just not care? It’s a critical question that every author needs to deal with.
You can have the most compelling and creative plot out there, but without good characters your story just won’t move. But how do you come up with compelling characters that readers can relate too and get behind? That will be the subject of this webinar. We will delve into the creation of characters, and even how to write bios for them so we have something to refer back to when writing. So please come join me as we go over how to create engaging characters. Date is Wednesday, January 7th –details on the Events tab on the website. Freebie for AuthorU.org members. Get ready for Publish Smarter … Not Harder. Watch for the dates and get them on your calendar. Archives will be in the Logged in Members Only section. Check this month’s webinars under the Events tab.
Date: January 7th
Time: 6 pm Eastern, 4 pm Mountain
Location: Anywhere your laptop is.
Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9178102207940740098
What do Actors Jack Black and Nathan Lane have in common?
2 words: The outrageous and comedy writer Steve Kaplan … and so can you!
We have a DOUBLE HEADER BOOKCAMP in March!
March 4 … Sharpen up your writing with Hollywood’s premier comedy writer.
March 5 … Learn tips and tricks to transform your work to the big screen.
A very special BookCamp is coming your way with comedy writer, trainer, author and mentor to the inside club of Hollywood’s entertainers is coming to AuthorU and Denver. Steve Kaplan is bringing the Comedy Intensive to us … you will learn tips and tricks on how to humor up your writing when appropriate; how to engage an audience when speaking that you’ve never thought about; and so much more. http://www.KaplanComedy.com/
Get ready for a dynamic duo: The Comedy Writing Intensive BookCamp: A Weekend Workshop for Authors, Writers and Screenwriters. Attend one day … or both. Your choice … you choose.
Whether you’re writing a novel, short story, a comedy screenplay, working on a sitcom script, or producing or directing a comedy film, Steve Kaplan has been the industry’s most sought-after expert when it comes to comedy. From the industry’s top stars to first time comedy writers producers directors and performers, Steve Kaplan has worked with and developed the best.
The proven and practical methods and principles contained in his famed Comedy Intensive course reveals the hidden tools and principles that help you understand comedy from the inside out. If you went to Steve, you would pay $395 for this course (plus air, plus food, plus hotel). AuthorU is bring the amazing, outrageous and hilarious Steve Kaplan and the Hollywood factor to you … and you can sleep in your own bed.
Don’t miss this … Register Now! Early Bird ends on February 8th.
SEATS: Space is allowed for ONLY 40 attendees … register EARLY for this one.
Saturday, March 4th … Comedy Author Writing Intensive and Prose
Whether you’re writing a comic novel or just want to inject more humor into your prose, your books, your speeches … this all day workshop will open avenues you never envisioned.
Learn
- How to Create Great Comic Characters
- The Power of Not Knowing
- Funny You Should Say That: Writing Comic Dialogue
- Unblock the Block
- And more!
An intimate, supportive day that will include creativity and brainstorming techniques, solo and group writing exercises, and lots and lots of laughter!
Steve Kaplan is a master in Hollywood comedy and will delve into the sometimes elusive art of writing comedy. He’ll will explore this potent and popular form by distilling its basic principles, bringing them into the lingo and jargon you get … and can use. Combining hands-on writing exercises with story analysis and other interactive activities, this one-day event will help you find your own comic voice and offer guidelines on how to write humor with confidence, honesty and clarity.
Here’s Steve on Why Most Romantic Comedies Suck … http://bit.ly/1S3jmBc
Sunday, March 5th … Comedy Intensive for Screenwriters (and Screenwriters-to-be), Performers and Filmmakers
- How do you write funny?
- How do you act funny?
- How do you direct funny?
- How do you be funny?
Get ready to deep-dive and discover the hidden tools and principles of comedy
- what comedy is,
- how it works,
- why it works,
- what’s happening when it’s not working
- what you can do to fix it,
Your take-aways include proven and practical methods and principles. The workshop includes exercises, solo and group writing activities, as well as a liberal use of clips from current and classic comedies to illustrate our points and principles. It’s a very interactive experience, and we tend to laugh. A lot!
