Half-day workshop on business book writing
THE BUSINESS BOOK WORKSHOPHow to write, publish and promote a business book for profit and other benefitsCourse in briefThe Business Book Workshop is designed for budding authors (and their marketing and public relations advisers) who have always wanted to write a business book - but never got round to it. The workshop shows how a business book can become a powerful marketing tool and focuses on how to develop the author's idea in a way which will make it a serious publishing proposition. Attend if you are....- A first-time author with an idea to develop into a business book
- Marketing communications or PR advisers who want to develop an idea for a business book on behalf of a client
What you gainAfter attending the Workshop, you will be able to: - Gain an objective view of the feasibility of your idea as a book
- Understand what publishers are looking for from a proposed book
- Develop your book in imaginative and interesting ways
- Structure your book in ways that will make it easier to write
- Promote your book to increase sales and other benefits
About the courseThe market for business books is huge. Some popular titles rack up mass sales in the millions. Other niche books sell fewer copies, but develop the reputations of their authors as an authority on the subjects they write about. A business leader or manager can achieve a whole range of benefits from becoming a business author - aside from the royalties and other revenue a successful business book can generate. The book can become a key marketing or PR tool to position a company or other organisation in a particular field. It can help to develop the career of its author by making his or her expertise more widely known. It can be the springboard for other opportunities, such as paid-for speaking engagements or consultancy assignments. Yet producing a successful business book is not easy - even if you are already an expert on the subject you plan to write about. You have to position your book in a crowded market-place, give it a distinctive appeal - and then get down to the hard grind of researching and writing the text. All that, even before you start to tackle the issues involved in publishing and promoting your book. The Business Book Workshop will get you off to a flying start. Run by established business book author and publisher Peter Bartram, the Workshop takes you through the issues you'll need to tackle from the moment you decide to write a business book until the time you start to harvest the benefits from it. The half-day (three hour) Workshop is based on a Workbook exclusive to Workshop attendees. The Workbook provides a wealth of information about writing, publishing and promoting a business book. The Workshop is designed to run partly as a seminar, partly as a consultancy session. You'll be taken systematically through all the key issues you need to face as you develop your idea into a published business book. But, at each stage, there is an opportunity to discuss your own idea and how that could be made to work in the context of the tips and techniques you're being shown. If you've always wanted to write a business book, but never been sure how to start, The Business Book Workshop will have you off the starting blocks - and up and writing! Workshop programme1. Enter the world of business books- Key facts about business books
- Different types of business books
- The main business book players
2. First steps: defining your objectives- What do you want to achieve?
- Six good reasons for writing a business book
- Four different ways to publish your book
- Drawing up an outline plan
3. Deciding on the subject for your book- Drawing on your personal knowledge bank
- Focusing on the target readers
- Positioning the idea to fit the market
- Deciding on a title for the book
4. Taking decisions about publishing strategy- Choosing a publishing option
- Drafting a synopsis
- Drafting a proposal document for a publisher
- Preparing a work plan for the book
- Deciding whether to use a ghostwriter
5. Researching your book- Assessing the information you need
- Collating your existing knowledge
- How to carry out structure-based research
- Short-cuts in doing research
- How to use a researcher
6. Writing the book- Approaching the business of writing
The tools you need Developing good writing habits - Finding your writing "voice"
Choosing a style that works - Getting your ideas down in words
Telling readers what they want to know - Five ways to make your writing more readable
- How to handle "writers' block"
- Importance of the second draft
7. Preparing the book for publication- How to edit the manuscript
Editing the manuscript yourself Using a professional copy editor - Eight mistakes that are commonly overlooked
- Formatting your book for the publisher
- Handling illustrations and diagrams
- Taking decisions about the cover
- How to index your book
Indexing it yourself Using a professional indexer - The legals: libel, copyright and "permissions"
8. Managing the publishing process- Working with a mainstream publisher
- Using a "joint venture" publisher
- How to self-publish your book
Drawing up a budget Choosing a book format Selecting a printer How to get an ISBN number Why Neilsen BookData is vital - Proof-reading your book
Where to find a professional proof-reader - Handling common publishing problems
9. Distributing your book- Distributing through the book trade
- How to organise self-distribution
- Ways to generate online sales
- Legal Deposit Libraries' copies
10. Launching your book- How to hold a launch party
- How to get your book reviewed
- Four ways to generate editorial coverage for the book
- Giving author interviews
11. Harvesting the benefits from the book- Registering for Public Lending Right
- Generating photocopy licence revenue
- Selling other rights
- Promoting your own expertise
- Using the book to gain press coverage
- Getting on the conference circuit
- Being a published author
Course materials The Business Book Workbook. This 50-page Workbook is exclusive to authors attending the Workshop. The Workbook contains a comprehensive set of notes covering the main points of the Workshop and also provides room for you to add your personal comments and ideas. The Workbook is full of practical information which will help you at every stage as you set about turning your own idea into a published business book. Because the Workbook is packed with information about organisations that can help authors, it will save you hours and hours of time spent searching for information. Similarly, the checklists and helpful hints in the Workbook will help you find shortcuts to many of the tasks involved in researching, writing, publishing and promoting a business book - again saving many hours of wasted effort. The Workbook is a unique resource and a great way to learn about how to write and publish a business book. It remains a permanent reminder of the Workshop's content - and a valuable source of reference - long after the Workshop has finished.
Course presenter profilePeter Bartram Peter Bartram is the ideal guide to the world of writing and publishing business books. In a long career in writing, journalism and publishing, Peter has written 20 books, 18 of them business titles. His business books include five on writing skills and another five "ghost-written" for other authors.
Peter has also successfully launched a specialist business book publishing company, New Venture Publishing. As an editor and journalist, he has edited more than a dozen business newspapers and magazines, many of which he helped to launch. He has contributed nearly 4,000 feature articles for newspapers and magazines. Apart from his wide knowledge of business book writing, Peter has achieved considerable success in promoting business books in the press. He has achieved wide editorial coverage for his own books - coverage that has led to increased sales. Peter is an experienced public speaker and presenter and has devised and run media training events including the Press Release Masterclass and the Writing for Publication Masterclass. What people say...Peter's books on writing skills have been praised in many independent publications. A selection of reviews include: - Perfect Business Writing: "Mr Bartram's advice is sensible and practical... his guidance away from the self-important to the straightforward should be read by everyone who writes anything." - Daily Telegraph
- How to Write Well at Work: "...offers the right sort of advice to enable anyone to produce better reports and presentations, even write more effective e-mails." - Business Voice (magazine of the CBI).
- How to Write Well at Work: "If writing doesn't come naturally, then this handy book will put you on the road to success..." - Executive PA magazine.
- Writing a Press Release: "Here at last is a book that tells it like it is... It is well written, and it contains the kind of advice that would help all writers, not just press officers." - Writers' Monthly magazine.
Booking informationThe Business Book Workshop is designed to run as a half-day (approximately three hour session) on a date of your choice. It can be held at your own offices or in the boardroom of the Society of Authors in South Kensington, London. The fee for an in-house session held at your own offices is based on the number of people attending: one-three people, £595; four people, £745; five people, £895. (All figures exclusive of VAT). The fee for a session held in the Society of Authors' boardroom is: one-three people, £795; four people, £945; five people, £1,095. (All figures exclusive of VAT and, depending on location, agreed travel expenses may be charged at cost). If you would like to book a Business Book Workshop or like further information:
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