How did that Publishing Basics Seminar, in New York, work out for you? For me the highlight of the Book Expo week was actually the Monday before the show even started. For $97 each, a room full of author/publishers enjoyed an all day, intensive seminar presented by some of the top industry professionals. It was probably the best bang for the buck, from an educational standpoint, offered so far this year.
I’ve been a member of facebook since I first wrote about it back in December of 2007. Since then I have managed to accumulate 1780 friends from all over the world. I’ll save an update on social networking for another article later on in the year but facebook played a role in this seminar. A few months back I got a friend request from a man named Fred Gleeck. I accepted, as I usually do, and didn’t think much more of it until I got an email from Fred, wanting to talk about business. As any of you facebook users know, “Business” can mean just about anything so I didn’t initially reply. Fast forward several weeks, Fred was sitting in my office in New York City and we were talking about what it is that self-publishers really need. Within a short period of time, we found that we agreed to a T on this, that the most important thing that every self-publisher needs is EDUCATION. Once educated to the publishing process, we agreed that most authors are smart enough to travel the correct path and not be snared by one of the many vanity press traps that are sprinkled all over the Internet.
Unfortunately, we agreed that even self-publishing education has been prostituted to the point that the smartest author sometimes gets misdirected. If I charge $5000 for a course that should be $200 and then tell you, upon completion, I will publish your book, what have I accomplished? I’ve taken $4800 from you, that’s what I’ve accomplished. As sleazy as this sounds, there are vanity models out there that work on this exact principle.
Our mission was to develop a bare bones intensive program that would leave little doubt in the attendees’ mind, what the process is all about. Before we could put together our program we needed to look at some of the existing programs and build from there.
One of the better known publishing education sources is PMA University (Now Publishing University) sponsored by Independent Book Publishers Association (formerly PMA). This two day event is offered to non-members for $650 ($550 if you register early). It is always held right before Book Expo. This year it was held in New York on May 24-25th. There are lots of good speakers but attendees choose particular tracks and are able to attend four elective sessions over the two days as well as several full group sessions. Over the years I’ve been a speaker on a few panels at this event but dropped out a few years back as an exhibitor. Is the program worth $325 a day? Enough people think so, to the point that it’s in its 26th year. Like any other program, it’s only as good as its speakers. Unfortunately, with the explosion of the vanity press industry, many industry “professionals” have gone over to the “Dark Side” to pick up the quick, easy bucks. As Fred and I looked down the list of this year’s speakers, these “Dark Siders” were sprinkled throughout the list. On one level, I don’t blame them. It’s getting harder and harder to put food on the table and easy money is….. easy. But on a basic level, once you’ve crossed over, it is hard to come back. You can’t be half a hooker.
This year, the Book Expo people took a stab at the self-publishing market by offering a DIY Conference on Monday, May 24th, directly up against the Publishing University. Indie Book Publishing – No Longer about Vanity, one of the beak-out sessions given by the VP of Marketing from the largest vanity press in the country, says it all. (I think Author Solutions has changed the name of what they are supposed to do for the author for about the 20th time…. Indie Publishing seems to be the latest term that they have glommed onto). The conference cost $199 and was attended by, I’m told, a few hundred people. I applaud the Book Expo people for trying to offer a program for the self-publisher but judging from the lukewarm response I heard from the few attendees I talked to, the program will have to be tweaked if it’s going to be successful.
As if there wasn’t enough going on that Monday, Fred and I decided to put on our own seminar. Instead of $199 or $325 we would only charge $97 for a full day intensive self-publishing seminar. The seminar was held at the Seminar Center on 23rd Street. The program consisted of four speakers and covered the full day, including a working lunch session. The “unique” aspect of this group is that everyone was a self-publishing “Purist”. You can’t be a “Self” publisher unless you… self… are the publisher. There were no vanity press apologists anywhere near the place. The day was started with a session on the “basics” of self-publishing, given by yours truly. Needless to say there was no grey area in the presentation and at the end, there was zero chance that anyone in the audience was not crystal clear on what was self-publishing and what was not self-publishing.
Next up was Robert Bly, published author with over 75 titles in print. Bob shared with the group the ins and outs of being published by a traditional publisher. His presentation was based on firsthand experience of what it takes to get a book published by a traditional publisher. What sells, obtaining an agent, negotiating a contract as well as book marketing, as an author, were covered in this session.
Third was media & marketing professional, Burke Allen. The only thing murkier than vanity publishing in general is book marketing specifically. Burke Allen represents a breath of fresh air in this field. Borrowing from the “pay-per-click” concept of advertising, Burke has set up his business with a pay-per-appearance option with no show, no pay compensation. Oh… and the author gives a list of what shows they would like to be on. Burke , a 20 year media veteran, radio and TV host, writer and top rated morning show personality kept the group spellbound as he covered the ins and outs of media and the author’s role in the process.
Last, but certainly not least, was Fred Gleeck, a backend product sales wizard. His fast moving presentation covered all aspects of Internet sales and marketing as well as the importance of developing a brand and expanding well beyond the printed book. Fred talked about the importance of expanding the printed word into audio as well as video. Fred is the author of 15 titles including “Self Publishing for Maximum Profit,” “Speaking for Millions,” and “Marketing and Promoting Your Own Seminars and Workshops.” He has also been the speaker at over 1400 events over the past 25 years.
At the end of the day, the audience looked like they had just finished running the marathon. With no exceptions, the authors left this day with something of real value. The plan is to offer the same seminar over the next year in Boston, San Diego, Las Vegas and New Orleans. I’ll keep you posted as more details become available. The New York seminar will also be available for viewing in the world’s first 3D conference center located on Publishers’ Row. Stay tuned for more.
For more information on these seminars, visit www.publishingseminar.com.
Share / Print
Recent Comments