Author Summer School: Starting Now (find out how to attend for free)

 How would you like to learn the basics of writing, publishing and marketing--for free? Starting right now, and going through August 10th, 2011, the Author Summer School is in session. And there's no tuition.

During the week-long school, eighteen experts will share on topics vital to writers trying to finish books, deciding whether to pursue traditional or self-publishing, working on fiction or non-fiction topics.

Head to the Author Summer School page to see a list of the experts and the courses they'll teach. If you sign up, you'll first get an email inviting you to join the "Dean's List Club". The Dean's List does have a cost, and you are under no obligation to join. It gives users recordings of the sessions, and extra materials, but users of the free portion can access the sessions for 24 hours after the live class. 

The second email will contain an orientation video, and links to each of the classes.

The classes included are:

The Most Essential Facts Every Potential Author Needs to Know

Simultaneous Book Writing and Publishing

Get Your Book Under Contract With a Literary Agent or Publisher

Non-Fiction Bestseller's Formula: Here's How You Can Stand Out

How to Write an Ebook in 72 Hours or Less

Going Beyond the Book: Fast, Easy Product Creation for Authors

LinkedIn Marketing for Authors

Expert Panel Open Q & A

Getting Into Holiday Gift Guides

Be the News

Fans, Followers, and Friends: How to Maximize and Monetize Social Media

Creating "Bestseller" Status to Enhance Your Business and Brand

How to Get Your Book Into All Types of Stores-Internet, Book, Retail Stores and more

Matthew Bennet's: "How I Sold Millions of Books"

Make Your Book a Bestseller, Make Big Money, Make a Difference

The summer is a great time to learn, whether it's reading a book on craft, or taking a workshop or online course. How are you learning this summer?

What is Copywriting? Find Out in a Free Webinar from American Writers & Artists, Inc.

Did you read an email ad this morning? Listen to a radio advertisement or TV commercial? Those words were written by copywriters. 


Copywriting (not to be confused with copyright, as in the rights to someones words) is basically writing to promote a business, a product, or an idea. It is a type of freelance writing. Copywriting touches us every day in magazine and newspaper ads, website content, brochures, radio and TV scripts, press releases, letters and mass mailings, even billboards. As a writer, you have the opportunity to learn how to earn by copywriting. It's a great way to help pay the bills while you're on the road to publication.


To be a good copywriter, you must work to develop these qualities:


Be creative. Dull copy won't draw in customers. Copywriters must paint a picture of the product or service that catches the consumer's interest.


Be concise. Copywriters usually work within a tight word limit. Being able to get to the point quickly, yet creatively is an art. Not to mention, there is usually a quick deadline.


Aim for conversion. Conversion is the term for action on the part of a consumer. The person who scans a web page, and then clicks the "buy" button, has been "converted", meaning the writer has convinced them to take action. This calls for compelling writing.


Excellent copywriters make large salaries, but even entry-level copywriters can look forward to a paycheck. Sites like Elance and Odesk list companies looking for copywriters.


If you're interested in learning more about whether copywriting is for you, American Writers & Artists, Inc. is hosting a free webinar to give writers more information.


CopyBlogger lists 10 Steps to Effective Copywriting, along with many other resources.


Here's a link to a series of Free Copywriting Tutorials.


And even more resources from CopyWriting.com.


Do you think copywriting might be for you? 

Distilling Your Book:Three Different Summaries You'll Have to Write

I've spent the last week slaving over my synopsis. You'd think I know my novel well enough to distill it's essence into a couple of pages. You'd think reading about how to write a synopsis would prepare me.

You'd think wrong.

Just because I wrote the novel, doesn't mean I can easily capture its substance. As the author, I'm too aware of all the details, the cool subplots, the minor characters I've fallen in love with.

And I have to leave them all out.

If it weren't for my intrepid critique group, I wouldn't have a synopsis sitting in front of me today. It took many tries (and the first one was more awful than I can express), but it's done. Having four other pairs of eyes on it was the most important part of writing it.

Working on this synopsis got me thinking about the other ways we summarize our books, whether they're fiction or non-fiction. Here's a run-down of what you can expect.

One-sentence summary. This is one of the most important summaries you'll create, and also one of the most difficult. It's often called a log-line, tag-line, hook, or elevator pitch. Writing teacher Marilynn Byerly defines it this way, "The log line is a one-sentence statement of your premise or high concept." If you'd like to see some in action, Byerly recommends this post. Aim for fourteen to twenty-five words. Your intention is to spark interest in the reader, without giving away the ending. Not an easy task.

Work on your one-sentence summary as soon as you have the idea for your book. You'll use it often. Every time someone says, "You're writing a book? What's it about?" When you go to conferences, and meet agents and editors. It might find it's way into your query letter, and will be included in your book proposal, as well.

Back-cover copy. This is exactly what it sounds like. The short paragraphs found on the back of a book that entice the reader to buy it. It introduces the main character, plot, and the story question, but leaves the reader wondering how the story will work out. Marilynn Byerly has a great article on this in How to Create a Blurb.

You'll use a form of back-cover copy in your query letter, and once your book is done, you may also use it to create a one-sheet, basically a one-page advertisement for your book. Back-cover copy is usually included in a proposal, as well.

Synopsis. The synopsis differs from the other summaries in two ways: it's much longer, and it gives away the ending. It's a stripped-down version of your story, introducing the main characters, the main plot, and the motivations and outcomes.

Authors often write two or more synopses of different lengths, as some agents, editors, and contest organizers require different word counts. Start with one synopsis, and then add or take away words to come up with at least a short and long synopsis. The one I wrote this week had a maximum word count of 1250. Some synopses are required to be 750 or less.

If you're querying agents, and they ask to see your work, many will ask for several chapters plus a synopsis. Your synopsis will also go into your proposal, and if you submit your story to a contest, it's common for them to ask for a synopsis, also.

Have you written any of these? I'd love to hear any tips you have.