Submit Your Writing and Learn to Market Yourself and Your Work

Yesterday we held a panel discussion at our local library in Hayesville, NC. The subject was publishing and marketing your writing. 

We hear so many people say they have written a book but don't know what to do next. On the panel yesterday we heard from an author who has a regional agent who has been extremely involved in helping him with publishing his four novels. Two were published by a Memphis press, BelleBridge Books.

DEANNA KLINGEL

We heard from an author who travels far and wide to festivals, speaking events and other places where she finds the audience for her young adult books. She knows her audience and has done her research. 

One panelist was the owner of a small press that helps authors self-publish their books. As he said, it isn't as easy as one might think to publish your own book. He helps people with design, typesetting, covers and all the details many new writers would not know.

I spoke about my interview with Scott Douglas and Kevin Watson, owners of two small presses, Main Street Rag and Press 53 and what is expected of the writer once the book is ready to sell.

KEVIN WATSON

Our attendees were enthusiastic and had so many questions we ran out of time before we could complete the program.  Our handouts included some writing resources. I have a few of them below.


New Pages - find publications - http://www.newpages.com/

Writers Market  www.writersmarket.com   

Poets Market  www.poetmarket.com

Duotrope  www.duotrope.com 

Writers Relief   http://client.writersrelief.com/writers-classifieds/anthology-calls-for-submissions.aspx

Narrative Magazine   http://www.narrativemagazine.com/node/360

 Poets and Writers Magazine     www.pw.org/literary_magazines

Main Street Rag Publishing - http://www.mainstreetrag.com/
Press 53 - www.press53.com 

Literary  Journal - The Journal of Kentucky Studies.  https://kentuckystudiesjournal.wordpress.com/submissions/  No fee to submit

http://thewritelife.com/where-to-submit-short-stories/

Marketing:
The Write Life   - http://thewritelife.com/what-it-really-means-to-market-your-writing/


www.booksbydeanna.com  - author Deanna Klingel writes clean books with a moral theme for children. Grandparents love them. She loves writing them.

http://www.oldmp.com/  Old Mountain Press. Author Tom Davis publishes anthologies with poetry and flash fiction or memoir. In a hurry to publish your book? Tom will help you get the book out in a short time. 

Wally Avett - author of four novels based on true events in Appalachia. 

Panel on Publishing Appreciated by a Good Audience

Many thanks to Kathryn Magendie, Nadine Justice, and Maren Mitchell for being our panelists today at Moss Library in Hayesville, NC where we had a good sized group of interested folks who learned far more than they thought they would, I'm sure.

Our thanks to Mary Fonda and her assistant, Judy, who helped me set up the room and close up. I had thought we'd be out by four O'clock, but our audience continued to talk with our panelists and each other until five o'clock. 

Thanks to Jim Davis who helped me load my car. I hope to see Jim online with a blog one day. These events are wonderful ways to meet new writers and those who want to be writers but are still working up the courage to take a class or admit they really are writers, just not openly yet. 

I was delighted to meet Lise, a blogger friend, who lives north of us above Sylva. Visit her delightful blog. She will have a book out one day. 

Kathryn, Nadine, and Maren showed the generosity I have come to expect from most writers. They shared their experiences from publishing and marketing, and I know their words helped those who sat in the chairs and took notes. 

Perhaps we can do something like this again next year.

Maren O. Mitchell is author of Beat Chronic Pain;An Insider's Guide
Nadine Justice is author of a memoir, I'm a Coal Miner's Daughter But I Cain't Sang.
Kathryn Magendie is author of five novels, including the Grace series, and a novella.