You’ve written your amazing story. It’s coming out or is already out in the world, with a publisher or independently. You’re thrilled for readers to discover your book but…nobody seems to be reading it.
Or maybe you want to write your next book, or put together and anthology, or maybe finish a gaming module but…you can’t. Because of brain, or life.
Or, again, maybe this: you have people super excited about your book, but you’re not sure how to keep them interested until the next book comes out. Attention spans are short, and there are so many different books competing for readers, and so many marketing strategies competing for your attention.
Whether you’re independently or traditionally published, Level Up: The Business of Writing is for you, assembling six amazing speakers to give you powerful workshops to help you level up, no matter where you are in your career!
For three weeks starting on May 14, join us every Tuesday and Thursday evening at 7pm ET for a dedicated workshops with vetted experts who’ll share wisdom, experience, and a way forward. Can’t make the workshops? You’ll still be able to watch them and even send in questions for up to three weeks after they’ve aired!
All this for 95$ CAD until April 30, going up to 125$ after.
To make sure that participants get the most out of this focused learning, we’ve limited available seats!
Special thanks to our sponsors, 1852 Media and Written Word Media!
Your workshops
Check out this message from Level Up curator, bestselling author Marie Bilodeau, chair of the award-winning Can*Con.
These workshops were curated by me based on what actually helped me become a steady five-figure author. It begins with helping you create a roadmap in your author business, and gain some perhaps much needed clarity! The first workshop is by Jessica, whose wisdom still keeps me on task in a realistic and productive way. — Marie
The Focus Blueprint for Authors with Jessica Barna
(May 14, 7pm ET)
Balancing all the tasks of authoring can feel like a LOT sometimes. Writing, admin, social media, conferences, etc. Plus, there’s so many bright, shiny new opportunities popping up. If you find it hard to pinpoint exactly what to focus on and you feel like your time and attention are spread thin, this workshop is for you. By the end you’ll feel more focus, clarity and motivation in your career.
Being productive is hard when you’ve got life around. And there’s been so much life of late! Having the right tools and plans can help you accomplish goals. Having functional tools and realistic plans? That’s gold.
Project Management for Writers with Jennifer Brozek
(May 16, 7pm ET)
How do you stay on top of the daily demands of being a writer? How do you plan — and carry out that plan — for a novel? How do you make sure one aspect of writing doesn’t swallow up all the rest? Basically, how can a writer stay in control of the daily chaos of existence even when you have multiple projects going at once? Join Jennifer Brozek to find out some tried and true chaos taming techniques.
The “great divide” between indie and trad authors is slowly shrinking since, except for a few golden exceptions, marketing relies heavily on the author. But marketing is a big, scary landscape filled with “gurus” who promise the moon and stars and give only oily sand. Finding gold here took me the longest, and Clay from Written Word Media is part of the reason I reached five figures in the first place. Sift through all his wisdom to find the golden nuggets that’ll propel your sales, too!
How to Run A Successful Price Promotion For Your eBook with Clayton Noblit
(May 21, 7pm ET)
In this session, authors will learn how to use price promotions to build their reader audience. Takeaways will include: exact steps to run an effective price promotion, tips on how to make all of your marketing more effective, a strong understanding of the reader journey.
Launching a book is intimidating. There are so many steps, and suggestions, and ideas… For me, it was so overwhelming that I would often just do nothing, which is…not the most effective plan. 1852 Media has helped tons of authors launch books successful, and I’m thrilled they’re coming to share their wisdom!
I wrote a book…now what? With 1852 Media’s Heather Roberts and Veronica Adams
(May 23, 7pm ET)
Whether you’re a debut novelist or a well-established author, join the experts at 1852 Media for a look inside the best practices for a book launch. This fundamentals course covers the differences between traditional and self-publishing, the most important marketing considerations for writers on each track, a survey of advertising, and the promotional and marketing tools that all authors should be utilizing. Includes a release checklist that will help you stay organized during your launch!
I stopped dealing with bookstores a while back because it was just a lot of fumbling around with no results except growing frustration. Mark has a knack for taking something seemingly impossible and simplifying it, so here’s to all of us having more success with bookstores and libraries!
The Professional Author’s Approach to Working with Libraries and Bookstores with Mark Leslie Lefebvre
(May 28, 7pm ET)
Given the technology available virtually any author can get their book listed in an online catalog. But what if you want more? What if you’re looking to rise above the digital masses and become more relevant, attractive, and even profitable to bookstores and libraries? By embracing professionalism, investing in a little bit of research, then applying your passion for storytelling and knack for creativity, you can attract the attention of the curators of these sales channels, succeed in getting more visibility for you and your books, and stand out as a talented and relevant professional.
