As recommended by The Mirror and Love Sundays Magazine

CLASS 1
11am - 11.45pm
EDITING, BOOK DOCTOR AND CRITIQUE - GETTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT UP TO SCRATCH!
Guest expert – Danielle Wrate: Editor and Founder of Wrates Editing Services

As a writer we are too close to our story and need another set of eyes to help take our manuscript to the next level. A traditional publisher will put your manuscript through its paces. They are likely to cut out chunks, move things around and at the very least make some recommendations of changes BUT they should also undertake a proof read. The press will be unforgiving about typos on book covers and if your first three chapters don't 'sell' your book then an agent won't look at you.

At The Author School we will discuss:

• Co-founder, author A. Bello's will discuss her personal experience with editors, advice about what to ask when approaching a potential editor and average timelines.
• Typical grammar mistakes
• How to achieve consistency in the story
• Manuscript structure
• Character development
• Achieving 'Your Voice'
• Tips on what and what not to do with a manuscript after your first draft
• How to get an editor and the different packages that will be offered to you
• Why you need to turn out the best quality book you can (which means engaging external help from a professional)

You will also be provided with a list of different editors and contact details so you can start approaching them. We will guide you through the quagmire of different packages (many editors now offer more than 'just' an editorial service but also agent introductions and even a route to Hollywood).

CLASS 2
12pm-12.45pm
DIFFERENT PUBLISHING OPTIONS - WHAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU?
Guest expert – Matthew Smith: Founder and Director of Urbane Publications

There are many ways to get published and it can be a bit overwhelming. The Author School will help you figure our the best route for you. There are many options now - that is the beauty of this incredible, fast-evolving industry but it's also very difficult to know what's best for you.

The Author School founders, Helen Lewis, will share her experiences of working with both publishers (traditional and innovative start ups) and self-publishing companies. She will also give you examples of typical timelines from manuscript completion to book sales. Whilst A. Bello will explain her author journey, choices and lessons learned from her personal experience as an author.

The Author School will discuss

• How to make self-publishing work
• What a traditional publisher will do for your book
• Pros and cons of self and traditional publishing and what will work for you
• Ebooks or print or both? And how it affects you as the author

You will be given a list of self-publishing, traditional publishing, innovative start up companies and literary agents that you will be able to contact

CLASS 3
1.15pm-2pm
UNDERSTANDING AND APPEALING TO LITERARY AGENTS
Guest expert - Sarah O' Halloran, literary agent at Madeline Milburn Literary Agency

Getting the attention of a literary agent isn't an easy task but The Author School will share the secrets to getting signed to one.

The Author School will share with you

• What literary agents do
• How to get the attention of one
• What agents look for in a book
• How to write a query letter
• How to write a synopsis
• How literary agents negotiate foreign rights and TV/film rights

CLASS 4
2.15pm-3pm
MARKETING, BRANDING, COVER DESIGN & IMAGE
Guest expert - Sarah Juckes, Communications Manager at CompletlyNovel.com

Image is everything! The Author School will guide you through the best way to brand yourself and for your book to stand out from thousands.

• What is your brand identity?
• Why authors need to think about their brand
• Writing a brief to an illustrator
• How to find the best illustrator for your book
• The Holy Grail: Reviews and how to get them (Goodreads, Amazon, bloggers, approaching book clubs etc)
• Interview (tips on getting journalists to interview you!)
• Blog tours - how they work and how to join one
• Why you should be blogging at least once a week and what you should be blogging about!

CLASS 5
3.15pm-4pm
BOOK LAUNCH, SOCIAL MEDIA & PUBLICITY STRATEGIES
You are competing with other books being released on the same day, how do you stand out?

Co-founder of The Author School, Helen Lewis is the director of a leading book publicity firm, boasting years of experience working directly with authors, self-publishing companies, traditional and indie publishers, in the UK, US, Australia and Europe.

Helen will guide you through

• The 'dos' and please 'do nots' of launching your book
• How to use Twitter to help your brand
• How to engage with people on Facebook to promote your book
• How to get publicity
• Why national media coverage still works but what else you can do to achieve similar coverage
• Techniques that have captured the attention of the press
• Advice about book launch events

Each student will receive a 10% discount voucher on services provided by Literally PR plus a free 20-minute consultation with Literally PR to discuss a PR strategy bespoke to you and your book (to be taken within 2 months of the class date).

JJ Marsh, author of The Beatrice Stubbs Series and Founder of Triskele Books will be speaking at Class 1 and Class 4

Q&A WITH A PANEL OF EXPERTS
4pm-4.15pm

We will vacate the building by 4:30pm and there will be the opportunity to network over a few well-earned glasses of wine in a local pub. All are welcome!