Get ready to alter your thinking, your style and your outcomes!
Don’t miss this … Register Now!
TIME: 8.30 to 4.30 includes lunch each day
WHERE: CADA – Colorado Automobile Dealers Assn, 290 E Speer Blvd., Denver CO
COST: AuthorU GOLD Members:
Early Bird $99 per day or both days for $180 until February 8;
Gold members need to login to Member site to register.
AuthorU GOLD Members Regular Rate: $129 per day or $250 for both days after February 8
ALL Other Participants:
1 Day – March 4th
BASIC and NON-Members Regular Rate after February 8th: $169 and $310
SEATS: Space is allowed for ONLY 40 attendees … register EARLY for this one.
There are no refunds 21 days before the event and a $40 Administrative fee will be charged.
This month we will focus on showcasing you!
- Are you ready to sell more books?
- Do you know how to create a brand that shows off your best side, on and off camera?
- Are you aware of how to consistently influence, market and pitch yourself to get noticed?
- Are you ready when a publicist or event planner calls for a TV or radio spot?
All of you know that walking your talk is an integral part of personal and professional branding. As an author, you need to look and sound your best. When you pitch your books, you’re pitching yourself! When you get that long awaited call, you want to be ready. Too often when you get the call, you focus on scripting what you’ll say and forget to plan on how to look. Remember, over 80% of what people hear is what they see!
This morning will provide a practical approach that can save you, both men and women, from wishing for a do-over! Today’s speakers will help us look our best in person and sound our best on paper! They will share their secrets of how to become successful. When you leave, you will be ready to fine-tune your brand and ready to win the pitch.
Success is knocking! Are you ready to sell more books?
Speakers:
•
Rhoda Johnson, Hollywood Secrets to Showcasing You (Brag: Image Consultant and
Columnist, former Hollywood makeup artist)
Want to increase book sales? How you look in front of the camera and on speaking engagements tells a bigger story. Learn how to improve your personal brand to optimize your social media presence and attract potential readers. Discover the Hollywood secrets of maximizing your image to engage your audience. Note: authors Ronald Beach and Connie Pshigoda have graciously agreed to be models!
- Your personal brand should help you, not hurt you
- Simple techniques that will attract people to you
- Be prepared to look your best on camera
- Current trends to use and ones to avoid
- Looking your best sells more books
Rhoda Johnson received a Fashion Merchandising Degree from Brooks College in Long Beach, California and has studied makeup artistry at Cinema Secrets in Burbank California. She received a license to teach Personal Development from John Robert Powers in Cerritos, California and JF Images Talent Agency in Denver, Colorado. Rhoda has over 35 years’ experience collectively as an Image Consultant, Makeup Artist, Jewelry Designer, and Motivational Public Speaker. She also writes a monthly beauty and fashion column for 50 Plus Marketplace News.
Jill Christensen, How to Become a Noted Influencer (Brag: Recognized by Engagement101 as one of the Top 100 Employee Engagement Global Influencers of 2017, alongside Richard Branson and others.) Featured Author of the Month.
Book sales, speaking engagements, and your reputation will soar if you can position yourself as a thought-leader and noted influencer on the topic of your book.
How to Become a Noted Influencer
1. Pick a Lane
2. Determine Your Target Audience and Research Where They Are Online
3. Develop a Strategic Plan to Position Yourself as a Thought-Leader in Your Space
4. Gauge Your Progress and Course-Correct if Necessary
5. Be Open to Building on Your Success – Do Not Rest on Your Laurels
Jill Christensen has three decades of consulting, speaking, and most importantly, real-life, in-the-trenches global Fortune 500 executive-level experience. She has served as the head of global Internal Communications at both Avaya and Western Union, has a Six Sigma Green Belt, authored the best-selling book, If Not You, Who? Cracking the Code of Employee Disengagement, and was recently named one of the Top 100 Global Employee Engagement Influencers of 2017.
