Schedule of Events
Writing can be a lonely business. But it doesn't have to be. Self-published authors achieve the greatest success when we lift one another up.
The ASPC offers multiple opportunities to grow through both learning and connections. Below you will not only find a full schedule of educational presentations but also multiple opportunities for connecting with other self-published authors.
Before the conference we'll give you the opportunity to use our Editor Connection where you will be paired with book professionals for a free sample edit of your current manuscript, and you can use our Professional Connection to have 1-on-1 virtual meetings with cover designers, audiobook producers, and other professionals who can assist you. We'll also invite you to pre-conference virtual events, which will provide the basics of self-publishing. And you'll receive author education e-mails from the time of registration up until the conference with valuable information on writing and publishing.
During the event, you will have a chance to meet many of the authors who are speaking at the event and purchase signed books as well as meet vendors who offer services to self-published authors.
From the beginning of our day with coffee and conversations, to the vendor area, and our full day of presentations, the ASPC provides ample opportunities for development.
Learn how to make the most of ASPC with these tips from Kindlepreneur.
$119.00 EARLY-BIRD PRICING FOR ATLANTA WRITERS CLUB MEMBERS ($179 FOR NON-MEMBERS, WHICH INCLUDES ONE YEAR OF AWC MEMBERSHIP) THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 2024
DEADLINE TO REGISTER ONLINE: MARCH 21, 2025 at 8:00 PM EST. Walkups at the conference will be welcome based on availability (cash or card only, no checks will be accepted).
No refunds after MARCH 1, 2025.
Included with your registration for the full day of educational talks and networking on March 22, 2025:
-
Free sample edit of your manuscript sample
-
Free virtual one-on-one meetings about the professional book-related services you're interested in
-
Free pre-conference webinars on Self-Publishing 101 topics (file requirements, uploading to Amazon and Ingram, keyword selection, etc.)
-
Free ebooks (how to outline, a guide to self-revisions, more)
THE ASPC 2025 LIVE EVENT SCHEDULE
Coffee & Conversations
8:00 am - 8:45 am
Are you an early bird? Do you love coffee as much as we do? Come early to meet and network with other self-published or aspiring authors and start building your own authors' network of support.
Writing Blurbs That Sell
9:00 am - 9:45 am
Ready to get your books selling? Other than the cover, the most important selling tool
you have is a book description, or blurb, whether you are selling in person, online, or through
retailers. What makes a reader pick your book? How do we get their attention? Join Writing
Blurbs That Sell and learn tips and tricks to get your books flying off the shelves.
Presented by Cali Mann, USA Today bestselling author
You Don't Have to Write a Novel
10:00 am - 10:45 am
Everyone has a story that they want to tell. However, not all stories are the same. Some stories need to be a nice, thick, doorstopper of a novel. But not all of them. Sometimes, a short story, a novella, or even just some serials can be the best thing, especially when self-publishing and looking to the almighty Amazon and how their algorithm helps or hurts your sales.
Presented by Stuart Grosse, author of nearly 200 serials, novellas, and short stories
Building Your Own Table: Creating Multiple Revenue Streams
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
“Building Your Own Table” is a simple concept used by many entrepreneurs. It all comes down to this: If someone has a platform and you are not invited to be a part of that platform, build your own table, then invite them and others to it. In this workshop, Iris will share with you how and what entities she utilizes to create a steady stream of annual income, including their links for you to use. At the end, you will begin to create your own table by putting your first steps for this process in writing. She will cover the following streams of income: books, website monetization, entertainment, and educational.
Presented by Iris Bolling, USA Today bestselling author
Lunch on Your Own
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Panel Talk: Book Marketing Successes and Failures: Lessons Learned
1:30 pm - 2:15 pm
Every indie author struggles as they learn how to market their books—and the process of learning never ends—but eventually they discover what works as well as what doesn’t and can hopefully log more triumphs than setbacks. In this panel, four self-published authors will discuss the lessons they’ve learned from their book marketing successes and failures so you can adapt those wins to your own situation while avoiding the pitfalls they’ll warn you about.
Panel moderated by Kyoko M and features Dr. Tulasi Acharya, Jeff Shaw & Terra Weiss
How to Create an Author Brand Based on Your Story
2:30 pm - 3:15 pm
Unlock the power of your unique narrative with Tamika Jamison (formerly Newhouse) and her transformative talk, "How to Create an Author Brand Based on Your Story." Dive deep into the essence of your personal journey and discover how to identify and amplify your unique story and voice, setting yourself apart in the crowded literary market. Learn the secrets of maintaining consistent messaging and a compelling visual identity that resonates with your audience and builds a loyal following. Plus, explore innovative strategies to leverage multiple revenue streams, turning your passion for writing into a sustainable and lucrative career. Don't miss this opportunity to gain actionable insights and practical tools from a renowned expert who has successfully navigated the path to author branding excellence. Start your journey towards a powerful and profitable author brand!
