Self-Publishing Workshop a Success!

Wow, just wow! I love what I do, I love my day job, I love being a SAHM, and I love writing and self-publishing kids ebooks. This year, however, I have discovered that I also love teaching others how to realise their self-publishing dreams. I love what I do.

So it is with great pleasure to announce that our first ever Self-Publishing Workshop – held last weekend – was a huge success! We reduced the price because we wanted to work out how to offer a five-hour workshop that covered all the basics to self-publishing, and with it being our first time, we learned what worked and what didn't work. And to be honest, most of it worked!

This is what we learned:

• warm up the venue before everyone arrives: comfortable attendees = learning attendees;
• have a print-out of all the basic terms in a glossary for newbies to refer to. We are trying to meet writers where they are at, and every one of them is at a different stage in their self-publishing journey, and some of them didn't even know what Smashwords or KDP were;
• present a few printed books to show the difference in quality/paper stock/cover/paper weight with the different print-on-demand facilities;
• have a few more breaks morning and afternoon as there is loads of information being presented and a few found that by the hour-mark they needed to stretch their legs.

With all of this new information given to us by our first workshop attendees – dare I say guinea pigs – we have decided to extend the workshop length to incorporate more breaks which means the next workshop will cost slightly more than we first anticipated.

Next Self-Publishing Workshop – Sat 16 November 2013

Where: Liberty Church, 96 Lansford Cres, Avondale, Auckland, NZ
When: Saturday 16 November 2013, 10:00am – 4:00pm.
Cost: $60.00 for six-hour workshop
Who: with Joy and Bevan Findlay, self-publishing team of Findlay Books
What: 10 topics that every new Self-Publisher needs to learn
How: email your interest to findlaybooks@gmail.com

Lessons covered:

Lesson 1) Before the nitty-gritty of Self-Publishing
Lesson 2) Legal and Financial Issues Part One – Copyright
Lesson 3) Using professional Editors and Proofreaders
Lesson 4) Formatting your book for publishing
Lesson 5) Working with Images, including Cover Design
Lesson 6) How to Publish a Book Online – A Step-by-Step Guide
Lesson 7) Legal and Financial Issues Part Two – Royalties
Lesson 8) Legal and Financial Issues Part Three – Tax
Lesson 9) Marketing and Promotions
Lesson 10) Vanity Publishing & Publishing-on-Demand

We will also look at why you are self-publishing and which pathway is best for you and your book, and we'll discuss distributing in New Zealand.

Bookings are essential as there are only limited spaces. Get in touch by emailing us at findlaybooks@gmail.com. As part of this workshop, you will receive our ebook Confessions of a Kiwi Self-Publisher for FREE!

So what did workshop attendees have to say about our first workshop? We had everyone fill in a participant feedback form anonymously and here is what some had to say about it:

‘I am very impressed with the quality of the workshop materials and info, thanks heaps, learnt so much, very inspired!’

‘Yes, I would recommend this workshop to others if they are looking to self-publish or start a business for writing because this presentation would be really helpful for that.’

‘[The workshop was] run by a presenter with real experience and genuine interest in others' learning.’

‘[The workshop was] very informative, up-to-date and relevant. Great inspiration for anyone spreading their wings at getting started with putting words out there further!’

‘Yes, I would recommend this workshop, absolutely. [There was a] huge amount of information, very inspiring – I want to get into it today!’

‘[The workshop was] comprehensive, good value for money, professionally presented. An effective “step up” into the works of self-publishing.’

‘Friendly atmosphere, a very real manner [of presenting]. It gives you a good understanding of the industry and what it takes to make it.’

‘Good scope of information, value for money, effective notes in the ebook. Overall a very good first workshop!’