GENERAL MEETING/ DIscussion
ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING: It’s not your father’s publishing world
Monday, February 27, 2012
7:30 SHARP to 9 p.m. (networking follows the discussion)
The changing world of publishing has struggled with the yin and yang of traditional vs. avant garde. Now the newer forms of publishing are gaining a foothold in an ever-increasing percentage of the market.
Electronic publishing and POD (Print on Demand) have provided smaller publishers with low-cost alternatives and a new marketplace. The big publishers are agonizing over this, trying to cope, and playing catch-up with the smaller concerns.
It's easier than ever to get onto the bandwagon, and even though the changes are still upon us daily, once you're in the electronic market, it is increasingly simple to upgrade to accommodate the new rules and methods and navigate the growing competition.
We will discuss the ins and outs, the methods, marketing and reasons to go electronic. And we will endeavor to keep it simple and show you a real, creative, and inexpensive way to get your word out.
Our panelists will include:
JIM AZEVEDO is the marketing manager at Smashwords, the world’s largest distributor of indie ebooks. Since 2008, Smashwords has helped over 36,000 authors around the world publish and distribute more than 97,000 ebooks. Jim’s expertise is in high-tech public relations, where he has spent 16 years working with companies of every size: from two-person startups to multi-billion-dollar, publicly traded companies. He’s delighted to help carry the indie torch on behalf of writers.
STEVEN SANCHEZ is founder and CEO of the Los Angeles-based internet agency, INEXUS. For the past 19 years, Steven has helped large and small companies start web businesses and publish digitally online. He has worked on several web design books such as Homepage Usability, “Web Design on a Shoestring,” and The Unusually Useful Web Book. His current book, Author Website Essentials: Connect With Readers, Grow Your Marketing and SELL MORE BOOKS! is available this month on Amazon.com and at AuthorWebsiteEssentials.com. He can also be reached at BookPlatform101.com, an upcoming online community designed to help authors build successful book platforms.
ELAINE WILKES, PhD, is a published and self-published award-winning author. Her highly acclaimed book, Nature’s Secret Messages: Hidden In Plain Sight (Hay House), was awarded the rare star recommendation from Publishers Weekly. She’s been interviewed on numerous radio and TV shows such as CNN Headline News, and E! Entertainment, and has been quoted in major media including Forbes, CNN, Chicago Tribune, and Woman's World. Her company formats ebooks and creates Internet video for individuals and small businesses. She also speaks on book marketing, ebooks and writing effective emails. Elaine created an insider’s secret course about getting your book into all types of stores — Internet, book and retail. See YourBookInStores.com.
DAVID WOGAHN is a 20-year veteran of digital publishing and the founder of the ebook agency Sellbox.com. He was a cofounder of Times Mirror Multimedia and the FANSonly Network (now part of CBS Sports). David published his first ebooks in 1991 and has worked extensively in both business and consumer media and across a range of delivery types, including websites, CD-ROM, syndication, and ebooks (Mobi and ePub), as well as print.
MODERATOR: GEMINI ADAMS is a multiple award-winning author whose works have been translated into Japanese and Spanish. Her titles include the Mom’s Choice Gold award winner, Your Legacy of Love: Realize the Gift in Goodbye, and bestselling nutritional cookbook, The Top 100 Recipes for Happy Kids. She is the founder of Live Consciously Publishing and the educational program Finish Your Book, through which she has helped hundreds of students to better navigate the complexities of the modern publishing world. Her works have received the Mom’s Choice Gold Award 2010, The National Best Book Award 2009, Dad’s Seal of Approval 2009, the Elevate Audience Award for Best Documentary 2007, and the Winston Churchill Fellowship Award 2006. Please visit LiveConsciouslyNow.com.
Location:
Veterans Memorial Building
4117 Overland Avenue, Culver City
Corner of Culver Boulevard.
Parking entrance on Culver
Map of location.
Parking is free.
Temporary location: Meeting will be in the Multipurpose Room. Enter from the south driveway off the parking lot in back of the building.
Note: Wear layered clothing.
The room is usually comfortable but the temperature can vary.
