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For those who follow the blog, you’ll know that I had been releasing the Writing and Publishing Nonfiction course module by module. This post provides all five modules of the course on one easy-access page.

In this five-module multi-media course, learn about writing and publishing nonfiction books in the spirituality, New Age, occult, metaphysical, or mind-body-spirit categories. Through audio lectures, handouts, and workbooks, this course is a wealth of resources and information that the aspiring author must have in his or her arsenal. Learn how to get started on your book writing aspiration, how to establish an author platform, how to finish your book, how to prepare a book proposal, all about both traditional publishing and self-publishing, and how to promote and sell your book.

Overview

In this workbook-centered course, I’ll cover the writing and publishing process of nonfiction books and impart what I know about both traditional and independent (self) publishing. The focus will be on nonfiction under the Spirituality category. That includes books on New Age, New Thought, alternative religions, and esoteric or occult topics. However, the core of the course content applies to any nonfiction book that is seeking either placement with a small to medium size publisher or through print-on-demand channels. We will also cover basic legal knowledge, from author-publisher contracts and entity formation for independent publishers to intellectual property law, which every author should be familiar with.

The course material will be multi-media in format, but focused on the workbooks that will guide you from outlining your idea for a nonfiction book to querying traditional publishers, preparing your manuscript for independent publishing and even marketing and promotions.

Course Objectives

• To provide an aspiring author with insights into publishing nonfiction books in the Spirituality category and the day-to-day logistics of finishing your manuscript
• To provide an insider view of both traditional and self-publishing
• To provide an aspiring author with the beginner tools needed to complete a first manuscript and take it to publication, either by traditional or independent channels
• To get personal and share my thoughts and experiences from an insider’s perspective
• To be realistic, and give you real information and hard numbers, not the glossed-over, polished, and exaggerated fluff you often get from would-be insiders

About Your Instructor

benebell wen is the author of Holistic Tarot: An Integrative Approach to Using Tarot for Personal Growth (North Atlantic Books, 2015) and The Tao of Craft: Fu Talismans and Casting Sigils in the Eastern Esoteric Traditions (North Atlantic Books, forthcoming September 27, 2016). Wen has also served as the editor-in-chief and managing editor of various literary journals, assisted authors with line-editing, formatting, and releasing self-published books in the categories of spirituality and religion, and has represented independent artists and writers in both the traditional and self-published categories. Wen is also a full-time practicing corporate attorney who specializes in business organizations, business law, corporate mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, and intellectual property law.

Key:

• AUD = Audio File (M4A)
• COMM = Commentary (PDF)
• WBK = Workbook (DOCX, PDF)
• HDT = Handout (PDF, DOCX, XLSX)
• WEB = Website Reference (LINK)

Note: Whenever possible, work off the DOCX file, not the PDF. Sometimes the conversion from my original DOCX file to PDF causes the PDF to look a bit wonky. The PDF is provided here just as a backup, in case you want a quick view for reference (since they load more efficiently on a computer or smartphone than DOCX files).

Module I: Introduction

Let’s start at the very beginning.

Module 1 is an introduction to the world of publishing nonfiction books in the New Age and Spirituality category. Let’s start by talking about you and what you want. Workbook A covers the elements of successful nonfiction and walks you through prompts to help you establish a strong foundation for your book. We’ll talk about what it is exactly you want to say through your book and who you want to say it to, or your target audience. We’ll also cover current trends and together, reach important deductions about the authors publishing in this market category. Even at this early stage, you need to be thinking about your author platform. Workbook B will help you brainstorm and build your author platform. Handout 1 dovetails on Workbook B that walks you through the process of structuring, preparing for, and organizing public speaking engagements to help you establish your author platform.

There are four audio files that consist of lectures (total play time just shy of 40 minutes), two workbooks, and supplementary handouts. Follow the work in the order noted below.

