Seattle-Area Authors: My New Class at Bellevue College Starts Next Week
I'm thrilled to share that I'll be teaching a class at Bellevue College for the very first time in Spring Quarter!
It’s called: How to Self-Publish Your Memoir. The class will be on campus, in person. It runs for 8 weeks, beginning April 17, and it’s a noncredit class, open to all (ages 18+).
I'm so excited, I can hardly wait!
Seattle/Eastside-area folks, please join us! Or share with your friends who have dreams of publishing a memoir or other nonfiction book.
Not in/around Seattle? No problem - check out my free learning and other resources for nonfiction and memoir authors.
Here’s what we’ll be covering in the class:
Course Schedule
Week 1: Publishing Options
Overview of traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing.
Activity: Create a personal publishing decision tree.
Week 2: All About Editing
Types of editing; finding an editor; utilizing beta readers.
Activity: Plan your editing needs.
Week 3: Finalizing Your Manuscript
Creating front & back matter; securing endorsements.
Activity: Draft your acknowledgments or author bio.
Week 4: Nail Your Cover Design
Cover design basics; cover text & other components; working with your designer.
Activity: Brainstorm and sketch cover ideas.
Week 5: Interior Layout for Print and e-Books
Layout conventions & tools for print and digital formats.
Activity: Format a sample chapter or section.
Week 6: Book Launches and Pub Day
Planning a successful launch.
Activity: Draft a “Pub Day Plan.”
Week 7: Marketing and Social Media for Authors
Effective memoir marketing strategies.
Activity: Create a simple marketing plan and a social media post announcing your book.
Week 8: Putting It All Together
Recap of the publishing process and next steps.
Capstone Project: Present your publishing plan to the group.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will:
Understand how print-on-demand publishing works; select appropriate print-on-demand platforms based on your goals.
Learn about the different types of editing; evaluate which type(s) are needed for your project; learn about front and back matter and develop a plan appropriate to your book.
Understand key publishing industry conventions; learn about important aspects of cover design and page layout so you can work effectively with freelance designers to ensure production of a high-quality book.
Plan your book launch, including learning free or low-cost ways to get the word out about your book.
I hope you’ll be able to join us! Register by Thursday, April 10.
Next Steps
REGISTER: How to Self-Publish Your Memoir at Bellevue College (in-person class, Seattle area)
DOWNLOAD: 22 Questions to Ask a Hybrid Publisher
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