With authors Deborah Siegel and Christina Baker Kline

March 24, 2012, 9:30am – 3:30pm, Brooklyn Ethical Culture Society, Park Slope (a 30-minute subway ride from Penn Station)

What do you need to make your book a reality?

Maybe you’ve started a memoir but lost the oomph to complete it. Maybe you keep a draft of your nonfiction manuscript in your nightstand drawer. Chances are, if you have an idea for a book, then a road map, accountability, and a plan for completion are the missing ingredients that will make it stick. In keeping with our “make it doable/keep it real” approach to writing in the midst of already busy lives, this mini-retreat intensive focuses on the book proposal not merely as a sales tool but as a writer’s tool for getting the job–meaning, the book–done.

Christina and Deborah are two professional writing mamas who, between us, have written 10 books and dozens of book proposals for ourselves and others. We believe that writing is vital—even when it has to happen in the crevices of our lives. In this daylong “staycation” we’ll combine strategies for fitting book-length writing projects into your everyday life with concrete exercises and feedback designed to demystify the key elements of a book proposal. We’ll share the secrets of writing a book proposal that sells and will provide a stimulating and pampering combination of workshopping, group conversations with other creative women, inspiring writing prompts, Q&A, a frank discussion of what it’s like to sell a book in the current publishing climate, and a discussion of alternatives to traditional publishing as well. You’ll leave at the end of the day with a fresh approach to the book proposal as a writer’s best friend, sections of your proposal sketched out, concrete goals for your current writing life – and a sense of community, something no writing woman should be without.

This day-long gift-to-self includes a delicious lunch, healthy snacks, caffeine (and caffeine-free) drinks … and of course – chocolate! Cost: $225 ($250 after March 1). Space is limited. Register early to save a spot! Contact Deborah at deborahsiege@gmail.com.