Marilyn Heywood Paige, Leveraging Media to Sell More Books (Brag: Former event planner 
with B&N!)
Earned media is one of the most powerful marketing tools because it’s not you telling people how great your book is, it’s a trusted media outlet telling them. Earned media opens new audiences to you and gives you more credibility.
Today you will:
- Learn the do’s and don ts of pitching to the media
- Discover how and when to approach journalists and bloggers
- The elements of a good pitch
- How best to leverage a media placement once you’ve earned it
Marilyn Heywood Paige is the Vice President of FiG Advertising and Marketing in Denver, a full-service marketing agency that moves the needle for small businesses. She was the marketing and public relations manager for Barnes & Noble for ten years where she worked with over 600 authors, helping them market their books more effectively.
Date: Saturday, May 6
Time: 8.15 Networking
8.45 Intros and Announcements
9.00 Program begins
Location: 290 E Speer Blvd., Denver CO
(remote registration available for video)
Cost: $40 Gold Members starting May 1; $55 Nonmembers
Gold members need to login to Member site to register.
Celebrate the upcoming holiday season with 20 authors. Schmooze, sip tea, enjoy some delicious food, and pick up some books as gifts while you’re at it. It’s free to attend.
You are invited …
It’s our Fall Author Tea where local Authors do a “show and tell,” offering their wonderful books on a perfect afternoon surrounded by cool people and delectable food. And it’s FREE. You are encouraged to bring friends.
The Holidays are coming … select the perfect gift and have it personalized—Books are the ideal gift—think kids, your friends … how about YOU?
We will have books in many genres, including: Mystery, Horror, Inspiration, Children-Juvenile, Cookbooks, Memoir, Military History, Women’s Fiction, Adventure, Health, Humor, Writings-Publishing, Fantasy and Self-Help.
Here’s what’s happening …
When: SATURDAY, November 23rd
Time: 1 – 4 pm
Where: Judith Briles’ home: Heritage Eagle Bend, 8122 S Quatar Circle, Aurora CO 80016
Hosted by: Judith Briles
RSVP by telling Judith you are attending … it’s a FREEBIE and a perfect way to spend a few hours on a Saturday afternoon . Tell Judith NOW that you are coming (and how many guests you are bringing). Yes, you can invite your friends to come as well—the more, the merrier! We just want to make sure that we have plenty of food.
You can email your YES (with how many) to Judith directly at Judith@Briles.com put November Tea in the subject line, or text her at 303-885-2207 your YES (with how many).
Creative Juice for Writers and Authors
Feeling stifled? Uninspired? Tired of the blank page?
Feeling as if writer’s block is an unwelcome houseguest that never leaves and eats all the ice cream?
It’s time for a little creative juice!
In this webinar, Melody Jones, Writing and Creativity Coach, will help you move past the writing blahs by tapping more deeply into that creative core we all have.
Tuesday, April 26 at 4 p.m. MT … REGISTER: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2465273717260940558
What we’ll talk about and you will learn:
- What is creativity – exactly?
- A dog’s life, and what that has to do with creativity.
- Artistic expression, and no, being able to draw a stick figure is not a prerequisite
- Your body as a creative tool.
- Valuing creative energy in the ordinary.
- Structure as a framework for creativity.
You’ll leave with a refreshed mind and new ideas and tools for moving past the writer’s doldrums.
Interaction and questions are encouraged!
Melody will send all participants handouts, and everyone who attends this special AuthorYOU webinar hosted by Judith Briles qualifies for a special discount on an upcoming creativity event. Join us!
REGISTER: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2465273717260940558
Melody Jones is a published author and poet and loves all things creative. She was an early adopter of Etsy, selling numerous handcrafted paper and jewelry items. Melody has worked with hundreds of writers and authors since 2011 as a social media consultant. After 30 years in the Denver metro area, she moved back home to Colorado’s Western Slope last year and is now the President of the Western Colorado Writers’ Forum. Visit her website at www.MelodyJonesAuthor.com.