Here’s your course outline:

HDT	Introduction	PDF
AUD	Current Market Trends	M4A (10:18)
AUD	Why Write and Publish a Book?	M4A (09:46)
WBK	Workbook A – Examination of the Seed	DOCX | PDF
AUD	What Are You Sharing?	M4A (06:44)
WBK	Workbook B – Establishing Your Author Platform	DOCX | PDF
HDT	Handout 1 – Brainstorming a Speaking Engagement	DOCX | PDF
AUD	Birthing a Book: My Story	M4A (10:20)
HDT	Note Taking Template (Cornell Method)	DOCX | PDF

Module II: Completing Your Manuscript

Module 2 helps you grow your seed of a book idea and walks you through the process of nurturing that seed to full bloom, achieving a completed book manuscript. Let me tell you how I managed to stay on track and finish my books while working full-time and tending to family responsibilities. Let’s talk about the daily grind. How do you structure the chapters of your book? How do you schedule your weeks to make sure you get your target writing done? What are some of my personal tips and tricks? The handouts in this module will help you to track your progress. Also, how can you tell if a work is in the public domain? What exactly constitutes fair use? I’ve got handouts for both questions.

There will be four audio lectures (for a total of about 35 minutes play time), two workbooks for you to complete, and supplementary handouts that you will want to go through in the order noted below.

Here’s your course outline:

HDT	The Logistics of Writing Your Book	DOCX | PDF
AUD	Does Word Count Matter?	M4A (09:43)
HDT	Manuscript Progress Log	DOCX | PDF
AUD	Basic Theory: The Form and Function of Nonfiction	M4A (08:38)
AUD	The First Sentence	M4A (09:59)
WBK	Workbook C: Profiling Your Book and Getting Started	DOCX | PDF
WBK	Workbook D: Outlining Each Chapter	DOCX | PDF
AUD	Making Time to Write & Tracking Your Progress	M4A (04:27)
HDT	Getting Started	DOCX | PDF
HDT	Flowchart for Determining Public Domain Works	DOCX | PDF
HDT	The Basic Considerations for Fair Use	DOCX | PDF
HDT	Sample Permissions Query Letter	DOCX | PDF
HDT	Word List	DOCX | PDF

Module III: Traditional Publishers

Module 3 accompanies you from drafting your book proposal to querying traditional publishers. We’ll cover the big publishing houses (and how you’ll need a literary agent if you want to approach these publishers) and also the small to medium publishers (where you won’t need a literary agent).

There will be 5 audio lectures (total run time about 40 minutes), 3 workbooks, and supplementary handouts that you will want to go through in the order noted below.

Here’s your course outline:

AUD	Preliminary Notes for Module III	M4A (04:43)
HDT	Who are the traditional publishers?	DOCX | PDF
AUD	The Book Proposal	M4A (04:18)
WBK	Workbook E – The Book Proposal	DOCX | PDF
HDT	Log of Publisher Queries	DOCX | PDF
HDT	Sample Manuscript Submission in Standard Format	PDF
AUD	The Submissions Process	M4A (11:39)
HDT	Template for Submissions Query Letter	PDF
HDT	My Query for Holistic and Publisher Responses	PDF
HDT	Book Proposal for Holistic Tarot (Sample)	PDF
HDT	Evolution of a Manuscript	PDF
HDT	Traditional Publishing Timeline (Query to Release)	PDF
AUD	Revisiting Why We Write and Publish	M4A (08:07)
HDT	Theoretical Earnings Comparison Chart	PDF
AUD	Traditional Versus Self Publishing	M4A (09:29)
WBK	Workbook G – Deciding Between Traditional and Self	DOCX | PDF

Note: Previously provided Workbook F has been removed from the free content. It is now a part of the Copyright Law and Tarot Online Course (“Reviewing and Negotiating Your Nonfiction Publishing Contract – Workbook”).

Module IV: Independent (or Self) Publishing

Module 4 will cover basic pointers for self-publishing. There will be 5 lectures, 1 workbook that you should complete, and supplementary handouts that you will want to go through in the order noted below. I’m also providing a few unaffiliated external links, so you have someplace to start shopping around for printing presses, getting price quotes, etc.