I’ve had my newsletter since 2008. I maintained it without guidance or really success until I took a workshop by Terezia. My newsletter took off, engagement with fans increased, and book sales followed. And, best of all, her strategies aren’t intimidating or complicated. She doesn’t just make it look easy, she helps you understand how easy and simple it really can be.
Maximizing Your Marketing with Emails with Terezia Barna
(May 30, 7pm ET)
Create a strong connection with your readers with consistent and sales-generating emails. In this class, you’ll brainstorm your way to a content calendar, learn how to sell books without being salesy, and unlock tricks to higher delivery rates.
Don’t miss out! Reserve your seat today.
Your presenters:
Jessica Barna
Meet Jessica Barna, an Executive MBA holder with 13 years of experience coaching and consulting for small businesses. As the founder of Author Achievement, Jessica assists motivated authors in boosting productivity and profits through strategic planning, community and accountability.
Jessica lives outside of Chicago with her chihuahua named Tortilla. In her free time, she reads, tries out new happy hours, and fosters dogs.
Jennifer Brozek
Jennifer Brozek has earned nominations for the British Fantasy Award, the Hugo Award, and multiple Bram Stoker Awards. She has worked in the publishing industry since 2004. With the number of edited anthologies, novels, RPG books, and nonfiction books under her belt, Jennifer is often considered a Renaissance woman, but she prefers to be known as a wordslinger and optimist. When she is not writing her heart out, she is gallivanting around the Pacific Northwest in its wonderfully mercurial weather. Read more about her at jenniferbrozek.com or follow her social media accounts on LinkTree.
Clayton Noblit
Clayton Noblit is a senior marketing manager at Written Word Media. He is passionate about helping authors find their readers and finding ways to sell more books. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports, and making beverages. https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/
Heather Roberts
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
She/Her
Heather is an owner/founder of 1852 Media and provides clients personalized attention so that their vision can shine. She is a licensed attorney and voracious reader who adores falling in love with a new book. She is passionate about helping clients come up with creative solutions, build their brands, and expand their reach. Heather also owns the company Very Vermont, that creates and engraves custom products. Heather is originally from Pennsylvania but currently lives in Vermont with her husband, their son, two dogs, thirteen goats and a cat.
Veronica Adams
Chief Operating Officer
She/Her
Veronica joined 1852 Media in 2017 after several years of practicing law. A creative type at heart, her strengths shine in promotions and marketing, where she is free to be her quirky, imaginative self. As a publicist, Veronica focuses on bringing individuals and businesses together with new audiences, as well as building and strengthening each client’s unique brand. When she’s not at her desk or doing market research (reading), you can find her spending time with her husband and son, playing with her small menagerie of pets, or cheering on the Tampa Bay Lightning. No one is more surprised than she is that she currently lives in her home state of Illinois after nearly two decades in Florida.
Mark Leslie Lefebvre
Mark Leslie Lefebvre has worked in the book industry since 1992, the same year his first short story sale appeared in print. His past roles include President of the Canadian Booksellers Association, Chair of the Professional Advisory Committee for Sheridan College’s Honors Degree Program in Writing and Publishing, Director of Self-Publishing and Author Relations for Rakuten Kobo, where he created and launched Kobo Writing Life, and Director of Business Development for Draft2Digital, the world’s largest free and author-centric platform for the creation of and distribution of eBooks and print for indie authors. He is the host of the weekly Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast which is currently celebrating seven years of sharing insight28s into the business of writing and publishing.
As an award-winning and multi-nominated author, Mark (who also writes under Mark Leslie) has released over 30 books through both traditional publishers and indie authored titles. His books include the humorous urban fantasy adventures A Canadian Werewolf in New York, Fear and Longing in Los Angeles, Hex and the City, and Only Monsters in the Building; the true ghost story books Haunted Hospitals, Spooky Sudbury, Tomes of Terror, and Creepy Capital; movie trivia guides for the 80s films: Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and Die Hard; and the non-fiction books for writers: Wide for the Win, Killing it on Kobo, An Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores, and the co-authored The Relaxed Author with Joanna Penn.
Terezia Barna
Terezia Barna brings over 21 years of corporate marketing, strategy and business planning expertise to Can*Con. She has led large scale marketing projects for companies such as Oracle, Whole Foods and Microsoft. She is a passionate believer in the power of email for authors. She helps authors grow their reader base with fun, interesting, and revenue-creating emails. She lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband and two fur babies. Learn more at Tereziabarna.com