Presented by Tamika Jamison (formerly Newhouse), prolific author, publisher & literary advocate
Elevating Your Author Profile through Social Media
3:30 pm - 4:15 pm
Unlock the secrets to transforming your author brand with Jessica Cage’s exclusive social media class! As a seasoned expert who has built and leveraged dynamic platforms on TikTok and Instagram, Jessica will guide you through proven strategies to captivate your audience and convert followers into loyal readers. Whether you’re looking to amplify your book's visibility or enhance your engagement, Jessica’s insights will help you navigate the complexities of social media with ease. Don’t miss this chance to learn from a trailblazer who has mastered the art of turning social media into a powerful tool for book sales. Sign up now and start your journey to becoming a social media sensation!
Presented by Jessica Cage, USA Today bestselling author
THE ASPC 2025 PRE-CONFERENCE VIRTUAL EVENTS
All webinars will be presented live by Tenesha Curtis, author and creator of Writerwerx University and will be recorded:
New Author Bootcamp: Self-Publishing 101
Friday, October 4th, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern
“Self-Publishing 101” provides a broad, low-intensity overview of the self-publishing process. This session will benefit new writers who are considering publishing their work independently by giving them a preview of what to expect as they complete the planning, writing, editing, designing, promotion, and publication processes for their work.
Key points:
· The differences between indie, vanity/”hybrid”, and traditional publishing.
· The benefits of indie publishing.
· How to stay safe from vanity/”hybrid” publishers.
· Book planning.
· Completing a manuscript.
· Editing a manuscript.
· Designing book files.
· Promoting a book.
· Publishing independently.
After the core content is covered, there will be time for questions from the audience.
New Author Bootcamp: How to Plan a Book
Friday, November 15th, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern
“How to Plan a Book” goes over the things to consider and actions to take before starting to write a manuscript. This workshop invites writers to bring their current book ideas (notes, sketches, opening line, etc.) so that they can begin a more formal book planning process during the session if they choose to do so.
Key points:
· How planning makes publishing faster, cheaper, and more profitable.
· Book premise creation.
· The Five Ps of Premise Prep applied to fiction, self-help, and memoir
· Crafting a book premise.
· Creating a 3-point outline.
· Creating a 9-point outline.
· Creating detailed outlines.
· Promoting books during the planning stage.
After the core content is covered, there will be time for questions from the audience. Attendees may also choose to share various elements of their book plan in order to get feedback from the facilitator and the group.
New Author Bootcamp: How to Write a Book
Friday, December 13th, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern
“How to Write a Book” covers what it takes to see a manuscript through to ‘The End.’
Key points:
· Defining “Done.”
· Word count as a measurement strategy.
· Beat-by-beat writing.
· Methods for prioritizing writing.
· Writing tools.
· Writer support.
· Promoting books during the writing stage.
After the core content is covered, there will be time for questions from the audience.
New Author Bootcamp: How to Edit a Book
Friday, January 17th, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern
In “How to Edit a Book,” student-authors will learn about the various forms of self-revision and professional editing processes that exist so that they can choose the ones that work best for their budget and book development goals.
Key points:
· Self-revisions
· Critique groups.
· Recruiting volunteers.
· Alpha readers.
· Hiring editorial professionals.
· Manuscript evaluations.
· Developmental editing.
· Sensitivity reading.
· Beta readers.
· Line editing.
· Copyediting.
· Proofreading.
· Promoting books during the editing stage.
After the core content is covered, there will be time for questions from the audience. Attendees may also choose to share elements of their current editing tasks in order to get feedback from the facilitator or the group (alpha reader signup sheet, job posting for a professional developmental editor, etc.).
New Author Bootcamp: How to Publish a Book
Friday, February 28th, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern
“How to Publish a Book” goes over the core steps of uploading a book to a publishing platform such as Kindle Direct Publishing, Draft2Digital, or IngramSpark.
Key points:
· Cover design.
· Book design.
· Preparing a book for sale and distribution.
· Proofreading.
· ARC reviewers.
· Editorial reviewers.
· Promotion preparation.
· Discounts and bonuses.
· Step-by-step walkthrough of the file upload process in KDP.
After the core content is covered, there will be time for questions from the audience. Attendees may also choose to share various elements of their publish-ready work (cover art, blurb, etc.) for feedback from the facilitator or the group.
$119.00 EARLY-BIRD PRICING FOR ATLANTA WRITERS CLUB MEMBERS ($179 FOR NON-MEMBERS, WHICH INCLUDES ONE YEAR OF AWC MEMBERSHIP) THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 2024
DEADLINE TO REGISTER ONLINE: MARCH 21, 2025 at 8:00 PM EST. Walkups at the conference will be welcome based on availability (cash or card only, no checks will be accepted).
No refunds after MARCH 1, 2025.
Included with your registration for the full day of educational talks and networking on March 22, 2025:
-
Free sample edit of your manuscript sample
-
Free virtual one-on-one meetings about the professional book-related services you're interested in
-
Free pre-conference webinars on Self-Publishing 101 topics (file requirements, uploading to Amazon and Ingram, keyword selection, etc.)
-
Free ebooks (how to outline, a guide to self-revisions, more)
The ASPC is proud to share with our attendees an opportunity to connect with vendors who support self-published authors.
