Events

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AUDIENCE

• Primary: aspiring nonfiction authors
• Secondary: aspiring and practicing developmental and substantive editors
• Tertiary: literary agents looking for ways to communicate what’s not working in a manuscript and why it matters for all involved

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The most common craft-related question I get is about how to structure a nonfiction book. The answer is: It depends. But once you understand a few basic principles, you’ll be able to quickly identify opportunities and eliminate non-viable options.

In this 1-hour live presentation, you’ll learn about:

• the 3 narrative arcs readers experience when reading well-crafted nonfiction books
• how your perspective and your ideal readers’ motivations for reading a book about your topic and by you dictate the structure, style, and features of and within your nonfiction book
• common mistakes that reveal a writer's lack of authority on a topic, lack of insight into the needs and expectations of readers, and/or lack of the writing skills necessary to keep readers attention and goodwill from page 1 until the end.

PLUS webinar attendees will receive a topic-related resource PDF and 30-day on-demand viewing access to the video recording and auto-generated event transcript.

AUDIENCE

• Primary: aspiring and published authors
• Secondary: aspiring and practicing developmental and substantive editors, book doctors, book coaches, literary agents, publishers of nonfiction, book marketers, and PR people (anyone with a financial interest in the selling of ideas to the public)
• Tertiary: readers and anyone making real-world decisions based on the claims of and evidence provided by others

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Aspiring nonfiction authors are often encouraged with instructions such as “write what you know” and “speak your truth.” Some take literally the idea that authors are authorities or that writing a book is how one establishes themself as a subject-matter expert. Individuals with inadequate or no specialized training do their own “research” and encourage others to do the same.

Regardless of how well-intentioned all of that may be, it is both misguided and dangerous because it often ignores intellectual, ethical, and moral issues, and in doing so puts the author and their readers at risk. This is especially true when discussing high-stakes topics related to physical and mental health.

In this 1-hour live presentation, aspiring and published authors will learn how to distinguish between imposter syndrome and your gut or conscience trying to save you from public humiliation and leading others astray. I'll do that by providing an overview of:

• the concept of epistemic responsibility
• what a good faith argument (ethical persuasion) is and how logical fallacies and cognitive biases undermine claims of authority and manipulate unaware readers
• red flags that true subject-matter experts and qualified publishing professionals recognize but unqualified authors, unqualified publishing professionals, and unsuspecting readers may not
• insight into the harmful immediate and long-term physical, emotional, and financial effects on editors and other paid service providers who are forced to witness lazy thinking, incompetent execution, and bad-faith arguments and then provide feedback in a way that honors their contractual obligations to the client without violating their own values, standards of excellence, and sense of duty of care to readers of books they work on
• quick tips for moving through the fear that keeps many authors from seeking out qualified experts who can identify weakness and provide clear, actionable recommendations for improvement

PLUS webinar attendees will receive a topic-related worksheet and checklist and on-demand video and auto-generated transcription access for 30-days.

This is a stand-alone free 1-hour webinar and the foundation of the paid 2-hour virtual workshop with the same title described below.

The information in this free webinar is baked into the paid 4-hour virtual master class with the same title described below.

In this 2-hour live workshop, we'll discuss in more detail the topics covered in the free webinar version of this event, plus:

• review research and citation best practices
• briefly examine the harmful immediate and long-term physical, emotional, and financial effects lazy thinking, incompetent execution, and/or obvious intellectual dishonesty have on editors and other paid service providers who are forced to witness and deconstruct them and then provide feedback in a way that honors their contractual obligations without violating their own values, standards of excellence, and sense of duty of care to readers of books they work on
• how to find a developmental/substantive editor and other publishing professionals who can and will both help you articulate and hold you to your highest goals and standards while creating a safe space for you to learn, grow, and come out on the other side more aware, more competent, and more impactful
• review a few tips for how to advocate for yourself when you believe an editor or someone else has mistaken your position and motivations (good-faith conflict resolution)
• and how to apply this mindset and practice of intellectual integrity and empathetic communication in your nonfiction book, especially if it's prescriptive in any way

Workshop attendees will receive additional resources, including topic-related worksheets and checklists; an auto-generated transcript of the event; and access to download the event recording.

You may attended the free, live webinar on May 29th or watch it via an access link you'll receive 1-week prior to this event.

AUDIENCE

• Primary: aspiring and published authors
• Secondary: aspiring and practicing developmental and substantive editors, book doctors, book coaches, literary agents, publishers of nonfiction, book marketers, and PR people (anyone with a financial interest in the selling of ideas to the public)
• Tertiary: readers and anyone making real-world decisions based on the claims of and evidence provided by others

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Aspiring nonfiction authors are often encouraged with instructions such as “write what you know” and “speak your truth.” Some take literally the idea that authors are authorities or that writing a book is how one establishes themself as a subject-matter expert. Individuals with inadequate or no specialized training do their own “research” and encourage others to do the same.

Regardless of how well-intentioned all of that may be, it is both misguided and dangerous because it often ignores intellectual, ethical, and moral issues, and in doing so puts the author and their readers at risk. This is especially true when discussing high-stakes topics related to physical and mental health.

In this 4-hour live, virtual master call, aspiring and published authors will learn how to distinguish between imposter syndrome and your gut or conscience trying to save you from public humiliation and leading others astray. I'll do that by providing an overview of:

• the concept of epistemic responsibility
• what a good faith argument is (ethical persuasion) and how logical fallacies and cognitive biases undermine claims of authority and manipulate unaware readers
• red flags that true subject-matter experts and qualified publishing professionals recognize but unqualified authors, unqualified publishing professionals, and unsuspecting readers may not

PLUS, we'll discuss in detail:

• the difference between claims and evidence
• research and citation best practices
• the criteria for story example selection and how lazy thinking and/or manipulative word play confuses and frustrates readers, insults their intelligence, and reveals things about the writer's character and level of topic-related expertise
• how to evaluate the claims editors, literary agents, and other publishing professionals to both avoid falling victim to intentionally manipulate marketing practices and unqualified (even if unintentional) advice givers and service providers
• the short-, mid-, and long-term benefits and consequences of unethical persuasion tactics from a variety of perspectives
• specific additional questions and concerns submitted by registered attendees

Attendees will also receive additional resources, including:

• topic-related worksheets, checklists, and recommended resources list
• an auto-generated transcript of the event
• access to download the event recording