Admission:
IWOSC members - free
Non-members - $15
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
Call 877-79-WRITE
(that's 877-799-7483)
or
email the IWOSC office
for reservations and information.
If you have a blocker such as Boxbe, be sure to add info(at-sign)iwosc.org to your OK list or you will never see your confirmation.
Reservations will be honored up to ten minutes before the meeting begins.
When reserving, please provide your first name, your last name, a phone number, and let us know whether you are a member or not so we can accurately list you on our check-in sheet.
The reservation deadline, space permitting, is 12:00 noon on Monday, the day of the meeting.
If you reserve and can not attend, please email the IWOSC office to let us know.
IWOSC SATURDAY SEMINAR
Grammar for Grownups: Painless Grammar and Punctuation Review for Writers
with Flo Selfman
Saturday, January 21, 2012
10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Culver City location provided upon registration
Popular Grammar Seminar Returns!
Back by popular demand is a grammar and punctuation review offered by Independent Writers of Southern California. Presenter Flo Selfman, public relations consultant, proofreader-copyeditor, and IWOSC president, calls herself a "professional nitpicker" who conducts lively on-site grammar workshops for organizations and companies.
Has the lazy language of email made your professional communications sloppy? Do you agonize every time you prepare an article or a query letter because you're afraid it contains grammar and punctuation errors? Have you forgotten rules you learned in school – and do they still apply?
Participants will gain grammar confidence in a review of few simple rules that can correct dozens of the most commonly made errors in written and spoken communication. Topics to be covered include:
· 10 common grammar and punctuation errors to avoid
· How to error-proof a manuscript
· Why spell-check isn't enough (or, when is a rose not a rose?)
· Why grammar and punctuation matter
· My computer has a dictionary; what else do I need?
· Coping with current trends in language
· And more!
The seminar incorporates class exercises and useful handouts, and the opportunity to have grammar, syntax, and punctuation questions answered.
Presenter:
FLO SELFMAN is a public relations and marketing consultant with more than twenty years experience creating and implementing PR campaigns for celebrities, authors, and events. Her press kits have received awards. She copyedits books and manuscripts and is a consultant on all aspects of publishing, marketing and publicity for self-published authors and small publishing companies.
A native of Ohio, Selfman has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from UCLA, a California Secondary Teaching Credential, and the Instructor Development Certificate from UCLA Extension. This is her eighth year as president of IWOSC.
See WordsalaMode.com.
Where:
Veterans Memorial Building
4117 Overland Avenue, Culver City
Corner of Culver Boulevard.
Parking entrance on Culver. Parking is free.
Wear layered clothing. The room is usually comfortable but temperature can vary.
Cost:
IWOSC members: $15;
Non-members: $35
Size:
Limited to the first 30 people who reserve
Reservations Required — Space is limited.
Reservation deadline: 4 p.m. the Friday before the seminar.
For reservations and information,
email the IWOSC office
or
call 877-79-WRITE (that's 877-799-7483).
When reserving, please provide your first name, your last name, a phone number, and let us know whether you are a member or not so we can accurately list you on our check-in sheet.
If you have a blocker such as Boxbe, please add info(at-sign)iwosc.org to your OK list or you will never see your confirmations.
NOTE: If you reserve and can not attend, please email the IWOSC office to let us know.
IN ORBIT: UPCOMING SATELLITE MEETINGS
IWOSC's monthly drop-in satellite sessions are free and open to all writers — both members and non-members.
Bring your writing, your ideas, problems, questions, and complaints. Receive support, laughs, juicy controversy, and plenty of networking. And please support our hosts by purchasing snacks and other products.
Pasadena/Altadena Satellite
IWOSC's Pasadena/Altadena Satellite meets the 2nd Friday of the month at Coffee Gallery.
Hosted by: Jane Neff Rollins. This is a joint meeting of our IWOSC Pasadena Satellite and the Alameda Writers Group Special Interest Group (SIG).
Next meetings:
Friday, January 13, 2012
Friday, February 10
Friday, March 9
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Location:
Coffee Gallery
2029 N. Lake Ave, Altadena 91001
626-398-7917
Admission:
Free to both IWOSC members and non-members.
