WritingSpirit Resources

How To Start Writing A Book -- Arielle Ford

                                                     If you’re one of the many who don’t know where to begin or how to start writing your book, or if you’ve started and stopped, and can’t seem to build the momentum or stick to a writing schedule, How to Start Writing A Book: Top Publishers and Bestselling Authors Reveal Their Secret Systems can help you.

Arielle Ford has written six books, and worked with some of the most prolific, successful, and famous authors in the world including: Deepak Chopra, Don Miguel Ruiz, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Wayne Dyer, Neale Donald Walsch, and Marianne Williamson.

Arielle’s goal was to create an easy to follow guide that starts at “square one” and helps the first-time author who knows there’s a book inside them that needs to be written, but doesn’t know how or where to begin. She also wanted to provide useful insights, tips and tricks for an experienced, accomplished author that wants to take their writing skills to the next level.

After interviewing many authors and asking them about their process, inspiration, discipline and the resources they use to start and keep writing, Arielle uncovered the patterns and mindset bestsellers use to stay motivated and productive.

She shares it all in How to Start Writing Your Book.

Hal Zina Bennett--Writing Services for Spiritual Writers

Hal Zina Bennett, a workshop leader and writing coach, has published more than 30 books, including Writing Spiritual Books, Write from the Heart, Zuni Fetishes, Spirit Circle, Follow Your Bliss, and The Well Body Book. Throughout his long career, Hal has dedicated himself to the expansion of our human capabilities for the betterment of our own lives, the lives of those around us, and our planet. He is widely recognized for his ability to help new writers identify their greatest strengths and focus their most positive energies on developing their individual voices.

His clients have included Phil McGraw (Life Strategies), Shakti Gawain (The Path of Transformation), Judith Orloff, MD (Second Sight), Jerry Jampolsky and Diane Cirincione (Change Your Mind, Change Your Life), Chérie Carter-Scott (If Life Is a Game, These Are the Rules), Sondra Ray (Pele’s Wish), Stanislav Grof, MD (The Holotropic Mind), and Gabrielle Roth (Sweat Your Prayers).

Stephanie Gunning--Writing Services for Spiritual Writers

Stephanie Gunning's home page lists her talents and services as: Author, Editor, Speaker, Book Proposal Coach, and Publishing Consultant.

Stephanie specializes in books on spirituality, mind/body medicine, fitness, and new thought. Her creative endeavors are dedicated to individual empowerment and the conscious evolution of humankind. “Working with visionary thinkers has given me an advanced education in human potential," she says. "Each day they inspire me to contribute my own talents and message to the world, as best as I am able."

During the past eighteen years, Stephanie has worked in numerous capacities within the book publishing industry, including as an in-house editor, a behind-the-scenes book "doctor," and an editorial consultant to several major literary agencies. She launched her publishing career in New York City, rapidly rising through the editorial ranks at HarperCollins Publishers, then being recruited as a senior editor at Bantam Doubleday Dell, and ultimately establishing an independent business as an editor and writer in 1996.

I first worked with Stephanie several years ago, when she edited two stories of mine for Arielle Ford’s anthology, “Magical Souvenirs.” Then she helped me put a professional polish on my book proposal for an anthology of my own. I highly recommend her. 

John Kremer's Book Marketing Blast-Off Seminar

December 7-9, 2007
Marina del Rey, CA

The author of "1001 Ways To Market Your Books" will share with you:

• The seven secrets of success in book marketing.
• Your 5 basic distribution options, with their  strengths and weaknesses.
• How to create a national bestseller without breaking  the bank.
• How to use new technologies to promote and sell your books. Learn how to sell books via your website, Web 2.0, blogs, podcasts, ezines, wikis, and more!
• How to book yourself on local radio shows that  you can appear on from the comfort of your home!
• How to get on Oprah, Amanda Lewis, Montel  Williams, The Today Show, Good Morning America, and  other national TV shows.
• How to sell rights to your books--mass-market  paperbacks, book clubs, foreign rights, serial, multi-media, and other rights.
• How to sell quantities of books to mail order  catalogs, premium buyers, and other special markets.
• How to use the 5x5 Matrix  Marketing System™ to sell more books!
• How to discover and  implement the best marketing strategies for YOUR  book.

I attended one of John's weekends and it was great! This is especially helpful for self-published authors and small publishing companies.

John Kremer's Book Marketing Blast-Off Seminar

PublicityHound.com

Tips, tricks and tools for free publicity.

Joan Stewart, a media relations expert, shows you how to use free publicity to establish your credibility, enhance your reputation, position yourself as an expert, sell more products and services, and promote a favorite cause or issue.

This site will give you some great ideas about how to publicize your writing, book, classes, or web site. There are dozens of free articles as well as 47 "Special Reports" that can be purchased for $9 each.

