Calling All Authors Interested in Self-Publishing

We are thrilled to announce an all-new conference dedicated to the art and business of savvy self-publishing, Writer's Digest Self-Publishing Conference, happening April 5th, 2013, in New York City . This exclusive one-day event is chock full of informative sessions led by publishers, agents, editors, authors and marketing gurus eager to share their expertise in successful self-publishing.

Whether you are already self-publishing, considering self-publishing, or are a traditionally published author looking to take advantage of the explosive self-publishing landscape, you can't afford to miss out on this incredible value.


 

2013 Writer's Digest Self-Publishing Conference Agenda

Friday, April 5
 
7:30 - 8:30: Registration and Exhibits
 
8:30 - 8:40: Freemiums, Crowdfunding, and Hybrids: The New Era of Self-Publishing
Speaker: Phil Sexton
In this brief introduction to the first annual Writer’s Digest Self-Publishing Conference, Writer’s Digest Publisher Phil Sexton provides an eye-opening look at the current state of indie-publishing, self-published authors, and social media marketing.

8:40 - 9:30: Data 101 for Authors - How Understanding the Numbers Can Help You Build Your Business
“Data”, “metadata”, and “metrics”—it’s all anyone seems to be talking about.  Sometimes it all becomes a buzzword blur, and it’s difficult to tease out what, if anything, is relevant to authors. This session explains some of the basic categories of data in the publishing and marketing landscape, including the critical importance of attaching good metadata to your work, and identifies the core practices that every author should be embracing to build their business. No matter if you are an experienced author or just setting out, everyone will emerge from this session with new tools, new insights, and the confidence to become a Data Ninja.

9:30 - 10:20: Success Requires More Than Good Writing: The Importance of Design
Speaker: Frank Rivera
There are a number of factors that influence the success of your book. There’s metadata, jacket copy, discoverability and design, with that last element being one of the most sorely overlooked. And it’s not enough to hire a designer to produce a jacket. You need to hire a designer who understands what’s important in book design, for both print and digital (ebooks). In this session, the Art Director for Adams Media, publisher of numerous national bestsellers, will break down exactly what elements are necessary for a cover and how those elements should be used. If you’re going to be involved in designing your own cover, you won’t want to miss this session. 

10:20 - 11:10: The Agent/Self-Published Author Relationship
You might think that once you’ve decided to self-publish that you no longer need an agent. In this important and revealing session, groundbreaking agent Kristin Nelson details exactly what agents bring to the table when it comes to self-published authors. And she should know! Kristin is the agent of Hugh Howey, the New York Times bestselling author of the legendary self-published ebook Wool, finally released in a new print edition by Simon & Schuster (March 2013).
 
11:10 - 12:00: Legal Issues for Self-Published Authors
Speaker: Dana Newman
This is a critical session for authors who have been self-published or are thinking about it. It’s a very different world from traditional publishing – one in which most authors try to go it alone, without the assistance of an agent. Attend this session and you’ll be walked through the basics and the fine points of copyright registration, permissions, literary agency contracts, licensing agreements with major companies such as CreateSpace and Smashwords, and much more. If self-publishing is your publishing option of choice, make sure you’re fully informed about how to protect yourself and your work.
 
12:00 - 1:00: Exhibits and Lunch Break on your own
 
1:00 - 1:50: Panel: My Story - How Self-Published Authors Found Success
There are varying levels of success when it comes to self-publishing. Did the final product meet your expectations? Did the book actually sell? Did you make the money you were hoping too? In this session, we’ll talk to four successful self-published authors about what they did to ensure that their book lived up to their expectations and the strategies and tactics they used to ensure that it sold. 

1:50 - 2:40: Panel: Congratulations! You Published it - Now How Do You Sell It?
Panelists: Phil Sexton (Moderator), Dan Blank, Kristen McLean, Jon Fine. Caitlin O'Hanlon
You worked hard to find the best self-publishing platform for your needs made sure that your final manuscript, cover, and copy were just right. Now your book is about available for purchase – or soon will be – and you haven’t a clue as to what to do next. What can you do to help ensure that people find your book? What is discoverability and how to you maximize it? And what makes the difference between readers saying “not interested” and “I’ve got to have that?”

2:40 - 3:30: Panel: The Future of Self-Publishing
Panelists: Phil Sexton (Moderator), Keith Ogorek, Amanda Barbara, Brian Felsen, Maris Kreizman
In this forward-thinking panel, a group of experts and industry insiders will tell you where self publishing is headed and how it will affect you. You’ll learn about new models and methods for self-publishing, how the industry is changing, the recent adoption of self-publishing divisions by traditional publishers, and how the balance of power will continue to swing toward self-published authors. 

 

2 Easy Ways to Attend

1) Add-On. Already attending Writer's Digest Conference East? Save more when you add the Writer's Digest Self-Publishing Conference to your current registration for $229.

2) Stand-Alone. If you haven't already registered for the entire conference and would prefer to attend only the one-day Writer's Digest Self-Publishing Conference, for $299.

Register for the Self-Publishing Conference now.