However, we'd like you to purchase coffee or a snack in support of our host.
For more information about this satellite,
write to Jane Neff Rollins or call her at (818) 957-3405.
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West Valley (Woodland Hills) Satellite
IWOSC's San Fernando Valley Satellite meets the 2nd Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Barnes and Noble in Woodland Hills.
Hosted by: Sylvia Cary
Next meetings:
Wednesday, January 11
Wednesday, February 8
Wednesday, March 14
Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Location:
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
at the Promenade in Woodland Hills
6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd Suite 1340
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
818-704-3850
Free parking in the shopping center
Here's the Barnes & Noble page about this location.
It also contains a map link and directions feature.
Admission:
Free to both IWOSC members and non-members.
For any questions write to Sylvia Cary.
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Ventura County Satellite (Thousand Oaks)
IWOSC's Ventura County satellite meets the 2nd Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Sherwood Country Club
Hosted by: Dawn Wood. Dawn is a published poet, physician, and medical script consultant, who recently taught medical narrative fiction at a University of Iowa workshop, The Examined Life: Writing and the Art of Medicine.
Next meetings:
Thursday, January 12
Thursday, February 9
Thursday, March 8
Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Fee: $2 per person, collected at the meeting.
Location:
Sherwood Country Club (Golf Clubhouse)
320 West Stafford Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91361
Parking:
Free parking. Stop at guard house for directions to IWOSC.
Dress Code:
No shorts or jeans are allowed in the golf club
RSVP:
Please email to let Dawn Wood know you'll be coming.
More info: This group has its own website at iwoscventura.ning.com.
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Westside Satellite
IWOSC's Westside Satellite meets the 2nd Thursday at 10 a.m. at Ye Olde King's Head in Santa Monica.
Hosted by: Vickey Kalambakal
Next meetings:
Thursday, January 12
Thursday, February 9
Thursday, March 8
TIme: 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Location:
Ye Olde King's Head
116 Santa Monica Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90401-2202
It's midway between Ocean and 2nd.
We gather in a private room and alternate between reading our own work, listening to a speaker, or just going around the table asking questions, sharing gripes and discussing insights.
Parking:
The city parking lots on 2nd Street (both north and south of Santa Monica Blvd.) allow two hours of free parking.
[Santa Monica Parking map]
Admission:
Free to both IWOSC members and non-members.
As a courtesy to the pub, all attendees must purchase food.
RSVP:
RSVPs are appreciated, but not necessary.
Please email Vickey with your RSVPs or questions.
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Orange County Satellite
IWOSC's Orange County Satellite meets on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Tustin Library.
Hosted by: Kurt Bensworth
Next meetings:
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Thursday, February 16
Thursday, March 15
Time: 7 to 9 p.m.
Location:
Tustin Library
345 E. Main Street
Tustin, CA
Admission:
Free to both IWOSC members and non-members.
If you have any questions about this satellite,
contact Kurt by email.
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South Bay Satellite — NEW
Thanks to Joan Rodman, independent writers in the South Bay area now have a Satellite closer to home. IWOSC's new South Bay Satellite is for writers in Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo — anywhere the ocean meets the shore. The group meets on varying days the first week of each month. People begin gathering at 6:30 and the meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Manhattan Beach Library.
Special note about the group's first meeting:
Three exciting speakers will present...all South Bay residents. They will offer their unique perspectives on this challenging art form.
- Chelsea Sektnan is a working journalist who was trained initially as a photojournalist, but is now a reporter for a South Bay newspaper. She'll tell us what it's like to work in a demanding environment.
- Dr. Allan Boodnick, a psychologist, will speak in a personal way about the emotional/psychological bumps that deter success for most everyone.
- And Dave Zobel, writer, humorist, presenter of science topics to grade and middle school students is a contributor to NPR, KPCC-FM and the winner of the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest. He'll share his perspectives.
Each of these talented persons really deserves the full hour, but this is an opener smorgasbord, meant to entice.
South Bay writers, we would love to hear from you. What are you working on? what are your
challenges? What can this group offer you to support your talent? We are all ears.