PublicityHound.com
Free Articles

Kessinger Publishing

Kessinger Publishing publishes, preserves and promotes rare philosophy, Freemasonry and self-help books.

Many of their illuminating books have been out-of-print for over 100 years. These scarce books are hard-to-find classics and represent many of the finest philosophical authors and metaphysical works of the last several centuries. They fervently search worldwide for these treasures and publish affordable paper back facsimile reproductions. Their exclusive reprints (unavailable elsewhere) reveal the way to health, happiness, spirituality and success. These books are invaluable guides to the mastery of life and personal fulfillment.

Kessinger Publishing

The Jewish Writing Institute

A place to develop your writing without compromising your beliefs.
A place to challenge your mind without neglecting your soul.

The Jewish Writing Institute is dedicated to teaching writing skills to improve an individual's ability to communicate effectively, develop outlets for self expression, foster self discovery and intensify one's Jewish and spiritual identity. This is done in a protected environment, sheltered from the detrimental influences of modern society

The Jewish Writing Institute

Book Expo America (BEA)

May 29-June 1, 2008
Los Angeles, CA

May 28-31, 2009
New York, NY

June 10-13, 2010
Las Vegas, NV

Book Expo America is an annual industry event for publishers, booksellers, librarians, rights professionals, authors, and anyone else involved in the buying and selling of books and related products (over 30,000 "industry professionals" usually attend). The four day bookfest includes:

• Conference & Educational Programs - With over 80 sessions, this complete educational program is designed to address topics of interest to all segments of the industry.  Most sessions are Free with event registration.

• Exhibition Halls/Pavilions - featuring more than 2000 exhibits. All major U.S. publishers have a presence along with hundreds of publishers of all sizes from the U.S. and from across the world. 

• Special Events and Networking Opportunities- There are a wide variety of special events taking place throughout the event.  These include author breakfasts, luncheons, receptions, special lounges and more.

• Autographing Program - The autographing program is a highlight of BookExpo America and features over 400 authors. 

• International Rights Center - If you are an agent, scout, publisher, packager or acquisition editor looking to buy or sell rights, this is the place to do the deal.

Book Expo America

BEA/Writer's Digest Books Writer's Conference

May 28, 2008
Los Angeles, CA

In just four short years, the BEA/Writer's Digest Books Writer's Conference has become one of the premier writing conferences in the country, with its wide variety of programming that includes workshops by leading authors, editors, agents and other industry professionals. Attendees can:

• Meet editors, authors, and agents. Hear what they're really buying and how to get work accepted

• Attend specific workshops, taught by industry professionals, that will help them get their writing published. Breakout sessions include workshops on fiction and non-fiction writing, magazine writing, mystery writing, proposals, e-queries and more

• Pitch their book and get instant feedback.

BEA/Writer's Digest Books Writer's Conference   

WorldCon 2008 – The 66th World Science Fiction Convention

August 6-10, 2008
Denver, CO

The Worldcon, or World Science Fiction Convention, is the annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS). Worldcons are wild and wonderful, with 20-30 panels and events to choose from at any given time. Although many who attend Worldcon are going strictly as Science Fiction and Fantasy fans, there are many panels that deal with the craft of writing, and usually several that deal specifically with how religion is depicted (often quite differently) in both Science Fiction and Fantasy.

The panels on Religion, Spirituality and Consciousness at the 2006 Woldcon included:

• New Maps of Heaven
  

  Recent times have seen an explosion of science fiction and fantasy tales centered in cosmologies and mythologies outside of the North American mainstream. Writers discuss what draws them to these other mythos and what lessons they offer.

• Religion in SF Books and Movies

Religion is frequently ignored in science fiction and fantasy. But sometimes it isn't. How is it treated? Do we see standard Earth religions or all-new ones? Or ones that just think they're all new? Some authors seem to think that, come the future, all people will just abandon their religious beliefs. Does that seem likely?

• Is the Scientific Method the Death of God?

Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, and Einstein have included religion in their commentary. How have scientific methods changed over the centuries and how has it affected science's relationship with religion? When all actions can be described by physics and all life can be described by biology and chemistry, is there any room for the miraculous, the ineffable?

• The Rise of Theocracy

Was Heinlein right? Is this our future? Who will be Nehemiah Scudder?

• The Future of Religion

What should we expect from our many religions as we enter the new century? If we ever leave Earth will we take our religions with us? Should we?

• The Tarot and Writing

Everyone knows the hero/heroines journey, the basis for nearly everything written in fantasy fiction. But what about other archetypes? The Tarot has 22 in all. How do these other archetypes reflect in fiction? Forget the hero/heroine, let's talk about death, the empress, the hanged one, the universe, the priestess, the fool...

 

WorldCon 2008 – The 66th World Science Fiction Convention