Book Proposal Boot Camp Helps Writers Achieve New Year Goals

Online, December 29, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Nationally published authors Stacy Hawkins Adams and Maya Payne Smart have launched a six-week workshop called Book Proposal Boot Camp™ (http://www.writingcoach.com/book) to help Richmond, Virginia, writers achieve the literary goals they set for the New Year.

Held Tuesdays from Jan. 18 to Feb. 22, 2011, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at a nonprofit training center in Richmond's Willow Lawn area, each class will bring aspiring authors together to share their stories and tackle a specific writing goal. Together, the lessons build toward agent-ready book proposals.

"We'll take students step by step through the process of completing their proposals and give them a better understanding of today's publishing industry," said Adams, an award-winning inspirational author whose credits include six nationally published women's fiction novels (such as Watercolored Pearls and The Someday List) and one nonfiction book, all of which were sold through proposals. Adams is also a long-time journalist and freelance columnist for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "Our goal is to support participants as they transform their book ideas into agent-ready proposals."

Studies have shown that most New Year's resolutions are doomed to fail. Rather than rise to the occasion, many fall short, lose heart and end up more downcast than they began. Will power, positive thinking and deadline pressure are insufficient.
Book Proposal Boot Camp™ will help writers with book dreams practice what works: Breaking their resolutions into smaller goals, sharing their goals publicly, rewarding themselves for achieving milestones along the way, and tracking their progress.

The modest course fee (just $50 per session) includes:
• Six weekly instructor-led classes with audio recordings for review
• A notebook of lessons, activities and supplementary materials
• A copy of a noted book proposal guide that has sold more than 100,000 copies
• One 30-minute private coaching follow-up session with Stacy or Maya
• Free admission to one 60-minute Author In You™ teleseminar

Book proposals are crucial business plans that can help writers develop commercially viable book ideas, pursue literary and financial goals with focus and accountability, build strong relationships with agents who can help them navigate the marketplace well and negotiate better fees and contracts.

"Beyond learning the nuts and bolts of book proposal writing, students will benefit from the live community of fellow writers and the sense of confidence and accomplishment that come with setting and attaining ambitious goals," said Smart, an experienced trainer who teaches the business side of writing for numerous groups including the Society of Professional Journalists and the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism. She also has been a freelance journalist for CNNMoney.com, Fortune Small Business and Black Enterprise and a contributing author for Princeton Review books such as 120 Jobs That Won't Chain You to Your Desk.

Aspiring authors interested in enrolling in the boot camp can register online at http://www.writingcoach.com/book or http://www.authorinyou.com/bootcamp. The registration fee is $250 for those who pay in full by Jan. 14 and $300 for those who pay in two installments. For more information, email [email protected].

Contacts: Stacy Hawkins Adams
[email protected]
(804) 768-1292

Maya Payne Smart
[email protected]
(330) 329-1614