In the previous modules, the lectures were provided as audio recordings, but my laptop went kaput and I’ve been recording the audio with an app on my laptop. I don’t know how to do it with my desktop, so instead of mp4 files for download in Module 4, we have text–the audio lecture transcripts I would have read off of.

Here’s your course outline:

WBK	Workbook H: Self-Publishing Logistics	DOCX | PDF
HDT	Template for Self Published Manuscript	DOCX
AUD	Introduction to Self-Publishing	PDF
AUD	Why Self Publish Your Book	PDF
WEB	AuthorCentral (Amazon): Register an Account	LINK
WEB	Print-on-Demand Publisher: Lulu.com	LINK
WEB	Print-on-Demand Publisher: Kindle Direct Publishing	LINK
WEB	Print-on-Demand Royalties Calculator [CreateSpace]	LINK
WEB	Printing Press: Lightning Press [Book Printing Instant Price Quote Calculator]	LINK
WEB	Printing Press: Heidel Print [Book Printing Instant Price Quote Calculator]	LINK
WEB	Printing Press (China): Shenzhen Jinhao Printing [Minimum Order Quantity: 500 copies]	LINK
HDT	US Copyright Office Form-TX (Registration for Literary Works)	PDF
HDT	US Copyright Office Online Registration of Copyright	PDF
WEB	Electronic Filing of US Copyrights	LINK
AUD	Optional. Publishing Tarot or Oracle Decks	PDF
WEB	Optional. Tarot Deck Creators Facebook Group	LINK
AUD	Understanding ISBNs, Bar Codes, and LOC Listings	PDF
WEB	Buy ISBNs and Bar Codes (U.S.—Bowker)	LINK
WEB	How to Register a U.S. Copyright	LINK
WEB	About Library of Congress Catalog Listings	LINK
WEB	LOC PCN: Application to Participate	LINK
AUD	Why You Need a Copyeditor	PDF
AUD	Where To Go From Here	PDF

Module V: Promoting Your Book and Post-Publication Strategic Plans

The final module of this course will cover the enormous amount of work that comes after you’ve produced a book and it has been launched into the public arena aka published. If you thought that meant you’re done, then oh boy, you’ve been sadly mistaken. You’ve only just begun. Module 5 is about covering some realities about publishing and selling nonfiction books in the Mind, Body, Spirit category, the nuts and bolts of promoting a book and how to captivate the attention of your target audience. We’ll also cover post-publication strategic plans for actually making some real money off your book (you thought you were going to make money off your royalties? *chuckles to self*).

Here’s your course outline:

COMM	The Author Platform and Public Relations	PDF
WBK	Preparing Your Media Kit (Workbook A)	PDF	DOCX
HDT	Media Kit Template		DOCX
COMM	Promoting a Book: What Works and What Doesn’t	PDF
WBK	Drafting Your Marketing and Promotions Plan	PDF	DOCX
HDT	Template Query Letter for Market Exposure	PDF
COMM	Book Blurbs (or the Author Endorsement)	PDF
HDT	Log of Endorsement Queries		DOCX
COMM	The Book Trailer: Should You Create One?	PDF
COMM	Hiring a Publicist: Pros and Cons	PDF
COMM	The Author’s PR Schedule: Sample Timeline	PDF
HDT	Self-Publishing: Author Sales Log Debut Year One		XLXS
HDT	Self-Publishing: Author Sales Log Subsequent Years		XLXS
HDT	Traditional: Author Sales Log Debut Year One		XLXS
HDT	Traditional: Author Sales Log Subsequent Years		XLXS
HDT	Traditional: Gross and Net Sales Detail Log		XLXS
COMM	Dealing with Criticism	PDF
COMM	The Nom de Plume	PDF
COMM	Where Is the Money?—Optimizing Author Earning Potential	PDF
HDT	Log of Media Contacts		DOCX

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