Keynote Address – Dare to Believe – Presented by Danielle Bernock
Everyone has beliefs about themselves and the world around them. These beliefs can be positive, negative, true, false, or a jumbled combination. The good news is that we’re not at their mercy. We have the power to keep or change what we believe. Author Danielle Bernock explores the extraordinary power of belief, tells us how to take ownership of our beliefs, and will dare you to live out your dreams.
Making The Most of Your Book Signing
Learn how to approach an indie bookstore to host your book signing, what to bring, how to set up, the proper presentation to maximize customer appeal, hooking the reader, and making the sale. What to do after the book signing too. The presentation is for aspiring and published authors. Attendees should have some knowledge of social media.
- Takeaways: Taking authors to the next level of their craft.
- Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
- Presenter: Brenda Hasse
Amazon Trends You Need to Know
Amazon’s evolution has changed a lot since authors initially signed up. Are you using all of Amazon’s features that could help you sell more books? Take a look a new tools, platforms and features that could push your book in the direction you need. Attendees should be published or soon to be published on Amazon.
- Takeaways: Setting up Amazon account correctly, learning new features & trends, and selling more books.
- Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
- Presenter: Sylvia Hubbard
Making Your First Page Pop!
Show the reader, agent, or editor that you know how to write from the first chapter, first page, even the first line. Hook them and draw them into the action and emotions on page one so they’ll want to keep reading all the way to the end.
- Takeaways: Obtaining a book signing, advertising, presentation, and engagement with customers.
- Audience: Fiction writers
- Presenter: Linda S. Glaz
Inspiration, Conception, Completion and Distribution of Independent MG Fiction
The Independent Middle-Grade Author – Inspiration, conception, completion, and distribution of independent middle-grade fiction: David will cover each step in the writing process starting with the initial idea. He will discuss where ideas come from, hooking the reader, story elements, roller coaster plots, exploring your senses, exceeding the national average and how to rock your school visits. There should be something for everyone.
- Takeaways: Inspiration, conception, completion, and distribution.
- Audience: Fiction writers
- Presenter: David Stricklen
Writing a Book will Change your Life – Are You Ready?
Writing a book is an extraordinary adventure. You will emerge a different person on the other side. In this session you’ll discover why you’re ready to start the journey, the vast potential for personal change, and how to see it through to the end. Like any adventure there are challenges and obstacles, but the priceless possibilities far outweigh them all. For the aspiring writer, novice writer, or struggling writer.
- Takeaways: Know your why, inspiration, power to commit, understanding and empowerment.
- Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
- Presenter: Danielle Bernock
First Page Critiques
At check-in, authors may submit a print copy of the first page of their short story, memoir, or novel (maximum of 225 words). During the critique workshop, pages selected randomly from all of the submissions collected will be read aloud anonymously to the audience. A short peer review will be conducted to show the strengths and weaknesses of the first page. This presentation is open to all. Whether an author is sharing work or sharing opinions, everyone can gain insight on the importance of the first page. And more importantly, did the first page grab the readers’ attention?
- Takeaways: The importance of hooking your reader on the first page and the benefits of beta readers and peer critiques.
- Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
- Presenter: Terry Hojnacki
Writing and Publishing Personal Essays
People love to read about other people’s lives and that’s one reason why personal essays are so appealing. For a time, we can enter someone else’s experience, live it along with them, and emerge changed in our own way, just as the writer has been changed by contemplating and writing the essay. This lecture/workshop will introduce basics of writing the personal essay and give attendees the opportunity to do some personal writing themselves. This session is for anyone at any level who is curious about writing personal essays, whether they’re experienced and published or not. Everyone is welcome.
- Takeaways: Understanding what makes a personal essay tick.
- Audience: Nonfiction writers
- Presenter: Lev Raphael
I get by with a little help from my … Literary Agent?
A comprehensive look at what a literary agent does. Do you need one? How do you get one? What exactly is an elevator pitch? And the publishing process in general.
- Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
- Presenter: Carrie Howland
Ask the Editor
Two book editors will give an overview of the different types of editing services available to authors. Q&A format.
- Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
- Panelists: Lisa Howard and Terry Hojnacki
Literary Agent Panel
Meet our attending literary agents. Each agent will introduce themselves, discuss the genres they work with, and offer tips for pitching. Moderated with Q&A.
- Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
- Panelists: Carrie Howland and Linda S. Glaz
Indie Publishing Panel
Indie Published (self-published) authors will discuss their choices for independent publishing. Moderated with Q&A.
- Audience: Both nonfiction and fiction writers
- Panelists: Danielle Bernock, David Stricklen, Brenda Hasse, and Terry Hojnacki
>>Full Schedule at a Glance<<
Parking, Refreshments, Morning Snacks, and Lunch are Included with Registration. Check-in will begin at 9:00 a.m. with the first session 10:00 a.m. The conference will end by 4:15 p.m.
Attendees may bring a fully charged laptop or tablet. Although not necessary, a computer will enhance the experience with a hands-on feel. Use the hashtag: #RochesterWriters before, during and after the event in your posts, likes, and tweets.
Fresh hot coffee and tea available throughout the day. Light breakfast snacks and a full lunch included with registration. Please contact us if you have special dietary concerns. A charging station will be available for mobile devices in the registration area.
Attendees will be able to choose one presentation per session time at the conference. Schedule could change without notice – Rochester Writers reserves the right to add, subtract, or substitute any of the presentations and speakers. Thank you.
Please Note: All events take place in the Oakland Center of Oakland University (2200 N Squirrel Road, Rochester, MI 48309). Use parking lot 1 (P1) and walk East for the shortest distance into the Oakland Center. The Oakland Center is positioned between the parking lot and the Clock Tower. Look for Bright Yellow Signs. The Oakland Center is #13 on the Campus Map.
Rochester Writers 