Hosted by: Joan Rodman
Next meetings:
Monday, February 6, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
Time:
6:30 p.m. meet and greet
7:00-8:30 meeting
Location:
Manhattan Beach Library
1320 Highland Avenue
Manhattan Beach CA 90266
We will meet in the Conference Room.
Free parking in Manhattan Beach City Hall/Library shared parking lot.
Admission:
Free to both IWOSC members and non-members.
If you have any questions/suggestions about this satellite, please write to: Joan Rodman, writeratwork@yahoo.com
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IWOSC Reads Its Own
Sunday, March 4, 2012
2 to 4 p.m.
Twice a year IWOSC holds a special FREE event — “IWOSC Reads Its Own” — a spellbinding afternoon of eclectic, eccentric, and exemplary works — from poems to true stories to hilarious monologues and beyond, read aloud by distinguished IWOSC scribes. We’ll be regaled with their wit, have our emotions stirred, or be plunged into deep thought at the beautiful independent bookstore, Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena.
Some IWOSC’s talented member writers will read short excerpts from their published, unpublished, or in-progress works. We'll announce our selected readers here as we set the line-up.
Location:
Vroman's Bookstore
695 E. Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91101
626-449-5320
There is plenty of parking on Colorado and neighboring streets.
Admission:
Free. The public is welcome.
No reservations necessary.
Do join us and bring friends and family. In fact, why not make a day of it? There’s so much to do in Pasadena!
To help you plan your day, here are Google searches for Pasadena, sightseeing and of things to do in Pasadena. Or pick up a copy of Pasadena Weekly when you're there.
Send a email the IWOSC office for more information.
IWOSC Presents A Special 4-Session Writing Workshop:
“The Writer’s Compass: From Story Map to Finished Draft in 7 Stages”
An interactive writers’ workshop with Nancy Ellen Dodd
How do you write the story you want to tell and capture your audience’s heart? Regardless of genre or format, to tell an effective story you must first sort through all the ideas you’ve been toying with—organize them, whip them into shape, and turn them into great writing. In “The Writer’s Compass” seminar you will learn how to do just that. First we will go over the essential elements of good storytelling using a structure chart. That chart will then become a guide to creating a story map that will tell you what you know about your story, and more importantly, what you don’t know. Next we will explore additional tools to help you find ideas to fill in what’s missing.
You will learn how to develop your own storytelling compass and the 7-Stage process for more efficiently developing your story. These stages include: 1) forming and developing ideas, 2) building strong structures, 3) creating vibrant characters, 4) structuring scenes and transitions, 5) increasing tension and adjusting pacing, 6) enriching the language and dialogue, and 7) editing and submitting. The workshop is based on the book “The Writer’s Compass: From Story Map to Finished Draft in 7 Stages” by Nancy Ellen Dodd, just released by Writer’s Digest.
NANCY ELLEN DODD teaches screenwriting at Pepperdine University to undergraduate and graduate students and is an academic editor at Pepperdine’s Graziadio Business School. She has studied writing for more than 25 years and received two master’s degrees in writing in various forms from USC. Dodd has received numerous awards for her writing, which includes screenplays, plays, short stories, short films, and novel-length manuscripts, as well as inspirational writing. She also studied writing with several successful, award-winning writers. Dodd’s journalistic career includes publishing more than 130 articles in local and national publications including interviews with celebrities and business leaders and she has served as editor of three different publications.
Class space is limited so reserve and pay early.
WHEN:
4 Thursdays: Feb 9, 16, 23, and March 1, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
COST:
$60 for IWOSC members in good standing; $90 for nonmembers.
Nonmembers must pay in advance via PayPal or check made out to IWOSC and sent to P.O. Box 34279, Los Angeles, CA 90034. Mail check now; space is limited.
INFORMATION and RESERVATIONS: info@iwosc.org or 1-877-799-7483.
LOCATION: A home in Venice. The address and directions will be sent upon registration.
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Some of Our Past Events
Wondering what other events and types of events we've had? See our past 2006 events, 2007 events, 2008 events, 2009 past events, 2010 past events and 2011 past events.
